The Hart Brothers Series Box Set (Including the bonus book Sabin: A Seven Novel): Freeing Her, Freeing Him, Kestrel, The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart, Sabin: A Seven Novel

by A. M. Hargrove

  “Oh God, don’t make me laugh. I hurt.”

  He chuckles. His hand pats my belly. “Yeah, it does feel a bit rounded out there. I rather like it.”

  “Ugh. How can you like it? I’m like a lard ball.”

  “No, uh-uh. You just look pregnant.”

  “What? Pregnant! I …” I sputter.

  He laughs. The man has the nerve to laugh.

  “How can you say that?” I’m insulted.

  “You look adorable. Like you swallowed a tiny melon. Or maybe a grapefruit. That kind of pregnant.”

  “Okay. For starters, never ever, under any circumstance, even when she is pregnant, tell a woman she looks pregnant. That’s the last thing she wants to hear.”

  “But …”

  I shut him up with the palm of my hand.

  “Second, it’s never adorable to tell a woman she looks like she swallowed a tiny melon. Ever. Got that, Skippy?”

  He has a dumbfounded expression on his face. It’s quite comical, but I refuse to let him know that. He has to learn his lesson.

  “But …”

  “Abso-fucking-lutely no buts. Not ever. Am I clear?”

  “Yes. Extremely.”

  “Good.” I smile sweetly at him. He still looks like he’s been blindsided by a cross between Lord Voldemort and Miss Piggy.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  “I am now. Still full, though. Ate too much, you know.”

  He scrapes his lower lip with his teeth. I now have the urge to bite that lip.

  I lean on the table and whisper, “Come here a sec.”

  He leans closer to me and I trap his lip in a bite. Then I suck it and kiss him.

  “Jesus, Gabriella. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Mmm. Fine.” But I’m not sure if I’m fine or not. I’m erratic. My emotions are all over the place. It’s him, but since he won’t talk, I’ll deal with it the only way I know.

  “So how are Ryder and Skylina?”

  I smile. “Funny you should ask. I’m meeting Sky for lunch tomorrow. I’ve been swamped at work and haven’t had a chance to see her. Ryder is busy with school. He’s deep into the semester already and she’s complaining she’s not seeing him enough.”

  “I can imagine. He’s trying to get out of school early so he can get into law school. His class load is heavy. No wonder they never see each other.”

  “Yeah, he’s at the library a lot. Sky says he lives there.”

  We both laugh, then I add, “I remember living in the library during med school. Not fun at all.”

  Giuseppe brings dessert and I want to die when I look at it. One bite is all I’m good for, but damn if it doesn’t curl my toes.

  “You were right,” I say.

  “About what?”

  “The last time we were in here. I said this dessert was better than sex. You said it wasn’t better than sex with you. You were right. It’s not. And there’s something else. There’s not a damn thing on this earth that’s better than sex with you, Kolson Hart.”

  He beams.

  Chapter Six

  Kolson

  It’s been three weeks since my dad’s request. Demand is more like it. I haven’t heard a word. I don’t expect to. It’ll come after the thirty-day mark. All my plans are in place. Everything is set. But it’s killing me because once I drop off the face of the earth, Gabriella is the one who will suffer the most.

  Today we meet with her parents and I’m glad we’re doing this while I’m still around. I’m sure they want to put this behind them. But I want them to suffer … to pay for what they did to her.

  Sam and I pick her up and head to Stan’s office where the meeting is to be held.

  “You okay?” I ask.

  “Yeah. I’m good. Just want it all to be over.”

  She clutches my hand with her icy one. I hope I can soothe her. We walk into Stan’s conference room and a few minutes later, her parents enter. She grasps my hand and I know she is freaking.

  Stan makes the unnecessary introductions and I only grace them with a brief flick of my head. I don’t want to acknowledge the fucking pieces of shit. What kills me is how they look like fine members of society. Probably go to church every Sunday. Belong to the right clubs. Hell, they probably donate to women’s shelters to help abuse victims. Fuckers. Hypocrites.

