Coming Together: Welcome to Carson, Book Two

by Renee Harless

  Out of the corner of his eye, he watches as his partner – the seemingly respectable businessman, Victor – approaches, also holding a gun in his increasingly shaky hand. Austin can’t help but be surprised to see Victor. The two had been close friends, even attending family functions together. He had considered him almost family.

  Thankfully, Austin doesn’t have to rely on his instincts: Alexis suddenly rounds the corner, Brooks in tow, the pediatrician’s face turning ashen when he finds the scene before him.

  “Drop your weapon,” Alexis demands loudly, stepping closer to Ashley from behind.

  As the crazed, redheaded woman whips around in surprise, she gives Austin just enough time to grab his sister’s arm and toss her towards Brooks. He watches as she trips along the way, but feels a deep sense of relief when she crashes into the man and he wraps her tightly in his arms for protection.

  As the breath of relief leaves his body, he feels the cold, unflinching barrel of a gun press against his chest, and he is suddenly gazing into the eyes of an ex-girlfriend he no longer recognizes.

  Aside from her hair, her once bronze skin is now pale and emaciated, eyes pink and swollen, all of which had been hidden behind an oversized hood earlier.

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Austin?” the demented woman probes. “Why didn’t you tell me that you had millions of dollars? I could have been so happy. Instead, I had to settle. It’s your fault I had to do this. You did this to me!” she cackles.

  Not responding, Austin feels sweat bead along his clean-shaven head. She cocks back the hammer of the revolver, continuing to point it towards his chest.

  Everleigh’s cries of distress reach his ears, and he feels the weight of his family’s suffering seep throughout his entire being.

  “Put the weapon down, both of you!” Alexis commands once more to Alexis and Victor.

  “SHUT UP!” Ashley snarls. “You were supposed to be mine, dammit! Not hers,” she cries, whipping the gun away from his chest and pointing it towards the woman she believes to be Nikki. “I need that money!”

  A quiet whooshing sound travels through the dark night, quickly followed by a second. The hushed shot having come from Heath’s stance on the roof.

  Austin watches as blood blossoms from Ashley’s left shoulder, causing her to drop the offending weapon and cry out in pain. Victor’s shriek of agony joins with Ashley’s, and Alexis rushes toward them, gun drawn. Tossing a rope over the edge of the building, Heath climbs down quickly and effortlessly to apprehend Ashley as she lies slumped on the ground.

  Shock fills Austin’s brain with a distant buzzing as he listens to Heath and Alexis read the two attackers their Miranda rights, and then watches distantly as the two are cuffed and bandaged.

  “We’ll take these two to the hospital in Asheville to get looked at, then down to the police station for questioning. I’ll need to get everyone’s statement before the end of the week. In the meantime, please go enjoy your night. I believe you have an anxious fiancée waiting for you.”

  “Thank you,” Austin drones, watching the two officials load Ashley and Victor into the SUV that was hidden around the corner. “Hey, are y’all alright?” he asks Brooks and Everleigh, who are standing over the side, locked in a heated argument.

  Austin watches as Everleigh turns quickly and heads toward him, Brooks leaning his head back in exasperation.

  “I’m fine. Can we go, please?” his sister asks as she moves to enter his truck.

  Austin turns back to Brooks, but the man shakes his head and starts in the opposite direction.

  Settling into the car, he turns the key in the ignition. Instead of putting the truck into drive, however, he stares patiently at his sister and waits for her to explain.

  “Don’t we need to get you to your lady?” she asks sweetly.

  Knowing that he won’t get an ounce of information out of his quietest sibling, Austin smiles broadly and replies, “Yes, we do indeed.”

  FROM HER SEAT INSIDE Dylan’s car, Nikki can’t seem to shake the terror seeping through her veins. As she gets closer to the party, the gut-wrenching fear holds her chest in a vice-like grasp.

  “Something is wrong,” she says into the silence.

  “Everything is fine.” Dylan reassures her, “They’ll radio me if there is a problem.”

