by Mia Knight
It took less than two hours for Gavin to board the yacht. Lyla waited for him with a glass of champagne and sparkling water for herself. His mouth was pressed into a thin line and although she couldn’t see his eyes, she could feel the heat emanating from him.
“You made it in time to see the sunset,” she said and handed him the glass.
“Lyla.”
“Did you have a nice flight? Mine was a bit bumpy, but—”
“You flew?”
Gavin smashed his champagne glass and grabbed her by the shoulders. He gave her a small shake and leaned in close. “Lyla, you don’t take off without telling me.”
She refused to be intimidated. “We needed time away and it’s your birthday next week.”
“And I would have come. Just tell me. I went home and you were gone!”
She heard fear in his voice. “You thought I left you?”
Gavin released her and ran both hands through his hair. “I didn’t know what to think.”
“Didn’t you see my card on the bed?”
“No. I realized the house was empty and called your cell.”
“Maybe I should have taped the card to the door or something,” she mused.
He tore off his sunglasses. “No, you should tell me with your voice, not a fucking card.”
“Gavin.” Lyla went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He glared down at her and she felt awful. “I didn’t think you’d jump to that conclusion. I mean, why would I leave you?”
Gavin didn’t answer.
“I’m not going to leave you,” she said and tugged off his suit jacket so it dropped to the deck. She unbuttoned his shirt halfway so he could cool off and register the cool breeze. “We needed time together so I rented the yacht for a week.”
Lyla poured him another glass of champagne and pet Beau to reassure him that neither of them was in danger. Gavin took the glass, which she forced him to drink before she stood beside him, looking out at the horizon as the sun set. It took Gavin a half hour to chill. The night was cool, but comfortable enough for them to lounge on the deck and listen to the water slosh against the sides.
“Are you still mad at me?” she asked.
“You’re trying to kill me.”
She clucked her tongue in disgust. “We’re going to have fun. Marcus is going to take care of the meetings that can’t be rescheduled and if there’s an emergency, I have your laptop.”
“Marcus?”
“Yes. We were talking about this trip when you went psycho on him yesterday.”
“I think I broke his jaw.”
Lyla sat up. “You what?”
“We boxed. Maybe I should see if he’s all right.”
“You’re damn right you should! Oh my God, you’re such an ass! He’s a great COO. Why would you do that?”
“He likes to push my buttons.”
“So you break his jaw?”
“I don’t know if I did or not. The ambulance came for him. I didn’t have a chance to check on his status since I had to take over his meetings for the day. I got your text, asking me to come home early and I forgot about him.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she snapped and pulled out her cell and called Janice who knew everything. “How’s Marcus?”
“He has a concussion and a bunch of bruises, but he’s fine,” Janice said crisply.
“We just wanted to make sure he’s okay. Thanks.” Lyla hung up and glared at Gavin. “You gave him a concussion.”
“Maybe I should teach him how to box.”
“You have a problem!” She got up and walked into the cabin. “Come on, Beau.”
Lyla walked into the master bedroom and ignored the romantic meal set up for them. She took a shower in the luxurious bathroom. When she came out, she found Gavin on the phone, standing in front of a row of windows that looked out at their surroundings. Lyla was slightly mollified when she realized he was talking to Marcus. Lyla fed Beau and made herself a plate of food from the assembled dishes.
Gavin hung up the phone and turned to her. “I offered to go back if he’s not feeling well, but he’s at the office right now.”
“He loves his job.”
Gavin grunted. “I’m gonna shower.”
Lyla turned on the TV and watched Friends reruns. The yacht tipped from side to side, lulling her into a doze. She had bursts of energy, which quickly faded. She needed this week away from Vegas as much as Gavin did, he just didn’t know it. Volunteering, fluctuating hormones and preparation for the baby was exhausting. Lyla drifted to sleep before Gavin joined her in the bedroom.
