by Dawn Martens
I cock my head to the side, staring at them with as much hate as I can muster.
“What was the purpose of it all, huh?” I shout at them. “Tell me!” I screech. They take too long to answer me, and I shoot Wayne in the foot. He screams out in pain, and I laugh.
“We’ll tell you,” Jill Mercer shouts. “We couldn’t have children. We wanted a boy so badly. Every girl we had all ended up with girls. You were our favorite. When we found out you were having a boy, we were over the moon happy. So damn happy. But then we lost him a few months later,” she proclaims, brokenly crying.
“He was MY son!” I scream. I put the gun to her forehead. I want to pull this trigger right now, end her miserable life.
Blake
I pace the length of Cori’s condo, getting more pissed by the second. The door swings open, and Angel walks in with a look I can’t quite figure out. “Well, did you find her?”
Angel’s jaw clenches and nods. “Reaper and Zippo are watching her right now. Man, we need to leave before she does something she’s going to regret for the rest of her life.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, running out behind him.
“She’s at their home, with a gun,” is all Angel says before hoping into his SUV. I barely get time to get my door shut before he takes off speeding.
Angel’s phone starts ringing, and he hits the speaker button. “Speak.”
“Shots fired. Wayne Mercer screamed. Zippo looked in the window, and looks like Cori shot him in the leg,” Reaper says.
“Fuck!” Angel roars, punching his steering wheel. “Don’t let her do something really fuckin’ stupid! Get in there before she does something she won’t be able to live with,” he orders them and shuts the phone off.
“Should we call the cops?”
“We’ll assess when I get there and then bring them in,” he tells me.
“This is my fault. Fuck! I should have talked to her sooner about all of this.”
“Don’t blame yourself, man. I had her in my home, living with us, and I didn’t tell her. We’ll all help get her through this, and we’ll get our Cori back.”
I nod, agreeing. I just need her back.
Half an hour later, we pull up outside the house and notice the front door open, with both Reaper and Zippo trying to restrain Cori.
“Let me the fuck go!” Cori shrieks. The sound of her voice is so ugly it throws me for a minute.
Angel runs ahead of me, wanting to calm her down. “Cori, honey, please. Look at me. You don’t want to do this. You’ll go to jail.”
“I don’t care,” she sobs into his chest.
I walk up to Reaper and Zippo and notice both the Mercers on the ground, blood oozing out of Mr. Mercer’s leg and blood pouring out of Mrs. Mercer’s shoulder. “She went to shoot her in the head when we stormed in. It startled her, and her shot went wide, nicked the shoulder,” Reaper says.
“Would she really have done that?” I ask him, worried.
He shrugs. “Can’t say for sure, but in this moment, I wouldn’t put it past her. Cori is a wreck, man.”
Chapter 50
Cori
The police arrive after Angel calms me down. “Hate to do this to your kid, Angel, but I have to place her under arrest.”
“What?” I squeak out.
“You broke into their home and shot them,” the officer tells me.
I look to Angel then Blake, pleading with them. Blake looks upset; Angel looks angry. Angel comes to me and cups my face. “Don’t say a word until Sam meets you at the station,” he tells me. I nod, and he kisses me on the forehead as the officer puts cuffs on me.
I’m read my rights and put into the back of the police car. I sigh and lay my head against the window. At least this guy was nice enough to put the cuffs on in front instead of behind my back.
We pull up to the station, and he leads me out. “We’re told we can’t talk to you until your lawyer is present, so we’re just going to leave you in this room until he’s here. Someone will be in to ask if you are hungry or thirsty soon,” he says as he takes my cuffs off and gestures for me to sit down.
He goes to walk out the door but turns around. “Only reason you aren’t in a holding cell until that happens is because I respect the hell out of those Angels, and I know you’re one of theirs,” he says then leaves.
I lay my head on the table and have myself a little nap. I’m so damn tired. An hour later, I’m woken up when Sam comes into the room with a briefcase.
