Sam's Folly (Midnight Sons Book 1)

by Carmen DeSousa

  The final decision was up to her. She had to figure out whether Sergio would really let her go. When she’d first come to the States, he’d made it clear that he could make her life easy or hard. He’d said she owed him for her passage here. But in the last seven years, she’d more than paid him back. Not one of his fighters — male or female — had made him the money she had. And what did she have to show for it? A few thousand dollars tucked inside her backpack.

  “Thank you, Sam. I really appreciate your patience with me. There is one thing I’d like right now.” His eyes widened, and she bit down on her lip to hide the smile that threatened to escape. Obviously, he was thinking the same thing she’d been thinking a few minutes ago. But no, there was only one thing she needed right now. “Do you have a phone I can borrow? I need to make a few phone calls.”

  His face dropped, but he nodded. “Of course, but only a landline … up at the house. There’s no service out here in the boonies. Want to come up now, or before dinner?”

  “I’ll come up around six, if that’s okay.” She hated how formal her words had come out, but she couldn’t allow Sam’s nearness to sidetrack her. She needed to spend the next few hours coming up with a plan … for the rest of her life.

  ~ Sam ~

  Sam opened the back door at six o’clock on the dot. Nora was punctual; he had to give her that. When she wasn’t standing him up, that is.

  “Hey,” he said as she climbed the steep steps, “you didn’t stand me up for dinner.”

  She lifted her eyes at an angle, which he took as an eye roll. “I need to use the phone, remember?”

  “Oh, that’s right. And here I was hoping it was my magnetic personality.”

  Nora stopped in front of him, her face inches from his. “That too.” She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed him.

  Not just a peck either. Sam wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into the house. Excited that he had his Nora back, the one he’d shot pool with, danced with, hiked with, sung with … made love with, he held on as he backed up to the window seat. Breathless, but not wanting to stop, he pulled her onto his lap.

  She followed his lead, but pulled back after a few seconds. “Sam,” she exhaled, catching her breath. “Someone will see us.”

  He grinned. “No one’s home.”

  Nora peeked over her shoulder. “How’s that possible in a house of six?”

  Sam shrugged. “Erik and Vince are on a call with the dogs. Missing hiker. Alex is helping with a water search in Anchorage. Daire —” He looked up at the ceiling. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen that boy since he rescued us. Ever since he’s turned twenty-one, he’s never home. He doesn’t drink much — supposedly — but that boy loves to party.”

  “Like his father,” Nora interjected.

  Sam cringed. “Nora, please … I know you were joking, but seriously, no one but Mom knows. I’m not ready.”

  Nora slapped her hand over her mouth. “But you said we were alone.”

  “We are … but … please … just … don’t get in the habit. I told you that in the strictest of confidence —”

  Nora narrowed her eyes. “Because you thought I would be gone the next day.”

  Sam nodded. “Yeah … I guess I wanted to get it off my chest. Of course, I’d hoped you wouldn’t be gone the next day. And here you are, sitting on my lap, in my house.”

  In response, Nora slipped off his lap and peered around the kitchen, into the dining room. “Where’s your mother?”

  Sam laughed. “She … umm … oddly enough … got an emergency call to fill in at a card game. Go figure.”

  “Sounds like a conspiracy, Sam.”

  He shrugged again. “Probably. They all like you, Nora.”

  Nora leaned over the counter and stared out at the mountain range that served as a backdrop for his yard. “I like them too, Sam. And I love you.”

  Sam stood and walked to her. “You do?”

  Her lips turned up in a wide smile. “That truth has never changed, Sam. I just needed to figure out what to do.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, loving how she looked in his kitchen … in his home. Everything in him screamed to carry her up to his room, but … no … he needed to wait, to be sure this is what she wanted. “And have you? Decided what to do?”

  “I have.”

  Sam raised his brow. “The suspense is killing me, Nora. What have you decided?”

  She sniffed in response. “What’s for dinner? I don’t smell anything cooking.”

  Sam dropped his head and literally shuffled his feet back and forth like a five-year-old who hadn’t gotten what he wanted. “Nora …” he whined.

