The Running Series Box Set: Books 1-3

by DeLaine Roberts

  “You blamed me for everything wrong with Olivia,” Harrison barked. “You never once gave me credit that the problem might be her. Every time the two of you had problems, you blamed me. You couldn’t see her for the dark horse she was. I gotta be honest, I never in a million years thought either of you’d go through with the wedding, and quite frankly, didn’t give a shit. I was wrong to let you believe all the things she told you about me and our relationship, but at times, you just didn’t want to listen, much less accept that she was full of witchcraft. She led you down a seductive path, Grayson, and you fell harder than I ever did. We didn’t know her. I don’t like to talk about this, but you finally need to know. She was the one that introduced me to the dark side of the dominant/submissive sexual lifestyle. I liked some of that kinky stuff, but dang, her needs were so deep I couldn’t satisfy her. She showed me the edge. With my constant travel, she just couldn’t let herself have a monogamous relationship. She would screw any guy who was breathing.”

  “That’s not true. You beat the shit out of her. I saw her body with my own eyes!” Grayson said, punching his finger in Harrison’s shoulder.

  “I’m warning you, don’t touch me again,” Harrison raised his fists in defense. “You’re wrong, I didn’t touch her. That was one of her masters in that secret club she went to. I beat the shit out of you when you came at me, defending that whore’s honor. I tried to tell you then, but you wouldn’t listen. Those bruises, she said she got them playing around. She hadn’t been playing with me, dude. I’d been out of town. Whatever crap she fed you, it was to win you over with her ‘poor me’ routine. She wanted so much sexually that I couldn’t give her; that’s why she went to that club. She’s truly a very twisted bitch. I loved her, but the loss to you was a shock to my ego, Grayson. I would’ve never hurt her. But you, you knocked her up and stole her like a trophy.” He paused his rant for a moment before continuing.

  “You took her from me out of your own greed and you thought you were stickin’ it to me. But in reality, she stuck it to both of us. I finally realized it was best for me to get away from her and hope you would find out the truth for yourself in the end. I should’ve known family was forever and reached out to you. I blame myself for not going to you with the truth. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret our fight. I got a dozen stitches in my head, three busted ribs and a concussion, thanks to you, but the loss of our relationship hurt way more than that. We let a woman come between us. It’s over, in the past, and now you know the truth. I want to move on and get my brother back. You’ve got a princess in Alexandra, but she’s only like a sister to me. I’m happy to see her with you and just want the best for you. I can’t wait till the wedding, and you make me Uncle Harrison.” His voice was filled with regret, his eyes misty.

  Zoe hoped Harrison’s words registered in Grayson, and they could put the whole Olivia situation behind them.

  “I sure wish you’d convinced me she was poison,” Grayson began. “It would’ve saved me a ton of pain and torture over the years. Now, she’s even trying to torment Alexandra. The bitch just keeps calling her. She tried to run her off recently with a pregnancy scam. I have no idea how she even got Alexandra’s number, unless she got it out of my phone at the office. Last I knew, she said she was going back to Colorado. I’m sorry for the both of us. It’s made the last few years hell. Alexandra wants us to be a real family for our baby. I don’t want any more drama for any of us, especially Alexandra. I would like to see us mend our fences and hope that we can do it without ever throwing a punch again. I own a great deal of the pain that you went through, and I don’t want that for us anymore. My energy is going to be focused on helping my future wife overcome this event, and she’s going to need all of us, now more than ever. Can you do that?” Grayson asked their brother.

  “I’m all in,” Harrison declared as he embraced his twin and drew Zoe into a group hug.

  The pilot interrupted their reunion with an announcement of their pending arrival.

  “I’m ready to see my girl. I just need to know that she’s really safe and okay,” Grayson said.

  The plane landed in Florida, where the local FBI agents gathered them for a quick debriefing in a private room at the airport. Agents Woods and Barnes informed the group that the leader of the assailants and one other had died in the shootout, but the other two, including a woman, were in custody. They weren’t certain who’d shot Alexandra and whether it was deliberate or by a stray bullet, but they were going to be charged with attempted murder and kidnapping, which would lead to life behind bars.

