by M. Piper
Jesus, she tastes so fucking good, and I get to taste this every damn day for the rest of my life.
Crawling back up her body, she kisses me deeply, licking her taste off my tongue. Fuck, that’s hot.
“Mmm, baby,” I growl when she starts biting my neck. “Fuck, Gab. I gotta get moving.”
Her lips leave my neck and turn to a pout as I pull away from her and stand straight. Grinning down at the beautiful sight, I still can’t believe she’s all mine. I don’t know how we’ve made it through everything in one piece, but we’re stronger for it. The two of us, and Hannah, can get through anything, as long as we’re together.
“I’m gonna hop in the shower,” I say, then wink at her and hear her groan as I walk away. Chuckling to myself, I close the bathroom door and start the shower water. While I’m waiting for it to warm up, I look at myself in the mirror.
A Killer.
I know that’s not what she sees when she looks at me, but when I look at myself that’s all I can think.
I’ve killed someone. A month ago, I beat someone so badly they died from their injuries… and that person was my fiancé’s mom.
There’s so much messed up shit about that, but I can’t talk to Gabby about it without a fight and I don’t really think I should tell Dr. Travers because he’s liable to turn me in. I mean, it’s not like they don’t know who did it, but no one’s come after me yet. Maybe it’s because Adam is the most powerful man in the city of Chicago and he’s had his hands in this, orchestrating it all, but I haven’t heard a thing from the police or anything. It’s strange, really, knowing that I was the cause of someone’s death, but I’m not being penalized for it at all.
Shaking off the imminent feeling of dread that follows me around, I hop in the shower to quickly clean off before getting dressed for the day. We have a new potential client today at the agency, and Adam is putting me in charge of it.
By the time I get to the kitchen, Gabby’s already dancing with Hannah on her hip while she makes us breakfast. I take a moment to snap another picture of them before she notices that I’m here and grin when Hannah starts wiggling with Gabby to part of the song. Good God, this sight… I still can’t believe how sexy it is watching Gabby interact with Hannah. I really want her to adopt Hannah as her own, and I’m sure, once we’re married, she won’t freak out when I ask her… but I hate fucking waiting.
“Hey you,” I say, kissing the side of her head and taking Hannah from her arms to get some snuggles in before work. “So, I was thinking tonight we could take Hannah to my dad’s. Maybe bring some cards and let her play there for a bit while we visit?” I haven’t fully told my dad everything that happened, and I’m not sure if I will, but it’s time we visit him again.
“Sounds good, babe.” She sets an omelet in front of me and grins as she takes a bite for herself. I can’t even act upset because she’s so damn cute sipping her coffee like she didn’t do anything. “We’re heading out to run some errands today, you need anything?”
“Yeah actually, Can you-” I’m cut off by a knocking at the door.
Strange. It’s eight in the morning… who would be here at this time?
“I got it,” she says as she walks towards the door, shaking her ass for me as she leaves the room. I grunt and shake my head. Damn vixen is gonna keep me hard all damn day for her.
I hear the door open, and think nothing of the silence or time it’s taking her until she walks back into the room. Pale.
“What is it?” I ask, shooting up from my chair.
Then, I notice the men following her. Fuck.
“Mr. James.” The dark haired man nods at Gabby and me. “Officer Jones from the Chicago PD. We’re going to need you to come with us,” he says, calmly watching me. Probably because he knows of my anger. Probably because he’s ready to protect himself.
Or maybe because he can tell my heart is about to beat out of my motherfucking chest and land right here at the damn table.
Fuck. This is it.
“What? Why?!” Gabby demands from behind them. It’s funny, really, seeing how small and feisty she is even next to these two grown men.
“Mr. James is wanted for murder, Ms. Rosdale. We’re going to need to take him in to discuss some things.” He points his glare at her, and her eyes go wide.
“Fuck,” she mutters, picking up Hannah. I see the panic in her face and I pray to God she’s up on her meds, because I’m about to leave my daughter with her in a very tense situation. Fuck, this sucks.
I want to vomit. I knew this was coming. Just as I start to think I have a perfect life set up here with Gabby and Hannah, it all gets ripped out from under me.
“Okay,” I sigh, standing up and kissing Hannah and Gabby goodbye.
Fuck, this sucks.
