Shamus (Welcome to Spartan Book 3)

by Ashley Lyn

  “A little over a week ago, I asked her to look over some files that were connected to your case, to see if she could see something that we didn’t. I told her so many times that if she found something, make notes, and the guys and I would consider them. But she didn’t listen! She noticed a house. The same address was mentioned in files that we hadn’t gotten a chance to look at. Since the Slingers had such a large operation, there were cases here in Denver that were loosely connected, and the DPD asked me to consider them. Instead of waiting like I told her to, she drove by the house herself. Someone saw her, and that night, two men broke into her house. We have her front porch monitored. When someone walks in front of the camera, it activates and pings the office. When the feed was pulled up, we saw them break in. There are no cameras inside the house, but when they came out looking frustrated and didn’t take anything, it was obvious they were looking for her. She’d stayed at her parents’ house that night, thank God.”

  I take a deep breath, trying to keep my shit together. She may be annoying as fuck sometimes, but I love her like a sister.

  “That morning, a contact I have at the DPD called and said that an officer he was investigating for having loose connections to the Skin Slingers pulled all her information. That was when we started hearing chatter around town that the Slingers were looking for her, which is why we sent her to New York. We worked with the investigators here and rounded up the last known associates, except for the big boss, and the two flunkies who broke into her house.

  “Since it was only him left and the police had a good idea where he was, I told her she could come back, but I told her when she got back that she needed to come straight to the office to go over things. Once she got here, I was going to send her to a safe house. Except, she went home instead of coming here.”

  Shamus sits down and hangs his head, and god dammit, I feel like shit.

  “Where is she?”

  “We don’t know yet. We’re tearing apart the city, every bolt-hole the Slingers have in this fucking town, and we can’t find a god damn thing.”

  “Find her, Tristan. I can’t lose her.”

  Just, fuck.

  I’ve been awake now for hours, just pretending to sleep. Those two morons have been pacing for hours. They’re getting ready to make a call to someone named Frank. They’re both freaking out, and I’m beginning to think that I’ve been kidnapped by the biggest idiots in history.

  “Hey. I mean, hello, sir.”

  Idiot one smacks idiot two. “We picked up that girl you asked us to, but we had a bit of a problem in pickup. She’s been asleep for like a day.”

  They’re both listening in on the phone, and I wish desperately that I could hear what’s being said.

  They both wince, making me think they’re getting their asses chewed out.

  “Okay…Yes, sir…Address is 5643 Daisy Way, Cherry Creek…Okay, see you soon, sir.”

  “Okay, so he’s pissed we bashed her head in, but happy we have her.”

  They high-five, and I wish I could roll my eyes. “I’m going to run to get some burgers and shit, maybe some beers for Boss when he gets here. Keep an eye on Sleeping Beauty.”

  I’m beginning to think that the cavalry isn’t coming, and that the only way out of this fucking mess is to handle it myself.

  I’ve been sitting here for-fucking-ever. It’s sad to say, but if I sit here any longer, I’m going to have to pee the freaking bed.

  Just when I think that I’m S-O-L, idiot two decides to stretch out and take a nap. Putting his feet on the side of bed, and leans back in his chair. I look around the room, and notice a gun on the nightstand.

  I begin to panic that I’m not going to be able to get to the gun, when finally, he starts snoring. Reaching over, I slowly pull the gun toward me and shove it under my butt.

  The front door slams open, and I hear idiot one coming back in.

  “Wake up, fucker! She could’ve gotten out while you were fucking sleeping! You lazy piece of shit.”

  I hear the front door open and close, and the sound of hard-soled shoes on the wooden floors.

  “You didn’t tie her up?” His voice sounds like he’s a four pack a day smoker, and makes me want to shiver, but not in a good way.

  “She’s a pretty little thing, though.”

  His nicotine laced breath brushes over my face and I want to gag. It’s now or never. I pull the gun up and put it right on his chest and fire. I watch the surprise on his face bleed to the blank look of a dead man. He falls right on top of me. Idiot two pulls him off me, and I aim and fire again.

