by Karen Renee
His eye widened when I hesitated. Finally I sat next to him.
He sighed. “Want you closer, but that probably isn’t good for either of our wounds.”
“And someone will be out of the bathroom soon, so there’s that.”
“Right. You think I jumped the gun telling her—”
“Just a little, seeing as we’re not even there yet.”
His lips tipped up. “Which means it doesn’t matter if I say yes to your girl being in our wedding which we aren’t ready for yet.”
I cocked a brow. “Technically, you’re right, but you don’t have to deal with the fall-out.”
“Fall-out?”
I sighed. “She’s gonna be all over me about when does she get to throw the flowers. What color will her dress be, or whether she can wear sparkly shoes, the list goes on.”
He shook his head. “Then give her answers.”
My head tilted with my sideways glare. “Are you crazy?”
“Probably. About you, definitely. Her dress will be white like her momma’s, sparkly shoes will liven up the courthouse, and as for when she gets to throw the flowers... you or the person at the courthouse can decide.”
To process everything he just said, I closed my eyes. I opened them to see his practically twinkling at me. “Did you just plan our wedding? And it’s going to be at the courthouse?”
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, leaned back and settled me against his good side. “Lotta things you don’t know about me, and since I got other things I need to discuss with you, we’re short on time. But, in my world, if I make you my old lady and put a cut on your shoulders, it’s a commitment equivalent to marriage.”
“Okay.”
“Like you said, we aren’t there yet. But, I get the impression you’d want a legal document and to be honest, I’d rather you be a Vaillant than a Whitehall, unless it causes you issues with Aubrey and schooling.”
I’d rather you be a Vaillant. Even if he hadn’t overcome his inability to say ‘I love you,’ those words packed a bigger punch.
“You want me to have your name,” I whispered.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him bite his lip, and it set me off. I twisted so I could wrap both hands around his neck, and kissed him, deep.
He must have heard Aubrey because he pulled back just before she padded into the room. A devious glint hit his eye and he whispered, “Plus, having my name will be better for all of us when you give me a son.”
My eyes widened. “You can’t say something like that to me with Aubrey around,” I whisper-hissed.
“Brute, will you be here in the morning?” Aubrey asked.
“Probably,” I said.
He squeezed my hip, but looked at Aubrey. “I’m not sure.”
“Did you remember to brush your teeth?” I asked her.
She sagged with a sigh. “I forgot. I’ll go do that.”
When I heard the bathroom door close, I said, “You aren’t going anywhere tonight. You’ve planned a wedding, insisted I take your last name, and told me I’m not just having a baby, but I’m going to have a boy. If you think you can just duck out after—”
His finger hit my moving lips. “No extraneous activities for me, Zee. Doctor’s orders.”
I lowered my voice. “Me sucking you off shouldn’t be extraneous for you.”
He groaned with his eyes closed, making me giggle.
“You said you had another thing to discuss with me, what is it?”
“Wait until your girl’s asleep.”
I sat back from him. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“It isn’t, but it might be.”
HALF-WAY THROUGH MY glass of red wine, Brute muted the television. I glanced at him.
“There was a triple shooting at Strickland’s mother’s house this afternoon.”
I set my glass down, thankful I had already swallowed. “That’s awful.”
“Cops haven’t said who the victims were. I’ve been checking the news websites every so often for that info, but no dice.”
My lips pulled into a deep frown. “Do you think his mother was shot?”
His head wobbled. “Think it’s likely. Thing is, since they haven’t announced any names, for all we know Strickland got into it with someone else and he’s on the run. I’m not leaving until the prospect gets here.”
My jaw dropped. “Why would he come here?”
“Finish what he started, Zee.”
I shook my head. “But your bike isn’t here, nor your truck, so how would he know you were here? If you really think he wants to hurt me, then tonight’s damn sure the time for you to spend the night. Not leave a prospect at the curb. It would make me feel better.”
