Sausalito Nights (Montgomery Beauty Book 1)

by Stephanie Salvatore

Helping her stand to her feet, I wrapped an arm around her back and took her hand with my free hand and began swaying with her. She wrapped an arm around my waist and moved naturally to the slow sway, laying her head against my chest. Looking down, she had her eyes closed. I smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead, and left my lips there for a moment. Opening my eyes, I lifted my head, rubbing my hand up and down her back as her hair blew in the light breeze. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear I would remember this moment as a time I slipped further into love with this young woman. Her beauty was beyond words, her soul passionate, and so bright that it blocked out the darkness. She allowed me to take care of her, she opened her world to me and I promised myself right then and there that I wouldn’t let go without one hell of a fight.

  Reality Check

  Lorelai

  Fall

  My eyes fluttered open as I laid snuggled into Christopher after we stashed ourselves away in the cabin on Cakes and Pies, our naked bodies entangled in a sheet. I sat up on my elbow and looked down at the newcomer that became the boyfriend, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. He looked so damn peaceful when he was sleeping. I leaned down and pressed my lips to his forehead, moving loose strands of my hair behind my ear as I laid my head against his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart against my ear. I inhaled a deep breath of his natural cedar-wood scent and smiled. His scent became one of comfort because when he was near, all was well in my world.

  My eyes diverted to the pictures we took over the summer from hikes in the Muir Woods to walks down to the beach. While most of our time was spent together at night, I managed to sneak away from the yacht club for a few more daytime adventures. The picture of us under the redwood tree, taken during one of our first official dates, brought back memories of time well spent. We went running in the woods and over the mountain before we raced into the water on the beach and got into a playful water fight, where we shared another perfect kiss. The third picture I managed to print was one of us in front of the Golden Gate around the time Mr. Montgomery re-launched the Montgomery Construction company with the help of Hodgins Incorporated, an up and coming marketing firm. Billboards rose in the city, radio ads ran, and I even saw advertisements and promotional offers in the Gold Clipper. The jobs were rolling in; and from what Christopher had told me over the last few weeks, they were swamped the entire summer. Jobs were being booked a year in advance with no space in-between.

  My eyes diverted to the second shelf down that was eye-level with the bed. We were silhouettes in the sunset on Cakes and Pies locking lips as the sun set from behind. From the first time Christopher pressed his lips to mine in that sweet kiss after the ride on Cakes and Pies, I was ‘Hooked on Montgomery’. I may have led him in the right direction, but this boy stole my heart away like Prince Charming did Cinderella.

  I heard a low grunt and looked up at him and smiled. “Well, good morning there, sleepyhead.”

  He looked at me with one eye open and stretched before his other sleepy eye opened. “Good morning, beautiful. What are you doing awake?”

  “The sun woke me… and I was admiring our pictures.”

  “I suppose it pays off that you are a woman of many talents.”

  I smiled. “I will admit that the cooking, cleaning, beauty obsession, and photography hobbies do have their perks. Would you like some coffee?”

  “You should add sailor onto that list, captain.” He chuckled. “When do I say no to coffee, love?”

  I giggled and leaned up pressing my lips to his gently. He returned the kiss more than willingly. “This is true. I’m lucky if I get a grumbled good morning out of you if the coffee isn’t made,” I said as I broke away and hovered over him and took the sheet with me to go make our coffee.

  Before I could get away, a strong tug pulled me back, and two strong arms wrapped around my waist. “If you take the sheet, I’ll be cold,” he whined.

  I laughed and leaned against him. “You poor thing. What would you like me to do?”

  He groaned. “Don’t move.”

  “If you want your coffee, I have too.” Reaching I grabbed the blanket that was kicked to the bottom of the bed and pulled it over him. “Here…” I attempted to slip from his arms only to find myself stuck once more. “Christopher!”

  He laughed. “Fine, fine. Go. But, you’re mine later.”

  Looking down at him, I bit my lower lip. “Is that a threat?”

