Scandal: The Reckless Series, Book #3 (The Reckless Crew)

by Bellus,HJ

  “How?”

  “I used to be a police officer. We’re family.”

  “Okay, but I really think Zack is going to let this go.”

  This next part pains me to think, let alone speak. “I think he has guys on you now.”

  “What?” It’s a panicked screech that tears my heart in two.

  “There was a guy outside the gas station staring at you. He started to follow you into the bathroom.”

  “What did he look like?”

  “It wasn’t Zack.” I’ve looked that slimy fucker up on the Internet and have his face memorized.

  “What did he look like?”

  “Dressed in black and a beast of a man. Dark hair and dark eyes.”

  She begins to tremble.

  “Chloe?”

  “I’ve seen him watching me two other times.”

  “Where?” Now, I’m fucking pissed.

  “The bowling alley and the coffee shop the other day with the girls.”

  “Has he tried talking to you?”

  She shakes her head no. “He just stares.”

  Chloe erupts into sobs as violent tremors take over her body.

  “Come here, baby, I’ve got you.”

  I pull her into my lap on the floor and hug her to my chest.

  “It’s my greatest fear, Kip, he’s taken everything away from me, right down to my confidence.”

  “He won’t win. I’ll make fucking sure of that.”

  I let her cry and wail in my arms until her tears are dried up. I pack her to bed and lay beside her. My insides boil that I didn’t fucking tear that other man to shreds earlier. I should’ve trusted my gut, but I second-guessed myself.

  Well, that shit is over. Not happening again. Ever.

  Chloe dries her last tear, but the fear still lingers above her. I have one mission right now, taking that away forever. I will be hopelessly forever taking it away for her. She deserves so much better. I stand to my feet with her in my arms. She’s light as a feather compared to the weights I’m used to. I could hold her like this forever, clutched to my chest in safety. It’s unrealistic, but I would do it for her.

  I lay her gently back on the bed and watch her sweep her wild hair from her face. She’s a fucking gorgeous piece of artwork. I slip her pants down then tangle my fingers in her lacy thong, tugging it down. My body lowers on hers, with most of my weight on my elbows and not her. A reverent ache takes over my body. I need her now. I need to taste and touch her, sharing my soul with her.

  I graze her lips with mine, soaking up her taste. Her knees weaken, allowing my body to fit perfect into her. Her gorgeous brown eyes are cloudy with fear and love staring back at me. The need floating from her awakens my inner soul and I realize in this moment I’ll never be able to live without her.

  It happened fast and it’s something I’m still having a hard time fully comprehending. Chloe came into my life and swept off with my heart. I never had a chance to fight any of this, but I have all the desire to fight like a raging motherfucker to keep it.

  My thumb caresses her smooth cheek while I let my lips linger on hers. I’m taking it slow, soaking up every part of her. Chloe lightly shakes underneath me and then she kisses me. Her lips melt into mine and our tongues tangle in a slow dance that I never want to end. Her moans float into my mouth and become mixed with my own.

  I pull my mouth back and kiss the line of her soft jaw and then lower down her body. My lips love her collarbone with light kisses while my hands roam up and down her side. I’m at her abdomen kissing it lightly and clutching it in my hands. It’s our future in there that we will build together.

  I keep going until I’m breathing in her core. It’s the sweetest smell on Earth. A rich honey that I’m always starving for. I kiss her lightly on her core over and over until she has her hands tangled in my hair and pulling on it. I know she wants more right now, but I’m going to devour her at my own pace tonight.

  After dozens of kisses, I finally dart out my tongue, licking through her folds and moaning when her sweet syrup is on my tongue. I use my hands to pull her legs up over my shoulders. I keep my palms splayed on the top of her thighs, keeping her as close to me as possible.

  Her hands move to cover mine as she mewls out her pleasure. I usually use my fingers to help her work herself into glorious bliss, but not tonight. I’m going to do it with my mouth and take my time letting her feel pleasure as long as possible.