“Hey, Dad,” I say quietly.
“Corinne,” he says, not sounding happy with me. “You’re not to say a word when those officers come in here to question you. Let me handle it.”
I nod but say nothing. He seems really ticked off at me.
He pulls out all his papers and about a hundred files, and places them about the table. He opens the door and tells the officers we’re ready.
Dad doesn’t say much. He mainly just pushes files across the table at the cops, and they read them. Their faces go slack, looking at me with pity.
The officer that brought me in closes the last file and gives it back and sighs. “We’re letting you off with a warning. This isn’t going into the file. Do something like this again, you’ll be in jail.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“If you need a good therapist, talk to that boyfriend of yours. He has a few good ones working in his building.” I go to say I don’t need to see anyone, and he cuts me off. “Don’t even say it. You’ve held this shit in for years. Tonight, you exploded. It’s natural, it’s normal, but it’s over now. You need to talk to someone, so do it.” With that, he leaves, and Sam and I walk out the door.
Outside, my dad shakes me and then pulls me into a hug. “I’m so sorry you went through so much.” He starts to cry, and I let everything go, crying right with him.
Blake
I see her coming out of the station with Sam, and I move forward, taking her hand in mine when they finish hugging. “You’re coming home with me,” I tell her. She doesn’t put up a fight, just looks down and moves with me.
The guys all left the minute Sam showed up, but I stuck around, wanting to talk to Cori. I close her door, and Sam calls my name.
“I wasn’t there for her. Hell, I didn’t even know she existed, so it might not be my place to say this right now, but don’t let her go,” he tells me.
I nod. “Don’t worry. She isn’t going anywhere.” He grins smugly at me and walks to his car.
I get in the car and start it up. Cori turns the radio on but I shut it off. “What was in your head tonight, Cori? You leave your sister at the hospital right after she has her daughter, then you take off to get drunk and try to fuck another man, and then you are stupid enough to get a fucking gun and try to get revenge?”
“I…” she stammers.
“Don’t want to hear it right now. I’m pissed as hell, but that’s not the reason why,” I say. “Why didn’t I know about this new job you were taking?”
“I didn’t want to tell you,” she whispers, looking away from me. I can feel her guilt and shame.
“What were you going to do, just leave without telling me?” She nods as a tear rolls down her cheek. “Well, just so you know, first thing Monday morning, you’re calling them up and declining the position. You’re not leaving me, Cori.”
“I’m sorry, Blake,” she whispers to me. “I just wanted to feel something. Anything. Melissa’s baby… Shit. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t be there, not when I just learned about my own child,” she tells me.
I grab her hand as I pull over to the side of the road. “Look at me, Cori.” She looks up from her lap. “I love you, and I’m telling you right now that I will never let you go. You can run, you can push, but I’m not going anywhere. And deep down, you know it. I’ll never stop fighting for us.”
“I love you, Blake,” she whispers at me, tears streaming down her face.
I grab the back of her neck, bringing her in for a kiss.
&nb
sp; “Let’s go home,” I tell her when I let her go.
“Okay.”
Chapter 51
Cori
Four months. That’s how long it’s been since the police finally locked away the Mercers for good. I ended up getting a warning. It wasn’t fun, being cuffed. Angel pulled strings, though, as did Blake, and, of course, my dad showed up with all the files of what the Mercers have been doing over the years. And I was let off. The same wasn’t said for the Mercers, though. Their family and friends were all charged with a slew of things.
All the previous foster kids came forward. Two of the girls that had children were working on finding out where the kids were, and of course, the Angels were helping them out with that. The other two that had children from living in that house of horrors said they didn’t want to know.
I ended up calling the office in Devon to let them know I wouldn’t be taking the job they gave me. Instead, I’m back working for Blake.
Sam visits me often, and I make sure to visit him as well. Now, he’s really trying to push a home on me, and no matter how much I say no, he still emails me once a day with a listing for me to check out.