***
Lyla stared at crashing waves. Sea spray landed on her face in a light mist that made her feel cool and relaxed. She shifted her feet, which sank into fine, warm sand. A hand stroked her hair. Lyla turned her head and saw Manny sitting beside her on a white sand beach. He wore a shirt that was unbuttoned halfway and slacks. His bare toes wriggled in the sand. The gold chains around his neck and the rings on each finger glinted in the sun. Lyla’s heart gave a painful twist. Even as she realized that this must be a dream, she reached out to touch his face.
“Manny.” Her fingers touched skin marred only with age lines. She grasped his hand and buried her face against his warm palm. “I miss you so much.”
“I see Gavin listened to me.”
She looked up and took in every detail of his face. His chest was damp from the sea spray and the heat.
“Listened to you about what?” she asked.
“Starting a family.”
Lyla looked down at her protruding belly covered by a thin sarong. “We’re going to name her Nora.”
“I know. I’m honored.”
Lyla closed her eyes as a shaft of pain and loss ripped through her. “I wish you were here.”
“I am.”
Lyla closed her eyes and soaked in his presence. He seemed so real and solid, but even in sleep, she knew the truth.
“I’m happy that you and Gavin finally got your act together.”
She let out a choked laugh. “It’s an ongoing battle.”
“He needs you, Lyla. Don’t give up on him.”
“I won’t,” she vowed.
“That’s my girl.”
She absorbed the feel of him and his familiar musky scent now mixed with sunblock and ocean. She saw his gold cane in the sand and smiled.
“I knew you were with me.”
She tilted her face up. “What?”
“I felt you grab my hand before I died.”
Her breath seized. She dragged herself across the floor with a knife protruding from her chest to be near him as they died. Images from that day began to intrude on the dream. The sound of the waves began to fade. She clutched him desperately.
“Not yet, not yet,” she chanted. “I need more time.”
“You’re so brave, so strong.” Manny’s voice was a soothing balm to her soul. “No other woman would be able to handle Gavin and the trials you’ve been through.”
“Please don’t go,” she whispered.
“I’m always with you.”
She shook her head as tears poured down her cheeks. “It’s not fair.”
He cupped her chin. “I’m good, baby girl.”
“I’m not.” She grasped handfuls of his shirt. “I think about you everyday. I miss you so much.”
“You need to stay strong. There are more trials to come.”
“What?”
“He’s still out there, Lyla. He’ll come for you and the baby. He won’t stop. Keep Nora safe.”
“What are you talking about?”
The warmth from the sun faded and the sky began to darken. Over Manny’s shoulder, she saw movement. A man in a black suit and mask stood on the beach. Lyla’s heart leapt into her throat. She clutched at Manny even as the monster reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun.
“Manny!”
***
Lyla jolted awake, mouth open on a scream. She clapped a hand over her mouth an
d lay in bed, shaking. Gavin slept with his back to her. Beau padded out of the darkness, and nudged her arm with his nose. Lyla slid out of bed, sagged to her knees, wrapped her arms around him and wept silently. She felt as if she lost Manny all over again.
When she got a hold of herself, she kissed his muzzle and went to pee. Her reflection showed haunted, bloodshot eyes, pale complexion and colorless lips. Lyla grabbed a jacket and put it on over her tank top and tights before she left the cabin with Beau. It was still dark out. Lyla settled on a deck chair with Beau between her legs, keeping her feet warm as the cool ocean breeze swirled around her.
That had been some dream. How could her mind create something so realistic? The beginning had been good, but the end was a nightmare. Keep Nora safe. Lyla wrapped her arms around her stomach. Manny was right. The sadist who stabbed her never intended for her to live. He would come back to finish the job.
Lyla clung to the good parts of the dream, but the bad refused to be ignored. Grief rose so strong, she could barely contain it. Like Carmen, she lost someone she loved more than herself. There was no coping mechanism except to focus on little tasks and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Her heart and mind still couldn’t accept that Manny was gone. Nora would grow up never knowing Manny or understanding Gavin’s overprotectiveness. Lyla refused to allow Nora to feel a modicum of the terror and horror she endured because of the underworld.