  Her hips begin to buck into my mouth with each brush of my tongue. I swirl her bud with my tongue and she begins to beg for more. Her cries fuel my need to keep her here on the edge. I continue to coax her with my tongue, taking her so close to the precipice and then pulling back. Chloe takes over my actions squeezing my head between her thighs and bucking up to me. She’s begging with her words and actions.

  I feast on her one last time before sucking her bud into my mouth. She shivers under me while still singing the sweetest song of pleasure. I place lazy kisses on her core while she dissolves underneath me.

  Standing from the bed gets me a frown from my girl. When I unzip my jeans and let them drop to the floor, she perks up on her elbows to watch me. I slide my boxers down to the floor and step out of them.

  Chloe’s bottom lip is clenched under teeth and I smile at her. I’m about to give her everything. She’s held my heart for a while, but she’s about to have everything from me. I’m giving her my soul and have no regrets.

  I easily cover her body again and take a moment to kiss her. I pull back and see a few tears rolling down her cheeks. The pads of my thumbs catch her tears before they roll onto the bed. I’ll always catch her.

  With a flex of my hips, I fill her, and still in the silent moment. Our bodies are connected, we we’re meant for each other, our hearts poured from God’s hands to become one. We’ve both been through hell and now it’s our time.

  I drop my forehead to hers and clench my eyes shut. We’ve already shared everything that needs to be shared via words. This moment is ours to meld our bodies together. I slowly begin to move in and out of her. I refuse to pick up my pace no matter how much Chloe urges her hips up to mine.

  I keep the slow, rhythmic pace of our hearts, moving in and out of her until I feel the bottom of my spine tingle and my balls tighten. I’m so fucking close but refuse to indulge. This is my forever.

  Chloe palms my cheeks and brings her lips to mine. She seals them with a hard kiss and it’s my final undoing. I spill into her and feel her tight center clench around me as I do. Our moans are lost into each other’s. My world is whole again after a very long time of not being so.

  Twenty-Seven

  Kip

  We don’t move from our connected position for long silent moments. I finally roll over and bring her to my side with both of my arms numb and tingling back to life. I keep her head tucked to my chest and trace smoothing circles on her back.

  We don’t move or talk in the dark room. Chloe’s breathing becomes a slow song that eventually puts me to sleep with the love of my life safe in my arms.

  Dark faces taunt me in my dreams. They say horrible things and I refuse to hear them. I find Chloe’s shining face in all the darkness and focus on it not letting the nightmare win out. It works. Soon she’s there next to me holding my hand with her bright brown eyes

  Our future is before us and she’s guiding me down a path that’s been sculpted just for us. Her grip on my hand loosens and I struggle to find it, but there’s nothing. The dark faces are back, leering at me. One of them has Chloe by the hair dangling her face in front of me and when I look for the rest of her body, it’s gone. It’s just her neck and head dangling from the monster’s hand. The life in her eyes has vanished.

  I bolt up from the bed fighting the flooding horror threatening to consume me. Chloe’s still wrapped up in my arms snoring lightly. Her face is peaceful and relaxed. My palm slaps down on my forehead and I let it go. It’s just the nasty nightmares wanting to control me, but they can’t.

>   It takes me a long time before I’m able to drift back to sleep and it’s a not a very deep one at that.

  “Kip.”

  I feel a hard thump on my thigh.

  “Kip.”

  My face is shaking in the palms of Chloe’s hands before I come to.

  When my eyes open, she’s shaking, and in my face.

  “Someone is in the house,” she whispers.

  I fight to comprehend the words coming out of her mouth. I wipe my hand over my face, trying to decipher if this is another nightmare or real life. She shakes me again and then I feel her trembling body against mine and I know it’s all too real.

  A loud thump on the window draws my attention in the pitch dark room. I look over to it and see the brown-eyed man dressed in black.

  He shouts, “Wake up. Someone is in there!”

