Coming Home: Book 2 The Wakefield Romance Series

by Hewitt, Theresa Marguerite

  "I can never be with you, Duke, and I can't believe you have been untruthful to me this entire time, acting like a friend to try and get in my pants. I love Chad, not you, why can't you accept that?" I let out a snotty, incredulous laugh and regret it right away as I see the anger flare in his features, his smile turning to a sneer.

  "Why do you love that asshole; he'll do nothin' but leave you again?" He grips the tops of my arms, his large hands squeezing them tightly, making my eyes water from the pinching pain. I open my mouth to retort his claim, but am silenced when he shakes me, my head popping back and I put my hands on his chest, trying to push him away.

  "Tell me, Rhea, why?" he almost growls out, his nose inches from mine. "You need to be with me," he says more sweetly, and I can feel his breath on my lips, the tears running down my cheeks. "I'm gonna take care of you and the baby. I'll never leave." He whispers the last word so tenderly right before crashing his lips to mine, taking what breath I had left, away.

  Curse my emotions and hormones, because I give into the sensation of someone's lips on mine for a second before the rolling disgust sets into the pit of my stomach. I ball my fists and pound on Duke's chest, pushing with all my might to get him to release his assault on my mouth. I hold my lips tightly closed as he tries to shove his tongue in, his hands gripping onto either side of my face, stopping my movement.

  "Kiss me back, damnit," he mumbles, and I take the moment of freedom to let out a mumbled kind of scream right before he forces my face back to his.

  Where is everyone? At any other time there would be people in and out of my kitchen, wondering where I was. I keep my mouth closed as much as I can, pounding on Duke's chest with my fists, hearing the sound rumble through his torso. He presses my back against the island and my fear rises as one of his hands snake down to the hem of my dress, his fingers brushing on my bare thigh, making me shiver in disgust. As I feel his fingers trying to trail up the inside of my thigh, I pound furiously on his chest, closing my eyes tight as the tears rush forth.

  "What the hell, Duke?" I hear Garth's voice and open my eyes; Duke stops his assault and pins me to the counter with his arms on either side of my body. "What the hell do you think you're doin'?" Garth yells before launching himself at Duke, and I turn to my side, trying to squirm away before the grappling men run into me. I let out a strangled yell for help as I see them crash into the fridge, Garth's hands blocking blows thrown by Duke. The entire time they are yelling at each other.

  I sink to the floor with my back to the side of the island and the fighting men, as Brad, Harlan, and his brothers rush in, and I let the disgust really settle in. He had tricked me. He had lied to me. He had tried to force himself on me. All those times I had talked his ear off, leaning my head on his shoulder, he had had an underlying plan all along. I had let that asshole into my life, opened my heart to him in hopes of a friendship and he had used me. I hear the front door slam shut, the arguing from outside echoing through the house, and then the sound of Duke's truck roaring to life.

  "Ray?" Brad's voice finds me and he wraps his strong arms around me, pulling me to my feet as my teary eyes look up into his face. His warm and caring expression kills me and I sink into his embrace, sobbing into his chest as his arms move up and down my back. I feel so stupid right now, because everyone was right. They had all told me to stay away from Duke, that he was no good, but me being my stubborn self, didn't listen.

  "You were right," I say, wiping my eyes and turning my face up to him. "I was so stupid not to believe you." He smiles sweetly and pulls me back into his chest, brushing my hair back away from my face.

  Garth contacts his cousin who is a Sheriff's Deputy, and about ten minutes later, as I sit on the couch between Brad and Kendall, he takes my statement. I tell him everything Duke had said and how he kissed me, and that's when Deputy Collins asks the inevitable question, "Did he rape you, or forcibly touch you, Ray?"

  "No," I choke out, looking to the side of the couch and smiling at Garth through what tears I have left. "Garth stopped him 'fore he could." Deputy Collins nods, making a couple of notes in his pad, and I motion for Garth to come over to me. He kneels on the carpet in front of me, his massive, stocky form dwarfing me even as I sit on the couch, as Brad and Kendall talk with the Deputy.

