Takeoff

by Becca Jameson

  Raeann chuckled. “I’m sure he’d rather we get the hell out of here. We’re more trouble than it’s worth. Thanks to me.”

  “Don’t say that. It’s not your fault.”

  “Still. Pain in his ass.”

  Two seconds later, the loudest noise Raeann had ever heard pierced the air. She and Heather dropped to the floor and covered their ears. Her first thought was it was a machine gun.

  A moment later, when Raeann realized nothing had penetrated the condo and there was a lot of smoke outside, she knew the sound had been fireworks. They must have been thrown at the front door.

  Furious and tired of being a victim, and sick and tired of cowering every time these freaks came near, Raeann shoved to her feet and ran for the door. She had to wave her hand through the air to dissipate the smoke enough to see, but when she squinted, she saw a lady hurrying toward an idled car across the street.

  Raeann took off running toward them. Lucky for her, the bitch couldn’t move very fast. She was wearing a long black skirt and she was not young.

  The driver put the car in gear and was rolling forward to meet her friend on the move. Raeann got to the passenger just as she opened the door before she could climb inside. She grabbed her by the back of her blouse and jerked her back, taking her to the ground before the woman had any idea what was coming.

  The bitch fought her, clawing at her and scratching her arms. Kicking—as much as she could with that stupid skirt.

  Raeann was stronger, younger, and more determined.

  “Oh my God,” Heather screamed. “Raeann.”

  Shadows came over Raeann as she managed to pin the bitch’s arms to the ground and stuck a knee on her chest.

  The driver was screaming at Raeann to let her friend go. She kept rolling forward. Raeann thought she might actually drive off, possibly running both of them over in the process, but Raeann wasn’t willing to release the bitch under her for any reason.

  Suddenly, someone opened the driver’s side door and hauled the woman out of the car. While the crazy lunatic was shouting at the top of her lungs, whoever was manhandling her managed to hit the brakes and turn off the engine.

  “The police are on the way,” Heather said.

  Raeann heard sirens in the distance, but she did not let up on her hold on the woman under her. In fact, she pressed her hand into the lady’s face and turned it to the side so she didn’t have to look her in the eye. She’d never felt so violent, but a lifetime of harassment had driven her to the edge.

  Plus, the bitch kept trying to wiggle free as if there weren’t twenty bystanders ready to deck her.

  Whoever was holding her partner in crime on the other side of the car was experiencing a similar battle. The driver sounded like she was putting up even more of a fight with all her wailing.

  The first police car on the scene squealed to a stop, and Raeann was glad to see Hendrix and Parks jumping out of the vehicle. They rushed forward, Hendrix aiming for Raeann while Parks went for the other woman.

  “You can let her go now,” Hendrix stated, her hand on Raeann’s arm. “I’ve got her.”

  Raeann drew in a deep breath as she met Hendrix’s gaze. Her jaw was tight with rage. She was shaking. Furious. So very angry. Years of aggravation were streaming out of her.

  Hendrix waited, not saying anything else while she held Raeann’s gaze. Finally, she whispered. “I know. I know. Let me take it from here.”

  A hand landed on Raeann’s back, and she jerked her gaze to the side, her adrenaline pumping so high she thought she might haul off and punch whoever dared to interfere.

  It was Deacon. How the hell had he gotten here? “Let Hendrix take it from here, baby. It’s over.”

  Raeann released the woman, rose to her feet, and stumbled backward away from Deacon, running a hand through her hair. Her heart was racing so fast as she took several steps away from the scene. She felt like she was watching everything unfold around her as if she weren’t really there. Like it was a movie or she’d died and was hovering.

  The sounds were muffled. So many people shouting and moving around. It felt like the world was spinning. Raeann feared she might faint. What was Deacon doing here? How had he gotten here? She met his concerned gaze, blinking, wondering if she was imagining him.

  And then he reached out slowly and set his hand on her shoulder. He eased her into his embrace and flattened her against his chest. “It’s okay,” he muttered into her hair.

  She was shaking, but his hands on her arms and then her back helped calm her incrementally.

  Deacon finally leaned back to meet her gaze. “I nearly died when I saw you take off after that bitch. What were you thinking?”

  Raeann looked around, ignoring his question. “What are you doing here? How did you—”

  “Sweets called me. He heard you mention stopping by the condo. I didn’t want you here without me.”

  Raeann swallowed. Right. Bracken had overheard her plan. Of course the overprotective alpha male would call his equally overprotective friend and rat her out.

  Deacon’s brow was furrowed. “I pulled up just in time to see that crazy bitch launch fireworks at your front door. Good thing too because if I hadn’t put my foot on the brakes in that damn car, I believe her partner would have run you over.”

  Raeann flinched. “That was you.”

  “Yes.” He yanked her into his chest again, mumbling in her ear. “I can’t decide whether to hug you and never let you go or scream at you for being so careless.”

  Hendrix finally came over to them. She was shaking her head and grinning. “I can’t believe you chased her down.”

  Deacon released Raeann just enough to let her face Hendrix.

  Raeann shuddered. “Me neither. It’s like a switch flipped. I was so freaking angry.”

