by Blue Saffire
“But for that, you will be waiting,” I warn in Spanish so only he understands.
“You sound funny.” Kasey giggles and squeezes my hand.
“Come, I’ll teach you how to sound funny with me while we make your sundae.”
“Te amo y esperaré por siempre si es necesario,” Kevin calls after me.
I look over my shoulder. “Yeah, babe, I love you too. We’ll see about the rest.”
I hope he has that kind of patience, because some days it feels like it might take forever for my life to get back in order. However, when he smiles at me the way he is now, I know I’m willing to try my hardest. Besides, Kevin speaking Spanish with a hint of his Irish accent showing is straight fire.
I know what I’m looking forward to tonight.
Chapter 35
Tutus and Points
Kevin
I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t grumpy this morning. I was right in the middle of making Dem scream the walls down as she clawed at my back when Trent called to say Molly left her dance bag at the house when he came to pick everyone up.
Finally an empty house, and I couldn’t enjoy it in peace. I can still hear Dem whispering dirty shit in my ear in Spanish. The best part was watching her eyes light up when I responded back in fluent Spanish. If I would have known how much that turns her on during sex, I would have been doing it a long time ago.
“Show him again, Ms. Shayla. You can do it, Uncle Trent.” Molly giggles as she’s wrapped around my brother’s leg, looking up at him.
I lean into the doorjamb as the soft classical music floats toward me. I have to see this. Trent has two left feet. He couldn’t dance his way out of a pop quiz and the kid is a pure genius—although I’ll never tell his smart ass that.
“I thought I had it this time,” Trent replies, beaming down at Molly.
“No,” the pretty lass in the room says, shaking her head. “You aren’t remotely close.”
“Come on,” Trent groans.
This causes Ms. Shayla to smile, elevating her from gorgeous to stunning. I can see why my brother is taken with her. Her brown skin isn’t as dark as Dem’s or Alicia’s. Her complexion is much lighter. I’d say she looks like Ciara, the singer, when it comes to her shape and skin tone.
Quinn and I tend to lean toward thicker, curvier women. Trenton loves them tall and lithe on top; he’ll give or take on the bottom. This time, it looks like he’s taking.
Aye, she’s my brother’s type of bird to a tee. Smallish breasts and curvy hips, beautiful face. Her posture and frame scream dancer.
“You have to relax. You can get it,” Molly coos. She moves to wrap herself around her dance instructor’s leg. I notice the small stumble and wince, but the woman recovers quickly. Interesting. “Please, show him again, Ms. Shayla.”
Ms. Shayla laughs. “Oh, all right, but I don’t think it’s going to help.”
“You’re breaking my heart. No faith in me at all.”
“I’m still not convinced you’re this bad. I think you’re trying to get extra attention from the teacher or something,” she says with that pretty smile.
“Shit, I might suck at this, but if you let me show you some of my other moves, you’ll be begging for more,” Trent says in that teasing tone he’s known so well for.
“Oh no,” Molly gasps. “Swear jar, Uncle Trent.”
Trent groans and rolls his eyes. “How about we pretend that didn’t happen and we cut me some slack this time? I almost went broke last week alone.”
“A pact is a pact. You have to put in one dollar,” Molly says firmly.
Trent sighs. “Fine, kid.”
“Swear jar?” Ms. Shayla says and lifts a brow.
“I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.”
“Trent,” she says in warning.
My brother reaches to wrap an arm around her waist to pull her closer. He splays his other hand over her belly. Leaning in to rub his nose against hers, he breathes.
“Progress. You’re calling me Trent. Now we’re getting somewhere. I’m wearing you down, baby. It’s only a matter of time before you’re dancing to my beat.”
Smooth, little brother. I stifle a laugh. Trent is taking it easy on her. I know he is. I’ve heard some of the shit that has come out of his mouth to ensure him one night without question. This one means more to him than that and it shows.
She takes a step back. “When did you say your brother would be here?”
I push off the wall and step out of the shadow of the doorway, holding up Molly’s dance bag. “I’m here.”
Shayla’s eyes grow wide as her gaze bounces between Trent and me. Aye, my brothers and I look a lot alike. Trenton would be my twin if not for his dark brown hair and freckles.
Again, I watch her recover, tucking away her shock quickly. She’s prettier up close. Her full lips are a perfect match for her small but wide nose. Her soft features are welcoming and almost cause a man to want to be protective of her.
I can’t explain that part. It’s like I know she’s hiding from something. I get what Trent meant that night he called me.
“Thank you, Uncle Kev,” Molly sings as she hugs my legs before she takes her bag and runs off to change.
“I was expecting a class full of little ones,” I say to the two before me, trying to hide my mirth.
“Molly has two private lessons a week,” Trent replies.
“Is that right? When did those start?”
“Molly has great potential. I thought it would be a good idea to work some more with her. She’ll take on a solo for the recital.”
“Ms. Shayla, is it?”
“Yes.” She sticks her hand out to shake mine.