  “I have to make a few phone calls, Sam, but if all goes well, I’m staying right here. With you. If you still want me, that is.”

  He grabbed her up and twirled her around. “Of course, I still want you. You’re all I want, woman! Apparently, you don’t have the word forever in Spanish.” He set her down and kissed her again.

  Nora laughed. “I understand forever, Sam. I just never believed in it before. Para siempre, or if you’re talking about an eternity, la eternidad.”

  He smiled. “Say, I will love you forever in Spanish.”

  “Te amaré por siempre, Sam.”

  “I love you too, Nora.”

  “Good! Now what’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

  Sam’s heart pounded out a fierce rhythm. This was all he’d ever wanted in life. To love and be loved. He’d spend every day proving to Nora that forever not only existed, but could be a happily-ever forever. But first, dinner. “You have two choices: old standby, frozen pizza, or I make a mean chicken enchilada casserole.”

  Nora crinkled her nose. “You sure about that? ’Cause I’m an enchilada connoisseur.”

  “Well, my family loves them. Whenever it’s my night to cook, it’s one of my most requested meals.”

  “Okay, then. It’s not too much work?”

  “Nah. The chicken’s already grilled. Mom makes a large tray on Monday, then we pull from it all week.”

  Nora nodded. This family was definitely interesting. “All right, then, show me the phone, and then cook away.”

  As much as Sam wanted to eavesdrop on her conversation, he wouldn’t. She said she wanted to stay with him, so he’d choose to believe her. Yeah, he might be putting his heart out there again, but Nora was worth it; he was positive. Then again, he reminded himself of Seward’s Folly. Falling in love with Nora was definitely the most reckless thing he’d ever done. His brothers would carve the words into his gravestone: Nora was definitely Sam’s Folly.

  Sam took Nora’s hand and led her to his bedroom. “You’ll have privacy up here.”

  Nora walked to the sliders that led to his private balcony. “Is this your room, Sam?”

  “It is.”

  She turned, taking in the dark blue walls and dark mahogany furniture. “It’s dark …”

  He lifted a brow. “It makes it nicer to stare out at the mountains, especially with all the daylight here.”

  “Hmmm … Okay.”

  Sam lifted her hand, pulled her to him, enjoyed another sizzling kiss, then forced himself to back away. “Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. Does that work?”

  “Perfectly.”

  Sam pulled the door shut behind him and charged down the stairs. If he busied himself with dinner, he wouldn’t think about charging back into his room and making love to Nora. Why was he kidding himself? Nothing would clear the image of the two of them from his mind.

  Still, he tried. He pulled out the platter of grilled chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, enchilada sauce, and taco shells. He turned the oven to four hundred, then busied himself with stuffing the corn shells with the grilled chicken. Even though it was just him and Nora, he made the packet of twelve shells, smothered them with red sauce, added extra seasoning, topped them with the cheese, and then stuffed the casserole dish in the oven. He opted for a pre-packaged rice packet to sav
e time.

  He looked at the microwave clock. The entire process had taken him all of fifteen minutes. What’s she discussing? he wondered. Who’s on the other line? He stared out the bay window, watching the birds attack his mother’s feeders. Spring had finally arrived. While Alaska still might get snow, more than likely, the blizzards were finished.

  The crunch of gravel caught his attention. His mother had said she’d be late, and Sam didn’t expect Daire home until tomorrow morning. Even if Erik and Vince had found the missing hiker, he doubted they would have returned home. Nope … he was certain his mother had orchestrated a few less bodies at the house this evening.

  Sam walked toward the entry. Rifle in hand, he opened the door.

  Mr. Hollywood flashed his pearly whites. “You wouldn’t shoot an unarmed man, would you?”

  Sam stepped past the threshold, pulling the door closed behind him. He cocked the gun. “I told you I was a man of my word, and you’re on my property.”

  Chapter 23

  ~ Sam ~

  Sergio raised his hands, but only partially, just enough to show Sam that he wasn’t holding a weapon.

