Blackness Takes Over & Blackness Awaits

by Karlsson, Norma Jeanne

  “Sorry guys. She seemed normal. Slutty normal,” I apologize. “You feelin’ better?” I try to change the subject feeling like an ass.

  “I feel fine actually. Food poisoning probably. Once I got it out I felt fine.”

  “That’s good because your tits are in high demand lately,” Cal says brightly.

  “Haven’t they always been?” she questions suggestively.

  “Yeah, but he takes it to a whole new level. I never cried because you didn’t have ’em out,” Cal continues the conversation like it’s normal.

  “True,” Kid replies gazing lovingly at the baby…who’s fucking huge by the way. He’ll be kicking our asses by the time he’s two.

  “Want some toast, Kiddo?” Kellerman murmurs into her hair.

  “Yeah, that’s probably good to start with. Maybe some juice instead of coffee.”

  “Decaf doesn’t really do it for you anyway,” Kellerman says moving off the couch and into the kitchen. I follow him so I can apologize.

  “Sorry about that,” I say tightly. Not really the scene you want around your baby.

  “Don’t worry about it. I know how it goes. Plus watchin’ Kid put that chick in her place…fuckin’ hot as hell.”

  “I have a man crush on you,” I say and wrap my arms around him in an overly affectionate hug. He bursts out in a deep booming laugh grabbing the attention of the room.

  “Break it up you two. The baby doesn’t need to see that shit,” O’Sullivan calls over the back of the couch.

  “You’re next,” I threaten releasing Kellerman from my grip. He and I go about making toast and oatmeal for breakfast for everyone. Once we’ve eaten and cleaned up the doorbell rings. I go to answer it fearing it’s Whitney coming back with the cops or something. I open the door and am greeted by Nick Cooper.

  “Hey,” I say a little shocked to see him here at the ass crack of dawn. I move to the side to let him in the house.

  “Hey. I figured I needed to be here after Finn filled you all in,” he explains moving down the hall to the great room.

  “Nicky,” Kid calls sweetly from the kitchen as we enter.

  “Hey, Shanny,” he murmurs wrapping her in a tight hug. I’m cool with Cooper but every time he calls her that and touches her it makes my skin crawl. I’m a jealous little girl and I’m okay with that. I look at O’Sullivan and Cal; they feel the same way as I do by the looks on their faces. Kellerman isn’t jealous, he’s possessive, and doesn’t want any other man touching her. He’s fine with us and the rest of the family…he’s used to that. Cooper is too new to get free passage. I don’t want Cooper here because he’s going to try to convince Kid to go to Chicago and dive back into that shit storm. I have to keep my head on because a fight is coming and I plan on winning.

  Shannon

  Kavy, Cally and Sully are gearing up for a fight. As soon as Nicky walked in the house their hackles came up. Kel is just pissed. I unfold from Nicky’s embrace and lead him over to the couch. Johnny’s taking his morning nap so he’ll be shielded from any outbursts that are surely to come.

  “So they found out about the incident in the bathroom?” I ask in a huff plopping down on the couch. Nicky sits next to me so I angle toward him as Kel pulls me snugly into his body from behind. The boys sit on the sectional behind me so they too can face Nicky.

  “Wasn’t expectin’ this, Shanny. Mancini’s crew has held together stronger than we anticipated. The trials should squash that though,” Nicky explains to the group.

  “Try to get her outta the subpoena with your super special agency connections,” Kavy says sternly.

  “I don’t want her involved either guys. I tried to pull every string I could to get her free of this. It’s not fuckin’ workin’. And Mancini’s crew…I’m still runnin’ down that threat. I’m on the outside of the family now that I’m ‘dead’. It’s trickier.” Nicky says to the group but keeps his eyes on mine. I know what he’s saying. Mancini will come for me again, this time without Nicky to keep me safe.

  “It’s a little hard to kill someone and have ’em testify,” Sully chides.

  “I’m not sure killin’ her is the play. My concern is they want to influence her testimony,” Nicky warns.

  “What the fuck does that mean Cooper?” Kel growls from behind me.