  I can hear him moaning. I know I hit him, but where, I have no fucking clue. I just know he goes down, and hard. Sitting up makes my vison go wonky, and I fall back on the bed.

  “You stupid bitch!”

  Leaning over the bed, I vomit. I feel like I’m puking up my stomach. With each heave, my head feels like it’s going to fucking explode.

  My ears are ringing like crazy, but then I hear what sounds like sirens. Immediately after that thought, the blue and red lights paint the walls, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

  Black spots are dancing in my vision, and I know that I have no more time before I pass out. The front door slams open, and idiot two tries to run. I hear the sharp retort of a gun firing and a dull thud. I try and focus my blurry vision on the door, and smile when the first person through the door is Tristan. Then I promptly pass the fuck out.

  I feel like I’m floating in a wonderland of awesomeness. Not only am I nice, warm, and cozy, but I can hear Shamus.

  “I love you, Savannah,” I hear Shamus say, and I wish I could smile, but I can’t get my face to work right.

  For a second, I feel like I can grab hold of the thread of consciousness, but it slips away, and I’m sucked back under.

  I come to slowly. First, I can hear something…a beep, maybe? No, there are lots of beeps. Then, I start to feel things. Something’s on my arm—like a weight—and someone is holding my hand.

  Slowly, I turn my head toward the weight and crack an eye open. I see the one person I didn’t expect to see in my room. It’s dark, and there isn’t much light, but I can see Tristan as plain as day.

  I try and giggle at the fact that he snores like a freight train, but it comes out as more of a groan. Tristan’s hand squeezes mine. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty,” his sleepy voice rumbles. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like ran over shit.”

  His thumb rubs my knuckles. “I’m so fucking sorry, Savannah. I should have explained on the phone the severity of the situation.”

  I pat his hand and whisper, “I better get a good Christmas bonus out of this.”

  Next thing I know, he does the craziest thing. He leans over me and kisses my forehead. “I’m so happy that you’re awake. You scared the shit out of us.”

  “How long?”

  “You’ve been out for a week. You had some swelling on your brain. It was minimal, but they put you in a medically-induced coma just to be sure. They started waking you up almost four days ago.”

  “Can I get something to drink?” He brings a glass up to my lips and I take a drink. “Where’s Shamus?”

  “He isn’t here. He came down and brought the kids, who are at your house. He’s been here in this room for three days straight. Your mom made him go home to get sleep and shower.” He glances at his watch. “I’m willing to bet that he’ll be here soon. He’s been gone for a little over eight hours now. And by the way, you’re fired.” He winks at me, the shithead!

  “What the hell?”

  “Talk to Shamus about it,” he says with a grin.

  That comment makes my belly do strange flips.

  “I’m going to step out and let the doctors know you’re awake and start making calls.”

  He kisses my forehead again before he walks out.

  The doctors and nurses start coming in, and I let it fall away, concentrating on the questions from the doctor.

  Even laying in a bed, tube
s and shit everywhere, with a massive bandage on the side of her head, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  I’m standing in the doorway, watching her twirl her ring around her finger. When they first brought her in, the ring was missing. I told Tristan, and they found it in the pocket of one of the assholes who took her.

  “Are you going to stand in the doorway all day and stare at me, or are you going to get over here and kiss me?”

  I look up and make eye contact. Smiling at her, I walk over and sit on the bed. She leans over and rests her head on my shoulder.

  “Worst week of my life, Savannah.”

  “You and me both,” she says on a sigh.

  “The kids want you to take the flamingos to Spartan, by the way.”

  She gives me a megawatt smile that has my heart doing a shimmy shake, and my dick twitches in my jeans.

  “You scared me, babe.”

  “I scared myself.”

  I already lost one wife to the Skin Slingers. Christ, I’m not even married to her yet, and they almost took her from me. I hold her a little tighter.

