“What’s that look for?”
“Have you ever thought that maybe all this tiredness and different cravings is something different?”
She lifted a hand and rubbed the crease from his forehead, before brushing the lock of hair from his forehead. “I took a home pregnancy test a few days ago. It was negative.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice.
He cradled her cheek. “Those things aren’t a hundred percent accurate.”
“No, but a period is.” She lowered her head. Not until she voiced the actual results to Buck had she realized how much she wanted to be pregnant.
“Hey. It’s okay. We’re in no hurry remember?” He swept the pad of his thumb across her lips. “We have time and half the fun is trying.”
His heartfelt words unraveled the knot of disappointment coiled in her belly. She rose on tiptoe to kiss him. “You always know the right thing to say.”
He clasped her around the waist and held her close. “Maybe we should skip dinner and go straight for dessert.”
She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, fusing her mouth to his as he lifted her off her feet. “That sounds like a plan,” she murmured against his lips.
He slowly lowered her to the floor and twined his fingers with hers. “Indeed it does.”
She shuffled down the half steps, her heel catching on a snag in the carpet. “Oh.” She teetered a moment, reaching for Buck to regain her balance. Before she could grasp his arm, a hard shove between her shoulder blades sent her careening out of control. She bounced into one of the hard theater chairs, then tumbled down the unforgiving steps. She screamed as a blur raced by. When she finally came to a rest in a untidy heap at the bottom, something wet coated her skirt. She touched the spot then looked at her fingers. Pink stained the tips, even as the image wavered in front of her. Gentle hands cupped her cheek, before everything went dark.
Chapter Eight
Buck sat in a chair next to the hospital bed. Bonnie was sleeping, finally. He cradled her limp hand between both of his and swallowed the tight lump in his throat. Never had been so afraid and helpless in his life. In that moment when Bonnie went sailing down the steps, he’d been torn between checking on her and going after the man who’d pushed her.
When he saw the blood staining her dress, the decision was made for him. Take care of Bonnie first, then go after the thug. Now she was mildly sedated, because he didn’t want the staff to tell her she’d actually had a miscarriage.
He pressed the heel of his hand to his eyes in an attempt to stop the sadness from seeping beneath his lids. He dragged a ragged breath into his lungs, unsure of how he’d tell her this news, when she’d been so disappointed about a negative test in the first place.
He brought her hand to his lips and swept a kiss across her knuckles. The door whispered open and Buck eyed the opening warily and relaxed when his brother-in-law stepped across the threshold.
“What happened?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“She was shoved down some stairs and there were complications,” Buck said.
Dexter moved to the other side of the bed. “Is she okay?”
“She will be.” A small tinny ring split the air. “Hold on a sec.” Buck dug in his pocket for his cell. “Yeah.”
“He’s at Bubba’s Pool Hall. Him and a coupla his boys are bragging about the movies,” Red said without preamble.
“Don’t let him leave.”
“Already on it.” With that the line went dead.
Buck stared at the phone a moment. This feud had to end now. He wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder, not when it had cost him so much already. “I need to see you a moment.”
Dexter’s brows knitted together, but he nodded. Buck leaned over and kissed his wife for what he hoped wasn’t the last time. He preceded Dexter from the room.
“What’s going on? You’ve got that look on your face.”
“She miscarried.”
“What! Ohmigod. Does she know?”
He shook his head. “I wanted to be the one to tell her.” He dragged a card from his pocket. “Cool-Ade pushed her down the steps.”
“How did he...never mind. So what do we do?”
“We don’t do anything. You just had charges dropped against you.” He shoved the card at the younger man. “Give this to Bonnie, if I’m not back. She’ll know what to do with it. You tell her what happened. Not the hospital staff.”
Dexter grabbed his arm. “You can’t just walk out on her like that. She’ll be devastated. Let me do this.”
Buck shook his head. “Not your fight young blood. I need to finish this.”
“Then you better come back. I’m not good at breaking bad news to her.”
“If she wakes up before I get back. Call me.”
The younger man nodded and Buck walked away.
***
Buck gazed up at the dilapidated building. He needed a strategy or a semi-clear head. At the slam of a car door, he glanced over his shoulder. A stocky black man, with a round head, stepped from the vehicle. He adjusted the red ball cap and offered a lopsided grin before it dropped from his face.
They shook hands. “Man, I thought I’d never see you in on the streets again.”
“Cool-Ade made this very personal. He hurt my wife and I need to end this. Tonight.”
Red grimaced and cracked his knuckles. “Yes it does. He still owes me money.”
“You took him on again. After what he did to me?”
“He’d gotten cleaned up, but he started foolin’ with meth and all of a sudden I’m missing twenty large.”
“I’ll make sure he’s breathing when I hand him over to you.” Buck stepped forward.
Red grabbed his arm. “You can’t go in there half-cocked,” he said. “He’s counting on you being emotional.”
Buck stalked across the parking lot, gravel crunched beneath each step. “I’m not emotional.”
“You’re not thinking straight and word is, this guy has been tweaking.” The other man fell in step with him.
He whirled on Red. “I’m thinking quite clearly.” Buck resumed walking and Red jerked him to a halt.
