by Jaye Cox
"Tiny Dancer, where are you? We need another judge - Sam’s being paid off in shots so we need a second opinion." Dex is calling out.
"Nice to meet you too" I say, “I am otherwise known as Tiny Dancer to these guys.”
"I’m over here, Dex. I call back. I watch as Dex walks over, he is covered in cake and I can see he notices Ruby. I almost see him break a smile but it’s like he forces himself to stay neutral. Ruby, on the other hand, doesn't look too impressed.
"Where’s my Tiny Dancer?" Rayne starts calling me now.
“Well looks like you’re popular around here,” she says to me. "Let’s get a drink, brother." pulling Ty by the arm.
"There you are, we need you Tiny Dancer - and Dex get your ass back in there - you're up."
Dex walks off outside, and Rayne turns to me. "What’s up with them?" Rayne wants to know.
“No idea, let’s go look for Sam." I say. We go out the back to find Romeo and Dex arm wrestling. Romeo wins with ease, no questions asked. Everyone tries to defeat, him but Romeo walks out undefeated. Morris challenges him to spar with him; I know he is some kind of black belt in MMA or some type of fighting, it all looks the same to me, fighting is fighting right, and now they’re off to find stuff to make a fake ring. Rayne is happy and that’s all that matters to me. Audrey and James have to leave early, they have some work dinner James has to attend but they let Boston stay. Abigail leaves with them to stay at a friend’s house and the only reason Boston gets to stay, is because he is nearly eighteen and Rayne promised he wouldn't let him get drunk. I don't believe him and I’m surprised they are allowing it. I walk them to the door and thank them for coming. When I get outside all the guys are shirtless and starting to pick who gets to play fight whom. I can see this ending really badly.
"Isn't this a girl’s wet dream," Ruby says, walking outside.
Sam grunts and walks over to the guys. I spend some time talking to Ruby, she isn't so bad; she has just had a rough life. I can't imagine what it’s like; I had great childhood. When I tell her I’m heading off to bed since I’m exhausted after today, she puts her number in my phone and asks if I mind if she spends the night. I tell her that’s up to Ty. I go over to Rayne to tell him I’m going to lay down; they’re setting out the rules on how the fights will be set.
"Hey, I’m sorry I’ve been ignoring you."
"It’s okay. I’m exhausted after today and need to lay down."
"I will come tuck you in."
"You don't have to. Have fun, it's your birthday."
“I want to, Tiny Dancer." He tells everyone he will be back soon and takes me to my room. I change and crawl into bed. "Thank you for today; it’s been the best birthday ever."
"It has been a good day," I say with a yawn. He kisses me on the forehead and even tucks me in before he leaves. I think I fall asleep before my head hits the pillow, I’m that tired.
CHAPTER THIRTY- ONE
Here I am lying in bed next to Rayne watching him sleep and wonder how I got so lucky. It's been nice waking up to him every day. The lease runs out on his apartment next week and we have talked about him moving in. I think we are ready to start this next chapter in our lives. I have to run it by Ty, but I’m sure he won’t mind. He and Rayne have been spending a lot of time together and even Boston has been spending more time here. It’s nice to see them all get along, at least most of the time when Ty and Boston aren’t bickering about who will make the better uncle. They have nicknamed the baby JJ and I think it’s cute - little JJ - it’s about the only thing they do agree on.
"Good morning my Tiny Dancer -are you ready for today?" Rayne asks pulling me into his arms. I love being in his arms, it feels like home.
"Yes. I'm so excited I get to go baby shopping, I wish you could come” I say batting my eyelashes at him, it usually works when I want to get my own way.
"You know I hate all that shopping crap and Tommy loves it. I think you must have brainwashed him as a child. What man likes shopping? I think he must have been a chick in his previous life.”
"I know and tell me again why we have to get pest control done?" I ask.
"I want it done way before Jagger comes. We don't need bugs running over all his things."
