“Oh God Melanie. I can’t believe this.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Tasha disconnected the call and closed her eyes a moment as she absorbed what Melanie just told her. She turned around toward Serefina and swallowed hard. She needed to keep her best friend out of this and safe. She hoped she would let the situation and the information Tasha shared with her tonight, go. God, why didn’t Melanie call me sooner?
“We’ll figure this out together,” Serefina told Tasha when she returned to the living room. Tasha pulled back, shaking her head. “I won’t put you in danger too. Ace, Bull, and Ice would kill me for even involving you in this.”
“No, they wouldn’t. They know we’re best friends. We care about each other and I would do anything for you. In fact, I know as soon as they find out and my brothers do, never mind Jake, this guy Dash won’t know what hit him.”
“No! No, Serefina.” Tasha stood up and paced the room. “You cannot tell anyone about this. You have to promise me that you won’t.”
Serefina stood up. “I can’t do that. You’re in danger. This guy needs to be stopped.”
“I’ll take care of it. I don’t want the guys to know. Please, Serefina, let me see if I can take care of this.”
“You’ve tried and you failed. What if he breaks in here one night while you’re in bed sleeping and he rapes you, attacks you, or even kills you? Then what?”
“Please, Serefina. Just give me a little more time. Let me handle this. He’ll leave me alone. I have my mom to worry about, and I need to focus on her, not this guy.”
“You have to make me a promise. You have to swear to tell me if this guy bothers you again. If he lays a hand on you, I want to know and together, we’re going to see Jake.”
Tasha nodded her head.
Serefina’s phone was ringing and she stared at Tasha, and Tasha raised her eyebrows indicating for Serefina to go on and answer the call.
She exhaled and then picked it up.
“Serefina, it’s Ice. Don’t panic, everything is okay.”
“What happened? I know something happened, so just tell me,” Serefina said, her heart racing as she looked at Tasha’s concerned expression.
“There was a fire. Bull was injured and taken to the hospital. Tyler is there, too, being treated for smoke inhalation.”
“Oh God, are they going to be okay?”
“Yes. Just come to the hospital. Meet us there. Are you alone or is Tasha still with you?”
“Tasha is with me.”
“I’m going with you,” Tasha said, and Serefina nodded her head.
“We’re on our way.” Serefina closed the phone and grabbed her purse.
* * * *
Bull was lying on the hospital bed, his arm covered in bandages after the doctor treated him for second-degree burns. Tyler was breathing into an oxygen mask and sipping water in between to wash out his lungs and clean them from inhaling some smoke. Lance, Eddie, Ice, Ace, Hollywood, and Bear were gathered around them when Serefina and Tasha entered the room.
“They’re okay,” Ice stated as Serefina hurried toward the bed and stared at Bull.
“I’m fine, baby, just some burns,” he told her.
“Burns, oh God, Bull. I was so scared.”
He pulled her closer to kiss her. He caressed her back as Ace and Ice joined them.
“Hi, Tasha,” Eddie greeted her. Tasha said hello to everyone.
“You know I can get into a lot of trouble having all these people in your room, Bull,” Catalina stated as she entered the room in her nurse’s uniform.
Serefina smiled. “You’re his nurse?” she asked excitedly.
“Of course. You think I would let any other nurse take care of my best friend’s man? Not happening on my shift,” Catalina said as she gave Serefina a hug hello. Then Catalina walked over to check on Tyler.
“Your brother, on the other hand, is a pain in the ass. Keep that mask in place. Ten more minutes and then you can drink a bunch and we’ll make sure you’re good to go,” she reprimanded. Everyone chuckled.
“Where were you two when I called?” Ice asked Serefina as Catalina exited the room.
“We were hanging out at Tasha’s,” Serefina told him.
Bull looked at Serefina. Something was up, he could tell. Was she just concerned over him or was something going on.
“You came to check on me, huh, Tasha?” Tyler said, moving the mask off his mouth.
