by Terry Towers
“Fuck.” My heart sank. I’d have given just about anything to be the one to look that bastard in the eye and pull the trigger. “Then why call me in here?”
“He’s not in custody because he’s dead. His accomplice is in custody and singing like an canary, hoping to get a reduced sentence in a plea bargain. He’s squealing on the entire gang. We’re preparing a task force to end the Black Skulls reign now.”
“How did he die? What in the fuck happened?” Anger flared up in me. I wanted to be the one to get justice for Gabriella. ME!
“Our snitch had a confrontation with a man who was bragging about killing Gabriella. They found out he was talking to us and was going to have to answer to the gang bosses. They fought and our snitch got spooked and shot him, a bullet to the head. He was dead upon arrival of the medics. Our snitch has been in interrogation for two hours now.”
I slumped back into the chair, not sure what to say.
“It’s over. As much as I would like to have you on the task force for the raid on their compound, I’ve decided it’s best for your mental health to take the next few days off.”
Anger surged though me again. “I don’t need any fucking time off! I need to be a part of that raid.”
The captain shook his head. “No. This decision is final. You’ve been grieving for a long time and now there’s resolution. That can fuck with a person’s head, and don’t be so arrogant to think you’re any different. This isn’t up for debate. You’ll take the week off. You’ll get your head on straight and decide where your career is headed from here.”
The captain stood up and walked around his desk and grasped my shoulder in his hands and stared down at me. “She’s been given justice. You can move on…”
~*~ TT ~*~
Layla
I had wonderful news and was dying to tell someone. Neither Nate nor Darrin were answering their phones. This was frustrating as shit. But Darrin should be home by now and if I remembered correctly Nate would be home late in the evening—that just meant that I got to share the good news twice!
As soon as the elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open, I bolted from the box and nearly ran down the hallway of my floor, though my heels were hampering my progress. Over the past couple of months, myself and the brothers had come to an understanding: if the door wasn’t locked, walk on in and make yourself comfortable—clothing optional—so that was exactly what I did when I arrived at Darrin’s door.
As soon as I entered the apartment, I dropped my handbag by the door and I noticed his NYPD jacket handing up on the coat rack and his boots on the floor next to it, so he was home from work.
“Darrin,” I called out, walking into the apartment, but having no luck in finding him in either the kitchen or the living room. The bathroom also turned up empty, but I did eventually find him in his bedroom. He was asleep on his bed, with a box of what appeared to be photos next to him. His television was playing what appeared to be a home movie. The woman in the video was a stunning, leggy Latina woman with breasts that made mine look like a preteen girl’s.
On the night side table were several empty beer cans and a bottle of rum which was close to halfway gone. Grabbing the remote control, I flicked off the television and was about to turn and leave when I heard him mutter something.
Not sure what he’d said, I came closer and took a seat on the bed next to him. “Darrin?” I said it quiet enough as to not to disturb him if he was in a deep sleep, but to let him know I was there if he was on that border between sleep and wakefulness.
“Gabriella?” he muttered, his blue eyes slowly opening.
Gabriella? Who was Gabriella? Had someone else been here?
I looked around, but there were no signs of anyone else. Just the woman who was in the movie and the woman in many of the photos contained in the box.
Leaning forward, I gently rubbed his upper arm, replying, “No. It’s Layla.”
“Layla?” He stared at me, confused, as if he had no clue who I was for a moment. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t uncomfortable. I’d interrupted something that he was going through that was deep and personal. It may have even been the very thing he was always so closed up about, the woman he had referred to as being the love of his life.
“Yes. Layla. Your door was unlocked…”
“Layla.” He gave me a tight smile, but the smile didn’t go all the way to his eyes. He blinked a couple more times, rubbing his eyes with his fists. When he lowered his hands, there was clarity and recognition in his gaze. He looked around as he pulled himself up into a seated position and I could see the discomfort creep up in him. “I’m sorry for the condition…”
“What’s going on?” I took his hands in mine and waited, hoping and praying that he’d give me a straight answer. “Please. I want to be here for you.”
Heaving a loud sigh, he ran a hand through his hair, grabbed the box of pictures, and pulled one out. It was of him and the dark-haired girl from the video. They were both in NYPD uniforms, complete with mirrored sunglasses, their arms around each other. They looked happy together, very happy. So happy that I felt a pang of jealousy.
“This is Gabriella Romeriz. She was my partner, but she was more than just my partner…”
“Oh…” That’s the best I could come up with.
“She was also my fiancé.”
“She’s beautiful.”
He smiled. “Yes. She was. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the one.”
As hard as this tale was for me to hear, since I’d been hoping for some time that he felt that way about me, I still wanted—no, needed—to hear it. “So, what happened?”
“We were going to move to California, that’s where her family lives. And we had planned to get married once we got there. She’d bought her wedding dress, the plans were already in motion. It was as good as done. We were on our last shift as NYPD officers.”
“So she was a cop as well?” I’d seen the photo, but was just asking to verify.
“She was my partner both at home and while on duty,” he answered. “We were on our last shift and there was a call, a robbery of a liquor store. We were the first to arrive and we didn’t wait for backup, we went in.”
