Fighting for Flight

by J. B. Salsbury

  The ambulance fires up and we head back to Vegas. Raven’s breathing slows to the rhythm of sleep. Even with my shoulder on fire, tired as hell, and minus a shitload of blood, I don’t sleep. Instead, my mind conjures plans—plans for the future we now have sealed. And I’m not wasting a single second.

  “Kevin, I need you to do me a favor.”

  “Sure thing, ‘Assassin.’”

  “I need to make a phone call.”

  ~*~

  Raven

  Beep-Beep-Beep.

  The gentle sound brings me back to consciousness. I blink several times into the dark before lifting my head from my warm pillow. I observe my surroundings, thankful to see the lights of medical equipment rather than log walls. I’m not in the cabin, but in the hospital with Jonah.

  My head swirls with the events from this morning. The cops told me that Guy was safe. They even gave me a phone so I could call him. He apologized for not being at the fight to protect me. I reassured him that Dominick was out to get his way, no matter what.

  Katherine showed up and sat with my mom while Jonah was poked and x-rayed. The doctor said that that the bullet went straight through without injuring anything vital, but they had to do surgery. Three hours later, we were put in a private room. I assured Katherine and my mom that I was okay. There was no way I was leaving Jonah’s side. I traded my bloody clothes for a pair of clean scrubs, crawled in bed with Jonah, and fell asleep.

  A yawn crawls up my throat and I lie back down in the crook of Jonah’s uninjured shoulder.

  “Good morning.” His sexy, sleepy voice does delicious things to my body. Even laid-up and hospitalized, he’s irresistible.

  “Good night, you mean.” I walk my fingers to his abdomen, pulling his hospital gown up to slide my hand against his rippled muscles.

  He reaches for my face but drops his hand with a groan. “Shit, that hurts.”

  I tilt my face to his and smile. “Looks like you’re going to have to keep that hand to yourself.”

  “Not a fucking chance. Come here.” His demand is firm and sexy.

  I brush my lips against his chin. “Thank you, Jonah. Thank you for finding me.”

  “And thank you for saving me.”

  My cheeks heat and I bury deeper into his chest.

  “How’re you holding up? You know, with everything?” His hand traces soothing patterns on my back.

  “Um . . . I’m good. I feel like I should feel something, ya know? Guilt or . . . remorse. I just don’t.” I huff out a breath. “The cops said this morning that no charges are being filed. Justifiable homicide and all that.”

  “You want to talk about what happened with Vince?” His muscles tense against my body.

  “Not much to tell. He tried to—”

  A deep growl rumbles in Jonah’s chest.

  Yeah, probably best to skip to the end. “You told me to break his arm. So I did.” I hear the words, and even I think they sound crazy. But it’s the truth.

  “I told you?”

  I circle his belly button with my finger. “Yeah. In my head. You told me to fight. You said arm bar.” I shrug. “You weren’t even there yet, and you were protecting me.”

  “I’ll always protect you.” He hugs me to him. “Not that you need it. My girl’s tough as nails. I’m proud of you.”

  Inwardly, I smile. I’m proud of myself.

  “Fuck, I wish I’d killed that son of a bitch.”

  “Nah. He deserves to live the rest of his life behind bars. Death is too easy.”

  He laughs in a quick burst then groans. “Ugh, remind me not to do that again.”

  Starting at his neck, I trail soft kisses to his jaw. “Poor baby.” I push up to meet his eyes. “I love you.”

  His hand slides up my back into my hair. “I love you too. So much.”

  He takes my lips in a brutal kiss that I feel in my toes. I moan into his mouth as our tongues glide against each other. Desire floods my veins as I explore his mouth. His strong lips dominate mine, molding them to his will. I roll his nipple between my thumb and forefinger. He groans and his hips flex off the bed.

  Pushing up, I press my breasts into his chest, tilting my head and delving deeper into the kiss.

  He breaks away with a hiss. “Fuck.”

  The whispered curse sends me back and sitting up. “Shoot, did I hurt you?” I touch him and jerk my hand away, afraid of hurting him again.

  “No, but if we don’t take this home, I’m afraid I’ll be forced to give the good doctor and his unsuspecting nurses a visual aid in sex education.” He shifts and adjusts the blankets to camouflage his arousal. It doesn’t work.

