The Davenport Christmas Chronicles

by Piper Davenport

  “I could have died.”

  He wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Also, glaringly aware of that fuckin’ fact, Kennedy.”

  “Were my parents freaked?”

  “We all were,” he said.

  I nodded. “I’m so sorry, Declan.”

  “Baby, stop. You heard the doctor, you’re doing really well. You didn’t lose your leg, or more importantly, your life, and now we can focus on you healing fully.”

  “I love you.”

  “I know.”

  I sniffed. “You could be a bit more gracious about that.”

  “I’ll think about it when you’re back to fighting status.”

  I rolled my eyes just as Sawyer walked in with pudding. “I brought you two, but if you can’t eat both, don’t feel like you have to.”

  “Okay, thanks,” I said, tearing into the packaging.

  “If you tolerate that, we can talk about getting some protein into you,” Sawyer offered.

  “Like in the form of a burger?”

  “Not quite so heavy.”

  I wrinkled my nose as I shoved a spoonful of pudding into my mouth and Sawyer chuckled. “Press your call button if you need me. I’ll swing by and check on you soon.”

  “Thanks, Sawyer.”

  She smiled and left us, and my family filed back in, including my brothers.

  “Jesus, Jack, why the hell do you always have to one-up everyone?” Colm accused and I grinned.

  My brothers always called me ‘Jack’ after the late president, and they would often joke that whenever they had an injury, I’d get one a little bit worse to one-up them. They weren’t wrong. I had always been a tomboy as a kid and always getting myself in some kind of a scrape.

  “You set the bar pretty high when you dropped your dirt bike,” I retorted. “I had to go big.”

  Tadhg came over and hugged me gently. He was my sensitive brother and wasn’t a big talker, especially when he was stressed.

  “I’m okay, Tiger,” I whispered. His name was pronounced ‘Tige,’ but as a little girl, I’d always called him ‘Tiger,’ which seemed to stick with the rest of the family as well.

  He nodded and stepped away, and Mouse resumed his spot at my side.

  “Thanks for monitoring my pain pump,” I said to him.

  He grinned. “You’re welcome.”

  Sawyer walked in a few minutes later, but her focus was suddenly on my mother. “Mrs. O’Brien? Are you okay?”

  “Mom?” I tried to sit up, but Mouse gently pushed me back on the mattress.

  “I’m okay,” she said, pressing her palm to her chest. “It’s just hard to breathe.”

  “I’m going to get you some oxygen,” Sawyer said, and rushed out the door.

  “What’s going on?” I demanded.

  Sawyer returned with a portable oxygen tank, and helped my mom secure the mask to her face. “Take slow, deep breaths.”

  “Please, someone tell me what’s going on,” I begged.

  “I think your mom’s reacting to the altitude,” Sawyer explained.

  “Mom, you need to get down to sea level.” I gripped Mouse’s hand. “Mouse, make her leave.”

  “I’m not leaving you,” Mom argued through her mask.

  “For what it’s worth,” Sawyer said. “The oxygen will help, but unless you’re planning on making Colorado home, you won’t feel better for quite a while. The only true way to resolve this is to get out of this altitude.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Mom avowed, and I forced myself not to swear.

  Mouse leaned down, close to my ear, and whispered, “We’ll figure it out, baby. I’ll talk to your dad.”

  I closed my eyes and nodded. “Thanks.”

  He squeezed my hand and I found it hard to stay awake, so I didn’t fight it.

  Kennedy

  One week later...

  I was being released today. Mouse had finally found a way to spring me from my medical prison, and the fact I no longer had the halo around my shin made that easier. It had been replaced with a very sturdy cast which Mouse had insisted he be the first to sign.

  “Are you ready?” Sawyer asked as she pushed a wheelchair into the room. Mouse stood with a grin and I clapped my hands.

  “So ready,” I breathed out.

  “Dr. Warren gave you your instructions, right?”

  I nodded. “Yep. I have my schedule to try adding pressure, but I have a scooter in the meantime.”