Lilly is thrilled. She’s finally spending time with her dad. She never really had him around much growing up, she said. Now, he’s pulling double duty, being a father to me and her.
It took me a while to get used to having a baby around all the time. Mikayla is now four months old and as cute as a button. But I’m still not all that comfortable around her, especially when she shits all over me and pukes everywhere.
Blake is amazing with her, though. He’s constantly offering to babysit so Melissa and Dray can go have a date night, or so Melissa can go to school. He says he doesn’t want to see her struggling to pay for child care. I think it’s sweet, but it also hurts at the same time, knowing all the things I have missed out on with my own child—the child I will never know.
Blake also made me speak to one of the counselors that work in the building. At first, things were hard, but talking about everything, finally every single thing being out in the open, has me feeling like a brand new person. I’m not weighted down by the pain and anger and hurt I once stored inside me. I haven’t heard from my mom since the day she showed up at my condo. According to Blake’s friend, Drew, she’ll be in prison for a long while. Part of me hopes she dies in there, but the other part hopes she’ll learn and become a new person.
It’s almost closing time when Marcy comes to my desk and smiles. “I have an errand to run, and you are coming with me,” she declares.
“Oh, really?” I say, fighting a grin.
“Yup,” she says, popping the ‘p’.
“Fine. Let me just talk to Blake first,” I tell her.
She rolls her eyes and sits on my desk. I get up and knock on Blake’s door.
“Come in,” he says, so I do. His face lights up when he sees me.
I go to him, sit in his lap, and kiss him deeply. “Marcy is dragging me out.”
He grins. “I know. She told me earlier today, said I can’t keep you to myself all the time.”
I wrinkle my nose at him. “But having you all to myself lately has been the best.” I purr.
His hands tighten around me. “You should leave before I take you on my desk again.”
I chew on my bottom lip.
He stands up, taking me with him. “We’ll finish later. That’s a promise,” he says, gently pushing me out the door, closing it swiftly behind me.
Marcy looks up and sees my face, probably shock or something all over it, and bursts out laughing.
I glare at her and walk to my purse and snap, “Let’s go.”
Blake
I meet Melissa and Chelsea at the mall, and we start looking. “It has to be special,” Melissa says, moving the stroller around to keep Mikayla happy.
“It will be. Why do you think I brought you all with me? There are six jewelry stores in the mall, so we’ll find something,” I say. I was able to get Marcy to take off early and get Cori out looking at houses. Marcy is saying she’s looking for something to buy instead of rent. Hopefully Cori loves the final house they are going to see, since I already bought it and am just waiting to close on it.
The first two stores were a bust; nothing jumped out at me. One ring that Melissa found and loved, I snapped a picture and sent it to Dray. He asked Angel for permission to marry her, and just said he needed to find the right ring. I get a text back, but before I can check it, Chelsea and Melissa squeal.
I go to them, putting my phone back in my pocket. “That one!” they both say loudly, waking Mikayla.
I peer into the glass. It’s perfect. Pear shaped diamond, not too fancy but classic. Cori isn’t into being flashy. I know she will love something more traditional and simple. The sales woman comes over, and before she says a word, I point to the ring. “I want that one.”
Her brows go up, and then she smiles. “And the size?”
Chelsea takes the ring from the woman and tries it on herself; I brought her because they are the same size. The ring fits perfectly. “That one, exactly that one. I want it now.”
“Caveman,” Melissa says, chuckling.
I ignore her and watch the woman package the ring, and I hand over my credit card.
I walk out of the mall, the girls trailing slightly behind me, both grinning hugely, the ring bag gripped tightly in my hand.
I get to the car and stop them from getting in. Pulling out my wallet, I pull out every bill in it and hand it over to the girls. “Get a cab, go shopping, whatever. Just don’t come home for a while.”