  My head spins with confusion before I leap up from the bed. A dark figure crosses the room at the foot of the bed. Before I can react, it’s lunging on the bed for Chloe. I bolt into action, springing to the side and landing between them. I roll the fucker to the floor, fighting for the upper hand.

  It’s a masked man and he’s no pussy fighting back. I feel metal between us and I’m not sure what kind of weapon he has.

  “Lights. Call 911,” I scream to Chloe.

  But then the thought of the man on the outside floods my memory. We’re being ambushed, taken over by evil. She follows my instructions even though my gut is telling me it’s a bad idea. A very bad idea…

  When the lights flash on, I spot a gun and knife between the intruder and myself. I throw them both to the side and then cram my forearm down on the man’s throat when he scrambles for the gun. I’ve caught him by surprise and finally have him in a choke hold. He can’t move.

  I take advantage of having him in my hold and punch the man hard. Bones break under my fist and I don’t stop until his mask is soaked in his own blood. He finally weakens beneath me and I’m only fueled with adrenaline, ready to beat the fuck out him.

  “Kip!” Chloe screams.

  I look up to her huddled on the bed with the phone to her ear. “There’s another guy.”

  “Grab my gun on the nightstand.”

  She scrambles until she’s clutching it. “I don’t know how to use it.”

  “Don’t point it at me.”

  Jesus, she’s waving it around like a fucking wand.

  “Point it at the door. Slide the safety by the trigger and be ready to shoot.”

  She nods her head and continues explaining the situation to the operator on the other end. In a matter of moments, the house is being lit up with red and blue lights. The officers on the scene take the man into custody. A few of them case the house and surroundings for the other man. But he got away again.

  We’re taken down to the station and I painfully listen to Chloe explain the whole scene from her waking up and seeing the man staring at her to me going ape shit crazy. She tells them all about Zack and the divorce hearing just a day away. She flies out tomorrow. I check my watch and realize she fucking flies out today.

  They don’t give us much information, but I know from the police escort we receive back to my dad’s house they found something. The officer let me know that everything would be faxed to the courts in Tennessee and the man will be held responsible for the break in and attempted murder. The weapons on him were enough evidence of his intentions.

  I wait until Chloe’s in the house with Boozer before I ask the question, “Was the man from Tennessee?”

  The officer only nods.

  “Is he connected to Zack Blackwell?”

  He nods again. “Can’t tell you, but I’d keep a close eye on that girl.”

  I nod and watch him get in his patrol car. A flash of pain strikes me as I watch the man in uniform pull out of my driveway. That used to be my life. Part of me wants it back so desperately after protecting and caring for Chloe.

  Twenty-Eight

  Chloe

  My flight leaves in four hours. It’s a late afternoon takeoff putting me into Tennessee well into the depths of the night. At the time, it was a sound plan flying in during the darkness and hiding out in a hotel until nine am the next morning. But now it seems like a death trap looming above my head.

  We’re at a local steakhouse having dinner with Ava and Zane before I take off. Rhett’s parents have Charlie, letting the young parents enjoy a nice dinner. The only problem is Kip and I aren’t great company. I refuse to talk about last night, but Kip admitted to me that he told Zane everything at the gym this afternoon while I packed my bag.

  He hasn’t broached the subject of going with me to Tennessee. My common sense screams to drag him along, but it’s my heart that knows I need to do this on my own. If evil is that rampant in the world, I guess it will win this battle. I’m not willing to give up and need to stand on my own two feet.

  My skin still has chills from waking to that man in the room. Kip’s response scared the shit out of me as it also comforted me. I had a fucking gun in my hand ready to shoot at anyone who entered. That’s not right or just on any level.

  Kip tucked a Taser and pepper spray into my bag after showing me how to use them. I’d refused taking a gun with me. It just feels vile to me.

  “Darby called earlier today and everything is going great,” Ava says.

  “Really?” I perk up with the great news.