  "I'm sorry, Rhea," Garth whispers, his hands on my hips as I see his eyes start to rim with moisture. "I could've stopped him sooner if I'd just listened to Brad and gone to check on you. I'm sorry." I grip the collar of his shirt and pull him to me, resting his cheek on my chest as his arms wrap around my belly; letting him cry silently with me.

  "Don't be sorry, Garth. I don't even want to think what he woulda done if you hadn't come in," I say, kissing him on his stubble filled cheek. He sniffles real loud and moves his head from my cheek to my belly, pressing his ear right above my belly button.

  "I woulda killed that son of a bitch if he had hurt you, Rhea, or if he had hurt this little guy." His green eyes are rimmed with red as he looks up at me. He grins before placing a quick kiss to my belly, standing fast and wiping at his eyes with the back of his hands. He helps me up and I run my fingers across his cheeks, looking at this burly man before me. He had saved me.

  Deputy Collins says they are going to pay a visit to Duke's trailer, warning him to stay away, and that tomorrow he's going to have the Sheriff draft up a restraining order. Thanking him for his help, I realize how even more tired I am now as my arms feel like lead swinging the door shut. Kendall argues with me that she wants to stay the night, but I know that she has to work early, as do I, so she accepts that Brad and Garth are going to stay and leaves me with a tight hug and a million kisses on the cheek.

  Settling into bed after a long hot shower, with an old tank and shorts on, I cuddle up to Chad's pillow, taking in that light Old Spice scent that still lingers. I still can't believe how stupid I had been, letting Duke into my life and trusting that he was trying to be a good man. Sinking my face into my pillow, I realize I don't want to be alone, especially not tonight. So grabbing my phone and Chad's pillow, I waddle down the hall, opening the spare bedroom door quietly.

  "What's up, Rhea?” Brad whispers, raising his head up to look at me through the darkness. Dragging the pillow with me, I climb in between the two men, lying on my side and facing Brad. "Are you okay?” he asks, and I can see that his eyebrow is arched.

  "I don’t want to be alone," I whisper, laying Chad's pillow under my head as I feel Garth's arms wrap around me from behind; his body forming to mine.

  "Fine by me, momma," he whispers into my hair and the three of us settle down, Brad's hand resting on my belly as I feel the baby kick away.

  I'm grateful I have such understanding friends; I don't know what I would do without them. I'm still kicking myself for the whole Duke thing, and I probably will for a while, but I pray silently to God that Duke stays away, finding happiness in whatever life path he takes.

