by Dakota Dawn
Relief washed over his face. “That’s a good girl. I knew you weren’t a slut, you just want me as much as I want you.” He shifted off her, grabbing for the rope.
With her heart pounding against her ribs, Branda shoved him, knocking him off balance. She heard him fall heavily. Bounding to the door, she searched frantically for the handle. Damn it. There was no handle, he had rigged it so she couldn’t get out.
No fucking way was she dying in this van.
Dashing for the front, she had most of her body clear of the passenger’s seat when she felt his hand surround her ankle. Looking back, she saw him smiling evilly.
“I got you now, little slut. You lied to me, now you have to pay.”
He tugged her closer to him. That was a big mistake. Using her free leg she kicked him in the face. He howled and let go of her. Spinning around she cleared the seat and lunged for the door handle. She pulled on it and nothing happened. Fuck, it was locked.
From the back of the van he said, “You are going to pay for that.”
Finding the unlock button she pushed it with a shaking finger. Please unlock, please unlock. A click sounded in her ears and she wanted to weep with relief. Quickly opening the door, she screamed at the top of her lungs as she exited the van.
Her scream was cut off when she was pushed down from behind. Facedown, she remembered her training. Turning over, she noted the knife in his hand and swallowed hard. Don’t freak out, don’t freak out. She screamed when he stepped closer to her. Determined to live, she let him get one step closer then she kicked him as hard as she could in the balls.
He went down to his knees and cupped his balls.
“Police, drop the knife.”
Roy looked around and realized he was surrounded by three police officers. “I’m not going back.” He raised his arm and pulled back the knife to throw it at one of the policemen. The policeman fired into Roy’s chest.”
Blood was everywhere. Branda’s stomach rebelled. Turning over, she threw up.
As soon as she was finished, the policeman closest to her patted her shoulder. “Did he hurt you physically?”
Branda shook her head, and whispered, “N–no, I just want to go home.”
“We’ll get you home as soon as we can.”
Branda looked over at Roy and watched as a blanket was thrown over his dead body. Relief rushed through her body. She’d done it. She had kept her cool and she had won. He was never coming after her or anyone else again.
Five minutes later Troy and Trey pulled into the parking lot and raced over to her. They sandwiched her in a tight hug and rained kisses all over her face and head. The heat of their love branded her heart.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gaven looked around the table at his friends.
He was a lucky man to have such friends. The close call with Branda earlier today showed how things could change in the blink of an eye. He was so relieved she was okay.
“I’m glad you guys came over tonight. I know you told me you were all okay, but I’m happy to see that it’s the truth,” Gaven said.
Troy took Branda’s hand in his. “Branda wanted us to be with our friends tonight. Right, babe?”
“Yeah, I didn’t want to sit around the house rehashing the day. Sticking to our plans helps me move on,” Branda answered.
“So, you guys are leaving tomorrow. Did you get everything taken care of today?” he asked Troy.
“Yep. After today we can’t wait to leave. We think Branda is going to love it. And we all know she could use a break,” Troy answered.
Branda elbowed Troy then smiled innocently when he grunted and rubbed his side. “You know we are not supposed to talk about that, darling. I know you gave Gaven all the details earlier, no need to talk too much about it tonight. I just want to move on. ”
“You don’t have to be embarrassed around Gaven, little angel. He’s seen a lot. You freaking out in front of him yesterday was nothing. Plus, you kicked ass today. Right, Gaven?”
Gaven could tell Branda didn’t want to talk about it, but he had to praise her before the matter dropped. “Yeah, no need to feel funny around me. I’m proud of you. All is forgotten, well, almost. Before I forget, I have to tell you, you did a great job using your skills under stress.” At the sight of her blush, Gaven added, “No, really. You remembered your moves when you needed them the most. I firmly believe that if those cops hadn’t been going to the donut shop you still would have gotten away. You did good, real good. You’ve come a long way.” Gaven winked at Branda. “I’m a little scared of you myself.” At Branda’s snort of disbelief he smiled and added, “Now that I’ve said my piece, I’ll never talk about it again.”