  “Yes, they have the little boy with them already. I guess he’s going to need lots of physical therapy to help with motor skills he should’ve already developed.”

  “He couldn’t be in better hands,” Kip offers up.

  I grab the top of his thigh and squeeze it. I love this man so much. Yet, hold buckets of fear close to me knowing it could all be gone within twenty-four hours. I know the night at the beach house he gave me all of him. I felt it in each of his touches.

  “When do you fly back?” Zane asks.

  His question shocks me and I feel uneasy talking about the subject.

  “I fly out later tonight. Court is in the morning and then I’ll be flying out later tomorrow evening.”

  “I’m happy for you,” he offers.

  I give him a weak smile so unsure of everything.

  “Do you mind if we say a prayer together?” Zane holds up his two hands, palms up.

  Ava takes his palm and offers her to me. Tentatively I place my shivering palm in her and she squeezes it. Kip takes my other hand and then I watch the strong, brave man clutch his best friend’s hand openly in public. There’s no shame in it. Actually, it looks like a wave of relief has washed over Kip.

  He leans over and places a kiss on my cheek before he bows his head.

  Zane’s deep voice settles over our table in the bustling restaurant. “Dear God, we come to you as four of your children praying for the safety of Chloe. She’s endured enough and is doing the right thing. Please guide her on her journey laying your hands on her, protecting each one of her steps in this path. She needs your safety and love. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

  We all keep hold of each other’s hands for a few silent seconds after we all whisper amen. When we drop them, we finish our meal in silence. Our goodbyes are just as somber.

  Saying goodbye to the man who saved me is something I never thought I’d have to do. It’s in his rich chocolate brown eyes that my heart truly lies. He’s my forever and I’m walking away. I fight to keep the feeling of losing him tamped down deep inside me.

  “Last time I was here you were packing me,” I whisper into his chest.

  “I was.”

  “Thank you for letting me do this. I know it’s selfish in a way, but I need to do it.”

  “I know.” His hands lace in my hair and he grips to it tightly. “This is the fucking hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

  I remain in his chest and let him hold me until the final minute. My footsteps are heavy as I walk away from him. I refused to kiss him goodbye because this won’t be a goodbye.

 
The city becomes tiny with all the lights just a mere speck and I regret not kissing Kip. My breathing races out of control and I know I just made the biggest mistake of my life.

  Twenty-Nine

  Chloe

  Sleep never came and am I shocked? Hell no. I texted Kip when I landed and was safe in my hotel room, he immediately called me and I talked to him for hours. Now, my hands shake so violently I can’t even get the keys in the ignition of the rental car.

  I throw the keys into the passenger seat knowing I have more than enough time to get to the courthouse. My notebook peeks out of my large purse and I pull it out. I clutch the ragged pages to my chest knowing it’s my everything. After a few moments, I flip through and skim my progress up until now.

  I ache for the Chloe who was broken and wrote such nasty words about herself. I smile when I see a few entries about crazy best friends and swoon when I read about the strength Kip’s given me.

  When I flip the page, I see his sexy handwriting after my last entry and I smile wide.

  Chloe,

  Just a quick note to tell you what you are to me…everything.

  Love,

  Kip.

  It’s simple, sweet and right to the point and just what I needed. I pick up the keys again and place them in the ignition. I fasten my seatbelt and don’t worry to look around to see if anyone is following me. With my chin held high and solid courage deep in my roots, I drive to the courthouse.

  I walk in on steady legs and don’t make eye contact with anyone. I’m a few minutes early and take a seat on the bench in the hallway. It’s quiet with just a few people lingering around. None of them seem interested in me and that makes me happy.

  A tall man dressed in an impeccable suit approaches me and holds his hand out to me. “Chloe, I’ll be representing your lawyer today. I have all the information I need.”

  I stand and shake his hand. He doesn’t offer up any more information. I feel safe standing next to him as the doors open to the courtroom and a flood of people step out.