Down Fall: Fallen Duet: Book Two

by Davies, Abigail

  “What about the sofa? The—”

  “Just the boxes,” I whispered, my cheeks heating. I may have lived here for a couple of months and managed to curate a few random knickknacks, but that was about it.

  He nodded and lifted two boxes at once. “Jord, Kyle, help me with these.”

  They stood at the same time Brody walked out of the bedroom. His gaze found me immediately, and his grin had my own lips spilling into a smile. “I ordered it to our place,” Brody said, moving across the room to me. His hands gripped either side of my neck, his thumbs rubbing on the underside of my jaw. “I love you.”

  I lifted up onto my tiptoes, pressing my lips against his and whispering, “I love you, too.” It was hard not to get caught up in our own little bubble, but the guys grunting as they lifted the boxes was enough to have me stepping away from him.

  They all made quick work of emptying my apartment, and then we were taking the elevator down to hand my key to the maintenance guy. The new life I was about to walk into had my stomach dipping and palms shaking.

  I’d never wanted to rely on anyone else to get anywhere in life. I wanted to pave my own way and create my own path, but I now understood it was okay to have two paths merge into one. It was fine to share your path with someone else. In fact, it was more than fine. It was what life was all about. You only got one shot at it, and I wanted to make the most of every second.

  Brody’s large hand wrapped around mine as we walked toward his shiny car. He held the passenger door open for me, and I slipped inside. “How you feeling today?” he asked as he started the engine and put the car in gear. Once he was out of the lot, he gripped my hand on my thigh.

  “Tired.” A yawn escaped me. “My feet hurt, and I’m so”—my stomach growled—“hungry.”

  “Well…” Brody started, taking a turn. “Food is on its way. The guys and I will bring all your things inside, and then you can veg on the sofa.”

  “And take a nap afterward?” I asked, the hope in my voice obvious.

  He chuckled and pulled into the street his house was on. “Yes, you can take a nap.”

  “Thank god.” I groaned and let the back of my head hit the headrest as I closed my eyes. “I wasn’t sure I’d make it through the rest of the day.”

  Brody pulled into his driveway, a couple of cars pulling up outside as we did, and switched the engine off. He turned his body to face me, his hand automatically resting on my stomach.

  “You ready?” he asked, his dark-brown eyes shining.

  I worried my bottom lip, looking away from him and at the outside of the house. Its bay window was inviting, begging for a comfy chair to be placed inside it. The white door with two lights on either side welcomed me, and the enclosed front yard covered in flower beds and a small patch of lawn called to be covered with kids’ toys.

  This was the feeling I’d waited for. All those months ago when I’d wanted to feel like I was at home. It was finally here, and it was all because of Brody. He’d never know how ready I was to start my life with him. To take on this new adventure that had been given to me. I was beyond excited, but more important than anything, I was...

  “I’m more ready than I ever thought I’d be.”

  * * *

  BRODY

  I shifted in the bed, my hand resting against Lola’s protruding stomach, and I couldn't stop the sleepy smile that spread across my face. From the moment I’d bought this house, I’d waited to wake up next to Lola.

  I opened my eyes and pressed my chest closer to her back. The light was streaming in between the gaps in the curtains, but my alarm hadn’t gone off yet, so that meant I had time to—

  The vibration of my cell caught me off guard, so I rolled over, hoping it wouldn't wake Lola up. She’d taken a nap after we ate Chinese takeout with the guys last night, but she hadn’t woken up. Not when they left, and not even when I carried her upstairs. I’d managed to get her leggings off of her, and that was about it.

  I rubbed my eyes and sat up, staring down at my cell and the number I didn’t recognize. “Brody Easton,” I answered.

  “Brody,” Ford’s voice rang over the line. “Can you talk?”

  I turned my head and glanced at Lola’s still sleeping body. I didn’t want to disturb her, so I said, “Two minutes,” to Ford and slipped out of bed. I pulled on a pair of shorts and walked out of our bedroom, past the door that would become the nursery, and down the stairs that sat in the middle of the hallway. The cold, wood floor seeped into the soles of my feet, and I winced.

