by C. A. Harms
“Yeah, I remember.” When she didn’t say anything else, my mind began to race. Just when I was about to say something, anything to break the silence, she spoke. “You were a mess that night.”
“I was,” I confessed. There was no reason to deny it. That night made me question everything. My ability to do my job, my strength…everything.
“I trust you,” she whispered, and a huge sense of relief washed over me. “I know you wouldn’t willingly hurt me.”
“Never,” I added as I lifted my hand to her face. Cupping her jaw, I tilted her head up and brought my lips to hers.
Our kisses quickly led to more as she crawled onto my lap and straddled me. She was only wearing one of my t-shirts, and I found myself smiling at that. “I love seeing you in my shirt,” I said, and she smiled in return.
“I love you,” she whispered against my lips.
Today had been an emotional roller coaster for the both of us. I just needed to feel her close, touch her, and know that everything would be okay. Gabby was my security, the place I could settle when everything else was fucked up. She kept me grounded and feeling whole.
“I love you, sweetheart,” I said as I ran my hands up her bare thighs and brought them to rest on her hips. “I need to know you forgive me, not just for everything I had to do during that time, but for today too. I can’t say I will ever forgive myself for missing that special moment, but I need to have your forgiveness. I can handle a lot, but you being upset with me rips me apart.”
“I forgive you,” she whispered as she rolled her hips against me, and I hardened beneath her. “I have something for you, but you have to wait to see it.”
“Now you’re just teasing me.” I was trying to focus, but the way she was moving on top of me had my blood flowing to other parts of my body. I had feared coming back to Gabby’s place because I wasn’t sure how things would go. I worried we’d talk and it would only turn into yet another argument, but this was so much better than I anticipated. I felt lighter now that she knew everything—or at least what bothered me most about being undercover. Those memories were always sitting in the back of my mind, making me feel as if I’d wronged Gabby.
“I’m not teasing. I just have other things on my mind right now. The surprise will come later.” She smiled against my lips as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and ran her hands up through my hair.
“Other plans?” I asked, my voice shaking as I spoke, giving away just how much she was affecting me.
“Mmhm,” she moaned as she ground against my now very-hard cock. I grabbed for her shirt and lifted it over her head, baring her breasts. The moment I closed my lips over her nipple and flicked it with my tongue, her body trembled. “Maybe we should move this to the bedroom? Your sisters…” The last thing I wanted was for one of them to find us here on the couch.
“They’re both gone. I’m noticing a trend with that since you brought Grey and Mike around.” Now that she had mentioned it, I did notice the two guys who were more like brothers had been quieter lately. But that thought slowly faded as Gabby slid down my body and positioned herself between my now-parted legs. She bit down on her lip as she began to unbuckle my jeans and lower my zipper. The anticipation of what was to come made my body scream out for her. I fucking needed her hands on me, her mouth wrapped around me.
And the moment she encircled her hand around my cock and pumped once, twice, I was a fucking goner. My head fell back against the couch just as she lowered her mouth over my hardness.
Chapter 28
Gabriella
Being bent over the arm of the couch as Josh pounded into me from behind in the middle of an apartment either of my sisters could enter at any moment should have bothered me, but it didn’t. In fact, I loved it. The thrill only magnified the pleasure.
I could feel myself building toward my release, and from the sounds of it, Josh wasn’t far behind. We were both in a race to finish, seeking the thrill we evoked in each other, driving fast toward that exquisite feeling of the best kind of release.
“So sweet,” Josh groaned as he dug his fingers deeper into my hips. “So perfect.” His deep moan sent chills rolling up my back and along my shoulders.
My body tensed, and heat rushed through my center, causing my toes to curl into the carpet.
“Oh yeah, baby.” He continued to move inside me. “Let go, feel me.”
“Josh.” His name fell from my lips in a weakened whisper, and my insides convulsed around his cock. Within seconds I could feel him releasing inside of me.
I was spent, and he immediately noticed as he pulled back and scooped me up in his arms. I could feel his cum coating my inner thighs, and if I wasn’t so unbelievably exhausted, I would have demanded more. But I could barely hold my eyes open.
He carried me to my room and gently lowered me to the mattress. “Sleep, sweetheart,” he whispered before he kissed my temple.
“Where are you going?” I grabbed his forearm. I didn’t want him to leave, I wanted him close.
“I’m just going out to the living room to pick up our clothes and get my phone. I promise I’ll be right back.” He carefully ran his thumb over my jaw just before his lips touched my head once more. A peaceful feeling washed over me, and I slowly faded away.
***
I woke hours later to find Josh lying next to me, holding his phone out before him as he stared at the screen. He appeared to be mesmerized by whatever he was looking at.
I then remembered the video I had sent to his email just before he came home last night. After our in-depth conversation followed by the most amazing make-up sex I have ever had, I forgot to tell him to check his email.
Earlier today, I had the doctor record the sonogram in progress, then turned it into a video file and sent it to him. I was upset Josh hadn’t been there, but I wanted him to be able to see his child—our son. I wanted him to feel what it felt like to see our boy’s little movements.
