A Valentine's Loves (The Valentine's Trilogy Book 3)

by Sam E. Kraemer

  We were sitting at the picnic table breaking beans for Addy, and I'd been telling her my tale of woe regarding the Vaughn boys.

  I sighed. "Well, Derek's got something up his sleeve, though he won't tell me what it is. We also have a lawyer who's looking into some of our options. We just have to lay low for a while until we figure out the best thing to do for the boys.

  "When we found out about the drugs, we didn't waste time getting the hell out of Austin, Mari. All we could think of was their safety, so we just ran. I think you can relate to how we feel. I know your kids are your biological children, but Dee and Rashad are every bit as important to us," I told her with conviction. It hadn't been long they'd been with us, but just like with my Derek…I had fallen hard and fast for those two boys.

  She took a deep breath. "So you've given up on having one of your own?" she asked.

  I laughed. "Derek is extremely diligent regarding knocking me up, but so far no luck," I teased. She looked at me and burst into laughter. I couldn't help but join her. Maybe it was the sangria, but it felt good to laugh. Everything had been so serious of late, and it was nice to just be happy about something.

  Derek finally returned from where he'd taken off to, and I felt like I could breathe again. We sat at the picnic table in the yard and watched the kids all running around, having a good time. I could tell Derek didn't want to talk about where he was, so I'd let it go for the time being. It was great just to be.

  Dinner was chaotic, loud, and absolutely amazing. After we all finished eating, Addy and Miri set up the ice cream freezer…a hand crank…and the younger kids agreed to take turns cranking it. Marisol made a batch of brownies while QJ, Derek, Quinn, and I cleaned up the dishes.

  "Those two are amazing, Derek," Quinn commented regarding Rashad and Dee as we put away the few leftover pieces of chicken. When feeding a crew as large as ours, it's best to overestimate the amount of food you need. Between the Tucker boys and our boys, they could put away a large blue whale if it was served with ketchup.

  Derek smiled. "Yeah, they're great kids. They got dealt a shit hand in life, I'll tell you, but we're trying to make things better for them. Their mother's a prostitute and a drug addict. The shit I could tell you…it would curl your hair. It's sad as hell, and it surprises me every day I spend with them that they're so happy. I guess… Hell, I don't know how to describe it. I'm just happy they're enjoying themselves. They deserve a childhood just like this."

  After dishes were finished, we all went outside and watched the kids chasing lightening bugs. I noticed Miri and Addy had cornered each kid with a can of bug spray, and none of them seemed to be uncomfortable, so I didn't bother them.

  I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and turned to see Quinn sit down next to me on the bench in the rose garden. It was my favorite place at Addy and Rick's home, and it reminded me what we'd tried to do at our own home.

  "How are you, Gray? You're being awful quiet," he observed.

  I shook my head. "I'm a little drunk on that voodoo punch your wife makes. It was good, don't get me wrong, but I don't drink that much and that shit went straight to my head. I'm well, Quinn. How are you coping with the girls starting school?" I asked, regarding Nita and Tina.

  He sighed and turned to me. "You know, it feels like yesterday when they were born. We were young when we started our family, but I wouldn't do it any other way. We're actually at the place where we have a little bit of freedom to do stuff. We've gone out with a few friends from high school. You and Derek should come with us next weekend. We're going on a float trip with Sammy and Clay Driscoll. Their parties are catered affairs," he explained.

  I laughed. "Oh really, 'Mr. High-End Body Shop'?"

  In the years since I'd met Quinn Tucker, he'd done well for himself. He bought the shop from his old boss, and he'd made it a thriving business, expanding from just a mechanic's shop to a full-service garage. QJ worked for him after school and on weekends, and from what I'd been told, he had five full-time employees. Mari ran the office and the schedule and they were doing very well for themselves. I was quite happy for them.

  "Hey, Samantha Driscoll is the best realtor in Waco, and she looks at every party as a chance to network. If I tell her you and Derek might be interested in purchasing property in the area, you'll be treated like royalty," he teased.

  I glanced across the yard to see Marisol speaking with Derek. He had a look of worry on his face, and it had me concerned. "What's that about?" I asked as I pointed to them.

