“No, no, no, no… my baby girl.” He sobs brokenly.
Without thought, we rush over and start to help him but the second he snaps back to reality and realizes it’s us, he screams like a wild man and lunges for us. He takes us off guard and for a moment he gains the upper hand. Syd and I scramble back to escape his erratic swings, his voice getting higher with each second.
“I fucking hate you bitch. Why couldn’t you stay gone, huh? You ruined everything, just like you did when you were a kid. You just couldn’t stay gone could you?”
“What the fuck are you talking about,” I yell back, trying to distract him as Syd spots my gun under the car and tries to reach it. Randy has finally snapped and he’s still armed. Things are escalating too fast.
“Fuck me, it’s them! Her and that fucking sister, always there, always just a little bit better. We worked our asses off to be the best but noooo, the fucking Woodley Twins always came in first. You think I liked having to turn to that piece of shit Lyle to scare you off? It cost me everything!”
The air stills and I can now hear Lucy sobbing and scratching inside the trunk. “Randy, we need to get Lucy out…”
“You were meant to stay gone Syd, Ray’s a fucking pussy without you. I got rid of you, and your sister was starting to scare. Why the fuck did you have to come back?”
Abandoning the weapon, Syd scrambles back to her feet and gets right in his face. “You bastard, it was all you? Kidnapping us? Scaring us to death? All for what, because you were jealous of us?”
“Fuck you bitch, do you have any idea what this has cost me? I owe Damon Mathews for the rest of my fucking life now. Why couldn’t you just stay the fuck away?”
Fuck, it was all becoming so clear. He had hired Lyle Jeffers for a price, and since the man ended up in jail, I bet that price was a hefty stake of the Taylor Twins fame. But he got sloppy setting up Lyle’s brother to die with Annabelle, taking out a member of Damon Mathews’ crew. That mistake would have cost him. He was in over his head. No matter what money he was bringing to the New York crime boss, I knew there was one thing a guy like that would value more and Randy had crossed a dangerous line.
“And what will Damon say when he finds out you blackmailed his daughter?”
His eyes narrow in fury. His gun raises slowly into the air and he takes aim.
Straight at my heart.
The world slows down, time crawling excruciatingly slowly. I see the recoil of the pistol, can almost see the bullet as it propels from the barrel heading for its mark. With perfect clarity I hear the anguished howl of pained fury as it escapes from Sydney’s lips. Then, it all comes crashing down at warp speed. I’m tackled from the side, knocked completely off my feet and feel a sharp, scorching hot pain graze past my left bicep at the same time as muted curses sound in my ear. Sirens blare all around me, blue and red flashing lights illuminate the lot and the sounds of pounding footsteps fill the air.
In a daze, I watch as Randy attempts to run only to be tackled to the ground by the law. He locks eyes with me briefly before giving up and slumping into the cold concrete.
“Motherfucker that hurt like a bitch,” Syd gasps from above me, pulling me back to reality as her blue hair swings in my face.
I grab her arm and she cries out. I immediately let her go and see my hand caked in her blood. “You’re shot? He fucking shot you?”
She smiles and places a kiss to my lips. “It’s just a graze and technically, he shot at you. I just got in his way.”
She rolls off me and pushes herself to her knees. “No one messes with my man.”
I barely have time to process the fact that Sydney just saved my life when there’s an all mighty crunch. Two men in blue manage to help a hysterical Lucy out of the trunk as she screams for her daddy. Her eyes scan the lot, searching for him but jerk back towards the entrance to the lot.
“No! You’re dead, we killed you.” She screeches lurching towards the group of people charging toward me and Syd.
Ray, Marcus and Sky practically throw themselves at us, covered in soot and looking like they’ve crawled out of the theater.
Lucy’s ravings get louder and with relief, we watch as she’s put in cuffs and loaded into the back of a police car. Randy glares at us from another one and Ray shocks us all by giving him the birdie.
Pulling Syd into my arms, I smile. I guess she’s more like her sister than I thought.
***
Mindful of the gauze wrapped around my bicep, I roll the shirt sleeve down. It’s just a graze, but it means far more than that.
Marcus strolls into the room, his phone pressed to his ear with no regard to the no cell phone signs on every wall. “Yeah he’s here, hang on.”
He passes the cell to me, a smirk on his face. “It’s the boss and man is he pissed.”
No doubt. I reach over with my good arm and bring it to my ear. “Colby.”
“Don’t you fucking Colby me, you fucking dick! You almost died.”
Laughing, I shoot a glance over to Marcus. “So, you’re mad because I was shot? Or because I survived?”
A string of colorful curses gets thrown my way and I just let him get it over with. In the end, he slows down and takes a deep breath. “I’m glad you’re ok but I swear to fucking god Cross, you’re back on behind the scenes work from now on.”
