“Yeah.” Damon’s voice was low. He took Olivia’s hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “I can see where your mind is going. Stop it. Don’t let it go there. You’re not to blame for any of this.”
She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Intellectually, I know you’re right, but give me some time to come to grips.”
Spencer took her other hand. “There were a lot of people who schemed and plotted and orchestrated this for years. You weren’t one of them, Livvy.”
She nodded again. “Again, I get that, but you have to see things from my perspective. My own mother was a key player. Her father, my maternal grandfather, is being held in custody right now for crimes that affected so many people and millions of lives.”
“Livvy…” Spencer whispered.
She ignored him and kept talking. “My father, the man I worshipped for my entire childhood who doted on me and made me think I was the North Star, also played a role. I get that he was blackmailed, but he still did bad things.”
Damon reached forward and pulled her against his chest as she let a sob escape. Spencer wrapped around her from behind. They held her tight, and she knew they always would. It would take some time to breathe easily, but she would get there because she had the best support system in the world.
Olivia sniffled. “I feel horrible for all your friends. They have tough choices to make. Most of them have family. If they take new identities, they will have to sacrifice more than they already have.”
“Everyone from the DEEP team is strong. They’ll figure things out. Remember, many of them have been revived for months, almost a year. They’ve had time to think and plan.”
Olivia nodded. Her own life seemed like it had been flipped upside down. She’d lost so much. And yet, she’d gained also. Could she really be lucky enough to forge a permanent relationship with the two men she’d fallen so hard for?
After they held her for several minutes, rocking her gently, she lifted her face to meet Damon’s gaze. “Don’t think I haven’t considered the burden Spencer and I have placed on you.”
Damon’s expression was serious. “Don’t think for a moment I would ever consider either of you a burden, and don’t use that word again as long as we live.”
She stared at him. She knew he was serious, but could he give up everything for the two of them forever?
He cupped her face and smiled. “I have a plan.”
She frowned. “You have parents. We can’t ask you to give them up for us.”
“She’s right,” Spencer agreed.
Damon smirked, glancing at both of them.
Olivia was confused by his reaction.
“You two aren’t going to be able to get rid of me over something as petty as a pair of parents. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Olivia gasped. “You love them. You told me so.”
“Yeah, but they’re my parents, not my lovers. My future is with you.” He set his forehead against Olivia’s and pulled Spencer’s in close. “Stop worrying. I told you, I have a plan.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Spencer chuckled. “Let’s hear it.”
Chapter 24
Six months later…
Olivia plopped down on the blanket Damon had spread out for the three of them and stuck her toes in the sand as she stared out at the waves crashing against the shore. She would never tire of the sound or the feel of the ocean air on her skin.
“Eve, scoot back. You’re going to burn.” She hesitated a moment before turning her gaze toward Spencer, who was no longer Spencer, but rather Landon. The name suited him, but like her own, she couldn’t get used to it. The reason she’d chosen Eve was because her father had always called her E, so she knew she would grasp it faster.
“Landon…” she said just to let it roll off her tongue. She tipped her head toward her other partner. “Caleb burns, not me. He’s the redhead.”
Spencer crawled up behind her under the large umbrella and settled on his knees at her back. When she heard the pop of the sunscreen, she sighed and closed her eyes. Her skin wasn’t the sort to fry like Damon’s, but if Spencer wanted to rub lotion into her skin, he would never get an argument out of her.
She moaned as he rubbed the sunscreen into her back and then up over her shoulders and into the V of her bikini top.
“Stop it. You’re both making me hard,” Damon admonished.
Olivia eased onto her back and stared up at her two men. “What time did you say they’d be here? We’re really early, aren’t we?”
Damon nodded. “Yes. I didn’t want to be rushed. We have at least an hour.”
“You want me to rub this on your back too?” Spencer asked, lifting a brow.
Damon snatched the lotion from Spencer. “No. I’ll manage myself. If I let you touch me, you’ll both be climbing all over me in under a minute. This isn’t the south of France.”
Olivia giggled as she rolled onto her side so she could face both men, setting her chin on her palm. “Did I hear you on the phone earlier while I was in the shower?”
Damon’s face softened. “Yes. I was talking to Ryan. The baby was screaming in the background. Apparently, she enjoys screaming. Ryan sounded tired.”
Olivia winced. “Not sure I ever want to go through that.”
Spencer tapped her nose. “Just think how much easier it would be with three parents instead of two. We could take turns sleeping.”
Damon was smiling, his gaze on Olivia. “He has a point.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not ready for this conversation. Subject change.”
“We could start with a cat,” Spencer proposed for the millionth time.
Olivia lit up, her gaze landing on Damon. “Can we? Can we, Dad? Please.”
Damon groaned and swatted at her elbow so she fell onto her back again. He leaned over her with a twinkle in his eye. “We can get an entire litter of kittens if you promise never to call me that again. I may be bossy, but I don’t like the connotation.”
Olivia grinned up at him. “Promise.” She considered this accidental conversation a win.