“Buck!”
“I swear you stop me one more time and I’ll pop you one.”
“Man, you just got married. What about your wife?”
He shrugged off his hand. “When she wakes up, I have to tell her she lost our baby and before I do that I’m going to make sure he suffers and she never has to worry about him coming after her again.”
“Man, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Red met and held his gaze. “After tonight, Cool-Ade will not be an issue. He still owes me money.”
Buck studied him for a long time. “Fine. I’ll leave him alive for you.”
They stalked toward the entrance. Buck jerked open the heavy door and crossed the threshold. He paused long enough to get his bearings. Mostly locals hung out in this bar. Any outsiders were usually looking for something specific. Tonight’s crowd were folks from the neighborhood. A momentary lull in conversations rippled through the near vicinity as a few turned in their direction, but once they caught sight of him and Red, eyes quickly averted and conversation resumed.
Stale cigarette smoke, mingled with sweaty man funk and greasy food assailed his nostrils as he strolled farther into the dim, dank bar. Inane chatter and laughter punctuated the low hum of music. His goal was the back room, where business deals were made over buckets of beers and a not-so-friendly games of pool. He flexed his fingers, knuckles popping as he entered the pool hall. A quick glance around and he identified three of Cool-Ade’s buddies. All armed. All drunk.
Red shifted behind him. Buck narrowed his gaze on the medium built man bent over the pool table. Both arms covered in intricate, colorful tattoos, his close cropped hair held a smattering of zigzag lines. Without breaking his stride, Buck picked a cue stick from the rack on the wall and approached the pool table. Cool-Ade lifted his head, a s
mirk curving his thin lips. Buck swung the heavy end of the pool cue, connecting with the man’s jaw.
Cool-Ade went down, blood pouring from his mouth and nose. Buck swung the stick overhead and brought it down across his ribs. A resounding crack resonated through the hall. One of Cool-Ade’s buddies moved and Buck swung on him, pistol pointed at his chest.
“Give me a reason.” His voice held all the menace of an approaching storm. He tossed the stick on the table, kicked the groaning man at his feet. No matter the amount of pain he inflicted to the man on the ground it wouldn’t stop the ache in his heart or the one that would begin in Bonnie’s.
Red touched Buck’s sleeve. “Don’t do it. Think about your wife.”
“I am thinking about her,” he snapped. Buck knelt next to Cool-Ade, his eyes widened. “You could’ve walked away and let the past stay in the past. Why now?”
“She’s the only thing you ever cared about.” He spat on the floor. “You thought I was trying to hurt her all those years ago. All I wanted was the backpack. You made it personal.” He scowled and winced. “Since you’re not in the game anymore, what better way to get revenge than to hurt what you love.”
Buck swallowed and he thought he’d protected Bonnie. “I may not be in the game anymore, but I have a friend who is, and you owe him a lot of money.” If he wasn’t mistaken, panic flickered in the other man’s eyes. “When I walk out of here, I’ll forget about you and never spare another thought. Your troubles are just beginning ‘cause Red was never as forgiving as me.” Buck straightened.
“Wait!” Cool-Ade grabbed Buck’s pants and he shook him off. “Don’t leave me with him.”
He continued walking, ignoring the man’s pleas. As he burst out the entrance, his phone rang.
“Yeah.”
“She’s awake and asking for you.”
“I’ll be there shortly.”
“Do I still give her the card?”
Buck glanced over his shoulder at the bar. Faint screams echoed above the music. “No. I’ll be there.”
When he arrived at the hospital, Dexter paced outside of Bonnie’s room. Buck slowed his footsteps.
“What are you doing out here?”
Dexter scrubbed a hand down his face then glanced over his shoulder at the closed door. “She—uh kicked me out.”
Buck paused, hand on doorknob. “What? Why?”
“I left to grab a cup of coffee, when I came back she was crying.”
Fear sank to the pit of his stomach. “I wanted to be the one to tell her.”
“That’s the thing. She already knew and when she saw the card on the table she told me to leave.”
Buck opened his mouth to speak and closed it again. “How the hell...It doesn’t matter.”
“She thinks you’ve left her because of what happened and sent me to tell her.”
He shook his head and pushed open the door. He’d never understand how his sassy woman got these crazy notions in her head. Her back was to him, but an occasional sniffle reached his ears. His heart squeezed. Buck had waited so long for her, his love, his heart, he’d never leave her no matter what obstacles they faced.
“Just go away,” she murmured, not turning around.
“I can’t do that sassy.” She jerked at the sound of his voice. He moved closer trailing his fingertips down the exposed skin of her arm. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up.”
“It’s okay, I know you don’t want me anymore.”
Her words twisted in his gut like shards of glass. He cupped her cheek and brushed a tear away with his thumb. “I was willing to go back to prison for the pain my past has caused you, us.” He held her gaze, hoping she could see the love he held for her. “Nothing in this life is more important than your happiness and well-being, Bonnie. I’d gladly lay down my life for you or walk out that door, if that’s what you still want me to do.” He caressed her cheek. “I just—I feel like this is my fault. My loving you is why you’re in this hospital bed. It’s why Cool-Ade singled you out.”