  “I’m back.” I walked into the kitchen and toward the coffeepot. “What’s up?”

  “Something is happening,” he rushed out, his voice on edge.

  “Okay.” I frowned, wondering what he was trying to tell me.

  “I can feel it in my gut.” I could hear him inhale as he pulled in a breath. “And I got this letter.”

  “A letter?” I asked, pouring a cup of coffee and leaving it black. It was the way I preferred it.

  “Yeah, it says…wait, I’ll take a picture and send it to you.” I heard some clicking over the line, and then a new message popped up. I opened it, and read the typed-out letter: “Traitors always get what’s coming to them.”

  “Shit.” I glanced around the kitchen, trying to piece it all together. “This means you’re definitely a target,” I told him. “Are you safe where you are?”

  “I think so”—his voice was lower now—“but I’m not sure I trust anyone here.”

  I shook my head and leaned against the counter. “The fact that you’re not sure means you don’t.” I scrubbed my hand over my face. “You should come back.”

  “What?” Some shuffling sounded over the line. “I have four months left in the academy. I can’t just take off.”

  He was right. He was trying to start his new life, and now I was telling him he should come back. That wasn’t the plan, but it was the only way I could think of to keep him safe. That or…

  “I’ll talk to the guys. I might be able to get Ryan a position in the academy while you’re there. That way you’ll have some protection.”

  “I can look after myself you know,” he grunted at the same time footsteps sounded on the stairs.

  “I know you can.” The footsteps came closer and then Lola appeared. Her hair was a mess, and her T-shirt just covered her ass and bump, but her legs on full display. Thank god Cade had stayed at Moira’s last night.

  “Morning,” her soft voice rang out, her sleepy smile greeting me.

  “That Lola?” Ford asked.

  “Yeah,” I answered him, not focusing on anything but Lola as she walked toward me. She wrapped her arms around my waist, rested her head on my bare chest, and stared up at me. “It’s Ford,” I told her.

  Her eyes widened, and I wasn’t sure what she was thinking from the nervous look on her face. “Can I talk to him?”

  I nodded and handed her the cell, not caring that there were more important issues I needed to be dealing with. Ford had been a part of her life for a long time, and she hadn’t seen him since she’d left Hut’s house. I’d filled her in on everything that had happened and what he was doing to better himself, but there was nothing like hearing it from the horse's mouth.

  She pressed the cell to her ear and greeted, “We never did get that poker rematch.” Her laugh batted off the walls, and I couldn’t stop staring at her. This house was meant to hold her laughter. It was meant to be the place she was happiest, and now, seeing her standing in the middle of our kitchen, walking around and opening the refrigerator that held Cade’s school schedule and a few other notes, she was right at home. Our home.

  Footsteps pounded outside a second before the front door opened, and Cade shouted, “Dad?”

  Lola’s eyes widened, and she glanced down at her legs. Legs I hadn’t been able to stop looking at. “Shit,” she whispered.

  “Stay in here,” I told her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll grab you some—”

  “Legg
ings,” she finished off for me. “Thank you.”

  I nodded and left her in the kitchen, still talking to Ford, and walked into the living room and to the small hallway where Cade was standing, his face red.

  “Mom said she needs to talk to you.”

  “Okay.” I looked down at his feet where he had bags surrounding him. I didn’t need to ask what they were from the way he was looking at me and narrowing his eyes at the half-closed front door. “Take your stuff upstairs,” I told him. “And don’t go in the kitchen, Lola is…doing something.” He picked up a couple of the bags and took the stairs two at a time, turning left at the top of them to head to his bedroom.

  I hadn’t spoken to Moira since she’d turned up at the diner with her so-called friends. Pulling in a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped outside. It wasn’t until the cool wind whipped at my skin that I realized all I had on were a pair of shorts.

