by J. Haney
Without a word, Caleb kisses me with a passion and lust I wasn’t expecting. It ignites a fire in me like no other. Without a second thought I begin to unbutton his pants and push them down his legs as his mouth closes over my breast. The air around us is electric, the violence of a storm stirring our passion. Caleb reaches for the button on my shorts and he pulls back just a little, with one smooth and sudden movement he has my shorts off and slams into me with a force that it causes me to gasp. The mixture of shock, pleasure, and pain causes me to cry out.
“Fuck me harder.”
Caleb’s thrusts come hard, fast, almost angry as I wrap my legs around his waist and force him deeper. “Harder,” I beg. “Give me all you have.”
Suddenly he stops, looks at me with a wicked grin and pulls away. I try to pull him back to me, but he pushes me back, up against the tree with one hand and penetrates me with the other as he kneels down, throwing one of my legs over his shoulder, he fucks me with his fingers and licks me with his tongue. He nibbles and teases my flesh, then bites down hard causing me to wince, but the pain is followed by the pleasure of his tongue entering me once again. I lose my footing, sliding down the tree, but he catches me with a chuckle and a flick of his tongue against me. As his tongue penetrates and pleases me, he offers me the fingers that were just inside of me. I suck them clean. The combined sensations of his tongue, one hand grabbing my ass, and me sucking his other fingers brings me near orgasm. I feel my legs start to tremble.
He stops, licking his lips. “Oh no, not yet. I am not done with you.”
As he stands, I crawl up to my knees and take his cock in my mouth forcefully, sucking hard. I suck him into the back of my throat, massaging his shaft with my tongue, one hand massaging his nuts as the other is pumping him harder into my mouth. My movements are frenzied and animalistic to excite him more. I scrape my teeth along the length of his shaft but not too hard, just enough to mix pleasure and pain. Caleb begs me to stop and then changes his mind and tells me he wants more. He thrusts his pelvis toward me, encouraging me to continue. I can’t get enough, so I grab him by the ass and force him deeper into my mouth and throat. In forcing him closer my nails penetrate his skin. A moan escapes Caleb’s lips, which excites me even more. Continuing my feverish movements on him, I can tell he’s getting very close.
I back away and Caleb pulls me up, to stand, lifting my legs up over his arms as he pushes me back against the tree, entering me further and harder than I ever imagined possible. Our animal passion is spurring us to pound each other harder and deeper with each thrust. Without warning we come with such force and intensity it shocks us both. We continue to push harder and deeper until every last spasm of our orgasm has left our bodies.
Caleb attempts to straighten out the blanket. I just swat at his hand playfully and we collapse together, hot, tired, and satisfied.
Chapter Thirty- Seven ~ Caleb
Just as I climb out of the truck at the office, my phone dings with a text from Kyler. I lean up against the wall just outside the door to text her for a few minutes.
Kyler:
Hey! Last night was amazing. I miss your arms around me already.
Caleb:
You’re the amazing one. I was trying to be a gentleman. Any plans for tonight?
Kyler:
Me? Nah, you and that tree, though. Hmm… Not that I can think of. Dinner and a movie?
Caleb:
Me + You + Tree = Anytime. Dinner with the kids? Then movie for us? I could always just show you my moves again.
Kyler:
Deal! Yeah, I’ll cook then you can pick the movie. I’m up for whichever. Up against the tree or somewhere new? Okay, I need to do work, so you get to surprise me.
Caleb:
You got it! See you later.
Pushing off the wall, I slide my phone in my pocket as I open the door. Nell and Liam both take a good look at me. Nell’s smiling, but she’s upset about something. I’m sure Liam’s being an ass again. Before I can say anything, Liam’s mouth opens.
“So you finally get your tip wet?”
Before I can knock the hell out of him, Nell smacks him with her magazine. “Thanks, Nell. Wouldn’t you like to know, Liam? If I did, at least I’m getting some. More than I can say for you.” I chuckle and walk to my office.