  “No, Dylan. I am telling you that I can feel it. Something is very wrong. Turn the car around and go back. Please!”

  He looks at her for a moment, assessing her level of alarm, then whips the car around, speeding back towards the town. Luckily, they had only been driving in the opposite direction for about eight minutes or so before Nikki made her proclamation.

  Nikki anxiously taps her fingers on the door handle, and something deep inside Dylan must know better than to ask her to stop, because he remains silent.

  As they approach the crowded Main Street, Nikki gasps in alarm as she watches Alexis and Heath load two people, both in handcuffs, into the back of their SUV.

  Suddenly Austin’s truck whips into view and she jumps from the car. The brakes of the truck are engaged heavily, causing the tires to squeal momentarily before coming to a halt.

  Austin jumps from the vehicle and rushes forward, pulling Nikki into his arms.

  “What are you doing here?” he asks, while at the same moment, she inquires, “Are you ok? I had this feeling that something was wrong.”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” he says, wrapping her tighter into his arms.

  Pulling back slightly, he captures her lips between his own, holding them tightly as though his last breath were contained within them.

  "I'll just ride back with Dylan," Everleigh says over her shoulder, making her way towards the car.

  "Come on. Let’s get to the real party," Everleigh mumbles as she addresses Dylan.

  "I can't wait to celebrate our engagement tonight," Nikki adds saucily as she climbs into the passenger seat. "That is, after you tell me everything that happened. I saw Alexis and Heath loading people into the SUV."

  On their way to Logan and Avery’s, Nikki finally has a chance to perfect her princess wave as they cruise down Main Street, listening closely while Austin describes the nightmare of Ashley and Victor’s arrests.

  "I bet you were terrified."

  "I was worried for Brooks and Everleigh because they were caught in the crossfire, but I have never been so glad to have you away from me. I don't even want to think what could have happened had I been distracted with you present."

  "We're so lucky Brooks was there for Everleigh. She was probably scared to death."

  "I would have thought so, too, but strangely enough, she was quite stoic. She didn't even cry when the gun was to her back. I think there is a side to her none of us know: a dark, bad-ass side"

  "Maybe... you saw how she changed right before our eyes when she thought Brooks was telling her 'no' the other night. There could be a much different side to Everleigh than any of us ever expected to see.” Nikki sighs, gazing out at the twinkling lights, “I'm truly grateful that she's ok. Brooks too."

  "So am I. But Ashley? I didn't know she had this in her… and for money?” he says, shock and sadness written across his face. “I mean, I knew she was self-centered - I told you how she cheated on me with her own step-father.” Nikki winces at the thought. “But to attack me and use my own employee against me? Man, that just blows my mind."

  "Why do you think Victor did it? Do you think they had a relationship?"

  "I don't know, but I guarantee you I plan on finding out. It’s a shame, too. He was one of my best architects and best friend,” he sighs.

  The rest of their ride is spent in silence, but a comfortable one. Instead of talking, the two simply bask in each other's closeness.

  Before long, they arrive at Logan and Avery's party, no later than expected. Nikki and Austin rush inside and are greeted warmly by Austin's family. He winks towards her before hugging his mother, reminding her that his family still believes the engagement was a ploy.


  "Hey, sweetie," Amy says, enveloping Nikki in maternal warmth.

  Stepping back from the embrace, Nikki gazes at Austin’s family, admiring the group, each member dressed to the nines.

  "Wow, you all look amazing," she says to no one in particular.

  "You look amazing," Austin replies, removing her coat and placing a sultry kiss on the place where her neck meets her shoulder. A long shiver trails down her spine. "Can I get you something to drink?"

  "Just water please. I'm going to see if I can find Avery."

  Austin nods and moves into the kitchen while Nikki heads towards the back bedroom.

  Knocking on the door, she enters to find Avery and Cassidy fitting the pregnant bride into a custom wedding gown.

  "Holy…… wow," Nikki says, barely able to speak.

  "Nikki! You're here," the bride shouts as she rushes forward. "I heard what happened to Austin and Everleigh, are they alright?"

