by West, Naomi
“Parking tickets mostly,” he said.
“Seriously?”
He gave her a look like, come on. “Nothing major. It’ll be fine.”
“But you thought maybe you have warrants and you walked in there to do that for me anyway?”
“And for Ian. It’s all about the kid for me.”
She rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. Though it wasn’t actually overly sarcastic. Might be some truth there. But speaking of the truth, she needed to get to it.
“Did you really mean it when you told the detectives that you felt like I’ve never turned on you?”
“Well, at the time it felt like you turned on me. In maybe one of the worst ways possible, to threaten me like that. But first of all, I wasn’t going to tell them that, and you said you only did it to protect me. Was that a lie?”
She gave an emphatic, “No.”
“Okay then.You didn’t turn on me, you only attempted to manipulate me through lies for my own benefit. Not as bad in my book.”
Sara chuckled. “Which part isn’t as bad, the lying or manipulation?”
“The intention. The fact that you did those things to protect me. I’d lie to you to protect you if I felt like I had to or that it was the only way.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.”
“And I wouldn’t want to. But if I thought it was the only way to keep you or Ian safe, I would do whatever it takes. That’s my top priority. No sense in telling the truth and have you get hurt if a little lie will prevent that. I’d tell you the truth eventually. Probably.”
“Really?” She turned to him and prepared herself for his next answer. “Then will you tell me the truth about something that was said in that room?”
“What?”
“The domestic violence you were arrested for. What was that about?”
“Arrested for, but never prosecuted. It was dumb. Nolan and I got into a fight. It led to fists. My mom thought calling the cops would get us to somehow never fight again.”
“Nolan?”
“My brother who died? I’ve told you about him.” His tone sounded slightly aggravated. Like he was annoyed that she had forgotten about him. But she hadn’t.
“No, I know all about Nolan, or what you’ve told me,” she assured him, “But I mean… I thought domestic violences were only…”
“A man hitting woman? No. I’m sure that’s the most common, but it’s any sort of violence within the home, caused by someone who lives there against someone else who lives there. Two brothers fighting is domestic violence, too.”
“Have you ever hit a woman?”
He looked over and raised an eyebrow at her. “Those detectives got inside your head.”
“I’m just being diligent, and when the domestic violence was mentioned, it did worry me a little, but I’m relieved to know that it wasn’t what I thought.” More than relieved, really.
“I’ve never been violent against a woman. I mean, unless you want to count when I get a little rough in bed. But you seem to like that.” He gave her a half smile.
She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Yes, I do, and no that doesn’t count. I didn’t think you’d ever hurt me or Ian like that, but it’s nice to have reassurance, you know?”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I will never hurt you. Or Ian. I promise.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Do you trust me?”
“With my life and my son’s. And on multiple occasions already.”
“Good. Just nice to have reassurance.” He winked and she leaned over to kiss his cheek.
Later that night, they were curled up on the couch after dinner. Ian sat at one end of the couch, coloring, and Saxton flipped through the channels. When they landed on the news, Saxton and Sara both sat up suddenly, eyes glued to the TV, and he turned the volume up.
“Police arrested gang leader Carter Taylor today,” the reporter was saying over video of police escorting Carter in handcuffs into a cruiser. “After new evidence revealed links to various sex trafficking chains and other crimes. Police say Taylor is also the prime suspect in the murder case of Liam Grant, who had been an informant prior to his death last year.”
The camera cut to Detective Smith. “We have enough evidence now to prosecute, and we fully intend to pursue the highest punishment available for these horrible crimes. All of them.”
“More details as they come in on this high profile case,” the reporter said, and the camera cut back to the newsroom. They moved on to some other story and Sara and Saxton looked at each other.
“They arrested him!” Sara said.
Saxton nodded. “They did.” Then, under his breath, he said, “Informant?”
“You didn’t know Liam was giving them stuff?”
“Had no clue, but that makes sense. All the things Carter said about Liam weren’t adding up. But if he was informing and trying to bring the Cruel Crows down, he would need to get a little inside.” He chuckled. “Oh, Liam. Wonder what in the world he was trying to get out of to agree to do that. Must’ve been something big he got caught on.”
“You think?”
“That’s the only reason he would do something like that,” Saxton said. “You saw how it worked out for him. Too dangerous to inform on a huge gang like that. They get one whiff and you’re gone. Just like Liam was. That’s why Carter shot him like that.”
“At least we know Carter can’t come after us now. We’ll just have to watch out for the rest of the Crows.”
“Yeah.”