“I’m calling Adam,” Gabby says as the men walk me out the door and straight for the elevator. They don’t fuck around… which I guess is a good thing to say about our fine city’s law enforcement, but it still sucks that they are pushing me through and not letting me really say anything to Gabby.
Shit!
By the time we make it to the station, I’m boiling with rage. I need to contain it because I’ve seen what it can do… but I just need to get out of this damned car. I need fresh air. Fuck, are they going to lock me up in a cell?! Oh shit, I can’t have that! I’m in my fucking suit… I have a motherfucking meeting this morning!
“Come on,” the short, pudgy one says, pulling me out of the back of the cop car. They handcuffed me right before we got out of the elevator and haven’t taken them off since. I growl as they make sure to be extra rough with me, for what reason I don’t know since I’ve given them no reason to think I’m dangerous.
Oh, right… I’m a murderer.
“In there,” the tall one nods to the right where I see a closed door. I raise my eyebrows at him and cock my head. My mother fucking hands are behind my back, dimwit.
He chuckles and instead of opening the door for me, he unlocks my hands and sets me free to open it myself.
What the hell? I didn’t think they were supposed to do that.
“Go on in. The DA is waiting for you.” He chuckles and watches me walk to the room before walking away.
Slowly, unsure of what lies on the other side of the door, I slowly open it and am greeted with a very smug, laughing face of the one and only Mr. Chicago. Letting out a breath, I smile and chuckle at him then notice the man he’s sitting next to.
“Holy shit,” I mutter, staring at someone I thought I’d never see again. “What the fuck?”
“So, you remember Colton?” Adam beams from across the table.
Colton Crawford: the most ruthless man, aside from Adam, that I’ve ever met. I went to college with him. He tried taking Carly away from me at one point… tried breaking us up. I haven’t liked him since. What the fuck is he doing here?
“Yeah,” I say, dumbfounded.
“Nice to see you, Benton,” he says, smiling. “I wish it were under different circumstances.” He chuckles, and I notice Adam shake his head.
“We’ve got a meeting, Colton… Can we get on with this?” Adam clears his throat and adjusts his suit, sitting up a little straighter and glaring at Colton.
What the fuck is going on!?
“Right… so Benton,” he starts. “You beat up Mrs. Rosdale in defense of your fiancé… Is this correct?” He pins me with his glare and I feel my palms getting sweaty.
“Yes,” I say.
“And you were defending her why?” He readies his pen, and watches me as I narrow my eyes at him.
“She had a gun in my home. She had already shot my fiancé once and was ready to shoot again. My child was in the room and, at the time, I wasn’t aware who had been shot… I was defending the people I love from a crazy-“
“That’s good. Adam, we have all we need. Benton,” he says, standing. “Your defense of Gabby and Hannah is all I needed to hear. Homicide in defense of someone in the state of Illinois is termed
‘justifiable homicide’ and is not illegal. You did what you had to do to save lives. I truly believe you didn’t beat her with the thought of killing her.” He pauses and narrows his eyes at me. “So, for those reasons, we’re clearing your papers and you’re good to go to work. Oh… and I really am sorry about everything it seems you’ve been through lately, Benton.” He smiles and holds his hand out to shake mine as I fumble with words to respond. Instead of speaking, I shake his hand and thank him, watching in confusion as he walks out of the room.
“Damn,” Adam chuckles after Colton leaves the room. “He said you weren’t going to like him, but that was just cold, dude. You just literally got away with murder,” he says, laughing.
“It was self-defense,” I growl. “Why the hell… how the hell… what the fuck just happened? Why was I brought in like a criminal just to be set free?”
“Oh, that? He thought it’d be funny,” he says, chuckling. “Don’t worry, dude. Gabby called… she knows it’s all good and they are fine. They’ll be waiting for you at home tonight.”
“Fuck,” I say, shaking my head. “So, that’s it?”
“That’s the perks of being bro’s with the most powerful man in Chicago.” He chuckles. “That, and the fact that you didn’t do anything illegal, man.”
“Yeah,” I mutter as we walk out to the car. “Doesn’t feel right still, though.”
“Yeah… we all have things like that. Things that’ll eat at us if we let it. Just don’t let it. Come on… we have money to give people.” He slaps me on the back as I get in the passenger seat of his car.
