by Susan Stoker
“I will.”
“Now.”
“I said I’d listen to it later, Faulkner.”
“Give me your phone.” Dude knew he was pushing it. Hell, he’d just told her that if he pushed her too hard or if she didn’t want to do something all she had to do was let him know and he’d back off. But he couldn’t back off of this.
Sighing, Cheyenne handed it over. She watched as Faulkner pushed some icons on the screen then turned the microphone toward them. He’d pushed play on the message and put it on speaker.
Cheyenne tensed. Oh shit, she didn’t want to listen to what he had to say when Faulkner was right there…
Hey Shy. I’m worried about you. I’m sure something happened at lunch with your family. Will you please call or text me? If you need space, no problem, but I just need to know you’re safe. Hope to hear from you soon.
The message ended and Cheyenne swallowed. “You weren’t mad.” Cheyenne looked up at the man sitting beside her. She’d been so afraid he’d yell at her, she’d totally underestimated him.
“No Shy, I wasn’t mad. I told you, I was worried.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No more apologies. We’re still learning about each other. We’re still getting to know each other and figuring out the dynamics of our relationship. As I said, I’m sure there’ll be times I’ll be mad, just as there’ll be times you’ll be pissed at me. It’s called a relationship, Shy. It’s normal and healthy. If you need space, just let me know, I’ll give it to you, but only if I know you’re safe while you have it. Deal?”
“Deal. Thank you, Faulkner.”
“You’re welcome, Shy. Now, can we please go home?”
“Yeah. We can go home.”
Dude stood up and held out his hand to Cheyenne. She grabbed it and he helped her stand up. His eyes glittered as he looked at her.
“What flavor today?” Dude leaned in and took her lips in a quick hard kiss. He ran his tongue over her lips as he pulled back. “Grape. Yum.”
Cheyenne just shook her head at Faulkner and licked her lips, trying to get her equilibrium back.
Dude took her hand and towed her back to the parking lot. “As much as I’d like to refuse to let you drive, I think you’d probably get irritated with me if I demanded that, wouldn’t you?”
Cheyenne simply nodded. “I’m okay to drive, Faulkner.”
“Okay. I’ll see you at home?”
“Yeah, home.”
They smiled at each other and Dude gave her one last kiss before making sure she was buckled up in the seat. He shut the door behind her and turned around to head to his truck. He couldn’t wait to show her how much she meant to him tonight. Cheyenne might not have said the words, but she showed him with her actions every day that he meant something to her. Dude would be patient. At least he’d try to be patient.
Chapter Fourteen
Cheyenne giggled at Summer and Alabama. Caroline had called Cheyenne that morning and told her they were all going out. It was about a month after the horrendous lunch with her family and Cheyenne had blossomed under Faulkner’s affection.
Their love life continued to be scorching hot and Cheyenne loved every second of it. There was something so freeing about being able to let go and have Faulkner make all the decisions. And it was something he excelled at. He knew exactly what to say and do to maximize her pleasure. Cheyenne knew she’d never get enough of him.
She hadn’t yet told him she loved him. She had no idea why, just that she was waiting for the perfect time. Cheyenne wanted it to be romantic and meaningful. Saying it in the middle of sex didn’t seem right, but right afterwards wasn’t either. Faulkner wasn’t the “go out to a fancy restaurant” type of guy, so that was out. So Cheyenne was struggling. She knew it was dumb, she should just say it, but so far she hadn’t. The longer she waited the more the pressure to come up with the perfect time overwhelmed her.
Caroline had made it a point to include Cheyenne in their “girl’s night out” festivities ever since Cheyenne had called her from the beach. The other women were hysterical. Cheyenne’s respect for them had risen. She’d heard all of their stories over the last month at one time or another. Cheyenne couldn’t believe what they’d all lived through, but when she’d tried to tell them that, they’d just laughed and said what she’d been through was just as impressive.
So now that Cheyenne had gotten over her nervousness, she loved hanging out with them. Sometimes she’d have lunch or dinner with just one of the girls, and other times it was all of them.
