Happily Ever Alpha: Until Midnight

by Gwendolyn Grace

  The night of the shooting, Bash was supposed to have been with us, but he'd been out with Carmen. Miguel grew impatient waiting, so we went without him. It had been dark out when we got to the meeting place. Miguel got out and did the talking while I stayed in the car. He was a full-fledged Asesinos by then and had been trusted to run more extensive operations. One minute I was peeling away the polish on my fingernails, the next there was shouting and gunfire. I ducked down in the seat, trying to protect myself when suddenly my leg felt like it was on fire. There was intense pain and heat, and then everything went black.

  ****

  Mr. Roman and Mr. Merrick were scratching their pens over their writing pads. Brando was still holding my hand, and I met his gaze. His eyes were soft and sympathetic. He'd already heard the story.

  "You were taken to the hospital for treatment and then arrested?" Mr. Roman asked, still writing.

  "Yes, it wasn't life-threatening. The doctor stitched me up, and the cops arrested me the next morning. Then I stayed in jail until I was put on a flight back to the U.S."

  "Your son must have had an angel looking out for him," Mr. Merrick said quietly, his silver eyes softening just a little.

  "Carmen has always been my angel." I nodded in agreement.

  "All right." Mr. Roman continued his note taking. "Good. I think we have enough to get started. My partner and I will keep you updated on our progress." Both men stood, buttoning up their suit jackets.

  "Wait. That's it?" I sat forward, my gaze moving between them. "What happens next? How long will it take?" My mind clouded with questions.

  "We'll have to do some case study. Look for precedence—" Mr. Roman had begun a list of actions until Mr. Merrick cut him off.

  "You said your son had a birthday coming up, right?" I nodded, and Mr. Merrick flipped his folder closed. "Start planning his party." Then he spun around and left the conference room with Mr. Roman following behind.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Brando

  "You have a little on your mouth."

  "Where?" Carina used her hand to swipe around her lips. I lowered my head and glided my tongue over her chin, then her mouth. Licking away the sticky sweetness left over from her ice cream cone, then lingered a little longer to savor the feel of her skin. I finished with sucking on her lower lip then released it. She moaned, and my dick twitched as she came back for more. Our mouths met again and again. I would never get tired of kissing her. It didn't matter that we were standing in the middle of the boardwalk with people passing by on either side of us. My phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration strong enough that Carina felt it too.

  "Ooh." She wiggled her eyebrows, her beautiful face shining in the glow of the setting sun.

  "Hold that thought." I pecked her on the lips one last time, then held up my phone. I still didn't know how to use the damn thing. I never did find my old phone from the morning Rosie was in my room, so I had to buy another one.

  "Yeah?" I answered, not recognizing the number.

  "Brando?" A female voice I also didn't recognize said my name.

  "Who is this?" I shot a glance at Carina, who had returned to her ice cream cone.

  "It's Rosie."

  I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at the screen. It wasn't her number. I made sure to have my new phone programmed with all my contacts.

  "Whose number is this and why do you sound like shit?" Those words caught Carina's attention, and she looked up curiously, her brows furrowed.

  "I've wanted to tell you...I just couldn't...he said it wasn't going to hurt anything..." Rosie rambled on, none of it making sense.

  "Hang on. What are you talking about?"

  "He's going to burn down the shop. Tonight."

  "What? Who?" I shouted into the phone, and the line went dead.

  "What's going on?" Carina asked, clutching my arm tightly. "What happened?" I didn't have time to explain it. I just grabbed her hand and ran to my car. She tossed the ice cream cone in the trash along the way.

  There was traffic on East Street. The roads were narrow, and groups of people walking had taken up most of the space for cars. I honked my horn and yelled for people to get out of the way. Carina had stopped asking me what was wrong and just clutched the door handle in silence. As soon as I reached the shop, I looked up at the sky and didn't detect any smoke.

  "Stay here," I said to Carina when she moved to get out.

  "Brando, please. Tell me what's going on!" The panic in her eyes reminded me of her story about Miguel and the way he mistreated her and forced her into dangerous situations. I sat back down and pulled her into my arms.

  "Baby, come here. I'm sorry." I kissed her lips and both cheeks. "I got a call that someone was planning to burn the shop down."

  "What? Why?"

  "I don't know, but I have to go in and check on the place."

  "I'm coming with you."

  "No. No way. I don't want you getting hurt."

  "But—"

  "Baby, please. I need you safe. Stay here and lock the doors." She glared at me for a few seconds then nodded.

  "If I don't hear from you in five minutes, I'm calling the police, Brandon."

  "Deal." I grinned, then pecked a quick kiss on her lips.

  I used my key to open the front door then glanced around. The last of the sun had left the sky, and in the dim light, nothing seemed out of place. Everything looked as it did the night before. I didn't smell smoke or see any indication of fire. Then a light flipped on in the back office, and it startled me. I reached to the holster at my back for my gun, realizing I'd locked it up before we flew to Tennessee and never got it back out.