  A giggle bubbles up from my chest, and my hand covers my mouth. Something rough on my finger rubs against my lips. What the heck?

  My mood sobers as I examine my hand, palm down, fingers splayed. It’s on my ring finger. A gold band composed of tiny diamonds with one large round diamond in the center. The setting is old-fashioned, understated, and absolutely perfect. I stare in awe.

  The cool air burns my eyes. I’m unable to blink. I force my eyes to Jonah who’s smiling his thousand-watt smile: all teeth, two dimples, and shining eyes.

  “Jonah?” I whisper, my eyes asking the question my words can’t form.

  “The ring was my mom’s. My dad gave it to her when they got engaged, and she wore it every day, until this morning. She brought it by when you were sleeping.” He pulls my hand to his chest and nimbly spins the ring on my finger.

  “Raven, I fell in love with you the second I saw you. I thought I had my life mapped out, thought I had it together. Then you came along and flipped my world on its head. You make me want things I never knew I needed. This ring is more than a symbol of my love. It represents family. Our family. The one we’ll build together. You said you didn’t want to talk about our future until you knew we had a future to talk about. Well, now we do. So? Will you marry me?”

  Our family. Our future. Now that we have one.

  He stares at me, his eyebrows raised. I taste the salty tears as my lips curl at the edges. A slow smile creeps across his face.

  I study the perfect ring then lock eyes with him. “Okay.”

  His face splits into a smile. “Okay.” He kisses me deep and hard, possessive.

  My insides turn to liquid. I explore every curve of his rippled stomach, and his muscles flex beneath my touch. My nails dig into his skin and drag down lower, until they’re under the blankets that lie across his hips. He flexes into my touch, showing me what he wants. Me.

  “Oh, one more thing.” He breaks the kiss enough to speak, but his words are said against my lips.

  An embarrassing whimper escapes at the loss of his mouth. “Yeah?” I lean into him.

  He rubs his thumb across my aching lower lip. “Happy birthday, baby.”

  The words are barely out before I’m on him again. Desperation takes over my rational mind and I pull at his gown. Too many clothes.

  A voice clears from the end of the bed, popping the love-driven sex bubble we’d created. I curl into Jonah’s body, hoping to disappear from whoever caught me making out with my injured boyfriend. Fiancé.

  “Well, well, well. Looks like someone’s feeling better,” Blake says from the foot of the bed, motioning to the pile of thin hospital blankets at Jonah’s crotch.

  I say a quick prayer of thanks that it’s Blake and not Katherine. “Hey, Blake.”

  “What’s up?” Jonah acts unaffected as he twirls a strand of my hair.

  “Just came back from the police station. Dominick’s operation is under intense investigation. Thought you two would like to know Vince and Candy are going to be looking at the inside of a jail cell for the foreseeable future.”

  Jonah and I take a collective breath.

  Blake grimaces. “Vinnie should be the most popular guy in his cell block. They couldn’t save his dick so they gave him a pussy. Boys in prison should love that.”

  “Blake!” I attempt to sound offend
ed, my hysterical laughter ruining any chance I have of being taken seriously. Besides, that’s the least he deserves for what he did to Eve, me, and probably loads of other women who weren’t lucky enough to get away.

  “I see you got a decent piece of ice there on your finger, baby girl.”

  I hold up my hand and admire the ring again. “Yeah.” Jonah kisses my head at my breathy reply.

  “Right on. I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.” He holds up his hand. “Word of caution, the doc is on his way in to check on your shoulder. You might want to keep Mr. Moby on the down-low.” He looks at the bed then back at us. “Looks like it’s too late for down-low, so . . . under wraps.”

  “Dude, you mind keeping your eyes off my dick?”

  He flashes his cocky smile. And even in the arms of the man of my dreams, his smile makes me giggle like a teenage girl. He winks then turns on his heel and heads through the draped dividers.

  “Catch you two later. Got a hot little nurse who’s waiting to give my dick an oral exam.”

  I laugh hard, trying to keep my body from shaking at its intensity. “He’s so funny.”