Cheyenne had slowly gotten to know the other guys on Faulkner’s team as well. Caroline was right, on the outside they were all growly and gruff, but deep down, they were teddy bears.
It took an interaction between Hunter and Fiona for Cheyenne to finally “get” what Faulkner had tried to tell her that day on the beach.
Fiona and Cheyenne had gone out for lunch and made an impromptu decision to watch an afternoon movie. Not even thinking, they’d muted their phones and enjoyed the flick. After it was over Fiona looked at her phone and said, “Uh oh.”
“What?”
“I was supposed to call Hunter after we were done with lunch so he could pick me up. He hasn’t been able to get in touch with me, or you.” She giggled. Actually giggled.
“Isn’t he going to be pissed?”
Fiona had looked Cheyenne in the eye and said, “No. He’ll be upset with me. He might yell, but I know deep down it’s all stemmed in worry for me. There’s a big difference between anger that is straight up anger, and anger that comes as a result of love.”
It had clicked for Cheyenne. When Hunter had arrived at the theater to pick up Fiona, she watched as Hunter ranted and raved at Fiona. He’d lambasted her for being inconsiderate and selfish. Fiona had taken it in stride and apologized over and over. Hunter’s anger blew itself out quickly and he took Fiona in his arms and held her tight.
It all made sense after seeing Hunter’s reaction. Cheyenne hadn’t brought it up with Faulkner yet, but she would. She knew he’d been extra careful lately not to upset her, and Cheyenne knew it had to stop. He was a SEAL, and more of a man than anyone she’d ever met. He had to let his feelings out. Cheyenne knew she had to convince Faulkner she wouldn’t freak out if he did let them out on her now.
So tonight Caroline had called and informed her that they were all going out. Since Cheyenne wasn’t working, she’d readily agreed.
Now they were sitting in Aces, their favorite bar, drinking amaretto and midori sours and doing the occasional shot. Summer and Alabama had challenged each other to see who could do a shot with no hands, drinking from the far side of the glass. It was obvious they’d fail, but it was hysterical to see them trying to strategize.
Cheyenne looked over at Mozart. He was sitting on the other side of the room pretending not to watch them. The guys had said the girls could go out all they wanted, as long as one of them was there to watch over them.
The guys pretended to be disgruntled about it, but Caroline had told her they all secretly loved it. She’d further informed Cheyenne that the girls only went out because of the incredible sex that followed when they arrived back home. She’d explained how their men loved doing them while they were drunk, so they encouraged the behavior by going out at least once a month.
Cheyenne giggled remembering how Caroline had told her about one episode with Matthew one month. She couldn’t resist leaning in and whispering to Caroline that Faulkner had tied her up like that just last night. The look on Caroline’s face was priceless. Cheyenne couldn’t wait to see how Faulkner “did her drunk.” If it was better than how he was giving it to her now, she was in serious trouble.
A pretty waitress, with short black hair and a tired look on her face, had been serving them. The other women seemed to know her as they called her by name, Jess, and joked with her as if she was one of the group.
Cheyenne told her friends that she felt bad that Jess kept walking back and forth from their ta
ble to the bar because she had a limp, and offered to go to the bar to get the drinks herself. The women had told her that it would embarrass Jess and not to worry about it. So Cheyenne had dropped it and after another shot or two stopped thinking of their waitress as handicapped, and instead as more of a savior from above who delivered drinks just as they needed them.
Cheyenne watched as Fiona counted to three and Summer and Alabama leaned over and grabbed the shot glass with their mouths and teeth. As they tried to grab the glass with their teeth and lean backward to try to down the shot, more liquid spilled down their chests than went into their mouths, soaking the front of each of their shirts in the process.
Laughing uncontrollably, Caroline, Fiona, and Cheyenne could only watch as the two women tried desperately to sop up the liquid before it ran all the way down their chests to their pants.
“So who won?” Summer asked with a crooked grin.