“Works for me,” I reply, not at all saddened by this. I never wanted to be in the field anyway. Only one thing could ever make me do that again. A certain blue haired vixen.
“And you’re taking two weeks’ vacation.”
“You’re the boss.”
He pauses. I never take vacation days. “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” I groan, standing from the bed and wincing slightly from the move. “I could do with a fucking break.”
He chuckles. “Funny that, Syd said the exact same thing.”
I laugh and say my goodbyes, tossing the phone back to Marcus. I’m ready to get away from it all, hopefully with my Blue by my side and forget the past few crazy weeks. As we step from the room, the girls are walking towards me, pushing Ray in a wheelchair with a scowl on her face. She managed to fracture a couple of ribs and her parents are on the way to collect her, a fact neither her nor Syd are happy about.
Sky slips her arms about my waist and walks along with me. “So big guy, how does it feel?”
“To finally crack the case? Fucking relieved and definitely not in a hurry to get back to it.”
“No, you goof,” she laughs, lightly smacking my chest. “To finally win the girl.”
Syd looks over and gives me a warm smile. My soul breathes a sigh of contentment. There are no words to describe the feeling.
She finally sees me.
My Blue.
Chapter 38
Sydney
The chaotic noise of family and friends reuniting with their loved ones occupies my thoughts as I scan around the room. The pale-yellow walls do nothing for the darkness of the dreary room and I can’t believe all the little tidbits I missed the last time I was in here. The tables are a dark brown, the chairs a hideous shade of green I’d never in a million years think someone would ever buy. It’s not warm and inviting like you’d think it’d be, considering this is probably the highlight for most of the people here. Getting a little touch of home.
I guess it’s good enough for prison.
The steel door opens and two inmates enter the room followed closely by correctional officers. As they make their way towards us, I lock eyes with the man on the right, a man that no longer holds any power over me.
“Sydney, Ray, to what do I owe the pleasure?” They both sit down and get shackled to the table.
“Felt like shooting the shit is all.” I say, boredom lacing my tone.
“She may want to talk, but I’d like to get down to business.” Ray steeples her fingers together on the table leveling each man with a glare. “Randy, you know that color really does nothing for you. You must miss your sequined jackets and cowbo
y boots.” She quickly looks under the table. “Tennis shoes. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Don’t be a bitch Ray, it never suited you. That’s something best left for the evil twin.” Randy smiles at me and winks.
I laugh. “Listen, I’ll cut to the chase. You lost, we both know it and now you guys get to rot behind prison bars for the rest of your lives while being bossed around by your cell mates. Isn’t that right Lyle?” I look in his direction. “Gunther Thomas is your new roomie?”
“What are you getting at?” Lyle talks for the first time since sitting down. With his arms nonchalantly resting on the table, he’s the picture of ease.
“Nothing really. He’s a great guy, except for the crimes he’s committed of course. Word on the street is he has a nasty temper. The poor guy that bumped into him on the sidewalk learned the hard way not to cross him.”
“How do you know all of this?” He’s alert for the first time, now sitting ramrod straight in his seat.
“I do my homework. There’re a few guys that owe me favors in here. I’m sure you’ll get along just fine.” I wink at Lyle then turn my gaze back to Randy.
“Keep your mouth shut, you have nothing on me.” The arrogance in his voice makes me want to laugh.
“Think so?” Ray questions. “You don’t have a roommate, but Craig Thomas should be coming in bright and early tomorrow morning. He should be on a bus coming in from Rhode Island. Funny thing, he’s Gunther’s baby brother. Let me fill you in with who they work for…or should I wait? I don’t know Syd, I think it might be more fun to keep them in the dark.”
I tap my chin, feigning indifference. “You may be right. They’ll find out soon enough, I mean, you can’t cross a crime family and live to tell the tale.”
She smiles sweetly. “No way. They don’t let anything slide.”
Lyle leans forward, an angry sneer on his face. “I swear to god, whatever you’re doing…”
I cut Lyle off. “What I’m doing?” I laugh. “I’m not going to do a damn thing. Have a great life boys. You might want to sleep with one eye open.”
With that, Ray gets up and I follow her lead. “Oh and Randy? Lucy said to say ‘hi’. I gotta say, this place isn’t nearly as nice as the women’s correctional facility. Although, she wears orange way better than you two.”
We turn our backs on the duo at the table, ignore the angry threats the pair throw at us and walk out of the room without a second glance in their direction. They don’t deserve anymore of our attention, they took enough from us.
Now, we’re finally free.
Hand in hand we walk through the prison until we reach the exit. The sunshine high in the sky blinds me once I cross the threshold and I quickly shield my eyes. A few steps away from the door, Ray pulls me to a halt and into her arms.
