Blush

by Anne Mercier

  “Which won't be for a bit,“ Misty tells me. “You know they're going to hold you here for a good three days minimum.“

  “Yeah,“ I sigh. “I know. So be it.“

  “Why don't you take a nap, babe. It's probably best if you don't overdo it.“

  I nod at Jesse.

  “I could sleep,“ I murmur around a yawn.

  “Do you need anything?“ Xander asks.

  “Nope. Just you guys.“

  He rubs circles on my fingers. “We're not going anywhere.“

  “Mmm, good. Sing me to sleep,“ I tell them.

  “Who?“ Meggie asks.

  “All of you.“

  There are snickers and chuckles.

  “What do you want to hear?“ Jesse asks.

  “Hmm. The Kill from Thirty Seconds To Mars.“

  “Jared Leto,“ Meggie says breathily.

  “Mhmm.“

  “Nice choice,“ Trace tells me.

  “Thanks.“

  Kennedy strums a chord and they all start singing.

  What if I wanted to break…

  I drift off to sleep listening to my husband sing a Jared Leto song. Yeah, you can bet that my smile is huge.

  FOUR DAYS LATER and in a plush hotel suite, I wake up to Xander singing and for the first time I regret coming out of the coma. Why, you might wonder? Because what I hear is:

  Baby, baby, baby oooh

  Like baby, baby, baby oooh

  Like baby, baby, baby oooh

  I thought you'd always be mine… mine

  “Xander Mackenzie, you have me reconsidering whether life was the best option for me. How can you possibly torture me to these depths?“ I tease.

  “Aww, come on, Luce, you know you love some Biebs. I know you're a Belieber,“ he snickers.

  “Dork,“ I reply with a laugh. “Where is everyone?“ The room's empty except for Xander.

  “They all went to shower. Jesse went to get the food on your list,“ Xander tells me with a raise of his brow.

  “Hey, I deserve all of that and more carrying around a litter of Kingstons.“

  Xander throws his head back and laughs. “Litter of Kingstons,“ he shakes his head, still laughing. “That's fucking awesome.“

  I smile “Right? I'm pretty damn proud of that one.“

  “You should be. Epic. Beyond epic,“ he agrees.

  “I gotta pee,“ I announce and Xander helps me up from the sofa I'm napping on.

  “You alright?“ he asks. “Any dizziness?“ He keeps his arm around my waist and walks me to the restroom.

  I roll my eyes. “I'm fine. You are all so fussy.“

  “Luce. You could have died. Personally, I'm thinking it was a pretty fucking close call and I don't want to ever have that shit happen again,“ he tells me, straight-faced and serious.

  “I'll do my best. Now let me pee.“

  I close the door and go about my business. It took three washings with baby shampoo to get the blood out of my hair. The doctor didn't want me to but I wasn't going for the caked on blood look for a week or more. Spenser helped me and using baby shampoo was the least-harsh shampoo he knew of.

  I hear Xander singing My Pony by Ginuwine and I snicker. That guy.

  My hair, now, is up in a ponytail. There's a huge bruise on the side of my head just above my temple that's hideously multi-colored with black, purple, red, yellow, green, and brown. I'm sure there are more in there but it makes me sick to look at it. Less than a centimeter down and likely that ice chunk would have killed me. As it is, on top of the bruises, I've got multiple stitched up wounds. They're small, but still a pain in my ass.

  Each time I think about what happened I get so angry and then I get frustrated because I can't remember the one thing I know I need to. I just know there's something I need to remember. I don't know how I know, only that I do. Wow, that's a lot of “knows“. No wonder I've got a nonstop headache.

  I wash my hands and dry them off on the bath towel. I straighten my Avenged Sevenfold fitted tee and just as I'm about to open the door I hear it. I burst out laughing, I can't help myself. Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy by Big & Rich. Xander. I have to see this.

  I slowly and stealthily open the bathroom door and tiptoe to the sitting area in the suite. I see Xander, his phone in his hands, feet moving, hips a-grooving, as he sings out loud. I can't help myself. I snort.

  He looks up from his phone and a big grin takes over his face as he continues singing and makes his way to me, swiveling his hips as he does. I'm grinning like mad because he's so fun and has no shame at all.