  Grayson declared, “It’s going to take more than bars to keep me from killing those sick bastards.”

  The Morrisons had been quiet most of the trip down, watching the twins hash out their issues before reuniting. Al seemed discreet, respectful of their time. He didn’t seem to want to invade; although, Zoe wondered if he had thought the same things about Harrison, regarding rumors of his sexual escapades he must have heard over the years, working together with Harrison in the same city. Zoe was glad the real story was now out, but Al had such a guilt-ridden expression on his face, which seemed to turn to anger. He looked like he was ready to commit murder.

  “Agent Woods,” he said in a quiet and disturbing tone, “I can assure you they better have them deep in custody because if I can get my hands on those two, they are dead. Dead, do you hear me? I will kill them for what they have done to my daughter.” Rage oozed from his body, fire raging in his eyes. He walked away as if to control himself.

  “I get where these emotions are coming from, but people, let me assure you, we take threats seriously. No one’s leaving here until you check your attitudes. Are we clear?” Woods looked around at everyone in the private room.

  Al returned to the group, apologized to the agents, and climbed into the unmarked car to be driven to the hospital where Alexandra underwent surgery.

  ***

  The family gathered in a private waiting room in the hospital.

  “I don’t like being on this side of the situation,” Grayson uttered under his breath as they were greeted by a doctor and her team.

  “Hello everyone, I’m Dr. Mason. I’ve been taking care of Alexandra since her arrival here. She’s out of surgery and has been taken to a secure room as requested and is now under protection. As far as her condition, there are things you all need to know before going in to see her.” She took a seat and cleared her throat, obviously trying to gather her emotions before continuing.

  “She was struck by two bullets. Fortunately, one was deflected by the cell phone she’d hidden in her clothing. She’s a smart girl! The other entered her hip, grazing the bone before rupturing a large vessel. That caused some bleeding, requiring a minor surgery. She’s patched up and will be sore for a day or two. She told me she was stubborn, so I’m counting on you all to make sure she takes things easy for a while, assuming that you can do that.

  “However, unfortunately, most likely due to the trauma she endured, she suffered a miscarriage. I’m so very sorry for your loss.” She paused and sought out Grayson’s eyes, which were now filling with tears. “We found no permanent damage, and she should be able to conceive very soon. Before you all go in to see her, I must let you know she’s not talking a lot and seems to be under stress, which is normal. Be patient, she’ll come around. We have a special team of counselors, and I have asked one of our grief counselors to visit with her and you, Dr. Brooks. Again, I am really sorry for your loss. There should be no reason that you can’t start trying again for another baby in a few weeks. If you’ll follow me, I’ll escort you all to her room.”

  The family gathered in the hall and comforted each other. Al and Gretchen hugged Grayson and decided he should go in alone to see her first.

  Grayson knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He walked in slowly and found her in the bed, facing toward the window. Unsure if she was asleep, he leaned in to wrap his arm around her and whispered softly in her ear.


  “Hey, beautiful, I love you. God, it feels good to hold you in my arms again. You’re stuck with me, from now on, I’m never letting you out of these arms.” He let his tears fall down his face. He wanted to hide his own pain from her, but he couldn’t control his grief for the loss of their unborn baby or for the anger he felt for what she had suffered.

  ***

  He wrapped his arms around me and climbed into bed. I couldn’t control my sobs. He just held on tight, trying to comfort me as I stared out the window. Finally, I felt moisture on the side of my face as he softly kissed the corner of my lips. I could feel his tears. He was grieving too. Our little angel, now gone to Heaven. His hand was splayed out across my pelvis. I knew he was trying to fill the void and take my pain away.

  For the longest time, we just laid in the bed, quiet, neither of us talking.

  Finally, he broke the silence. “I love you so much. I know your heart is breaking like mine. We will have a baby, I promise. Just as soon as we are cleared to try again, you’ll see. Please talk to me.”

  I could hear the sadness in his cracking voice and feel his heart pounding at my back. I knew his response to our loss was as real as mine, but I didn’t want another baby. I wanted my baby, our baby, our surprise little one. Why was our little angel taken from us?