"But...-" I try to argue and stop when he starts kissing down my neck, I instantly get goose bumps. We have not had a lot of sex lately since my stomach has popped right out, and little Jagger thinks it’s party time and kicks me continuously. Also my stomach goes rock hard after an orgasm, so Rayne thinks Jagger must know what is happening and says it freaks him out. We have even asked Doctor Layne who she says it’s one hundred percent fine and safe, unless I start bleeding. Just when I think Rayne is on board with having sex, there is a loud knock at the door.
"Go away!" I yell.
"Food is ready!" Tommy calls out.
"We better feed you, Tiny Dancer," Rayne says.
"You can't be serious right now,” I say, kinda pissed. I know it’s stupid to get upset over sex. I blame pregnancy hormones; the ones I swear I don't have if anyone else tries to blame my moods on them. I just want it all the time; I’m like some crazy pregnant sex addict.
"Come on Tiny Dancer, I’m sorry - we can try again tonight."
"No we won't. You always say that and then I get too tired and fall asleep before you come to bed." I put on some yoga pants and a loose-fitting top; nothing fits over my belly anymore.
"Stop for a minute," Rayne says as he reaches out for my arm.
"No- you stop for a minute. I need to have sex, any kind of sex, the baby has no idea what we’re doing and he cannot feel it so until you fuck me..." I say pointing at him,”... I’m not talking to you." I storm out of the room and out into the dining room.
"I would hate to be Rayne right now," Ty says as I walk past him.
"Don't you start! I’m pregnant, horny and pissed off!"
"I made pancakes," Tommy says, trying to diffuse the situation. Rayne comes out with his bed hair, which makes him look incredibly sexy and to make matters worse his jeans hang low on his hips. I can tell he has nothing on underneath and my eyes zone straight for his crotch. I would drop to my hands and knees right here; this is what having no sex does to a woman, it drives her insane. He makes it virtually impossible to be pissed off with him when he comes out looking like that.
"You're game, dude," Ty says, walking past Rayne him to his room.
"You have no idea," Rayne says, as he walks towards me.
"Are you calm now?” he wants to know. I know it’s childish but he won't see reason. I need some attention before I internally combust from sexual frustration. "I’ll take that as a no. Why do you have to be such a pain in my ass, Tiny Dancer?"
"A pain in your ass?" I repeat, as I take a bite of my pancakes. I shovel a few more bites in before I say anything else. "Screw you, Rayne. I’m not asking for a fifty shades of grey fucking, I just need you inside me."
"Shit guys. Way too much information. Bells, I will wait outside," Tommy says as he walks outside. He couldn't have left the room any faster.
"What the fuck does a fifty shades of grey fucking mean anyway?" Rayne wants to know.
"Shit, that doesn't even matter. You frustrate me and I’m leaving now." I get off my chair and stomp past him. I feel like shit when I get outside for not kissing him goodbye.
"Holy bat shit, Bells - that was insane," Tommy says as I get in the car.
"A girl has needs, Tommy."
"What’s wrong with him?" he asks reversing out of the driveway.
"Jagger moves so much during sex it freaks him out and he thinks he is hurting him. It’s ridiculous and I don’t have that much longer to go now."
"Bells- maybe you're the one overreacting?" he says.
"After the baby is born, you can't have sex for six weeks! Six bloody weeks and we will have a baby as well."
"Six weeks," Tommy repeats, as he pulls into a car park and we go off to look at baby stuff. I don't even know where to start when we walk in
to the baby store. It’s huge; who knew one tiny little person could need so much stuff so we each get a trolley. The first aisle is prams; Rayne and I had looked a few items up online and picked the ones we liked. I fell in love with a grey blue pram and Rayne is happy with whatever I want. We finally find the breast pumps, not easy to find when you have no idea what a breast pump looks like.
"Hey Bells, Rayne could use this as a penis pump," Tommy says, tuning on the pump.
"He doesn’t need one, Tommy but you can borrow it once I’m done with it."
"Good one, Bells, let’s see how these work, pop a boob out."
"I’m not popping anything out, you do it."
"Fine" he says taking his shirt off. I can see the sales girl watching us from the desk. I don't think we should be trying it out and glance over at her to make sure we won't be getting kicked out of the store, but find she’s practically drooling on herself.
