by Riley Moreno
Lane was quiet as they drove back home, and so was Chivonn. ‘You do trust that none of those rumors are true, don’t you Lane?’
‘Have I any cause not to trust you Chivonn?’
‘No,’ She answered.
‘Then we won’t talk about this again, alright?’
‘Ok,’ Chivonn nodded.
When they returned to the Ranch House the moon was high in the sky and the meadowland was bathed in a silvery glow. The silence of the night was only broken by the sounds of their lovemaking as Lane and Chivonn gave themselves to each other once again with renewed passion. Outside Beaumont slid into his stable and a few miles away Jake told Rosie how he had stopped Lane from making a huge mistake that night.
It was a few months later that Lane and a heavily pregnant Chivonn strolled into a record shop in town.
‘It never fails to give me a thrill to see one of these,’ Lane said holding up an album. The title ‘The Hayes’ formed an umbrella over a picture of Chivonn and Lane and below that the name of the album – ‘Vigilante Cowboy’.
Chivonn chuckled as two young girls picked up the album. ‘Oh, I love this song!’
‘Me too! Isn’t Lane Hayes so handsome?’
‘He most certainly is,’ Chivonn said, laughingly butting into their conversation, and the girls looked up and stared.
‘Are you?’
‘Yes, we are!’ Chivonn smiled and Lane nodded.
‘May we have your autographs?’
‘Yes, you most certainly can,’ Lane said, signing their album.
CHAPTER IX
Rosie was stationed outside Chivonn’s room as Lane paced about nervously.
‘Please be still,’ Rosie begged. Jake came clambering up the stairs and clapped Lane on the shoulder. ‘Be strong man!’
‘Stop behaving like there’s something frightening going on behind those closed doors. It’s something beautiful, is childbirth.’
‘And frightening,’ Lane murmured, ‘Almost as frightening as standing there waiting for your bride to show up.’
‘And then waiting for her to show up after a long time away. You’re a champion at this Lane, you’re going to do just fine.’ Jake said comfortingly.
Hours later the midwife appeared. ‘Mr. Hayes, you have a daughter…ummm…and a son…twins!’
‘Ha!’ Jake shouted out, thumping Lane on his back.
Jake burst into the room where Chivonn was holding two little bundles.
‘I present the new generation of The Hayes,’ Chivonn said, smiling through her weariness.
‘Welcome, Mary and Marty,’ Lane said, taking the bundles from her and holding them close in his arms.
Xxx
SEDUCED BY THE TWO ALPHAS
(PARANORMAL SHIFTER ROMANCE)
By Riley Moreno
Chapter 1
It had been exactly one year since Mike’s tragic passing and forty-year-old Jill King was still surrounded in the grief of his loss. Desperately she wanted to move on as he wouldn’t want her wallowing in his passing this long but they had a special magical relationship that was unlike any she had ever experienced before. Everywhere she looked in their quaint three-bedroom home in Northeast Philadelphia with its sprawling plush carpets and gold trimmed wall paper were remnants of the thirty year olds presence. A towering man with bulky muscular features it still was an extreme shock that he was gone. As she lay awake in their bedroom directly in front of her slung over the back of the wooden chair was the coat he wore the day he died. There it lay with its silky red material its pockets still filled with the notes and other pertinent information he used when he went to his job at the fifteenth precinct where he was head detective for the past two years. A small yellow piece of paper stuck out the front right breast pocket. Jill could tell by the scrawled handwriting it was one of her love notes to her late husband. They had made it a habit from the beginning days of their relationship even when they were dating to write little notes to each other reminding the other how important they were to each other.
