Justice for Milena

by Susan Stoker

  Milena really didn’t like that image.

  Her thoughts must’ve shown on her face, because TJ brought a hand up and brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. “You’re safe here, Doc. From Jeremiah and Jonathan, even from me. I’ll give you as much space as you need. We can take our relationship slow. I’m just so fucking thankful you’re here. It seems appropriate that when I needed a place to go, to feel safe, you opened up your home to me, and now here I am doing the same for you. Full circle.”

  Milena nodded. She wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. One second she wanted to jump TJ’s bones, and the next she was freaked simply by looking at a bed. It made no sense, and she was sick to death of her own thoughts.

  “You’ve done a good job, TJ. I don’t think JT could be any safer.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “So you’ll move in?”

  Milena nodded. “Yeah.”

  “When?”

  She couldn’t help it. He looked so eager and excited, it was as if he were a kid waiting to go trick-or-treating or something. “I don’t know. I’ll have to look at my schedule and talk to my parents.”

  “Soon though, right?”

  “Yeah. Are you sure you aren’t going to regret this? You’ve been a bachelor for a long time,” Milena said.

  “I’m positive. I can’t wait to have you both here with me all the time.”

  “Well, maybe not all the time,” Milena teased. “We do have to work you know.”

  “You know what I mean,” he retorted, wrapping the hand that was holding hers around her waist.

  She stood there in his embrace, one hand held captive in his behind her back, and simply soaked in the contented feeling of being with him.

  “Do you think your folks will be willing to continue to watch JT during the day? I don’t want to take advantage of them, and we can start looking for a good, safe daycare for him if we need to.”

  “They’re willing. My mom actually talked to me about this the other night. She was worried they wouldn’t get to see him as much if I moved out.”

  “Okay, Doc. We’ll plan on taking him to your parents’ house in the mornings before we go to work and one of us can pick him up when we get off.”

  She smiled up at him. “You’re being awfully accommodating.”

  “Don’t you understand? I’d do anything for the two of you. Anything. You and JT are the most important people in my life now. No one and nothing comes before your well-being.”

  Milena blinked. She’d been teasing, but his answer was one-hundred-percent serious. She’d lived a good life. Had great parents, good friends, had never really wanted for anything. But TJ’s proclamation made goosebumps break out on her arms.

  She couldn’t speak, so she simply nodded.

  He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers in a brief caress. The look in his eyes said he wanted more, but he stood up and twirled her, breaking her out of her surprised stupor and making her laugh. “Come on, let’s go. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my son.”

  “It’s only been like six hours.”

  “Like I said, too long,” TJ retorted.

  He held her hand as they left his apartment, during the elevator ride, and all the way to his car. And once he’d settled into the driver’s seat and they were on their way, he took her hand in his once more.

  Milena stared down at their entwined fingers and smiled. She liked this new TJ. A lot.

  * * *

  Jonathan sat in the car he’d stolen the day before and stared at the redhead through the large picture window of the coffee shop. Going to the house she was staying at had been impulsive. He hadn’t seen her then, but the thought of snatching her away and saying to hell with his father’s plan had been swirling through his head ever since that night.

  He didn’t want to wait anymore.

  He watched as his redhead laughed with the people in the small shop, and he wanted to kill each and every one of them. She was his. She belonged to him. They shouldn’t be looking at her.

  Jonathan fingered the plastic zip ties in his lap without thought. Once he got them on her wrists, he’d never take them off. She’d be his to do whatever he wanted. And while the physical act of making babies with her didn’t appeal, the fear in her eyes and how she’d obey his every order did.

  He watched as she changed out the plastic bags in the two trash cans inside the coffee shop then headed toward the back.

  He hadn’t really planned on today being the day he made his move, but she was giving him the perfect opportunity. Jonathan had scoped out the shop earlier and knew the Dumpster was in an alley behind the shop. He could grab her right now. Take her south of the border and never have to see his father again. His new family could be started as early as that night.

  His heart beating overtime with excitement, Jonathan eased the car door open and put one foot on the hot asphalt—then stopped short.

  A truck pulled up a couple of car lengths down from him. A woman he recognized leaned over and kissed the man behind the wheel, and then hopped down from the truck.

  She had a similar shade of hair to his woman, but he wasn’t attracted to her at all. She was too muscular, too…hard. Not to mention, she was a cop. She headed straight for the coffee shop, and Jonathan knew his chance to snatch the object of his obsession had faded away.

  He pulled his foot back inside the car and sat there fuming.

  He hated that he was denied access to his redhead, but clenched his fists and tried to control his temper.

  The more he watched her, the more he wanted her. It had been too long since he’d been able to sate his needs, not since the school had been closed down. It wasn’t easy to find a girl who wouldn’t go to the cops after he was done with her. That’s why he needed the redhead to make one for him.

  His eyes closed as he fantasized about a little red-haired girl calling him Master Jonathan, and doing whatever he told her to.

  Just like the other night at the house, Father didn’t know he was here today, but Jonathan didn’t care. He’d lie and tell Jeremiah he’d been watching the other bitch and her brat. He had no use for the baby boy. None. He knew his father was going to replace him, but that was okay with him.

