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Chapter 169
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The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 170
KarinaBeginning of JuneMonths ago when I accepted a request for a message from Mason Harrison on the dating app I'd recently signed up for; I couldn't have imagined this was where I'd be. Standing in his driveway, fighting to hold back tears as Caleb, the child I never knew I wanted, prepares to leave for college. Beside me, Mason is tense as we try to avert our eyes from the heartbreaking scene going on in front of us. Caleb is leaving for the University of Alabama today, and Jess leaves for Ole Miss two days from now. I'm not sure what the future holds for the couple, but it'll be almost impossible with them both on scholarships, to be able to keep their relationship going.They spent the whole night out with one another last night, only showing up here at six-thirty a.m., to fall asleep on the couch wrapped up in each other's arms. When I woke them up at eight, because Caleb has to be in Tuscaloosa at noon, the stark sadness on both of their faces almost killed me."I know
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 171
MenaceJuneKarina is meeting up with some of her fellow teachers today at the high school. She mentioned something about helping to purge and clean some of the older rooms. They've been doing it for a while, a couple of the times some of the guys from the police department have been asked to go out and help move stuff, but I've never been one of them.She looks cute as she's ready for her day, with her hair pulled back in braids, a hat over her head, a pair of old shorts, and one of my old t-shirts. I reach up, tugging on one of the braids. "Have fun today."She gives me a look, one that says kiss my ass, before she grabs me around the waist."I'll see you later." She kisses me, squeezing the flesh of my stomach, before we part ways for the day. "Tell Caleb I miss him. I hope you two have a great day together.""Ouch woman, that fuckin' hurt." I rub my side where she'd grabbed my fat."That'll teach you to pull on my hair."I give her a hot grin. "Sometimes you like it
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 172
MenaceKarina's head on my chest with her arms wrapped around my waist is my favorite place to be. Here, I don't worry about what Caleb's doing. If he's eating, if he's sleeping, are his coaches and teammates giving him a hard time, is he screwing around with girls he shouldn't be? I don't worry about what's going on in this town with the moonshine business. My brain isn't traveling fifty thousand miles an hour trying to unravel the mystery of how the moonshine is in the school. For the brief moments she's in my arms and I'm in hers, my brain is quiet, my thoughts are peaceful. The only thing I think about is how good it feels to have a partner. How warm and loved I feel with her beside me. It's an emotion I'd never known until I'd met her."You're quiet," she comments as she runs her foot up my leg."Just thinking." I roll over so that we're now facing each other, holding her in my arms."What are you thinking?" She smiles, running her finger along my jawline. Those green eyes
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 173
KarinaJulyThere have been a lot of times in my life when I imagined my wedding day, especially when I was engaged before. That day was supposed to be the most magical day of my life. It had been planned for almost a year. The dress had cost more than I'd been able to afford, but it had been a gift from my parents, and the honeymoon was more than my yearly salary. That had been a gift from his parents. I still wonder to this day if they'd known what was going on. If that had been their way of trying to buy me off. I should have known something was up when they'd been all too eager to spend what could have been a down payment on a nice home to send us away. All of that though, it pales in comparison to what this day means to me. Last week when Mason had asked me to marry him, I'd imagined a long engagement. I'd thought maybe we'd get married next summer before Caleb started workouts for next year, but the more I'd thought about it, the more I realized I didn't want to wait. W
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 174
MenaceAugustToday very well could have been the longest day of my life. I've done nothing but write traffic tickets, try and track back the evidence that was found at the school during June, and run into fucking roadblock after roadblock in all of the above things. The only thing I'm legitimately looking forward to is going home and having a nice quiet night with my wife. Glancing at the silicone wedding ring I wear while I'm on shift, I imagine her waiting for me. She's been at home, waiting for me every night since we got married. I don't know what I'm going to do when she has to go back to work, besides miss the fuck out of her. As I pull into our driveway, I feel the stresses of the day seep from my body. Something about parking next to her car and knowing she's there to greet me has done wonders for my stress level. Still doesn't mean I'm not tired as hell at the end of the day.Getting out of my Jeep, I grab the mail, and shuffle through it as I stomp through the side
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 175
KarinaSeptember"I'm so tired." I yawn loudly as I lay on the couch, my feet in Mason's lap. We're watching something on TV, trying to avoid doing yard-work in the early September heat. "I feel like I'm coming down with something." I close my eyes, snuggling into the cushions."You were tired a lot this week," he comments as he grabs the cover off the back and covers me up with it. "Was it hectic at school?""Not particularly, which is why I think I'm coming down with something. My stomach wasn't happy with me this morning." I mention the other symptom I had. "Maybe if I just take a nap, I'll feel better." I turn into the couch, hugging one of the pillows.The next thing I know, Mason's shaking my shoulder. "Rina, you've been asleep for two hours, time to get up."I fight against the lethargy holding me down. Working against the exhaustion to prop myself up. "Two hours?""Yeah." He runs a hand down my face. It's my favorite hand. His left hand that holds the ring I put t