When Sara went to sleep that night, curled in Saxton’s hot arms after a passionate romp in the sheets, she felt safer than she had in days. Carter was behind bars, and it looked like they would be able to keep him there for a while. Hopefully. They still had to watch their backs, but this was huge. Who knew how many Crows would be arrested as well for their involvement. Maybe a bunch of them.
She thought again to the night at the warehouse when Saxton rescued her and Ian. Had some of the Crows been killed that night? Then she remembered the Jagged Soul who had gone down. She rubbed on Saxton’s chest.
“Saxton? You still awake?” she whispered.
He made a murmuring sound and didn’t open his eyes.
“That night at the warehouse,” she continued anyway, “one of your Jagged Souls was hurt. I saw him go down. I think he was shot?”
He made an agreeing, “Mmm.”
“Did they get him out? Is he okay?”
He squeezed his eyes and blinked at her. “What?”
“Did that guy who was hurt get out of the warehouse okay?”
“He’s fine. Why?”
“Oh good.” She rested her head back on his shoulder. “I was just worried about him.”
“About K9? Why? Do you know him?”
“No.”
“But you were worried about him?”
“Yeah. He’s one of your guys. He was there to help rescue us. I didn’t want him to get hurt or killed or anything.”
Saxton chuckled. “He wasn’t hurt bad. Just skipped his calf. He’s fine. K9 is a tough dude. But he’ll be touched you were asking about him.”
“Do I get to meet them?”
“You want to meet my MC?”
“Well, yeah. I want to thank them at least.”
Saxton wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. “You can make them muffins or something if you want.”
“I’m not allowed to meet them?”
“No, you are. If you want to. I didn’t think you’d want to be involved in that part of my life.”
“I want to be involved in all parts of your life. I don’t know. Maybe you can teach me to ride.”
He laughed again. “Let’s start with taking you into the headquarters and see if you last ten minutes.”
“I’ll totally bring muffins.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You do that.”
Chapter Thirty
Sara stretched her arms above her head, lazily f
eeling each muscle as it stretched and moved. Beside her, Saxton groaned and rolled over to pull her close. She nuzzled into his chest and they lie wrapped in each other for several long minutes. She could have stayed there all day, tangled in him like that. But only minutes later, the door made a slow creaking sound.
She grumbled into Saxton’s chest and whispered, “We’re being invaded.”
A moment later, the bed shifted as Ian jumped on. “Wake up!” he exclaimed.
Saxton made a loud, fake snoring sound and pretended to sleep. Sara followed his lead and did the same.
Ian crawled in between them, put his face very close to Sara’s and said, “Mommy? Wake up!”
His little voice held so much impatience that she couldn’t help but crack a smile and start to laugh.
“You’re awake!” he said and sat on her stomach, then started bouncing.
Sara groaned and Saxton reached over to pull Ian off her, then wrapped him in a tight ball of a hug and started tickling him. Ian squealed in laughter and Sara chuckled watching the two of them.
“Come on, guys!” Ian said, trying to tug Saxton into a sitting position and failing. “We have to see if Santa came!”
“Oh,” Saxton said seriously. “Uh oh. I think I forgot to put in the address change.”
Ian’s face fell. “What do you mean?”
Sara played along. “Oh no. After we moved. Did we tell Santa we live here now, with Saxton?”
Ian’s lower lip started to quiver. “He doesn’t know we moved? What will happen to all our presents?”
“Hopefully his reindeer figured it out,” Sara said. “You didn’t happen to mention the move in your letter to him?”
Ian shook his head and looked worried.
“Well, run down stairs real fast and see if he came, then run back up here to let us know,” Saxton said.
Ian scrambled off the bed and was out of the room in seconds. Saxton promptly rolled on top of Sara and kissed her hard.
“Any chance we can lock the door and pretend to be sleeping again for a few minutes?” he asked.
She laughed and hugged his neck. “Not unless you want him to throw a fit or tear the gifts open alone. Maybe he’ll be distracted enough later, though.”
“Let’s hope.” Saxton kissed her again, then slid off her.
He reached over and put one arm under her legs and the other behind her head so that he could carry her out of bed. As he reached the door with her in his arms, Ian came bounding back up the stairs.
“He came! He came!”
“Oh, whew,” Saxton said. “I was worried for a second there.”
“Me too,” Sara said.
Saxton carried her down the stairs and set her on the sofa nearest the Christmas tree. She chuckled when he put her down. “Thanks for the lift,” she said.
“But of course, my lady.” He made a formal bow and disappeared into the kitchen.
Sara stared at the pile of gifts under the tree. Last year’s Christmas had been strange. It was shortly after the mess with Carter, shortly after her and Saxton had decided to live together and make a life. She hadn’t had any money, which had been her norm for years, but Saxton stepped in and made it a grand Christmas. They had spent days shopping and filling the cart with gifts for Ian. Maybe they went a bit overboard, but after all the kid had been through, they wanted to make it as nice as possible for him. Help him forget the awfulness of that time.