"You ready, Bells? Watch and learn," he says, placing the cup part over his nipple.
"I will turn it on for you, what speed do you think?"
"Turn it all the way up how strong can it be. It’s for girls boobs, it has to be soft."
"If you say so, tough man." I turn it on full speed and the cup sucks to his skin. I’m too busy laughing to help him take it off, but I do manage to get some video evidence. He can’t expect to get a breast pump stuck on his nipple and not have me videotape it for the world to see.
"Shit Bells, help me- this thing is going to rip my nipple off," he whines, jumping up and down. He finally gets it off and I’m still laughing so hard I have tears in my eyes.
"I’m going to have a hickey from a breast pump."
"You know I will never let you live this down, right?"
"You wouldn't embarrass me like that- would you?"
"Um, let me think for a sec.. uh yeah, I would," I say, as the video is uploading to Facebook.
"Let’s get the last few things and get out of here - I think I’ve made a big enough fool of myself." I mock him for a few aisles, and replay play the video for him a few times.
By the time we get to the end, we have so much stuff and we don't have any idea what half of it’s used for but it was all on Audrey’s list. I'm glad the store is delivering all of it, because not even half of it would have fit in Tommy’s car. The hard part is done; next we get to do the fun part and shop for baby clothes. Audrey also gave me a list for those, which I thought was absurd; how hard could it be to pick out a few outfits? Babies couldn't possibly need that many clothes, they don't do anything except sleep. Walking into the baby section I’m glad I have that list. How many different variations of the same thing do they need? Jumpsuits that open at the front and ones that open at the bottom, some come even come with zips. Tommy gets a trolley and we pick out singlets, jumpsuits, socks, and blankets. We get a bit carried away and pick out more clothes than Audrey put on the list, but there were so many cute outfits. I’m positive we have enough baby stuff to last him until he is one and am excited to get home and sort through everything. Tommy carries most the bags out to the car and packs them all in the trunk. When he gets a call from Natalie, I can tell something is going on. I make him take the call. I can tell he really likes her, but he keeps pulling away. I really should go to the toilet before we leave anyway, so I tell him I’ll be back but he asks Natalie to hold a minute.
"Bells, I’m not supposed to let you out of my sight."
"Tommy stop being paranoid like Rayne already. Look I have my phone tucked into my pregnancy belt. I can call you if I fall in and need your help."
"Fine Bells, but be quick. We need to get back before Rayne calls out a search party.”
As I’m about to walk off, a black car is driving straight for us. I just freeze - I’m sure I even stop breathing as I watch the car come towards me. It’s like it all happens in slow motion. I see the car and I’m just standing there, frozen in fear and all I can think about is how stupid I was for starting a fight with Rayne over sex. I didn't even tell him I love him. Tommy pushes me out of the way, and I stumble backwards but keep my balance. I watch as he gets hit by the car; his body rolling across the hood of the car before I see him hit the ground. Everything stops going slow and suddenly goes so fast, I almost don’t know what’s happening. When his limp body hits the ground, I see his phone fall from his hand and remember Natalie is on the other end. I start to run towards Tommy, screaming for someone to help me; for Natalie to call emergency. I look around and there isn't anyone in the car park. But before I can reach him, someone grabs me from behind. I didn't even stop to think about who was in the car. I don’t stand a chance fighting them off or turning to get a look at them before something covers my face. My head starts to spin and my vision goes blurry, and I can feel someone pushing me into a car. I try to scream for them to let me go - to not hurt my baby, but nothing comes out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
When I start to come to I can hear voices, but I keep my eyes closed and listen. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut to stop the tears from spilling down my face. How can one person go through so much in one year? I just knew things were going too well. I was never expecting my best friend to get run over or for someone to kidnap me. The voices sound like they’re getting clearer.
"I say we kill her. Do you know what it’s like to be compared to her? To have all our plans ruined because of her? If I have to hear one more story about something they did growing up I will scream and the idiot once again came to her rescue. He put his life on the line. I doubt he would do that for me."