  "Fuck," I whispered to myself, then it occurred to me that I might have walked into an ambush. I had no reason to trust anything Rosie said. There was rustling coming from the back followed by the sounds of items scattering all over the floor. I moved forward cautiously and quietly. I wasn't sure what I would find when I opened the door. I also couldn't just run away. My hand shook as I reached for the handle and for the first time, I realized I had something to lose. I had Carina. The thought of dying—leaving her—scared the shit out of me.

  The door pulled open, jerking me along with it. I looked up to see Todd, the surprise on his face matching my own.

  "Brando," he said, his voice a little higher than normal. "What are you doing here?" Then he shoved something behind his back.

  "This is my shop. What are you doing here?" I cocked my head to the side and stepped fully into the office.

  "Me? Same, man. It's my shop." He stuffed a wadded piece of material under his arm. "I just came to grab a few shirts. I'll see you later." He tried to push past me, but I grabbed his arm.

  "What's in there?" I pointed to the gym bag he had slung over his shoulder. It looked heavy and stuffed full.

  "Just some of my equipment." Todd tried to push past me again.

  "Really? Let's have a look." I pulled at the strap, and he resisted. "Hand it over, Todd." Then we began to wrestle for control of the bag. He shoved me against the wall, and I pushed back until Todd fell onto the desk then slid to the floor. Pens and papers scattered everywhere. I pinned him to the floor using my forearm against his neck. He struggled but couldn’t get away. I had at least fifty pounds on him. He'd lost more weight than I realized, but he'd been able to cover it with his clothes. He felt like skin and bones...and weak.

  "What the hell are you doing, Todd?"

  "Come on," he said, his voice garbled from the pressure I was putting on his neck. "There's insurance money. We can get an even bigger, better shop." When he started to gag, I released him and stood. He was too spent to get to his feet, so he sat there and watched me unzip the bag. I pulled out tattoo equipment, some shirts, and several stacks of cash he'd stolen from the safe.

  "You were robbing me?" I roared, unable to believe my eyes. "You cleaned out the safe and then you were going to burn the place down?" If he didn't already look chewed up and spat out, I would have k
icked him. He didn't say anything; he just sat there looking at the ground.

  "Brando?" Carina came running in. "Are you all right..." She stopped speaking when she noticed Todd sitting on the floor. "What's going on?"

  "Did you call the cops?" I asked, pulling her against me.

  "No."

  "Todd, you have two choices. Jail or rehab."

  Todd's head snapped up as he looked at me.

  "What? Fuck you, man," he mumbled and looked away.

  "Money's been missing for a while. I just didn't know it was you." I started putting together the pieces. "At first, you were sneaking a few dollars from the register, but I knew about that. I even saw you do it, but I let it slide. How did you figure out how to manipulate the books?"

  "He was skimming money from each sale," Rosie said quietly as she appeared in the doorway. Her eyes looked red, as if she’d been crying. Carina drew in a deep breath, her body tensing. I rubbed her back and kissed her jaw, and it helped a little. "He had me mark up the costs at the register but write a lower amount in the books. He said it was for taxes or something." She shrugged.

  "Shut your mouth," Todd growled. "You knew about it the whole time."

  "No,” Rosie shook her head, long bangs swishing over one eye as she vehemently denied Todd’s accusation. “At first, I didn't know he was skimming from each sale, I swear. When I figured it out, he threatened to tell you it was me who was stealing. Let's face it. You would have believed him over me." Rosie lowered her eyes. She was right, and the realization made me feel like shit.

  "So, when that stopped being enough, you wanted to burn down the shop for your cut of the insurance money?" I glared at Todd, feeling more and more disgusted every time I looked at him. "I don't know what you are on, but it's fucked you up completely."

  "Also, that night, he waited until you had passed out then he sent me in your room to swipe your phone." Todd threw his hands up in exasperation, but Rosie continued. "He stole it so he could get to the security camera app and erase all the recordings." Rosie wound her fingers together nervously. I was grateful that she had confessed it all, but it didn't make me feel any better about her involvement. Her apprenticeship would definitely be over. I couldn't have people around me that I didn't trust.

  "Last chance." I turned my gaze back to Todd. "Jail or rehab."

  Todd hesitated for a moment and made an exaggerated show of putting his finger to his chin and staring up at the ceiling as if he were giving his options some thought.

  "Hmm, let me think." He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you going to at least pay for this treatment place?"

  "Yes, but your ass is going to pay me back. One way or another."

  An hour later, Todd was on his way to a treatment center in Charleston with Rosie as his escort.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Carina

  Every time I exhaled, he exhaled. I needed, he provided.

  I tilted my hips and rocked against him. His pace was slow and deliciously agonizing. I wanted to come so badly, but I also wanted the moment to last forever. The feel of his skin on mine. Taste of his tongue. The tiny whimpers that left my throat each time he hit my sweet spot.

  "Oh, God...Brandon."

  Brando kissed the side of my neck with our fingers laced together over my head. My moans grew louder with each thrust, but he was in no hurry. He lifted his head and looked at me, his eyes dark with passion. I held his gaze for as long as I could, but as my orgasm built my lids began to flutter closed.