  “There’s a doctor onsite at the place we’re stayin’, so she’s covered,” Mouse said.

  “Perfect. I’ve got an orderly—”

  “I’ve got her,” Mouse interrupted. “Ready?” he asked me.

  “Ah, sure?”

  He chuckled, sliding one arm gently under my knees, the other wound around my waist. “Loop your arm around my neck, Lace.”

  I did and he lifted me easily, setting me gently in the chair.

  “I’ll pull the car up,” Mouse offered, and kissed me gently before leaving me with Sawyer.

  “Normally, we have a volunteer wheel our patients out, but I asked if I could do it.”

  “You did?” I asked, as she handed me an iPad to sign myself out.

  “Yeah. I need to know if your man has a brother.”

  “Oh, he has about twenty of them.”

  I filled her in on Mouse’s club as she wheeled me down to the car and she chuckled. “Okay, you’re gonna need to figure out a way to get me to a party or something.”

  “We’re staying with a friendly club and they always do things for foster kids in the area. I’ll let you know if they need help.”

  She and I had already exchanged phone numbers and I knew we were going to be friends forever.

  “Girl, you better.”

  I laughed as we headed out into the frigid cold. Mouse was already curbside, waiting for me. He lifted me carefully into the SUV, then closed me in and made his way to the driver’s side, climbing in and rubbing his hands together. “Jesus, fuck, it’s cold.”

  “It’s so beautiful,” I breathed out. “I would love to live somewhere with snow.”

  “You say that, but you don’t have to drive in, or shovel it.”

  “This is probably true,” I said as we pulled out of the hospital. We had a long drive to Monument where we’d be staying with the Primal Howlers for the next two weeks. “What did you say to my dad?”

  My mother had gotten so sick, my father finally convinced her it was time to take her home. Mouse and Dad had had a private discussion a few days ago, and my dad had apparently felt comfortable leaving me with him. He’d managed to convince my mom I was in good hands. My brothers had left with them, making me promise I’d be back for the New Year’s Eve party at home.

  Remington had always loved Mouse, and since she had to get back to her classes at the ballet school where she taught, she hopped on a plane the day I got my cast, feeling settled that I was going to be okay.

  “I just laid out my plans for keeping you safe and healthy,” Mouse said. “He had a few demands which I met.”

  “What kind of demands?”

  “Ones that are between me and him,” he evaded.

  “Declan,” I admonished.

  He reached over and took my hand, tightening his hold when I tried to pull away. “Baby, you’re gonna have to get used to the fact your parents like me. I’m in. Even your brothers seem to tolerate me.”

  “Tadhg might, but Colm’s like a cat. He’s waiting for you to show weakness so he can eat your corpse.”

  Mouse laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Do you really think we can do this?”

  “We’re already doin’ it,” he pointed out. “We have been for a while now, you just tried to tell yourself it was something else.”

  “You might have a point.”

  “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”

  “Nope.” I smiled, closing my eyes. “That was your one concession.”

  He squeezed my hand and I
rolled my neck and opened my eyes.

  “Love you, Kennedy. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

  “Yeah, you’ve kind of proved that.” I sighed. “You’re like herpes... controlled but never cured.”

  He burst out laughing and I couldn’t stop a smile.

  “I love you, too, I guess,” I said, and he lifted my hand to his mouth, kissing it gently. “I’m gonna fuck this up, you know that right?”

  “Nah, you’ll be fine.”

  I snorted and faced the road again, biting back a yawn.

  “We’ve got over an hour, baby, why don’t you sleep?”

  I nodded, closing my eyes.

  * * *

  “We’re here, baby,” Mouse whispered, kissing my cheek.

  I jumped a little and opened my eyes. He was leaning in the passenger door with a smile. “We’re here?”

  “Yeah, baby. I carried everything into the house, so do you want to go there and sleep, or hang with everyone in the cabin?”

  “I’d like to freshen up a bit, but if you want to hang with everyone, I’m good with that.”