  I didn’t have the strength to fight. My pain was raw and real, defeating me. I couldn’t understand why this had to happen. I found myself full of anger and hate for what was taken from us. I didn’t want to move past it; I just wanted life to stop. I couldn’t think about going forward with the emptiness.

  “There’s a group of worried folks outside that door. You want to let them in?” he asked with a plea.

  I couldn’t answer him. I just wanted to lie still and fade into a dream of a happier time and place.

  After a few more minutes, he took his phone from his pocket and sent a text, but he didn’t leave my bed. I sensed that he wanted to keep from putting space between us, like he needed the closeness as much as I did.

  The text must have gone to someone in our families, since they all entered the room.

  Daddy came over to my side of the bed and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “I’m so glad you’re safe, sweetie. I’ve been so worried. This is all my fault. I should’ve been more careful. I…” He couldn’t finish his sentence, but sank to the chair beside my bed and wept.

  “Daddy, please don’t cry, this isn’t your fault. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If they had gotten you, they would’ve killed you.”

  “They tried to kill you, and you took two bullets because of me and my stupidity. I wasn’t paying attention. I haven’t been for some time. I suppose I’m going to be forced to admit that I’m getting old and senile!”

  “I just want to get out of this hospital and go home, back to Dallas, and be done with it. If I had listened to Grayson, none of this would’ve happened.” I turned to Grayson, who immediately pulled me close to him. “When can I go home? I want to go home, please. Take me home.” I hid my face in Grayson’s neck and snuggled deep into his arms. I tried to stifle my sobs; it didn’t work.

  “We can’t leave until early tomorrow morning. There are news media parked around the place, but we have a private exit planned. No Chicago, do you hear me? We’re going home!” He held me tight as I tried to tune out the volume of the world.

  I could hear the family talking amongst themselves, but I wasn’t listening.

  Cooper came up to the bed. “Alex, you up for a hug?” He reached out his arms, and I graciously accepted them. It felt good to have him close. He had been so quiet, his face ashen with stress. We both cried, unable to control our emotions.

  The nurse came in and ushered everyone, except Grayson, out for a few minutes. She checked my vitals, answered his questions, and gave me some medicine in my IV. It quickly took effect and made me sleepy.

  Grayson held me tight as I cried myself to sleep. I must have been asleep for a while because when I woke, it was dark in my room, except for a small lamp. He was still in the bed with me, and when I looked at him, he was just watching me. The room was quiet. I couldn’t see anyone else. “Where’s everyone?”

  “They went to get something for dinner and to make some arrangements. We have an entourage coming back to Dallas with us, unless you don’t want them to.”

  “It’s okay.” I just shrugged.

  “Would you rather everyone go their separate ways? You know your Dad doesn’t want that, and I don’t want you to be in Chicago.”

  “No, it’s fine. He’ll get a room at a hotel close by the apartment. We can all go home together.”

  Just as we were discussing things, the family came back in the room. I slowly sat up to greet them, pain coursing through my body. I wanted to be close to them, the more there the safer I felt. I tried to get out of the bed, but it hurt like hell and moving wasn’t as easy as I tried to make it look.

  Each one came over to the bed to greet me. They expressed their grief for the loss of our little angel, taken by such horrible people. It was comforting to know we were not alone; they shared in our pain.

  “I’m glad you all are coming back home with me. Daddy, I need your help because Grayson and Zoe need to get back to work. Would you and Gretchen stay in town for a few days? I’m sure Cooper is ready to get rid of the drama and go back to work as well. Harrison, are you sure that you want to hang around the drama princess? We can get a room for you with Dad and Gretchen, but I would love for you to stay in Dallas for a few days.”

  “He’s staying with me. We’ve got things to work out, and we’ve lost time we need to make up for.” Grayson reached out to Harrison with a fist bump.

  I turned and raised an eyebrow to Grayson, but he just winked and quickly kissed my cheek.

  Family. Where would I be without them? The thought of what it took to bring us all together terrified me, covering my body in goose bumps.

  The family said their goodbyes and would see me in the morning on the plane home. Grayson and I were left alone, and I didn’t know what to say, so I just kept quiet.