  "Look at me," he whispered, and I opened my eyes. The intensity in his face turned me on even more. I reached up and placed a hand on his cheek. His tiny stubble felt prickly against my palm. "Carina." He rolled his hips a little faster, his eyes still on mine. "I love you, baby."

  I gasped then blinked several times. Those words were unexpected. He didn't look away or feel ashamed that he'd said it. Every part of me belonged to him. Body and soul. I'd felt the boom long ago, I just didn't think I was worthy of him.

  "I love you, too," I whispered, holding his eyes as my inner muscles contracted around him then cried out as I surrendered to my orgasm. My gaze stayed on him as I witnessed the ecstasy of release on his face. He let out a low, deep groan as his stomach muscles contracted and his cock twitched inside me as he came long and hard.

  We stayed that way, joined and kissing, rocking against each other until every last tremor had faded. It was a meaningful moment. We had just professed our love for the first time, though I'd known for a while that I was in love with him. The only thing I still worried about was how he felt about me having a kid.

  Brando had gone to the bathroom to clean up, slipped back in bed, and pulled me to him. With my head on his chest, I traced little circles over his skin, then followed the pattern of his tattoos.

  "Can I ask you a question?"

  "Hm." He made a sleepy noise and nodded.

  "You know when this is all over, Bash will be here." Then I added hesitantly, "With us."

  "Uh-huh." Brando yawned.

  "How do you feel about that? Are you okay with a four-year-old hanging around?" He opened his eyes and turned his head.

  "Of course. He is your son."

  "It's just that I don't even know how you feel about kids or any of that."

  "I'm not going to lie. Before you, I never thought much about kids. I'd never been around them. I didn't have a feeling one way or the other.”

  "What do you think about them now?"

  "Carina, when I say I love you, I love all of you. Your son is part of you. I can't wait to get to know him." Brando rolled us until he was lying on top. "Then I want to make one with you." He lowered his mouth and kissed me slowly. I knew we'd still had so much to learn about each other, but the idea of a family with him made my insides mushy. When the kiss ended, he pulled me against him and I rested my head on his chest.

  "I can't wait for you to meet Bash. He is a pretty great kid."

  "Well, you're a pretty great mother."

  I scoffed at his compliment and rolled my eyes.

  "Seriously, you are. Look at what you have gone through for him. It's all going to be fine."

  "Tomorrow, we'll find out."

  We were set to fly out to Tennessee in the morning to meet with Mr. Roman and Mr. Merrick. There had been an update.

  ****

  Britta showed us to the same conference room as before, and we waited. Mr. Roman and Mr. Merrick entered wearing their dark suits.

  "Hello again, Miss Risto. Mr. King."

  We shook hands, and they sat down across from us. My leg bounced under the table as I waited nervously for them to speak. The lawyers flipped through their folders, faces void of emotion. I knew whatever they were about to tell me couldn't be good.

  "Well?" Brando finally asked, when he'd run out of patience. "You said you had news?"

  "Yes," Mr. Roman spoke up, flipping through pages on his notepad. "Yes. First, I must offer my condolences. It's never the outcome we want. Especially, when a child is involved." His expression was solemn. Brando and I exchanged confused glances.

  "Condolences? What do you mean?" I asked. It was their turn to trade looks.

  "Oh, we assumed you would have been told," Mr. Merrick replied, then he started flipping through his notes. "Unfortunately, Mr. Leon-Martinez has passed away..."

  "What?" I shrieked and got to my feet. "What?" I repeated and covered my mouth, unprepared for the rush of pain those words brought. "He died?" I whispered. It was funny how at that moment every terrible thing he'd ever done to me had vanished from my memory, and all I could see was the cute boy at the ice cream cart, who tried to hide his crooked bottom teeth whenever he smiled. My chest shook, and I began to sob. Brando wrapped me in his arms and pulled me tight.

  "It's okay. It's going to be okay, baby." He repeated over and over, pressing kisses to my face. I loved him for that. Letting me have the moment I needed to grieve for someone I loved, the man who gave me my son. Mr. Roman and Mr
. Merrick excused themselves, giving me time to process it all. When I had settled down, they returned.

  "So, what happens now?" Brando asked hesitantly. "One of the obstacles was...him." His tone was gentle. I looked up when Mr. Merrick placed some papers in front of me.

  "All Miss Risto has to do is sign those and we can bring the boy home." Mr. Merrick smiled. My gaze dropped to the papers with colorful tabs sticking out at the sides.

  "What happened? How did he..." I couldn't make myself say it.

  "Drug overdose."

  "Oh." For some reason, that response didn't surprise me. The last time I'd seen him was the night of the shooting. He was no longer the person I'd fallen in love with as a girl. I didn't even recognize him anymore. It wasn't hard to get drugs in jail, especially with the right affiliations. It hurt that nothing was enough to get him clean. Not me. Not his son. Not even his freedom. I looked up at Brando, realizing we had another thing in common. Drugs had nearly destroyed our lives. He almost lost his tattoo shop, and I almost lost my life.

  "This is the last page. Will it all finally be over?" I asked, my pen hovering over the final document I had to sign.

  "No, baby. It's just the beginning." Brando grinned.