  “Yes, so you’ve said.” Jonah’s deadpan tone makes me grin.

  “Ooh, are you jealous?” I touch the end of his nose with my fingertip.

  “Hmph. No.”

  I slide my lower lip out in an exaggerated pout. “Oh. That’s too bad. I was going to prove my feelings for you . . . physically.” I kiss the sensitive skin below his ear.

  “Is that right?” I can hear the smile in his voice.

  “Mm-hm. I like you jealous.”

  “Get used to it, baby.” He groans when I pull his earlobe between my teeth. “You know you’re mine now? To have and to hold ’til death do us part.”

  “I do.”

  Epilogue

  Two months, five days, and twenty-two hours later . . .

  Jonah

  “Forty-two million dollars?” Owen’s palm slams on the bar, his jaw slack, eyes wide.

  I pop the bottle cap and place the fresh beer in front of him. “Projected. It’ll take awhile to liquidate all of Dominick’s properties.” We knew Dominick was loaded with dirty money, but finding out about his multiple luxury high-rise condos and commercial properties was a surprise.

  Rex leans in, his pierced eyebrow raised high. “No shit? What’re you guys going to do with all that money?”

  “Y’all should buy one of them private islands. Like Oprah.” Caleb motions one of the caterers over and pops a bacon-wrapped shrimp in his mouth.

  “Forty-two million dollars.” Owen repeats himself, sounding no less shocked. “Fuck the island. Kick some cash to your boys, man.”

  “Dominick Morretti dies and you guys get all his money? Fuck . . .” Rex shakes his head. “I wish my dad was a dead-piece-of-shit pimp.” He throws back the dregs of his beer.

  “Raven was his next of kin. It’s her money. She’s got plans for it.”

  Caleb stands from his barstool. “Between her money and your money, y’all could buy up half of Vegas.”

  “Nah. My title-fight winnings look like pennies in comparison.” I flex against the stifling confinement of my jacket. I can’t wait to get this tux off. Raven is excellent with formal-wear removal. My blood heats and has me searching her out.

  She’s on the dance floor that the party planners put in my backyard. Blake spins her around, her white wedding gown swirling at her feet. The strapless top pushes her breasts up in an enticing way. I absently tug at the collar of my tuxedo. It’s loose, reminding me that I took off my tie and unbuttoned the top button while ravishing my wife in the limo on the way home. I can’t wait to peel that dress off her.

  “So what’s she going to do with all that money?” Owen pulls me from my fantasy.

  I take a swig of beer. “She bought her mom a house. And she started Raven’s Nest.”

  “Yeah, I know that, but what about the other thirty-something million?”

  “She plans to funnel it all into the foundation as it comes in.”

  I look for Milena in the crowd. Since that night at the cabin, she’s been the kind of mom Raven’s always wanted: attentive, loving, hands on. The other day, I walked in to find them flopped on the couch watching Overhaulin’. Their eyes were riveted to the screen while Milena twirled a strand of her daughter’s hair.

  Between Milena, my mom, and Eve, Raven has been able to get Raven’s Nest open and running. The foundation provides rehabilitation, job training, housing, and counseling for prostitutes getting out of the business. The place is already packed with the girls from Dominick’s stable.

  “That’s some cool shit, man.” Rex toys with his lip ring.

  “What’s cool shit?” Her voice draws my attention. No longer the girl who can’t curse, Raven can drop bombs with the best of them. She strolls up with Blake at her side.

  “I believe they were talking about me, baby girl.” Blake grabs a beer. “Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m cool as shit.”

  Caleb stands from his barstool and pushes it toward her, offering her a seat. “We’re talking about Raven’s Nest.”

  Blake plops down on the barstool, earning a glare of Caleb. “Thanks, dude.”

  She steps in beside me, champagne in hand. A slight blush colors her cheeks. “Oh.”

  I wrap my arm around her tiny waist and hug her to me.

  “You’re in the running for sainthood with that move, princess.” Owen shakes his head. “Don’t know if I’d be able to give away that kind of money.”

  Eve slides in between Blake and Rex at the bar. “Raven’s not about money. Hell, she’d give away every last cent if it meant taking care of someone else.” She grabs the open beer I just set down in front of Caleb and takes a swig. “Thanks, Caleb.”

