by Lacey Silks
“It takes one to know one, bitch!” I spat back.
From the corner of my eye, a shadow moved on my right. Another thug wobbled out of an alley. His buzz cut and not-so-lean figure didn’t seem as threatening as he wanted to appear. His name had to be Curly.
Shit! I thought. Still I could handle the two. Maybe not as well as a couple of months ago, but I knew I could take them both down, especially Curly.
“Let us leave and we can forget about it.” I gave them another chance which I knew they wouldn’t consider. After all, to them I was just a weak little woman they could handle. Well, nobody handles Allie Green! And as expected their response was a bellowing laughter.
“Fine, I’ll break your right leg and his left.” I pointed to the new arrival, who wore the same type of hood. “That way you’ll have a combined bigger pair than you do now.”
“When I’m done with you, I’ll make you see my dick up close.” Larry grabbed his crotch, jiggling it up and down.
“You actually have one? It looks more like a pussy under there,” I laughed.
His brows furrowed and fists clenched.
A third shadow appeared to my left. This guy looked like someone had shoved a bowl over his head and chopped his hair even all the way around.
Great, I’m dealing with the Three Stooges.
But I didn’t let their looks and demeanor undervalue the situation. An ounce of pure panic set in, but I hid it under the protective layer I’d learned to wear as a cop. Three opponents was a lot for a healthy capable police officer, let alone a frail pregnant one who hadn’t recovered from a gunshot and a near deadly combat. Hopefully Laura was on her way. My body totally disagreed with what was going on in my mind. I parted my feet wider for extra support, thankful for the pair of pants I wore instead of a dress, and my muscles tightened in preparation. I slowed my breaths and my heartbeat.
“Let the girl go and we can avoid trouble,” I warned in the commanding tone I knew surprised most offenders. It was one last effort on my part to spare their broken bones.
“Come on up.” Adjusting his weight from one foot to the other, he motioned with his both hands toward him. “Let’s see if we can add a bit of color to that pretty face of yours.” Larry sucked in the phlegm from the back of his throat and spat on the sidewalk.
The dweebs closed in, and I was forced to step closer to the girl against the wall, letting them surround us. And with the instinct that had been tucked away, waiting its turn, I rushed toward Larry and pushed my feet forward, swinging my right leg up into his face. My leg whizzed through the air. A crack later, blood flowed from his nose. His blade crashed to the concrete. The moment of his surprise passed in seconds, and he swung at me, missing my face by an inch as I ducked. The other two paused for a momnet, probably surprised at my skills.
The girl found an opening between the men and ran off, which was the smart thing to do. But now I was the center of the trio’s attention. Larry picked up his blade again, checking his broken nose with his other hand, adjusting the new crooked feature. Blood gushed down his mouth. I must say it stunned me he didn’t howl in pain; which only meant he was stronger than he appeared. Within seconds he took another shot, running past me when I ducked. As he turned around I locked my foot on his knee cap with all my might. The cracking of a bone echoed in the alley, followed by a scream. He curled on the concrete in pain, bloody spit foaming at the side of his mouth. The position was so much more appropriate for Larry. With that broken leg he’d remember me for a while.
What a wuss! I thought. Not that strong after all. One down, two to go. I wasn’t wasting time with assholes who chose to prey on women.
The other two stepped back, regarding their friend. After a moment of hesitation, they removed knives from their pockets, the surfaces of which glistened under the streetlight, sending bright reflections against the building’s wall. With a quick breath in and a knowing gaze at each other, they both attacked at the same time, swinging their brave armed hands at me like maniacs. They didn’t even know how to handle a knife. But as I fought them off, ducking and punching, tiredness slowly rolled over my body.
I frowned. Not long ago it would have taken much more than a street fight to drain me so quickly. This new fatigue I felt swallowed my breaths. Sweat dripped down my back and my chest. The side under my ribcage, where the bullet I took a few weeks ago had entered, began to ache. Feeling dizzy, I shut my eyes for a moment and lost my balance while over-extending. Curly slashed the inside of my arm, right at the bending point. Blood squirted out like from a hose under pressure. I pressed my hand to the wound only to feel Moe cut below my knee. I buckled down by the wall.