Trey swallowed a bite of food then changed the subject. “I see you came home with another black eye. How did your trip go?”
Gaven’s lips tightened for a second. He really didn’t want to talk about his trip. “Great. Goal accomplished. The black eye is nothing.”
Trey shrugged. “Hey, as long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
The scent of fresh-cut flowers tantalized his nostrils. Looking around, he found the source. His shoulders sagged in relief or disappointment. He wasn’t sure. Fresh flowers were sitting on a nearby table. She always smelled like fresh-cut flowers. Her scent and violet eyes always haunted him for at least a month after he left that place. From the moment he had laid eyes on her, he’d been drawn to her. Like a fucking moth to a flame or an idiot to his doom. Slapping himself mentally, he forced himself to categorize her as eye candy only. When he went to the establishment where she worked, he wasn’t looking for a woman. He was looking for relief from the demons that followed him all the time. Every six months, the burden became too much to bear. He needed what they offered until he could find a different way to rid himself of the horrors that haunted him.
“Earth to Gaven,” Trey said.
Gaven heard the worry in his friend’s voice. He needed to hide his feeling better, no sense in saddling his friends with his troubles, considering there was no cure for what ailed him.
“Why did you wake me up? I was dreaming about a beautiful woman and all the things I’d like to do to her. Thanks for ruining it for me.” He made his voice sound playful.
He wanted to change the subject, and Trey took the hint. They were getting good at changing the subject. “Sorry. You can’t touch a dream girl anyway, so you’ll live. Eat your burger then I’ll beat you at a game of darts. I’m feeling lucky tonight.”
Gaven happily jumped at the diversion. “You’re on. Loser buys a round of drinks. Since you have no sympathy concerning my dream girl, I think I’ll put a little more effort into winning tonight.”
Trey groaned, making Gaven laugh.
Between bites of food, they talked about different sports, which sparked several fights.
Trent entered the pub and walked toward them.
Branda’s eyes darted nervously away from him.
Gaven wondered what that was all about. Turning to look closely at Trent, his eyes widened. “Damn, buddy. What happened? You been fighting over women again? If I’d known you were on the prowl, I would have prowled with you and had your back. Remember that next time you think of straying.”
“I didn’t stray, Gaven. I ran into the door. Not that you can talk,” Trent said.
“Mine’s just the hazard of a rough vacation,” Gaven shot back.
When everyone went silent and started eating, Gaven knew something was up. No worries. He’d find out if they wanted to spill. If not, he understood secrets. “Doug, a beer for Trent, please,” he called out to the bartender.
Fifteen minutes later, Trey, Trent, and Gaven headed over to the dart board.
In a low tone, Gaven asked Trent, “What’s the door’s name that hit you?”
“Branda.”
“No shit!” Gaven couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. Damn, Branda was turning out to be full of surprises.
“She got me when I tried to wake her from a nightmare.”
“Ouch, an unexpected blow in the dark. How’s she doing now?” Gaven asked as a picture of her, pale and trembling, came to mind. That was one way he never wanted to see her again. It was too heartbreaking. He felt for the policemen who had helped her today.
Motioning his hand toward Trey, Trent answered, “She’s much better now that Trey and Troy are home and that asshole is dead. I’m so proud of her.”
Gaven looked at Trey as he gathered darts. “Yeah, me too. Glad you two came home when you did. Your vacation couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Trey threw a dart. “That’s for real. I would have gone crazy if we hadn’t been in town today. I still can’t believe he got out of prison and nobody told Branda. The system needs to change. If she had died today there would have been hell to pay. We would have made sure of that. As it is we are going to try to make it bad, real bad, for the person that is supposed to contact the victims and doesn’t when a prison break happens.”
Gaven nodded his head. “Damn, that sounds good. Let me know if you need any help doing that. I’ll gladly do whatever I can.”