  His chance to snatch the redhead had been lost with the arrival of the cop, but he’d get another. Deciding to stick with his father’s plans for now, Jonathan continued to watch through the window of the shop. “I can’t wait to make you mine,” he murmured.

  Chapter 11

  Milena had tried to get TJ to stay the night at her parents’ house, but he’d refused, saying it just wasn’t right. She had no idea what was “wrong” about it, but he’d refused to budge. She was a little irritated that he preferred to sit outside in his car all night rather than be inside with her and their son, especially after all his talk of it being easier to protect her if he was with her.

  It was Saturday night, and she and Sadie were alone in the house with JT. Her parents had gone downtown for a date night, something they’d done periodically over the years. They’d spend the night at a fancy hotel and “reconnect.” Their words, not hers.

  She and Sadie were hanging out on the couch and chatting. JT had fallen asleep an hour before and they were enjoying the girl time.

  “I just don’t understand why he won’t come inside,” Milena bitched to Sadie for what seemed like the hundredth time.

  Her friend merely shrugged. “It’s a guy thing.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously,” Sadie said with confidence. “Look, I’m not going to pretend I know exactly what he’s thinking, but I’m guessing it has something to do with the way he looks at you.”

  “How does he look at me?” Milena asked.

  “As if he wants to tear off all your clothes and have his wicked way with you.”

  Milena blushed. “He does not.”

  “Yeah, Milena, he does. And he probably doesn’t want to risk losing control and doing j
ust that when you’re still living under your dad’s roof.”

  “But I’m twenty-seven, not fifteen.”

  “Doesn’t matter. It’s still your dad’s house.”

  “That’s just stupid,” Milena complained.

  “Remember how I told you about my uncle and how alpha he was?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

  Milena huffed out a breath. “I just don’t want him to be uncomfortable and I don’t like thinking about him sitting out there in his car all night.”

  “When are you moving in with him?”

  “Probably next week.”

  “He’ll live until then,” Sadie declared.

  Milena laughed. “You’re so mean.”

  “Nah. Besides, it’s good for him. A man never died from being horny, no matter what they might claim otherwise.”

  Both women laughed.

  “You’re sure you’re okay with this?” Milena asked.

  “You moving in with him? Definitely. It’s about time you went after what you want. And what you want is TJ.”

  “I just feel bad about leaving you here.”

  “Don’t,” Sadie said. “I’ll probably be going back up to Dallas in a month or so. My uncle Ian is threatening to haul me back up there tomorrow if I don’t give him an exact date on when I’m returning.”

  “He sounds scary.”

  “Uncle Ian? Nah. He just likes to have his way.”

  “What about your other uncle? Sean?”

  “He likes to have his way too, but he’s not as in-your-face about it as Ian is. He’ll get my aunt Grace to cry and tell me how much she misses me until I feel so guilty I have no choice but to go back.”

  Milena smiled at her friend. “You’re lucky to have them.”

  “I know.”

  Just then, Milena’s phone rang. She leaned over to the coffee table and picked it up. It wasn’t too late, nine o’clock on a Saturday, but getting a call at this time of night wasn’t usual.

  “Hello?” She listened for a minute, then said, “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Call her back and tell her to meet me there.”

  As soon as she hung up, Sadie asked, “An emergency?”

  Milena nodded. “Yeah, the clinic’s answering service got a message about one of the homeless teenagers I’ve been seeing. Apparently, she’s been in labor for a while and didn’t tell anyone. The woman she’s been hanging with on the streets called and said she can’t wait until tomorrow when we open. Can you stay and watch JT while I go in?”

  Sadie shook her head. “No. You can’t go by yourself. It’s dark, Milena. TJ would lose his mind. I’m coming with you.”

  Milena chewed her lip. “I can’t call my parents, it’s not fair to them. Maybe I could bring JT with me.”

  “Call TJ,” Sadie ordered. “If you don’t, I’ll march my ass outside and drag him in here myself.”

  “I don’t want to bother him,” Milena protested.

  “You aren’t alone anymore,” Sadie said reasonably. “You don’t have to do everything by yourself. Call him.”

  Milena nodded reluctantly and tapped on TJ’s number in her contacts.

  He answered after only one ring. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Well, sorta. I need some help.”

  “Hang on, I’m coming in.”

  Milena stared down at the phone in disbelief. She looked up at Sadie. “He hung up on me.”

  The doorbell rang.

  Sadie giggled. “He might’ve hung up, but he sure doesn’t mess around when it comes to getting to your side when you need him.” She stood and headed to the front door to let TJ in.

  Milena had just stood up when TJ was there. “What do you need?”

  “I just got a call from the clinic’s answering service. I need to go into work and I need Sadie with me to help.”

  TJ immediately understood her dilemma. “You can’t go downtown by yourself.”

  “I know, that’s why I called you.”