  Her dad starts right away. “Gabby, your mother and I want to put this foolish stuff behind …”

  I stop this conversation.

  “Don’t you dare speak another word.” I’m furious. Then I say, “Stan.”

  Stan continues, “Mr. Martinelli, my client has made her wishes known. A public acknowledgement of what took place, how you knew it was occurring, and how you chose not to do anything to help her is what she wants. That is what our offer is. Take it or leave it.”

  Gabriella squeezes my hand. “Dad, he’s right. I want nothing more or less. I care not for your precious money. I just want you to acknowledge the fact that I came to you and told you Danny was raping me. Repeatedly. Yet you chose to ignore me. I even tried to kill myself. And you, Mom, your damn vodka was more important to you than your own daughter.”

  What her mother says surprises us all. “I’m not drinking anymore. And if your father won’t speak the truth, I will.”

  Her father turns to her mother. “Shut your damn mouth.” John Martinelli’s face is crimson with rage.

  She bows her head, cowed into silence by him. This just got interesting.

  “Mom?”

  She doesn’t say a word.

  “So we’re back to this, then. I stand firm. I’ll take this to court and drag your name through the mud. I’ll bring in the psychiatrist who treated me and do everything I can to make you look like the shit parents you were. And then I’ll have Kolson here testify to the texts and letters he read from Danny that I received while he stalked me. Oh, and I’ll bring Case Russell in too. And the police, when Danny tried to abduct me from the restaurant. It all will crumble down around you, Dad, and make you look like an idiot. Acknowledge it publicly, apologize, and be done with it. Or you’ll be ruined. Well, you’ll be ruined either way. Who the fuck will want someone like you, someone with zero integrity, representing them in a court of law? Oh, I know, maybe rapists and child molesters.”

  “That’s enough, Gabriella.”

  “No, it will never be enough. And don’t ever call me that. I’m Gabby to you. Only one man has earned the right to call me that and it certainly isn’t you.”

  Fuck! She just slam-dunked him. And he’s withering like a damn flower in the Sahara.

  She turns to Stan. “I think we’re done here.” And we walk out, hand in hand.

  When we get to the car, I feel her trembling. “You okay?” I ask.

  “Shit. I don’t know.”

  I usher her into the car and get in behind her.

  “For someone who isn’t sure, you just handed him his ass.”

  “I put on a good show.”

  “Confidence.”

  “Huh?”

  “You need to have more confidence in yourself. You’re intelligent. You think fast on your feet. You went head-to-head with someone who scared the shit out of you your whole life and still does it to your mother. And you didn’t bat an eye. You’re more than capable of taking on anyone, Gabriella. You put him in his place like a champ. I would put you up against anyone. In fact, you’d make one hell of a business partner.”

  “Really?”

  “Hell yes. Think about it. You went through med school and dealt with asshole doctors all the time. Didn’t that teach you something about confidence?”

  “You’re right. It did. But I always think it only applies to my field.”

  “Wrong. Your passion overrules everything when you believe in something. You were amazing in there.”

  She looks at me and I see the doubt leaving her. A tentative smile breaks the tension on her face and she asks, “You’re being honest?”

  “Completely. And
I’ll take it a step further. I’ve spent a lot of time in contract negotiations and business dealings. You’re good, kea. Really good.”

  Now she honors me with a huge grin that lights up her face. It makes me want to melt and cry at the same time. Because that’s a look I’m going to miss. God, I’m going to miss it.

  She hugs me and I’m glad for it because now she can’t see the sadness that clouds my eyes.

  “Thank you for always being here for me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  I hug her back. Hard. Because I don’t know how the fuck I’m going to survive a day without her. I can barely suck oxygen in just thinking about it. I feel my body fragmenting already. Fuck. What am I going to do?

  “God, I love you, Gabriella.” I can’t bring myself to let go of her, even though Sam has stopped us in front of her office, the car idling.

  “I love you too, babe.” She nuzzles my neck and I just can’t release her. “You okay?”

  “Hmm. Just wanting to hold you for a while.” What a flimsy excuse.

