Fall (Fate Series Book 2)

by Paige Hill

  Alvarez may be missing, but the war isn’t over. Another cartel, another trafficker. Doesn’t matter, because there is always someone waiting to take over.

  I’m a man of the law, one sworn to uphold those values. Now I realize why Ramos is always willing to step in when a brother needs more than the rulebook. Life isn’t black and white. There’s a nasty gray area that we all live in. There are some things that cannot be dealt with the way civil society demands. Maybe that’s the lesson Batman was trying to teach us as kids.

  Looking around at the people in this room, I realize we all have blood on our hands. Some literal, others figurative. Either way, when it comes down to what we will do for those we love, we are all cut from the same cloth.

  “The Martinez family,” the physician says as he enters the waiting area.

  I jump to my feet, ready to knock him over if I have to.

  “She’s alert and responsive. She can have visitors now, but she did request to see, and I wouldn’t say this if it weren’t a direct quote, ‘the big asshole with the stupid space stove’.”

  Sucking in a breath, I cross the threshold into her room. Machines beep an antagonizing tune, but I can’t help but be thankful for the sound. She’s alive. A white, gauzy bandage covers the majority of her head.

  “Stop looking at me like that.”

  I can only smile, afraid I won’t be able to form words.

  “Come here.” She pats the edge of the bed, her hand covered in tubes and monitors.

  I perch on the side, next to her thigh and watch her chest and it rises and falls. My eyes prick with emotion as the last twelve hours run through my head.

  “I love you, too.”

  My eyes fly to hers, vividly green even under the fluorescent lights. I still haven’t spoken a single word. She tugs at my arm, pulling me into her chest. I go willingly, needing to hear the steady beat of her heart. She places one hand on the back of my head as the other caresses my shoulder. There is so much I want to say. I’m so angry at her for doing something so reckless, but I love her that much more for it. Agony, fear, love, loss, all of it wars deep in my psyche. I want to feel it all and none of it at the same time. For the second time, I lie in her arms and weep. It’s different this time.

  She didn’t leave me.

  She allows me adequate time to let go before I sit up and wipe my face.

  “I’m sorry,” I finally croak.

  “Never say those words to me again.”

  I stare at her, realizing she’s serious. “Never be sorry for feeling, Aiden. It’s what makes us human. I didn’t fall in love with a Cyborg.” She winks at me—fucking winks.

  “You’re something else,” I grin, leaning in to place a soft kiss on her lips.

  “I have a lot of questions, is that okay?” she asks, and I nod. I knew she would, and I’ve already decided I will never hide things from her again. How different would this have played out had I told her the truth?

  “Where are Alex and Emily? Are they okay?”

  “In the waiting room. Everyone is fine.” I cup her cheek my hand.

  “Did you know what Alex was doing?”

  Shit. This is the moment I’ve been dreading.

  Clearing my throat, I voice the truth. “Not the entire time, but yes.”

  Her green eyes darken as they fill with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?” When the words leave her lips, I realize it’s not anger so much as hurt.

  She has no idea how much I wanted to. It ate at me. Every damn day.

  “I couldn’t,” I state honestly. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. It’s killing me to know how differently this could have gone if I’d have just told you. I keep playing it over and over in my head—”

  “I told you not to say those words to me,” she bites out. “I don’t want you to be sorry, Aiden. I want honesty. If you are always honest, you will have nothing to be sorry for.”

  I look away and nod in understanding. I kept the truth from her, so she has every right to be pissed at me.

  “Right now, you have nothing to be sorry for.” Her voice comes out so soft in comparison to her last statement. I glance at her again, confused. “You protected my brother and got him out of the mess he and Jensen created. You protected my family, Aiden.” She smiles faintly through the tears that wet her cheeks. I swipe them away with my thumb, leaning in to press my lips to hers.

  I shift, uncomfortable.

  “What’s wrong?” She notices.

  “I don’t want to keep secrets from you.”

  Her brows pinch together in confusion. “Then don’t.”

  Looking behind me, I make sure we’re alone. “I’m not an innocent man.”

  “No one ever is,” she whispers, but her tone is guarded.

  “I—I lost it,” I choke, but continue. “When he was on top of you—I thought you were dead.” I start to fucking cry again, fighting the unwelcome vision of her body lying lifeless under that sick fuck. “I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to do it. I wanted to.” My glossy eyes meet hers. “I killed a man with my bare hands.” My head falls, afraid of how she’s looking at me.