  Moira stood on the path to the driveway, her face and hair done to perfection and a skirt and blouse covering her body. I didn’t feel anything, not even a pang of regret as I stared at her.

  “I wanted to inform you that I signed the divorce papers,” she said, her voice high, “and that your restraining order is no longer needed because I’m moving to France for six months. Cade will be living with you during that time.”

  There were so many things I wanted to say to her. I wanted to tell her she was being selfish leaving Cade right now and that he shouldn’t be punished for my mistakes, but it wouldn’t do any good. She’d become someone I didn’t recognize, and I had a feeling part of her felt that way too.

  “Okay.” There was nothing else for me to say. She wasn’t any of my business anymore, and if she wanted to go to a different country, I wouldn’t stop her. I’d take care of what was mine, and that only included Cade, not her.

  “I hope you’ll be happy with your new life and your new baby.” Her lips pulled up into a sneer, and I was sure she meant it to sound bitchy, but it came out in a genuine tone.

  “I hope you are too,” I answered, not really knowing what to say to that.

  She didn’t move her gaze off my face as she stared for another moment, and then she spun around, heading toward a car parked at the curb. It wasn’t until she got in the passenger side that I realized there was a guy driving. I watched them drive away, not caring about what she was doing one bit. All that mattered was how Cade felt about it all.

  I stepped inside the house, took the stairs two at a time, and headed toward his room. “Cade?” I called as I rapped my knuckles on his bedroom door.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” he replied. “I’ve got work in an hour. Can you take me?”

  I huffed out a breath and shook my head. I wasn’t going to give him what he wanted, because that was what I would have done before. Things were different now. I was here, and he was going to have to get used to it. I pushed open his door, my gaze finding him where he sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. “Tell me,” I demanded.

  His head shot up, his eyes narrowing. “I said I didn’t want to talk about it.”

  “Tough shit.” I leaned against the doorframe. “We’re gonna talk. Now, tell me how you feel about your mom moving to France.”

  “Why?” He stood, his hands clenched at his sides. “Why should I tell you? It won’t make a difference.”

  “Maybe it won’t.” I tilted my head. “But you’ll feel better for letting it out.”

  His nostrils flared, and a muscle in his jaw ticked. He was becoming a man before my very eyes. “It’s bullshit, but whatever. She wants to leave so…” He shrugged and moved across his room. “Let her do what she needs to do.”

  “She hasn’t had the easiest of lives—”

  Cade laughed so loud and brash it had my eyes widening. “Dad, seriously?” He shook his head at me like I was a kid and he was the adult. “She’s had it the easiest of all of them.” He grabbed his backpack. “There’s no point in talking about it. I’m going for a walk before work.”

  I opened my mouth, but he was moving past me and jogging down the stairs before I even had a chance to say anything to him. He was angry, I knew that, but more than anything, I could sense how hurt he was. I promised myself there and then I would be the best goddamn dad to him that I could.

  I stepped away from his room and spun around. Lola was waiting outside our bedroom door. “He just needs to process it,” she said. “He’ll come to you when he’s ready.”

  I scraped my palm over my face and let out a tired breath. “I know.”

  Her lips quirked at the corner. “What do you say we get back in bed for thirty minutes before we have to be adults for the day?” she asked.

  I stalked toward her, my lips lifting on one side the closer I got. “You have something in mind, kid?”

  She bit down on her bottom lip, her chest lifting on an inhale, her erect nipples showing through the thin cotton of her T-shirt. “I dunno, old man. Think you can give me what I need?”

  I reached out and grabbed her hips, yanking her toward me. “Shall we find out?”

  And that was exactly what we did.

  Chapter Eighteen

  LOLA

  Jan’s hands covered my eyes, trying to stop me from seeing inside the diner. I wouldn’t tell her I’d had a sneak peek when I’d gotten out of her car only moments ago and witnessed all the pink banners and balloons, so instead, I stayed silent and waited as she walked us inside and pulled us to a stop.

  “Okay, so we’re the first ones here but, surprise!”