  “Well, I better get back.”

  “‘Kay.” I let her loose and get out. When she walks away, I know a part of me leaves too.

  Gabriella is on her knees, back to my chest, and I’m deep within her. “Damn, you’re so sexy. Look at your breasts. Your nipples are dark and rosy with desire. You have such a beautiful pussy. All slick and soft but tight around my cock. You’re so fucking beautiful, my kea.” The view in the mirror is unmatched.

  Her breathing is heavy with lust as she watches me play with her stiff peaks. My hips thrust hard into her and she lets out a deep sigh when I touch her clit with my pinky. My hand is splayed across her abs and I love to reach down as I push into her. One of her arms circles my neck and her hand weaves into my hair. The more I rub her clit and sway against her, the harder she yanks on my hair. And the louder she moans.

  “Ah, yes. Just like that. I love that right there.”

  I do it again and again. Until she is one lusty, shaking mess from her orgasm and then I follow suit. My cock fires into her, bathing her until her inner muscles squeeze every last bit of cum out of me.

  But I’m not finished with her. It’s my turn to nibble on her ass, the way she did mine. After I settle her face down on the bed, I move over her, but I hate to pull out. So I kiss her shoulder. Moving her hair to the side, I lick her neck.

  “Hmm, you taste so good. As always.”

  Eventually, I slip out of her and make my way to her delectable ass. Rosy and shaped the way it should be, I sink my teeth in and hear her squeal first and then giggle. She won’t giggle for long. Soon she moans her soft little sounds. But when I wedge her legs apart and get lower, biting the crease where her ass meets her thighs, she starts to go nuts.

  “Ah!”

  My tongue licks. My mouth sucks. My teeth bite. And my thumbs separate her cheeks so I can get close to her most sensitive areas. She writhes against me and begs for more.

  “What do you want, kea?”

  “I … I don’t know. More!”

  So I keep at it and I know I’ll make her come like this with just one tiny touch or one little lick.

  “Please, Kolson. Please.”

  Her inner thighs, the backs of them, nothing escapes the torture of my mouth. And finally I bury my tongue in her slit and she comes like a wild thing, screaming my name.

  It has me so fucking hard, I shove my cock into her, and she keeps coming.

  “Oh God.”

  That’s all she can say and it has me in a fuck frenzy too. Shit, I can’t get enough of her. And then I climax just as hard as I did a little while ago.

  As soon as I move next to her, she climbs on top of me and molds her lips to mine.

  “Mmmm. That was so amazing.”

  And that makes me want to tuck her next to me and never let her go.

  All this wonderful beauty is dashed by the sound of my phone.

  “Shit.”

  “Do you have to take that?”

  “Probably. We’re already going to be late.”

  “Yeah, but it was totally worth it.”

  “True.” Reaching across her to the nightstand, I pick up my phone and my body instantly stiffens.

  “What is it?”

  “Work shit. A contract we’re working on has just hit a snag. Gotta hit the shower.”

  “Okay.”

  She follows me because it’s our routine. As she begins to wash her hair, I pull the bottle out of her hand. “Let me do that.”

  I love doing it. Feeling her silken hair in my hands. I work up a lather and bury my fingers in it, rubbing her scalp. She sags in response.

  “You are so good at this.”

  “So you’ve said.”

  As the suds rinse, I memorize everything about her. A deep clenching pain rips through my gut, and then I know it’s not true what they say about your heart breaking. It doesn’t even come close. Your heart doesn’t break. A gash splits your gut wide open and then it expands to your sternum until your heart explodes out of your chest. The fucking thing isn’t broken. It’s goddamn annihilated. And there isn’t enough superglue in the entire world to piece it back together. Then parts of you start to fall off, one by one. You know it’s not possible to ever be put back together again. You’re fucking Humpty Dumpty.

  I squeeze conditioner into my palm and rub it into her hair. Then I clear the hoarseness away and say, “Hey, kea, I hear my phone. I need to get that. Big meeting today. Sorry.”

  “Okay, babe.”

