by A. M. Kusi
Bently pulled the drawer open and his blood ran cold. A chill skittered up his spine.
No fucking way.
There was a picture of a young boy with cold blue eyes with a man who looked just like him. Joe Canoby. The man he’d shot and killed to protect Remy during a home invasion. Joseph Junior. He was Canoby’s son.
And now it was clear why this kid was after him.
Junior was out for revenge.
Chapter 42
Bently
Bently walked up the steps to Belle’s porch with lead feet. His shoulders ached and he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks. He turned, waving a hand towards the officer on duty in the patrol car across the street.
Rife waved back before Bently grabbed the doorknob. It twisted as he leaned his head against the cold metal frame. Steadying himself, he drew in a breath and pushed.
The warmth and comfort of her home enveloped him, melting some of the numbness. Soft music played from the kitchen to his left. He shut the door and shrugged off his coat as he eyed the stack of boxes. They’d held off moving her into his home at his request. Anything to try and keep her safe. He slept at his house alone with his gun next to his nightstand and a knife under his pillow, waking and wondering about each creak and thud in the old house.
“Honey, I’m home,” he said, forcing a playful tone in his voice to hide the utter exhaustion and fear riddling his body. Maybe he should just leave now, send Belle away somewhere safe.
She turned and flashed him a welcoming yet cautious smile. He’d done this to her. Brought danger to her doorstep. She didn’t deserve this.
“Hey, stranger.” Her brown-sugar eyes met his as she wiped her hands on a towel.
He took off his boots before he walked in, reaching his fingers out to trace the shape of her face, tempting fate. He’d stayed away as long as he could. But he needed to be grounded. She was the only one who made him feel safe. Like a thief, he was here to take some of that light and peace.
She reached her palm around his before she walked into him, resting her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, though he wasn’t sure who was holding who this time.
“I missed you.” Her voice wavered.
He leaned and kissed her head before weaving his fingers in her dark curls, tipping her face towards him. “Couldn’t stay away.” It was an apology.
The last thing she needed was him to cause her more trouble. He’d promised to take care of her and TJ, and the only way he knew to do that was to keep his distance and try and draw the fucker out.
“I know you have a job to do, but you can sleep here. Or I can come to your house—”
“No.” His answer was harsher than he’d intended.
Her brows knit together, rejection flashing in her gaze. He leaned farther and whispered against her lips, “It’s not safe.”
Her arms clung tighter to him as she stood on tiptoes, melding her sweet mouth to his. This girl, always giving. But how much more could he afford to take before she had nothing left?
Her nipples hardened against his chest and he groaned. He wanted nothing more in the world than to get lost in her tight little body. His palms swept to the backs of her thighs, lifting her up. He carried her over to the counter without breaking the kiss. Their hands moved, pulling, cinching, burning. Their tongues tasted, warring, searching. She gasped as he pinched her nipple through the thin cropped tee she was wearing.
“TJ?” He panted, his breath stolen by the heavenly creature in his arms.
“Upstairs.” She moaned as he kissed down her neck.
“Dinner?”
“Keeping warm in the oven.” She sucked his earlobe into her mouth, raking her teeth over it.
It’d been almost a week since he’d had her. The pressure built, need and want overpowering him. He fisted her dark curls and kissed her, hard and unrelenting. Her hands ripped up the hem of his shirt as he ground against her center. She moaned, gripping his hips, rocking into him, taking what she wanted.
“You’re so fucking hot,” he growled.
“I need you, Bently. Please.”
He forced himself away, every cell screaming in protest. His body was an all-out inferno of desire.
“Upstairs,” he ordered. His restraint was only holding on by a thread. But the last thing they needed was her brother walking in on him fucking Belle on the kitchen counter.
She smiled and hopped down. “Give me a few minutes. I got you something special.”
His cock screamed for attention, pressing hard against his zipper. He smirked. “You’ve got five minutes.”
She giggled and swayed that perfect ass out of sight and up the stairs as he took a few deep breaths. He glanced at the clock on the stove before opening the fridge. Bently pulled out a beer. He drank the whole thing in a few gulps. Time’s up, Angel.
He stepped up the stairs, pulling his T-shirt off and unbuckling his belt before he got to her bedroom door. He knocked before he opened it and froze. Belle lay on the bed facing him with her eyes closed and blood trickling from her head. Every muscle in Bently’s body went rigid. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as his hair stood on end. A dark figure hovered behind her holding a gun to her head. Bently grabbed his gun.
“Nah ah ah. I wouldn’t do that unless you want her brains all over this room.” Joseph Canoby Jr’s blue eyes flashed with amusement.
Bently swallowed and kept his palms open in front of him. “Alright, man. This is between you and me, right? Why don’t you let her go and we can settle this?” Bently stepped to his right. Joe pressed the barrel of the gun into Belle’s temple. His heart raced as he searched for any sign of life, exhaling with relief at the steady rise and fall of her rib cage.
“How about you move over there next to the window. Put your gun on the floor and kick it to me.”
