by Jena Wade
“No, we haven't installed them yet.”
We both exited the car and Hooch came running up to us. Although the term running wasn't quite right, he limped badly on his front leg. “Son of a bitch hurt the dog.” I said. “Fuck. The leg looks like it might be broken.” I looked at Chief.
“I'll mention it to one of the guys. We’ll call the vet out here as soon as we can.”
“Thank you,” I said. I press send on the phone.
Tom answered after the second ring. “You finally here, Officer Jeffries?”
“I'm here. What do you want?”
“Why don't you come down here to the basement through the backyard? Hands up where I can see him. No weapons.”
“All right, sure,” I said. “Why don't you go ahead and let Kayden out and then I'll come down?”
Tom laughed. “Like that's going to happen.”
“When I get down there, I want you to let Kayden go.”
“Not going to happen. If you want I can just shoot him right now. I figured you'd want to say goodbye, though.”
I heard the gun cock.
“All right,” I said. “I'll come down. Don't do anything crazy. We can still work out a deal.”
“I want my kid and if you don't get your ass down here. I'm going to take away something from you, like you did for me.”
Chief held me back before I could take off around the house. “You can't go down there.”
I shook off his hand. “Yes, I can.”
“You're not thinking straight,” he said.
“Damn right I'm not. I'm not thinking as a police officer or an FBI agent. I'm thinking as an Alpha and a father, and I need to get to Kayden.”
“You need to wait for backup,” he said.
“Fuck that.”
We stood head to head and finally he conceded. “All right. If you're not going to take a gun, at least take something.” He handed me a small pocket knife that I put into my back pocket. I had no idea if I'd be able to use it or if Tom would search me when I got down there. He wasn't the smartest man alive, but he wasn't dumb either.
When I went around the house to the backyard, I saw inside the sliding glass door. Kayden sat at the table where they fed the kids snacks and did their coloring activities. The chair was way too small for him.
He glared at Tom as he paced back and forth in the room, never letting go of the shot gun in his hand. At least Kayden didn't look harmed at all, except for the red mark on his face. Just seeing the evidence of the slap on Kayden’s face had my blood boiling. Tom was going to pay.
I kept my hands in the air as I approached the door. When Kayden saw me, he stood. Tom looked from him to me outside the door, then he opened it.
“Come on in, Officer, it's great to see you. Come watch as I blow your Omega to pieces.”
It took all my will power to remain calm and not kill the fucker right then. “Come on, Tom. You're already in trouble for kidnapping, let's not make it murder.”
“It's not kidnapping when he is my own kid. His bitch of an Omega dad kept him from me. He's my son. Mine.”
Kayden crossed his arms and leaned against the wall looking more annoyed than anything else. Thankfully he kept his mouth shut. I looked him over carefully, trying to see any signs of trauma or harm that may have come to him.
“All right,” I said. “I'm down here. Let Kayden go. I'm the one who had you arrested. I called the police. I'll be the one making the case against you. This has nothing to do with him.”
“Bullshit,” he said. “Why don't we get your kid down here, take him from you and see how you like it.”
Kayden moved like he was going to attack, but I held up my hand.
“Don't you dare threaten my son,” Kayden said. “I will fucking kill you.”
Tom rounded on him. He had the shot gun leveled at Kayden’s face.
Kayden stepped back.
“Don't try anything, Omega. I am minutes away from pulling this trigger.”
Only he wasn’t. As I looked over the gun in his hand, I noticed the safety was on. Tom was all talk. I calculated in my head. Did I have enough time to tackle him to the ground before he could turn on me? I'd been out of the field for a while, but I kept in shape, and the fact that it was my family on the line meant I couldn’t afford to lose this battle.
My Omega and my unborn child. I’d never let any harm come to them.
I pulled the knife out of my back pocket slowly, as Tom still had the gun trained on Kayden. Kayden trembled, and I hated that he had to go through this, to have this trauma in his life.
Once I had the blade open, I launched. I wanted to look at Kayden. Tell him one last time that I loved him, or rather tell him for the first time, but I didn't want to risk gaining Tom's attention either. So, I launched. Putting all my body weight into the movement. I plowed my shoulder into Tom's waist, and he fell to the ground. The gun went flying.
I took hold of his arms and kept his body underneath mine, my knees on either side of his hips. I delivered blow after blow to his abdomen and face, until he laid limp beneath me. He cried out for me to stop, but I wasn’t going to. I couldn’t, he had to pay for putting his hands on my Omega.
“Turner, that’s enough.” Kayden had the gun in his hands.
I climbed off Tom and I took the gun from Kayden. “Go,” I said. “Go outside where it's safe.”
“I'm not leaving you,” he said.
“Don't argue, boy,” I said, though I hated having him out of my sight. I needed him away from this monster. “Have Derek come in here with a pair of handcuffs.” I turned the safety off and cocked the gun, pointing it at Tom.
Tom lay on the floor, his hands up in surrender. He glared at me with his evil eyes but didn't say anything. He knew he was defeated.
***
Once Tom was in handcuffs and hauled off to jail, Kayden and I sat in the living room. Chief took his statement, asking questions about how everything went down. We had a pretty rock solid case against Tom, and this time he would not be let out on any sort of bail.