  “Hey, Sam,” the sleazeball cooed in a disgustingly sweet tone. “Listen, buddy, we got off on the wrong foot. I only want to talk to Nora. Her phone is going directly to voicemail, so I’m not sure if she’s getting my messages. We have seven years of business to discuss. If she’s going out on her own, fine, but I need to settle up with her.”

  Sam’s mind caught on the words “settle up.” He hadn’t said, “pay her” what she was owed. According to Nora, she didn’t have any money but what she carried, even though Sergio had made millions on her and her name. “I’m not your buddy, dirtbag, and Nora knows how to check her voicemail. If she has anything to settle with you, I’m sure she’ll contact you.”

  The slick man made Sam’s stomach churn. Everything about him reeked of all the traits Sam loathed. Scumbags who gave good men a bad name.

  Mr. Smooth stepped forward and Sam waved the gun. “Listen, Sergio, we ain’t in La-La Land. The Stand your Ground law did nothing but expand on Alaska’s Castle Doctrine law. If you’re not up on what goes on outside your country, those laws give people like me strong protections to use deadly force in self-defense. And you, asshole, are a threat. Everything I know about you tells me that my life is in serious danger if you step within fifty feet of me.”

  Sergio scoffed. “You afraid of a man without a weapon?”

  Sam held his gaze, refusing even to blink.

  “Tell you what, Sam, come down here without that weapon, and I’ll give you a free shot. You’re a big man, country boy. Bet you could teach me a lesson.”

  Sam huffed. “Why would I do that when I’m the one with the gun?”

  A smile inched up the cocky man’s cheeks. “Because you’re a man … and you want to be the hero.”

  “If I shoot you, I’ll be the hero. Nora will never have to look over her shoulder again.”

  Sergio laughed. “Oh, you don’t know her at all, do you? You won’t be a hero. Quite the opposite. If you shoot me, Nora will always look at you as a cold-blooded killer. Did she tell you how her father died? Trust me, she’d hate you forever.”

  Sam released the hammer, emptied the gun. He shoved the shells in his pocket and stepped toward the loser. Yeah, he was being stupid, but he’d been reckless since he’d met Nora. Maybe a good ass-whoopin’ — either his or his opponent’s — would end this. If Sergio beat him to a pulp, maybe he’d back off, head held high. If Sam beat him — which was doubtful — maybe the moron would back off, not wanting to admit he’d lost to a country bumpkin.

  “Ahhh … perfect,” Sergio cooed. “I haven’t kicked someone’s ass in a long time. Your girlfriend did tell you I’m a UFC champion, right?”

  Sam held back, waiting for the charge. Nora had said that she came out fighting, so he assumed she’d gotten that advice from Sergio. The idiot’s words were only to distract him. No, Sam wasn’t a fighter, but he was a damn good wrestler, and he’d landed plenty of punches on his bag — and Abe’s head.

  “Believe it or not,” Sam said, deciding to do a little psyching out of his own, “Nora and I didn’t talk about you when we made love —”

  That evoked Slick Willie’s ire. The man charged, going in for a straight jab. Sam sidestepped just enough to miss, but before he even turned, the man had already swung around, taking him out with a leg sweep. Sam rolled before he pounced, but stayed in a low crouch, protecting his head and gut. Based on how fast that punch had come at him, Sam’s only chance was to get this guy in a wrestling hold.

  Sergio circled him. “Bitch made me wait months before she’d open her legs, and she beds you in days! I knew she was up to no good when she came here. What … you two hook up in Vegas? Talk about how you both love to hike?”

  Sam grinned, but kept his eyes on his opponent. “Maybe a life with a real man offers her more than your billionaire prison.”

  Sergio charged, his long arms stopping Sam from sidestepping his onslaught again. With one hand, Sergio latched on to Sam’s shirt, while his other fist landed several punches to his gut before he could process what had happened. Sam brought his arms down on the man’s back, but he didn’t stop. Just landed punch after punch.

  Sam punched, but his strikes did nothing. He wasn’t able to hit any important organs. Weakening, Sam gripped his arms around the man’s back and lifted him. The two of them came down in a sideways heap. Sam scrambled for traction, as did Sergio. Barely to their feet, Sergio wrapped his arm around Sam’s neck. The man’s reach was too long. Sam couldn’t land a punch.