His eyes shimmered as he continued to stare at his phone. The sounds of that familiar swoosh of our son’s heartbeat filled the silence.
I placed my hand on his arm, causing his gaze to shift to mine. “That was the surprise I was talking about earlier. I forgot to tell you after we…” I let my words fade. He understood where I was going. “I wanted you to be able to see him too.” I smiled as he looked back at his phone, once again hitting Replay.
He was silent for a few moments as he smiled at the screen.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.” The pain in his voice made my throat constrict. “But thank you for doing this for me. I forwarded it to my sister and my dad. They’ll love it.”
“How many times have you watched it?” I asked.
“I’ve lost count,” he confessed.
Seeing a grown man so full of emotion at the sight of his unborn child was so moving. The love he obviously felt for our son only made my love for him stronger. Josh was a man with a heart of gold and that heart showed through in the difficult job he did every day, just like with that girl I’d seen in his office. I had to let go of my worries, because I believed him when he told me it was nothing like I envisioned.
“We’re having a boy,” he whispered, and the way he said it made my heart race.
“Yes, we are,” I replied with a grin.
After the video finished and he placed his phone back on the nightstand, he turned to face me and placed his hand over my stomach. He stretched his fingers across my abdomen as his eyes remained locked on my bump.
“You and our son mean the world to me,” he whispered, still staring at my stomach. “After everything we’ve been through, you’re still here by my side. That means more than you will ever know.”
“I’ll always be here,” I replied.
“Promise?” he asked, and I laid my hand over his.
“I promise,” I whispered. He lifted his head, and our eyes met. “I love you so much.”
Josh leaned over and pressed his lips to mine, offering me a sweet kiss. I
had grown to know his moods just by how he kissed. When he feels vulnerable, he kisses me in the most gentle way, so soft and delicate. But when he is ramped up from his day, frustrated and irritable, his kiss is so dominating. He takes control and has the ability to bring me to my knees. I loved and was intrigued by the many sides of Josh.
He slid in closer, wrapped his arm around my waist, and held me close, burying his nose in the crook of my neck as we both slowly faded off to sleep once again.
Chapter 29
Josh
“We’ve got a problem,” I said into my phone as I stood in front of my car, seething with anger. My entire fucking body shook as I gripped my phone tightly.
“What’s the problem?” Greyson’s voice was still gruff from sleep, and I thought I heard a soft whisper filter through the phone—a woman’s whisper. I shook off the idea that the woman may in fact be Brook. That was a conversation for another day. Right now I was feeling murderous.
“We’re being watched,” I said as I stared back at the mess that was now my car. The windows had been shattered, and the paint was scarred with deep scratches. They formed words that made my stomach ache and my heart pound thunderously within my chest.
“Being watched?” Greyson sounded a little more alert. “Explain to me how you know that.”
“Well, from the looks of my car and the message that was left, I’d say they’re not just watching you, me, and Mike, they’re watching the girls too.” I ran my hand through my hair before resting it on the back of my neck. “Load up Brooklyn and get over to Gabby’s place.”
“Josh, I—”
“No time for explanations, man. I know she’s been spending time with you. Load her up and get over here. Don’t let her fucking argue, and don’t let her out of your sight.”
He didn’t argue, which confirmed what I already knew—he was, in fact, hooking up with Gabby’s youngest sister. And from the track record he had, I knew I’d feel sorry for him when he tried to end that one. For the first time in his life, he might not make it out unharmed. Brook was feisty.
I made one more call to Mike, and when Audrey answered his phone, I closed my eyes and let my head fall forward. Looks like the three of us were all attracted to the sassy Shannon sisters.
And then the words carved in the paint on my hood came screaming back at me.
The delectable Shannon sisters.
Oh the possibilities.
Anger once again rushed through me like a tidal wave. Now he was fucking with people I loved.
I left my car and rushed back to Gabby’s place to wait for the guys. As I entered the apartment building, Carver, the doorman, stopped me.
“Agent Phoenix,” he hollered as he rounded the front desk, holding out an envelope. “This was dropped off for you. I missed you on your way out.”
I took the envelope and held it by the corner, but by now it had been passed around, and I was sure it would be impossible to get any viable prints.
“Who delivered it?” I asked.
“I didn’t get a chance to speak with her, but it was a tall, slender woman. She was bundled up due to the cooler weather, and her face was covered. Sorry, sir.” Carver looked nervous. “Is everything okay?”
“If anything more comes hand-delivered for myself or Gabby—actually anything for Gabby’s sisters too—you give it directly to me. And try not to handle the items too much.” Still holding the envelope by the corner, I turned toward the elevator as Carver gave me his word to do just what I asked.
Something told me that whatever was inside this envelope would for sure be something that would only enhance my anger.
Gabby’s apartment was still quiet when I entered. I had left her sleeping soundly in bed only moments ago when I had originally planned to go into the office for a bit. I grabbed a knife from the butcher block and slid it along the edge of the envelope, allowing the contents to fall to the counter.
My heart raced and my stomach lurched at the sight of what I found.