I bring my e-mail up as I sit at my desk. Spam. Spam. Spam. Spam. Charles Ryan. I do a double and then triple take at this Subject line. Opening up the e-mail, I yell for Liam to get in here. As he walks in, I tell him to get over here and read.
From: Charles Ryan
Subject: Charles Ryan
Date: June 5, 2015 2:30pm
To: Caleb Hudson
Caleb,
I figured it was time to let you know, that I know where you are staying. If you are reading this, that means you are in your office and not there to protect Kyler, the twins, or your father. By the time you get to them they will all be dead. I will be waiting for you to get there, and once I know you have seen all the corpses lying on the ground and I know you are dying inside, then I will kill you too. Or perhaps I’ll save that little slut so she can see you die first… Hurry back or you’ll miss all the fun.
See You in Hell,
Charles Ryan
Holy fuck. Liam is already out of the room and packing the ammo up. I’ve got my phone out and am calling Kyler. When she doesn’t answer, I start to freak out. Things had been so quiet. I thought I could regroup here for a moment. That they would be okay with Pop’s… Nell flashes into my office with a safety vest just as my phone starts to ring. I look down and see it’s Kyler.
“Kyler, you need to get the kids upstairs and have them hide. Detective Ryan is on his way to kill everyone.”
I hear a loud thud through the phone; the next thing I hear is Pops’ voice on the line.
“Boy, what’s going on? Kyler just made the kids go upstairs. Hold on here she comes and there she goes.” Pops sing-songs.
“What do you mean there she goes, Pops?”
“She just went to the garage. Let me look out the window. What’s going on, Caleb?”
“Ryan is on his way, Pops.” I know I sound deflated. I lift my head as Liam shouts at me to come on. “Liam and I are on our way.”
I’m up and sprinting for the door. Liam is throwing bags into the flatbed as I glance at Nell who hasn’t said a word.
“Okay, you two be careful,” Pops says. “Oh, just so you know, Kyler’s walking back this way with two black duffle bags.”
Fuck. What is she planning on doing? I hear the door open and shut, then a shuffle of the phone.
“Caleb, I’ve got ammo and I’m going to help your father get everything ready. Please just get here as quick as you possibly can. I’ll hold the fort down ’til then. But please be careful and do not drive too fast.”
Kyler hangs up. The tone in her voice alone scares me enough to go faster. Liam has started the truck, trying to be helpful, but I think I’m freaking him out. I turn on my caution lights so that I can get to Kyler faster.
As I pull up to the house, I see nothing out of place. I made a forty-minute drive in fifteen minutes. Liam and I both jump out of the car and grab our guns. Just as we step on the porch, I hear a gunshot. Liam and I barge in with our guns held high.
Chapter Thirty-Eight ~ Kyler
After hanging up with Caleb, I hand Travis one of my bags and tell him to go pick a room. He goes upstairs to watch out a window. I start pulling out guns and getting them ready. I set up in the kitchen, but I can get a good angle on the front door if I look just the right way. I finish checking the last gun and getting it ready for the battle I know in my gut is coming. I’m still not sure how I’m holding myself together.
Most women going through everything I have, would either be dead or in a nuthouse somewhere. Only difference is I have two beautiful angels I have to survive for. God willing, I will make it through this trouble as well. If we… no, when we get through this, we are all going on a vacation.
This last month is not what I would have imagined it was going to be, but as my father always told me, “God only puts you through what he knows you can handle. It’s his way to show what you can handle and just what you are capable of.” Could I believe I was ever capable of murder? Hell, no. I’ve killed twice now, and today looks as if I will be adding more to the list.
All right, Ky. Time to man up.
I walk over and look out the window. Someone is moving this way. I level my rifle and once I’m in line, I take the shot, hitting him in the shoulder. Not bad for a first shot with the rifle. I ready the rifle again as I see someone else coming from the same direction. Shooting again, I hit the guy in the head. That’s three. Lord, please get us out of this mess.
That’s when I feel a gun at the back of my head. Shit.
“Turn around slowly, Kyler,” Detective Ryan says.