“Err, why can’t you just take her to your condo?”
“Because I sold it.”
Both girls’ eyes bug out. “You aren’t living with us,” Melissa tells me.
“Don’t plan on it. In a month, I’m closing on a house. Cori will be moving in with me.”
“Dude, that’s wicked awesome!” she says excitedly.
“Until then, I’m staying with you guys, so stay gone. Go to Dray’s house or something.”
She mock salutes me. “Sir, yes, sir.”
Chelsea snorts. “Have fun.”
*~*
My hands roam over Cori's bare hips as she snuggles against me. Her skin is so soft, silky even. I will never get over how good she makes me feel. Cori completes me in ways I never knew possible. All of my life, I thought I’d never find the one. But here she is–my one, my crazy, sexy girl. She joins her hands in mine as I plant kisses down her arm. She is Heaven on Earth.
Her legs are tangled with mine as we make sweet passionate love. This is what it’s like to love someone and belong to someone else. I’d give or do anything to make her happy. I just hope she finally sees that she deserves everything and more with me.
Our bodies move together as one as I fill her with all I have to give, both physically and emotionally.
I pin her under me. “Open your eyes,” I tell her.
She does slowly and smiles up at me. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Blake,” she says, tears welling up in her eyes.
I reach over the side of the bed, bringing her to sit up with me, as I grab the ring I hid before she got home from an errand I sent Marcy on.
I grab her left hand and hold up the ring. “Marry me.”
Cori starts sobbing, nodding, and grabs the ring from me, putting it on herself. Finally, after she looks it over and tackles me, she screams, “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”
I smile and kiss her again. “How do you feel about us living together?” I ask her.
She smiles and rolls her eyes. “That’s basically what we’re doing now anyways.”
“I mean, actually living together. In a house. The two of us?”
She smirks. “That’s what today was, wasn’t it? We weren’t looking at houses Marcy was looking to buy. We were looking at homes for you and me.”
I give her a sheepish look. “Yeah. What did you think about the last one?”
<
br /> “I love it. It was my favorite.”
“Good, because I bought it. We move in next month.”
She doesn’t get a chance to say anything as I move over her, kissing her softly. This is it, forever and always.
Epilogue
Melissa
I stand just outside of the church doors, waiting for my chance to walk down the aisle with Jasper at my side. I was shocked that he readily agreed to walk me down. He said it was only right; he basically acted as mine and Cori’s dad, even though he’s not old enough to be our dad.
My dress is perfect, even though I am still packing some extra weight from my pregnancy. It’s been fourteen months, but I’ve been so busy trying to finish up with school, planning my wedding, and taking care of my daughter.
“You sure you want to do this?” he asks me.
I smile and look to my fourteen month old daughter sitting on my hip. “Yes. I am.”
I have always wanted Drayton; I just never gave in to that urge until I stupidly slept with him without protection. And once we found out we were having a baby, he went full force to make me his, after of course being a total jackass. His promises of me being his one and only were met with reluctance and even a visit from some kick ass bikers and Blake, Cori’s husband. But over the last few months, he’s kept his word.
I still think it’s too soon for marriage, but I’m willing to give this a go.
Blake and Corinne got married about six months after the mess Cori got into at our old foster home. They wasted no time at all in starting their family, because now, four months later, Cori is pregnant. I rolled my eyes at her when she first told me, and then, of course, rubbed it in her face and mimicked her whole ‘never having kids’ rant. But she just smiled. She’s so over the moon happy now.
The only family drama we’ve had lately is the fact that Tori went back to her husband, and it’s killing Trevor. She finally found out who he was, and that was the end of them apparently. No one has heard from her in three months. Then there was the drama of meeting Blake’s half siblings and step-father. His mother tried to tag along to the meeting, but her husband, or should I say now, her ex-husband, told her to get lost. Cori is loving all of this extra family she now has, and I as well, since Blake’s family is pretty damn amazing.