So many times Jill just wanted to up and clean everything out of this house and just sell it and move on. The painful reminders of his presence from his suede sable dress shoes to his suit and ties it was like a constant replay of what they once had. All of this taken was away by one madman Billy Thistle a crazed drug dealer that Mike and his partner Jack were tracking for months. Thistle a short man with a wispy mustache and bleached blonde hair looked crazed with his empty black eyes and blank stare. Jill had seen kids in the school she taught first grade at that resembled that very personality. So many times she begged Mike to quit the force the city was getting so bad with all the drug crimes and other craziness they had so many things they could do. Mike a talented writer could have finally pursued his dream to write a novel and do what he wanted. Jill was making nearly fifty thousand dollars a year and could sustain them now that the house was nearly paid off. A howling wind rattled her already disturbed spirit as she directed her attention to the bleak grey skies outside. There right above the windowsill was an oblong cherry wood stand. Neatly aligned in rows were pictures of her and Mike. There was one that always got her attention out of the parade of memories. There on the far left was a gold plated picture frame with her and Mike standing on the banks of the glistening Delaware River. It was their last wedding anniversary they celebrated nearly six months before Mike’s passing. Dressed in a sharp white short set his contagious dazzling smile one that many women fell in love with seemed to look right into her own soul asking her why was she still sitting here in this room being lonely and depressed. Honestly Jill wanted to move on wanted to experience other things but her love for Mike was so strong.
In the distance she could hear a faint buzz almost sounding like a chirping bird that wanted her attention. So lost in her own thoughts of gloominess she was half tempted to just lay down in her bed and ignore everything something that was becoming more the norm with each passing month. Several feet away several days of clothes lay scattered about on the floor. She could hear her mother’s stern voice demanding she clean up this place this is not how a house wife takes care of her home. The problem was she was no longer a housewife she was just plain old widowed Jill King who was going into her twelfth month of sick leave. Mike’s murder brought on a wave of insecurity and melancholy that literally swallowed up the once self-confident woman’s persona. Teaching was something she couldn’t think of at this point or possibly ever. Wanting to ignore the constant buzzing sound in the distance she knew it was probably a coworker or maybe Principal Harris calling to check on her. At this point she didn’t’ want to be bothered.
“Who is calling me? I just want to sleep and be left alone please!” Snapping out of her shell Jill scrambled for the phone just so she could move on with her somber thoughts. Some folks didn’t understand the grieving process.
“Hello. “Jill spoke waiting for the other party to answer.
“Jill. Jill. How are you girl? “That upbeat boisterous tone was no other than her best friend from college Mary Thomas.
Mary Thomas and Jill were best friends in high school and college and had parted ways after they got married. Last time she heard from Mary was around the funeral. Jill wondered how Mary even remained to stay married the light skinned girl had such a lascivious spirit that taming her seemed next to impossible. Somehow she managed to snag a good man Doug Parker a well-known heart doctor from Temple Hospital. The man was double Mary’s age but had a classy look that some of the hottest men didn’t even possess. Dressing in sleek suits and shades Jill swore he was a member of some gang rather than a practicing surgeon. Not possessing one wrinkle in his smooth bronze skin it was obvious that he had practiced the youthful effects of Botox.
“Hey Mary how are you? I was just thinking of you and Doug the other day. I was going to call you guys. “Jill said halfheartedly.
“I don’t believe that for half a second. I have been calling you the past week and left several messages. You know girl I
am worried about you. What are you doing now? “Mary questioned.
“Nothing. Just waking up actually. I am just not feeling well. I need to take it easy today. “
“Well I think it is time we had a girl’s day out. That is something we have not done in a long time. I can be over in say thirty minutes. “
“I think I will pass Mary. I just do not feel well today. “Jill responded hoping that Mary would take the hint and leave her to solace.
As if she just said sure Mary come on over she went over a tedious itinerary of things she had planned for them to do. In half an hour they will have breakfast at Annie’s place the diner up the street from Jill their favorite place to eat. They were having their favorite special today steak and home fries with freshly squeezed tomato juice for just six bucks. Jill could smell the mildly burnt smell of home fries with a juicy rib eye steak on her plate savoring itself in its juices. Following this they can go to that new massage parlor on Fifteenth and Market everyone was raving about. Jill had heard about it but from the looks of its opaque windows and hole in the wall appearance it resembled one of those illegal sex shops where men went to get their rocks off in the middle of night. Besides the weather man mentioned in his raspy voice on the radio nearly half an hour ago that it was going to be minus fifteen degrees. Going outside as the biting winds ate at her flesh was the last thing she contemplated on doing.