He smirked. “Thought you, me, and horizontal surfaces weren’t conducive to sleeping?”
“Hot body, gorgeous eyes, and he listens. What am I gonna do with you?”
“Suck me off, or so you said. Just hope it doesn’t kill me... though it’d be a damn fine way to go.”
I tried to glower at him, but my smile forced through. “You are trouble, Vaillant.”
“Takes one to know one, baby. Let’s go to your room so we can catch the news, and you can get down to business.”
Part of me wondered if Brute had timed my nightly routine because by the time I exited the bathroom, the news had just started. Detective Tovar’s photo filled the screen and the newscaster reported Tovar had been killed inside the Strickland home.
“Get in this bed, Kenzie, before you fall over.”
I climbed in next to him.
On the screen, a headline read “Triple Homicide.” A reporter stood in front of a small home roped off with crime scene tape providing more details. “Based on preliminary reports, Biloxi Police report Truman Strickland shot Detective Tovar. Strickland had been staying at the residence with his mother, Minerva Strickland, who was killed in the cross-fire. The cause of the altercation is unknown, though BPD reports Strickland’s brother is a person of interest in an unsolved murder.”
Brute turned the television off unexpectedly.
“Hey, mister! I thought we were going to hear the—”
“Nope,” he said, pulling me closer. “Heard everything we needed, Kenzie. That problem is done for you—”
“But not for you?” I asked.
A wry grin twisted his lips. “Should be, but I’m not tempting fate by saying it is.”
Brute
TWO WEEKS LATER, HE sat in his office reviewing reports Meg had put together before Christmas. She wasn’t there since she’d requested the last week of the year off before he’d hired her.
The main door opened and he looked up.
Detective Dennizen sauntered inside, a couple of file folders in his hand. He stood and met the detective near Meg’s desk.
“Mr. Vaillant.”
“Detective Dennizen. Not sure what brings you by.”
Dennizen gave him a small head shake. “Yes, you do. Those lists of dates you met with Tovar or Strickland. The department thanks you for cooperating, but we won’t be able to go any further with that since Detective Tovar was killed in the line of duty.”
Brute nodded. “I’m sorry you lost your partner.”
Dennizen mirrored his nod. “I am too.”
He turned his head a fraction. “You could’ve called—”
“You’re the only commonality here, Vaillant.”
“Me?”
The detective’s head cocked to the side. “You, your club, or some other brother. But Strickland fixated on you. I want to know what convinced him you were involved with his brother’s disappearance.”
Brute shook his head. “With all respect, detective, I don’t know. He was crazy enough to shoot me in cold blood. I’m lucky to be standing here.”
Dennizen’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s true. The thing is, we had four dead bodies and a missing man. Now, there are seven bodies and a missing man. My gut tells me Norris Strickland isn’t missing. He’s
probably dead, too.”
Brute shrugged. “Wish I could help, but I told you everything I know when you brought me in for questioning last year.”
Dennizen’s lips pursed for a moment. “Right. You think of anything that might help us, call me.”
Half-way to the door, Dennizen stopped and came back to Meg’s desk. “I almost forgot. These files were found in Strickland’s vehicle.”
Dennizen plopped the files onto the desk. Brute saw the label on the top one read “Brown – Bathroom remodel.” It stood to reason the other file would be the proposal for the city.
He caught Dennizen’s eyes. “Thank you. That’s been—”
“Missing since around Thanksgiving. Why didn’t you report the break-in? Tovar mentioned it to me in early December.”
He sighed. “I really didn’t see the need to trouble the police. Especially since only two files were missing.”
After a lengthy stare-down, Dennizen spoke. “Not calling the police is going to bite you Riot brothers in the ass one day. Shouldn’t tell you this, but it nearly did this time.” He pointed to the Brown file. “Along with that file, we found pictures of a little boy and notes about the father’s routine. My guess is that Strickland planned to do something to that boy and frame you.”
