The Gallows at Midnight

by Courtney Lynn Rose

  “After the tiger snake. Large, fast, and very venomous. The kid killed Maria and probably saved my life and was quick enough to subdue a black mamba without getting him or Sorina bitten. He’s part of the team.”

  Samuel’s grin is blinding— ear to ear with pride shining in his eyes. “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “If you call me ma’am again, I’m going to punch you. Viper or Lily. I’m only nine years older than you for fuck's sake.”

  The team chuckles and we make our way into the house. I’m in for an argument about me taking a patrol. The team knows better than to second-guess my decision. Blake and his family on the other hand . . . they get their kicks fighting with me about shit.

  Everyone is seated at the dinner table, eating silently. Blake looks up as we walk in, but I move straight for the bedroom. The sun is almost down and the sinking feeling in my gut won’t quit. If there’s someone in the woods, then the safe house is compromised. There’s no way in hell that particular snake just happened to find its way into Maryland. Not unless it broke out of the Aquarium.

  My back aches, the stitches itching like crazy as I pull on my black leggings and a long-sleeve black shirt. I’ll be glad when this shit is completely healed. It’d be nice if Maria was still alive. It’d give me great pleasure to return the favor with my own knife.

  Throwing my duffle bag on the bed, I put on my shoulder holsters and lock each 9mm into place. My whip clips easily to my belt, along with my hunting knife. I sling my sniper rifle over my back and carry my shotgun. It’s overkill, but taking chances isn’t an option anymore. We’ve taken things too lightly in the past and it’s gotten people damn near killed.

  Shit, my boots are in the living room.

  Everyone turns in my direction as I flop on the sofa and tug on my combat boots.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Blake’s voice is amused.

  “Patrols start tonight. From now on, no one goes outside after dark. Stay away from the tree line and make sure an agent is armed and with you at all times.”

  His chair scrapes across the floor and he grabs my elbow as I head for the door.

  “Lily, you need to rest.”

  “I need to do my job,” I say sternly.

  He cups the side of my face, thawing my insides a little. Even after everything that’s happened, he’s still the only person who can calm me with a simple touch. I crave this feeling. His skin on mine, the desire it elicits coursing through me, heating my body throughout.

  “Babe, please be reasonable. Someone can patrol until you’re healed.”

  His eyes are tight with fear. I’ve come to know his facial expression so well it’s scary.

  Leaning up, I lightly press my lips to his. “I’ll be fine. I doubt anything will happen after the snake incident, but I need to be out there tonight. Please trust me.”

  “I do, but I want you to get better.”

  I smile, trailing the tip of my index finger along his bottom lip. He pouts, kissing it. “Go eat and then get some rest. I’ll be in at sunrise.”

  My boots thud against the hardwood, echoing through the room in a way that makes my stomach tight. Something is going to happen . . . and soon. I can feel it, like before, when Khoui raided the apartment. They won’t get the upper hand this time, that’s for damn sure.

  †††

  By five a.m. exhaustion pulls on my eyelids so hard it’s ridiculous. Blake is sound asleep as I curl up beside him on the king-sized bed. He’s in flannel pajama pants, no shirt. His chest rises and falls in a slow, steady rhythm.

  He rolls, facing me, his eyes fluttering open. A smile spreads across his face, taking my breath away. He reaches out and runs his fingers through my hair lazily, and my eyes close at his touch.

  “Good morning, baby,” he whispers.

  I open my eyes and scoot closer to him until his body is flush against mine. His morning erection presses into my hip and my desire spikes, my belly and sex clenching with need.

  “Morning, love.”

  “Anything happen last night?”

  “You would’ve heard if it did. I forgot to grab my silencer when I got dressed,” I chuckle.

  “You should get some rest.”

  “I will.”

  Tangling my fingers in his hair, his lips meet mine with force. He rolls, snuggling between my legs, propped on his elbows. I run my fingernails down his neck and across his shoulder blades, a low growl seeping from his throat.

