by Blue Saffire
“I want to hear her out,” Ry says from across the room.
“Shut up,” Nick snaps.
“For once, I agree with the little shit,” Wyatt interjects and shrugs. “Out of curiosity.”
“Fine, but it does not mean we are doing shit she says,” Luke grumbles.
“Agreed,” Nick snorts.
“Whatever,” I mumble. “You all have agreed that Harvey is all about his money, and he is afraid of Brooklyn’s family and this other family right?”
Nick and Gavin nod at the same time. “Well, you guys have wanted to shut down his money all these years. Sorry Gavin, no offense, but I am a much better hacker than you are.”
Gavin smirks and laughs. “None taken. I have been a Lilla du fan for years. Your work is impressive,” he chuckles.
“I say that you give me a laptop and let me shut his ass down. Give me an hour, I’ll have him so fucked his head will explode. His offshore money won’t even be safe from me. I’ll have investors jumping ship from his company and all. That will get him some unwanted attention if I understand all of this correctly.
“Nick, he doesn’t know you are on to him yet. He doesn’t know you know about Jillian. We can use that in our favor. Make it look like we are still searching for her to get answers.
“You and I can go on a little trip… make it look like business as usual,” I shrug. “From what Joe said the FBI’s resource are low on your case. They won't be able to follow if we do a bit of state hopping.
“When Carver starts to panic, I have a feeling he is going to reach out to you to feel you out. That’s when you can offer a helping hand,” I pause and wiggle my brows. “A private jet with a special destination.
“Brooklyn, I’m sure you and your friends can make it so Nick and his brothers get a little face time with Harvey, before a professional steps in to finish things off,” I say and bat my lashes innocently.
Nick looks at me in awe for a moment with his mouth hanging open. His eyes sweep over me from head to toe. “Who the fuck are you, and what have you done with my innocent girl?” he asks shaking his head.
“I’m Sephora Lincoln, and I have grown up. Nobody fucks with my family and gets away with it. That bastard owes me,” I say lifting my head.
“Aye, Nick you’ve done well indeed,” Brooklyn booms with laughter. “I’ll make some calls. It’s time to put this to bed. I need be getting back home soon.” Brooklyn says like only he can. Listening to him is still taking some getting uses to.
chapter Twenty-seven
All in the Family
Nick
I can’t believe I am standing in front of not one of my brothers, but both. I am taller than both of them. A half an inch taller than Gavin and about two or three taller than Rick. This is an awkward moment, to say the least.
Gavin and I have spent the last week getting to know each other. We are a lot alike in so many ways, but total opposites in a lot as well. Kind of like a yin and yang.
Sephora adores him, and I think he feels the same. It is weird watching my identical brother interact with my wife, but he is just as overprotective of her as I am. He is even in the habit of calling her Lilla du.
Gavin and I have learned a lot about each other. He also filled in a lot of blanks for me. He and Rick were not the ones trying to frame me.
Which is how we ended up here. Gavin has been depressed about being away from Rick while we have been here in New York waiting for Carver. After a few of our first arguments as brothers Gavin convinced me to meet with Rick.
I am still on the fence about how I feel about him. To me, he is a shit starter. Brother or not, I don’t trust people that start shit. So here we are after hours, in one of the restaurants Kevin, and I own in New York.
“I still don’t like you,” are the first words Rick speaks to me.
Gavin groans and rolls his eyes. “Really, like what are we five,” he glares at Rick. “Cut the shit, Rick. He is our brother too. We are going to be uncles soon. This is our shot at the family we always wanted.”
“You think he is not going to try to send my ass to jail for shooting Sephora’s friend,” Rick narrows his eyes at Gavin.
“If he does, you deserve it. I told you, no guns. What do you go and do? You go and get a gun,” Gavin grumbles. “Shit for brains. You are the smartest, dumb person I know.”
I sigh and shake my head at them both. I have to make a decision, and I have to make it now. I can hold a grudge against my brother or can let that shit go. He honestly didn’t mean to shoot Mark, it was an accident, and one of the only two people that can prove it was him is missing still. The other I’m not too sure about but I’ll handle her.