He clenched his jaw. “For some reason he decided to shoot me instead? Though, I’d rather take a bullet than have an innocent child get hurt.”
Dennizen shook his head. “So would Tovar, which is why he stepped in at that point.”
“What about you? I thought you were partners?”
He gave a noncommittal nod. “Yes. The case was on the verge of being classified as a cold case. Tovar worked with Strickland alone to speed things up.”
“Sounds like an excuse.”
Dennizen’s eyes narrowed. “How’s that?”
A wry smile twisted Brute’s lips. “I suspect those two were working together. Tovar was never known to be a straight-arrow, and he’d always had a grudge against—”
“Any gang. If you knew what happened to his sister, you’d know why he hated your group. But he hates – hated – the Miscreants just as much. It wasn’t just the Riot.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Detective Dennizen.”
He nodded. “I’m serious about calling the police, Vaillant. Not reporting crimes is going to catch up with you.”
He nodded. “I’ll bear that in mind, Detective Dennizen.”
Epilogue
A Whopper
Kenzie
Two years later...
“Mommy, I mean, Mom, do you know what I want for my birthday?” Aubrey asked.
I bit my tongue. Mainly because I despised her recent habit of calling me Mom, even if I knew it was a long time coming, but also because my girl could want virtually anything for her birthday. Problem was, she had two, no, three men wrapped firmly around her finger, so odds were good whatever she wanted, she’d get it.
If I’d known two years ago what I knew now, I’d have tried to put a stop to it. Though I wouldn’t have had much success.
The week before Christmas, Caleb had taken Aubrey to Disney World. She’d been to the happiest place on earth twice before, but I made the mistake of mentioning how I wouldn’t hear the end of it until Spring Break at the earliest. Whether I’d tapped into a Vaillant competitive streak or not, I wasn’t sure, but Brute (and round-aboutly, Sam and Gina) wasn’t going to let me be outdone by my ex-husband.
By the time Aubrey came back to my place, Brute and his dad had delivered a Yorkie puppy along with a crate, food bowl, collar, and leash. It was hard to say who was more excited, my girl or her dog she named Lucky, but their love at first sight was plain to see.
The bonus to this supreme spoiling of Aubrey was that Caleb despised her having the dog and believed it to be an underhanded move. He was right, but at least it wasn’t my underhanded move.
In the mirror, I caught Aubrey’s eyes. “No, pumpkin, I have no idea what you want for your birthday.”
As my hair stylist twisted her hair into an intricate knot, Aubrey grinned. “A baby brother.”
Gina stood in front of me, holding a fancy eye shadow brush, and I nearly spluttered in her face. “Brute put you up to that, didn’t he?”
Aubrey gave me an innocent look I swear she learned from Lucky. “No. Not exactly.”
Gina leaned back and laughed. “Not exactly, my foot.” She pointed the brush at me. “You are in for it, Kenzie. Between that girl of yours and my stepson, they’re going to run you over.”
I smirked but said nothing to Gina.
“Well, don’t get your hopes up, little girl. Growing a baby takes time, so getting a brother for your birthday in February isn’t going to happen.”
Gina gave me her side-eye and I arched my brows.
“Thank you for doing this. It’s an awful lot of fuss for a trip to the—”
Gina shook her finger at me. “It doesn’t matter if you get married in a courthouse, backyard, or some swanky hotel. Today’s your wedding day, and whether it’s your first time or third time, it’s an extremely special day.”
“You tell her, Gina,” Sam called from the doorway.
When I looked to him, I did a double take. Brute’s dad was a looker, but I couldn’t image why he had donned a well-tailored suit and tie for our trip to the courthouse.
“Look at me, Kenzie. Time for mascara,” Gina said.
I turned back, and realized Gina was overdressed, too. I had figured that was just how she rolled, because in the past two years she’d never shown up to anything dressed down. Even when Brute and I went to see her and his Dad at their home.
Sam sauntered over and leaned in to kiss Gina’s cheek. “You’re doing a great job with our girl, gorgeous.”