  “Shanny is loyal to you guys and Mancini knows it. He could take one of you to force her to testify how they want. I don’t think that’s the play he’d use though. My bigger concern is Johnny.” Kel’s arm tightens around my shoulders and the guys let out a unified growl. I feel calm wash over me. I don’t panic (just the first two and a half weeks of Johnny’s life).

  “I don’t leave the baby and I’m never unarmed. They can’t get him Nicky so don’t worry about that,” I say confidently. I’m not worried about that happening. They’d have to kill me to get him and that would fuck their plans up. Mancini going after one of my family or Kel…that worries me.

  “They have ways, Shanny,” Nicky says softly letting me know that I’m not as safe as I think I am.

  “What if I go to Chicago and meet with Mancini? Maybe I could negotiate or something?” I ask quickly. The attorney in me says try and figure this out, the Uncle Mick in me says prepare for war.

  “No fuckin’ way! Kid you can’t be thinkin’ this,” Kel admonishes from behind me. I pull away from his arms and turn to face him. His teal eyes are raging in protectiveness.

  “Kel, what else am I gonna do? If I stay here and something happens to you or someone in my family I’ll still have to go to Chicago to testify and one of you will die. If I stay here and something happens to Johnny…I can’t take that risk. If I’m on the offensive I can keep us all safe. I can’t do that hidin’ here not knowin’ what’s comin’ for me,” I say in a soft yet firm tone.

  “None of our lives is worth riskin’ yours. We’ll keep Johnny safe. We’ll keep you both safe.” Kel is pleading with his entire being for me not to do this. “Please.” He pulls at the nape of my neck and lays his forehead against mine with his eyes closed.

  “Okay,” I relent. As the words leave my lips the tension drops from his shoulders and he presses his plump pillows against my mouth in a tender kiss.

  “Thank you,” he whispers against my lips and I nod. I pull from Kel’s embrace to face Nicky again.

  “So what’s the next move,” I ask Nicky just as Johnny starts to fuss on the baby monitor. “Hold that thought.” I bound up the stairs to the nursery and over to the walnut sleigh crib.

  “Is my big boy hungry again?” I coo as I peer down at his chubby cheeks. His dark blue eyes are getting lighter and flecks of green are showing up more and more. He’s the spitting image of Kel. Look out ladies.

  I carry him over to the cream plush fabric rocker and let him nurse. I’m sure leaving the guys alone with Nicky will be fine now that I agreed not to go to Chicago to meet with Mancini. I have the feeling that no matter what was decided…this won’t be the last of it.

  “If they come for you I’ll leave a bloodbath in my wake that will leave Mancini wishing he’d stayed to his mafia comfort zone,” I whisper to my son in a loving voice knowing the threat I speak is more real than anything I’ve ever uttered. Never again will my life be changed at the hands of others. Never again.

  Kellerman

  Instant relief floods me as Kid agrees not to go to Chicago to negotiate with Mancini. I press my lips to hers and thank her. She turns back to face Cooper to ask him what we do next when Johnny wakes up. Perfect timing. As she runs up the stairs I watch her perfect ass bounce with each step. Yes even during serious moments I’m a pervert.

  “Is my big boy hungry again?” Kid coos to Johnny in the sweet sugar coated way she always talks to him when he wakes up. Cooper grins as he listens to her. I can hear her moving around in the nursery, she’ll stay up there to feed him. She likes her bonding time.

  “If they come for you I’ll leave a bloodbath in my wake that will leave Mancini wishing he’d stayed to hi
s mafia comfort zone,” she coos in the same voice. The smile leaves my face and everyone else’s in the room. I wait for her to say something else, nothing comes. She didn’t sound scared or panicked, just confident.

  “I’m afraid that’s a promise she may end up keepin’,” Cooper breaks the silence.

  “What the fuck does that mean?” Kav barks.

  “It means if they want her, they’ll come for her no matter what. The only reason they haven’t come back after Shanny is because she was all over the media when she was rescued and all over the media again after Johnny was born. Her bein’ visible is not good for them. Now they have a reason to try something else. As much as I’d like to believe this is just a threat, I’m not fuckin’ stupid. I’ve got days at the most, more likely hours. They will come. For one of you most likely but my bet is still on the baby. It’s the way to play it,” Cooper explains professionally making my damn skin crawl.