Bently lifted his weapon carefully, doing as Junior instructed. He was completely powerless. Fear wound tight, constricting his chest as his breaths grew shallow.
I need to draw his attention away from Belle.
Junior walked around and picked up his gun, shifting it to his empty hand. He smiled. “Maybe I should kill your girl with your own gun. How would that feel, Sheriff?”
“You want to hurt someone? Hurt me,” Bently pleaded.
Junior chuckled, his eyes burning with hatred. “Oh, I will. First, I’m gonna start with your girl here. She looks like a good fuck.”
Bently stepped forward, his fists clenching. Rage burned him from the inside out.
“Stay back, lover boy, or I put a bullet in her,” Junior warned, his evil smile widening.
Belle groaned and reached for her head, coming to. He needed to find a way to get her out of here. But one false move and she’d be dead. He had to keep Junior talking.
Belle’s eyes fluttered open and she jolted upwards only to gasp and lie back down.
“Now the real fun can begin.” Junior chuckled.
“Bently!” Belle called, her confusion turning to panic.
A knot formed in his chest. “I know, baby. I’m here. You’re going to be okay.”
“I wouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” Junior snapped, pressing the barrel of the gun to her cheek as she winced.
“I’m the one who killed your father. I’m the one you want. Point the gun at me.” Bently stepped closer to the bottom of the bed.
“So, you know who I am. Took you long enough.”
Bently risked another step closer to the window.
“Get up, bitch. You and I are gonna go somewhere a little more private,” Junior said, directing Belle.
She pushed to her elbows, but winced at the attempt of movement. She held her head and dry heaved.
“I said get up!” Junior yelled.
Bently’s fingernails cut into his palm as he restrained himself
. He softened his voice. “Just do what he says, baby. You can do it.”
Belle’s eyes flashed to his—a mix of fear and trust reflected back. Her eyes darted to the door to his left. Her worried gaze conveyed her unspoken message.
Where is TJ? Did Junior do something to him?
Belle stood slowly on shaky legs. Her balance tipped as Junior climbed over the bed, one hand on her shoulder and the other holding the gun to her head. There was nothing Bently could do with the weapon pressed against her. It was too risky.
“Stand over there, Sheriff.” Junior motioned to the windows past the bed as he shuffled Belle towards the door. He couldn’t let them leave.
Junior stepped backwards, towards the hallway. “Tie yourself up with those zip ties on the bed.”
“Let her go and I’ll do whatever you want. Leave her out of this,” Bently begged.
“You took someone I loved. The only person who ever gave a shit about me. And now, you’re going to know exactly how that feels. I’m gonna start with her. Then I’m gonna go visit that pretty sister of yours.”
Bile rose in his throat. He’d done this. He’d brought this on his loved ones. No. No way was he going to let this boy destroy everyone he loved.
“I love you. This isn’t your fault,” Belle said as if reading his mind. This brave woman, facing death and still trying to ease his guilt.
“Your father cried like a fucking pussy before I put a bullet in him,” Bently snapped.
Junior glared at him. “You’re lying!” His hand wrapped tighter around Belle’s throat, squeezing.
Junior would leave bruises like his father had on Remy. Bently used the anger to fuel him on. “He tried to go after my family and he failed. What makes you think you’re going to do any better?”
The gun shook as Junior’s face reddened.
“You want to know what his last words were?” Bently pressed, stepping forward, willing the gun to aim at him rather than Belle.
“W-what were they?”
Bently took in a breath, time slowing as he savored one last look at the woman he loved. The woman he would die protecting. “Not a fucking thing. He never had a chance. After I shot him, he choked, drowning in his own blood. The last thing he saw was me making sure the fucker was dead!” Bently poured salt into the festering wound.
The gun shifted, aiming at him as a flicker of movement behind them flashed. TJ!
Bently lunged forward.
Boom!
Glass shattered and pain split his chest before he tackled Junior to the ground. He pulled the gun from his limp hand, tucking it in the back of his waistband. He kicked the other away before grabbing the zip ties by the bed. He rolled the teen, the back of Junior’s head sticky with red blood. Bently bound Junior’s hands behind him.
His gaze darted up. TJ still held the wooden bat, standing over them.
“Is he dead? Did I kill him?” TJ’s chest heaved with each breath.
The door crashed open downstairs. No doubt Rife had heard the gunshot.
“Shattered Cove PD!” Rife’s voice boomed below.
Bently stepped into the hall with his hands up. “All clear, Rife. Perp’s been apprehended and restrained. Call a bus.”
Rife picked up his radio and nodded from the bottom of the stairs.
Bently took the bat from TJ’s trembling hands, dropping it to the ground before answering his question. “No. He’s still breathing.”
Belle grabbed TJ in one arm and him in the other, collapsing against them. Tears poured down her cheeks. He winced, pain burning his ribs.
“You’re safe now.” Bently’s voice shook. He’d come way too close to losing her, to losing them.
“You’re bleeding. You’ve been shot!” Belle said, pulling up his shirt to reveal the bullet wound. Her fingers traced the tender flesh around the injury.
He winced. “It’s just a graze. I’ll be fine.” He patted TJ’s shoulder. “You saved us.”