Gina grinned. “She’s beautiful as it is, so my job here’s pretty easy.”
I smiled. “You two are good for my ego. You know, Sam, the suit and tie make you look very dapper, but it’s overkill for where we’re—”
“Did you hear Gina, two minutes ago? ‘It’s an extremely special day.’ Besides, I thought Stephanie was my only shot to walk someone down the aisle, but she and Har went and eloped.”
“He’s not bitter or nothing,” Gina muttered.
Sam glowered at her for a moment, then turned serious eyes back to me. “So, while I’m sorry your daddy passed away, I have to take full advantage of this opportunity. And as good as you look today, I gotta play my part too, which means I’m looking... ‘dapper,’ as you put it.”
I leaned away from Gina and blinked rapidly because tears were threatening. “You’re gonna make me cry.”
“Don’t cry, Mommy!” Aubrey said.
Five minutes later, Gina finished with my make-up and Mom bustled inside. “Sorry, I’m late. The florist tried to give me all manner of grief, but I got it sorted and your chariot awaits, Kenzie.”
“What are you talking about Mom? I’m driving—”
A cork popped from a champagne bottle. “Nope. Your car will be fine here,” Sam said, holding the champagne. “Every bride needs a pre-wedding beverage.”
I squinted an eye at him. “What are y’all up to? This is—”
“Your wedding day, so go with it,” Mom insisted.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, I sat in the passenger seat of Mom’s car. “You need to turn right at this light, Mom.”
“Okay, dear,” she said.
She ignored my directions and I raised my hands in question. “What are you doing?”
She patted my leg. “We’re taking a scenic route. You said it earlier, we’re running ahead of schedule.”
“If you say so,” I muttered.
“Mom, did you see the flower petals, Gram bought? They’re so pretty. I can’t wait to toss them. Look at them, they even sparkle!”
The sparkle comment stole my attention and I turned in my seat. Aubrey held a clear, square plastic container full of pale pink petals that had faint traces of glitter.
“Those are pretty, honey.”
I glanced up at Mom’s profile. “You didn’t have to go overboard like that, Mom.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I love weddings, and when else is my granddaughter going to be a flower girl?”
“True,” I nodded, facing forward.
The lighthouse loomed ahead.
“Mom! You missed the other turn off, and we’ve passed I-110. There’s taking the scenic route, but this is crazy.”
“Just enjoy the ride, Mom,” Aubrey parroted words I often said to her when I didn’t want her to know where we were going until the last minute.
“Thanks, pumpkin,” I chuckled.
“Attagirl, princess,” Mom said with a wink in the rearview mirror.
We pulled into the parking lot at the White House Hotel. Mom found a space, and before I could undo my seatbelt, Stephanie pulled my door open.
I gaped at her. She was a vision wearing a high halter-neck chiffon gown in a shade of pale pink which matched Aubrey’s flower petals. Her dark curls were pulled into an intricate up-do, and her make-up looked as good as mine.
“Good Lord, that’s a gorgeous dress. Even though it’s pink, I should’ve bought that as my wedding dress.”
She shook her head while giving me a wry smile. “Shut your mouth. Your wedding dress is gorgeous, now get out of the car. We’re pressed for time.”
I unbuckled and unfolded from the car. “What are you talking about? We’re ahead of schedule... or we were until this scenic detour.”
“Kenzie Maybelle, I raised you to be smarter than that. This is where you’re getting married.”
I took a deep breath. “But I didn’t want a big fuss. And I thought Brute didn’t either.”
Stephanie leaned toward me. “My mother was a fool to divorce my stepdad. He’s a romantic, and don’t tell him I said this, but his son is the same way.”
Sam strolled up behind Stephanie. “You ladies clue her in that the courthouse isn’t where she’s getting married?”
Stephanie smiled over her shoulder. “Pretty much. She thinks Brute didn’t want a fuss.”