  Hendrix pointed at the remains of the firecrackers on the front porch. “You were lucky those were done going off.”

  “I never even thought. I saw that bitch and took off running.”

  “Well, you did good. Assuming those were the only two members of their unbelievable group who came here to harass you, maybe you won’t have to worry about them anymore.”

  “You think you can charge them with enough?” Deacon asked.

  “Yes. In several states.”

  Raeann blew out a long breath. “Let’s hope so.”

  Hendrix nodded. “I’ll be in touch when I know more.”

  “Thank you.” Deacon held out a hand and shook the cop’s.

  As the crowd finally started to disperse, he led Raeann and Heather back inside the condo. “What were you doing here?” he asked as he shut the door.

  Raeann sighed and narrowed her gaze at him. “Don’t start.”

  He lifted both hands innocently. “Just asking.”

  “I needed more clothes.”

  He nodded slowly, but she could tell he was not pleased. His lips were pursed.

  She pointed at a box. “I packed some things, then the fireworks started going off, and I ran without thinking.”

  Heather laughed. “She was like superwoman, taking off after that bitch. I think she broke a speed record. She’s going to the Olympics next year.”

  “Hardly.”

  Deacon pulled her into his arms again. He cupped the back of her head and met her gaze. “You okay though? You’re still shaking.”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m so glad I stopped them. Fucking bitches.”

  “Me too, baby. Though I’m pretty sure I lost seven of my nine lives running to stop that rolling car.” He was breathing heavily.

  She slid a hand up to cup his face. “I’m sorry, and thank you.”

  He kissed her forehead. “How about you never scare me like that again, huh?”

  She nodded. “You left work.”

  “Yeah. This was more important, but I need to get back. Can I take you home first?”

  She shook her head. “No.” He flinched before she could continue. “Drop me at a rental location. I need a car.
”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Okay, but only if you promise not to go fight crimes.”

  “Promise.”

  Deacon grabbed her box and loaded it into his SUV while she said goodbye to Heather.

  After securing herself in his SUV, she turned toward him. “I guess my reason for staying with you just vanished.”

  He turned to face her, frowning. “Rae… Don’t. Please.” She could see his anxiety rising. He gripped the steering wheel with his left hand and fisted his other in his lap. His Adam’s apple rose and fell several times. He was seriously concerned about her leaving.

  Suddenly, he grabbed her hand. “I need you, baby. Please.”

  “Okay,” she whispered, though she had no idea why. There was a war going on inside her. She had no idea who was winning. But for this moment, there was no way she could tell him no. Leave him. The thought made her choke. Leave him? No. Just no.

  He drove her to a rental car lot and surprised her by going in with her.

  “You can head back to work, Deacon. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m not leaving you, Rae.” He squeezed her hand. “Let’s make sure they have something available before I drive off.”

  The friendly woman at the front desk had plenty of cars available, and Raeann rented a four-door. Raeann didn’t look in Deacon’s direction as she signed the papers, knowing in her mind that she might need a back seat for the kids.

  She also added Deacon as a second driver. It felt so damn domestic and cozy and all the things she’d never expected to feel.

  When they were finished, Deacon’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out with a frown as they stepped outside. “Hello?”

  She watched him as his face fell, his eyes closing slowly. “Okay. Right. I understand. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “What happened?” she asked as he ended the call. “Work?”

  “No. Teddy threw up. I have to go get them.” He spun around, putting his hands on his head.

  She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. “It’s gonna be okay.”

  “How? How am I going to take care of two kids? It’s day one and I already have to go pick them up.”

  “No, you don’t.” She squeezed him tighter from behind. “I’ll get them.”

  He turned around in her arms and stared at her. “I can’t let you do that.”

  She frowned at him. “Why the hell not?”

  “Because they’re my responsibility. I don’t want to—”

  She shot him a glare and stepped back to cross her arms. “You don’t want to what? You don’t trust me to take care of them?” She was needling him. She knew it. But she couldn’t stop herself. They needed to have this conversation. Suddenly, it was important.

  His eyes shot wide. “That’s not it. God, Rae. I’d trust you with anything. Of course, I trust you.”

  “Then what’s stopping you?”

  He swallowed. “Rae…”

  She lifted her brows, waiting for him to say what she needed him to say. It was so important all of the sudden. They were standing outside a rental car storefront in the middle of the day, almost in fight or flight stance, and now she wanted to force him to speak the words he’d never yet spoken, mostly because she’d never given him a chance. Now? Here?

  “Because I’m fighting so hard to convince you to stay with me. With us. Because I don’t want you to feel burdened and decide it’s too tough. Because I walk on eggshells all the time, praying, hoping, wanting so badly for you to be mine. Because I’m so damn in love with you that it hurts and the thought of you leaving me, leaving us, makes me want to scream. I’m scared and everything is happening so fast. And I just want you to trust that I love you enough that I don’t care about any weird baggage you have. I don’t care, Rae.”

  She closed the distance, grabbed the front of his shirt, and tugged his head toward hers until she could kiss him.