  Quinn laughed as he pulled two beers from the small cooler he had with him, handing one to me after he opened it. "Well, I'm going to guess my wife is discussing something with Derek and he's completely fucking lost regarding the topic," he explained.

  I watched Rashad and Cody kicking the glow-in-the-dark soccer ball with Dee and Michael. Dee didn't seem to know what to do, so Cody was helping him. They were all having a great time, and I was happy. It was then I noticed an absence. "Where's Marie?"

  "She's at Cheer Camp. Pray to God you don't have a daughter who becomes a cheerleader. Most days, I want to bust my eardrums with a screwdriver. It's hell on steroids, man," he explained.

  I laughed. "Tell me when and where I'd have a daughter who would become a cheerleader? I'm dreading when we have to turn Rashad and Dee over to DCFS. That's gonna break my heart," I complained.

  "What will happen to them?" Quinn asked as we continued to watch the kids.

  I hated to contemplate it, but it was a distinct possibility we'd never be allowed to raise the boys. It was something I needed to learn to accept, really. "They'll be placed with foster parents, hopefully, or worst case, put in a group home. The State of Texas isn't exactly keen on two queers fostering two young boys, as you might imagine," I explained.

  "How does the State of Texas treat a child who is born to two men with the aid of an egg donor and a surrogate? Can they retain custody of the child?" he asked.

  I glanced at him as I took a sip of my beer. "Well, yeah. I mean, that all goes through private channels. If one of the men is the legal parent of the child, it's accepted, though not likely smiled upon. Why?"

  Just then, Derek and Marisol walked over to us. "Can we talk to the two of you in private?" Derek asked.

  I saw Quinn smile and hop up, taking Marisol's hand. Derek took mine and the four of us went into the house. We went to Rick's office and when Derek closed the door, I turned to look at the three of them. "What's going on?"

  Derek walked over and took my hand, kissing my left ring finger upon which my wedding band rested. I loved when he did it and he knew it. I smiled and touched his cheek. "Is something wrong?"

  He led me to a chair and pulled me into his lap. "I hope you know I'm more than willing to fight for the two of us to retain custody of Rashad and Dewayne, but the chances of it are pretty slim, right? I mean, the Court won't smile upon this situation if all of it comes out, and in reality, the only reason we haven't been arrested is that Inez must have come up with a very good reason why we have the boys in hiding."

  It was the truth I hated to accept, but he was right. Never in a million years would we be able to retain custody of those boys, no matter how fit we were to be parents…and we'd be damn good parents.

  "Yeah, you're right," I replied, fighting the tears that threatened to embarrass me.

  He smiled. "So, how would you feel if we had a baby together? A baby no one could take from us. It would have two fathers to love it, and nobody would have a say about anything having to do with that babies except you and me. How would you feel?" Derek asked.

  I wanted to laugh because there was no scenario in which that would actually happen, but I was going to go along with whatever game he was playing. "Of course, Derek, I'd be happy, but as Mom said, this is East Texas, and where the hell will we find…"

  "Eggs aplenty, no waiting," I heard. I looked up to see Marisol and Quinn with bright smiles. Surely not…

  Seventeen

  Derek

  "I
'm not lying, Derek. It's Quinn's idea. I don't mind donating eggs, but there's no way I wanna carry another baby. My uterus is tired," Marisol joked. I was shocked at her offer.

  We knew, as much as we loved Dee and Rashad, we'd potentially have a problem keeping them. We'd have to go back to Austin, eventually, and return them to DCFS. It would be heartbreaking to do it, but it was the way life worked.

  After a short discussion with Gray, Mar, and Quinn regarding Marisol's eggs, we asked to have time to think about it. They agreed and we went about the rest of the evening enjoying the summer sky and the refreshing breeze in the yard.

  When Gray called the boys for showers, they asked if they could spend the night with Cody and Michael. They'd made plans for QJ to take them back to the quarry to teach Dee how to swim the next day, and I supported letting the boys go. Gray and I had other stuff to talk about and I really wanted him alone, so I talked him into it against his protective nature.