Trey raised his fist and Gaven bumped it. “Thanks man. Hey, we’re going to be gone for a month. Mom and Papa are in New York. You mind helping Trent keep an eye on the bookstore? You know, just pass by every so often, pop in sometimes. Trent is going to be doing all the paperwork and ordering, so that’s covered.”
“No problem. I planned on doing it anyway. What are buddies for?” Casting a glance at Branda, Gaven added, “I’m happy for you, Troy, and Branda. I hope everything works out.”
Trent threw a dart, hitting the board dead center. “Yeah, I second that. Even though I plan on sticking to my motto, catch and release.”
“I so love living by that motto myself. Trent and I can have a new hottie every week if we want to. Different flavors add spice to life.” Gaven laughed wolfishly to cover the pain. He would never settle for just one woman. On the force, he’d seen plenty. Shining eyes so happy in the beginning almost always turned cold and bitter as the years passed. That was one experience he never planned on having. He always told his women up front he was only interested in a one-to- two-night fling. He and Trent were alike on that point. Catch and release worked well for them.
Trent raised his beer in agreement. “You said it, brother.” Tipping his bottle back, he took a long drink.
Gaven saw the pain in Trent’s eyes. The death of his girlfriend still ate away at him. In Gaven’s opinion, that was just one more reason not to get too close to a woman.
Troy and Branda strolled over after she’d finished eating.
“I don’t know how you guys eat so fast. You are probably swallowing your food whole,” Branda commented.
“It’s all in the focus. If you ignore everything around you and only focus on eating, you’ll be done in no time at all,” Trent supplied.
“Thanks for the info, but I think I’ll just keep on being a slowpoke,” she responded.
“Now that you two are here, we can get to some serious throwing,” Trey said.
Several dart games later, Gaven glanced at the clock and noticed that they’d been playing for over two hours. He was still the champ. Trent had beat him a few times though so he’d have to keep on practicing in order to stay the champ.
At around ten, Branda covered her mouth with her hand, hiding a huge yawn.
Troy laughed. “I think that’s our cue to leave.”
Everyone hugged everyone then the Cortinos all headed home.
Gaven spotted Marshall sitting at the bar, looking over an order. Plopping down on a stool next to him, he slid him a beer. “How’s it going?”
Marshall scratched the tip of his long, crooked nose. “Business is growing at a fast pace. I’ve had to increase the order of our two most popular beers.” His gaze shot around the pub, scanning for trouble, and landed on an older man who was starting to push away from his table.
“Excuse me a minute. I’ll be right back.”
Gaven watched him move over to the man Gaven knew was a regular named Oscar. Oscar came in two nights a week and ordered a burger and a Coke. Recently he’d broken his ankle. Gaven watched as Marshall helped Oscar hobble to the door. He wasn’t surprised at all when Marshall held the door for him then went outside to help him get in his vehicle.
Sometimes Marshall looked lonely. If he wanted a woman, Gaven hoped one day a special one would come in and see Marshall for who he truly was. A kind, smart, and hard-working man.
Although he wasn’t interested in a permanent relationship, he wasn’t against others giving it a try.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The flight had been tiring, but as she watched the countryside from the taxi window, Branda couldn’t help but love this land. They had just left the city of Sorrento. It had been lovely, with businesses and homes perched on the cliffs, overlooking the Bay of Naples. Most of the buildings were rectangular in shape with terracotta roofs. The earth tones of the town blended well with the lush green landscaping.
The taxi headed out of town and up a winding road. The countryside was a mixture of wooded hills and sprawling citrus and olive groves whose aromas made the air delectable. Branda smiled to herself as she pictured herself standing in a citrus grove all day long doing nothing but breathing in the wonderfully scented air.