  Like a frantic teenager, he rears up and we both scramble to remove the clothing keeping our skin apart. He slams into me, my back arching off the bed. Wrapping his arms around me, he drags me up, so we’re nose to nose, and pounds into me.

  I moan and match his every move, my insides quickening and begging for release.

  “Ah, damn it, Blake,” I growl as he lays me back down, hitches my leg up without missing a beat.

  “Come on, Lily,” he says in my ear and I spiral, my orgasm ripping through me like a knife through cotton.

  He slams into me two more times and finds his own release before lying on top of me, propped on his elbows again. He kisses me, soft and lovingly, in complete contrast with the punishing intensity in which we made love. This is what I love about Blake. He can be rough and gentle almost at the same time.

  “I meant what I said the other day. I don’t want to wait to marry you.”

  I chuckle and run my tongue along his jaw. “So, plan a wedding.”

  “We need to plan a wedding.”

  “Blake,” I say, caressing the side of his face. “Make our wedding what you want. The fact of the matter is, the only thing I need is you waiting at the altar. The flowers, location, dresses, and all that shit don’t matter to me, babe. We could get married in this bedroom in our pajamas and I’d still be the luckiest bitch that ever walked the earth.”

  He kisses me again, smiling. “I’ll let the other girls plan it. Shannon, Sorina, Sammi, Carmen, and Teresa. I’ll give them a month. If they don’t have it ready by then, I’ll have the priest come here and we can say ‘I do’ in our pajamas.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  He twists to lie next to me, pulling me to his chest as he sighs, relief flooding his body, his muscles relaxing. Soft clinking from the kitchen echoes into our room, the methodical tinkering lulling me to sleep as Blake’s heartbeat thuds in my ear.

  †††

  “Get up, Mom. You’ve been asleep for like seventeen hours.”

  I roll over and open my eyes as Sorina sits a tray across my lap. It’s stacked with Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast.

  “What time is it?”

  “A little after ten in the evening. Dad said breakfast for dinner would be cool, so Ms. Teresa whipped this up.”

  I chuckled. Blake obviously filled Teresa in on my favorite foods at some point. Steam rises from the waffles, carrying a hint of orange and mint. My mouth waters. Pushing myself up a little more, I dig in while Sorina makes herself comfortable; sitting crossed legged on Blake’s side of the bed.

  “Are you and Dad okay now?”

  “Yes, sweetheart. We’re fine.”

  She stares down at her hands, picking at pieces of fuzz on the blanket. “Please don’t do that to me again.”

  My breath catches in my throat. She lifts her head, tears falling down her face. “Sorina?”

  “I seriously thought you and Dad weren’t going to work it out. I thought I was going to lose you guys . . . again.”

  I lift the tray and sit it next to her before gathering her in my arms. She sobs quietly into my chest, my hand rubbing against her back.

  “Oh, Sori, you’ll never lose either of us. Not like that. When I met you, you gave me a new purpose, kiddo. You gave me a reason to keep fighting. I could never walk away from you.”

  “What about, Dad? Could you walk away from him?”

  I kiss her hair, rocking us gently. “No, I don’t think I could. It about killed me to walk
out when all that shit happened.”

  “I love you, Mom.”

  “I love you, too, kiddo.”

  After she calms down and stops crying, I finish my breakfast. We’re not a normal family, not in the traditional sense. I’ve never had to think of someone else before. My personal life was my own until Blake and Sorina came into my life. Everything I do now— every choice, every action— affects them just as it does me.

  Remember that the next time shit gets crazy.

  Blake and Samuel stroll in, laughing. He seems to approve of the boy, and I think I do too. If he and Sorina end up being something serious, she’ll have a lot of adjustments to make. It’s why none of us has ever really had steady relationships. Doing what we do, we’re gone a lot and we can’t disclose where we go.

  “How was the food, baby?” He leans down and plants a swift kiss on my lips.

  ‘Wonderful. Teresa is godly.”

  “Tomorrow night she’s making Chicken and Dumplings,” Samuel says with a grin on his face.