  After Gray was sure the boys had clothes for the next day, they left with Quinn and Mari. It had been a great night, but I needed time with my husband and I was going to get it.

  We helped Mom and Dad clear up things in the backyard and when they went inside to go to bed, I grabbed Gray's hand and led him upstairs to the bathroom at the far end of the hall. I closed the door and locked it before I turned on the shower. "Strip," I ordered.

  He didn't hesitate. Gray took off his clothes and stood in front of me with a worried look. I pulled him into my arms and kissed his soft lips, remembering the first kiss I gave him. I was in the hospital with a GSW to the shoulder when the place he worked was being robbed, but it was still as incredible to kiss his lips as the first time.

  As our tongues tangled together, I pulled his amazing body into mine, rubbing our hard dicks together. I couldn't help the moan. "Mmmm. God, I love you," I whispered against his lips as I walked him backward to the shower.

  Once we were under the spray, Gray grabbed the body wash and poured a generous amount into my hand before he turned his back to me. "We don't have a lot of time or hot water," he reminded.

  I began preparing him for me and when I entered him, I stopped and took a deep breath. The steam around us made it feel as if we were the only two people in the world. I moved inside him slowly and gently, resisting the urge to pound him. He deserved more from me.

  "God yes, Derek," he whispered as I brushed over his love button. Fuck, he was tight and warm, and it took all of my control not to let go. Yes, I was older, but with Gray, I might as well have been seventeen again the way he made me feel when we were fucking. He brought love, passion, and joy to our coupling, as well as to our life together, and it was more fulfilling than I ever imagined a long-term, monogamous relationship could be.

  He reached behind him and gently caressed my balls, taking away my last bit of control. "Fuuuuck," I gasped as we climaxed together. I placed my hands on the shower wall outside of his and held myself steady until I could think…breath…move again.

  We finished our shower, and I laughed as Gray made certain his cum wasn't clinging to the shower wall. As we dried off, I kissed his soft lips. "I'm glad you came, but I hate not looking into your eyes. You had a good time?"

  He giggled. I was sure it was something that would never leave him, and I was thrilled. "I had a very good time, baby. We need to talk," he stated quietly as he wrapped a towel around his waist. I nodded.

  We brushed teeth and cleaned up the bathroom. When we got to our room, I pulled on another pair of the loose boxers, and Gray grabbed a pair of white boxer briefs. We fell into bed and turned off the light.

  "So, what do you think about Mari's offer?" I asked.

  He let out a loud breath. "I like the offer, but I'm not ready to give up on Dee and Rashad. I'm sure we'll have to give them up, but I can't think about it yet. Where were you this afternoon?" Gray asked.

  I explained to him about my meeting with Raul Morales and the tentative agreement we'd reached. "A month?" he asked.

  "Yeah. He said a month would take care of it. I guess you should call Inez and ask her if she can stall DCFS for a month," I asked.

  "You're gonna need to check in as well," he pointed out. Yeah, he was right, but I wasn't sure how my boss was gonna react to everything that had gone down. It was then I had an idea.

  "I want you and the boys to stay here. I'll go back to Austin and meet with my Captain to see just how much shit I'm in. That's the best way to start it," I suggested.

  Gray sighed and then yawned. "I don't want you to go."

  I pulled him on top of me and wrapped my arms around him. "I don't wanna go, baby boy, but we need to know where we stand. I don't wanna live a life in hiding. We deserve better, you know. I can go back and figure shit out. We'll talk. I'll handle things as quickly as I can, I swear."

  "I hate the idea of more time away from you," Gray whispered as he rested his head against my chest. I kissed the top of it and pulled the sheet up over us. "I know," I responded before we both went to sleep. Having him on top of me gave me the peace I needed. I had some loose ends to tie up, and after…I'd figure out how to make a life for us.

  ~#~

  I was sitting outside my Captain's office waiting for him to see me. I wasn't sure if he was going to chew me out or welcome me back. It was up in the air.

  Captain Fred York walked from inside and placed a folder on his assistant's desk. He glanced at me and frowned. "Get in here." I nodded and walked into his office, hearing the door slam with a bit of force.