  "Everyone is fine, I can assure you." Standing back for a moment, she looks over Avery and smiles. "You look beautiful, Avery. Logan isn't going to know what to do with himself."

  "I know. I can't believe that this day is finally here. I never thought I'd see the day where I actually get to walk towards the man I love and exchange vows. It's all been surreal. I'm afraid I'm going to wake up and it will all have been a dream," her best friend says with a sniffle.

  "No crying," Cassidy exclaims from the corner. "I'm not retouching your makeup again."

  "Again?" Nikki asks.

  "Logan found her," Cassidy adds before Avery has a chance to answer.

  Laughing, Nikki guides Avery back towards the mirror and tucks the loose strands of curled brown hair behinds Avery's ears.

  "Today is going to be one of the best days of your life and I'm honored that you asked me to be a part of it. You've been one of the best friends that I've ever had."

  "Oh, Nikki. You'll get your time one day."

  "Maybe sooner than later," she says, trying to hide a smile. "Austin actually proposed for real today during the setup. He told me that it was the real deal. I don't think we're planning on telling anyone quite yet, but I wanted you to know."

  "Nikki! I'm so happy for you. What an engagement story that is!" Avery chuckles.

  "I'm so excited to get two more sisters," Cassidy cries out from her perch on the corner chair.

  The girls hug and begin discussing how the ceremony will play out in just a few minutes.

  Nikki's phone chimes from the clutch she carried into the room, and she moves to retrieve it while Cassidy and Avery continue rambling about the wedding and the house Logan is building.

  Nikki shakes her head when she reads the message from her father. He tells her that he is sorry for giving up, and that he has spent the last few years in rehab trying to straighten out his life. He wants to reconnect with her again. It's the exact same set of messages he started sending about two weeks ago.

  "Who is it, Nikki? You look like you've seen a ghost."

  "Well, I guess maybe I have. It's my father. He's trying to get back in touch with me," Nikki says, explaining what happened with her parents and what her father's messages say. "What should I do?"

  "Well, first I think you need to talk to Austin about all of this. Second, and this is coming from someone who has just reconnected with her own father, I think you should meet him. What's the worst thing that could happen?”

  Nikki contemplates Avery's assessment, then agrees to talk it over with her fiancé.

  Breaking the sullenness that has fallen over the girls, Austin knocks on the door and tells Avery that everything is ready. Cassidy takes that as her cue to head out into the crowd, taking her place as the officiant of the ceremony.

  Austin comes to stand between Avery and Nikki, opening his arms at the waist so that both women can lean against him.

  "Are you ready, sis?"

  "Mmhmm, I'll be right behind you."

  "Ok, we'll see you out there. And just so you know, that man out there waiting for you is a nervous wreck, so don't make him wait too long," Austin finishes with a wink.

  Austin and Nikki leave the room and stand at the end of the hall, waiting for the music to change to the song Avery and Logan have chosen for the occasion.

  Once the wedding melody begins to play, the couple walk, arm in arm, to the spot where Cassidy has chosen to wait with Logan. Nikki notices how the voices suddenly die down to a low buzz, everyone collectively wondering what is going on.

  As they reach their designated place, Austin turns and leaves Nikki, placing a peck of a kiss on her cheek, then glides to where Logan stands, waiting for his love. Nikki turns, her silk dress swishing between her legs, and stands beside Cassidy.

  Suddenly, the crowd seems to realize the true purpose of the evening’s celebration and several people begin to whisper in excitement. Just as rapidly, they all fall silent as one of the most beautiful and elegant brides the world has ever seen steps from around the corner, a small bouquet of hydrangeas tucked in her slender hands.

  Nikki peeks at Logan from the corner of her eye and finds him stunned into silence, an awestruck expression written across his handsome features.

  Austin and Nikki lock eyes, watching each other intently as their best friends exchange wedding vows, devoting themselves to one another for as long as they both shall live. Laughter and catcalls fill the air when Logan dips Avery low for their first kiss as husband and wife.