“I will be over in thirty minutes. Just fixing myself up. I’ll see you soon. “No sooner did Mary speak and implement her plans for them that she was off the phone leaving Jill holding the receiver with a dial tone buzzing in her ear.
Scanning her bedroom, she saw disarray everywhere around her. In addition to Mike’s clothes scattered on the floor and plates of food piled on top of one another on her porcelain bureau the once impeccable home resembled a dormitory instead of the residence of a professional educator. Her mother and father along with anyone else rarely came to visit regarding her as a hopeless case. Sprawled next to her were a sea of newspaper clippings from a year ago depicting in bold black letters the story of her life the past year. Twenty year Police Veteran Shot by Feared Drug Lord. Drug Lord Sentenced to Death in Prison. Governor Denies Drug Lord Pardon.
The last thing Jill wanted was for Mary to see this place looking like a tornado flew through it. In a dire attempt to clean things up knowing Mary to be a punctual woman who rarely was late Jill quickly grabbed the newspaper clippings and clothes on the floor and shoved them into her closet. Sweat glazed her palms and forehead dripping down into her eyes stinging her already blurred vision. Her heart pumped at the steadfast pace of a race horse coming off the track after a big competition. Anxiety poured through her demanding she get this place in order. Another dark voice would pry itself into her spirit demanding she just devour the bottle of pills that were sitting laying on the wooden table next to her bed. There they were tiny shiny white pills given to her by Doctor Hawkins supposedly to relax her nerves. In essence the darn things did nothing for her. Sitting next to the medication in a tall clear glass a mixture of cranberry juice and Vodka beckoned her.
Tempted to just end this torture she had managed to put herself through, she looked around their bedroom. For months before his death she had contemplated leaving him. She had so many desires that she wanted to act on none that Mike was even remotely interested in. They had a great marriage Jill knew it but there were things sexually she wanted to experience for herself. She couldn’t though she was his wife his rock his future. Her own lascivious feelings caused a rift between the two. Mike sensed it. She could tell by the look of disgust in his once glowing eyes it was as if he were looking at some tramp wearing skimpy skirts off the streets of Kensington. The intimacy they once shared was slowly dwindling away. Looking around the room she was just living a big lie one that she dared not even tell her own parents. Raised a preacher’s daughter marriage was held as a high sacrament one that should never be violated. She could see the look of disgust in her parents faces their revolting stares enough to make her want to dig a hole somewhere where no one would find her. Grabbing the glass and the pills in her hands she swallowed them whole. Swishing them down with the lukewarm bitter drink she quickly started to feel the effects of her efforts. Drifting away the room with its bright colors and gorgeous furniture slowly swallowed itself into a dark abyss. Finally, the torturous life she knew would soon be over. Eternal peace would be hers. Soon she would be with Mike and be able to make up for the sins she had committed against their marriage.
Chapter 2
“Jill!! Jill!! “A shooting thunderous roar pierced through the slumber of
Jill’s deep sleep.
Opening her eyes, she could see her friends pudgy face hovering over her with those ruby lips of hers. Her almond eyes peering through her blurred vision Jill thought she truly was living some dream. Mary couldn’t be here she didn’t even have a key. Standing next to her Mrs. Perkins her elderly neighbor stood in her gray work out outfit. Holding a pair of keys in her left wrinkled hand and a tiny black object in the other hand her face glazed over in total shock it was almost as if the two were looking at Jill as if she were already dead. It had seemed her plan had worked possibly. She almost believed this until she felt their gentle pushes on her shoulder nudge her awake. Unless she was the first spirit who could actually feel anything then she was still in the land of the living.
