by Rhonda Lott
“I love you too, but there is nothing you or anyone can do for me. There are no ‘happy ever after’ for some people. No back to a normal life. That’s the way it is.” Dawn stood and started walking to the edge of the water. She stood there alone among them all. Her beauty so stunning in the bright sunshine. She reminded Alex of a porcelain doll encased in glass. Breathtaking to look upon but impossible to touch. Were they all stuck, imprisoned by their past? Would any of them have a normal life again?
Alex didn’t want to think like that. The day was warm. The lake was stunning, surrounded by tall trees that made it feel like the ugly world couldn’t reach them there. The whole world wasn’t ugly, there was some good things in it. David, with his stern handsome face and overwhelming confidence. He made her confident and more determined than ever. She would get her life back, she would help Dawn get her life back, and maybe, if she was lucky, she could have David too.
Alex stood and ran splashing into the water. David scooped her up into his arms giving her a hard kiss before swinging Jordan up onto his shoulders. Jordan was happy, she was happy. Hope blossomed inside her as she looked at the two of them, let me keep this normal she prayed, if not forever then perhaps a little longer.
*DAVID*
He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. David clenched the steering wheel in a death grip. Kane sat rigid in the passenger seat, one foot tapping rapid beats on the floorboard.
“What’s eating you?” David asked.
“Don’t like it. Ace called to tell us some of Mac’s boys were scoping out our condo in midtown and then a report of a break in at one of our offices downtown. I think they are trying to get a fix on our exact location.” Kane looked out the window into the night a concentrated frown on his face.
“Right, my gut tells me we should go back to the lake.” David was already headed off the next exit to turn back.
“Shit.” Kane muttered.
David pushed his SUV pass one hundred as he ate up the highway. Black smoke rose above the tree line as he got close to the house. His heart rate skyrocketed.
“David that’s coming from our place, fuck.” Kane barked, a look of sheer horror filled his eyes.
“I know little brother. Call the fire department then get Ace out here.” David said calmly even though his heart was in his throat and his body flooded with fear for Alex, Jordan, and Dawn.
When they got to the house it was engulfed in flames. David’s calm demeanor vanished as he tore out of the truck and rushed toward the blazing structure.
“Alex.” He screamed. The flames were intense, consuming the structure and sounding like hell on earth. The roof of the house was half gone. White hot flames lit up the night, black smoke shot heavenward, darkening the sky.
David was almost at the door before Kane slammed him to the ground.
“No David, you can’t go in there.” Kane shouted.
“Alex and Jordan. Kane, I got to get them. I have to get her.” David cried, his anguish unmistakable. He struggled with all his might to get loose, but couldn’t budge Kane no matter how hard he fought.
“David.” He heard Alex’s voice coming from the tree line.
Both men jumped to their feet, but before they could even turn around gunfire erupted. David and Kane dove for the cover of the SUV. They pulled their guns and aimed in the direction the shots came from.
David fired three shots over the hood at movement to the left of him. Kane shot in that direction from the front fender.
“Do you see the shooter?” David asked.
“No, too fucking dark.” Kane said.
More shots rang out, David concentrated on shadows to his left. That was the shooters location, behind a cluster of trees. He was too far away and there was too much open ground for them to effectively rush him or them. Just because he heard one gun being fired didn’t mean there weren’t others there.
While David was assessing the situation and worrying about his little family, Kane took off running and firing his weapon in the shooters direction.
“Kane you idiot.” David yelled, running out to cover his brother’s back. For a huge man Kane was agile and quick. By the time David caught up to him, Kane was a few paces into the trees, standing over a skinny Latino man with a bullet hole in his head.
David gave the corpse one second of attention, whirling around, he ran back towards where he heard Alex call to him. She was sprinting towards him with Jordan in her arms, tears streaming down her soot streaked face. Jordan was clinging to her crying louder than the approaching fire engine.
David caught them both in his arms and squeezed them to his chest. They felt so right there. He took a deep breath, looking to the dark sky. A sky that was made even darker by the smoke. David thanked God they were ok.