“Anyway,” Damon continued, “Apparently Trish’s daughter has an equal set of lungs on her, so at least she and Emily can commiserate.”
“Speaking of babies,” Olivia said as she pushed to sitting and crossed her legs in front of her. She wore a pair of white jean shorts over her bikini bottoms, but that didn’t keep both men from glancing down at her spread legs. She ignored them. “We had a baby in the office yesterday named Olivia, and I didn’t even flinch.”
Olivia had taken a job as a nurse for a pediatrician and found she loved it. It didn’t have any of the stress she’d experienced working in a large hospital, nor was her boss liable to go insane and cryonically preserve her.
“That’s awesome,” Spencer responded, “but it still makes me nervous. I cringe every time I hear the name.”
“Don’t stop seeing the hypnotist, baby,” Damon chastised. “I don’t want you to have a setback.”
“I won’t. Don’t worry.” Olivia reached for Damon’s thigh and gave it a squeeze. “How was your day? Did you teach any of those freshman something they didn’t know in your anatomy class?”
“Hey…” Spencer grabbed the back of her hair and gave it a tug. “Don’t make fun of freshman.”
She giggled again. She’d only said that because it got a rise out of him every time. Damon had taken a job as a university professor at the same university where Spencer had enrolled in classes. He’d balked for weeks about using the money he’d earned by working for Blue Cell to pay for his education, but Olivia and Damon had finally convinced him he’d earned every dime and should use it.
The only reason they were discussing yesterday’s events was because from the moment they’d all walked back in the door of the condo they were renting last evening, the only sounds they’d made had been unintelligible. After another full week living their new lives, they’d skipped dinner and wasted no time stripping each other’s clothes off and almost makin
g it to the bedroom before they had sex. Almost.
“My class was fine. It’s weird trying to convince people to love anatomy as much as I do, but I think I’m getting through to some of them.”
“Remind me never to take a science class,” Spencer joked.
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Like you could be dragged from the computer lab.”
“Oh.” Damon snapped his fingers, his face lighting up. “Guess who’s coming to visit in a few weeks?”
“Who?” Olivia and Spencer asked in unison.
“Dade and Blair. Apparently, they love the beach. They’re thinking about moving here.”
Olivia sat up straighter. “Seriously? To southern California?” That would be awesome. Even though she’d barely had a chance to get to know anyone, they were the only friends she had. She’d give anything to have people close by that understood her on a level no new acquaintance ever would.
“Yep. They said they will call with the details soon.”
Olivia sighed as she leaned her head on Spencer’s thigh. Damon took her legs and set them on his lap. The best part about living in Southern California was that people were not quick to judge. Not that the three of them made a spectacle of themselves in public, but they could be more relaxed than in other parts of the country.
So far, no one had asked questions. When people did, they had a plan. Spencer and Olivia were a couple. Damon was their roommate. It wasn’t hard to believe, considering the cost of rent in the area. Half the people living in their complex were renting out bedrooms to college students or relatives or even friends who needed a place to stay.
Olivia hadn’t been to California before, so she’d been skeptical, but turned out, she had gradually relaxed as the days went by and no one paid any attention to the three of them.
Damon glanced at his watch. “They should be here soon. I’m going to wander over to the water.”
“You want us to go with you?” Olivia asked.
He shook his head as he set her legs on the blanket and then leaned over to kiss her lips briefly. “Nope. Let me talk to them first, then I’ll bring them over.” He pushed to standing and headed toward the water in his swim trunks and the long-sleeved white beach shirt he wore to protect his skin.
Olivia scooted closer to the edge of the blanket and leaned her chin on her knees. “Are you nervous?” she asked Spencer as he joined her, his thighs touching hers.
“A little, but mostly for Damon. This is important to him. I know he’s stressed.”
Olivia sighed. She watched Damon stand at the water’s edge for several long minutes, and then suddenly he turned to the left. She could see his chest rise as he took a deep breath.
Her gaze darted to the older couple who’d been strolling down the beach hand in hand as they stopped dead, two feet from him. The woman put her hand over her chest for a moment and then released her husband to throw herself into Damon’s arms.
A tear fell down Olivia’s face as she watched this emotional reunion between Damon and his parents. She would never have such a reunion with her own mother, and it would be many years before she would likely see her father again.
She’d visited him before he’d gone to prison, but mostly to say goodbye. As soon as she took a new identity, she wouldn’t be able to risk contacting him again. Even though she’d done the same thing once before years ago, it had hurt more this time. He’d cut a deal with the government, but he would still serve several years in prison for his part in the scheme.
Olivia was well aware that she had a maternal grandfather also in prison, but since the man was the mastermind behind Blue Cell, and he’d never known she even existed before his arrest, she’d made the decision not to visit him. He would likely die in prison, and she’d made peace with that.
Olivia glanced at Spencer and found him also quietly crying. He wiped the tears from his cheeks as Damon and his parents turned to head their direction.
Olivia stood, planting a smile on her face even though she knew her eyes would be swollen and red. Spencer stood beside her, not touching her.