  "By the power vested in me by the County of Carson, North Carolina, I am pleased to present to you: Dr. and Mrs. Chamberlin."

  As the crowd rushes forward to congratulate Avery and Logan upon their nuptials, Austin steps over and reaches for Nikki's hand, softly intertwining his fingers within hers.

  As she rests her head onto his shoulder, gazing at the glowing, in-love couple, Austin says, "That will be us one day soon."

  "How soon?" she probes.

  "As soon as you want, sweetheart. I can't wait to make you mine."

  Nikki twists her head and presses a kiss to the lapel of Austin's suit jacket, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

  "I can't wait to be yours, Austin."

  AUSTIN WAKES TO A phone ringing from across the room, but he ignores the incessant tone as he pulls Nikki tighter against his body. The beautiful enchantress tucked against him, moaning in her sleep and pressing her backside against him, instantly awakes his cock from its deep slumber.

  Leaning over, he tucks her hair away from her face and presses a gentle, open-mouthed kiss onto her shoulder. She replies by rocking her hips against him once more.

  "Aren't you sore, baby?" he asks as he places another kiss along her neck, but before she has a chance to respond, his phone rings again.

  Grumpily removing himself from the bed, he marches over to the offending device and answers.

  "Hello?" he asks.

  "Hello, Mr. Connelly?"

  "Yes, this is him."

  "This is Alexis. I wanted to call you and let you know that both Ashley and Victor are out of surgery and recovering well. Once the doctor can discharge them, we will be removing them to a secure facility until the trial."

  "I want to see them, Alexis. I want to know what motivated them to try to kill me," Austin announces. He hears the rustling of bed sheets as Nikki bolts upright in bed at the mention of Alexis' name.

  "I understand, Mr. Connelly. I'd like to make sure myself, Heath, or Dylan is present when you meet with them. We don't want to take any chances."

  "Understood. Can we meet you there around lunch time?"

  “Absolutely. Dylan will be coming in at that time; I'll wait around with him if that's ok with you."

  "Sure, and thanks for the call, Alexis."

  "You're welcome."

  After he hears the click of the line disconnecting, he turns around and fills Nikki in on the conversation. They decide to go ahead and get dressed, then head into town for some breakfast before making the short journey to Asheville.

  "He
y, Austin," she asks hesitantly, her gaze trained to the ground.

  "Yea, what's up?" he asks as he takes her dress from its place on the floor, where it fell last night during their heated exchange. He carefully lays it across the chair to take in for dry cleaning later.

  "With us, you know, knowing that baby Grace is a girl now…… do you think we can maybe look at baby furniture while we're out?"

  Her question takes him by surprise. He hadn't even thought about all the things the baby would need once she arrived.

  Austin tosses the shirt he was tugging on towards the bed and stands behind Nikki as she dresses in front of the mirror. He rests his hands on her pregnant bump, relishing the joy of watching it grow more each day.

  "I'd love to go with you to pick out things for Grace. I'm happy you asked me."

  "Really?" she asks, surprised.

  "Yea, I'm kind of excited about it. Have you thought about what room up here you'd like to turn into the nursery?"

  "I was thinking the guest room next door," she says nervously as she bites her lip. "It's the closest to this room so I wouldn't need to go far."

  "Makes perfect sense. Why don't we grab my tablet for work and as we head towards Asheville, you can get some ideas of what you'd like the room to look like."

  "I'd like that. Thank you," she replies, turning her head over her shoulder to press a soft kiss against his lips.

  "Why were you so nervous to ask, sweetheart?" he inquires, turning her in his arms.

  She snakes her hands up his chest and wraps her arms around his neck.

  "I just...I didn't want you to think I was using you for your money."

  "I wouldn't think that, baby. My money is your money now, so don't ever hesitate to ask, alright?" he adds as he kisses the tip of her nose and runs his hands up and down her back.

  Austin ushers Nikki out of the house and into his truck as they head off to meet the people hell-bent on destroying him.