She curled her fingers around his wrist. He held his breath, fearful she was going to push him away and he steeled himself for the rejection. When her warm palm covered the back of his hand he slowly exhaled.
“Just don’t do that again. We’re in this together. For better or for worse.”
Buck smoothed her hair from her face. “We’ve had the worse. It can only get better from here.”
Bonnie swallowed. “I’m sorry about the baby, Buck.” She lowered her head, but not before he read guilt and sorrow.
“Hey. It’s not your fault. And from what the doctor says we can try again whenever you’re ready.”
“And what if I don’t want to try again?”
“Then I’ll spend the rest of our lives spoiling you. I need you in my life, Bonnie.” He rested his forehead against hers. “When the doctor clear you to leave, we’ll take a few days out on the boat and just relax. Just you and me.”
“What about Cool-Ade?” Fear wobbled in her voice.
“He won’t bother us again. Ever.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. Hot tears slid down his skin and into his collar as he gathered her close. Her body shook as she wept against him. He buried his face in her hair and allowed his own tears to fall. One thought comforted him, they were still together.
Epilogue
Four years later.
“You’re doing entirely too much,” Buck admonished. He grabbed the plastic pitcher of iced tea from his wife and shook his head. “Sit down somewhere.”
Bonnie laughed at the disapproval in her husband’s voice. He was such a worrywart. “I’m fine, Buck. The doctor even said so.”
He set the tea down with a thud, then propelled her toward a soft comfy chair. “Well I’m not convinced. He may have said you were fine, but I’m still worried and when you think I’m not looking so are you.”
She ducked her head. He was always so perceptive and attune to her moods. This was their third pregnancy, though she was slow in admitting it, she didn’t want this one to end in heartbreak either. She allowed him to gently push her into the chair and lift her feet to rest on the ottoman.
“I’m here to do whatever you need me to do.” Buck sat on the edge of the ottoman.
She leaned forward and swept her lips across his. “I know, but I’m excited. It’s been a couple of months since I’ve seen my brother and he says he has some news for us.”
“Is he still seeing that girl?”
Bonnie giggled. “You don’t like her either?”
“She’s only going to break his heart.”
“We could warn him.”
Buck shook his head. “I tried that. He won’t listen.”
She shoved his shoulder. “You actually told him to stop seeing her?”
“Something like that.”
“Seriously? He seems happy enough with her.”
He shook his head. “She’s going to break his heart and then who will be left to pick up the pieces?”
“We give him our support, because that’s what family does.”
“I understand that, but I still don’t want to see him hurt.”
She cradled his cheek. “Maybe we’re wrong about her and she’ll be the best thing for him.”
The doorbell chimed and Buck rose. “Let’s hope so. I’d hate for her to come up missing.”
Bonnie laughed. When she swung her feet to the floor, Buck frowned. “Fine. I’ll stay put.”
“Good.” He flung open the door. “Hey. It’s good to see you.”
“It’s been too long,” Dexter agreed. “Where’s Bonnie? I thought she’d tackle me at the door.”
“I heard that,” Bonnie called.
Dexter lifted a brow.
“I’ll let her tell you.” Buck stepped aside so the couple could enter.
“You remember Nathalie?” The younger man swept a hand toward the stunning woman beside him.
“Of course.” Buck smiled. “C
’mon in and have a seat.”
“A pleasure to see you both again.” Nathalie smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She carefully arranged her dress around her legs and perched on the sofa across from Bonnie.
Dexter leaned down to hug his sister. “What’s going on with you?” He straightened. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course. We made a ton of food to celebrate your visit.” Bonnie glanced at Nathalie. “And no worries, my dear, there’s plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables for you to dine on.”
“Oh thank you.” Nathalie turned a high wattage smile on them and Bonnie resisted a giggle. How her brother could tolerate such a pampered princess, she’d never know.
She studied the other woman a moment. Her long black hair fell around her slim shoulders in perfect waves, her barely there make-up was applied with a careful hand and Bonnie had to admire the way her nail polish complimented the teal and yellow strapless sundress she wore. Everything about Nathalie screamed money right down to the Kate Spade sandals on her feet.
“So why are you sitting down. Last time I was here, you greeted me with a plate of food and didn’t stop feeding me until I left.”
Bonnie shifted her focus back to her brother. “Well, we’ve got some good news.”
Dexter settled next to Nathalie on the sofa, then twined his fingers with hers. Bonnie smiled in approval when Nathalie scooted closer. For a moment love bright and promising flared between the two. Bonnie glanced at Buck. He’d seen it as well. Maybe they were wrong about these two. She truly hoped so.
“We have a bit of news to share.” Dexter raised Nathalie’s hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “We’re getting married.”
“Congratulations.”
Buck squeezed Bonnie’s shoulder. “This calls for a toast. I’ll be right back.”
“When?” Bonnie leaned forward.
“In the fall,” Nathalie said. “We’re so excited.”
“Such an exciting time.” Bonnie agreed.
Nathalie beamed. “My parents offered to pay for the wedding and my mother is just beside herself with all the preparations. I should show you my dress. It’s a one of a kind original.”
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