  He looked stunned when she pulled back. “Okay. So, we’re good? You take my rental. I’ll take your SUV because the car seats are in it. Call the daycare and put me on your approved list so I can pick them up. We’ll see you at home later. Hamburger is thawing in the sink. I’ll make spaghetti.” She dangled her keys in front of him and snagged his from his hand.

  He was still staring at her like she’d grown a second head when she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him again. “Go. You have work to do.” She pointed at the rental.

  He grabbed her as she tried to walk away. “Rae? What the hell just happened?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll figure it out later. Right now, we have shit to do.”

  He gave her a slow smile and another kiss before letting her go.

  She jogged to his SUV, climbed in, adjusted the seat so she could reach the pedals, and waved at him as she pulled out of the spot. She felt a very strange sense of satisfaction as she left him standing there, shocked. She did notice he pulled his phone out though. At least he had the sense to call the daycare.

  Chapter 25

  Nervous didn’t begin to describe how Deacon felt when he stepped into the kitchen five hours later. His breath caught in his lungs at the sight before him. Rae was at the stove stirring something. The house smelled like Italian sauce. Teddy was in a bouncy seat she’d somehow managed to attach to the door frame. And Katia was coloring at the kitchen table.

  The little munchkin jumped down from her seat and ran toward him though, throwing herself at him before he’d taken a second step into the room. She wrapped her arms around his legs and held on tight. “Unca Dea. Teddy got sick at school and Rain had to come get us and we came home without you and Teddy isn’t sick anymore and I colored you another picture and Rain made pasghetties and she said if I’m good I can watch cartoons after we eat and then she’s gonna give me a baff and then read me a stowy. She promised. Cinderella.”

  Deacon swooped her off the floor and kissed her cheek. “That’s a lot.” He wasn’t sure he got half of it, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the love of his life was standing in his kitchen, cooking for his niece and nephew and looking like she belonged.

  All that mattered was that she was smiling at him.

  All that mattered was that she was here. Still here.

  God, he loved her.

  He set Katia down and watched as she skipped back across the room before he headed over to kiss Teddy on the forehead next. Then he came to Raeann. He pulled her into his arms and held her gaze. “I love you.”

  “Yeah? I’m a hot mess with a lot of side problems.”

  “I don’t care.”

  She patted his chest. “Let’s talk later. First dinner. Then baffs. Then stowies. Then maybe if we still have the energy, we can talk.”

  He couldn’t let her go. He didn’t want to. But she wiggled free when the pasta nearly boiled over. “Smells amazing.”

  “Thank you.”

  His heart was pounding as he watched her back. Please, God. Tell me she’s going to stay.

  Three hours later, both kids were finally asleep and Raeann found Deacon in the master bathroom brushing his teeth. She leaned against the door frame and watched him. He was even sexy when he brushed his teeth. He was totally Dad material in his flannel pants, though she was glad he’d lost the T-shirt.

  He turned to face her as he set the toothbrush back in the holder and sauntered toward her, a half-grin on his face. “Can I interest you in a drawer to go with your toothbrush holder?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

  She gave a dramatic gasp. “A drawer? That’s so presumptuous.”

  “Yeah. It is. I’m feeling presumptuous.”

  She was incredibly nervous, but something had clicked in her this afternoon. It slammed into her like a truck. When he’d taken that call from the daycare and then panicked, she’d jolted. He needed her. And she needed him. And his kids had totally gotten to her. They were so sweet. This would be hard and she was scared out of her mind that she might mess it up, but they would manage.
Somehow.

  She set her palms on his chest. “I have a stipulation.” This had been on her mind all day. Her brain had jumped into gear as if someone had flipped a switch, but she still had one last issue that needed to be dealt with.

  He lifted a brow, his hands running up and down her back. “If you’ll stay with me forever, I promise to take the trash out every night,” he teased.

  She chuckled. “Nothing like that.” She nodded toward the bed.

  He grinned. “You have sexual requirements? I can get down with that too.”

  She rolled her eyes. “No, silly.” She released him to pad that direction where she’d set the sealed envelope earlier. She held it up.

  “What is it?” He inched closer and took it from her.

  “The results from the genetic testing.”

  He lowered the envelope. “So, you’re telling me if this says you could possibly maybe perhaps in the future develop a mental illness, you won’t stay with me?”

  “That’s what I’m saying.” She stood her ground.

  “Rae…”

  She shook her head. “Non-negotiable, Deacon. I might be able to hide from the crazy witch hunters. I can change my name and move with you and keep a low profile, but I won’t take any risk if I have the genetic marker for schizophrenia. I won’t do it.”

  He glanced down. “Then we won’t look. I don’t want to know.”

  She shook her head again, vehemently. “We have to.”

  He tossed it back on the bed and grabbed her. “No, we don’t. It doesn’t matter to me, Rae. I love you so much it hurts. I won’t lose you over some stupid piece of paper that may or may not be accurate. We’ll burn it and pretend it never happened.”

  She sighed. She’d known this would be a battle. “Deacon, we’re going to look.”

  “Okay, then what? You’re just going to pack your shit up and move out tonight?”

  She bit into her bottom lip. She hadn’t really thought it all the way through. How long could she stay? A week? A month? A year? She would be like a ticking time bomb.