  “You would know wouldn’t you?” O’Sullivan sneers.

  “Yeah I fuckin’ do. I know what they wanted done to her in December. I know what I did undercover for over a decade. I’ve seen shit that would turn you into to a goddamn puddle and I don’t want that for her. I love that woman and would do anything to keep her safe. Don’t question that!” Cooper leans back against the couch his barely hiding the fury simmering beneath the surface.

  “How would you do it?” I ask pointedly.

  “What?” Cooper huffs.

  “You know how this shit works and we don’t. If Mancini gave you the job how would you do it?”

  Cooper studies my face for a long moment before answering. I see the mask of Scarso slip over him that I’m sure he needs to think through my question. It’s an unnerving thing to witness.

  “She’s alone durin’ the day with Johnny and Thomas. It’s an easy grab. Wait until nap time. Take Thomas out right at the door with a silencer. Immobilize Shanny. Grab the baby. Two minutes in and out tops,” Cooper explains with no emotion in his voice.

  “Then what?” Kav growls.

  “She’ll go wherever they tell her to go. She’ll say whatever they want her to at the trial. They’ll kill her and sell Johnny.”

  “Fuck,” Cal coughs out leaning forward to catch his breath.

  “We’ll get more security here at the house. Keep her completely locked down,” O’Sullivan says tightly.

  “Might work. If I had time on my side I could keep her safe here with my team. I don’t have time to set that in motion before they start comin’. I can try again to get her outta the subpoena, but with Grady and Mancini’s connections to judges and politicians I doubt it’ll happen.”

  “My pop could help,” Kav cuts in quickly.

  “Yeah we could try to use him,” Cooper agrees with a small amount of hope in his voice. “With the holiday our hands are tied until Tuesday. I’d stay and help out with security, but I need to be in Chicago workin’ this. You guys all right on your own until we can move on this?”

  The garage door opens and the alarm chirps. I look over my shoulder to see Finn and Thomas striding in with purpose. I offer chin lifts to each before returning my gaze to Cooper.

  “Texted them when he showed up,” Cal informs the group nodding toward Cooper. I figured as much.

  As Finn and Thomas take seats on the couch and get filled in I try to think this through. The picture that Cooper just painted was mild I’m guessing. This could end up much worse. I don’t know what the right thing to do is, but I know she’s safer here than in Chicago. I can keep her safe.

  “I’ll call in a few guys I know to help out,” Thomas booms in his deep voice. “She’ll be fine here in the house with the baby.” He’s confident which only helps me to feel more confident. My woman is surrounded by aggressive alpha men. I’m not sure how this works for all of us. You’d think we’d butt heads trying to be at the top of the heap but we don’t. We’re all content with our spots in this pack as Cooper often refers to it. I guess the reason it works is because Kid is really the alpha. She runs this pack and allows us to think we have some say in it. I know her game and I play it willingly. Here she comes now, looking pale again.

  “Kiddo?” I say standing up to meet her at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Not feelin’ great again,” she mumbles passing me the baby. I push my hand against her forehead as I scoop Johnny up to my shoulder. No fever but she looks like shit. She shuffles past me and flops on the couch next to O’Sullivan who scoops her into his side.

  “Got any ginger snaps?” Cooper asks the group.

  “Maybe in the bottom of the pantry,” Cal replies for the group before going to search.

  “Ginger snaps,” Kid repeats through a weak smile with her eyes closed. I sit on the end of the sectional away from her with the baby. I know she was just holding him but he can’t get sick. “Nicky I can’t believe you remember that.”

  “I remember everything, Shanny,” Cooper says sweetly scooping her hand into his. Here’s the thing…I’m used to sharing Kid. The guys are all over her all the time. I’m cool with that because that was the package she arrived with. They don’t want in her pants they’re part of her heart. Cooper on the other hand…I don’t like him touching Kid. I don’t like him around her calling her Shanny. He doesn’t want her. He’s not looking at her hungry or making a play for her, but she’s mine (yes, I’m a caveman) and I don’t like to share anymore than I already have to. And I share a lot!