Damon beamed as the three of them approached. His mother was crying and his father was nearly as emotional. “Hey,” Damon began, “I just met the kindest people walking by me. I think we’ll have some local friends. Meet Carol and Roger Bardsley.”
He had a hand on his mother’s back. She wiped away a tear as she reached out to take Olivia’s hand. “You must be Eve. So nice to meet you. Caleb was just telling us about you.” She released Olivia to take Spencer’s hand next, squeezing it in both of hers. “And Landon, Caleb tells me you’re studying computer science where he teaches.”
“I am. Nice to meet you, ma’am. Sir.” Spencer nodded toward Roger.
“Why don’t you sit with us a while?” Olivia offered, stepping back so that everyone could claim a spot on the blanket under the shade of the umbrella. “Caleb was telling us about his students and how he plans to con them into loving science this semester.”
Carol was shaking badly as she took a seat, her husband at her back. Roger set his hands on her shoulders and kissed her neck. “It’s going to be okay,” he whispered. He lifted his face toward Damon and spoke in a low voice. “We didn’t expect to ever see you again.”
“I know.” Damon swallowed hard as he settled across from his parents. “I had to do a lot of sweet talking to get the position at this university, but I knew if I could somehow manage to get us all settled on the beach here, it wouldn’t be hard to run into you on a Saturday morning. Thank God you still walk this beach every weekend.”
Carol wiped away another tear. “I feel so blessed.”
“As do I,” Damon stated as he reached a hand out to grab Olivia’s and then flipped their combined grip over as Spencer set his on top of theirs. “Beyond words. It’s been a rough road, but we’re all here now. I’m not saying it would be a good idea for us to come over to the house or anything. I need to be hidden from everyone you know and anyone I ever met. But at least we live close enough that we can meet like this.”
“Can we call?” Carol asked.
“Of course. We’ll exchange numbers. You have new young friends. That’s all. Caleb, Landon, and Eve.”
Carol was still quietly crying as she shifted her gaze to Olivia and then Spencer. “Thank you. Thank you both for being just exactly what Caleb needs.” She stumbled slightly as she said his name, but the warmth in her expression told Olivia she and her husband would both manage to swallow this twist in life, and they would do so without ever judging their son or his partners.
Olivia hoped in time that Carol could be like a mother to her. A mother she never had. Judging by the way she held her gaze, she suspected she would get her wish.
Damon lifted their combined hands and kissed their knuckles. When he released them, he was smiling broadly. “I can finally breathe easily. All of the people I love most in the world are sitting on a blanket with an amazing view of the beach.”
His gaze didn’t stray toward the water, however, and Olivia doubted he even cared it was there. But she felt his love, and she knew Spencer did too when he wiped away yet another tear.
Emotions were thick, but they always had been between the three of them. And if they were lucky, they always would be.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Project DEEP series as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please enjoy the following excerpt from Dark Nightmares, a book I wrote in the Dark Falls series with an amazing group of authors.
Cold.
Hungry.
Alone.
Scared.
Nicole’s tears stopped falling so long ago, all that remained were dry streaks pinching her face. She didn’t have the energy to swipe them away anymore.
So thirsty. Her lips were cracked. It hurt to move them. It hurt to swallow.
She looked down at her filthy hands as they shook violently, seemingly detached from her body.
Her gaze traveled from her hands to her torso. Her dress was torn in several places. She c
ouldn’t remember what color it had been before…
Her legs began to wobble, and her feet hurt. When she glanced down, she found she was barefoot. Where were her shoes? Blood stained her toes. The gravel beneath them cut into her tender skin.
She jerked her gaze upward.
Where was she?
Renewed fear climbed up her spine, making her shudder as she wrapped her arms around her small frame.
A glance in both directions made her heart race. She stood on the side of a highway. Nothing was visible in either direction except concrete, the gravel shoulder, the brown brush of fall. In the distance, there were mountains.
She inhaled slowly. The air smelled of fall, dirt, and the faint remains of exhaust from passing cars.
She scrunched her eyes shut, trying to remember how she’d gotten here.
Nothing.
Her mind was blank.
Nicole Salway sat across from her captain, knowing it would be appropriate to nod occasionally while he spoke, but finding herself unable to force her head to comply with the demand.
When Captain Mark Telford paused his explanation, narrowing his gaze, she finally licked her lips and found her voice. “Let me get this straight. You want me to go undercover with a detective I’ve never met in Dark Falls at a BDSM club as his submissive?” She shuddered for several reasons, not the least of which was that the mere idea of doing a job in Dark Falls made her sweat. And Telford was well aware of it.
He winced. “Yeah. I know it’s not ideal, but I need you.”
She’d known about this assignment for two days. At least the basics. But the shit had hit the fan as she was wrapping up her previous assignment, which kept her mind occupied so thoroughly that she hadn’t had a chance to fully consider the email she’d received from her boss.
He had failed to mention the case was in Dark Falls, until now.
In the end, she had left her partner, Pierce Titus, to finish the paperwork and wrap up their current assignment while she headed back to the precinct to start this apparently more urgent assignment.
Reviving Olivia (Project DEEP Book 7) Page 25