That’s the damn truth.
The trick is… just don’t let it eat at us…
Epilogue
“Shh!” I hear Annaliese say from the other side of the door.
It’s wedding day, and, after only six months of planning, we’ve finally made it here. The day we become ‘us’. A family. One entity.
These last few months have been touch and go with panic attacks, flash backs, and physical therapy. Benton’s been seeing Dr. T more… I think he’s having a hard time accepting the fact that he got off scot free for killing someone, but she was going to kill me if he didn’t step in. She had a fully loaded gun! I’m happy he’s free, and can finally start moving forward with his life. I have Adam to thank for that because, without him, we wouldn’t have gotten such a fantastic attorney. It’s been amazing being able to live without the fear of her finding me… and without the fear that Benton is going to get taken away from me.
He did nothing but protect me. That’s how I see it.
I’ve been in physical therapy a few days a week for the past few months. It’s been rough going, but I’m starting to regain a good amount of movement in my arm. The other wounds from that night are all healed, but I’ll forever have the scars to remind me how much evil there is in this world.
Benton knows I’m not good with crowds so we planned a courthouse marriage with a small get together afterwards at our new place just outside of Chicago. We moved last month after searching for what seemed like forever to start over together. We both had a hard time living in his apartment after what happened there. He’s been the best groom a girl could ask for, really. Especially when you take into account my situation.
“It’s go time,” I hear Ann’s voice from the door. Smiling, I walk out into the small foyer of the old courthouse and smile at my groom. We went with grey suits and crisp white shirts, which couldn’t look any better on a man than it does on my Benton. The black and white chucks finish the outfit out perfectly. Neither of us wanted a stuffy wedding. We didn’t want to feel uncomfortable all day and we definitely didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg for a day that only lasts 24 hours.
“You look beautiful,” he whispers in my ear once I make it to him.
I’m wearing an off white lace dress that falls right at my knees with cap sleeves that I paired with turquoise pumps. Annaliese helped me find a matching outfit for Hannah so the two of us can match today.
“Mama!” Hannah exclaims from Adam’s arms, and my heart warms as I see the love on Benton’s face from her words. Love towards his little girl and me. Benton asked me last week if I’d like to adopt Hannah as my own, and I still get choked up thinking about it. He was so sweet, the way he asked. Just thinking about it puts tears in my eyes. I love them so much.
A daughter. I’m going to have a daughter after today.
I take her from Adam and set her on her feet, letting her walk into the room with us where we will officially be man and wife. It’s so surreal, and though most girls don’t envision this as the perfect wedding, I couldn’t be happier.
“You ready for this?” he asks as our names are called.
“Crazy ready,” I say, grinning.
He chuckles and holds my hand in his as we walk up to start the rest of our lives.
Together.
Sometimes life can be crazy, but when you find that one person that makes you better, the crazy doesn’t seem so bad. Benton is my one. My one that makes everything okay. My one that makes my world spin. Neither of us are perfect, but together we can conquer anything.
I may be a little crazy, but aren’t we all?
The End
About M. Piper
An avid, self proclaimed closet book nerd by the age of nine, Piper didn’t take her love of fictional worlds public until she self-published her first book almost 20 years later. Since putting to paper the voices in her head, she’s fallen in love with a career of building, ruining, and rebuilding fictional character’s lives. Her love will always reside with the romance genre, but she does enjoy going off the grid every now and then with non-fiction.
If you friend her on Facebook, you’ll be subjecting yourself to a whole lot of awesome…. So what are you waiting for?! Find her at www.facebook.com/authormpiper if you want to follow her author ramblings. You can also follow her on Instagram at @M_Piper3 or Twitter @AuthorMPiper.
Other Works by M. Piper
FIGHT series- http://amzn.to/2cdVjPG
Just Go: http://amzn.to/24VhZYW
Crazy: http://amzn.to/24VfkP5
Broken Promises Series- http://amzn.to/2bO9uLO
Dirty Desire: http://amzn.to/2cohaTK
Works by M. Piper and H.Q. Frost
For3ver : http://amzn.to/1TRH0z5
BANG: http://amzn.to/1XvlbIl
Little Bird: http://amzn.to/1OswTwk
Dirty Bird: http://amzn.to/2j30vHk