Fallen Angel

by Bev Dulson

  ‘You could never hurt me,’ his voice was low, she pulled him closer to her.

  ‘I could, but I would never mean to.’

  ‘And that’s why you can’t, I know you haven’t got a bad bone in your body and don’t forget, when I’m shooting those arrows, I’ve got my armour on.’

  One of her hands dropped away from his face, she let it fall across his chest, feeling his pecs through the thin material. ‘My knight in battered armour.’

  ‘That’s how you know you can trust me too, I’ve got the scars, I’d go into battle for you, Scouse. You just have to say the word.’

  She didn’t say any words, there didn’t seem to be anything left to say. She opened her mouth under his as his warm lips found hers. Their arms wrapped tightly around each other, the feel of the clothes between them causing an unnecessary barrier. Trina had her hands under his top when her phone rang. She reluctantly pulled away.

  ‘Leave it,’ his voice came out all sexy and breathless.

  She checked the caller ID. ‘It’s Magenta, I better take it.’

  She briefly spoke to her friend and then returned to Johnny who had moved over to the bed. ‘So, err, Magenta is on her way back from the hospital, they’ve let Hunter out and she’s on her way back to Logan’s. SO, I should probably...’ she looked at him and then to the door of the suite. He sensed her uncertainty.

  ‘What’ll it be Scouse, me or the door?’

  She took a deep breath. ‘One last time Johnny, this has to be it.’ She moved towards the bed.

  CHAPTER FORTY THREE

  Magenta was hoping to sneak back into Logan’s penthouse under the radar, but between the press outside who were desperate to get a quote and picture of her and the circus that was now going on in Logan’s kitchen there wasn’t much chance of a quiet return. Juke had quickly assembled welcome home banners and champagne, along with Logan, Fly and Roxie were raising their glasses to Magenta’s heroics and Hunter’s recovery. Trine and Johnny were conspicuous in their absence. Sitting beside Hunter’s bedside had given her time to think and there was an idea she wanted to run by Logan, she’d grab him when things weren’t as manic. Right now Juke was making a beeline for her.

  ‘Magenta. Y’all had me so worried, thank God you know your way around a gun and saved our handsome hunk. I’d have been devastated if anything happened to him,’ he put a hand theatrically against his heart. ‘Just devastated.’

  ‘You wouldn’t have been the only one.’

  ‘So,’ he whispered. ‘Have you been able to confirm my suspicions yet?’

  She let out a throaty laugh. ‘All in good time my friend, right now I need to speak to Logan about a bit of business.’

  He stamped his high heeled foot. ‘God girl, y’all know how to leave a man hanging.’

  Hunter appeared alongside him. ‘I’d have to agree with you there,’ he shouted after Magenta as she walked towards Logan. ‘I’ll see you in the bedroom, five minutes, babe.’

  Juke quivered next to him. ‘That girl is so lucky,’ he winked at Hunter. ‘Just watch those stitches.’

  Grinning Hunter walked away towards the bedroom. Mentally he was more than ready to ravish Magenta, but physically, it was just gonna have to be slow and sexy, either way was cool with him, he just wanted her back in his arms.

  It was less than five minutes before Magenta was back in the bedroom. ‘I’ve told them we are not to be disturbed,’ she grinned.

  He got up of the bed. ‘Come here.’

  She was in his arms before he could finish speaking. This was the first time they’d held each other properly since the ball. She was taking in every moment, the feel of his shoulder against her face, the strength of his arms which were currently wrapped around her waist, the smell of his aftershave mixed with testosterone, a heavenly mix. She had a flash back to over eighteen months ago, in another hotel room, this time in Liverpool, she’d been pushing his suit waistcoat off his shoulders and down his muscular arms. The memory made her smile and set her pulse beating a little faster.

  ‘What are you smiling at?’

  ‘How d’you know I was?’

  ‘Your body just relaxed.’

  She lifted her face up towards his. ‘Just so glad to be back in your arms and just remembering our first time.’

  He frowned. ‘What, in yer ma’s bathroom?’

  She laughed. ‘OK, our second first time, our reunited time.’

  ‘So what are we calling this then?’

  ‘How about this is it, me and you forever.’