I was starting to see where this was going and I could feel the tears well up in my eyes as I imagined the picture that Darrin was beginning to paint for me. Tears were also forming in his eyes and my heart went out to him. I longed to give him a hug, but refrained. He had a story that needed to be told.
“She was so fearless to the point of it being a fault. She ran in, despite my protests to hold back and assess the situation, so I went after her. There were three men, all in masks, but the tattoos on their hands told us they were members of the Black Skulls.”
“Oh no.”
“Yeah. They’d seen the car as we pulled up and were waiting for us. As soon as she entered the store some of them opened fire on her, three shots. She died almost instantly. As I went to her side, they escaped. A second police car showed up as they began to run. Officers took chase, but the three were too fast. They got away with killing one of the NYPD’s finest officers and the money.”
“Were they ever caught?”
To my surprise, Darrin nodded. “They were—today. The man who killed Gabriella finally got what he deserved, and despite trying for two years to nail that motherfucker myself, he got offed by one of his gang buddies.” He huffed. “I guess maybe that’s just justice at work for me, but dammit, I wanted to be the last person that bastard saw before he was taken away to whatever hell he’s destined for.”
Chapter 18
Darrin
I didn’t want Layla to see me this way. This inner pain and struggle that I’d been dealing with over the past two years was my cross to bear and no one else’s. I should have had the foresight of locking the door when I got home, as Nate and Layla were constantly dropping by.
This photo in my hands was my favourite photo of us. I took a deep breath and placed i
t back in the box, relocating the box of photos back onto the night side table. Looking up, my gaze locked onto hers. There was sadness and compassion in her eyes. There was also something else in her eyes, fear perhaps?
“It’s fine now. It’s over. I got the closure I needed,” I assured her.
“Good.” She gave my hand a squeeze, but there was still sadness. Things weren’t good. “I’m glad you’ve finally told me the secret you’ve been holding.”
“It wasn’t much of a secret, just painful. There was and still is a lot of guilt.”
“Guilt?”
“I’ve always felt it was my fault for letting her go in before me. If I’d gone in first it would have been me and not her. I promised to never let anything hurt her and I failed.”
Fuck, I could feel the pain welling up in me and tears threatening to emerge. This wasn’t how I wanted her to see me. I was supposed to be strong physically and mentally, but I’d been put through the emotional ringer today. She’d caught me at a weak moment.
“Do you think you’ll ever be able to move on, maybe fall in love again?”
The question took me by surprise and it dawned on me what the odd look in her eyes was. She didn’t know. Sure, I hadn’t said the words to her yet, but I’d have thought she’d have figured it out by now. We’d spent virtually every day together for the past two months, with and without my brother. Though I was very adamant about not breaking my pact with Nate only being intimate with her when we were all together. Admittedly, I had some damned hard days that ended with me frantically jacking off when she left.
“Or is it not possible after…”
As much as I had loved Gabriella and grieved her death, that was in the past. “Layla. I loved Gabriella, I’d planned to spend my life with her, but that hasn’t been my reality for over two years. My reality now is you. You’re the one I’m in love with. I have been for some time now, but due to our situation I was holding back saying the words.”
“But Nate…” She looked happy over my declaration, and confused. “I mean, I love you too.” She smiled, tears rimming her eyes. “But…”
“I can’t speak for Nate, but I will tell you that I’ve never seen him so into a woman before. EVER. To see him willing to forego any other woman to share someone with me is unheard of.”
~*~ TT ~*~
Layla
I didn’t know what to think or how to feel at this moment. Darrin was in love with me? But not just him, Nate as well! It was an overwhelming feeling and I had to really work at keeping tears at bay. My good news was long forgotten.
“I love you, too.” I was in love with both of them. Nate for his wildness and excitement and Darrin because he was deep and honest. They both brought amazing qualities to the table. Upon hearing this new development, I prayed the time hadn’t come where I would have to choose one. It wasn’t a matter of being greedy, but how could I choose between two amazing men that I loved with all my heart and loved me back? Part of me was thrilled at this turn of events, but another part felt a dark cloud.
We’d agreed between us that there would be no choosing—we were a trio and that was how it was going to stay. But that was before any of us fell in love. I was sure none of us expected this. But here it was looking me in the face.
He smiled at me. Everything he was feeling seemed to shine brightly and it made my heart flutter. “After Gabriella’s death, I never thought that I’d find love again, but here it is. You’re sitting here in front of me and I can’t remember ever feeling so strongly about someone. Not even Gabriella.”
I couldn’t have kept myself back from him if I tried and I wasn’t even attempting to try. Sliding my hands up his chest and locking them behind his neck, I leaned forward and I kissed him. This wasn’t a sweet or teasing kiss. It wasn’t playful or coy. I kissed him with every ounce of emotion and passion I was feeling and holding back until now.
Darrin responded without hesitation. His hand slipped into my hair to grasp the back of my head, deepening the kiss, not letting me go. My heart and body ignited as I held to him as he gently pushed me backwards onto the bed, his body leaning over mine.