  “Yes. Indeed it is. The biggest threat. Now go, before I throw you back down on the bed and take what’s rightfully mine.”

  I rolled my eyes, trying to hide a smirk. “You’re insane, you know this right?”

  Watching as he pulled the blanket over and buried himself into it. “Insane? No... No, I’m just cold and my girlfriend won’t cuddle with me.”

  “I’ll make it up to you later…” I said as I stood and made my way out as he grunted and grumbled out in anger.

  A few minutes later, I was dressed and sat out on the deck sipping the hot caffeine waiting for grumpy pants to join me. I found a dock far enough out of sight where I knew my family wouldn’t come looking for me. As I brought the coffee cup to my lips, a fishing charter passed by on the bay making its way up to the marina at the club before I saw Chris stepping out of the cabin.

  He grumbled as the sun hit his eyes and pulled his sunglasses on. “So what’s the plan for today?”

  “Well. It's Saturday. I’m not working, but I should probably go check in with the family. I should be free after that.”

  He sipped his coffee. “I think we’re supposed to be going to Napa for the weekend.”

  I lowered my bottom lip. “Really? That’s so far away, babe.”

  “I know. I might opt out and stay home.”

  I rose an eyebrow at him. “You think they would allow it?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve allowed it. Besides, I’m not even sure we’re going.”

  I nodded and sipped my coffee as we sat in a comfortable silence watching the boats float out into the bay. I was ready to accept the possibility of his absence when I heard an earth-shattering scream come from the main boardwalk. I stood and peaked around the cabin into the distance and a crowd of people gathered around the fishing charter that just pulled in.

  “Uh-oh. I smell trouble. I should go see what’s going on.”

  He furrowed his eyebrows. “Lor…”

  I looked at him with gentle eyes.

  “Be careful.”

  I made my way toward him and sat on his lap, placing both hands on his cheeks and brushing my thumb against the stubble on his cheeks. “I will.” I pecked his lips and held onto the gentle kiss he returned.

  He broke it, enclosing his arms around me. “Are you coming back?”

  “I-I’m not sure; but if I’m not back in an hour, I’ll have my walkie.”

  I pecked his lips, while holding onto hope that my promise would be enough to keep his worried nature at bay before taking off toward the mainland. By the time I made it there, I heard sirens going off in the distance. I spotted Luci and my mother standing at the front of the crowd before I pushed my way through.

  “Luci…what’s…” I looked up at the net of fish that was being held by the anchor and inside was a lifeless bloody body contaminating the fish.

  My hands clasped over my mouth, tears sprung to my eyes as I looked at Luci and then my mother. I felt an arm wrap around me leading me to the family yacht, speculating whispers surrounded me as we made our way through the crowd of people.

  My father passed by on a mission to go investigate, and I stopped in my footsteps watching until he disappeared in the crowd of people.

  “Don’t stop or say a word. Just keep walking,” Luci snapped quietly as she pushed me along.

  Mother stepped in on the other side of me to guide us away from the scene. As we made it onto the yacht, I pulled away from them. “What the hell is going on?”

  Luci couldn’t make eye contact and mother’s eye
s were filled with tears as she stared off aimlessly. “We don’t know for sure, but your brother has been missing for a week now. We think he crossed into enemy lines.”

  I furrowed my brows. “W-why would he do that?” I trembled as I felt my heart beating in my ears.

  “From what we know? Santino had plans for you, Lorelai. Your brother was trying to chase him off and deter him from getting near the yacht club.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “What kind of plans?” I whispered as tears threatened to spill over.

  “The kind of plans that may not give you a choice but to step up and take a role in the family business, Lorelai!” Luci snapped. “You need to learn to defend yourself.”

  I felt empty and helpless. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do, Luciana? I can make my own damn decisions on what I want to do in my life. Mama knows! Tell her, Mama.” The thick inherited Italian accent climbed its way through the anger.