On a sudden surge of anger, she went into the cabin and retrieved her gun from her purse. Gavin was trying to lose himself in her and the baby to calm his inner beast. It must be torture to know that the man who killed his cousin and father was still out there.
“Ma’am?”
Lyla blinked up at the crewmember.
“Do you want me to take the dog to shore?”
“Uh, yeah, I’ll come too,” Lyla said, wiping her face and sticking the gun in her pants.
Lyla climbed into a smaller boat with the crewmember and Beau. They walked along the shore as the sun came up. Beau raced along the beach before rounding back to her and then taking off again to do his business. There was no one around and the isolation soothed her. She dug her feet into the cold, wet sand and eyed the yacht that bobbed just outside of the cove. After the dry desert air, the ocean breeze felt like heaven. She knotted the arms of her jacket around her neck as she strolled.
On the trip back to the yacht, Lyla silently groaned when she saw Blade and Gavin waiting with their arms crossed. Gavin put his hands on her as soon as he could.
“You’re not making this easy on me, are you?” Gavin asked as he hauled her onboard.
“Beau had to do his business.”
“You should have woke me up.”
“I have my gun.” She brandished it, which made the crew members scatter.
Blade snatched the gun, but of course the safety was on.
“You shouldn’t be handling this unless it’s an emergency, especially in your condition,” Blade said.
Lyla ignored him and poured water into Beau’s doggy bowl.
“Breakfast is ready,” Gavin said and gestured to a beautiful spread on the deck.
Blade made a plate and retreated inside after shooting a nasty look at Lyla. Apparently, Gavin passed the time waiting for her return by chewing him out. Lyla piled her plate high. Despite her unease, she was starved.
“Your eyes are swollen.”
Lyla ignored Gavin’s quiet observation.
“Are you okay?”
Lyla nodded and continued stuffing her face, hoping he would take the hint. Gavin snatched a Danish out of her hand.
“Lyla, talk to me.”
“I’m fine,” she said and reached for another Danish, which he took from her as well. “Damn it, Gavin, I’m fine!”
“You’re not fine. Normally you don’t carry your gun. Something spooked you. What?”
Obviously, he wasn’t going to let this slide. “I had a nightmare.”
His eyes searched hers intently. “About Dad?”
Lyla’s eyes burned. “Yeah.” The silence stretched and she said, “He warned me that this guy wouldn’t stop until he finished the job.”
Gavin tensed. “It was a dream, Lyla.”
“But you think that too, right? That’s why you want me going to the gun range and why you train? You think he’s going to come back.”
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“You said you were trying to draw him out of hiding?”
“No one’s willing to give him up.”
Lyla felt a chill creep up her spine. “Which means he’s powerful.”
“I’m going to get him.”
“You better.”
Gavin appeared to be taken aback by her tone. Her heart still felt as if it was being torn in two. It had been a blessing and curse to have the dream about Manny. She missed him so much. What was that warning about? Was that her subconscious talking or a spiritual intervention?
Lyla leaned forward, hair whipping around her as she glared at her husband. “That fucker doesn’t deserve to live. He’s not allowed to. You do one more kill, Gavin. I won’t feel safe until he’s gone.”
Gavin was silent for so long that she wondered if she said something wrong. He rose, leaned across the table and kissed her. Just when she was getting into it, Gavin released her and sat with a grin.
She scowled. “What the fuck? I tell you that fucker needs to die and you smile at me?”
“You’re a crime lord’s wife, all right.”
“Former crime lord,” she corrected.
He shrugged. “Once a crime lord, always a crime lord. I’m hardwired to take justice into my own hands. I have resources and a lack of morals that make it easy.”