I grab my older brother by the back of his neck and pull him to me. I place my forehead to his and inhale deeply. This feels like the right thing to do. I don’t want to spill my own blood and to harm my brother would be just that.
“Hate me all you want, you are my brother and nothing can change that. I told you I protect what’s mine,” I point to his chest. “YOU… are mine. When Mark wakes, we will deal with that hurdle. For now, Gavin is right. You are all the family I’ve got.”
“Bullshit,” Rick says with a throat clogged with emotion.
“I don’t bullshit. You know this,” I choke out through my own lump in my throat.
Rick looks into my eyes for a few moments before he nods and pulls me into a tight hug. I can’t breathe, but I don’t care. I hold on just as tightly. I feel when Gavin joins in on the hug.
Our moment is broken as hand claps fill the air, and we break the hug. We turn to see Harvey standing there watching us with cold eyes. We break apart and turn to him. We weren’t expecting him to come here.
We were supposed to get word when he landed tonight. He was going to be driven to a warehouse out in Long Island. From the look on his face, he has pieced things together sooner than we would have liked.
Sephora really did a number on his entire life with just the click of a keyboard. Gavin hovered over her shoulder the entire time in awe. Sephora made what Gavin and Rick were doing look like child’s play.
“Now would you look at this, all my boys under one roof,” Harvey croons like the slime ball he is.
“No guns, huh,” Rick mutters under his breath for just my and Gavin’s ears.
“I didn’t say that shit,” I whisper back.
“Really,” Gavin glares at us.
Rick and I shrug. We all turn our attention back on Carver as he brings his own gun into view. Rick and I side eye, Gavin.
“Fuck,” Gavin hisses.
“I have always dreamed of being the one to reunite you boys,” Carver says and licks his nasty old thin lips. Sephora’s decision of him was spot on.
“You’re a sick bastard,” Rick growls.
Harvey tilts his head to the side. “Funny, I think I remember you enjoying it the most,” Harvey laughs a sinister laugh.
Rick goes to lunge at him, but both Gavin and I restrain him. “He has a gun,” Gavin hisses at Rick.
“I figure I’m a dead man anyway,” Harvey spits. “You have called in the big boys for me. I hear I am meant to be Hushed,” Harvey snarls, but I can see the fear in his eyes.
“I never intended to let it get that far,” I say honestly. I promised Sephora I would let the professionals handle it, but my fingers were crossed.
Rick and Gavin snort beside me at the same time and say, “Neither did I!”
“That is fine because now I plan to take you all with me,” Harvey fumes. He points his gun at me then at Gavin and finally at Rick. “I don’t know which of you I want to watch bleed out first.”
“You won’t be making it out of here,” I snarl.
“I think I loved you the most. I never got a taste, but I still have the most fun with you. You were the one in the dark. The one that trusted me the most,” Harvey chuckles. “Your father just handed you all over to me not knowing all the things I had planned for you.
“But I sh
ould have watched you all more closely. You got too cocky, Lincoln. Nick my golden boy. I wanted them to take you down a notch. I never meant for you to end up controlling everything. I was supposed to gain controlling interest. But no, you come with your new ideas and then that little girl comes along and makes you a fucking billionaire.
“Watch what you say, Carver,” I hiss.
“Or what,” Harvey snarls viciously.
Just when Harvey points his gun back at me, two things happen. Sephora enters the room from the restroom where she had gone just before Rick arrived and the backroom doors burst open, with Kevin and Wyatt appearing holding up guns. I watch as Harvey glares at Sephora just before his attention is turned to the backroom door. Harvey’s eyes widen as Kevin fires a shot.
I am in a state of confusion as I hear three shots fired and see sparks fly from three different directions. I know two are aimed at Harvey. They are just not fast enough, Harvey gets off a single shot before his shirt turns red and head snaps back from the force of a bullet to his head.