Alex pushed away. ”Dawn is hurt.” She said, handing Jordan over to David. She tore back to where she came from.
They found Dawn unconscious in the bush. Kane fell to his knees beside her, checking her pulse and respiration.
“What happened to her?” Kane demanded.
“I was sleeping on the sofa. Dawn and Jordan were in the bedroom. The smell of smoke woke me up. I saw flames in the back of the house so I ran to get to them. We all ran to the front door, but the second we opened it someone shot at us. We ducked onto our knees and crawled through the glass patio doors on the side. Dawn was behind me when part of the roof fell and struck her on the head.” Alex looked sorrowfully at her friend.
“How did you get her out?” David asked.
“I had Jordan lock his arms around my neck so I could pull her to the trees. The shooter was still in the front of the house, thankfully there was only one of them.” Alex turned to David. Her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears.
David pulled her to his side and kissed her forehead, he whispered “You are so brave Allie.”
“Brave, no. I was completely terrified. I had to hold my hand over Jordan’s mouth to keep the killer from hearing him cry as we hid in the bushes. I had to sit there with the house on fire not knowing if Dawn was going to die of smoke inhalation or a cracked skull.” She started pacing in the small space, chest heaving as she spoke. “I had no weapon to defend us with. I could have loss them both.”
“It’s ok, Baby. Everyone is going to be fine.” David told her, keeping his grip on little Jordan as he whimpered on his shoulder. He wanted to comfort Alex, but he knew she needed to pace it out. That was her way of dealing.
She shook her head and kept trudging back and forth. Her clothes were filthy and her hair was a mess. Her lovely face had black splotches and tear tracks all over it. David studied her. She was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. She was alive.
The fire truck arrived and started battling the fire. David led Alex and Jordan to one of the emergency vehicles to be checked out. He didn’t want to let them out of his sight for a second. While they were being looked over by the first responders, paramedics loaded Dawn into the back of an ambulance. Kane nodded to him as he climbed in with her.
David knew his brother would stay by Dawn’s side to make sure no more harm came to her. Kane’s face was solemn. He had a predatory look in his dark blue eyes that made them look almost black. David felt sorry for anybody stupid enough to come near Dawn tonight.
Ace ambled over to David. Ace was a tall, athletic, African American man. He kept his hair cut low to his head. The lady killer of the group, women fell head over hills for his boyish good looks and ready smile. Right now his face held a deep scowl.
“Officer.” David greeted his friend.
“Fuck you.” Ace shot back. He hated to be reminded of his job, well his day job, anyway. Being a police officer had lost its appeal for Ace a long time ago.
“I’m sorry man.” David apologized. “This has been a hellish night.”
“Yeah, brother. I see that our man made his move. But, to endanger his own kid.” Ace paused, shaking his head. “Tell me what happened.”
“One shooter,
he set fire to the house to draw the girls out.” David took a deep breath and ran his hand down his face, clenching his jaw.
“The dead guy I take it.” Ace looked over to where CIS was loading the body into their van.
“Yes, he had us pinned down for a second. But you know Kane, nothing holds him down for long. He neutralized the situation with a well-aimed bullet.” David said.
“Hum. I’ll ID the body but I can almost guarantee he’s one of Mac’s men.” Ace went to walk away then turned back. “You taking your family to Midtown?” He asked.
“Yeah, as soon as they get checked out.” David replied. His family. That sounded right somehow. He only ever had Kane, but now he had three more people that were creeping into his heart.
“I’ll come by in the morning and let you know what I find out. Don’t worry about this shit, I got it.” Ace walked over to the fire chief.
David looked over to Alex and Jordan. They seemed to be physically fine. What mental fuckery would this do to his songbird? She was already afraid that Mac was getting too close. Would she run again? This certainly was too close. He could have lost them before he even had them. Mac Blanco, what kind of man would endanger the life of his own son in such a way. David looked over to Alex and Jordan again. No, Jordan wasn’t Mac’s any longer. From now on Jordan and Alex were his, and he planned to keep it that way. Mac drew first blood. That motherfucker had to go.
