by Blue Saffire
His eyes turn on me, his gaze super sharp. I can see him searching for the meaning of my words. I cup his face, leaning in to kiss him softly.
“Everyone knows it. When I get stressed, I lash out at those I love. I’m sorry, Dallas. You were right,” I say.
“Don’t lie to me, Havana. I’m not one of your marks and I’m not a gang of hitters you need to keep happy. You don’t have to sell me bullshit,” he husks.
I don’t miss the fact that he calls me Havana or how harshly he says it. Almost like the name burns his mouth. I’ve learned that to him I’m two different people. I’m Anita and Havana. He tends to separate the two sometimes.
I tilt my head and study him. I see the pleading in his eyes. It takes me back to when we were little. I can’t believe I have the memory, but I remember that look from when my last day of the summer would roll around. He would plead with his eyes for me not to go. When I would have no choice but to leave he would plead with his eyes for me to return.
“Why is it so hard for it to sink into that head of yours that I love you?” I huff.
“Because you’ve never said it,” he breathes. “You always say what you mean.”
“I love you, Dallas,” I reply.
“So now you expecting me to say that shit back?” he says with no expression on his face.
My mouth drops open. My hands fall to my hips. I nudge him with my baby bump.
“Screw you, asshole,” I hiss.
That breathtaking smile appears on his lips. Pulling his bottom lip into his mouth, he bites down on it. His hands move to my thighs, sliding up under the hem of my skirt.
“Ain’t much I love in this world, but you are what I love the most. You’ve been shooting right through my heart from day one,” he rasps.
“Does this mean you’re talking to me now?” I pout.
“I’m about to do more than talk to you, Kitten. I’m going to talk to you, taste you, and fuck that little pregnant pussy until you come screaming my name,” he croons.
“Here for all of that and then some,” I purr, cupping his face and kissing his lips.
Despite his harsh words, he gently turns me onto my back, placing me on the bed. Looking up at my husband and his open look of love fills my heart to almost bursting. I palm his face as he leans in to kiss my lips, my nose, my chin. He continues to rain gentle pecks all over my face.
It’s the most tender Dallas has ever been with me. He continues his path down to my collarbone. Tugging my shirt up he discards it, reaching to release my bra next. He stops to hover over me looking down at my body beneath him. His eyes linger first on my swollen belly then my breasts.
Leaning in, he kisses my stomach, over and over, landing his feather light kisses in a new spot each time. His fingers hook into my skirt and panties, peeling both from my body slowly.
His lips gently caress my hip, his tongue peeking out to play against my skin. I squirm as my juices start to make my crack slick. I can hear more than see him inhale. His tongue trails the underside of my belly.
“How could I not love you?” he murmurs, but it’s so low I believe he’s talking to himself. “It’s the only thing I’ve done right in my life. Every time you’re in my life things are right.”
“Dallas,” I whimper.
“Simmer down, kitten. I’ve got this,” he breathes against my skin.
Spreading my legs and settling between them he positions himself to feast on me. I wish I could see past this belly. I love watching that intense look in his eyes when he’s taking my body to places only he can.
I claw at the pillow beneath me, my right leg locks behind his neck. The act encourages him to really go in. Placing a hand to the headboard for leverage, I lift my hips and rock against him. His hands move to support my waist, pulling me into him as he does what he does best.
He devours me through two orgasms. I’m panting and damn near sobbing by the time he lets up. Dallas crawls up my body, turning me onto my side. His big body spoons mine, his hand grasping my hip.
He pushes into me tenderly. My heart stutters with the slow entry. His breath warms the top of my shoulder. He stills once seated fully, nuzzling my neck.
“I love you,” he rasps. “All I want is to protect you. You don’t have to be sorry. Just remember when I’m telling you something it’s because I want you safe.”
“I know,” I nod. “I love you, too.”
I feel the stupid tears gathering. I’ve been so emotional while pregnant. It’s so out of character for me. My heart swells even more as I think of how I’ve been able to show those emotions with Dallas.
He begins to rock into me slowly, his hand moving to lace his fingers with mine. His leg slips between mine. I rest mine on top of his, rocking back into his slow thrusts.
Dallas’s lips latch onto my neck. My head falls back against his shoulder. He moves our joined hands between my legs.
I bite my lip, my breathing coming through my nose. His free hand reaches for the longer strands of hair on top of my head, tugging back. The sting sparks through my body, causing me to grip him tighter inside me.
“Anita,” he groans into my ear, licking the shell. “You always feel so good.”
“You too,” I gasp.
“Then, come for me. Show me how much you love me. Rain all over this cock. Make me yours,” he croons.
I tighten my fingers on his and start to bounce back on him a little harder. His loud groan fills the air. Our sweat soaked bodies work together to reach the goal.
The tears start to flow when I understand what Dallas is teaching me. Whether he means to or not, he’s showing me we work better together. He’s been doing all he can to learn to fill in a gap for me.
When we both cry out together it’s the most powerful and intimate climax I’ve ever had. We made it happen together. When I needed him to carry more of the load he did and I’d given him my trust the whole time.