After what felt like forever, Derek closed his notebook. “All right,” he said. “I'm going to take off. Do you need anything else?”
I shook my head. Kayden was in my lap, resting against my chest. “We should be fine,” I said. “I'll be here for the rest of the evening. Can you just go to the fire station and tell Ollie and Philip, so that they can tell the boys we’re okay?”
“Yeah,” Derek said. “I'll do that.”
Once he was gone, Kayden sat up.
“I really wish you would go to the hospital,” I said.
He shook his head. “I don't need to be looked at for anything. I’m fine. He didn't even lay a hand on me.”
“He slapped you. I heard it. I can see your face.”
“Oh yeah, that happened. It wasn’t that bad.”
“But…,” I said, “the baby.”
His gaze snapped to mine. “Ollie told you?”
I nodded. “Don’t be mad at him, he was there when I spoke with Tom. He was scared and he wanted me to know.”
Kayden moved away from me and put his head in his hands. “I’m not mad at him. I was going to tell you,” he said. “Hell. I only just found out today. I wasn't going to hide it this time.”
“I know that,” I said, and I rubbed his back. I couldn’t make myself not touch him, not be next to him. “I'll be here for you this time. Whatever way you need. I'm happy about this, Kayden. I'm excited beyond belief. You and Jackson are my everything. I should have said it before today, I’ve felt it for so long. I love you.”
Kayden wrapped his arms around my neck and squeezed. Tears streamed down his cheeks, wet against my neck. “I love you, too,” he said. “I'm so stupid. I was so wrapped up in thinking about what could change in the future, that I wasn’t enjoying what was happening right now, until it was too late. Until it was almost taken away from me. I didn't want to commit to you, to make promises of forever, because I didn't know what we
would want in five or ten years, or whatever. Turner, I want to raise our kids together in our own home. I want to go to bed with you every night. Play whatever games you want. To be your boy permanently.”
I hugged Kayden, holding him tight against me. “I want that, too. More than you'll ever know.”
He sat back, wiped the tears from his eyes. “Promise?” he said.
I nodded. “I promise.”
He laughed. “All right then. Jackson and I are moving into your house.”
“That sounds great. I've got plenty of room. Although, you know that it’s just a lease, right? I'm going to have to buy it.”
“Or we could build?” he said.
“We can do whatever you want, boy. We've got lots of time to plan.”
Epilogue
Kayden
It was early in the morning on a Monday, because of course it was a Monday when my water broke. I was working my way around the snack table, making sure that everyone had their breakfast. Some of the kids wanted cereal, others wanted French toast sticks. I was in the middle of pouring a bowl for Christopher when I felt it, and then heard the splash.
My eyes went wide. I found Ollie’s eyes, who was across the room, holding his little girl McKenna. “Was that…?”
I nodded wordlessly. The kids started to laugh around the table. “Mr. Kayden, did you have an accident?” Molly asked.
“No, sweetie. I didn't. Mr. Kayden is going to have a baby today.”
I grabbed the kitchen towel and dropped it down to the floor and waddled my way towards the stairs.
“Where are you going?” Ollie asked. “Stay right there, I'll call Turner.”
“No,” I said. “I'm fine. I'll just go find my cell phone.”
“It's right here on the counter,” Ollie said.
“Oh shit.”
The kids giggled.
“Sorry, sorry,” I said.
Ollie got up. He held McKenna in one arm and handed me the phone. “You're going to need this,” he said with a big smile.
“Are you sure you can handle the kids?”
‘Yes,” he said. “Phillip’s here. I'll have him come downstairs and help me out until Mason can get here. That’s what we hired him for, to fill in when we needed help. Everything's going to be fine.”
“Okay. This is weird,” I said.
“I know. You'll be just fine.”
“Okay.” I pressed send on my phone and made my way up the stairs.
I was standing in the kitchen, breathing through the early contractions when Turner peeled into the driveway, dust flying. He ran into the house.
“I've got the squad car. Lights are on. Let's go.”
I held up a hand. “Okay. None of that is necessary.”
“Well, we've got the flashers, we might as well use them.”
“No,” I said. “Absolutely not. Turn them off.”
“Just come on,” he said. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
“All right. All right. Your mom can bring Jackson home from school?”
“Yes, she's actually going to keep both boys overnight for us. That way, Ollie and Philip can get a break as well.”
“Oh, that's a good idea,’ I said. “They might not score any cool points for staying the night at the principal’s house though.” I picked up the bag, but then Turner grabbed it from me. He swooped me into his arms. “Okay. None of this is necessary. I can walk.”
“Humor me,” he said. “I want to make up for the last time when I wasn't there.”
“Fine,” I said. “But only because I'm lazy and you're perfectly capable of carrying me.”
***
We got settled into our hospital room without much fuss. I could feel the contractions, but they weren't overly painful.
“This is kind of boring,” I said. “It can take hours.”
“That's all right.” Turner squeezed my hand. “I want to be here for all of it. Just let me know whenever you need anything.”
“I know. But you've got to be bored out of your mind.”