  ‘Me, you and...’ he moved his hand to rest on her stomach, which since she’d done the pregnancy test had become more curvy over night. ‘Junior.’

  The smile on her face matched his own. ‘I have honestly never been this happy also explains my slightly emotional behaviour recently too.’

  ‘We could do the right and honourable thing, I could ask for your hand in marriage.’

  Tipping her head back she laughed. ‘Babe, we have never been a conventional couple, I don’t need a white dress, a big Juke styled wedding.’

  He pulled a face at that comment.

  ‘I don’t need a certificate and I certainly don’t need to take your name, your real one or your fake one.’

  ‘That’s the real reason you don’t want to marry me isn’t it?’

  ‘Babe, we’ve just sailed very close to the wind with your identity, I can’t risk losing you again. I love you, I don’t need a bit of paper to show that you love me too. This little one in my tummy,’ she placed her hand on top of his. ‘Means so much more than a bit of paper.’

  ‘You wouldn’t say no to a nice big, sparkly eternity ring though?’

  ‘Obviously not, you are my eternity. Trip to Tiffany’s tomorrow?’

  He nodded, smiling ‘love you, la, forever.’

  He kissed her softly, savouring the feeling of her lips against his, this was the moment he’d be thinking about whilst he was in the basement and the feeling he thought he’d never get to experience again after he’d been shot.

  Trine and Johnny had returned to Logan’s. She was desperate to see Magenta, knowing how happy her friend would be to have Hunter safely out of hospital and back by her side. However Juke informed her that Magenta and Hunter were locked away in the bedroom and he wasn’t expecting them out for a while.

  ‘I could waste hours on that body,’ he sighed.

  ‘More like wasting your time there, dude,’ Johnny pointed out.

  ‘I know, but a guy can dream,’ he narrowed his eyes looking from Trine back to Johnny. ‘Anyway, something tells me that Magenta and Hunter aren’t the only ones doing the biz, you two are always disappearing together.’

  Trine blushed.

  ‘Sorry Juke, you’re wasting your time with me too,’ Johnny winked.

  ‘Oh Johnny, I would never let myself be one of your conquests.’

  Trine’s faced turned a deeper shade or crimson.

  ‘Yeah well, my standards just got higher,’ he grabbed Trine’s hand moving them away from Juke and his insults. He made his way over to Fly, who had been watching the exchange with a bemused look on his face. Trine began talking to Roxie and as the girls got deeper into conversation, with Trine heading off into the lounge with Roxie, Fly and Johnny finally got chance to talk.

  ‘So, you and Trina, it’s serious?’

  Johnny shrugged. ‘I don’t know, I want it to be, but she keeps putting barriers in the way.’

  Fly folded his arms, leaning against the wall at the same time. ‘Like what?’

  ‘She’s still married, she’s got kids, she lives in another country.’

  ‘That’s a start, at least she’s not saying you’re a dick.’

  ‘I love her.’

  Fly sighed. ‘I know you do and it’s only gonna end it tears,’ he slapped a hand on Johnny’s shoulder. ‘At least you’ll get some decent writing material out of it.’

  ‘What about you and Roxie?’

  Fly smiled. ‘She
’s amazing, turns out when you least expect it, love really does rock up.’

  Johnny sighed. ‘Right, I’ll write the heartbreak tracks, you can do the schmaltzy bullshit.’

  Logan wandered into the kitchen. ‘Right kids, tomorrow night, celebration at Azul now that the gangs all back together.’

  ‘Freakin’ hell, he thinks we’re in Grease.’

  ‘Ah wap bam ballola a wap bam boo,’ Fly tapped a beat on his denim clad legs as he sang.

  ‘Shut the fuck up, MacFly, one of these days you’re gonna grow up.’

  ‘Wouldn’t count on it boss.’

  CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

  Azul on the Rooftop – NYC – Lower Manhattan

  Magenta surveyed her private party, it was nice of Logan to put this together just as it was a refreshing change to get out of the apartment, between there and the hospital cabin fever had been setting in. The sun was just setting on the city, she wandered over to take in the view. In a few days she’d be back in Liverpool and who knew when she’d be back in New York again, certainly not for the foreseeable future. She stood with a mocktail in her hand, New York laid out in front of her, the setting sun bouncing off the skyscrapers and turning them golden. The lights would soon come on in those buildings and they would be lit up like a Christmas tree right in front of her eyes. Maybe that was the magic of New York, it always had that feel about it, like anything was possible, just like that Christmas Eve feeling. She would miss the hustle and bustle of this city.