CHAPTER SIX
*ALEX*
Alex stumbled like a zombie into David’s condo. She looked around despondently. What the hell happened to her wonderful normal day? With the night came a waking nightmare. Trapped in a burning house, shot at by a sniper, what was next for her, piranha in the bath, pigmy cannibals in the closet? Alex laughed and couldn’t stop. To her own ears she sounded hysterical. Jordan started to cry again.
“Let me take the baby and get him settled.” David said, there was concern in his voice. “Please, Allie he needs us.” David took hold of her arms, forcing her to look at him.
Alex tried to gain some control of herself. “Your right, but show me to the bathroom and I’ll bathe him. I need to do something, routine. It will help both of us.” She said.
“I understand.” David put his arm around her and guided her to his bedroom and the master bath. He prepared the tub for Jordan. “Let me scrounge up something for you both to sleep in. We’ll have to improvise as far as Jordan’s pull-ups are concerned.” He gave her a slight grin.
Alex gave him a small smile of appreciation before turning her attention to Jordan. “Ok, little man let’s get you cleaned up.”
Jordan held on tight to her neck with his head tucked under her chin. His tears wetting her dirty shirt and smearing more dirt on his little face.
Alex knew he was still scared and confused. For such a little guy, he had to endure so much uncertainty. She hated what running from place to place was doing to him. Jordan was her life and he needed stability.
“How bout I sing your favorite song, huh?” She rubbed his back, swaying back and forth, singing softly. “Are you going to Scarborough fair? Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”
Jordan’s cries turned into little hic ups as he eased his hold on her. Alex removed his soiled clothes. Carefully, placing him in the tub.
“Simon and Garfunkel?” David asked from the doorway.
“He loves that song.” She shrugged. Alex washed Jordan as quickly as she could. They were both dead tired.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you two.” David said softly.
His words dripped with such sorrow, they pulled at Alex’s heartstrings. David had fought like crazy to get into that burning house. Alex saw him as Kane used all his strength to restrain him. He would have rushed into the fire to save them that much was evident. Tears welled in her eyes. She turned to look into his somber eyes.
Alex wrapped Jordan in a towel and stepped to David. “You had no way of knowing that was going to happen. You saved us again, if you hadn’t come back, we all would be dead right now.” She went up on her tip toes and gave him a quick kiss.
“Want Davie.” Jordan said wearily, reaching out for David.
“Let me take him and put him to sleep.” He took Jordan from her arms. “I put one of my t-shirts on the bed for you my songbird.” David told her as he walked out the room.
His songbird. Why did that sound so soothing to her ears? Alex smiled as she drug herself to retrieve the t-shirt and start the shower. She wished she could wash the memory of the fire and the bullets away with the grim and soot.
She let the hot water cascade over her for a long while, suddenly the door to the shower opened. David, naked and splendid stepped inside. The shower was huge, he didn’t crowd her completely out with his big body. In fact, she moved in closer, wrapping her arms around his wide shoulders, pressing her breast into his chest. Her nipples turned into pebbles as she moved her body against him. Heat shot to her core. David enclosed her in his embrace as they moved against each other in a sleek slow dance of arousal.
“I need to hold you, baby. It scared the shit out of me when I saw the house on fire.” David cupped her face in his hands, kissing each of her closed eyelids, her cheek then her lips. He kissed her like he might not ever have a chance to kiss her again. Alex felt starved for the taste of him. He felt so damn good. Solid, unmovable, her anchor in her out of control world. His hands roamed all over her, finding every hidden spot that made her moan and call out his name.
The hot water slid over them, Alex relaxed into his arms. David felt like an unyielding wall of hard living flesh, vibrating with sexual energy. His large hands caressed down her back following the flow of water, over her bottom, and then back up again.