It is like it happens in slow motion. I see it coming at me, but I can’t move. Suddenly, I feel myself being shoved. I turn to see Rick pushing me out of the way and throwing his body in the bullets path instead.
“No,” I roar and hear it echo as Gavin bellows the same. I go to push Rick down, but Gavin is the one that jumps in the way at the very last minute taking the bullet to the chest. “No!”
Gavin’s body jerks and he starts to tumble to the ground. I lose my shit. My brother, we just found each other. I drop to my knees and pull him to me. I know I am screaming for help, but no one seems to be moving fast enough.
I look up for Sephora to ensure she is safe. My brows crumble when I see her staring blankly in Harvey’s direction with a smoking gun in her hands. A sigh of relief pushes through my lips. In the back of my mind, I make plans to hurt Ry. I have known he was up to something.
I turn my attention to my brother bleeding out in my arms. He is losing blood too fast. “No,” I yell. “Fuck, Gavin you better not die on me. I need you. I just found you damnit. You’re going to be an uncle. We’re going to be a family. I’m never going to let anyone hurt you again,” I demand.
Gavin looks up at me as the life drains from his body and eyes. “My baby… brother,” he mouths. “My job…to protect.”
“What the fuck, Gav, I had it,” Rick sobs. “I deserve this shit, not you.”
“Always…have… my back. My…turn,” he mouths to Rick as blood spills from his mouth.
“Fuck man,” Rick groans. “No, it wasn’t. It’s always my turn. You’re my baby brothers shit head. I protect you both.”
“I know,” Gavin smiles just before his eyes close.
“Gavin, Gavin, Gav, no, no, no,” I bellow.
epilogue
Live, Learn, Love
Sephora
Two years later….
It is kind of hard to believe an entire two years have passed since all of that drama came to a head. So much has happened since then. Some good, some really bad, but our circle of friends is stronger than ever, and our family is even stronger.
Nick finally has everything he needs with a little extra thrown in. Just so happens there was a reason I was so damn huge, during my pregnancy. Baby number three was hiding. Much like he does now.
Nicholas Jr. is always hiding behind his father’s leg. His nickname is limb. Since he started walking, he has been attached to Nick’s leg. Nick doesn’t mind. He has a soft place for his son. Not that those two little girls of ours don’t have him wrapped around their pretty little fingers.
Those two traitors are another story. They take turns taking advantage of their Uncle Rick. The kids have gone a long way in helping mending Rick and the family.
My kids are blessed. They have so many people in their lives to love them. Their uncle Ry, as he has them call him spoils the hell out of them. That is when Nick isn’t trying to beat the shit out of him. It is comical, but everyone knows it is in love. Nick has a special place in his heart for Ryan.
Once Nick found out that my bullet was the first to hit and save his life he had second thoughts on killing Ryan for having Bean sneak around and teach me how to shoot. I hadn't told anyone what Bean and I were doing while Ry distracted Nick.
I got into all kinds of trouble for it, but I’d do it again. If I were honest, though, it helps me sleep at night knowing that it was actually Kevin’s bullet that killed Harvey. He was a monster, but that doesn’t make me one.
I giggle as I feel kisses on the side of my neck. This never gets old to them. I try to tell them that no matter what I know my man. These two are always up to their little tricks like little kids. I think they are trying to make up for the time they missed as kids. One of these days I am going to piss Nick off and play along.
I turn in my brother-in-law’s arms, so I can see his lips. I swat him in the arm and poke at his stomach. His chiseled chest is bare and sweaty from being in the in-house sauna.
I look up at him with a smile on my face. “One of these days you two are going to have my children confused. Cut it out, Gavin,” I chide.
He throws his head back in a soundless laugh. He then winks at me. “You love me,” he mouths. I still haven’t perfected my sign language. I am getting there, but Gavin usually just allows me to read his lips.
“I do, but you are no substitution for my husband. Is he still in there,” I point to the sauna.
Gavin wiggles his brows at me. “Yup,” he mouths with a sly grin.