  “Running to Mommy isn’t going to bring our damn brother back, Lorelai. Don’t you get it? You’re a Castillo, fear doesn’t exist in our blood. Start acting like you belong!” She paced the room and eyed me with red fury in her eyes as if I was the reason that Armani crossed into enemy lines.

  “Fuck you, Luciana!” I crossed my arms and turned to walk out when my father stepped through the door with his undercover security guards.

  Footsteps clicked toward me. I turned when my father stepped in and grabbed Luci by the arm as she ran toward me. “Enough!” He rose his voice. “We have bigger issues on our hands. Amelia, perhaps we should have a word in private.”

  I sat down in a chair in the corner of the room and stared off out the window as the coroner moved in to remove the body from the scene. Tears filled my eyes as I realized that my brother died not only at the hands of our family business, but at the hands of the enemy. My parents may not have approved or liked the choices I was about to make, but they wouldn't be the only ones spreading truth today.

  Father returned a moment later. “After we give your brother a proper service, your mother and I have decided that we may not have a choice but to pack up and move out of Sausalito, for good.”

  I furrowed my brows and stood up. “I’m not leaving.”

  “Excuse me, young lady?” my father snapped.

  Tears welled in my eyes as I tried as hard as I could to swallow them. “I said I’m not leaving. I’ll file for emancipation if I have to.”

  The vein in his forehead popped. Shit. He was not happy. “What is this about? Are you seeing that boy again, Lorelai?”

  I stood and spoke firmly. “His name is Christopher, and I love him, Daddy!” Spilling the beans about my relationship with Christopher could’ve been my biggest mistake; but in that moment, I didn’t give a damn.

  “You are a child! You don’t even know what love is!” he yelled.

  I shook my head and stood up to leave. Stopping just before exit, I looked over my shoulder at the furrowed eyebrows in my parents faces. “Luci was right about one thing. Fear doesn’t exist in Castillo blood, and I won’t allow you to tell me who I can and cannot love.” Turning around, I stormed out from their line of sight without giving it a second thought.

  Darkened Pathways

  Christopher

  After Lorelai hopped off the vessel and took off, my mental state collapsed in silence. The earth-shattering scream echoed around the bay; and while we couldn’t see anything, a voice in the back of my head told me it couldn’t have been anything good. I finished the coffee in my cup and disappeared back into the cabin, where I cleaned myself up before I locked up and took my set of keys to the boat and left.

  As I made a close descent to home, I stopped short as I saw my parents out on their routine morning walk.

  “Christopher, thank God,” Mom said. “We were just out looking for you.”

  “Sorry, Mom. I was out for an early morning walk,” I lied.

  Without another word spoken, Mother came to my side and placed a hand on my back and silently led the way back home.

  As we entered our home and the door shut, Dad spoke as I went to make my way upstairs. “Christopher? Just a minute, your mother and I need to talk to you.”

  The voice in my head disappeared and reappeared as a sinking feeling in my stomach and a lump in my throat. I didn’t like the sound of this one bit.

  “Okay…” I turned and came back to the kitchen and sat on a chair by the island. “What is it?”

  “Christopher, we know you’ve been seeing the Castillo girl and we thought we were okay with it…but I have a very uneasy feeling about that girl and her family.”

  I sighed and looked away. “So what? Are you telling me I can’t see her now?”

  “Did you happen to pass by the boardwalk on your walk this morning?” Dad asked.

  “No, I didn’t. I stayed around the docks,” I spoke quietly.

  “They had a delivery at the marina this morning, but the delivery being made brought some serious concerns to my attention and this place in general,” Dad spoke with a stern edge, and rarely did he change his mind once it was set.

  “What do you mean serious concerns?” I thought back to the scream as the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

  “Armani Castillo Jr. is dead, Christopher. His body was found in a net full of fish.”

  I furrowed my eyebrows. Lorelai’s brother. The guy that escorted me off the yacht the night of the party was dead? I swallowed hard and stared off as the shocking disbelief settled in. This was going to destroy Lorelai. “I…I…I don’t know what to say, but I need to go to her.”