  “Well, I’m not gonna leave you alone, so we’ll go inside and get you settled.”

  I nodded. “And drugs. I need drugs.”

  “Shit, baby, sorry. I shoulda kept track.” He frowned. “It’s been six hours since you last had anything.”

  “It’s fine. I want to stretch it as much as I can.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s bullshit. You’re gonna take it more regularly now that I can watch it. You can ween yourself off next week.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re gonna be a pain in the butt about this, aren’t you?”

  “No doubt about it.”

  “You gonna step back so I can get out?” I asked.

  “I’m gonna carry you.”

  “Like hell you are,” I growled. “Move out of the way, Mouse. I’ll use the scooter.”

  “It’s too slippery,” he argued.

  “And it’s not too slippery for you to haul my ass around?”

  He grinned. “Nope.”

  “What about the bags?”

  “Already inside.”

  I tapped his cheek. “Thought of everything, haven’t you?”

  “I have to in order to keep up with you.”

  “You don’t have to carry me, Mouse. I can use crutches.”

  “Already inside, Lace, so you’re gonna have to let me carry you.”

  “You obviously did this on purpose, so I really don’t want to reward that behavior,” I sassed.

  He chuckled. “Sucks for you.”

  He reached in and helped me out of the car, where he picked me up like I weighed nothing, then carried me into Aero and Violet’s home.

  He didn’t set me down until we reached their living room, where he lowered me into a giant recliner. He then walked away.

  A beautiful blonde woman appeared in front of me with a big grin. “I’m Violet. Everyone calls me Letti. Welcome.”

  “Hi Letti,” I said. “Thank you so much for letting us stay. If we become too much of an imposition, please tell me. I’ll kick Mouse out immediately.”

  She laughed. “Maybe we should kick both our men out and make it a boy-free zone.”

  “Ooh, is that an option?”

  “Okay, that’s enough,” a giant Viking-type man growled good-naturedly. “I’m Aero, and you can ignore Letti.”

  Mouse returned, handing me a bottled water and one of my pain pills. I took it gladly and settled deeper into the chair.

  “I’ve gotta get up to the cabin,” Aero said. “But it’s good to have you guys here, Kennedy.”

  “Thanks, Aero.”

  I patted Mouse’s leg. “Go with him.”

  He shook his head. “Not leaving you.”

  “I’ll be here,” Violet said.

  Mouse shook his head. “No.”

  I reached up and tugged on his cut. “Come here.”

  He leaned down and I squeezed his face, so his lips puckered. “Let me have some girl time. I’ll be fine.” I released his face and smiled. “Please?”

  “Where’s your phone?” he asked.

  “Probably in my purse.”

  He found my purse and I pulled my phone out setting it on the table next to me.

  “You text me if you need me.”

  “I will.”

  He leaned down to kiss me, and I forced myself not to turn my face away. This whole being in a relationship thing was going to take some getting used to.

  He grinned, chucking my chin gently. “Appreciate the effort, baby.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “If you keep pointing out my shortcomings, I’m gonna go back to status quo.”

  He raised his hands in surrender. “Well, we sure as hell don’t want that.”

  I cocked my head. “Don’t we?”

  “I’m leavin’ before you totally freak out.”

  “Probably a good idea.”

  He grinned. “Text me if you need me.”

  “I will, Declan.”

  He followed Aero out the door and I let out a sigh of relief.

  “Can I get you some tea?” Violet asked.

  “Ooh, tea would be amazing, please. Thank you.” I pushed myself up from the chair and reached for my little scooter. “First things first, though, I need to pee.”

  “Down the hall to your right,” Violet said. “Do you need help?”

  “Nope, I got it,” I said, and scooted to the bathroom.

  When I wheeled myself back out, a hot cup of tea and a couple of cookies were on the table beside the recliner, so I settled myself back in and waited for Violet to join me.

  Their living room had two huge picture windows that showcased the gorgeous white expanse outside, and their tree was directly in between the windows, which made the whole scene cozy.