“Thanks, your woman is upstairs, go harass her,” Gavin gives me a cute blush as I mention his crush. He nods at me then kisses my cheek and moves swiftly for the source of his affection.
I shake my head and turn for the sauna. I was hoping to catch Nick down here. Ettie has the kids for the weekend, and I need some time with my man.
I walk into the large sauna Nick had built into our new home. I have to stop and admire my husband’s bare, sculpted chest. My body starts to hum just from entering the room with him. This is how I know the difference. I never feel on fire when I am next to Gavin, but Nick.
It is not the effects of the sauna I am feeling. My eyes hone in on a bead of sweat that trails from his flat nipple, over his pec, and down his abs, making a slow sensual trip. When it makes it down to the towel around his waist, I lick my lips.
“Are you going to just stand there staring at me,” Nick ask with his head still back and his eyes closed.
“Depends,” I purr seductively.
“Depends on what,” he replies lifting his head and opening his green eyes to look at me. His eyes roam over my bikini clad body. This sauna is one of the things that has helped me get an even better body than the one I had before the babies.
I now work out with Nellie and the girls regularly. The way we drop babies around here, we have to support each other. Besides, I think Noah gets a kick out of whipping us into shape when he can.
“It depends on if you are interested in a little company,” I say lifting my brow.
Nick chuckles and lifts a hand up to wipe some sweat from his brow. “Come here,” he crooks his finger on his other hand.
I smirk and reach behind me to tug at the string of my bikini. The scraps of fabric fall free, and I reach to hook my fingers in the bottom to wiggle out of them. Nick laughs and gives me a wolfish grin.
I can already see he is starting to tent his towel. I am feeling all sorts of nasty today. Right now life is good, and it can only get better. I saunter over to my husband slowly with confidence I didn’t have three years ago.
I let my hips sway, and I run my hands down my sides and keep my eyes on my husband. His green orbs drop to the apex of my thighs, and he licks his lips. I am so ready to give him a taste.
I know I am about to sweat my ponytail out. I have finally found a happy medium there. My hair now falls just past my shoulders. I have thought about growing it back out, but I choose not to hide behind my hair anymore.
&nb
sp; Nick peels his towel open and reveals one of my greatest sources of pleasure. Our sex life as changed with three small children, but when we do have sex it is off the charts. Nick opted not to put a playroom in this new house.
I was a little disappointed at first, but that didn’t last for long. Our bedroom is more than equipped and to the naked eye, no one would be the wiser. I no longer wear my collar all the time.
Nick traded it out for a cuff bracelet that he has the key to. Only this time he has a matching male version of my cuff and I wear the key to his around my neck. We’re a team. I have learned to trust him and love him.
This right here is just icing on the cake. I stop in front of Nick, and he pulls me in between his legs. He bites his lip as he runs his hands over my hips to my ass.
“Have the kids gone to Ettie and Andrew’s,” Nick asks as he nuzzles my breasts.
“Yup, all Lincoln rug rats are gone,” I chirp.
Nick laughs and squeezes my cheeks. “Did you get out the specs for the new game?”
“Yes, Sir, I cc'd you, and I emailed you the numbers on the new release. I think you will be quite pleased,” I sing.
“Are you pleased,” Nick asks as he nuzzles my nipple with his nose.
“I am, but I can find a number of ways to be even more pleased,” I purr.
Nick pulls back and looks up at me. “And how is that,” he smiles.
“Well, I was thinking. I want you, I want your cock in my mouth and my pussy in your face,” I purr and lick my lips nice and slow.
Nick growls and pulls my face down to him by the back of my head. I hold onto his sweat slicked shoulders and let him make love to my mouth. So, yup, my mouth has gotten really dirty over the last two years. Nick loves it.
When he releases my lips, he bites my bottom lip and tugs it with his teeth. I moan and run my fingers through his hair and over his scalp. I am so turned on I can’t wait.
Nick releases me altogether. He turns and lies on his back. I am giddy inside. I climb up and straddle his face on the bench. Nick wraps his arms around my thighs and cups my cheeks before I can even get settled.