The duo relaxed their shoulders, smirking with a we’ll finish you off now kind of grin.
Shit! This wasn’t good. How had this turned from bad to worse so fast? And where the hell was Laura?
Feeling lightheaded, I cursed my cocky attitude. How much blood have I lost? Will the baby be all right? I lowered my arm to my belly, praying I hadn’t done anything stupid. No, I knew it was too late for that. I had been irresponsible and I hoped I hadn’t jeopardized my baby’s life. But I couldn’t have let them take that girl either. That would be acting like a coward, and I was done with that years ago.
I growled in my mind.
“Tie her up,” Larry ordered through his gritting teeth. “Then take me to a hospital.”
Curly and Moe approached, their earlier caution disappearing.
Come on, Green, get up! I imagined the devil on my shoulder resembled a boxer in the ring, but everything inside me shut down. No matter how much I wanted to get up, I couldn’t. It was like that day when I’d rescued Kendra, except then I’d been drugged with a dart gun.
A loud bang echoed through the alley, bouncing off buildings. Curly and Moe stopped before they reached me, turning their heads toward a commotion I couldn’t see. Somewhere in the distance a gunshot sounded. Familiar voices approached. I tried to focus and saw the girl who had escaped pointing toward me. Blue and red lights flashed against the brick. Then the alley faded from a yellowish glow to black and white. Curly and Moe ran off like the cowards I knew them to be, and I turned just in time to see James, the guy I’d met at dinner and was supposed to work with at Cross Enterprises. Now I recognized him as the one who’d been dancing with Laura.
James pinned Larry to the ground. Laura was just behind him and froze when she saw me. Her mouth flew wide open at my position as I protected my stomach. At that moment I knew my friend put two and two together. She knew I was pregnant; I could see it in her eyes. She covered her mouth at first but then morphed into her cop mode, rushed to my side, knelt, and wrapped her pink scarf around my arm. Her lips moved but I couldn’t make out her words. And why was her face so apologetic? I made a mental note to buy her a new scarf and leaned my head back against the wall. Something tightened around my leg as well. I think it was a belt.
The voices around me muffled and blended into one hum, with a piercing pitch overwhelming them all. I opened my eyes once again. Tristan scooped me into his arms. Where did he come from? His mouth moved but I couldn’t hear one thing he’d said. In fact, I couldn’t hear anything anymore, but knew I was going to be okay, even if I didn’t feel that way at the moment.
CHAPTER 5
Déjà vu. The same nurse who’d cared for me a few weeks ago smiled as she checked my pulse. With six stitches in my arm, the wound would leave a scar. The cut on my leg wasn’t as bad. Both limbs had been bandaged, and the nurse doing her rounds was checking my vital signs. I’d lost a lot of blood, almost needing a transfusion. Thankfully the baby was all right. Guilt rolled through me every time I thought about what could have happened, and I made a promise to myself and Puss to be more careful. I was sure I’d need to make the same promise to Tristan as well.
The nurse gathered her tablet, packed her stethoscope into her scrubs, and left quietly without disturbing Tristan. He sat on a chair beside my bed, his head resting on the mattress a
t my hip, his hand gently covering my tummy. Dark circles underlined his eyes. Wearing the same clothes from the club, Tristan had been with me the entire time. Every few seconds his thumb rubbed over my skin under my shirt with care. I remembered him helping undress me at the hospital and watching as the doctor stitched me up. Once they got some fluids into my system through an intravenous machine, the colors and sounds had finally returned. That was a few hours ago, and the sun has just begun rising. Thankfully the damage wasn’t as bad as I’d originally thought, but I doubted Tristan would let it go so easily.