  “Let me know if you need a blanket,” Violet said as she sat in the sofa next to me. “Sometimes it’s just nice to wrap yourself up and watch the snow.”

  “Seriously. I would kill to live somewhere with snow. Unfortunately, no one in my family will ever leave Savannah.”

  “What about Mouse?”

  “I’m not sure he’s overly keen either, but I could work on him.”

  Violet smiled. “Y’all would have a place here if you ever wanted it. My dad loves Mouse.”

  I chuckled. “Who doesn’t?”

  Violet’s dad, Sundance, was the president of the Primal Howlers, and in theory, that would be a great fit, except that they’re a one-percent club, and the Dogs of Fire are clean, so I don’t know if it would work for me or Mouse.

  “True,” she conceded. “How did you two meet?”

  “One of my best friends died and I met him when I was dealing with that.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Violet said, grabbing a cookie.

  “Thanks. It sucked.”

  “But you got Mouse, so that’s a positive, right?”

  “Jury’s still out on that,” I retorted.

  “Uh-oh.”

  I smiled slightly, then sipped my tea. “We have one thing we do really well together.”

  “Sex?”

  I chuckled. “Yeah. How’d ya guess?”

  “It’s how it always is. If the sex is bad, there’s no point in moving forward, but if it’s good, mind-blowing good, then you find ways to stay in it even if you shouldn’t.”

  “Oh, I’ve tried to get out. A hundred times.”

  “But he fell in love and held on like a vice-grip?” She held her hands up and made a gripping motion as she grimaced.

  “Jesus, yes,” I hissed out.

  She grinned. “Been there.”

  “My ski trip was supposed to be my chance to shake him loose for good, but then I biff it on the slopes, day one, and he runs to rescue me. He got me high and I confessed how I felt—out loud, goddammit—and now we’re in some kind of long-term relationship.”

  Violet laughed. “Oh, you poor baby. You’re in love with a gorgeous man who loves you back and f
ucks you right.”

  I sighed. “I know. I’m an ungrateful bitch.”

  “And you’re in a romantic, snow globe setting.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Keep rubbing it in.”

  She grinned. “Want more?”

  “No.” This time, it was me who laughed. “I just have to figure out how to let him love me. I haven’t had the greatest track record with men.”

  “Me neither.”

  “Really?”

  “In that there wasn’t any track record.”

  I snorted. “Your dad wouldn’t let them anywhere near you?”

  “Ding, ding, ding,” she retorted.

  “My dad doesn’t know a damn thing about the men I’ve dated. Well, except for the one who murdered several women.”

  “What the fuck?” Violet breathed out. “What happened?”

  “He and his cousin apparently went on a murderous rampage but dated ‘nice’ girls for cover. The problem was, Seth couldn’t fully hide his true self for long, and after he’d beat me and attempted to rape me, I got the fuck outta Dodge and didn’t look back. He was the last guy I introduced to my parents, and my dad almost lost his mind after he hurt me. I think he returned the beating, but no one has ever confirmed that. Seth’s in federal prison under suicide watch after he cut out his tongue.”

  “Oh my god,” she squeaked.

  “He and Thomas were the most prolific serial killers the country had ever seen to date, working in tandem so they’d always have an alibi. It took a while to catch them.”

  “That’s terrifying.”

  I nodded. “Very. Jasmine was actually kidnapped by Thomas.”

  “Alamo’s Jasmine?”

  “Yep.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “I know. It’s like a Dateline story where you’re actually the headline.”

  “I can see why you’d want to write off men.”

  I sighed. “Yeah. I just wasn’t expecting Mouse. He’s the best man I’ve ever known outside my father.”

  Violet smiled. “Our dads gave them big shoes to fill.”

  “You can say that again.” My phone buzzed and I glanced at the screen. “Mouse has texted me three times in the last fifteen minutes. Excuse me, I’m just gonna call him real quick.”

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “You’ve been gone less than half an hour,” I pointed out.

  “So?”

  I smiled. “I’m good, honey.”

  “Fuck me,” he rasped.