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 176
KarinaOctoberI'm beyond intimidated as I walk with my hand tucked into Mason's along the family section of the football stadium. This week we'd gotten the call that Caleb would be playing in the Auburn game and everyone who could in the MTF is with us. That includes Whitney, Ryan, and Stella. Part of my intimidation is watching this game with Whitney."Remember last time we were here?" She smiles over at Ryan as he carries Stella, wearing a cheerleading uniform. She's got stickers on her cheeks and carries a pom pom in her hand."I do." he gives her a look that says they only see each other."Yeah we have a lot in common with that." She hits elbows with me."We do?"I know zero about football, and I have a feeling I'm way out of my element with the rest of them, including Stella. Pretty sure Stella knows more than I do, but I also know I wouldn't miss Caleb's debut for the world."Yeah." She gives me a grin. "I was pregnant last time I was here, too. Like close to pop
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 177
KarinaNovemberSchool is routinely kicking my ass. Even though I've just passed my three-month mark in the pregnancy, I'm not feeling much better than when I started, and I'm still getting sick on a regular basis. It doesn't matter, though, the show must go on and I don't want to take time that I don't need yet. Because the due date is around the first week of May, I'll more than likely be taking maternity leave at Spring Break, so I don't want mess with any of the plans I already have. It's taking me longer to finish grading papers and make lesson plans. Pregnancy brain is really a thing, and I'm suffering from it, all the time. I'm finding more often than not, it's easier for me to get things done at school, so I'm staying a little later than normal every night. The librarian keeps the library open since she does work too, and I've been finding going in there with her helps keep me on task. Grabbing my laptop and my water bottle, I close up my room and head to the front of th
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The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 214
CruiseFive Years Later"Molly's asleep." I press my wife up against the door to our bedroom, spreading open-mouth kisses along her neck as we grind against one another. Pulling back, I push my hands up her tank top, palming her breasts, moaning as I feel her nipples peak against her bra. "I paid Kelsea her stupid-ass babysitting fee, she's gone. We're alone." I can hear the annoyance in my voice. It's been an on-going argument between the two of us, how I'd watched her for free as a kid, and now she charges us.We've been out with friends and family, had a DD, and both of us have had a little too much to drink. Her with the margaritas she likes to indulge in with the ladies, and me with the whiskey Morgan and I were shooting straight with my dad."God, I want you." She rakes her nails across my neck, down my back, and fists my shirt in her hands.I want her too. Molly is three now, born within the first two years of us getting married, and we've finally got this parenting th
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 213
Ruby"Where are you taking me?" I watch as Caleb drives through the streets of downtown. This fall night is cool as rain falls from the sky. It's not sheets like the day he shot the armed man, but a steady drumming against the roof of the Jeep."You'll see." His deep voice has a secretive lilt to it, one that I've come to know well in the year we've been together. He's not great at keeping secrets, but when he does, they're the best kind.As he turns in front of The Café, I grin. No matter what's happened inside the building or in front of it, this is still one of our favorite places to go, to be. On any given night, we can walk inside and find any number of friends or family inside. It's darkish in there tonight, but I figure maybe the electricity is flickering because of the rain storm we're in. Earlier in the day, the school had lost power.He snags a parking spot near the door. "Don't touch the door, I'll come around for you. I don't want you get wet."Since the first nig
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 212
RubySeptemberBack when I bought this dress so many months ago, I had assumed I would wear it for Valentine's Day, but because of Caleb's schedule we were never able to make a special date work. He never did take me to that dinner, but we've had so many other special moments that I truly can't complain. Tonight, however, I'm thrilled to be wearing this dress to watch him get an award for bravery."You look absolutely gorgeous." He comes up behind me in the mirror as I'm applying a layer of lipstick."You don't look so bad yourself." I turn around in his arms, helping to straighten his dress uniform.I don't think Caleb has ever looked as hot as he does right now. There's something about him being so buttoned-up that I'm loving. "It's cutting off my circulation." He pulls at the fabric around his neck."You're fine." I slap his hands away. "Are you nervous?""Not really," he says with a shake of his head. "Nerves was playing for the college football championship. This is
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 211