TJ blinked. “No, I—”
“If you hadn’t acted, this would be a lot more than a flesh wound,” Bently said.
TJ nodded solemnly. “I heard him yell and I didn’t know what to do. I grabbed the first thing I could and waited in the hall for my chance.”
“You did everything right. You saved us.”
TJ swallowed.
Bently took Belle’s face in his hands, studying her head wound. His anger boiled over. He turned towards Joe Junior. Like father like son. A chill shivered through his body.
He and this kid were both born from devils. All his life, Bently had been terrified of being anything like his father, fighting from birth not to make the same mistakes. Everything revolted inside him when he came close to being similar to his father. He’d hated his own face because it was too much like Paul Evans’s. Why would anyone want to repeat their father’s same mistakes?
Junior’s finger twitched. The boy had chosen to follow in the footsteps of a monster. Why? Was evil something you were born with? Or was it bred into you? Why had he made it out of hell and Junior hadn’t? The only thing that separated them was a choice.
“It’s over.” Belle’s voice brought him back.
He took her in his arms and kissed her gently as blaring sirens drew closer. He held her as close as he could without hurting her. The sweet relief of having them safe was tainted by guilt. “Are you sure you want this? With everything that comes with being with me? My baggage, and the dangers of my job?”
Belle met his eyes. “I’ve never been more sure of something in my life.”
Her words pierced his heart, ripping and mending. Retribution and atonement.
“Do you want to run?” Her voice came out in a whisper.
“Never again. I’m not letting you go.” His lips slanted across hers. He wished they were alone so he could take care of her—bullet wound be damned. He’d wash every inch of her body with his hands and then kiss any trace of this nightmare.
She kissed him back, as if surrendering. He succumbed to the energy that pulled them with a force unknown to man. He was going to marry this woman. She was his forever. She was his gravity.
Chapter 43
Belle
A week later, Belle opened the door. Bently’s woodsy scent made her weak in the knees. He leaned down, his scruff scratching her cheek as he kissed her.
“Is it here?” she whispered excitedly.
“With a big red bow.” He chuckled, pulling her against his hard frame.
His arousal pressed against her. Need blossomed in her belly.
Will I ever get enough of this man?
His arms enveloped her, squeezing her tighter. “How about we go for round two?”
She swatted him away. “We’ll have time for that later. I can’t wait to surprise him. TJ!” she yelled, barely able to contain her glee.
“I’m coming,” her brother called down.
“I was hoping you’d be the one saying that,” Bently grumbled in her ear as she spun around, wiggling her ass against him, knowing it would drive him wild.
“You play dirty.” He chuckled.
“You haven’t seen anything yet, Sheriff,” she teased.
Bently groaned as her brother descended their stairs, probably for the last time. I can’t wait to move in with Bently, and have both the men I love under the same roof.
“Why is that look on your face?” TJ asked suspiciously.
Belle shrugged, motioning to the stack of boxes in the living room. “Just happy to be taking this step. Grab your boxes—we’ll load them into the truck.”
She spun around, zipping up her coat and opening the door before the secret burst from her lips.
A couple of minutes later, TJ and Bently walked out, boxes in hand. She turned the camera on her phone on and pointed it at TJ, excited to catch his reaction. “Go ahead and
put them in the blue truck.”
TJ peeked around the cardboard square, his eyes widening and darting to Bently, confused. “New ride?”
“Do you like it?” Bently asked, playing along.
“Yeah, it’s dope.”
“Good, because it’s yours.” Bently smiled, holding out a set of keys.
TJ set the boxes in the truck bed before glancing between Belle and Bently. “You messing with me?”
“No way. We thought you could use your own vehicle to get to classes.” Bently smirked, pressing the keys into TJ’s palm.
TJ’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, seemingly bewildered. He shook his head. “You did this?” He searched Bently’s face.
“We did this. You’ve earned it. You kinda saved our lives. I’d say we owe you one.” Bently chuckled, always trying to lighten the mood.
TJ glanced at Belle, affection and gratitude shining from his eyes. It hit her right in the solar plexus. Happiness radiated from the boy who had worked so hard to elevate himself from the gutter they’d been born into. The boy she’d raised as a child herself.
“Thank you.” TJ hugged Bently around the waist and the man she loved embraced her brother, slapping him on the back.
TJ came over to Belle next, swatting the camera away. “Enough of that. You get over here.” He squeezed her tight, his strong arms holding her as she’d done for him so many times. He’d been her reason for living, her driving force to choose the hard road. She wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Don’t cry, big sister.”
She laughed. “You know I’m just so happy for you. You are going to start the rest of your life today. And now, you’ve got your own wheels and are in college classes. Soon you’ll bring a girl home to meet me. I’m just so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished, TJ. I love you so much.” She hiccupped.
“Love you too, mama.” He held her as she fell apart again from the endearment. Warm happiness and elation brimmed from her every pore like she was soaking in a river of golden sunshine. This was the kind of joy she’d only read about in books, the kind she’d believed only existed in fairy tales.