With my free hand I ran my fingers through his hair. Its softness brushed like feathers against my palm. He stirred and picked up his head.
“Hey, beautiful, are you okay?”
“Yes, thank you. The girl?” I pressed the button on the automatic bed to lift me up higher.
“She’s fine. The guy whose knee you shattered was on a wanted list for rape and assault. He’s in custody now.”
“Thank God. And the other two?”
“Gone.”
I frowned. My day would be much better if I knew that Curly and Mo had been caught as well.
“Hey, don’t be upset. You saved an innocent girl.”
“He took her from the club,” I let out a long breath.
“I’ve already increased the security, and they’re reviewing surveillance tapes for the other two.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s nothing to thank for. He shouldn’t have been let into the club in the first place.”
“What?”
“He’s harassed girls before. I’m getting someone experienced in the night club business to review our protocols.”
Sleep deprivation set in and I yawned.
“Allie? Will there be a day when you don’t get yourself in a near-death situation?”
“I wish I could say yes, but it seems danger likes me. After all, you’re here.”
“You think I’m dangerous?” His brows narrowed.
“In a good way. You challenge me. Make me feel alive. Spike my adrenaline. Among other things.”
“That’s good.”
“That’s really, really good. You’re not mad?” I asked. Tristan’s calm demeanor surprised me, but I was glad he wasn’t one of those guys who’d scold their girlfriend for not following instructions, like when he’d asked me to wait for him.
“There’s nothing more that I want than to lock you up in my house and keep you safe there. I’m not mad but concerned. Afraid that one day you won’t have me or someone else around to help you out—especially when you’re weak and have Puss to think about.” He smoothed his hand on my belly. I loved when he did that.
“It’s who I am. And believe me, I won’t do anything to place our baby in danger again. I really thought I was strong enough.”
“You are sharing your energy with someone else now. And it will take some time getting used to.”
“I couldn’t just let them take her.”
“I understand. But I can honestly say I can’t wait until you’re living with me. That way I can keep my eye on you two twenty-four/seven.”
“I’d like that very much.” I leaned my head back.
“Me too.”
“And I promise to be careful next time,” I said.
“I know you will, but let’s try for there not to be a next time.”
“You know you’re asking for the impossible?”
“I’m just asking you to be cautious; otherwise I’ll hire someone to follow your every step, which I know is not what you want. Now rest.” Tristan pressed the down arrow on the remote and the bed buzzed backward.
Exhausted I closed my eyes. “Okay.” How could I argue with him? The man at my side was not only caring but also understanding. He wanted to keep me safe without being overprotective. My eyelids felt heavy, and I dozed off feeling the gentle rub on my tummy.
* * *
Within two days my belonging were packed and being shipped to Tristan’s apartment by an entourage of movers and personal assistants. Since I still had a couple of weeks off before returning to work, it gave me time to get used to the idea that I would once again be living with Tristan Cross – and this time not for a job or a secret mission. He wanted me with him. In the back of my mind I’d wondered whether we’d be moving in together if I wasn’t pregnant, but I didn’t want to spoil the good mood he was in. My gut said yes, yet I didn’t dare face the reality that he was only with me for the baby, so I pushed the thought aside.
As I stood in the doorway of my old apartment, I noticed Laura’s eyes gloss over.
“I’m so going to miss you.” She rammed into me.
I winced. The stitches on my arm wouldn’t be removed for a week, and the wound was fresh. Each time I moved it felt like the gash tore apart. And I still had the pleasure of looking forward to explaining my injuries to the family. Hopefully it wouldn’t be long before the bandages came off. I hadn’t told Laura about the baby either, which added another layer to the guilt of leaving my friend. She never mentioned what she’d seen in the alley. I wondered whether I’d misread her expression, but perhaps she was waiting for me to tell her in my own time. That’s the kind of friend Laura was. Her inquisitive cop nature was usually reserved for work and only used for personal reasons if she knew it would help her friends.
“Sorry.”