  Kavanagh

  Kid’s really sick. I swear her skin is a pale shade of green. She’s been puking her guts out all damn day. We finally got her into bed about ten minutes ago, but I doubt she’s going to stay here long. She can’t even keep water down. It’s all hands on deck, including Cooper. I’m lying in bed with Kid. Kellerman’s trying to get Johnny to eat a bottle which the baby has decided he’s not having. So Johnny’s giving us the performance of a lifetime screaming his head off.

  Cooper went to help with the baby because O’Sullivan is occupied cleaning up the vomit covered bathroom where Kid didn’t quite make it last time and Cal is on the phone with Doc trying to figure out what we should do. Finn ran to the pharmacy to try to buy some supplies for us and Thomas is in the shower cleaning off the puke he was sprayed with when Kid missed the toilet earlier.

  Can I just say when one of us is sick Kid takes care of us all on her own like it’s the easiest thing in the world. There are seven of us and we all look like a bunch of idiots running around here trying to make sure she’s okay. We’re an embarrassment to the caretaking community. Johnny’s screams are becoming hysterical and Kid is stirring. I have a puke bowl at the ready because I don’t want her to not make it again.

  “Get me the baby,” she croaks.

  “We don’t want him to get sick. Kellerman’ll get it under control,” I whisper smoothing my giant paw over her sweaty brow.

  “Get. Me. My. Son,” she growls. And I’m off the bed and running down the stairs.

  Cooper is holding Johnny while Kellerman is fucking with the bottle in the kitchen. There is a mess of monstrous proportions considering they are trying to make a bottle. The counters are covered in different bottles, nipples, empty milk storage bags, a bottle warmer and two pots…what the fuck are they doing?

  “What the fuck are you doin’?” I yell over Johnny’s screams to the men. They’re both sweating and look terrified. I get it. They’ve been down here almost a half hour at this point and obviously they can’t get it under control. I walk to Cooper and scoop Johnny out of his arms. Cooper sags in relief. The baby is covered in sweat and shaking from crying so hard.

  “Kid wants him,” I yell to Kellerman who drops his head in defeat. We’re all second best to Kid. I cradle Johnny’s fiercely protesting body as best I can and fly back up the stairs.

  When I burst in the room Kid is on the floor in a heap. She was trying to get to the baby since she’s headed toward the door and not the bathroom.

  “CALLAGHAN!” I bellow at the top of my lungs. He�
��s the closest to help and not covered in vomit. He’s in the room before I can call him again. Cal scoops Kid off the ground with ease cradling her like I’m cradling Johnny.

  Cal sits against the headboard and keeps Kid in his lap. Weakly she starts to pull her shirt up and I lay Johnny across her lap and support his head in my hand. That baby knows what to do and gets to it. Kid’s eyes shut and I can tell she’s no longer conscious.

  “We need to get her to the hospital. I couldn’t get a hold of my dad but I finally got Aidan. He said to get her to the ER,” Cal explains quietly struggling to support Kid’s now limp body. Kellerman runs in the room and takes in the odd situation in front of him. Cal holding Kid while Johnny nurses and I support his head. Surely a Kodak moment.

  “Aidan says we need to get her to the ER,” I say softly as Johnny’s finally going limp as he eats. Thomas, Cooper, Finn and O’Sullivan all walk in the room together and give us curious stares before figuring out what’s going on.

  “Need to get her to the hospital,” Kellerman directs Thomas who leaves the room quickly. We have to wait until Johnny’s done eating before we can do anything. Kid’s breathing isn’t right and her color is worse now. A little trickle of fear is creeping up my spine. Kellerman moves to the bed without a word and pulls Kid and Johnny into his arms away from Cal and I. He’s cradling Kid to his chest with an arm around her back and his huge mitt palming Johnny. Kellerman’s other arm is under her legs. I don’t know how he has the strength to pull it off but Kid and Johnny look secure.

  “Let’s go,” Kellerman commands and moves from the room at a brisk pace. He walks out the front door where Thomas has my SUV running alongside Cal’s. Thomas opens the back door of my SUV and stares stunned as Kellerman climbs in seamlessly barely jostling his family. The rest of us pile into the SUVs and take off to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. She’s just sick and needs fluids. There is no need to panic. So why am I shaking from head to toe like I do when I’m afraid I’m going to lose her?