  That song's nearly over when he lifts his phone, wicked grin in place, and pushes a button. Moaning comes out of the speakers and then the drums and I burst out laughing. When he drops to his knees and starts lifting his hips in some stripper move, I grab my own phone.

  “I'm so recording this!“

  He keeps singing Cream from Prince, leaning forward, dry humping the floor and I laugh as I record him.

  “We'll switch it up a bit since I'm putting on a show,“ he tells me with a wink. He lifts his hands over his head, still on his knees, and rotates his hips in a circle. Xander Mackenzie is seriously sexy and from the way he moves those hips, I bet he's amazing in bed.

  When he pushes the button on his phone and Freak Me from Silk starts playing, I lift a brow. He stands up and grabs a pen from the table and uses it as a faux mic. I snort as he lip syncs the song until he gets to the chorus, of course, where he sings:

  Let me lick you up and down till you say stop

  Let me play with your body, baby, make you real hot

  Let me do all the things you want me to do

  'Cause tonight, baby, I wanna get freaky with you

  Xander looks to his phone. How do you top that? I mean, it's quite the song, right? Well, no worries. Xander's got it under control. Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye. He pulled out the big guns there.

  I hold up the phone, following him around the room as he sings and dances.

  “Alright, alright,“ he says, raising a hand to stop. “I know what we need next but you gotta dance with me, Luce.“

  I grin and lift a brow.

  “He's one of your favorites.“

  “Oh God, I hope it's not one of my embarrassing ones because this video is going on the BFD blog,“ I murmur.

  “It's not.“ He holds out a hand for me and I take it. “I'll record you while you record me and we'll put them both up. Deal?“

  “Okay, but I gotta take it easy.“

  He rolls his eyes. “Woman, do you think I'm going to let you go all crazy?“

  I laugh. “I guess not!“

  Rock Your Body from Justin Timberlake comes on and I grin. JT! We both start dancing and laughing when the door to the suite opens up. I turn my camera to capture Jesse's expression of incredulity then the smirk before he shakes his head, carrying in some bags of groceries.

  “What's going on in—“ Ben asks, then laughs when he sees me and Xander. By now Xander's taken my scarf I had by my pillow and tied it around his head like a headband. The scarf has Powerpuff Girls on it. I snort.

  He twirls the end of the scarf and does the hip thrust, step, hip thrust, step thing all the way over to Ben and then starts humping up on Ben's leg.

  “Get the fuck out of here, dude,“ Ben says with a shove of his shoulder—his hands are full of grocery bags too.

  “Move your ass, man,“ Kennedy chides Ben, then sees what's going on and shakes his head. “Fuckin' Xander. I shoulda known.“ He sees Xander eyeing him up and his gaze narrows. “You try fucking on me, man, and I'll beat your ass.“

  Xander wiggles his eyebrows. “You know I like it rough,“ he teases and thrusts against Kennedy's ass. Kennedy pushes Ben out of the way and rushes into the kitchen area.

  I see Ethan lingering in the hall, laughing his ass off next to Jace.

  When Got Your Money by Ol' Dirty Bastard comes on, Jace makes his way into the room singing and starts dancing with us. In
comes Meggie and, I stiffen a bit when Sera dances her way in but keep dancing and recording. Trace trails behind them all, avoiding the craziness.

  My grandpa walks in, eyebrows raised as we all dance, but now I'm taking a break in the chair, knowing better than to overdo it. He makes his way over to where I'm sitting, leans in and kisses my cheek, then takes a seat in the chair next to mine.

  “These are quite some friends you have, Luciana,“ he begins.

  I nod. “They are. They're not just friends, though, Gampy. They're family.“

  He nods in return. “You realize I'm allowing you to call me that because you've been critically wounded.“

  I grin.

  “I likely won't allow that to continue,“ he murmurs.

  I continue to grin.

  He lets out a sigh and I know I've won without even saying a thing.

