RackI’ve never deviated from a mission or allowed anyone to sway me from my goals. This woman is different. She’s trouble. It must be all the stories her brother spilled. I remember Nick telling me each escapade in hilarious detail. When she was nine she grabbed a woman’s leg in a convenience store who was shoplifting and refused to let go. She yelled, “Thief, thief,” until the entire shopping public came to see what was happening. When a few years older she stepped in front of a man who was threatening to hit his wife. Nick said she saw no gray in the world and lived for justice. She has the same ethics as my family—good people with a defined line between right and wrong. I can’t have her. She’d never survive my life. Even though she says she’ll kill Angelo, she wouldn’t. Her moral compass is set in stone.I break the kiss that I should never have started. She’s breathless, her mouth wet from my lips. She’s so damn sexy…and soft…and desirable. Her flushed cheeks, filled out by the p
Rack“These are baggy but they’ll stay up.” She pulls one of the shirts out of a bag and heads back into the bathroom. She comes out wearing a pink stretch top that shows off her round belly. My eyes travel down to her bare toes. She wiggles them. “My feet are swollen and I don’t think I can get back into my shoes right now.”I also didn’t think to buy shoes. “We aren’t going anywhere until morning. Do you have a problem with more pizza for dinner?”She looks at the box and I would swear she turns a little green.“I can go out and get us something. You name it and it’s yours.”She shakes her head. “No, it’s all good. I’m not actually hungry. I haven’t eaten so much since before I met Angelo.”She’s giving me the perfect lead-in. “Why don’t you sit down and tell me how you got involved with Angelo Gimonde.”She gives me sad puppy dog eyes but it won’t work. “Just saying I was stupid won’t cut it?”I shake my head and use my foot to push out the chair across from me. I place the cleanin
BethTo: Beth Hoffman,Enclosed you will find your brother’s final communication. He has paid the ultimate sacrifice to his country and so has his family. I grieve with you.Commander E. MontgomeryDearest Beth,By now you know I didn’t keep my promise and that I’m not coming home. Forgive me. I would give anything to see you grow into a more incredible woman, find that special man who completes you, and make baby Beths who will be as cute as you. From the moment you were born, I loved you. I hear that’s rather strange for older brothers but to me you were the perfect bundle of joy and you gave my life purpose. This is actually the second “just in case” letter I’ve written. This new one is because of my friendship with Rack. I’ve beat you upside the head about him. I won’t do it in this letter. But I need you to know that he will always be there for you. You can depend on him no matter the circumstances. Grieve for me and then move on with your life. I want your happiness above all el
RackI jack off three times before I’m willing to even think about returning to the bedroom. She is so incredibly soft, her pussy so fucking hot. And, God, her taste. I’ll never get it out of my head. The remembrance of her sweet scent mixes up my insides until I’m one raging hard-on after another. How the hell will I walk away once she’s safe?The hero worship shows plainly in her eyes. She thinks I’m a man like her brother and has no idea who and what I really am—a cold-blooded killer with a vendetta that eats him alive. Beth deserves something more. She deserves a man without blood on his hands. I rest my forehead against the shower wall. What the hell am I doing? It doesn’t matter that watching her come was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.I fucked this up royally. I’m relieved when I enter the bedroom and she’s asleep. I want to leave early tomorrow morning, so I place all but one handgun in the weapons bag, tidy the room, and hit the bed wearing boxers. It doesn’t take much fo
Rack“We’re heading to the first vehicle I found for sale.” I notice her looking down at the receipt.“What do you actually do for a living?” she asks.I knew the question would come up eventually. “I work security for Xavier Moon.” If she recognizes his name, my answer will lead to more questions. I told her I wouldn’t lie. There are things I can’t talk about and I’ll relay exactly that if her questions touch sensitive areas.She looks back down at the receipt. “He must pay quite well.”I think about my foreign account with more than ten times what this one has. “Moon takes care of his employees,” is all I say.“I’ve never seen half a million dollars even on paper.”“What?”“You withdrew thirty thousand dollars and have half a million left. I can’t even imagine.”I place my hand out and she hands me the receipt. I’m driving, so I take only a quick look at the small paper. Sure enough, I have five hundred and one thousand dollars remaining.“Gomez,” I mutter.“Is that code for somethi
BethThe brighter future for my child has just taken a nose dive. This can’t be happening, but the small regular ache in my lower back and my wet maternity crop pants say differently. I can’t go to a hospital. Babies are born every day in a natural environment, I reassure myself.I lift my hand from my stomach and place it on top of Rack’s. “Angelo will kill you. He’ll kill anyone who gets in his way. Get us to a hotel. I’ll tell you what you need to purchase. Women have been having babies by themselves since the dawn of time. I can do it.” I say the words out loud because I’m terrified and actually need to reassure myself. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to the baby.Rack looks away. I have no idea what he’s thinking. The quiet in the car makes a few minutes seem like hours. He finally looks ahead, throws the car in gear, and turns around. He’s taking me to the hospital. I can’t stop panic from gripping me, and my heart races uncontrollably.Rack turns my way and offer
Rack“Now you know my big dark secret.” I laugh as a way to take her mind off the pain. She’s holding tight but I don’t know how long it will last. I’m terrified over delivering the baby. Give me a rifle and something to shoot—I’m your guy. Bringing a child into this world—mind numbing terror.I thought about forgoing the call to Lincoln so he had no chance to say no. What if he wasn’t there? Beth is a trouper, but I know we’re almost out of time. If we’re pulled over, it means we’re going straight to a hospital with a police escort. I’ll let fate decide. Even though my brother has training, it doesn’t mean he can handle an emergency if something goes wrong.Beth gains control and replies, “I won’t tell a soul, but now I have a lot of questions. Not now, though. Can you sing?”Her question comes out of left field. “No, not at all. You want me to turn on the radio?”“Yeah, something mellow. I need to keep calm.”I turn on the radio. It works until we’re about an hour from my brother’s
RackShelby moves a towel next to Beth’s hip. The woman appears unfazed. “There’s string and scissors in the bag. I’m going to drop them in the boiling water and I’ll be right back.” She leaves the room with one of the bags.Beth’s cry fills the room. Her face is filled with exertion. Things are moving so fast, but I’ll never forget how beautiful she is at this moment as she brings a new life into the world. Death is cold and ugly. This is a miracle.Shelby walks back in snapping directions like a drill sergeant.“I can see the baby’s head,” Linc shouts. “Push with the next contraction and we’ll see if he’s ready to join us.”“She,” Beth yells at him.“Okay, she,” he replies with an exasperated huff.Beth’s loud panting fills the room until her fingers relax on mine. I’m so damn proud of her for hanging on this long and keeping her cool. “Oh, God, oh, God,” she cries out.“Push, Beth,” I tell her. Her response is unintelligible. Shelby runs out and returns with a bowl of steaming wate