  “Shit, man,” Caleb mumbles in frustration.

  Raven sips her champagne and shrugs. “That money isn’t mine. It belongs to those women. They sold their bodies and he reaped the benefit.” She checks the clock and turns back to the guys at the bar. “I’m just giving it back to them.”

  The guys all grumble to themselves, probably still shocked that Raven didn’t keep even a few million for herself.

  Eve shakes her head, a knowing smile on her face. “Anyone up for a twirl on the dance floor?” Her eyes rake across the available dance partners. “Come on, Blake.”

  “Shit, woman. I just got off the dance floor. Give a guy a second to reboot.” Blake kicks back, resting his feet on the bar.

  Eve’s face lights with a wicked smile. “Ah, yes. That’s right. Most guys can’t go all night long. The weak ones lack, ahem, stamina.” She looks at me. “How about you, Jonah? You look like the kind of guy who—”

  “That’s for shit.” Blake jumps to his feet. “I got way more stamina than he does.” He motions to me with a thumb over his shoulder. “Dance floor now, woman.”

  Eve winks at Raven and takes off with Blake.

  I turn Raven to me and pull her in for a hug, chest to chest. The guys redirect their attention to the TV. I run my finger along her bare shoulder and up to her neck, pushing her long hair to her back. “These earrings your mom gave you look amazing. They’re almost the same color as your eyes.” I kiss her neck at my spot.

  She touches the diamond and aquamarine studs. “She told me they were my grandmother’s. I love them. They’re perfect. This whole day has been perfect.” She smiles. “I still can’t believe we got married by Liberace.”

  “Hey, you chose him. We could have had the Asian Elvis, or the Marilyn Monroe drag queen.”

  She laughs and leans into me. I wrap my arm around her and kiss her head.

  “It was the rhinestone suit that got him the job. Every single inch of that thing was covered.”

  “Only in Vegas.”

  “Did you see Guy dancing with my mom? I think he’s got the hots for her.” She scrunches up her nose in an adorable way.

  “It was nice of him to give you away today. He’s a good m
an. Milena could do worse.”

  Her huge blue-green eyes look up at me. “You don’t think . . .”

  I shrug, my lips twitching. “They’d make a cute couple.”

  “Eww. That’d be like—”

  “Like your mom and your dad hooking up.”

  Now it’s her turn to shrug. “Good point.”

  “Did you save me a dance, Mrs. Slade?” My whispered words in her ear cause her to tremble. I trail a line of kisses down her neck.

  “Um, sure.” She tilts her head, opening up for me. “But it’s five.”

  I pull back and lock eyes on her. “So?”

  She looks to the sixty-inch flat screen hanging on the wall behind me. Her forehead drops a fraction, and she looks up at me from beneath her batting eyelashes.

  “Even on your wedding day?” I cross my arms over my chest. I have every intention of giving this girl anything she wants as long as we both shall live. But I do enjoy watching her squirm.

  “Hey, you’ve been watching ESPN. Same difference.” She finishes with her hand on her sexy hip.

  I lean in and kiss her forehead at my new spot. The slight scar that slashes through her eyebrow does nothing to mar her gorgeous face. “You win.”

  With a flip of the remote, I switch ESPN to her show. She kisses each of my dimples and finishes at my lips.

  “Overhaulin’? Fuck yeah! Coolest wedding reception ever.” Caleb rounds the bar for a better view.

  “Oh wow.” Raven sips the last of her champagne. “It’s a ’66 Ford Fairlane GT.” She doesn’t take her eyes from the screen.

  Overhaulin’ on her wedding day makes her giddy. So easy to please.

  I wrap my hands around her waist and hoist her up to sit on the counter. She kicks her white, Chuck Taylor clad feet back and forth.

  Owen leans in, his head resting on his hand, eyes to the TV. “Who’s this Chip Foose guy?”

  My lips fight a smile as Raven goes into a detailed biography of the automotive designer. I hand her a fresh glass of champagne and a piece of wedding cake the waitstaff passed out earlier.

  “Ooh, yum.” She takes the glass and a bite of wedding cake. “Thanks, honey.”