Tasha smiled softly. “I know how resistant you are to authority, Tyler.”
“It depends on whose giving the orders.” He looked her body over. Tasha shook her head and walked closer to the bed near Bull. Bull chuckled. He wondered when Serefina’s brothers were going to make a move with Tasha. She was perfect for them, and they were perfect for her. Who cared about the age difference?
“So, did you get dizzy to from inhaling smoke, is that why they have you lying down, Bull?” Serefina asked as she caressed his hair.
“Well, not really,” he replied.
“Why don’t you tell her how you removed your turnout coat, causing you to get the burns,” Ice interrupted.
“What? Why would you do that?” she asked.
“I had to try and save the kid. He could have caught completely on fire.”
“You recued someone?” Serefina asked, and then the guys all explained the story.
“Although it’s not protocol for you to remove your jacked the way you did in such a situation, I think I would have done the same thing. That poor kid was scared out of his mind,” Tyler stated.
Bull nodded his head. “I thought Tyler was done for in the one bedroom, and we were done for in the other.”
“Not the way Tyler leaped from that room onto the ladder and bucket, then nearly hung off the bucket to reach that kid and you before the room engulfed in flames. That was intense,” Lance stated.
“My God, at least you’re okay and it isn’t too bad. How is the little boy?” Serefina asked.
“Doing okay. He’ll need to stay in the hospital for a bit. Catalina said Nate Hawkins’s cousin, a burn specialist thinks the boy’s injuries will heal fine,” Ice added.
“Nate’s the probie with the blonde hair, right?” Tasha asked.
“And adorable dimple in his left cheek,” Serefina added and then yelped. “Hey!” she exclaimed, rubbing her hand over her backside.
Ice pointed his finger at her and gave a stern expression. “Watch it.”
She blushed and Bull pulled her closer to him. “They’re going to release me soon. I can’t wait to get you home.”
“That’s my line, considering I’m the one who’s going to be taking care of you during recovery.”
“Recovery? Shit, I’ll be back to work in a day,” Bull replied.
“That’s not happening, bro. You have to go through a whole process now that you’ve been injured during a fire,” Ice told him.
“What? Come on. This will heal in no time,” Bull said, lifting his bandage-covered forearm and cringing from the pain. The painkillers Catalina gave him were definitely wearing off.
“You were burned, Bull. That’s serious. You’re going to need the treatment, and I’m going to make sure that my father doesn’t approve your return until you’re a hundred percent.”
“Don’t argue with her, Bull. Our sister will talk to the chief,” Eddie added and chuckled.
“Whatever,” Bull said.
* * * *
Tasha stood beside Tyler’s chair and listened to her friends all talking. She couldn’t help but be envious of Serefina, and wished that she had never gone to the club to meet Melanie. Would Dash continue to harass her? Would he break into her apartment, try to hurt her? She swallowed hard and moved the bracelets on her wrist. It was too late when she felt Tyler gently place his hand over her wrist and the bracelets. She yelped and pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” Tyler asked.
Tasha could see the c
oncerned expression on his face as well as on Eddie and Lance’s. They were such good-looking, authoritative men with chiseled faces, as well as well defined, muscular bodies.
“Nothing,” she replied, looking at Serefina.
“It probably pinched her wrists with all those bracelets she has on,” Serefina said, trying to help Tasha.
Tasha chuckled. “You’re right. Sorry, Tyler. You’d better finish that bottle of water before Catalina returns. She can be strict and demanding,” Tasha said, forcing a smile.
Tyler stood up, towering over Tasha. He was six feet two, and couple of inches shorter than Lance and Eddie and built more like a martial artist then his brothers who resembled wrestlers.
He lifted her hand gently upward causing the bracelets to move up her arm. His eyes zeroed in on the bruises and she pulled from his hold.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Tasha grabbed her purse.
“Serefina, I’m going to head out.”