I listened to his body and he listened to mine. From here on out we’d do this together. I need him more than I allowed myself to admit. Now I understand.
“I love you,” he whispers pecking the side of my temple.
“Back at you,” I grin and giggle.
He swats my ass and growls into my neck. I start to giggle more. His arms wrap around me, holding me tightly.
“Fucking smart ass.”
“Asshole,” I retort.
“Your asshole, kitten,” he replies.
“Damn, right.”
He chuckles and nips my shoulder. This feels better. This is who we’ve become in the last few months. This is our world. The others are just joining it.
Chapter 16
Baby & Counting
Dallas
Five months later…
I’m exhausted. Why didn’t anyone tell me having a tiny human was so rough? As tired as I am, Anita has to be three times as exhausted.
Our son is adorable. Never thought I’d be a part of making something so perfect. He’s everything right about life, but his little ass has a set of lungs on him and boy, does he use them. I wish I could cry and get a tit shoved into my mouth.
If I even mention my cock, Anita looks like she’s ready to chop it off. I’m treading lightly around her these days. She’s actually counting down the days until she can kill again. Thirty-seven days to be exact.
I can’t blame her. Our family isn’t safe. Her three renegade hitters—because everyone refuses to call them brothers any longer—are still out there. For whatever reason, they want Anita dead and I can’t have that.
I roll my shoulders and look down at my tiny son in my arms. Two months can go by so fast. With each day he starts to show more and more of a little personality.
“You keep spoiling him if you want,” Anita calls out from the bed.
I look over my shoulder to see her laid out, arm across her face, legs every which way. I smile and shake my head. I thought she was sleeping.
“I didn’t want him to wake you,” I reply.
> “That tiny monster doesn’t care who he wakes as long as he’s clean and fed. Why use guns when you could just place him in the center of a room and let him cry the place down?” she teases.
“Not a bad idea. I’ll place him in Will’s room,” I grumble.
“I wish you two would cut it out. You’re like two big babies,” she groans.
“Why offer to help with my training only to piss me off every fucking time,” I hiss.
“Twenty for the swear jar,” she giggles.
I roll my eyes. We both promised to dial it back for little Augustine. Yes, as hurt as Anita was by her father’s scheming, one look at our son and she wanted to name him after the only man she remembers as a father.
“Fine,” I huff, moving to the table we keep the jar on.
“He’s one of the best, Dallas. He wants to make you as good as we are. You still get emotional when you’re angry. That’s something we had broken out of us young. We all have been pushing at that weakness to help you learn through it.
“You just notice it more with Will because he gets on your nerves regardless. He knows and exposes it. Haven’t you noticed how much better you’ve gotten. Your hand-to-hand has become stellar in the last few weeks. I’d send you on a job without a worry. You’re ready for on the job experience if you ask me,” she says peeking out from under her arm.
A scoff leaves my lips. I saunter over to the bed with the baby still against my bare chest. He’s quiet, finally, snuggled into my warm skin. Getting on the bed and positioning myself with my back against the headboard, I look at my wife.
I love that she believes in me the way she does. It makes me want to make her proud, but I’m no hitter. I’m a man learning to protect his own.
“If the day comes where I need to protect you and this little guy, I’ll be ready. But I’m no assassin,” I say, telling her just as much.
“Um,” she smirks.
I look down at Augustine, wondering what he’ll be when he grows up. Leave it up to Havana and her gang, he’ll have his first kill by ten. I’ve listened to the stories they’ve been sharing over the last few months. They all miss it.
“I know we have money, but I was thinking about getting a real jo—”
My words cut off. Both our heads snap up as the alarm for the main gate goes off. They won’t hear it out there, but everyone inside the house has just been alerted. Tristan and Aisha designed the system that way while the others helped to install it.
“Take him and get into the safe room,” I say handing over the baby.
“Dallas—”
“You just said I was ready for this. Don’t argue. Keep our son safe,” I kiss her forehead. “I’ll come back to you. I love you too much to die or lose you. Neither is an option.”
“Tanner is a follower. Easy target. Joey is a terrible shot. He’ll force a fight whenever he can. His right side is weak. You hit and hit it hard, don’t let up,” she says, nodding her head. She licks her lips. “Clifton is a sneak, he’s the one to watch.”
I give her a nod of understanding. She cups the back of my head for a passionate kiss. I break it, not because I want to, but because I need her to get to safety with our son. She grabs her gun out from under her nightstand and starts out of the room.
“Havana,” I call stopping her in her tracks.
“Yes,” she turns to face me.
“If it’s you or them, fuck that money,” I remind her.
“I’m a professional, dear. I can wound without killing,” she says with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
I shake my head, but I don’t get to say another word. She takes off with Augustine. I go to the closet and start to load up. I toss on a bulletproof vest and holster. I grab a few rounds, four glocks and a rifle.
If you’re going to come to the home of a hitter, knowing she has at least five others with her, you’re coming prepared. I’ll be just as prepared. After all, we have the element of surprise. A newly trained hitter with everything in the world he loves to lose. Who do you think will come out on top of this one?