  Her small hands pull my face to hers, glistening with tears. “Aiden, you are the best man I know. You’ve been to hell and back, then did it again for me. What you did saved the lives of countless women. You didn’t take a life, you gave back all of theirs.”

  She sits up as best she can and holds me like she’s protecting me from all the bad in the world. Six months ago, something like this would have emasculated me. Now? Now, I want to stay here forever because, while I protect her body, she protects my heart.

  “I love you,” I whisper into her hair.

  She can justify what I did all she wants, but it doesn’t change the fact that I killed him because I wanted him to die. The beast is still there, waiting in the darkness. Looking at Celeste, I know as long as I have her light in my life, I will never have to fear the beast that lives within.

  CELESTE

  Alex walks into the room with his head down. When he reaches the bed, he speaks, but still keeps his eyes from mine.

  “I’m so sorry, Celeste.”

  What is it with all of the apologies today? If anything, I should be the one apologizing for taking matters into my own hands. Which, I suppose, is what we all did.

  I grab his hand, forcing him to look at me. My eyes water as I pull him in for a hug. His warm body hugs mine tightly and I feel my heart swell in my chest.

  “I love you, Alex. I don’t know how, but you are both incredibly brave and incredibly stupid.”

  He pulls back smiling, and sits in the same spot Aiden vacated. “I could say the same to you.”

  “Touché.” We smile again, and I know we’re going to be okay. Our relationship has taken a beating, but it will heal. We will all heal.

  “It’s over now,” he sighs, and I know he’s talking about the situation with our dad.

  I watch him carefully and I swear I see a weight lift from his shoulders.

  “You’re a dad,” I state the obvious, needing to see him smile again. It does the trick.

  “Yeah, I am. She’s perfect.” His smile falters a little and I feel it in my gut. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you did. You stepped up when I couldn’t. I can never repay you for that.”

  “That’s what family does, Alex.”

  “Yeah, I suppose. Speaking of family,” he reaches into his pocket, producing a ring. “What do you think about me expanding ours?”

  Epilogue

  Celeste

  Five years later…

  Glancing at the clock I sigh. If my husband doesn’t hurry up with his shower, we are going to be late for Allie’s dance recital. I can’t help but smile with pride thinking about how she lights up every time she talks about dancing.

  So much has changed over the last five years. Not long after the ordeal with Alvarez, Alex made Emily a permanent fixture in our lives. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother to my little
Allie.

  Alex finished school, focusing on technology. He has followed Erin around the last few years, learning all he can from her. He doesn’t know it yet, but after the recital today, Emily has a surprise for him. One that comes in a set of two and will dramatically change their lives in roughly seven months.

  I can’t wait to see his face.

  Mamá and Dave have been living together for a few years now and are going strong. I asked her once if they would ever get married, but neither of them are really interested in taking that step. They are perfectly happy with the way things are.

  Pouring myself a quick cup of coffee, I call to my oldest.

  “Jensen, please find your shoes. We need to leave soon.”

  “Okay, mommy!” I hear her tiny four-year-old voice call from down the hall.

  We named her after the person who essentially made our relationship what it is today. We could have chosen to focus on all the tragedy surrounding that time in our lives, but we didn’t. Jensen broke my heart, changed my life, and helped give me a future with Aiden. Strangely enough, Gwen left us alone after that. I don’t know why, and I don’t care. I would be happy to never see that woman again.

  Glancing at the wall, I stare at the photo that arguably started us on the right path. How can I miss a child I’ve never met? It’s a question I’ll never have an answer for, but my children will never grow up feeling like she didn’t exist. She is just as much a part of our future as the two who are currently terrorizing this household.

  If I thought Aiden was protective before, I had no idea just to what lengths until I told him I was pregnant. The multitude of emotions that washed over his face… it broke me. Staring directly into my eyes he waited to move. His expression was more solemn than I expected—almost as if he thought I was joking. When I gave him the affirmation he needed, he fell to his knees, gently taking my hips between his large hands. He rested his forehead against my still flat stomach and held on as his shoulders shook with trepidation.

  That night will forever be one of my favorites. I’m reminded of it every time he looks at his children. Especially Jensen. It’s like she became this miracle in his eyes. I have never seen a love so pure. Nothing will replace the loss of Mabel, but it was a forward step toward his healing. He hovered worse than a helicopter parent, but I understood why. Didn’t stop my hormones from expressing themselves, though.

