I put my hands up, because that's what you do when someone is pointing a gun at you, and slide my butt off the seat. "Okay, okay.""You don't want to be late for your meeting."I shuffle toward the front of the warehouse, grateful they haven't walked me into the woods. You know your life has gone to shit when you're grateful to be going into a falling down building and not taking a shot to the back. "Late for my meeting?""The boss," the tallest guy of the three says. "Make sure and be respectful."I hold my eye roll. I'm sure the seedy underbelly of Pelican Bay needs respect.The door to the warehouse is shoved open but once I walk through, it's propped close again. The empty building has a thick layer of dust covering the ground and also floating in the air. I cough, twice, my allergies already annoyed as fuck I'm here. They aren't the only parts."Take a seat," the driver says, pointing to a lone chair sitting in the middle of the warehouse.That's weird, but what's we
Glass shatters and I fling my body forward out of instinct more than anything else. They pull my arm back as a large body soars through the air. It's the limp form of one of the guys. In the commotion I pull my hand away and tuck it into myself, rolling into a small ball on the floor.A thick head of hair — one that's easy to make out as Nate — tackles the driver to the floor, his fist punching him in the head."Get Josie!" he yells. Our eyes lock in for a second and the world stops as I stare at him, hopeful he's come to rescue me. The first sign of a tear trickles down my face as the commotion picks back up again in rapid speed. Now is not the time to cry, stupid. Why do my tears always come at the worst times?Two hands grab me and I hit my attacker as hard as possible, doing everything I can to wiggle away as he picks me up in his arms and clutches me close to his chest."Shhh, Josie. I've got you, it's me." I struggle, but look up and see a pair of eyes belonging to a man
NateA few weeks laterSunlight shines through the thin curtains Josie picked out to go in our master bedroom. They're a light color she calls rose and I call pink. I'm not sure what happened to my fucking manhood that I'm allowing pink curtains in my bedroom, but I plan to run with it for the time being.Although something has to be done about keeping the light out. Hell, I'd buy pink blackout curtains if they would make her happy. We could get some blinds up in here. Anything to stop the weekend morning sun from waking me up.Josie twitches in her sleep and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her back to my chest. She sinks into my arms and relaxes, falling back to sleep.This is what I work so hard for. I stick my face in the back of her hair, breathing deeply with the smell of strawberries tickling my senses. It's wonderful. I've never been so happy and I know the people around me are happy for me.The rest of my life will be spent with Josie and Emma. Every day I'll work
VOLUME EIGHT: ACCIDENTAL RISKPrologueCrispinEvery once in a while, you come across a special moment in life when something happens and you recognize your future has shifted permanently. The next morning you'll wake up, and nothing will ever be the same again.This wasn't one of those moments."Here, Crispin, I opened it for you," Elliot says as he passes me the light-colored beer bottle and I take my first sip of the refreshing brew. We both fell in love with the cheap imported beer, Sol, after a three-month-long mission on the streets of Mexico. It was our first mission for Ridge Jefferson before we officially joined his special forces team based in Pelican Bay, Maine.Elliot laughed when I packed a six-pack in my carry-on bag but lamented the day I drank the last one. It wasn't until four months later while shopping in a crappy little store in Clearwater that I found one of their coolers packed with the stuff. Since then I've traveled once a month to the little store s
StellaI leave my car parked in the driveway, since my brother's truck takes up all the extra space in his garage, and admire the hard work I finished on his yard. Earlier in the week I mowed, and even though I missed a few spots, it looks great. It's only been four days, but it rained in Pelican Bay and from the looks of it the grass needs another clipping. My brother must be using fertilizer or something because none of the other neighbors mow half as often as I do. It wouldn't surprise me since in high school he'd been an avid member of the FFA and considered going to an agricultural College in Michigan, but at the last minute joined the military and served his country.More than likely he spent his nights lying in the grass talking sweetly to it, trying for a better green color. I wouldn't put anything past Dalton. His mower was a push model since yards in Pelican Bay weren't large. You'd think it would make it easier to mow, but it didn't. I crouch and run my hand over the gra
Still... the man is thirsty, and I'd be a terrible hostess if I didn't take him out something to drink.The only thing in my house is water and a specialty energy mix I use after runs or good workouts. It tastes like absolute crap so I can't offer him that. There has to be something else. I gave up dairy at the same time as carbs and bread. All the tasty food except vegetables had been banned except the occasional chocolate cupcake because women can't have crazy expectations without breaking them occasionally.After searching I find a box of drink mixes and make up a tall glass before mixing in one of the powdered pouches.Except the water is too light. Raspberry lemonade should be darker so I add the last one from the box, giving it a hearty stir with the spoon, and then fix my hair up into a tight bun. The mower cuts off as I step on to the freshly cut grass.Sweat trickles off Crispin's chest in beads, ones I couldn't see as I stared from my kitchen window. Definitely made t
"I mean, don't trouble yourself. I appreciate the lawn."Better.At least I used actual words and not a jumble of sounds and moans like earlier.He doesn't take me seriously and as he puts his shirt back over his head, covering his magnificent body. I am left to pout about the loss of his six-pack as I pull the turkey from the pressure cooker. My brother's house doesn't have much in the way of decorations, but he likes food and that works out well for me because it's a family trait. There are more cooking devices in my brother's kitchen than I know what to do with on any particular day, but I still plan to use every one of them. My phone has YouTube so I can figure it out.With the tongs, which came with the pressure cooker, I pull the turkey free and place it on a plain white platter. "It's a little small for carving, but feel free to whack off a leg," I say placing the platter on the table next to the steaming bag of broccoli.He laughs. "I'm more of a breast man myself."
Crispin's eyebrows fall, looking at me harder than he did earlier."August twelfth, to be exact. My best friend in the entire world threw me the biggest bachelorette party you've ever seen. We planned on having a quiet wedding out of the city with our friends and family. Keep it simple, you know.""One day I had a 5k scheduled, but came home earlier than expected."Crispin's eyes hold sympathy, but he hasn't heard anything yet. "And?"I laugh, the sound harsh and jaded like I've become since that fateful night. "I walked in my apartment to find my best friend, Elizabeth, in bed with my fiancé, Ben.""Wow," Crispin says. "Are you sure?"Like I wouldn't double check that one for myself. "They weren't sleeping." His dick had still been wet.I take another pause, but Crispin doesn't ask extra questions."It'd been going on for a long time. Elizabeth even accused me of stealing Ben from her.""How did you steal him if he was your fiancé?"The memories of times so far ago