Cheyenne just shook her head. “You guys are such dorks. I think you both lost. Okay, let’s go get you cleaned up.” Cheyenne stepped between them and the three ladies made their way wobbling to the restroom at the bar. Stopping by Mozart, Summer kissed him long and hard. Sick of waiting, Alabama grabbed her arm and pulled.
“Come on, girl. You can do that later. It’s girl’s night out, not date night. You have to wait just like the rest of us have to.”
Summer pulled herself out of her man’s arms. Before continuing to the restroom, Summer leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Cheyenne watched as he smiled lazily and nodded, obviously pleased at whatever naughty thing Summer had told him.
The trio continued to the bathroom and they all piled inside. For a small bar, the restroom was surprisingly spacious. It was also very clean, which was one of the reasons the group always chose to come to Aces. There was nothing worse than having to pee while drunk in a filthy bathroom…at least that was what Caroline said.
Since Cheyenne hadn’t ever tried to pee while drunk in a dirty bathroom, she couldn’t argue one way or another, but she did appreciate not having to hover over a dirty toilet seat. It was much nicer to be able to sit on the seat, knowing it was clean.
“Boys are so lucky!” Cheyenne called out while relieving herself.
“What the hell are you babbling about, Cheyenne?” Alabama called out from the next stall over.
“Boys. They can stand up and pee. They don’t have to worry about dirty bathrooms or filthy toilet seats.”
“Lucky shits!” Summer screeched from the other side of Cheyenne.
The girls giggled and finished their business and were washing their hands, laughing about the trials and tribulations of women having to pee in public restrooms, when the door opened and a woman walked in. She had long brown hair and was wearing a pair of black jeans and a black long sleeved T-shirt.
“Hey!” she said cheerfully. Looking at Cheyenne she said, “I know you, you’re that woman who was on the news a while back right? You were at that store when those men were shot weren’t you?”
Cheyenne froze. She hadn’t ever been recognized before, and there was something about the way they woman had asked about her, that sounded wrong.
Before she could affirm or deny the woman’s words, Summer spoke up for her. “Hell yeah, she kicked ass! Those assholes didn’t have a shot in hell at getting out of there. Our Cheyenne was too smart for them.” She turned to Alabama and gave her a high five.
Cheyenne didn’t take her eyes off the stranger. Her buzz was quickly fading. The woman didn’t look happy. In fact she looked pissed.
“One of those assholes was my brother,” she said in a low voice as she pulled out a pistol.
“Oh, Fuck,” Alabama said quietly.
“Okay, look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Summer tried to back pedal and apologize.
“Too late, bitch. You can’t say something like that then in the next breath say you didn’t mean it. You meant it. Just for that, you’re coming with me too.”
“Coming with you?”
“Yeah, we’re all going for a ride.”
Cheyenne tried to think fast. “Look, it’s me you’re pissed at…not them. They weren’t there. I can tell you anything you want to know. I can tell you the last thing your brother said. Let them stay, just take me.”
“Fuck that. The second we leave, they’ll be on the phone calling in your military friends. No way in hell. You all have to come with me.”
“How are you going to get us all to go with you?” Alabama asked steadily, as if she wasn’t falling down drunk a minute ago.
The woman moved quickly and grabbed Summer’s arm. She pulled her off balance and into her. The woman snagged her around the neck and tightened her hold, while also holding her pistol to the side of Summer’s head. “If you don’t come with me, I’ll kill her. Right here in front of you. I’ll blow her fucking brains out. What’s it going to be?”
The woman was obviously stronger than she appeared, either that, or she was under the influence of some sort of drug. Summer struggled briefly, but wasn’t able to break the woman’s hold.
Cheyenne and Alabama watched helplessly as Summer struggled to breathe. It was an easy decision.
“Okay, we’re coming. Don’t hurt her. Please.”
The woman eased up on Summer’s throat a bit. “Don’t try anything. I know one of your military friends is out there. We’re going out the back door. Act normal or I’ll fucking shoot her. I don’t have anything to lose. After Hank was killed, my world went to shit anyway.”