I patted her back. “No problem. We’ll see each other at work, everyday.”
In reality, sharing an office at Cross Enterprises, we’d probably see each other much more than we had at the force where we’d worked opposite shifts. Tristan had this planned even before our undercover operation to rescue Kendra began. He’d wanted to surprise me. Laura was going to be my partner in crime (Tristan’s words, not mine). She was supposed to set up the department and prioritize the cases. As soon as I returned, we’d organize stings to find the girls. We’d also be working with James, who had apparently been dating Laura. The thought of why she hadn’t mentioned James before cooled off my guilt. It seemed I wasn’t the only one with secrets. But I knew she’d tell me all about her escapades with the hunk in due time.
I was happy for her and hoped she’d one day find the kind of man I had: a caring and devoted one with whom she wanted to stay for more than one night. One who understood her and accepted her for who she was. So far the secret dates Laura had been going on seemed promising. After all, they’d gone out more than once. And I definitely wouldn’t miss finding anonymous men’s skid-marked underwear in our laundry basket.
“I know we will. As much as I’ll miss the action, I can’t wait to work regular shifts. But a desk job is not really your thing. Aren’t you afraid you’ll get bored?”
“If it means more girls can be saved, no way. And you’re forgetting we’re supported by Cross Enterprises. There’s nothing boring about that.”
“Yeah, I’m excited.”
“And you can’t complain you’ll be working with Jaaames...” I teased.
“He’s pretty cool.”
Her cheeks flushed red. Wow, when had Laura become Ms. Blush?
“I wanted to tell you earlier but didn’t want you to suspect I was affiliated with Cross Enterprises. Tristan insisted our surprise at the office worked.”
I recalled the day I’d been fired and re-hired, told Tristan I was pregnant, and let him have his way with me on his desk. A warm feeling returned to my belly, and I wondered where Tristan was and how fast we could get to his apartment.
“No worries. And you know you’re more than welcome to visit us at the apartment. Anytime.” I hugged her tightly.
Laura had that conspicuous look on her face. As if she was hiding something.
“What is it?” I asked her.
“Nothing.” She let go and turned back to the couch.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m just sad you’ll be so far away.”
“It’s a twenty-minute drive.”
“Right. A twenty-minute drive,” she rep
eated.
“Ready?” Tristan picked up my purse and held out his elbow for me to take. I refused to use a wheelchair. The leg might be aching like a thousand stinging bees (make that hornets) all at once (not that I’d been stung so many times), but I was not handicapped.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I yawned.
Outside, the last leaves were falling from the trees. The smell of pumpkin pie and turkey filled the street. I’d sort of forgotten it was already Thanksgiving. I hadn’t celebrated the holiday since that day thirteen years ago when my mother had been hurt, but now I wished I could enjoy my family’s company. After all, there was so much to be thankful for: my mother’s safety, Tristan, and the baby growing in my womb. And where exactly was all this moonshine coming from?
That afternoon we were going to break the good news to Maggie and John – Tristan’s parents – my mom, and the rest of the family about baby Puss, as Emma called it. I really preferred Betty at this point, but knowing Tristan’s little sister she’d text a new name to me within a couple of days.
Of course Tristan’s Bentley was parked in front of the apartment. He opened the door and I crawled inside, acutely aware of the pain my arm and leg were in. It would only get more difficult to get in once my belly grew.
We drove in silence. The leather seat hugged my body like a memory foam bed mattress, and my eyes felt heavier every minute. I lost myself to the eighties music Tristan turned on, and once Enya’s tunes played I felt my eyes lower, just for a moment—or so I thought.
When I opened them again, Tristan’s head was resting against the side of his seat, looking at me as if he was seeing me for the very first time. The car purred quietly. Warm air from the controls tossed his hair like fluffy feathers. We were parked somewhere outside, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off Tristan. His strong, freshly shaved jaw curved up, sending the scarred upper lip off center. It was my favorite look of his: a sexy, lopsided smile decorated his face.