Shit, what am I going to do? I hear another gun go off and pray it’s Travis. I don’t want to turn around but if I don’t, what will happen to my children? Where the hell is Caleb? Please, God, let my babies be okay. He can kill me here, but please protect Jaxson and Avaline.
I send up a quick prayer, then I turn slowly and look into Ryans eyes. The look I see is one I’ve never seen in my life. It’s one that could scare the most terrifying person you’ve ever met.
“If you’re going to kill me, then do it already. Just quit trying to scare me.” I expected it to be a quiver, but I sound strong and so unafraid.
“Oh dear, Kyler, I can’t kill you... yet. I need you too much. First, I need Avaline’s teddy, and then I need the combo to your father’s shed.” Ryan narrows his eyes at me. What the hell is it about this damn teddy?
“Like I’m going to give you a damned thing,” I say. “You’ve had me on the run for years. I’m sick of your twisted, fucked-up games. You will not scare me this time. If you want to kill me, then go for it. But trust me, you will not get a damn thing. I made a new will a few years ago.” I say with a smile on my face.
“Kyler, Kyler, Kyler. You think I’m asking. In all reality you are going to tell me or you are never going to see your children again.” He doesn’t yell at me; he doesn’t sound evil. He talks to me like he always has, which makes this a thousand times worse than I imagined it could be.
I hear a door bust in. Ryans arm goes around my neck, and he sticks the gun to my head. It’s then that I see Caleb and Liam stopping in their tracks. The look on Caleb’s face breaks my heart.
“Let her go!” Caleb shouts.
“Kyler, where are the kids and Pops?” Liam asks before anyone else can say anything.
“They…” Ryan jerks me backward to keep me from talking.
“You stupid bastards are too late. Dear ole’ daddy and the twins are dead.” Everyone looks up to the ceiling as we hear a gun go off. My poor babies, I need to get to them.
“They’re all upstairs,” I shout, slamming my elbow into Ryan.
I hear a gun go off but I can’t look, all I can do is drop to the ground and grab one of the guns I had under the kitchen table, my Glock 17. Lying on my back, I point the gun up and shoot. The bullet hits Ryan in the side of the neck. I grab my bag and take off at a dead run up the stairs. Partway up, I put the strap over my head so the bag is wrapped around my body. Hitting the top step, I have my gun level and ready to shoot. Seeing someone standing over Travis’s body scares me. I hear another gun go off but can’t tell where it’s coming from. I don’t take any more time to aim and shoot the guy standing over Travis in the head and he goes down.
Chapter Thirty-Nine- ~ Avaline
I have no idea what’s going on. I’m so scared. Mommy made Jaxson and me come upstairs and hide. Jaxson won’t tell me anything. He’s holding me in the corner of the closet now and won’t let me get out. There are so many gunshots. Mr. Travis is right outside the bedroom, at the window with a gun. I just want to know why they are shooting. I can’t help but cry; I’m so scared. Mommy should be here. Why isn’t Jax crying? He’s sitting there like a rock starring at the door. I can hear shouting in the hallway. Jaxson keeps telling me to be quiet.
Before I even know what’s happening, Jax and I are being pulled out of the closet. Jaxson is thrown on the floor and I’m thrown on the bed, my arm burning as it’s pulled. I look up at a strange man. He’s walking toward me; he has a very weird look on his face. He rubs his hands up my legs to my thighs, and then he hooks his hands around each thigh and pulls me to the edge of the bed. Where’s Mommy? Where’s Cal? Where’s Mr. Travis? I begin to cry harder, and he smacks me across the face.
I don’t see what happened. I can only watch the guy in front of me as he screams out in pain.
“Don’t touch my sister!” Jaxson shouts. I’m sitting up and can see everything now. Jaxson fights the man for his gun. I hear a shot and Jaxson scream, as he falls to the floor. I scream out his name and try to get to him.