Cheyenne believed this woman would kill Summer if either of them made any wrong moves. Cheyenne’s eyes filled with tears. Dammit. She didn’t want to put her friends in danger. Summer had already been kidnapped once, she didn’t need this. Cheyenne knew she had to get her new friends out of this somehow.
It wouldn’t be long until Sam realized they’d been gone too long, especially with Summer being his. He’d come and look for them and when he couldn’t find them, surely he’d know something was wrong.
Cheyenne and Alabama preceded the crazy woman out of the restroom and toward the back door.
It was almost scary how easy it was for her to kidnap them right out of Aces. There was an SUV idling in the alley. A large man was sitting behind the wheel of the car and he glared at all of them as they exited the bar.
“What the hell, Alicia? I thought you were just going to get the store bitch? Who the hell are these other bitches?”
“I couldn’t leave them all in there, Javier! Jesus! The second I left with her, the others would’ve been on the phone getting the military guys after us! Shit. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Cheyenne tried one more time. “Please, don’t take them, leave them here, they won’t call anyone. I swear.”
“Hell no, get in the car, bitch. Remember what I said. I’ll kill your friends if you even look like you’re planning something. I don’t give a fuck about them, so you know I’m not lying.”
“I’ll do whatever you want. I promise. Just don’t hurt them.”
Cheyenne watched as an evil smile slid across Javier’s face. “I see what you mean, Alicia. Good going. She’ll be good as gold to keep her friends safe…won’t you, sweetheart?”
Cheyenne swallowed the bile that crept up her throat. Shit. They were in serious trouble.
* * *
Mozart shifted on his seat. He couldn’t wait to take Summer home and show her how much he loved “girls night out.” She’d whispered in his ear that tonight was the night she was going to allow him to restrain her. They’d been working up to it. She still had nightmares about Ben Hurst and when she was restrained and helpless in his clutches. They both knew he wasn’t Hurst, but sometimes the heart and the head differed in opinion.
He loved seeing the women drunk. They were cute and actually hilarious. Mozart only wished he could’ve filmed Summer and Alabama trying to down that shot without using their hands. Abe would’ve gotten a kick out of it.
The guys might bitch and
moan to the women about having to babysit them, but the truth was, they all fought for the chance to watch over them each month. The women would laugh themselves silly if they saw the elaborate ritual they went through every month, each trying to outdo the other, for the chance to sit in a damn bar for a few hours watching the women tie one on. There were enough women now that it’d probably be a good idea to have two of them there when the ladies were getting drunk, just to be safe.
Mozart checked his watch. It’d been fifteen minutes since Summer and the others had passed him to go to the bathroom. He knew women tended to spend more time than men in the restroom, but fifteen minutes was pushing it. Gesturing at Caroline, who was also checking her watch, he gave a chin lift and motioned toward the bathroom.
Caroline leaned over to Fiona and told her she’d be right back. She passed Mozart and headed to the restroom. Mozart frowned when she returned before even a minute had passed.
“They aren’t in there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sam, the bathroom only has three stalls, it’s not like it’s the size of a football stadium. There’s no one in there.”
They just looked at each other. Caroline reached for her phone. “They didn’t text me.”
Mozart pulled out his own phone. “Me either. Fuck.”
They turned and almost ran into Jess, the waitress.
“Hey, Jess, have you seen Alabama, Summer, or Cheyenne? They went to the restroom about fifteen minutes ago and never came back.”
Jess looked worried. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see them at all. I was busy over there,” Jess gestured toward the other side of the bar. “I was taking that large party’s orders and then helping get the drinks ready.”
Caroline and Mozart nodded and hurried back to the table. “Fiona, did any of the others text you by any chance?”
Sensing their urgency, Fiona checked her phone and shook her head after seeing she had no new texts.
Mozart didn’t waste any more time. He dialed Wolf first.
“Hey, Mozart, ready to call it a night yet?”