  As long as it doesn't involve me.

  ~~~~~~~~~

  Duke

  "Fuckin' shit," I roar at the windshield as I whip into my driveway, pounding my fists on the steering wheel repeatedly. My blood is still hot and rushing through my veins from my kiss with Rhea, and hell, it is going straight to my dick. My muscles are tense, wanting her touch, and my lips still feel like they hold her sweet and soft ones.

  Damn that fag Garth Cobb for intervening. If I had three more seconds with her, she would be mine. I could feel it. She might have been pounding her fists on my chest and acting like she was trying to push me away, but I know how she was really feeling; she wanted me just like I want her. That little whimper she had let out as my fingers traced up the inside of her thigh was enough to reassure me of that.

  My truck and front door suffer the wrath of my frustration as I slam both, making the windows in my trailer rattle and rousing my cousin from his drunken sleep on my couch. "What the fuck, Man?" he complains, rubbing his eyes as I flick on a lamp, yanking a six pack from the fridge.


  "Get up, shit head," I growl, tossing the beer cans down on the coffee table. "Go get that bottle of tequila from the shed. I'm gonna need it." I snap the tab back on the Coors can and chug it down, crushing the can and tossing it into the kitchen behind me, not caring where it lands. I don't give a fuck anymore. I want my Rhea.

  "Somethin' happen?” Jesse asks, eyeing me up and down as I slam down another brew, repeating my action of throwing the can. I just nod my head and he disappears for a second, returning through the side door with a box full with liquor bottles. Foregoing the tequila because I have no limes handy in the house, I grab a bottle of Wild Turkey, unscrew the cap with my thumb and take a long swallow.

  God, it burns going down, but the warmth it creates in my chest lightly ebbs the pain of not having Rhea in my arms; for the moment. It kills me that she's denying her feelings for me and I throw back a third beer, letting a loud belch rumble from my chest as Jesse just stares at me, his beer can halfway to his lips.

  "You wanna tell me?" he asks, opening a bottle of vodka and setting it in front of him.

  I tell him the entire scenario, dodging his questioning glances and incredulous huffs. We sit in tension filled silence, the only noise being that of the television and opening beer cans until three loud raps at the front door make the walls shake. I nod for him to open the door as I finish the last of the six pack and cross into the small kitchen to grab another from the fridge.

  "Duke, it's the cops," Jesse says, and I pause at my recliner, looking out my front door to see Deputy Kale Collins looking mad as hell on my doorstep.

  "What the fuck do you want?" I ask, throwing myself down in the worn out chair and taking a chug from the whiskey bottle.

  The Deputy comes in and stands near the door. The entire time his eyes are on me as I ignore him. He gives me a twenty minute long speech about how I am to stay away from Rhea from now on, because she is filing for a restraining order. I can't go to the bar when she's working; I can't go to the mall where she works, and I can't even drive down her road. A load of bullshit; that's what this is. I know one of her friends put her up to it, and she’s probably doing this just to make them happy. None of those mother-fuckers like me, but I don't give a shit.

  Telling the Deputy that I am going to follow whatever rules they give me just to get him off my back, Jesse shuts the door behind him and I wait until I see the cruiser leave the trailer park.

  "Nothin's gonna keep me from her, cuz," I say, cracking open my tenth beer and glancing at Jesse. His look is unbelieving, but I just shake my head and say more forcibly, "Nothing will keep me from her. She belongs with me!"

  She won't be able to deny her feelings much longer. I'll make damn sure of that.

  CHAPTER TEN:

  September 16, 2012

  Afghanistan

  Chad

  The sun is just peeking up over the horizon as I follow behind French and Black on our morning run. Reno is beside me, silent, but beside me nonetheless. We have been back at the training base for a week now and the last mission had been especially hard on Reno and I, so much so that it brings a pain in my chest just thinking about it.

  We had been dropped at night, right outside a suspected terrorist cell and our objective had been to detain three men who were high on the Al Quieda list. Infiltrating the building hadn't been hard, getting out was the challenge. Once we had the three men handcuffed, we moved to the roof where the pickup point was and that's when all hell broke loose.

  Timmons was caught off guard with a handful of civilians approaching the gate to the compound and didn't see the armed guards coming towards the building from the west. Reno had spotted the armed men and called out the warning just as the gunshots rang out. Benson, Talbot and French stayed with the detainees while Reno, Black, and I went back down through the ratty building to eliminate the threat as Timmons and Uclid came in from the South to meet us.

  Down on the first floor, I took the lead, taking out three of the men coming through the door, as Reno and Black backed me up, advancing tightly behind me. Our night vision came in handy, being able to see the men before they saw us and following their gunshots to their positions. Hearing Timmons issue the all clear from outside, I got to the open door just as a massive explosion erupted right outside the front gate to the compound. It lit up the sky in a burst of blue and orange, sending an enormous plume of smoke up around the gate and shaking the fence.