“Mrs. King are you ok? You need me to call your mother? Mrs. King please doll answer me we are worried. “Mrs. Perkins spoke in that distinct southern drawl of hers.
“I am fine. Just fell asleep. Been so tired lately.:” Jill sat up.
“Get up Jill. You need to get out of this place. This isn’t healthy. Come on honey. Mikey wouldn’t want you living this way and you know it. “
Turning to the window she saw that the previous gray skies were now gone. A shimmering sun peeked through the last bit of clouds as the teal sky returned itself on this early February morning. Despite that Jill could hear the wailing sounds of the northeastern winds rattling the exterior of her home. Those resplendent oak trees normally full with a full head of green foliage were now barren their emaciated branches swaying back and forth in the spiraling winds. The edges of those sticks reminded Jill of a pair of claws desperately wanting to rip away at anyone who dared to walk out in their path. In fact, those trees were talking to her warning her to stay inside where she would be safe. Jill you need not go out dear you are safe here in your home where you and Mike shared your undying love. Stay here in your own personal space. They called out to her in an eerie cackle demanding she stay put or risk the dangers of being outside.
“I can’t Mary. Listen I am just not feeling well. Maybe another time. “Jill couldn’t go out for fear of the trees consuming her.
“Mrs. King I know you are very depressed. Honey I know Mr. King loved you very much. What I also know is that he wouldn’t want you lying around here like some poor old woman. You need to get out. “Mrs. Perkins could be very demanding when she wanted to be.
Jill was prepared to just roll up in her bed and pull the sheets over her. Maybe if she made pretend she was asleep they would vanish away like a pair of dust clouds. After all everyone else had given up on her why hadn’t these two. She wasn’t prepared to be out in the world where everyone would gawk at her. Knowing the freak, she was and the woman she wasn’t she didn’t feel like being judged by these heartless people.
Once upon a time Jill King was the most stunning astute woman a man would want to meet. She admired those times but in all reality knew they were long gone like some dream that was not within reach. Her marriage with Mike was in many ways her salvation it kept her going it was like therapy for her. Always reassuring her how attractive she was and brilliant no other man ever regarded her in such a fashion. Without Mike she was just some woman who others would rip apart and find ways to degrade. Shoot she couldn’t even get to live her sexual fantasies something she had felt since she was a young woman. Mike was the
only man that would give her the time of day. Till now she was living a fantasy one that only Mike could fulfill. If it weren’t for Mike she wouldn’t have believed in herself.
“Jill I know what you are going through. You always heard me talk about my sister Connie in Texas. Connie was never sure of herself even though she was a really attractive woman. When her husband left her Connie went into a deep depression and second guessed everything she did. I am no psychologist Jill but I see so much of Connie in you. Honey the only way to get past it is to meet it head on. I will help you because I love you like my sister. Let me help you. “Mary held Jill’s face in her hands.
These past few months had been such a whirlwind of events for Jill. Until now she truly felt no one cared about anything she did with her life. Her parents who really were never there for her since she was a child had their buts so far up their faith and doing things at the church that she was the last one on their list. When she went through her own trial of depression and Mike’s sudden passing and the mix of feelings she was going through they were nowhere to be found. Mary a good friend since high school with her wild pink hair dos and tight leotards something her parents called being provocative and un Christian like in those rigid tones of theirs was the only one that truly showed she cared.
Jill was feeling all sorts of things both in the months prior to Mike’s passing and even more so afterward but they were things she could not have a conversation with her own parents on. As much as she didn’t want to go out and be in the world again for folks to see and judge her she had to trust Mary. Mary always had Jill’s feelings in mind and had never misled her. Mary even came into this mess of a house with newspaper clippings, dirty dishes, and clothes sprawled everywhere resembling one of those cluttered houses people live in that have been left unattended for years. Not once did her friend even mention the dirt and filth. Mary had a look of true concern in her toast brown eyes something no one else had even bothered to show her.