  ‘Ah, that’s Dresden’s favorite too. I think she uses that dish to subdue people into her secret army or something.”

  Sorina scoots off the bed, practically running to Samuel’s side.

  “You kids got plans for this evening?” Blake’s voice is light but still stern enough to cause Samuel’s eyes to widen.

  “We were going to sit in Sori’s room and watch a movie, sir.”

  “Keep the door open, understood?” Blake says, his voice deepening.

  That tone is hot.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Sorina kisses Blake’s cheek. “Night, Dad.”

  “Goodnight, hon.”

  “Night, Mom.”

  “Night, Sorina.”

  She and Samuel slide from the room, locking hands as soon as they hit the hallway. I grin shaking my head. That girl is totally infatuated with him. It’s nerve-racking and cute all at the same time.

  Blake grabs the tray and sits it on the floor. Stripping off his shirt, he climbs in next to me and pulls me into his embrace.

  “Who’s on patrol tonight?”

  “Dresden,” he says kissing my temple.

  I nuzzle his neck, flicking my tongue against his skin. He moans, his fingers skimming across my back and before I know it, we’re lost in each other again. I could spend every minute, of every day, wrapped in him like this and it wouldn’t bother me one bit.

  16

  ~Lily~

  I watched Blake sleep all night. He was so restless. We’ve sat around the island in the kitchen for the last hour waiting for everyone to get up. I sip my coffee as he strolls to the stereo system. A slow, romantic number filters through the speakers.

  “Lily.”

  He’s standing in the middle of the living room, holding his hand out toward me, a sexy smile on his lips. Teresa chuckles, turning to wash the dishes. A sly grin tugs at my lips as I stand to join him. His eyes never leave mine as my feet carry me to the center of the room.

  His hand is warm, mine sliding to fit perfectly in his. He tugs and pulls me against him, wrapping his arms around my waist. My hands glide up his biceps and I lace my fingers behind his neck. He nuzzles my neck as we move to the music.

  “My Lily,” he whispers against my skin, sending a wave of body clenching desire through me.

  “Yes. Yours, baby. Always.”

  He groans and holds me tighter. I lay my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes and letting everything else melt away. He’s going to talk to the other women about the wedding today. I don’t want him to know, but the mere thought of a gown makes me cringe. I’m not sure my nerves can handle all that. Deep down, I prefer Vegas, but in our current situation that isn’t possible, and asking him to wait isn’t going to happen either.

  “May I cut in?”

  Vlad has a stupid grin on his face as Blake straightens and holds my hand out toward him. He takes it and places his other hand on my hip. We move in a small circle around the floor, more ballroom style. Vlad, despite his looks and demeanor, is a good dancer and very graceful. He spins me a few times and I laugh openly.

  “You look well, Lily.”

  “I feel much better. Thanks for holding down the fort, Vlad.”

  He scoffs. “Well, someone’s got to be the adult around here.”

  He twirls me around again, carefree and laughing like I’ve never seen him. As the song ends, he pulls me against his chest, and I don’t hesitate to put my arms around him.

  “It was hell not having you around.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, Vlad. It won’t happen again.”

  “Hey, old guy. Share the beautiful woman,” Rhett says interrupting us.

  “Fuck you. I’m not old.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Vlad punches him in the arm as he moves toward the kitchen. My eyes reach for the heavens.

  The track changes to an upbeat country song and Rhett takes my hands. In perfect timing, we line dance around the room to one of the few couple’s dances I know. His smile is infectious. Our boots echo off the floor in perfect time and with each turn around the floor, more people join us in the living room.

  As the song ends, everyone bursts into a round of applause. Rhett and I bow, laughing like teenagers and shuffle into the kitchen. Teresa slides me a tumbler of Tequila, which I haven’t had in a while. My eyebrows shoot up, glancing from the glass to her.

  “What?” Her attempt at innocence is pathetic.

  “The only time you serve me Tequila is when something is going on. What’s going on?”