  About a year after the Alvarez incident, Aiden and I decided we no longer wanted to live in his apartment, and my house was just too small. He had reservations about living here, but he came around. He was afraid the bad memories he had of the beach house would taint it, but they haven’t. We made new memories here. We brought both of our children home to this house. It’s his family home. This is where we belong.

  I smile at my youngest as he makes a mess, flinging Cheerios from his highchair. It’s become a game for Furb. Jase giggles the cutest little belly laughs as Furb flies across the kitchen floor swatting at the discarded cereal. I still don’t know what Aiden did to win Furb’s heart, but it must be something about Briggs men, I think to myself, feeling my cheeks ache from my smile.

  I wanted to be able to spend more time with the kids, but I didn’t want to walk away from the shop, just like that. I love what I do, and I’ve invested so much of myself into it. So, I compromised. I asked Bennie to be my business partner. We split the major responsibilities, allowing me to spend more time at home, and he loves bossing people around. A match made in heaven.

  I hear the water shut off in the master bathroom, as it is directly above the kitchen. Finally, I think to myself, but the thought is cut short by the shrill sound of Aiden screeching like a little girl. I hear the rings on the shower curtain rustle, then a loud thump.

  What the hell?

  Tiny feet pitter down the stairs just seconds before Jensen runs into the kitchen, wide-eyed. She breathes heavily, as panic and confusion fight for space on her little face.

  “Mommy, mommy! Daddy has a tail!”

  Hot coffee spews from my mouth and nose, spraying every surface in a four-foot radius of me. My oldest child included.

  Feeling the caffeinated liquid burn deep in my nostrils, I grab a rag. As I wipe up the evidence of my child’s blatant curiosity, I can’t help but think back to being alone in my little bungalow. I never knew I could be this happy. Even though my couch breeds Cheerios.

  “Mom!” Jensen shouts directly into my ear. “Why does daddy have a tail?”

  Shit, shit, shit.

  “Uh… Why don’t you ask your abuela tonight at the recital?” I offer, praying she forgets about it before she actually asks my mother.

  In true Briggs family fashion, we were late for the recital, but Aiden learned a very important lesson about locked doors.

  Acknowledgments

  Phew! Book two is finally under my belt, but it is most certainly not a venture I tackle alone.

  Special thanks go out to:

  My readers— Without you, these books would still be soap operas, acted out on a stage inside my head.

  The friends and family who beta read my book baby— You guys are the hardest ones to share my stories with. But you are endlessly supportive, and I couldn’t imagine this journey without the help of each and every one of you.

  The book bloggers who took the time to carefully read and thoughtfully review my work. You are the unsung heroes of the indie publishing world.

  Kamaryn Kretz at Kamaryn with a K Editing— A special thank you for diving into this project with such a short deadline.

  Tracie Douglas at Dark Water Covers for producing a beautiful, emotionally gripping cover and beautifully formatting this baby. Your work is the face of mine and I couldn’t be more thankful.

  The ladies at Give Me Books for promoting my new release and helping spread the word.

  Trenda “T-Bird” London for being more than a content editor. You’re a part-time emotional support therapist, cheerleader, and all-around master of the plot hole.

  My daughter Emaline for being a momma’s girl. I strive every day to be the person you can look up to. Strong women lead strong lives. I know without a shadow of a doubt that you will be an amazing scientist when you grow up. I love you, Sweet Pea.

  And finally, my husband, Robert— I already gave you the dedication. Don’t be greedy. ;-)

  Contact Paige

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  Website: https://authorpaigehill.wixsite.com/author

  About the Author

  Paige typically spends her days surviving on copious amounts of coffee and fantasizing about the day she becomes a full-time writer. Because even Batman needs a day job, her morning hours are spent buying drugs (the legal kind), as a pharmacy purchasing coordinator for a growing health system. When she isn’t buying drugs, she’s dreaming up hot alphas and the strong women that test them.

  Paige lives in eastern Oklahoma with her husband, daughter and two furry body pillows known as “dogs”.

  Fun Fact: She is the pickiest eater you will ever meet and a firm believer that the real food groups are coffee, wine, and Mexican food.

  Also by Paige Hill

  The Fate Series

  Fight (Book One)

  Fall (Book Two)

  Found (Book Three)- Coming Soon!

 
; Freed (Book Four)- Coming Soon!