  Wordlessly, Trine appeared alongside her, giving her friend a sideways glance she could tell Trine was just as lost in the view as she was, the Freedom Tower standing tall and proud in front of her.

  ‘I will never get used to the feeling Manhattan gives me.’

  Trine sighed. ‘I’ve certainly had an adventure whilst I’ve been here, arrived with a husband...’

  ‘Leaving with a rockstar?’

  Trine turned to face Magenta, her gaze falling briefly on Johnny who was at the bar. ‘No, that’s all over with. Yesterday was our final fling.’

  ‘And he’s OK with that?’

  She shrugged. ‘He kinda has to be, I’m going back to Liverpool it wouldn’t work.’

  ‘I’ve never seen Johnny like this before, he hasn’t stopped looking in this direction since you came over here.’

  ‘It was only ever a short term thing, it wasn’t supposed to happen in the first place,’ she turned back to look at the view. ‘To be honest, it feels more of a wrench leaving New York. I feel like this city has set me free, given me an opportunity to be a bit braver, to discover who I really am. There’s magic in this place and I’m worried when I get back home things will go back to how they used to be.’

  ‘So stay.’

  ‘It’s not that easy and you know it. There’s the kids for starters, then you, how can I be your PA when I’m here?’

  ‘We can sort the kids schooling out, let them come here for a year, they’d love being in an American school.’

  ‘A year? What about you?’

  ‘I’m taking some time off, Logan needs some help, I’ve already floated the idea with him that you could be his PA.’

  ‘That’s insane, I can’t just drop everything and stay here. I can’t just abandon you either.’

  ‘You wouldn’t be, I have something to tell you...’

  Hunter walked towards Mags and Trine, he could see before he even got there that she’d told Trine their news as T now had her arms around Magenta, jumping up and down with excitement. As he reached them, Hunter put his arm around Mag’s waist, his hand resting protectively on her tummy. ‘So, you’ve heard our news then?’

  Trine transferred her hugs over to him. ‘Oh my God, I’m so happy for you both.’

  He could see tears of happiness in her eyes as her voice rose with excitement.

  ‘How? I mean, I know how, but this is such a surprise.’

  Magenta grinned. ‘Was for us too, but a very happy surprise.’

  Juke appeared. ‘I knew it, is this the official announcement?’

  Magenta shook her head. ‘Not official, just a need to know basis and obviously you already knew.’

  Juke nudged Trine with his elbow. ‘Had to order her a bigger dress, those boobs just ballooned, knew straight away.’

  ‘Juke, if you mention the bigger dress once more I’m gonna fire your arse.’

  ‘No you won’t, y’all know I have already been sourcing a fabulous maternity wardrobe for you. Rockin’ momma I’m calling it.’

  She rolled her eyes. ‘Actually I’m gonna take a bit of time out, but I need your skills to help Roxie, between us, Logan and I are gonna turn her into the next Magenta.’

  ‘Obviously I can do that, but you do know she’ll never look as good as you.’

  Magenta smiled. ‘That’s why you’re the best stylist on the planet,’ she spotted Johnny walking towards her. ‘Oh, incoming,’ she whispered to Trine.

  ‘Scouse, can we talk?’

  She nodded slowly. ‘Yeah.’

  He tilted his head to the left, indicating he wanted to talk to her in private as she walked away Magenta whispered in her ear. ‘What would my brave friend T do?’

  Sitting down at a table for two, Johnny reached out for her hand. ‘T, will you just hear me out?’

  Her heart was racing, she knew when he dropped the Scouse and used a variation of her name that he was about to get serious. She swallowed hard, only just getting the ‘Yes,’ out.

  ‘I know you have so many reasons to give up on me, hell I’d give up on me if I was you but I have to give this one last shot. I know I’m not your everything, but you are mine and I can’t let you go back to Liverpool without trying to...’