“Tyler?” Eddie looked at his brother, and Tasha felt her heart racing. Eddie was the stern one, the oldest of the three, and he could be harsh and direct. If he asked her questions, she would falter and she didn’t want them involved.
“She’s got bruising on her wrist,” Tyler stated.
A series of “whats” traveled through the room.
“Tasha, wait and I’ll have someone drive you back to your place,” Serefina interrupted.
“No. I can get there, it’s no big deal. Stay with Bull and your men, and we’ll talk tomorrow. I have to head home anyway. I have work early.”
Eddie lifted Tasha’s hand up toward his chest just as Tyler had done, but when Tasha pulled away she felt the pain, and the tears hit her eyes.
“Okay, what the fuck is going on?” Ice demanded. Serefina started to speak, but Ace pulled her back against his chest. She locked gazes with Tasha, and Tasha knew that if she didn’t lie right now, then Serefina would blurt the situation out.
“Listen, it’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? These look like finger marks,” Eddie said, holding her hand upward as he looked at her wrist. She tried pulling back but he wouldn’t let go. She couldn’t even comprehend the intensity of the desire and attraction she felt for these men, and now one was touching her, holding her hand.
“Let me see.” Lance stepped closer, taking a look. “Start talking,” he demanded.
“Please, just leave it alone. I’m fine. It was just some stupid thing that happened a couple of weeks ago.”
“A couple of weeks ago and your wrists look like this? Explain, Tasha, now,” Eddie stated firmly.
Tasha looked at Serefina who had her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I was at a club with my cousin and some guy got a bit fresh. Another guy took care of it and end of story.” She stared at Serefina who lowered her eyes. She knew her best friend was disappointed in her, but Tasha was embarrassed for causing this situation and she didn’t want Lance, Eddie, and Tyler to think she was stupid for hanging out with Melanie and getting into trouble.
“Some asshole grabbed your wrists so hard he bruised them? Why didn’t you call one of us, or call Jake?” Eddie reprimanded her. She pulled her hand from his hold.
“I don’t need to blow this out of proportion. Why would I call one of you?” she added.
Tyler went to speak and then stopped himself as he looked at Eddie and Lance. Tasha took a deep breath and released it.
“I’m fine,” she whispered as the door to the room opened and there stood the chief, his wife, Angelina, and Catalina.
“More visitors,” Catalina chimed in and everyone greeted the chief. Tasha said hello and then she and Serefina walked out of the room.
* * * *
“Are you out of your mind? That was the perfect opportunity to come clean. Why didn’t you tell my brothers what’s going on?”
“I’m not their problem. I’m not their girlfriend.”
“You should be. Maybe if the four of you came clean about your attraction, then you could get out of this mess.”
“Are you kidding me? They don’t see me as a woman they’re attracted to. They see me as your best friend and a woman ten years younger than them. I’m going to take care of this, Serefina. You have to promise me that you won’t say a word.”
“And if my men, if Ice, Ace, and Bull interrogate me about what happened in there and about your wrists?”
“Then you lie, just like I did.”
“I can’t do that, Tasha. I love them and I’ve never lied to them.”
“Just give me a little time to see if I can get Dash to leave me alone. I can handle the phone calls, the texts, and threats, but if he shows up and tries something, then I’ll go see Jake.”
“You promise?” Serefina asked.
“I promise,” Tasha said and then they hugged. The door to the room opened and there stood Lance.
“I can give you a ride home.”
“I was going to ask Mom and Dad to do that,” Serefina stated.
“I got it. They want to wait until Bull gets discharged,” Lance said.
“Okay then, we’ll talk tomorrow,” Serefina said to Tasha. Tasha smiled, and then she and Lance walked away.
* * * *
Lance walked through the parking lot with Tasha. He felt his heart racing. His palms were all sweaty. He was so damn attracted to her it was killing him to not make a move. Damn Eddie and his concern about Tasha’s age and experience. If rumors were true, she did have a steady boyfriend for a few months. It wasn’t like she wasn’t experienced. That thought pissed him off. He didn’t want to think about the men she could have been with. He and his brothers had held off on their attraction for long enough.