  Her face crinkles as if she’s waging some internal battle. “Sorina and Agent Morris went for a walk this morning.”

  Heat floods my face. “A walk where?”

  “The guesthouse.”

  My feet move quicker than my brain and before I realize what I’m doing, I’ve gotten my whip from the bedroom and bee-lined out the front door.

  “Lily, calm down,” Jameson shouts from behind me.

  The trees and training area blur as I walk across the lawn and slam my boot into the guesthouse door. Sorina and Samuel both jump, their heads twisting in my direction. He’s kneeling on the bed wearing only his jeans, Sorina’s legs wrapped around his waist while she’s in nothing but her bra and panties.

  Black spots interrupt my vision, my right hand flicking toward them without any coherent thought forming in my brain. The whip wraps around Samuel’s neck and he grunts. Sorina falls back off his lap onto the bed and I yank, pulling him back onto the floor.

  “Mom, stop!”

  Stomping out of the house, I drag him behind me until his body thuds against the ground.

  “Lily, enough,” Blake yells.

  Sorina stands in the doorway, mortified. Another flick of my wrist unravels the leather from Samuel’s neck. He rolls onto his hands and knees, choking and gasping for air. I pace back and forth a few feet from him, my face hot enough to fry an egg.

  “Vi-per, pl-ease. Let. Me. Ex-plain.”

  The sound of his voice agitates me more, and I close the space between us, planting my boot in his side. He rears up and lands hard, groaning. My boots are steel tip and he’ll be lucky if I didn’t just break a rib.

  “What did I tell you two?”

  “Mom, please,” Sorina cries.

  “Sorina, go in the house,” I say through gritted teeth.

  “No, Mom, listen, we—”

  “You what! You didn’t listen to a fucking thing I said, Sori. He will go to jail. Do you understand that? Interpol will have no choice. You’re a minor!”

  “Lily let’s calm down, hon.” Hyde steps up next to me, gently grabbing my hand.

  He takes the whip as I do my best to slow my breathing. Samuel sits on the ground, holding his side, his head between his knees.

  “Everyone go inside so I can talk to Samuel.” My voice is low and far more controlled than I feel.

  “Lily,” Blake says in a warning tone.

  “I’m not going to hurt him. Ju
st go. I’m his team lead and this is something he and I need to talk about without an audience. Take Sorina in the house.”

  Blake takes measured steps toward me and lightly kisses my temple. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  I force myself to smile, tilting my head to kiss his lips. “I won’t. I promise.”

  Samuel is smart enough not to move and once everyone is back inside, I sit down next to him. He stares at the ground, picking at the grass.

  “Samuel, you know it’s not your relationship with Sori I have an issue with.”

  “You sure about that?” His tone is cold and without emotion.

  “Yes. Watch your tone with me. I don’t need that whip to beat the shit out of you.”

  He sighs, wincing as he sits up straighter. “I’m sorry, Viper.”

  “She’s fourteen, Tiger. I get that you two like each other and that she’ll be 15 soon. But if this becomes physical, you’ll lose your job and you’ll end up in jail. You’re a good agent. I don’t want to see you ruin your career because you were unwilling to wait.”

  “It won’t happen again.”

  “You’re right. From this point on, Rhett will be her official guard.”

  His head snaps up, hurt flooding his eyes.

  “Now, aside from the professional part of this, I’ll be damned if my daughter is going to end up pregnant at her age.”

  He smirks and my first instinct is to slap him. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a condom. “I’m not an idiot.”

  “You still need to wait.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I push off the ground and hold my hand out to help him up. He slides the foil packet back into his pocket and takes my hand. He winces and grunts as he stands, gasping to take a breath.

  “Dr. Monroe will need to look at that. Pretty sure I broke one of your ribs.”

  Walking past him toward the house, my head throbs at the onset of a migraine.

  “Viper?”

  I twist around, my eyebrows shooting up. “Yes?”

  “I’m in love with her.”

  My throat tightens, but at the same time, my heart melts. That’s a feeling I can understand. “If you love her, then you’ll wait.”