RubyI'm lying on my couch, re-watching some TV show I've seen a million times, trying to figure out how to get through to Caleb when the doorbell rings. At first I ignore it, not wanting to disturb my brooding, but then I hear his voice."Red?" It's unsure and soft as he knocks on the door this time. "I know I don't deserve for you to let me in, but I'm asking you to. Please?"For a moment I think about ignoring him, I think about letting him sit out there and sweat. Give him the same type of reaction he's given me, but I realize quickly one of us has to be the bigger person. That person is me, because I know he's hurting and I know he's dealt with the situation he's been thrust into the best way he knows how.Opening the door, I stand there with my arms crossed. Until I see what he's carrying in his hands.The ugliest looking cupcakes I've ever seen in my life."I finally realized why he made them, even though they looked like shit," he gives me a slight smile. "It's the
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 210
Cruise"How'd you get in here?"My dad is waiting on me, probably ready to rip me a new one, just like Ruby did. I'm so not in the mood for it tonight."You don't need to know how I got in here." He gets up from where he's sitting on my couch. "Instead, what we need to do is talk about how we're going to get you to where you need to be.""What the fuck is that supposed to mean? This is me.""This isn't you, we both know that. I didn't raise you to be a fuck face. You haven't been answering my calls, your mom's, Kelsea's, or come to find out Ruby's, so let's talk about this Caleb. What the fuck is going on?""Nothing." I grind my teeth together, not wanting to do this with him."We've done this once before son, and we won't do it again. Do you remember when your friend died? Remember when you pushed everyone away? How'd that work out for you?""How does having a murderer for a son work out for you?" I fire back at him. "Because I'm on administrative leave for committing
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 209
RubyI'm sitting in my car watching Morgan and Caleb eat through The Café window. This is what I've been reduced to. It's been a week since the shooting, and so far, Caleb's refused to see me. I went to see him the other night, and it was a bad scene."What are you doing here?" Caleb opens his door, arms crossed over his chest. "I figured me not answering any of your calls let you know I'm not up to talking to anyone right now. Including you."Not gonna lie, this hurts. Seeing him like this hurts, hearing him talk to me the way he is hurts. But I won't give up on him. I promised Kelsea months ago that I would be here if he needed me, that I could handle whatever was thrown at me."You need me," I talk against the tightness in my throat."I need to be left the fuck alone. You. Mom. Dad. You all need to leave me the fuck alone.""We won't," I shake my head standing my ground. "We won't leave you alone to deal with this by yourself.""Fine, then if you won't leave, I will."
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 208
CruiseThe July sun is beating down on the pavement as I make my drive around the streets that make up Laurel Springs. It's been a boring day, for the most part, but I'm not stupid enough to think it'll last. Lately it's been slow and I've been feeling a lot like the other shoe might drop. This nagging feeling hasn't let go for the last week, but I know eventually either that shoe will drop or I'll get over it.Rain came through over an hour ago, but it did nothing to cool the day down. It's now a sauna outside. In certain parts there's actually steam coming up off the road. Behind the sun that's moved in, you can see more clouds behind. A dark hazy threat looming in the background, more storms are moving in. The stillness of the day threatens to break wide open when they do.Because of the heat that's been baking the ground and asphalt for days, most people are inside this afternoon, enjoying the air conditioning and not wanting to have heatstroke. Probably one of the reasons th
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 207
CruiseI love the smile on Kelsea's face, love even more that I'm the one who put it there. "You excited Kels?" I grin into the rearview as we make the drive to Birmingham."So excited, like I knew you knew him." She bounces in her seat. "But I didn't really know!"Him references my college roommate Slater Harlow, known by everyone who watches professional baseball as Savage. He's a formidable force on the baseball diamond, having the best season of his career. We're not as close as we once were, because life took us two totally different directions, but we still hang out every once in a while. Typically I like to keep the fact I know him from just about everyone, because I know he values his privacy. Now though? Kels is old enough to go to a major league game, and I'm doing my best to impress Ruby."I've known him a long time." I think back to our college days, how both of us had been so damn homesick. Him more than me, since I could at least head home on the weekend. Slater w
The Moonshine Task Force Series Chapter 206
RubyIt's a hot summer day, as I walk onto the practice field. Since school let out in early June, I've been catching up on sleep, taking a summer class, and spending as much time with the man in my life as I can. Neither Mason nor Caleb are here today. Both are on duty, so another parent has offered to help the girls practice. Karina is sick with a summer cold and me? I'm here, not sure what the hell I've gotten myself into. Kelsea and I are spending the afternoon together, beginning with me picking her up. So we'll see how this goes."Ruby!" I hear as I shield my eyes and look out along the field. Kelsea is running toward me, her backpack bouncing as she runs."Hey Kels," I greet her, a real smile on my face. She and I haven't had a ton of time with one another, but as Caleb and I have gotten closer, the same has been true for the two of us. "You ready?" I wave to today's coach as she walks beside me."I am, it's hot out here." She pushes her hair back from her forehead.Ta