“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
She blushes, and it’s so cute. I look to Trent, and he looks like he wants to clobber me. I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
I go to continue teasing him, but my phone buzzes. When I pull it out and see it’s a pic of Dem in a red panties and bra set, I forget about anything other than getting back to the house. I turn and head for the door without another word.
“Rude much,” Trent calls after me.
“Aye, today I am.”
Chapter 36
Family Circles
Danita
“What’s on your mind?” Emil asks as he stares at me across the table.
We’re in the back room of the restaurant one of his best friends owns in New Jersey. We agreed it would be the best place to meet. Leana has been one of Emil’s best friends since they were little. We trust her like family. Although, I did slip in without anyone becoming the wiser.
“A lot,” I reply and massage my temples.
It’s been two months since I found those files and contacted my brothers. Diego and Jo-jo had to go back to Miami, but promised they would be returning as soon as possible. Diego has also been doing some digging from his Miami office.
Kevin is salty with me because I wanted to come to this meeting with my brother without him. As I told him, I’m not ready to introduce him to my family. I want my father to meet him first, and at this point, my father still doesn’t know I’m alive.
I need that time for him and my mother to adjust before I drag Kevin into the mix. First things first, we need to find out what happened. Why is someone hell-bent on making me disappear?
“I wish I had more answers. This shit has us going in circles. I don’t like it. I think you should go stay with Papi in Puerto Rico while we figure this out,” Emil says.
I’m already shaking my head. “I can’t. I’m not running.”
His eyes become near slits. I look so much like my brother, especially now that I dye my hair darker. It used to be hard to take him seriously because it was like looking in a mirror. However, in this moment, from the look he’s giving
me, I can’t help but take him seriously.
“Why won’t you allow us to pull you out? Is this about this guy you’re with?”
“Emil—”
“Don’t Emil me.” He leans into the table. “This is your life. We all thought you were dead. Do you know how that felt? Me, Diego, and Jo-jo are going to do whatever we have to, to make sure you’re safe and if that means sending you to Papi, that’s what we’ll have to do.”
“I get it, but you guys have to understand that I have another life I can’t just walk away from.”
“Why not? If it means your safety, he should understand.”
I snort. “You haven’t met Kevin.” The words are spoken more so under my breath.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that the man loves me enough to throw himself in front of a speeding train for me. My safety is always his first concern. I drive him crazier than I’m driving you. If he could keep me in the house in bubble wrap, he would.
“I love him too, Emil. I can’t walk away and act like his feelings don’t matter. It would hurt him not to be the one protecting me. He’s an ex-cop that’s now in private security and investigations. You, of all people, should understand how protective he can be and why leaving isn’t an option,” I say pleadingly.
“So, what do you plan to do when this is over?”
I look down at my hands before me. I know what my heart is telling me. Then there’s my head.
“I don’t know. I’m messed up in the head. Kev has started to call me Demaris. He called my name five times the other day before I answered him. I was sitting right there, watching TV with him, and I didn’t answer to my own name. I’m conflicted about a lot. Kevin wants to get married and start a family. I want those things too, but I need to search for who I am first,” I say.
“I told you this life wouldn’t be easy.” He releases a long breath and sits back in his seat.
“Is that why you never got married?”
Something crosses his face before he looks away. “Something like that.” He clears his throat. “Okay, you love old boy and you’re not trying to leave him. Well, are you still feeling secure in your cover?”
I nod. “I’m handling myself, and my crazy boyfriend has someone on my ass when he’s not around. I’m never uncovered.”
“Okay,” he says and rubs his jaw. “We’re going to keep at this. Jo-jo took a leave from his job. He’ll be in town soon. Diego wants to stay in Miami for now, so he can use his resources. We’re going to figure this shit out, Dem.”
“Anything on Vivian and how she’s involved in this?”
He gets this look. “No. I didn’t think Diego could focus on that. I took over, but I’m not getting anywhere there either.”
“Yeah, about that. How is he holding up?”
“I don’t know. He was seeing someone before your text. I think she broke things off. No telling what prompted that.”
“God, why is all of this happening?”
“I don’t know, linda.”
I smile at the term of endearment. My father used to use it all the time. I look at my brother and note that he has aged a little. I wouldn’t believe he’s forty, but I can see he’s older than when I started this case five years ago. So much time has passed, I wonder what my parents look like.
“Did…did they move to PR because of me?”
“Yes and no. Papi was ready to go home and retire. You know Mommy. She’s down for whatever Papi wants. Once they told us you were gone, the trips back and forth stopped. He couldn’t take walking by your old room,” he says and shrugs.
“We have to fix this. Emil?”
“Yeah.”
“Eric may be gone, but his caution still resonates in my head.” I lick my dry lips. “We’ll give it about another month or so. If we’re not any closer, I’ll at least go see Papi and let this burden off his chest. He and Mommy don’t deserve this.”
“Good. That sounds good.”