“How come you and Serefina didn’t go out tonight?” he asked, as he unlocked his car door and opened it for her.
“We weren’t in the mood and wanted to catch up on talking.”
He smiled at her, absorbing the scent of her perfume or maybe the shampoo she used. He would love to get a closer sniff but that would be pushing it.
He opened his side of the car, got in, and started the engine. The music was blasting and Tasha jumped and covered her ears. “I’m sorry. I was still pumped from the fire and getting here to see Bull.”
“No problem,” she replied as he put the car in reverse.
“So, what’s new, how is work going?” he asked her.
She talked a little bit about the marketing job, and the small business she worked for two towns over.
“Is that commute terrible this time of year with all the tourists?” he asked as he headed toward her apartment building.
“Not too bad. It adds another fifteen minutes, but business has been slow, so my boss doesn’t really get things started until ten o’clock.”
“That’s understandable. So what club were you at when this guy started with you?” he asked, and she swung her head toward him as he pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex.
“It was someplace near where my cousin lives. I won’t go there again. It wasn’t really a crowd I liked.”
“Sounds like it. You need to be careful going out to strange places you don’t know.”
“I don’t need the fatherly advice, Lance,” she snapped at him as he pulled into a parking spot and turned off the ignition.
She opened her door and he placed his hand on her knee. She froze and looked at him.
“Sweetheart, I did not mean to sound fatherly. It concerns me and my brothers that some guy hurt you.”
“Lance, don’t. I don’t need a big brother. I got this. It’s fine.” She pulled from him and got out of the car. Her attitude stunk, and told him that Tasha was hiding something. He got out of the car, closed and locked his door.
“What are you doing?” she asked him.
“What does it look like?” he asked as he locked the car and joined her on the sidewalk.
“It’s dark around here, you shouldn’t be walking outside this
late at night alone.”
“It’s a safe development.”
“I’m walking you in. It’s not up for discussion.” God, she looked so sexy. He would love to pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless. If she kept giving him lip and looking at him with those sad, unsure eyes, he just might not be able to resist.
Tasha looked over her shoulder as they entered the building. He followed her up the four flights of stairs and when they got to her apartment door, a corner unit, he saw the bouquet of flowers by the door.
His heart sunk.
“Who are those from?” he asked with attitude as she unlocked the door. She pulled them off the floor and reached for the card.
“I don’t know.” She walked inside and set them down on the small island in the kitchen. He noticed the bottle of wine, the two glasses, and Serefina’s sweater on the couch.
“You and my sister were planning on knocking that off?” he asked as Tasha closed the door.
“We were working on it.” She never walked back to the flowers. He couldn’t help but wonder if she were pleased at getting them, or if they upset her. She wasn’t giving him a clue.
“Aren’t you going to put those into a vase of water?”
She shook her head and then picked up the bottle of wine and two glasses bringing them toward the sink. She placed them in there and then turned toward him. He was inches from her.
“Well, thank you for the ride, Lance,” she said and stepped forward as if to show him to the door, but he had this urge to let her know how attracted he was to her and he was jealous of whoever sent the flowers.
He didn’t think twice as she stared up into his eyes, her lips parted, her breath shallow.
“Fuck it.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
* * * *
Tasha didn’t know what the heck happened, but as Lance pulled her into his arms and kissed her, she felt her entire body rejoice and feel so safe and secure she wanted to cry. She kissed him back even though she feared that Dash was somewhere out there and perhaps even watching her now. All thoughts ceased the moment Lance’s hands caressed over her ass as he deepened the kiss and explored her mouth. His firm, large hands moved under her skirt to her ass as he pressed her hard against the refrigerator door. She ran her fingers through his hair, pressed her breasts against his solid chest and rejoiced at her current predicament.
Hearts on Fire 3: Tasha (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 5