  “You may call me that as long as you like,“ he tells me and I meet his gaze. He smirks a bit. “Truth be told, I missed it.“

  “I won't tell,“ I whisper to him with a wink, then go back to singing as Cage and Damian make their way into the room, both shaking their heads when Xander follows them, trying to hump them. I snicker out loud.

  “So, this is our family?“ he asks as Janalee walks in. I nod and he returns the nod.

  “They're all safe.“ It's a flat statement but one I know to be completely true. He's done whatever he needed to do to make sure that was true before he said it.

  I walk over to him, sit on his lap and hug him close. “Thank you, Gampy.“

  “Ah, Luciana. I love you, piccola.“

  “I love you too, Gampy.“

  “You got here on your own.“

  I meet his gaze head on and nod. “Thank you.“

  He nods and closes his eyes as he does.

  “They will never touch you again. I promise you.“

  I look to Sera. “What about my sister?“ I ask him.

  His lips press into a thin line. “They will try and they will fail.“

  “Orgasms make such pretty bows to presents.“

  —NIKITA KING

  WHEN GIOVANNI RUSSO pulls me off to the side to have a "chat" I could piss myself. The man doesn't look lethal but I know in his case looks are deceiving.

  “We need to discuss your father,“ the old man says and I want to hit something. Giovanni Russo. My fucking dad owes Giovanni Russo hundreds of thousands of dollars. He’s a dead man.

  “He owes you money,“ I say flatly.

  “A lot of money which I know he doesn't have.“

  “No, he doesn't. And neither me nor Ben are giving it to him. We're done. We told him last time, he's on his own,“ I tell him point blank.

  He nods. “I see. Seeing as you're Famiglia I need to ask how you want me to handle this. Your father is not Famiglia which means he has no special privileges.“

  “I don't expect him to,“ I tell him. And I don't. I really don't. The man has had more than enough chances to clean up his act and Ben and I are done bailing him out.

  Giovanni just stares at me.

  “I know what needs to happen here and I’m okay with it so long as my sisters aren't involved. There were threats against them which is why Janalee is here and Jeni is locked down,“ I state.

  He nods. “No harm will come to the girls. Your mother, however, is a different matter. She's in as deep as your father.“

  “Not a surprise.“

  “Business is business and he's been foolish in his business. I don't fuck around with business,“ the old man says flatly, the first curse word I heard pass through his lips but I have a feeling that means he's pushed past his limit.

  “As you said, business is business and they're no longer mine. They did us no favors growing up and I'm done doing favors for them now that I've made my own way.“ I turn to the side, running my hands through my hair and see Ben standing behind me.

  “Do you agree with your brother, Ben?“ Giovanni asks.

  Ben nods. “I do. They've had more than enough chances.“

  The old man eyes us both. “Alright. I appreciate your candor and no leniency will be granted to Karen and Kevin Kingston.“ He holds out a hand to me and I shake it.

  “You have earned my respect, Kingston brothers. That's not an easy thing to do.“ With that, he walks off, stopping only to shake Ben's hand briefly.

  “What do you think they'll do to them?“ Ben asks.

  I shrug. “I have no idea. I'm just glad the girls are safe.“

  “Do you feel guilty?“ he asks.

  I don’t hesitate. “No. Do you?“

  Neither does Ben. “No. Not anymore.“ Ben turns and heads back to the other room and I lean back against the wall, scrubbing my hands over my face.

  That's a hell of a first private conversation to have with your grandfather-in-law and head of the Russo family. Shit.

  “What are you doing over here, babe? The rest of the food's here,“ Lucy calls out.

  I shake off the bullshit and focus on Lucy. Getting her well is what I need to focus on. That and keeping her safe. With all the muscle around here, legal and illegal, I don't see that being a problem.

  THE FEAST OF Chinese takeout, burgers and fries from a fast food place Lucy insisted on, ice cream, and enough cake, pie, and pastries to keep Ben in his favorite sugar rush, was a success. We had twenty people eating which included the five security members who weren't allowed to leave the suites unless every single one of us was planning on leaving. None of us were to be unprotected according to Giovanni Russo and, as I'm coming to find out quite quickly, his word is law.