Chapter 37
The Happiest of Moments
Danita
“No,” I cry out as I laugh and run through the house.
Kevin is hot on my heels. I slide across the foyer floor before taking off up the stairs. His heavy footfalls echo behind me.
“Demaris, I’m going to kick yer little arse.”
I bark out more laughter as I race into the bedroom. I jump on the bed and run across it. Kevin skids to a stop to run over to the side I’m on. Seeing him heading for me, I roll back onto the bed to get to the other side.
An actual squeal leaves my lips when he pounces the bed, trapping me onto my back. His wet hair dripping into my face, he looks down at me. He growls at me before starting to drop rough kisses all over my face.
I can’t stop laughing. This is a much-needed stress reliever. I leave for Puerto Rico in the morning. It’s been a little over a month since I made Emil that promise. The trail has run cold, and we know nothing more than we did three months ago. We’re still spinning in circles. As of yet, I don’t feel safe enough to take this into the Bureau blindly. After all, someone has been trying to erase me.
Cal is the only one that seems to know what we’re missing, and although we thought he was going to wake a few times, he still hasn’t. At this point, I don’t think we’ll ever find the truth.
“Ya think it’s funny to pour water all over me,” Kevin pants against my neck.
“So…so…sorry,” I stutter through my laughter.
“Ach, you’re not sorry at all.”
I bite my lip as I look at that sexy grin on his lips. Reaching up, I push my hand through his wet hair, and I pout. “You made me do it.”
“I made you pour a pot of water over my head?” He gives me a pointed look.
I shrug, running my hand all the way through his hair, down the back of his neck. He searches my face, amusement still on his lips. I lift to kiss his chin.
“I asked you what you wanted to do tonight. It’s not my fault you answered wrong,” I taunt.
“Your response to me saying I want to fuck all night because I’m not going to see you for a week was to pour water over my head.”
“Someone needed to cool you off,” I say as I burst into laughter again.
The way he jumped up and over the couch was priceless. I can still see the shock on his face when he whipped his head in my direction as the water soaked him. I wish I had gotten that one on video. Con would have had a good laugh.
Kevin’s eyes soften as he homes in on my face. “I love seeing you like this. I’m going to miss you.”
“Aw, babe. I’m going to miss you too. It’s only a week. I’ll be back before you know it.”
The words coming out of my mouth are true, but the fact that I’ve been building up a wall as this trip gets closer is also a fact. It’s been the elephant in the room for the last two weeks. I have every intention of returning; it’s the reality that I’ll be returning to that’s scary for me.
Kevin has been hinting more and more about marriage and a family. I’ve yet to process that I may never be able to resurrect my real life. I feel like I’m in limbo, and I don’t know how to handle all of that.
He opens his mouth, but closes it again quickly. I know he wants to protest this trip for the millionth time. Well, not so much the trip, but the fact that I’m going without him.
It’s the last night we’ll be together for a week. I don’t want to weigh it down with all of the crap we have going on. I wiggle beneath him until I can free my legs to wrap around his waist.
Closing his eyes, he places his forehead to mine. “Have you thought about what we talked about?”
I release a long breath. “Yes. I thought about it. I hear what you’re saying.”
“I don’t have to be there for the week. I can come the last few days. You will have plenty of
time for you and your family. I only want to know you’re safe.”
“I’m a trained FBI agent, babe. I’ll be fine. Besides, you said yourself that you should be here helping Quinn figure out the case.”
“Which is why if I come in at the end of the trip, it works out for everyone.”
“Are you challenging my skills to protect myself?”
“Not at all, love,” he breathes against my lips.
In a swift move, I flip him onto his back and straddle him. I laugh at the startled look on his face. He rolls his eyes and sits up on his elbows.
“You were saying?” I lift a brow pointedly, folding my arms across my chest.
He reaches to run a finger along my jaw. Feeling playful, I turn my head and suck his finger into my mouth. His eyes darken with lust.
“You made it clear that’s not what you want tonight. Don’t start something you’re not in the mood to finish,” he says huskily.
Pulling his finger from my mouth, I leave my lips parted as I lower his hand over my chin, down my neck, between my breasts, and into the waistband of my shorts and panties. I tilt my head to the side and bite my lip.
“Does it feel like I’m not in the mood?”
It takes only a second for him to push his fingers inside me while tugging me forward to capture my lips. He groans as I start to drip down his fingers. I was turned on when he made his earlier comment. I only poured the water on him because I thought it was funny. His words were hot but crass, and he deserved it.
I reach to place my hand over his heart to steady myself as I rock my hips. The heat from his bare skin soothes me. It would be a bold-faced lie if I said I hadn’t been drooling over him as he walked about the house shirtless in a pair of sweats.
“Damn it,” he hisses as both our phones ring at the same time.
I feel his frustration as I pull my phone from my bra. Climbing from his lap, I allow him to pull his phone from his pocket to answer. I watch his back longingly as he stands and walks out of the room to take his call.
“Hello,” I finally answer my phone.