"You want to kill her? That’s funny, Nat- you couldn’t hurt a fly. We wait and make Razor do everything. You need to leave and go back to that boyfriend of yours. You have an alibi; you were on the phone with him and you called for help. No one will suspect you, not even her; she will think it’s all Razor. You won’t have to worry about her anymore."
Oh God. It’s Kandi and Natalie- I'm going to die here. I never pictured Natalie as the vindictive type; I expected a little jealousy because of how close Tommy and I are, but to go to all this trouble to get me out of the picture is insane. Only a crazy person would be capable of this.
"We’re screwed, you both know that right? Hit and run- attempted murder- kidnapping, I can't go to jail. I'm too young and pretty."
"Shut up, Tammie. We will be fine. Kandace is a cop and this will all get pinned on Razor."
"No, I won't shut up. I’m leaving; I want nothing to do with all this. You’re both crazy. Yes-Tommy and Rayne are hot, but kidnapping a pregnant woman is just too much for me. Razor is a good fuck, but I'm out." Tammie says and I hear footsteps and a door close. I hope she has some common sense and goes to Rayne.
I hear a door open and heavier footsteps. Although I can feel my phone vibrating, I can't answer it because my hands are tied behind my back. I hope that someone realizes I’m missing, and quickly. I can't let them hurt Jagger. Maybe Razor will respond to the fact the baby is his nephew.
"Rise and shine, Juliet" Razor says, pulling me up by the arm.
"Please don’t hurt me," I beg.
"If you be a good little girl, you’ll be fine. I want my brother and I need to mess with his head first," he says, grabbing my face with one hand and squeezing hard enough to make my lips squash together. I wonder where Kandi is, from what I heard she doesn't want me to know she is here.
"That’s not what your little friend said," I say, knowing I should just shut up. I’m scared as shit right now, but I think maybe my motherly instincts kick in and I have to try make him turn against Kandi. Try to make him worry about her and not me. Rayne will find me-I know he will. Once we’re not back on time, he will surely start to look for me; he knows how I am all about being somewhere when I say I am. I’m always on his back about running late.
"She isn’t my friend, just another crack whore to me-a good fuck is all," he says. They’re all sleeping with him. I don't get it - yes he’s good looking in a criminal sort of way, but to break the law and kidna
p for him; to risk jail that seems stupid. But I know as well as anybody that love does crazy things to someone, it doesn't have to make sense to anyone else.
"Kandi, a crack whore? That’s funny; she’s a cop, just like Rayne. You do know she plans on you killing me and pinning it on you, right?"
"Shut the fuck up," he says.
"No, it’s true. She is in love with Rayne."
"I told you to stop fucking talking." He walks over to the kitchen and opens a draw to pull out some duct tape. I must’ve hit a nerve. I’m not sure if it was telling him she is a cop, or her trying to double cross him. He rips some tape off and puts it across my mouth. He looks right at me with his ice-cold stare. It’s the one thing all three brothers have in common - their eyes. They each hold their own demons but Razor’s are dead, no signs of life in there.
"Sit here and don't fucking move or I will kill you and we don't want that now, do we? You don't want me to hurt my little nephew I take it," he says running his hands over my stomach. I can feel the bile in my throat just from his hands on me. I don't doubt he will kill me in an instant, if things don't go his way.
He turns the TV on, I don’t understand why until he walks into the next room and I can see his reflection in the TV. He is on the phone and though I can’t make out what he is saying, he doesn't look too happy.
"Look. The perfect little princess who has all the men dropping to their knees for her is awake," Kandi says, walking into the house. She must be confident that Razor will kill me, for her to show her face to me.
"Did you bring the cuffs or what?" Razor says walking back into the room.
"Yes."
"Good. Take her into the room and cuff her to the bed. I need to send my little brother a picture, and he needs to know how serious I am."
"Get up," Kandi says, pulling my arm so hard I almost fall to the floor. I start to cry. I don't want to die without telling Rayne I love him and my baby- I need to keep him safe.
She drags me to a room and rips the tape off my mouth. "How does it feel to know that no one will come and save you?"