  “I want you home, with me and the kids. I miss you, Savannah.”

  “I miss you, too.” She runs her fingers lightly along my jaw. “I love you, Shamus.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “You know we’re getting married as soon as we can get you to a courthouse, right?”

  Steven, Spartan’s resident wedding planner still isn’t talking to me, even though I let him plan this elaborate reception. I was wheeled out of the hospital and deposited into Shamus’s rental car, where I expected to go home, but ended up at the courthouse.

  My parents, sisters, Luke and Ali, were all present. Mom had a dress that I fell in love with at first sight. It was a short, off-white, with a deep V in the front and the back. She brought a cute short veil and boom! I was married.

  There’s only one small snag now—I’ve been married for damn near four fucking weeks and we have yet to consummate the marriage.

  Horny doesn’t even begin to cover it.

  I’m watching Shamus dance with Chloe, smiling as she starts shaking her booty.

  Shamus looks up to the ceiling. Folding his hands, he starts to pray.

  Giggling, I go over and hug him from behind.

  “This is all your fault, Savannah.”

  I burst out laughing because it is, but I’ll never admit it.

  His dick presses into my hip, and I move to the left, trying to get it where I want it, and he moves away.

  I slam my hands onto my hips, stomping my foot at the same time. “Why won’t you fuck me, dammit?” I whisper yell.

  His face goes slack in shock, and then a lusty anger sharpens his features.

  “Oh, shit,” I mutter. Before my next breath, he throws me over his shoulder and the crowd goes wild.

  He’s speed walking. I seriously wish that I could be behind him right now, watching his hips sway.

  I think about Bruce’s recent obsession with it and picture Shamus in spandex, speed walking down the street, and erupt into laughter.

  His hand comes down on my ass, making me squeal. “You jackass.”

  “Daddy!” Aiden screams from across the banquet hall. “We still have to give Sav—I mean, Mom, her present.”

  My whole body goes still for a single second when I hear him call me Mom, then promptly burst into tears.

  Shamus puts me down and I pull him into my arms. “You got me a present, Cuddle Bug?”

  “Why are you crying, Mom?” It hits me again, and I struggle to hold in my tears.

  “I’m so happy…happy that I married your dad. Happy that you two little munchkins are my babies, and I’m so freaking excited to open your present.” My lips quirk and I look around until I find Roger, and give him the signal.

  “Chloe!” Aiden screams out again at the top of his lungs.

  Everyone around us jumps.

  I look at Chloe sitting with Maxine, and her face is covered in frosting. “What!” she screams back.

  My heart squeezes a little bit when I see Maxine. Shamus finally spoke to her on the phone about a week after I got out of the hospital. Shamus told her that she could move to Spartan, but she would be taking regular drug tests, and that she would be required to start seeing a counselor. She finally met the kids a couple days ago. She’s interesting, different than what I thought she would be, and definitely younger that I expected. She was only fifteen years old when she had Jenny, and she’s very, very quiet.

  “Get the special present for Mom!” He attempts to wink, and ends up closing both eyes multiple times.

  I giggle at Aiden. “You’re a goof.”

  “Pay attention, woman,” he tells me, pointing his finger at Chloe, who’s skipping over to me.

  “I wonder where he got that phrase from?” I say to Shamus, and he just grins.

  Chloe and Aiden walk up to me with a wrapped present. I sit down and pull them both into my lap and start ripping the paper off, making them both giggle.

  Carefully, I peel back the tissue paper and my breath catches when all I see is paperwork.

  The first thing that catches my eye is the word “Adoption.”

  “Dad says these mean that you’ll officially be our Mommy,” Chloe says.

  “Will you be our mom, Savannah?”

  I hug them both, so tight, they start wiggling around.

  “Of course, I’ll me your mom. I would be the greatest honor of my life.”

  “Yay!” they say in unison.

  “I have a surprise for you two as well.” I nod to Roger and he leads out two cute puppies, one white Chihuahua, and one brown one.