It was picture of Gabby leaving what looked like her doctor’s office. She appeared to be upset, and the clothes she wore were the same ones she wore yesterday. I searched through the silverware drawer and found a set of tongs. Using them, I carefully unfolded the letter that accompanied the photo. As I read it, panic rushed through me.
Josh, I hear congratulations are in order. A son on the way. I am counting the days until I get to meet your beautiful woman.
I already knew who sent it. And the idea of Leo being anywhere near my family enraged me more than I’d ever been before. There was no way he was getting near them.
No fucking way.
***
Burton walked into the conference room and took a seat to the side of the room. He quietly observed the men as they ran through all the information we had on Leo’s possible whereabouts. Trevor had pulled together all the points of locations and dates and placed them on a large board at the front of the room.
Grey and Mike began going over the reports from Nic from the CIA. He was the last one besides me who had seen Leo before Leo slipped out of the warehouse where he had been holding me captive. Audrey and Sheppard were also there and were adding all the information they had gathered on Leo during Audrey’s undercover operation in his home.
The entire room hummed with energy. Each agent there understood how close I was to losing my shit, and no one attempted to test me as I barked out orders. Damn it, I knew I sounded like the biggest ass, but this was hitting too close to home. He was messing with my life and threatening Gabby’s safety as well as her sisters’. It wasn’t hard to notice the anger in Mike’s and Greyson’s faces too. They had also become protective over Audrey and Brook.
Mike’s gaze was glued to Sheppard as he continued to hover over Audrey. His jaw ticked with irritation each time Sheppard got within a few feet of her. If the situation wasn’t already so tense, I would have given him shit for it.
“We sent the envelope and its contents to the lab, and they’re checking for prints. Since the fold was self-adhesive, I don’t foresee us gathering any DNA, but they are running the DNA test as a precaution anyway,” Greyson added as they continued to go over the items on the table.
“I need to talk to Frank,” I said.
The room grew silent, just as I knew it would. Since Frank’s arrest, most of us avoided using his name. He was, after all, someone most of us had thought of as a father figure.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Josh,” Grey said.
“I didn’t ask your opinion,” I snapped. I turned to look at Burton. “I need ten minutes.”
He only nodded as he stood and made his way toward the door with his phone in his hand. Josh and Mike stared at me with blank expressions, but I didn’t ask for their opinions. I had one fucking goal in mind, and that was to protect my family. I would do whatever it took to make that happen.
Chapter 30
Gabriella
I felt like I was going to lose my ever-loving mind. Josh had insisted I not go to work today, and after his car got trashed and someone left that creepy note, I didn’t argue. By that point, work was by far the last thing on my mind.
But never in a million years had I thought he would pack Brook and myself up and ship us off to my parents’ place. I adore my parents, but when my father thought anyone was mistreating any of his girls or had placed us in danger in any way, his already-protective nature went to ridiculous extremes.
It was like living in a prison. Brook and I were both being guarded by a man on an extreme power trip. Our father craved control, and Josh had willingly placed us in his hands. He and Brook already butted heads on a good day. Add a little fear into the mix and they turned into two starving bears fighting over the last ounce of food.
I seriously felt as if I had gone nuts, and I was stuck here until Josh got off work. Who knew how long that would be? I cringed at the idea of staying here all night long.
My mother had been baking all day, and when I say “all da
y,” I mean all day. She had told me I was too thin and that her grandson needed food. She soon gave up trying to convince Brook she was too thin, especially when she started to talk about getting no complaints from Greyson. She shocked us all when she freely threw his name out there.
I mean, I knew they were seeing each other, but she’d kept it low-key until now. My parents’ shocked faces were comical enough before Brook threw out that Audrey was spending her nights shacked up with Mike. My dad left the kitchen then, mumbling something about daughters giving him entirely too much stress.
Brook had achieved her goal to rid herself of our hovering father.
After hours and hours of television and snacking on the numerous different items my mother said I needed to consume, I found myself looking at my phone every few minutes, willing it to ring.
When Greyson showed up at 7:00 p.m., I felt a pang of disappointment.
“Hey,” he said as he entered the living room. My dad eyed him close without speaking. “Josh is gonna be a few hours more. He asked if I would pick you up and stay with you girls until he can get back to the apartment.”
Brook’s face lit up with excitement, and it only irritated my father more. “What are your intentions with my daughter?” His question hung in the air as the room grew silent. Greyson’s stare shifted between Brook and my father before he turned toward me with a look of desperation.
I shrugged my shoulder as if to say “don’t look at me.” He was on his own. This was the best source of entertainment I had witnessed all day, and I wasn’t about to rescue him. Watching him squirm under my father’s predatory glare was hilarious.
“If you expect me to allow you to leave here with either of my daughters, I suggest you answer my questions, son.” My father held his stare, showing no signs of letting Greyson off the hook. I didn’t think I’d ever seen Greyson so nervous. He had always been so confident and cocky, but no witty line of shit was going to get him out of this one. I sorta felt sorry for the guy, but not enough to rescue him. And then he opened his mouth and shocked us all.