The guy shoves me back on the bed, but he’s not leaning over me. What’s he doing? Mommy please, I’m so scared. He rubs his hands down my body. I don’t like how he’s touching me. It feels very wrong to have him touching me this way.
“Hey you!” I hear someone shout, but I can’t figure out who it is. Everything seems so far away.
“Yeah, I’m talking to you, asshole. Do you have the balls to pick on someone your own size?” I look up and see Mr. Travis. I run back to the closet and hide.
Chapter Forty ~ Kyler
I can hear soft crying. It sounds like Avaline. I sprint toward the sound and that’s when I see Jaxson’s body lying on the ground, blood everywhere. Oh my God, what did I do? I left them all alone, my poor precious angels. How could I ever have put them in this situation? I run to Jax’s body, dropping to my knees beside him. He was shot through the chest. I can’t stop the tears that are coming so fast. This can’t be happening, not my boy. I look over and see that Avaline is still in the closet, holding her shoulder. My babies. She’s crying violently. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone pointing a gun. Without a thought I grab my gun and shoot him in the head.
I hear more guns going off, but nobody else has made their way to us. I look toward the door when I hear Travis coughing. He finally sits up. I see blood on his shirt. I try to worry about him, but I just can’t. Once he finally gets up, he makes his way over to where I’m holding Jaxson in my arms. He places his hand on my right shoulder, and it’s then I feel a burning pain. Fuck! I was shot. Mother fucker. I need to clean this shit up. Travis must have read my mind because he tells me he was just grazed so he’s going downstairs for help.
***
I have no idea how long I sit there rocking Jaxson in my arms, whispering how incredibly sorry I am. I don’t notice Avaline leaving or that there are no more guns going off. I finally feel a hand touch my shoulder, then someone squats beside me. I turn my head just enough to see it’s Caleb. He has tears falling down his face. He brushes a hand across Jax’s face and I begin to cry even harder. I’m not sure I am strong enough for this. I do something my mother always told us to do when we weren’t sure what to do. I pray.
Lord,
My momma always told me if you bring us to it, then you would bring us through it. I’m just not sure I believe that right now. How could you take my baby? Why would you? Have I done something so horrible you had to take him from me? My little fighter. Please, Lord; tell me how I’m going to make it through this. How can I be the mother Avaline needs when my heart is broken into a million little pieces?
Caleb kisses the top of my head.
“Kyler… baby, we’ll get through this. We have to, for you. For Avaline,” he promises me over and over again.
Thank you for the sign. Thank you for always watching over me, please watch out for my little man.
I look up into Caleb’s eyes and thank him soundlessly from the bottom of my heart for being so amazing. I knew I’d need his help to get me through this. I cling to him and sob.
Chapter Forty-One ~ Caleb
There�
�s no way to cover up what happened, at the Jefferson house. With four of the local cops involved, including the decorated Charles Ryan, the State Patrol has stepped in, and they are whispering about F.B.I. involvement. Ryan is missing, but there’s a statewide manhunt on for him. He’s going to have to disappear.
It took them a few days to finish processing the house, and Liam and I have been cleaning up the damage ever since. Spackling and painting. Several of the rugs had to go. Kyler and Avaline are with Pops. It was the safest place I could think to put them.
Kyler is a mess. She hasn’t really spoken and understandably won’t let Ava out of her sight for even a moment. I think it’s the only reason she gets out of bed at this point. I’ve tried to talk to her, but she won’t even look at me. It breaks my heart, but I know she needs time, and when she comes back from this I will be here, waiting. I promised I wasn’t going anywhere, and I won’t. I love that stubborn woman far too much.
At night she sleeps with Ava, in another room, but I think it’s more than likely she sits up with that gun in her hand. With Ryan on the loose, she’s still afraid. I don’t blame her for that, although I feel like she may blame me for much of this. I can’t keep those kinds of thoughts. They won’t help her, or me.
I busy myself and run interference with the police. She didn’t tell them anything useful. I don’t think she trusts the municipality much, and who can blame her. The last cop she trusted decided it was fun to terrorize and stalk her for nearly a decade.