Lyla watched the ripple of muscles beneath his tight shirt. Gavin was a beast. He bulked up to ridiculous proportions and it looked fucking delicious on him. He looked like a UFC fighter. Gavin was ready for war, she realized. He wasn’t taking anything for granted. He would fight dirty to keep her and Nora. Lord have mercy on whoever was dumb enough to mess with him. After her experience with Sadist, she wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger on another human being. She couldn’t stand by and watch someone else be taken from her. No fucking way.
“What’s the plan?” Gavin asked.
“Plan?” she echoed, trying to get her mind off of violence and blood.
“You said I’m free for a week?”
“Yes.” She took a calming breath and let the beauty of her surroundings soothe her. “It’s your birthday in a couple of days. I don’t have any plans. I thought we could catch some sun, swim, eat, and chill.”
“Sounds good to me.” He glanced at Beau who was getting a suntan. “I can’t believe you brought that dog on a yacht.”
“He’d freak if I left him home for a week.” Lyla pointed along the coast. “There’s a lot of coves we can anchor in, we can go up and down the coast or we can go ashore if we’re not into it. We can do whatever. No plans.”
“No plans sound good.”
Lyla beamed. “Yay. Birthday weekend!”
***
Lyla slumped on the couch and moaned.
Gavin’s birthday weekend had been a success. They lazed in the sun, swam, fucked, slept and ate to their heart’s content. Gavin only picked up his laptop once and she felt refreshed and ready to rumble when they returned to Las Vegas. She accompanied Alice to the school where they volunteered, armed with new computers, instruments and much more. Janice was there, as were several reporters. Lyla did an impromptu interview, which Janice reassured her had been perfect.
A week ago she and Gavin attended a birthing class. It had been illuminating, reassuring and horrifying. Lyla was nervous as hell for labor, but she told herself (as the instructor reiterated multiple times) that women had been doing it since the beginning of time and she would survive. Just when she thought she couldn’t get any bigger, she did. Now, she literally couldn’t touch her toes. Even putting on yoga pants was a s
truggle. It was the final haul and she was big, miserable and horny as fuck. Gavin was delighted.
Even now, only four hours after he left, she needed him. God! Lyla put Beau in the backyard, locked the front door and was about to go upstairs to relieve herself when she remembered Gavin watching the live feed on his desk. What were the chances that he was watching her right now? She couldn’t call his office to ask him to come home and fuck her, but if he saw it for himself and wanted to join... That was a different thing.
Lyla shoved a section of the couch in front of one of the cameras. Horniness gave her extra strength. She felt as if her body was on fire. Thank God the weather was cooling and they were going into the holidays because she would have been miserable during this part of her pregnancy in the summertime. As it was, she wanted the temperature in the house around sixty and broke into a sweat at night. Gavin grumbled when she shirked his body heat. Between the two of them, they generated enough heat to warm people in Russia.
With effort, Lyla stripped out of her clothes and lay naked on the couch. Gavin wouldn’t fail to miss that, would he? The message was clear if he didn’t have his ear glued to the phone or was attending a meeting. A part of her wondered if Blade had access to the cameras, but her hormones decided it was worth the risk. Blade knew she didn’t have any plans today. There was no reason for him to tap into the feed. Lyla propped herself on some pillows and started slowly, just rubbing her hand over her tummy. Nora was going to be a bruiser. She had her daddy’s right hook and made it known that she wanted out.
“Six more weeks, love,” Lyla murmured to her stomach.
Lyla felt a spurt of impatience and then fear. The nursery was ready, but she didn’t know if she liked the lavender walls. Maybe she should have—. Lyla nearly slapped herself. She was supposed to be tempting Gavin to come home to fuck her, not daydream about paint colors on the couch butt naked. Lyla looked up at the camera before she spread her legs, giving him a bird’s eye view of one of his favorite places before she touched her breast and winced. They were ridiculously large and sensitive. How did other women handle huge boobs on a daily basis? She was fine with her normal B’s, thank you very much. This was a bit much for her. Speaking of which, Carmen had taken out her breast implants, which had been a shocker. Her look changed so drastically in the past months that she was almost unrecognizable.