  Sam finally gained footing and rushed the man backward. Sergio had a long reach and a solid punch, but Sam was clearly stronger. He shoved him backward until they collided with the brick steps.

  With Sergio pinned, Sam was able to repay the punches Sergio had inflicted.

  The door opened, but Sam continued, landing an uppercut to the man’s jaw. Sergio’s hands fell slack.

  “Sam!” Nora screeched.

  Shocked that Nora would be concerned with her ex, Sam took his eyes off the man for only a second. His gaze met Nora’s, and then he saw stars — literally. The oncoming light show, as if he were speeding through a tunnel, rushed him, blinding him. His ears rang. Pain radiated in his side. His hand searched his side, feeling for the source of the pain. His fingers came back warm and wet. He blinked, trying to clear his vision.

  A dark mass hovered over him. More pain in his side.

  The ringing morphed to screams. Nora’s screams. “Sam! Oh, God, Sam!”

  ~ Nora ~

  Nora had made the biggest mistake you could make in a fight … rather, she’d caused Sam to make the biggest mistake: take his eyes off his opponent. Instead of screaming Sam’s name, she should have screamed, Knife!

  “Get away from him!” Nora skipped the steps and landed behind Sergio as he lifted his arm. Just as he started to plunge the knife into Sam’s side again, she grabbed his hand.

  Sergio resisted, but she wrapped both hands around his wrist, bending his arm backward.

  He hopped up, effectively swinging her and his arm, since she refused to let go.

  She refused to drop, though. If she fell, she lost the fight. Every time. His hand popped open, dropping the knife. He reached for it with his other hand and she yanked back on his fingers, breaking at least one or two.

  “Argh! You bitch!” He left the knife and swung.

  Nora ducked, and he sailed past her. She rammed her leg toward the side of his knee as he passed, but he caught traction just in time to avoid a full-scale knock.

  She eyed the knife, but it was no use. If she lunged for it, he’d be on her.

  “I saved you,” he snarled.

  “Saved me?” she mocked. “You had your chance to save me. We could have had it all. You used me. Controlled me. Killed what the streets didn’t. Now you’re going to be sorry you ever saved me. I’m going to make you suffer the w
ay you made all the people you supposedly saved suffer. I already made the phone calls. Turns out you have more enemies than friends.”

  Sergio grinned, hands up, finger crooked, beckoning her. “I’m not afraid of anyone, Nora. Come here, darling. I know you think you’re good enough to fight me, don’t you, K.O. Molina? Come on, baby. Gimme your best shot. I’ll give you a freebie.”

  Nora held back, waiting. He wouldn’t be able to take it. He’d charge. It was how he fought. He took out his enemies before they had a chance to take out him. Not this time. She’d already taken him down … with only a few phone calls. If he came near her, she’d show him what he taught her physically, too.

  “You know me so well,” he cooed. “I’m gonna give you one chance, baby. I’m gonna put my face right where you can punch it.” He narrowed his eyes. “But that’s all you get. One shot. Don’t waste it.”

  Nora braced herself. He’d charge, just as he’d done in every UFC fight she’d watched of him. He always brought the fight. Because his head was hard as a rock. If she tried a straight jab, as he’d taught her — to use her opponents’ momentum against them — she’d lose. Her punch wasn’t enough to take him out.

  As promised, Sergio charged. She waited just until he was in reach, and released a roundhouse kick to his head. He dropped to his knees, his head falling forward. She didn’t hesitate as she would in the ring. No referee stood between her and her enemy. No countdown. No bells.

  Just as she’d done as a teenager in Argentina, she stepped forward and kicked his head as if she were going for a Goal.

  Sergio’s head snapped back, blood sprayed across the lawn, and his body dropped.

  First line of defense, take your opponent by surprise and then make a run for it. She snatched up the knife and then the gun, and ran to Sam.

  “Sam!” She dropped down beside him, her gaze flicking to Sergio, making sure he hadn’t gotten up. “Oh, God. Sam!”

  He blinked, but remained motionless.