It had been a wonderful Christmas, but Sara had been left trying to explain to Ian why Santa seemed to be so much more generous at Saxton’s house than theirs. It hadn’t been easy, but Ian quickly gave up and seemed to accept his new life. He enjoyed his new room, twice the size of his old one, and his new life, which also felt twice the size, thanks to Saxton’s income. Sara spent most of last Christmas night crying in gratitude to Saxton for making it all so special. She tried, over the last year, to not get too used to living a life that was far more luxurious than she had ever experienced. She never wanted to take him for granted.
“Look at all these presents!” Ian exclaimed, his mouth stretched wide in a huge grin as he clasped his hands together.
They’d tried to be somewhat more restrained this year in their gift giving. They’d even set a budget, which had been about the equivalent of an entire month of her pay from her previous life as a waitress working several jobs just to keep food on the table. But it was less than they’d spent last year. She didn’t want to spoil Ian, or have him grow up thinking he was entitled to things and being greedy. At least now when he went off to his private school, he looked the part. He no longer wore clothing that was a little too big or too short, or wearing out. He had new clothes, name brands, and a stylish hair cut to match. He’d gotten made fun of less, which was a relief as well.
It’d been a good year in many ways. The move had been simple and easy. Ian loved Saxton and living with him, and their old place was so small, it took no time at all for the movers to come in and pack it all up and bring it to Saxton’s house. It was embarrassing how all of their possessions all fit neatly into his living room. Saxton had assured her she had no reason to feel ashamed and that he’d gladly share all he had with her.
Without money to worry over and many long hours to work, Sara turned her attention to the house and to worrying over Carter and his gang. She went room by room in their house, deep cleaning and making updates. New curtains here, a fresh coat of paint there. Saxton was happy to let her play and do anything she liked. So long as, as he put it, she didn’t make it too “girly.” He needed it to still look like a man lived there, too. Sara wasn’t into frilly and lacy anyhow. She ran all her decoration plans by him first, and she was having fun doing it. After a year, there was little left to do.
The worrying over Carter and their safety, though, had gotten stronger in the months after Carter’s arrest. She hadn’t been sleeping well, thinking the Cruel Crows were going to show up and attack them all for getting Carter arrested. It took months to bring him to trial. They didn’t end up having to testify, which was a huge relief. And when it all came down, Carter was sent away for the next one hundred and fifty years. So, basically, there was no chance he’d ever get out. In the months following his sentencing, the Cruel Crows had fallen apart.
Sara didn’t know anything about gang life, but the Jagged Souls were in the know when it came to life on the streets. Saxton had told her they were crumbling and she didn’t believe it. But then, several Jagged Souls had assured her that the gang had dissolved. The Crows were no more. Just a few months without Carter’s leadership, and with the police watching it all so closely, and they had been forced to scatter.
Sara pointed out to Saxton, though, that it didn’t mean those who had been Crows weren’t still out there. But Saxton kept saying it didn’t matter. That they were all being watched and that without the grouping of the gang, there was nothing to be loyal to. But Sara worried. She worried until Saxton had demanded that she drive hours with him to go to the closest gun range so they could practice shooting. And that she use some of her new free time to take martial arts lessons.
Once she started to learn how to defend herself better, and as the months went by and nothing happened, she started to relax. She worried less, she slept better, and after a while, stopped looking behind her every second when she drove or went to the grocery store. The three of them settled into life together, and it felt better than anything she’d ever experienced. Life over all was so good, it had her thinking about the future.
They hadn’t talked about marriage. They hadn’t talked about having more kids. Most of the year had been too cluttered with adjustments and fear and settling in that she hadn’t even brought things like that up Partly, she didn’t want to disturb their little balance by pushing things faster than he wanted. If Saxton never wanted to get married, she’d probably be okay just living with him like this for many years. But deep down, she wanted to be married and have more kids and build a bigger life together.
Saxton walked into the living room and sat beside her. “Coffee is on. Let’s do this.”
Ian looked at them with wide eyes. “Can I open presents now?”
“Go for it,” Sara said.
He dove into the pile and picked up the closest gift. The paper was shredded in seconds and he was zooming around the room with his new truck, making all sorts of traffic noises. He went back for another, then another. Before long, there were piles of crumbled wrapping paper, pieces of packaging, and a collection of toys scattered around the large room. The Christmas tree, reaching into the air over nine feet tall, was only about half visible from where Sara sat in the sofa. The bottom was obscured from view by boxes and plastic wrapping and wrapping paper.