  “That’s just it, Christopher. As your father, I am telling you that you are not to see her again. That family has appeared to have trouble written across their name and I don’t want you involved.”

  Mom stepped up next to my father. “She’s dangerous, Christopher! Being involved with her could have you killed!” She was hysterical and being quite dramatic.

  I shook my head. I was angry and rather annoyed with both of my parents at this point. “You can’t tell me who I can or cannot love!” I snapped.

  “Christopher!” Mom scolded.

  “You know what? No. I don’t need to hear your reasons or your rules. I love Lorelai, and I can take care of her and myself without your approval or help!” I stormed off and slammed the door once I reached my room. Retrieving a suitcase from my closet, I threw it on the bed and started packing my clothes and belongings. I would leave the house and run away while they were sleeping. She’d be at Cakes and Pies when I went there tonight. She had to be.

  ***

  Later that night, I paced the floor in my room quietly waiting for my parents to go to bed. It was after midnight before I grabbed my suitcase from the closet and tiptoed down the stairs and slipped out the front door after making sure it was locked. I carried the suitcase until I knew I was far enough away to roll it against the wooden docks.

  I hated going against my parents' rules, but this was one area in my life that I wouldn’t budge against. I loved Lorelai, and I needed to see her now more than ever. As I approached the main boardwalk, I looked around and the club was quiet. Almost too quiet. I made my way down to the dock where I last left Cakes and Pies hoping that I would find her where I left her.

  Upon my arrival, I placed my suitcase down on the vessel and stepped on. There was no sign of Lorelai, and I could only hope she was inside the cabin. Unlocking the door, I walked in and set my bag to the side.

  “Lorelai?” I called out..

  No response came, but there was a long light slivered against the floor from the back of the vessel. Taking a deep breath, I moved through the main living space and the kitchen toward the bedroom and bathroom.

  I walked in silence and saw no one in sight. Opening the bathroom door, I walked in. There was a box sitting on the counter. I came to discover that it was an at home pregnancy test. My hand fell against the cold surface as I looked around to see
if the test was anywhere in sight, but there was no such luck. Was I going to be a father? Did she dispose of the test and run away? Or worse? Had her family found out and decided to take care of it their way?

  I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath and exhaled a moment later.

  “Lorelai? Are you here?” I called out once more to make sure. Setting the box down, I searched the vessel and she was nowhere to be found.

  “Son of a bitch!” I yelled grabbing the radio off of my belt. “Lorelai? Lorelai, if you can hear me, please respond with your location.”

  I paced the living room area of the cabin, a million other scenarios running through my mind. She normally didn’t leave the area without Cakes and Pies. Where could she be? At home? It was a possibility if her brother was murdered, maybe she was on lock down and she couldn’t escape. Or maybe her parents confiscated the radio and forced her to tell them why she had it.

  Making an exit, I jumped back to the dock and made my way back up to the boardwalk. My eyes scanned for her in the dark night. I was more than halfway down the boardwalk minutes later and she was nowhere to be found.

  Standing in the middle of the boardwalk under a street lamp, darkness clouded my sight when a cloth bag fell over my head and I felt two large hands grip each of my wrists forcing me to walk. From the feel of their hands, I was sure it was two burly men.

  “Don’t say a fucking word, Montgomery, and we might consider not killing you.” The firm grasp and the large hands told me that this wasn’t Lorelai trying to catch me off guard. This had to be the work of her father. I was given one warning, and one warning only.

  Swallowing the large lump that quickly formed in my throat, I had waited all day in anticipation to see Lorelai; and as the men walked in silence, I realized that it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

  A few minutes later, a firm hand grasped the back of my neck and I was thrown down to the ground of wooden panels.

  “On your knees, bitch.” Another man yelled before fingers grasped at the back of my hair and pulled me into a kneeling position. Tight ropes were wrapped around my wrists. The men pulled me to my feet and forced me to continue walking without a word spoken.