  I hadn't noticed but when Ethan remarked on how much more Lucy'd been eating the last couple of months and now I look back on it, he was right on. She had been eating more than normal—and she ate a lot before. She'd also been sleeping a lot. I just attributed it to the extra energy she'd been using up with the band and everything.

  But now I know. Now I know there are three tiny little human beings in this tummy I'm looking at on eye-level as Lucy lays in bed.

  I look up at her and she's got an amused grin on her face.

  “You think they can hear us out here?“ I ask.

  She nods. “I do.“

  “Oh man, you better stop screaming during se—S.E.X. then.“

  She laughs. “They don't know what any of it is or what it means. Likely it all sounds like it does when we have our heads underwater considering they're swimming around in a bunch of amniotic fluid.“

  I tilt my head and consider. That's true.

  “Luce.“

  “Hmm,“ she murmurs, her eyes closed, her body relaxed as I draw circles on her baby bump with my thumb.

  “There're three of them in there.“ I can't stop looking at it, the baby bump, the babies.

  “Mhmm,“ she says, unfazed. How can she be so calm about this?

  “Three. Lucy. Three babies. Three crying babies in the middle of the night. Three babies to feed at the same time. Oh God, are you going to breastfeed? You've only got two boobs and three kids coming. Babe, what the hell do we do about that? Oh man, what if they all have poop diapers at the same time? How do you pick which one to change first?“ Yeah, I know I'm panicking but, dude: Three. Babies. Three.

  She snickers. My wife, snickers at me while I'm freaking out about our triplets. Triplets!

  “Wife of mine, how can you be so damn calm about this? One baby is trying for normal people and I'd like to think we're pretty normal. Well, okay, we're not so we're already at a disadvantage. How the hell can we manage with three babies?“ I ask, sitting up on my elbows. Panic making my heart beat faster and faster.

  She's got this amazingly serene smile on her face and she's so damn beautiful, even with the bruising.

  “You do realize there are a minimum of ten people in our house. Let's not forget Mrs. Martinez, Spenser, Carmen, Simone, Celeste—“

  “The makeup and hair people aren't going to be helping. They don't live here, Luce.“

  “How
long do you really think that's going to last, babe? I mean, seriously. Celeste is moving in when we get back as are Damian and more security, your sisters, need I go on?“

  I let out a groan. “That's both good and bad. It's great for when the babies arrive, but how can we have sex in peace? I mean, come on, Luce. They hear you screaming outside on the patio.“

  She giggles and shrugs. “I'll just have to tone it down. Besides, once the babies arrive, I'll have to be quieter anyway. I may as well get into the habit.“

  “I guess. I'm panicking inside, woman, and you're giggling.“

  “There's nothing we can do about it now, right?“ she asks.

  “Right.“

  “So why panic? Besides, do you really think my mother is going to leave me on my own with triplets?“

  “No. No way, Luce. Your mom is not staying with us. Hell fucking, no.“ This I am serious about. Regina Kingston living in our fucking house, being around her 24/7? No way.

  Lucy laughs. “I didn't mean she'd be living with us. I just meant that if we needed someone to help us with the babies like a nanny or something she'd be sure we got someone reliable.“

  “Oh. I never thought of a nanny, but I really don't want some stranger raising my kids either.“

  “Jesse, calm down, okay? Breathe. We got this.“

  I nod. She stole my line. “We do.“ And now I stole hers.

  “How many bedrooms are in this place anyway?“ she asks.

  “Honestly? I'm not sure. I think something like eighteen or twenty.“ It's pretty damn close to the equivalent of a smaller hotel.

  “Why did you buy such a big house?“ she asks.

  I shrug. “I don't know. I guess we all really liked the location, how it's kind of off on its own and secluded, the overall layout and the gated community. It just fit at the time.“

  “It's turning into the one place everyone wants to live.“

  I nod and shrug. Honestly, I don't mind. If we need time alone, I've still got the keypad. “It's fine.“

  “You sure?“

  “Mhmm. I knew you came with a brood, I just didn't realize how big it was going to be,“ I tell her with a grin.

  “So, uh, are you really okay with the babies? I mean, it's not like we planned it and it's pretty much all my fault for missing my doctor's appointment for my shot,“ she confesses looking guilty.