They rode for about fifteen minutes then turned up another winding road. The landscaping was a beautifully done work of art that went on for five minutes. One last turn brought them to a stop in front of the cutest home she’d ever seen. Her eyes drifted over the lush, plant-lined stone steps that led to a large stone terrace. Stepping out of the taxi, Branda stared at her surroundings in awe. The terrace was dotted with plants in extra-large planters, wooden lounge chairs, and a round tile-topped table-and-chair set. Citrus permeated the air. She took a deep breath and looked around. A smile crossed her lips. Lemon trees were planted on both sides of the stone terrace. She could happily stay right here and never even enter the house.
Troy and Trey followed her up the stairs, carrying their bags. Turning, she smiled. “I love this place. I don’t even care what the inside looks like. I could stay here forever. It’s beautiful and smells magnificent. I can’t believe we get to stay here for a whole month.”
The twins exchanged a look as their sensual lips curled into pleased smiles.
Trey moved to the door and opened it then gestured her in. “I hope you like it, tesoro mio.”
She stepped on a blue-tiled floor. Her gaze followed the river of blue into a large living room furnished in heavy-looking, leather-covered lounges and a long sofa. Traveling the blue again, she saw an open kitchen with granite countertops and modern appliances. Letting the river of blue tile lead her on, she saw glass-lined double doors that led to an even larger terrace at the back of the house.
Swiveling to the closest twin, she hugged Troy. “I love it. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I’m sooo happy you two brought me here.”
Trey grinned in relief and happiness. “Go on. Check the place out. We’ll put the luggage in our room upstairs and make some lunch.”
As eager as a child in a new toy store, Branda explored the house.
Half an hour later, Branda plopped down into a chair at the table on the back terrace. Cheese, bread, dipping oil, and fruit filled her waiting plate. The twins had filled it for her and now sat back smugly, watching her as they ate and sipped their wine.
“So, after seeing the house, what do you think? Do you still like it?” Trey asked, looking like he already knew her answer. Her expression must be giving her thoughts away.
“Like is too mild a word. Love is more like it. It’s perfect. From the terraces, to the pool, to the view, to the interior design, I love it all. There is even a new car in the garage.”
Her response brought a clandestine grin from the twins.
“Nonno and Nonna will be extremely h
appy to hear that, because when we were here, they bought this house for us as a wedding gift,” Troy informed her with a gleam in his eyes.
Shocked, Branda stared at him. What kind of people gave magnificent homes as wedding gifts? Deep in thought, she looked out at the view of the town, hill, and ocean. It was breathtaking. Her new family just kept surprising her. Every time she thought they couldn’t do more for her, they did. Tears welled in her eyes and blurred her vision. Their love seemed to know no bounds.
Trey moved to her, leaned down, plucked her from her chair, and hugged her tightly. “You’re not going to get mushy on us, are you?”
Throat clogged with emotion, she nodded against his chest.
Troy’s body pressed into her backside, and he whispered in her ear, “We all love you, darling. You are truly our little tesoro.” Warm lips grazed the shell of her ear.
She shivered in their embrace and relished the sensation of being pressed between both their hearts. They had a way of making her feel like she was at home in their arms.
Troy’s phone rang, breaking the spell. “Hello…Yes, we’re here at the house…No, no, you won’t be imposing. We’d love to have you over. I’ll bring out some more food, and we’ll all eat on the back terrace. See you soon.”
Troy disconnected then answered their questioning looks. “Nonno and Nonna are coming over. They’ll be here in about fifteen minutes. Let’s pull out some more food and wine. I know they’ll want to celebrate us moving so close to them. Their property borders ours.”
“They make great neighbors. Nonna loves to cook for a crowd. We’ll be well fed while we’re here in Italy.” A frown crossed Trey’s brow, and he focused on Branda. “You don’t mind them living so close, do you? They’ll always call before they come over, and part of the year they travel.”
Her heart lurched at the worried look on his handsome face. She felt a driving need to relieve him of his fears. “I love them, too. How could I not? I’m glad they live close by. Besides, I need Nonna to teach me to cook Italian food so I can teach our children.”