Alex pushed him back, grabbing the body wash and a sponge. She wanted to drive him as wild with lust, as he was doing to her. She washed his upper body in leisurely strokes, his chest was expansive, hard as stone. A growl rumbled when she pinched his flat nipples then kissed and licked them. The hands on her ass tightened. David was all man. The hot water emphasized his bulging muscles, and rock hard abs. His body was a playground that she was determined to explore.
Alex knelt. Using the sponge, she soaped his huge cock. It pulsed and strained upward, mighty and tempting. Tossing the sponge aside she circled him with her soapy hand, then rinsed him. Her lips closed over the head of his dick, tongue teasing and sampling the clean salty flavor of him. He reached down, pinching her nipple with one hand, his other hand cupped her cheek. Alex moaned around him giving him long strong pulls with her mouth. David gave a pained growl, pulling her away from him and hefting her up in his arms.
He backed her up to the shower wall and buried his dark head in her breast, Alex wrapped her hand around him and continued to stroke his slick hardness. Her breathing became harsh as he loved her breast with his tongue and teeth. The heat in the shower ramped up a few degrees when his fingers found her hot slit and pushed in. Alex’s grip on him tightened. She bit her lip to keep from screaming the house down.
“Baby, I got to taste you.” He growled, dropping to his knees and pulling one of her thighs over his shoulder, opening her up to his view. David’s stormy gray eyes devoured the most intimate part of her.
Alex didn’t have time to feel self-conscious. His tongue ran up and down the lips of her clean shaven vagina. Alex closed her eyes against the zinging flashes that spread from her pussy through her entire body.
“More David.” She cried.
David pushed his face deeper into her, finding her clit, sucking and nipping it with frantic movements. Alex couldn’t hold back her peak if she wanted to. The shower was too hot, stifling, suffocating her. She wanted him to stop. She prayed he wouldn’t. She came with a full body seizure and a scream that ripped from her lungs, echoing through the shower.
Alex fell into David’s arms as he stood. He lifted her up and carried her to his king size bed. Using a towel, he dried her with care and tender strokes. Alex felt weightless as David placed
her under the covers.
Alex watched as he dried himself and then climbed in next to her, pulling her into his arms.
“David you didn’t finish.” She sighed, exhaustion like a vail crept over her.
In that serious tone of his he stated. “It’s fine. You can make me cum tomorrow. Go to sleep now.”
Make me cum tomorrow. Alex chuckled. He was hilarious without even trying she thought, then promptly fell asleep.
*DAVID*
Something heavy was laying on his chest. David cracked open his eyes. There was a mop of curly hair under his chin, little fingers were tugging at his earlobe. Jordan had climbed into bed with him and Alex and was comfortably perched on him, humming softly, eyes focused on his face.
David checked to see if Alex was still sleeping and of course she wasn’t. She was laying on her side, those golden eyes of her’s sparkling in the muted morning light drifting in through the bedroom window. Something felt warm and heavy in his chest, right under the spot Jordan was resting his little head. David couldn’t remember a time in his life that he had ever felt as content as he did right then, in his bed with them. Alex and Jordan had somehow gotten lodged in his heart and that’s where they would remain.
He reached across the bed and pulled Alex to his side. Her small hand moved to Jordan’s back as she placed her head on David’s shoulder. David inhaled the smell of them, vanilla cream and baby shampoo. He held them both tight as if to imprint them for all time within himself. He gently brushed Alex’s hair from her face and kissed those full sweet lips. Nothing tasted sweeter.
Jordan giggled.
“Want one of those too, do ya?” David teased the toddler, giving him big noisy kisses on his cheeks and belly.
Jordan’s laughter filled the bedroom.
David couldn’t help but laugh with him. He glanced at Alex, she had tears in her eyes.
“Allie, what is it?” David asked, his fingers wiping away her tears, caressing her lovely face.
“It’s great watching you two together. You give Jordan more love than his father would ever do. It makes me sad and it makes me happy all at the same time.” She scrunched her cute little nose. “I sound like an idiot.” She laughed, pulling Jordan in for a hug and kiss.