Chapter 17
Sleeper
Havana
When I make it to the safe room, a wide-eyed Aisha is already there. I eye her closely. The last thing I need is for her to have an episode. Augustine realized too late that Aisha wasn’t meant for this world. She’s missing the switch the rest of us possess.
Augustine’s other mistake was taking in those three bad apples. Joey and Clifton were always the hardest to reel in. Tanner was just like a little puppy wanting someone to follow. Joey was the first to extend a branch and he latched on. That will be his downfall.
To be a real hitter in our squad you have to earn your place, no one is just given anything. Those three never took to that lesson. The things you see when it’s too late. It stings to think that those oversights may be behind Augustine’s death.
“Are you okay?” I ask Aisha.
“Yeah, Rich said stay here,” she says robotically.
I groan internally. She’s already shutting down. Shit. This can turn into a really good thing or a very bad one.
Placing the baby down in the carrier, I grabbed on my way here, I check my clip and the chamber. The one time my son sleeps soundlessly is during a damn war. Yup, totally my kid.
I’m itching to be out there. I have a bullet for all three of their asses. Bringing this shit to my door not once but twice. Now with my son here. I’m fuming. I pace the floor as I keep an eye on the monitors. A smile curls my lips as I watch my men.
Dallas is making me proud. He’s moving just like one of the boys. If I didn’t know my man’s frame so well I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between him and my brothers.
“Go, baby,” I purr at the screen. “Yes, Dallas.”
“Wow, he’s doing great,” Aisha drawls beside me.
“Yes, he is,” I nod.
We continue to watch. My heart stops when I see someone approaching Dallas from behind. I lean into the screen willing him to turn around.
“Turn around,” I call. I gasp when they fire in his direction. “Shit.”
“He missed,” Aisha states the obvious.
I frown, but I can’t look away. I fist pump when one of my guys takes out the one that just shot at Dallas. I can’t be sure, but I think it was Will.
They’re back on the move. My eyes bounce across the monitors trying to keep up with Dallas. I growl when I find a camera with Joey’s cocky ass. He’s not even carrying a gun. I know it’s him from the white blonde hair and his shorter stocky build.
“Just shoot him,” I yell at the screen when I find Dallas at the edge of the clearing where Joey has appeared.
I hiss when I see Dallas taking the bait. I told him a million times not to engage when he doesn’t have to. When he drops his guns I groan.
“Well, now you better whip his ass cause I’m going to kick yours,” I snarl at the monitor as if he can hear me.
“Havana,” Aisha gasps.
I reluctantly turn to her. She’s pointing at one of the other monitors. It’s the one that feeds right outside the safe room. I narrow my eyes at the sight of Clifton grinning into the cam.
This cocky bastard is worse than Joey. Clifton actually believes he can take me. It’s a belief I’ve allowed. It was built into him purposely.
I lick my teeth, tasting the ass whipping I want to give him. My hand hovers over the button to release the lock. Augustine’s tiny whimper halts me. I turn to look at my son, he frowns in his sleep before settling back down. I huff, turning back for the screen. I shift to tap the intercom instead.
“You made a big mistake,” I seethe.
“You know, those were the same words the old man said before I took his life,” Clifton chuckles through the speaker.
“You murdered him?” the words fall out of my mouth in agony and disbelief.
“I was never meant to be anyone’s puppet, Sis,” he croons. “You’re younger than me. What do I look like following your order
s? I got real tired of that shit.
“Then we had to let him handle our money. I’m a grown man. Why should I have to ask for money I’ve earned with my own bloodstained hands?”
“You greedy bastard. He would never deny you what was yours. He took care of us all, made sure we were okay. How could you?”
“Kings answer to no one,” he bellows.
“What king? You’re a fool,” I fume.
“See that’s the problem you don’t even see the throne he set you on. You don’t deserve the power given to you. I do,” he pounds his chest. “I’m willing to paint the streets red in blood to get what’s mine.”
“Oh, you’re going to get what’s yours,” I say darkly.
“I know I am. You followed his rules just like a good little girl. You see those videos were on his laptop. I know what he wanted you to do. You’re all idiots. It never ends with him. You don’t even see what’s coming,” he throws his head back and laughs.
“What are you talking about?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to kill you all and then I’ll get to the money and start a real squad,” he snarls.
“Let me out.”
I turn towards the cold words. Aisha has tears staining her face. Her body is trembling. I can see Aisha is gone for sure.
Well, guess who just arrived at the party.
The others have always assumed Aisha isn’t in the field because she’s the weak link. Not so, she’s the sleeper in the bunch. Pushed too many steps in the wrong direction and her switch is flipped. Augustine was always afraid of her inability to switch it back. When Aisha goes dark she goes dark. We keep her out of the field to keep her from losing herself.
“Taj?” I question.
“Let me out,” she heaves.
“You’ve got it, baby girl,” I purr. “Make that motherfucker pay.”
“He was the only father I had,” her voice cracks. “He saved me from eating garbage when I was only seven. Oh, this motherfucker is going to pay.”