  "Holy fuck, those were women and kids!” I heard Timmons yell and I don't know what came over me, but I bolted from the building, out and over the open space of the yard. At that moment I didn't care if I got shot. I didn't care if a dozen armed men jumped out; I'd bowl them over in my effort to get to that gate, to see if there were any survivors. My heart beat was at a rapid tempo in my chest and it resounded through my ears.

  I sprinted right past Timmons and Uclid, ignoring their questions and not noticing that Reno had followed me until I got to the gate. It was horrible, and even now as I follow my Team leader on a vigorous pace, I have to shake my head to try and clear out the image of the fiery scene.

  There were pieces of bodies scattered by the gate with what I'm guessing was clothing at one point, now smoldering and on fire. "Jesus," Reno said, but I couldn't take my eyes off the horror before me.

  Then the crying found us, loud, shrill, and heart shattering. Timmons kicked the gate open and we all filtered through, our eyes peeled trying to find the source. God damn it I had to be the one to find it. A woman's badly mangled body was draped over the crying figure. Carefully rolling her over, I took in a sharp breath. It was a baby, still wrapped in a scorched blanket. Bending down, I could see that the baby's face was reddened and blistered from the explosion.

  Picking the crying bundle up, my heart was ripped in every direction possible. How could someone do this to women and children? But when I remembered that this was the work of a suicide bomber, bile rose in my throat. How could someone do this to themselves and their children? Pushing those thoughts aside, I lead the guys back into the compound and up to the roof where the helicopters were waiting. The ride back to base had been tear jerking with the whimpering bundle in my arms and I was thankful when Reno had offered to take it from me.

  "Earth to Chief,” Reno breaks my horrible thoughts and I look over at him, noticing that we are almost back to our barracks. His eyes skate over me and his brow pinches together. "You alright, Man?"

  "Yeah, I'm okay," I reply, kicking it into high gear, sprinting ahead of French and Black trying to get this pain in my chest to lessen.

  I need to talk to Rhea, to see her face, to hear that she's okay. I need to see how big she's getting, being due next month, and I need to hear her say that she loves me. About fifty yards from the barracks door I slow up to a jog; Timmons shooting past me, raising his lanky arms above his head.

  "Oh yeah," he jumps up and down as everyone joins us, all of us out of breath, "I'm the champ, I beat the Chief." He jumps from foot to foot, pumping his fists Rocky style. When his back is turned, I run up to him, putting him in a full Nelson and sweep his feet out from under him.

  Pinning his face in the dirt while everyone walks past us into the barracks laughing, I say, "Who's the winner now bitch?” Releasing him with my best evil laugh, I brush the sand from my pants and shirt.

  "If my back wasn't turned, I woulda had your ass, Chief, and you know it," he retorts, pushing me through the door into the locker area of our barracks. I just laugh it off as Timmons grins, preaching to the choir on how he got blindsided.

  "Shoulda never turned your back, Son," Black laughs, tossing his clothes into his locker as I step between him and Reno. "Chief would be able to take you, hands down in any kinda fight, and ya know it." Those are fighting words and I know it'll come to a challenge as soon as Black utters them.

  The arguing between everyone filters into the shower as we all shut the stall doors and our voices echo off the tiles. As I wrap my towel around my hips, it's settled that after breakfast, Tim
mons and I will put the gloves on, sparring in the family room so everyone can judge for themselves.

  Throwing a pair of shorts on and pulling my wet hair back into a ponytail, I flop down on my bunk, staring up at Rhea's letter and the pictures I have taped on the support rail. The newest is another sonogram picture, printed out just before we left for the last mission with the little type and arrow displaying "I'm a Boy" and it makes me smile. Rhea is so happy to finally know for sure, even though she has had that inkling the whole time. I'm excited to have a son, but I would have been just as happy with a daughter. I can't wait to talk to my Rhea.

  Breakfast flies by, mostly because everyone is humming with bets and excitement about the pending 'rumble' between me and Timmons. I can’t help but laugh at the fake intimidation tactics that Timmons is trying out because … well, because the twig is going down. I am going to school the youngster and wipe the floor with him, in a good natured way, of course.

  The sun is still low in the sky as we make our way back from the chow hall, Reno and Uclid going back and forth over why either Timmons or I are going to come out on top. Timmons can fight, hell if he couldn't he wouldn't be a SEAL, but I know I'll whoop him. Once in the barracks it doesn't take long for the guys to clear out the middle of the family room, pushing the couches and chairs back, close to the television.

  Squatting before me while I sit on my bunk, laughing at how Benson and Talbot are arguing over bets, Reno tapes my hands and pulls the blue sparring gloves over them, tugging the Velcro tight. His air of seriousness that surrounds him as he methodically checks my hands by shoving his palms into my knuckles makes me chuckle.

  "Show that kid what ya got, Chief." He grins and I knock him in the shoulder. Timmons stands in the middle of the cleared floor, his gloves on and a cocky smile across his lips, making my grin widen. I have to bring this boy down a couple notches.