  I scurry out of there so I don’t make a fool of myself. I dress in record time and hit my office. The message that came through has put me in hell:

  Your debt payoff commences in twenty-four hours. Can’t wait to have you back, son. Pack your bags. You’re flying to Vegas in the morning.

  Like hell, I am. The only place I’ll be flying is the fucking coop.

  This is the goddamn shits. I need to stay in here until Gabriella leaves so she doesn’t suspect anything. In thirty minutes, she sticks her head in.

  “You’re still here?”

  “Yeah. I have to get this out before I go.” I make up some lame excuse. Again.

  “Oh. I’m leaving.”

  “Okay. Hey, I’ll be pretty late today. Working on this new contract and I have a late meeting. Don’t wait on me for dinner.” I smile.

  “Okay. Are you flying anywhere?”

  “Maybe D.C., but if I do, I’ll text you.”

  “Good. Love you, Skippy.”

  We kiss.

  I laugh. “Love you too. And I enjoyed your peachy ass.”

  “Not as much as I did.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

  And she’s gone. I give it five minutes before I allow myself to move. I want to break down but I can’t. There’ll be time for that later. I have things I need to do first. Important things.

  Grabbing the duffelbag from the top shelf in my closet, I stuff in the clothes I’ve already set aside. There’s a backpack that I’ve preloaded with fifty thousand in cash, a passport, driver’s license, and two credit cards, all in the name of Jason Ackerman. It also contains a cell phone that will activate as soon as I make the call. I change my clothes, put on a hoodie and sunglasses, and leave the penthouse. Using the building’s side entrance, I walk several blocks and take a bus where I meet Sam on the west side of town. He’ll be the only one who knows how to contact me.

  “Mr. H., you sure about this?”

  “Sam, it’s the only way. I can’t go back or he’ll find a way to ruin her. You know he will. She can’t know anything for this to work.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “She can’t know you know. Remember to wipe the security tapes of me leaving as soon as you can. This has to look like I vanished into thin air. All my things are at the house. No one, absolutely no one knows. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And you know how to wipe the tapes?”

  “I can do
it in my sleep, Mr. H.”

  “Good,” I say. “He’ll figure out I did it, but I don’t want him to suspect you. If he does, you know what will happen.”

  “Yes, sir I do.”

  “I hate to involve you, Sam.”

  “Mr. H., I’m worried about you.”

  “Sam, I’ll be fine. I survived him when I was a kid. I’ll survive him now. If I need anything, I’ll call you. But it will be from an untraceable number because you’ll be watched and I won’t contact you for a while.”

  “Yes, sir. Good luck, sir.”

  “Thanks. Now I need to get out of here and the fastest way is on a train, so I’m gone. You never saw me.”

  “No, sir. And I’m going back now to check the tapes.”

  “Watch your every step, Sam.”

  I go to the nearest stairwell and take the train to Brooklyn. It’s there that my new life waits for me.

  Chapter Seven

  Gabriella

  It’s eleven o’clock and not a word from Kolson. I’ve texted and called, and yet, nothing. Even his assistant, Jack McCutcheon, can’t be reached. Where the hell is everyone?

  By 2 a.m., I’m sick with worry. I don’t know who to call, so I call Sam. A sleepy voice answers.

  “Sam, have you spoken with Kolson today?”

  “No, Dr. M.”

  “He’s not home and I haven’t heard from him all day. Something’s happened.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure!” I yell at Sam. I’m freaking out. “I’m calling my friend, Case. He’ll know what to do.”

  “Okay, ma’am, but maybe he was detained somewhere.”

  “Sam. Kolson would’ve called.”

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  My hands are shaking so much, I have trouble dialing. Finally I get it right.

  “Gabby? What’s up?” Case answers.

  “I can’t find Kolson.”

  “Are you two okay?”

  “Yes, we’re fine! He’s missing, goddammit!”

  “Okay, calm down.”

  “I can’t. My boyfriend hasn’t returned any calls or texts and it’s two o’clock in the morning and you’re telling me to calm down. I can’t calm the fuck down!”