My fingers grabbed the bottom of his t-shirt and began pulling it upwards as his lips left mine to place a string of kisses across my jawline. He paused his kisses long enough to assist me in removing the garment before continuing. His lips moved over my skin frantically, as if he was scared that I’d eventually disappear and he needed to make every second count.
His fingers made quick work of the buttons on my blouse, while mine worked on his belt and jeans. Articles of clothing seemed to disappear in seconds as we were both frantic in our need to feel the warmth of skin against skin.
“I’ve waited so long for you to say I love you,” I whispered in his ear before working my kisses down the length of his neck. He groaned in pleasure.
“Not nearly as long as I’ve been wanting to tell you,” he said, pulling away just long enough to look me in the eye as he replied.
“Then show me. Don’t fuck me, make love to me, Darrin.”
“I haven’t fucked you in a long while, sweetie.”
His words and the sincerity in his voice when he replied made my insides melt. How could I have gotten so lucky? The apex between my legs quivered and clenched, wetness pooling between my legs. I needed him in me, fuck foreplay. What I needed more than anything was to have our bodies united.
Darrin broke eye contact and lowered his head, no doubt intent on nipping at my nipple, but I stopped him. Capturing his chin in my hand, I tilted his head up so he was looking into my eyes again. “I need you in me, Darrin. Making love to me. Please.”
He hesitated a moment, the fire in his eyes growing more intense as he obliged. Lining his fully erect shaft to my entrance, a hand braced on either side of my head for support, Darrin paused just long enough to say, “I love you,” one more time before thrusting into me. I would have screamed from the sudden invasion but his mouth was covering mine, stifling the sound. He didn’t withdraw right away, instead he stayed buried deep within me, ending the kiss and placing his forehead against mine.
We stared into each other’s eyes as I wrapped my legs around his waist and he began thrusting. He started slowly. Teasing me. As if savouring the feel of me enclosing him. The slow pace was driving me halfway insane.
“Please, Darrin. You’re killing me.”
He grinned and quickened the pace, but just slightly.
“Please.”
“Faster?” he asked with a devilish grin.
Nodding, I attempted to move with him, hoping to urge him to speed up. But he wouldn’t. He was in control and he was intent on letting me know who was running the show.
“Say please.”
Returning his grin, there was no way I would ever deny him. “Please. Please.”
A soft growl came from him, as he sat back on his heels and slipped my heels up and onto his shoulders. Grabbing the headboard, he began to thrust down and hard into me, making me scream with each thrust. The head of his cock was rubbing my G-spot, causing feel to feel light-headed as I came closer and closer to orgasm.
My ascent to orgasm was like an out of control freight train and I was the helpless passenger. Grasping at the blankets under me to steady myself, I saw his cock, gleaming with my juices. For a second, a very brief second, I froze in terror as it occurred to me that we were having unprotected sex. But as soon as that realization hit me, it disappeared as a surge of pleasure so intense that it brought tears to my eyes overtook me, my back arched, thrusting my breasts upwards as I screamed out.
“Oh fuck, that’s right, baby, come over my cock.”
And I did. Once. Twice. And even a third. The three orgasms hit me in rapid succession and I rode the waves of bliss.
“I’ve never felt anything so good in my life,” Darrin groaned, his voice thick with desire.
“Come for me. Fill me,” I urged, my greedy pussy clenching around his cock as I said it.
�
�Oh, fuck me.” Just as he finished the sentence, he slammed into me a final time, his head falling forward as he unleashed the fury of his passion deep within my core, in several spurts. The feel of his cum slamming into my inner walls was enough to bring me to the brink again and I came with him for a record four times in one go.
“I—” There were no words.
He collapsed onto me, keeping a hand braced on either side of me to keep his weight from crushing me under it. “You’re amazing, Layla.”
I smiled, tears in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down tight to my bare chest, ignoring the fact that his weight was slightly crushing me. I didn’t answer, but held him tight to me a minute before releasing him.
Once released, Darrin rolled over to his back, taking me with him.
My smile was wide, the smile of a woman giddy in love, as I cuddled up tight to his beautiful, muscular, naked body and almost immediately fell asleep, the evidence of our love making slowly seeping from my core and onto the burgundy blankets under us.
Chapter 19
Nate
When I heard the news that Gabriella’s killer had been killed and that the case was well on the way to being wrapped up, with the base of the gang being raided and most members either arrested or in the process of being arrested, I was both happy and relieved. Hopefully, my brother would finally be able to find some peace and be able to move on without that fucking dark cloud hanging over his head.
But in addition to there being relief I knew there would also be the issue of the wound reopening for him. Sure, it hadn’t entirely closed, but I suspected it would be fresh all over again. I knew how badly my brother wanted to be the one to arrest the man responsible.
Stopping off at the liquor store, I grabbed a case of beer and continued to our complex. I didn’t bother to change out of my uniform, instead opting to go directly to Darrin’s place. He’d gotten off work five hours ago so who knew the state he’d be in by now. Perhaps he was already in a drunken haze. He’d been ignoring my text messages and calls all evening.