  "Where the fuck have you been? You checked out of the hospital against doctors' orders and didn't check in with me for twelve days, Valentine. You didn't make yourself available to brief the FBI agents who took over the investigation against Percy Graham, and you provided no direct tie between Graham and the Hijos del Diablo Cartel." Yeah, he was pissed, but I was pissed as well.

  "Well, Captain York, I didn't check in because someone shot me in the ass and it didn't seem to me anyone in the Division was doing anything to protect me or my husband. You sent me into that situation because I was new to Texas DPS and the Rangers Division, but you didn't provide me an exit strategy as far as I could discern.

  "In the meantime, my husband was put in the middle of a dangerous case with DCFS and my family is my first priority. I provided you all the information I collected regarding Percy Graham, his coked-up wife, his mistress and child, and his recently stepped-up spending habits. I reported his meeting with a Mr. Alvarez to which I wasn't privy, and I told you about Graham's driver who would like to come forward regarding the Senator's activities, but he was in fear for his life.

  "Based on the information I provided, I believe I fulfilled my duty regarding the investigation. Never, in any meeting in which I participated, was I informed I was supposed to link Graham to Hijos del Diablo. I believed it to be the responsibility of the FBI, but if I misunderstood, I'm sorry," I apologized.

  I was walking a fine line regarding the truth, and I knew it. I wasn't a dirty cop, but I was on the cusp of becoming one and I needed to get out of it before I compromised every principle I had.

  He leaned back in his burgundy leather chair and studied me. I did everything I could to meet him eye-to-eye. "Fuck, Valentine. I hate for it to go this way. You're a good man, and I know I sent you into a fucked-up situation, but once Marshall brought it to my attention and I reported it to the Assistant Director, it became priority one before the Governor got wind of it.

  "You were the new guy, and you came with glowing credentials. You're not afraid to do things outside the box, and I respected it. There are times when doing the job means turning a blind eye to certain things. I did it when I was in your shoes.

  "What I need from you is to get with the Field Agent assigned the case and brief him on habits, contacts, and suspicions. I'm going to ask you once, and I want you to be honest with me. Were you ever in a meeting with Graham and Raul Morales?" he asked.

  That one was tough. I just couldn't lie about it ou
tright, so I hedged. "I was in a meeting with people…men…I believe could be associated with Raul Morales, but they all spoke Spanish and I wasn't introduced nor informed of their affiliations.

  “I have no concrete proof of it, but I think they were involved in the organization. I don't know enough about the organizational structure to be able to label them as soldiers or captains or whatever they're called. I don't know enough about the Mexican cartels to understand their hierarchy, so I have no firm proof to offer regarding their place in any organization, including the Diablos. Who's the agent I need to meet?" I asked.

  Just then York’s phone rang. He held a finger as he answered it, giving me a minute to gather my nerves and calm my heart before I had a goddamn coronary.

  "York. WHAT?! When? Have they been identified? Jesus H. Yeah, well…fine. Keep me posted." He hung up and shook his head as if he couldn't believe the news he’d just heard.

  He looked up at me and I could see the disbelief in his eyes. "That was the Police Chief from El Paso. They found three unidentified men in a warehouse believed to have been owned by the Morales organization. They'll have to be identified by dental records and DNA…all three burned beyond recognition. Fuck, this is a mess," York bitched.

  I, however, had a feeling some of my problems had disappeared, and while the guilt was balling in my gut, I was grateful. If I was Catholic, I'd have gone to confession. Luckily, I wasn't.

  That evening when I returned home to our little house in Walnut Creek, I found a letter on the floor in the hallway, obviously having been slipped through the mail slot in the door. There was no return address or stamp, and my name was typed on the front of it. I picked it up by the corner and carried it to the kitchen. I grabbed Gray's dishwashing gloves and wrestled my hands inside. It was a tight fit.

  I opened the envelope and carefully pulled out a piece of white paper with typed words on it.

  Buy two, get one free. You're welcome, Ranger.

  I grabbed the phone from my pocket and called Gray. I had to be sure he and the boys were safe. He answered on the second ring, and I heard laughter all around. "Hey, Derek."