  He tried to get me to eat, but I couldn’t find an appetite. He checked me over and looked at my stitches, so gently tending to me and helping me move about. I don’t know if it was a look on my face or the fact I accidentally pulled away from him when he touched me, but I saw the emotion coming from his eyes.

  “It’s okay; we’re alone now. You can say whatever you want. You can yell, scream, cry… But just know that I love you, and I loved our baby, and a part of me feels empty now. We’ll get through this together. We are together. I still want us to get married as soon as possible. By the way, where is your ring?” he asked, as he reached for my hand.

  I jerked back and lost all sense of the little composure I had mustered for everyone. Everything came out all at once. “The kidnappers took it…” I began before the sobbing, screaming took over. “They took everything! They took everything from me! They took my baby, they stole my ring. They ripped my heart out.” I was screaming by this time, and the nurse came in to make sure everything was okay.

  “Ma’am, please calm down. Let’s get you back in the bed, and I’ll bring you a sedative.”

  “I don’t want a damn sedative. I want my baby!” I screamed, while losing all control of reality. I could see the nurse was putting something in my IV line, and Grayson was in the bed with me again, holding me tight, trying to help me regain control.

  Someone knocked and the door quietly opened. Then a young lady about my age came in. “Hi, Alexandra. I’m Tara, can I come in for a minute?”

  “What do you want?” I was being a bitch and snapped at her without meaning to.

  “I’m Tara Edmonds. I volunteer at the hospital. Would it be okay if we talked for a few minutes?” She seemed sweet and her eyes looked like they had a story to tell.

  “I’ll go get something to drink. I’ll bring you back some hot chocolate.” Grayson gave me a squeeze and a sweet
kiss on the lips that seemed to linger for a minute before he quietly slipped out of the room.

  Tara came over and sat by me in the chair. She acted like she was choosing her words carefully as she began to speak softly.

  “As I said before, I do some volunteer work here at the hospital, and I just wanted to pop in and say hello, to introduce myself and see if there is anything you need, girl to girl. Sometimes, it’s hard for family or for guys to understand what goes on for us girls when things happen that we don’t know how to express.” She paused briefly. “All these emotions can come out of us at the same time. I think about one of my favorite movies, Steel Magnolias, where Sally Field says ‘I’m so mad, I just wanna hit somebody!’”

  “That’s one of my favorite movies, too.” I tried to share a smile with her, but I felt guilty smiling. How could I smile?

  “We have more in common than just a movie. My husband is a physician here at the hospital. We’ve been married for four years now. I met him while I was attending nursing school, and we married after just a few months of dating. You should’ve heard the gossip mill around here!

  “One night I was working a late shift as part of my training. I was walking to my car, with my mind on my new husband and all of the things on our to-do list for our new home. I suddenly found myself forced to the ground and…being beaten.” Tara seemed to struggle with her words.

  “I didn’t know my attacker, he chose me at random. He was on drugs and decided to just pick a stranger to attack. He beat me, raped me, and left me in the cold parking lot with no clothes on to be found by yet another stranger. After I healed from my outside wounds, I found the biggest hurdle to be my inside wounds. I couldn’t escape from them, and I couldn’t express them, not even to my husband. Almost a year went by before I could go out at night, and when I finally did, it was the biggest breath of fresh air I had ever known, like I was breathing for the first time.

  “The hospital here believes in more than just counseling. They believe in matching survivors up as survivor pals, and I was matched up with Susan. Her best advice to me was to outrun, outlive my fear. It took a while, but I eventually decided my attacker would win only if I gave up. I don’t give up easily, which eventually paved the way to healing. Now, I’m able to be a survivor pal to you, Alexandra, and I pass along those great words of wisdom… Outrun, outlive your fear. Keep it behind you, not in front of you. Never give up, don’t let them win. I’m here for you, day or night. Once you go home, you can call me anytime. I’ll also come to you, if you need me to. You and I share an intimate pain that others can only show empathy towards. We know what it is like to fear for our lives and to have that which is most precious taken from us.” Tara paused and gripped my hand.