“I love you so much Syd. Thank you, for everything.”
“You’re my sister, I’d do anything for you.”
“And I’d do anything for you. Except keep this conversation going, I have a date I have no intention of being late for.” She giggles and runs off towards her car as I follow behind.
“Good thing we have the whole ride back for you to dish all the gory details.”
“Actually, someone had other plans.” She smirks at me and nods her head off to the left. When I follow her prompt, I see Cross propped up against his bike.
Goddamn the man’s pure heat. Wearing his jeans and tee gets my heart thumping as my eyes take him in. Since we’re in our second week of leave, he’s let his facial hair grow out and nothing, nothing, is sexier than Cross with a beard. Thinking about the feel of it on sensitive spots on my body has a tremor working its way through my spine.
We’ve been inseparable since I took the bullet for him. We’ve been able to really be a couple outside of the job now that things are back to normal. Going back to dating didn’t seem right, it felt like a step in the wrong direction. We’re just doing our own thing, not worrying about the unnecessary expectations society puts on a relationship and taking it day by day. While we’re exploring I get that man in my bed each and every night. I have zero complaints.
Somehow, we were left out of the media storm that blew up when the infamous Randy Brookes got booked for kidnapping, attempted murder and a whole slew of other charges. I’m assuming we were overlooked because Lucy Taylor got arrested for murdering Dave and is looking at a lifetime sentence in prison. The world goes crazy when celebrities go wild.
Cross managed to back away from the spotlight and head back home without anyone noticing. It’s not for lack of trying. I swear every time I’m at the grocery store I see a different headline on a gossip magazine questioning his whereabouts. He wouldn’t have it any other way and no one back home seemed to put two and two together. Or they have and are letting him live his life.
As for me, I’m done with that life, but now I’m able to handle what little bit trickles off Ray and on to me. I’m no longer scared or feel the need to hide out from my family. I am who I am. I love singing too loud as I drive, coloring my hair to match my mood, kicking ass in my day job and cuddling up to my big strong brute of a boyfriend at night.
Simply, life couldn’t be better.
As I approach Cross, his grin he reserves solely for me, lights his face, causing me to run and jump into his arms. Once my lips ease up, I pull back and cup his face. “You’re here.” I breathe.
“I had to be.” He shrugs and I know his nonchalance is masking how important this is.
“You know what? I love you Iosefa Cross.”
His hands dig into my ass through my jeans and I feel his hardness grow between my thighs. “I love you too Blue.”
We lean in towards one another and gently press our lips together. It’s crazy how the girl who was followed by a string of one-night stands became the relationship girl. The girl no longer scared to commit.
Flying down the highway, feeling the wind on my skin, feeling completely free for the first time in a long time, I can’t help but feel a warmth consume my body. I fought this for so long and I truly believe it was for a reason. I’ve never felt so close to another person before.
Cross is mine, this relationship is ours, and I’ll forever be his Blue.
Acknowledgements
Thank you so much for reading Deception! We had a blast writing this story and hope you loved reading it as much as we loved writing it <3
First off, we have to thank our beta team. Deception wouldn’t be what it is without each of you. Julie, Jenny and Tanya… thank you ladies so much <3
We want to thank all the bloggers and readers who helped us get Deception out there. Every share, every post, any mention of Deception in general is much appreciated. Thank you.
To the ladies of the Sinful Street Team, you all kick ass. Thank you so much for helping out with every teaser Tuesday, posting the cover, posting random stuff we threw at you all. You all are THE BEST!
To our Sinful Smutters... you guys make us smile daily! Life would be dull without you all.
Finally... to you, the reader. We can’t tell you how much we love and appreciate you. Thank you so much for reading our words, we hope you love them as much as we do xxx-
KAREN RAINES
A self-confessed reading addict, Karen is usually found either writing or with her nose stuck in a book. Or Adulting because apparently, she should do that too sometimes!
She’s a lover of wildly inappropriate humour, has an addiction to swear words and bananas, lands her foot in her mouth daily… but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Karen can be summed up with 5 words:
Friendly, loyal, thankful, funny and above all… Smutty!
Keep up with all things Karen Raines:
Website Facebook
Instagram Twitter
Amazon Goodreads
BRITTANY CROWLEY
Brittany Crowley was born and raised in Massachusetts. She still lives there today with her husband and 3 kids. Getting into the world
of romance after she had her first child, she was hooked. Though she had many ideas in her head, Brittany was unsure if she had what it took to become a writer. A few encouraging words and one writing challenge later, she completed her first book. Now you can find her trying to keep up with her crazy kids and writing any chance she gets.
Keep up with all things Brittany Crowley:
Website Facebook
Instagram Goodreads
Twitter Amazon
Bookbub
Deception (A Stalker Novel Book 2) Page 18