  ‘I’m not going back to Liverpool.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m not going back to Liverpool,’ she said it again, this time with more conviction. Magenta was right she needed to be braver, she could figure all the details out, she didn’t want to go home yet, she needed to make a new home for herself. ‘I’m going to be working for Logan.’

  ‘What? Since when?’

  ‘Since about five minutes ago. Magenta’s pregnant and is taking some time out, she suggested I stay here as Logan needs a PA. I love this city Johnny, it makes me feel alive.’

  ‘Right, got it. You love New York, but you don’t love me,’ he pushed his chair back and stood up to leave.

  She was out of her seat too. ‘Johnny, wait,’ she reached out grabbing his arm and pulling him towards her. ‘I can’t give you what you want, at least not right now, but I can still give you me...y’know the sex part, I err, I really liked that bit.’

  He laughed. ‘Boy am I getting a taste of my own medicine, the serial commitment phobe falls in love with someone who just want to use him for sex.’

  ‘That’s a bit harsh, it’s not just the sex, I like who I am with you, I’m just not ready to commit to a new relationship yet.’

  ‘So it’s the sex or nothing?’ He shrugged.

  ‘That’s the deal.’

  ‘Jeez, Scouse, you drive a hard bargain.’

  ‘Well Jon Boy, I’m a lot tougher than I used to be and you’re the one who told me to create my own future.’

  ‘And that’s what I love about you,’ he paused. ‘Let me think about it for a moment.’

  ‘Take all the time you need.’ She dropped his arm and turned to walk away. This time he pulled her back. ‘Can we seal the deal with a kiss?’

  Magenta stood with her back leaning against Hunter as he stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her, his chin resting on her shoulder. She gave a quick sweep of the terrace with her eyes. Roxie and Fly in the corner of the terrace looking like they were on an intimate date. Her best friend and the rock star currently locking lips. Her worries that Johnny would hurt Trine had dispelled once she’d realised that T was firmly in the driving seat in that little hook up, she had Johnny by the balls. It was interesting to see Johnny looking like a boy in a sweet shop who
couldn’t quite reach the sweets. The prize was in sight. Juke and Logan were deep in conversation about Roxie’s image. Everyone was happy, these people were her family, she could go back to Liverpool knowing that everyone she loved was OK.

  ‘What you thinking, babe?’

  ‘I’m thinking I’m ready to go home and start getting ready for our little ones arrival.’

  ‘Funnily enough, I was just thinking the same. New York has worn me out.’

  ‘You wanna try being your girlfriend, I’m in a permanent state of being worn out.’

  ‘And don’t you just bloody love it.’

  She turned herself around in his arms to face him. ‘I bloody do, love you la.’

  ‘Love you la,’ he kissed her on the tip of her nose. ‘And our little la.’

  EPILOGUE

  Magenta settled down into the rocking chair, resting her hands on her swollen tummy. One of the good things about getting pregnant just before the freak English heat wave was that she was now almost ready to pop in the winter, she had her own internal heating. She was two days away from her due date and the arrival of their little boy couldn’t come quick enough. She knew it would turn their lives upside down but she couldn’t wait.

  She was supposed to be taking time out when she got back from New York but she’d been kidding herself, Magenta didn’t do quiet. She had been managing Roxie’s meteoric rise to fame from this side of the pond, liaising with Logan and Trine via FaceTime. Roxie was going from strength to strength. Her very public loved up relationship with Fly MacFly one of the hottest rock stars on the planet certainly helped the public interest in her as did the story of these once rivals now working together.

  Amber had been good on her promise and flew over to redesign the apartment so it looked like a home. Magenta also decided to buy a mansion on footballers row in Blundellsands on the coast, she’d keep the apartment in the city for nights out in town, although she knew they were about to become very rare. Whilst she’d been buying the mansion she hit upon another idea. She bought the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool city centre, the scene of the crime when Jason had left her. The beautiful Georgian building was just that on the outside, but on the inside, it was a different story. She wanted to give something back to the city that had given her so much and she knew it could be a jewel in the crown. Amber had worked her magic on that too and the hotel re-opened last month, so far to rave reviews, all it had needed was a bit of investment and a little TLC.