  She pulled her hands away from my face, and I glanced around. Every table was covered in pink cloth, balloons floating around in the air, and a huge banner that read “It’s a Girl!” hanging above the counter.

  “Wow.” I wasn’t sure what I should say. It was more than I’d expected, and the damn pregnancy hormones were kicking in already. “Jan… I…” I turned around and threw my arms around her shoulders.

  She squeezed me just as hard as I squeezed her and sniffled. “Anything for baby Belle.” She’d taken to calling my bump that after I’d told her what had happened at the ultrasound when we found out it was a girl. It felt so natural, as if the baby was never meant to be called anything but Belle.

  I pulled away, wiping my fingers under my eyes and hoping my mascara hadn’t run. “Where’s everyone else?”

  “Sal went to his trailer to get changed.” She rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. “He said I’d made him sweat with all the blowing of balloons.” I chuckled and walked toward the table that had a huge centerpiece of diapers with pink ribbon wrapped around it. “And Cade is—”

  “Here,” his voice announced. “Cade is in the building.”

  “Another slacker,” Jan whispered. “You’d think he’d want to put his growing height to good use, but apparently, I’m too bossy.”

  “No apparently about it,” Cade said as he walked over to us, his grin looking similar to Brody’s. “You’re a tyrant.”

  “I am not!” She slammed her hands onto her hips and narrowed her eyes at him. “I run a tight ship, that’s all.”

  Cade snorted, and I grinned at them both. I was happier than I’d ever been just watching the two of them banter back and forth. I’d been living in Brody’s house—our house—for a few days, and it was so natural that it scared me a little. Waking up next to him every morning was the best part of my day, especially when he was pressed against me, warming my body in all sorts of ways.

  I shuffled on the spot and bit down on my bottom lip when I thought about the way he’d woken me up this morning. He hadn’t been pressed against my back that time, but pressed between my legs, his lips working their way to my—

  “Earth to Lola!” Jan waved her hand in front of my face. “Where did you run off to?”

  “No-wh-ere,” I croaked out, turning around to stare at the food covered in Saran wrap. “I was just thinking.”

  “Mmmm,” she said. “I’m going to go and find Sal.
He should have been back by now.”

  Her footsteps pounded on the floor as she walked away and out of the diner, but I still didn’t look back at her, aware of the heating of my cheeks. The door whooshed open and closed behind her, and only then did I look up at Cade.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hey.” He looked down at the diapers on the table and then glanced over at me. “So...any chance I could get some free tutoring this year?”

  “Free?” I asked, placing my hand on my hip. “And why would you think you’d get it for free, Cade Easton?” I raised a brow, trying to keep my lips in a straight line.

  He shrugged. “Figured that being your boyfriend’s son should come with some perks.” His lips quirked on one side. “Plus, my little sister will need a college graduate as her big brother, which means I can’t fail out of high school.”

  “Ohhh.” I narrowed my eyes. “You had to bring out the big brother card, huh?”

  “I was told it works.”

  “You were correctly informed.” My lips finally broke out into a smile. “Yes, I’ll tutor you, but I can’t promise you shakes and fries this time.”

  The door whooshed open again, footsteps pounding on the floor, but neither of us looked away from each other.

  “Maybe a grilled cheese instead then?”

  I opened my mouth, but a deep, gravelly voice replied, “Lola always did make the best grilled cheese.” My heart thumped in my chest, my eyes widening. What the hell was he— “You not gonna invite me to join you, Lola?”

  I swallowed and turned, Cade beside me as I stared at the man on the opposite side of the diner. He took two steps forward, his clunky boots bashing against the floor in a warning sign.

  “Jace,” I breathed. His slight limp was noticeable, and the scars on his face shone like a beacon. Scars that hadn’t been there the last time I saw him. “What are you doing here?”

  He glanced around, his grin turning into a sneer when he looked at Cade. I wanted to take a step in front of him, to protect him from Jace, but he’d see the move as threatening, so I kept as still as I could.