  Some of the tension in his face eased at her words. He brought his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her into him, as he’d been doing more and more. He hadn’t ever done it in the past, but now he did it all the time. Milena loved it. It was tender and loving, and never failed to make her feel closer to him. He rested his forehead against hers for a second, then pulled back and took a deep breath.

  “This sucks,” he said, surprising her. At her raised brows, he explained. “I don’t want you out of my sight, but I’m not keen on having anyone else watch JT either. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to call two of my friends and have them go with you and Sadie to make sure you’re safe and this isn’t Jeremiah’s way of getting his hands on you. I’ll stay here with JT.”

  “You’re asking me if it’s okay?”

  “Yeah, Doc. I’m asking you.”

  Milena slowly nodded. “Okay, that’ll work. But I need to get down there quickly. I really don’t think this is Jeremiah. The kid in question really is pregnant. It’s a bit early for her to be in labor, so I want to make sure something isn’t wrong.”

  TJ nodded and pulled his phone out of his back pocket and clicked on a contact.

  Within five minutes, he’d arranged for Hayden, the sheriff’s deputy, and Quint from the SAPD to meet at her house. He’d called Cruz, but he was currently on a stakeout and couldn’t help.

  Milena felt humbled that TJ’s friends would drop everything on a Saturday night to help her. They didn’t even really know her. She said as much to TJ.

  “They’re my friends, and they know I’d do the same for them if they asked.” He shrugged. “It’s what friends do.”

  “I know, but it’s a pain in the ass,” she protested.

  “I told you once that I’d do anything for you, Doc, and this is part of that. If you need something and I can’t provide it for you, I’ll call every friend I have and turn in any marker in order to get it for you.”

  She was beginning to understand a little of what Sadie had talked to her about earlier. TJ was a man who took care of his own. No matter what that entailed. “Thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. Not for this. If I buy you a giant diamond necklace, you can thank me. If I go with you to the opera, when I hate the opera, you can thank me. But you never thank me for taking care of you and our son and making sure you’re both safe. Got it?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. Now, before you need to leave, give me the rundown real fast on what to do if JT wakes up.”

  Milena spent the next fifteen minutes making sure TJ knew where the extra bottle was and what to do if he woke up hungry or with a dirty diaper. The toddler was getting better at sleeping through the night, but sometimes still woke up. Something occurred to Milena. “You have changed a diaper before, haven’t you?”

  TJ shrugged. “No, but how hard can it be? I’ve seen it done on television.”

  Milena resisted the urge to laugh. He was completely serious. Well, if their son woke up, he’d find out for himself soon enough how hard it could be.

  A knock sounded on the door and Sadie went to answer it, letting in both Hayden and Quint. After explanations of what was going on, TJ walked Milena to the door. Sadie had gone on ahead with Hayden and Quint.

  “Stay safe,” TJ implored. “Now that you’re back in my life, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “Nothing is going to happen. I’m just going down to the clinic to assess Julie. I’ll call the ambulance if it looks like she’s really about to give birth. Most of the time, especially when it’s their first child, it’s a false alarm.”

  “What do you know about the woman who called the answering service?” TJ asked. “Is she trustworthy?”

  Milena shrugged. “I don’t know her all that well, but her name is Blythe and she’s brought Julie in a couple times.”

  “And she’s homeless too?”

  “Yeah. But she doesn’t seem like a typical ho
meless person.”

  “What do you mean?” TJ asked.

  Milena shrugged. “Just that she doesn’t seem like she’s hit rock bottom, like a lot of the homeless I’ve met. She honestly seems like someone who had some bad luck in her life and is trying to dig her way out.”

  TJ studied her for a second, then nodded. “Okay. Do whatever Hayden and Quint tell you to. If they say to get down, drop to your belly immediately. If they tell you to run, you run and don’t look back. Got it?”

  “I’m going to be fine.”

  “Got it?” TJ asked again in a harder tone.

  “Got it,” Milena dutifully repeated.

  Then for the third time since he’d come back into her life, TJ kissed her. Really kissed her. His head tilted and he took her mouth with as much intensity as he had the last time they’d made out, only this time their kiss was shorter, and thus way less satisfying.

  “Come back to me, Doc,” he whispered. “I’ll keep our son safe.”

  Milena nodded and backed away from him. She turned so she wouldn’t fall down the steps that led up to the front door and looked back. TJ was still standing in the doorway, his intense gaze on hers.

  Even when Quint was backing down the driveway, TJ still stood there, watching.

  * * *

  Six hours later, Milena and Sadie pulled into the driveway back at the house. They’d arrived at the clinic and Blythe and Julie had been waiting for them. Hayden and Quint had made sure the clinic was safe and empty, and then she and Sadie had gotten to work.

  Julie had been given a thorough examination, and even though she was several centimeters dilated and in a considerable amount of pain, because her water hadn’t broken, Milena wanted to try to stop the labor. Julie was only thirty-three weeks along and it would be better if the baby had more time in her womb.

  Julie was freaked out, Blythe was worried, and Milena was on edge. It was pitch black outside and, for the first time, she was worried that this would make an excellent opportunity for Jeremiah and Jonathan to make their move…if they were even after her.