“I'm fine,” he said.
Several hours later, our daughter Jacqueline came into the world. When my contractions did start, they were hard and fast and unbearable. I screamed through the pain, yelling at Turner as much as I possibly could. He took my pain and hurtful words in stride, holding my hand, wiping my forehead, being an amazing supportive partner.
In the end, when I held my beautiful little girl in my arms it was all worth it.
“We should have more of these,” I said to him.
He chuckled. “I don't think so. I mean, maybe in a while, but let's just enjoy the two that we have.”
I sighed. “You’re right.” I looked down at her again. Her perfect little features relaxed as she slept in my arms. “She looks like her brother.”
“Yeah,” Turner agreed.
He settled on the bed with me and pulled me into his arms, wrapping me and his little girl in his embrace. He kissed my temple. “You're amazing. You did absolutely amazing.”
I turned to look at him. “Thank you for being here,” I said.
He grinned. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Cryin’ Out Loud: Sneak Peak
Also, Shhhhhh! This is a secret: Cryin’ Out Loud will be co-written with Lorelei M. Hart!
*The following has not be properly edited and may change before the book is released*
Cam
The police department was ahead of us by three when I came up to bat. The pitch was perfect, straight down the center, and I managed to hit the ball far into the left field. The bases were loaded, of course, and runners made their way around, coming into home. I should have stopped at third and called it good, but my adrenaline was pumping, my heart pounded. When I rounded third, I saw Police chief Derek Williams standing at home plate, blocking my way and I was determined to plow right through him and score another run for my team.
I didn't count on the left fielder throwing the ball in. As I thundered down the third base line, I watched as Derek braced for the catch. The ball landed smoothly in his glove just as I plowed right into his middle, knocking him to the ground.
We landed on top of home plate. He was flat on his back and I lay on top of him. He’d thrown his mask off, and we lay there, my forehead rested and against his, our hips touching, breathing heavily. His mitt was sandwiched between us and I felt the bulge of the ball in his glove. I knew I was out. Too bad I was too captivated by his eyes to look away.
I was younger than Derek by at least fifteen years. I was one of the youngest firemen on the crew and the only Omega. Because of that I had to work harder, be faster, better, stronger than all of them, so that my Omega status didn't get in the way of my accomplishments.
I couldn't let anyone know that I was at the mercy of my body’s response to this Alpha. But it was. Anytime I came near Dereke, and I was near him often, considering that we both worked for the town. The police station was literally across the street from the fire station. I interacted with him plenty, and my body responded the same way every time. Hard. Ready. Wanting.
“Out!” The umpire screamed and the police force went wild.
Derek’s eyes turn dark. Arousal or anger? I couldn’t tell.
“Are you going to get off me, Omega?”
I gave him a half smile despite the aching in my joints. “I'd like to help you get off, Chief,” I said.
After a moment I did scrambled to my feet and then helped him up. He didn't look at me, just walked away as if I didn't exist, which is generally what he did anyways. Derek never looked in my direction. The man probably didn't even know my name, which was just fine. We could keep it that way. But damn, he looked good in a pair of baseball pants. Almost as good as when he was dressed in his uniform.
I made my way back to the fire station dugout. The guys gave me pats on the back. “It was a good hit, Cam. We'll get them next year.”
***
>
The fireman decided that we'd meet up at the bar later that evening to commiserate our loss. Nobody blamed me, thankfully. Although I knew that I should have just stayed put on third base. We would have tied and gone into extra innings or simply been content with a tie. Either way, it wouldn't have been a loss. But when I’d seen Chief Williams standing there like my own personal target, I couldn’t resist.
Many of the firemen were trying to pick up Omegas, a few of them were succeeding. Then there was me, the lonely single Omega at the bar. None of the alphas in the room were looking my way. As far as Omegas went, I wasn't bad looking, but I most certainly wasn't the dainty little thing that many Alphas preferred. I towered over most people at six foot four, and my bulky muscles made me more than a little intimidating.
I signal the bartender for my tab, because I might as well go home. There was no point in staying out any later. But then he walked in. The air shifted the moment the door opened and Derek stepped inside. I felt it, though no one around me seemed to notice.
He sat on the barstool beside me and motioned for a drink. The bartender set his beer in front of him the same time he gave me my tab. I caught a glimpse of Derek out of the corner of my eye, dark circles marred his eyes.
“Everything all right?” I asked.
He scrubbed his hands over his face. “No,” he said.
“You want to talk about it?” I asked.
He looked at me, his eyes hungry with need. “Not particularly.”
I don't know what sparked inside of me at that moment, but I got an influx of confidence. “You want to just get out of here then?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I do.” He threw a twenty down, which would most certainly covered the beer that he had bought, but hadn’t even taken a drink of. I tossed in another twenty with it to cover my tab.
I lived right inside the town, so I walked everywhere I went, including the bar that night. So, when I saw his squad car outside with “Chief of Police” written on the side of it, I got in.
“What happened?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Drug overdose.”
“In Millerstown? Damn.”
“Yeah,” he said. “That shit’s everywhere. The guy’s alive though. Don't know how, but he is.”