  They both fall to their knees as the puppies lick their faces.

  “Gary!” Aiden cries, bursting into tears.

  Chloe’s dog flops back with her back legs in the air, making her giggle. “Hello, Miss Bella.”

  “Thank you, Mommy!” they chorus.

  I can’t help but laugh at the two of them. They always do that at the perfect moment.

  Shamus grabs my hand and starts dragging me to the door. “Shamus, slow down. These fucking heels are killer.” My ankles start wobbling and he picks me up bridle style, and pulls my heels off.

  “You ready to consummate?” he growls in my ear.

  I swear to God, I think I spontaneously orgasm.

  Six months later…

  I know she’s pregnant. It’s like she doesn’t think I’ll notice her belly, and why she’s hiding it.

  The kids are staying with Luke and Ali, and I have a surprise for my secret keeping wife.

  She’s snuggled up in bed, blankets pulled up to her chin, looking at me all innocent and shit.

  “I’m just going to pop into the bathroom.” She nods her head, eyes as big as saucers.

  I pull the bag out from under the counter and pull out the neon pink mankini that Bruce gifted me at my bachelor party. Pulling the bastard up, I find it to be the most uncomfortable outfit I have ever put on.

  “Fucking hell, I feel like my balls are split in two.”

  “What!” Savannah squeaks.

  “Nothing!” This was an epically bad idea.

  I gather my courage and saunter out. I pose like Bruce, one hand on my hip popped out to the side, the other behind my head.

  “You like? Bruce got it for me.”

  Her uncontrollable laughter is music to my dick.

  I glance down. An erection in a mankini is most definitely not the most attractive thing.

  “Oh, shit! Your dick looks like a strangled bratwurst in a too small Ziploc baggie!”

  Lately, I’ve found a side of myself that I never expected to find. I hit play on the CD player and Barry White’s “Let’s Get It On” starts playing, and my hips start to move.

  I slide one strap off my shoulder as I pop my hips side to side, singing along with the song, then everything flops out. It’s so freaking embarrassing, I want to crawl under the comforter and
weep at my manhood swirling around the toilet bowl.

  Instead, all I hear is a sweet, sweet moan sliding out of her fuckable mouth.

  “I tried, babe, I really did.” I jerk the ridiculous thing off and grab her ankles, pulling her to the end of the bed, and bury my face between her thighs.

  My cheeks and chin are immediately damp.

  I kiss her rounded belly and smile up at her.

  “When are you going to admit that you’re carrying my baby, Savannah?” I ask her before swiping my tongue along her folds.

  Her feet come up to rest on my shoulders. “I had a fucking surprise planned out, dammit.”

  I chuckle and kiss her belly.

  “Hello in there. Don’t mind your momma, she’s crazy.”

  “How long have you known?”

  “Weeks.”

  “You are such a shit!” This ends in a long moan as I latch onto her clit and give it a gentle tug with my teeth.

  “We were married for, like, a freaking second, Shamus, you fertile shit. You knocked me up on our reception night!”

  I just laugh and get back to dessert.

  “I love you, Savannah, to the moon and back.”

  “I love you, too, Shamus.” She then gives me an evil grin. “Oh, and it’s twins.” I smile as I lick her again. “It’s also two girls.”

  My guts clenches. “Son of a bitch.”

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  Book three! Holy shit!

  These do not get any easier, and there are so many people I need to mention.

  To the hubs (The Bearded Beast). Long may you reign the best husband ever. Keep the flowers, sarcasm, and general perverted behavior coming.

  Dana Hook, the trainer in my corner, the cheerleader screaming “Fuck yeah!” You are the shit. You are a master at soothing my writers panic, and giving me a smack on the ass when I need an “Atta boy!”

  My beautiful beta readers, I would kiss you if I could.

  I seriously hope that you enjoyed Shamus. I love him so very much. It was so much fucking fun to write his story.