Tanner drives me to the hospital on our way back from a meeting and I spend my night talking to Kayla as she fades in and out from the medication. She seems to be getting better, but not fast enough. I have seen too many supposed undercover cops hanging around and it’s making me uneasy. My suspicions are confirmed when Ryan stops by with news. Ryan has been my inside man for some time. I have my cleaning business under his name. He runs it by having his people acquire a multitude of information for me. I was able to secure all the government building contracts and allowing my people to clean out the information no one wants me to have. The cleaning lady with her headphones on, pretending to hum a tune is actually recording every conversation in the area. There are ears everywhere and most of them are mine. I wouldn’t trust anyone but Ryan to handle them. After I receive his message, I take a quick detour through the hospital and down some stairs before flirting with a nurse so I can follow her through a back employee only door. A couple of nods from some orderlies and I find Ryan in a dark corner outside the building.
“Took you long enough.” He said with a smile.
“You couldn’t find any place easier to get to?”
“There are cops all over this place.” Ryan insists, smiling wider.
“So I have noticed. I have a bad feeling they are waiting on something.”
“They are- to get access to Kayla. They are waiting on a judge to give them permission to take over her care- for her own safety. They are coming after you, Nick.”
“Greedy bastards. I handed them the biggest bust they ever had and now they … Fuck ‘em.”
“What are you going to do?” Ryan asked watching the area as I do.
“I was afraid of this. I need you to do something for me. I need you to take some legal documents to my attorney and tell him to get them verified and authorized. Tanner has them. I will have him meet you at the usual place.” Ryan nods and gives me his standard sarcastic expression. “What?”
“I haven’t gotten to talk to you since you took him down. You have to tell me the moment he knew. Come on, Nick, I am owed it as much as you.” Ryan pleads. Quickly, I give him the details he needs and then send him away on a high.
Returning to Kayla is easier said than done. They were waiting for me to leave her so they could block me from getting to her. The more hell I raise, the more cops that show up. No one has any answers or reasons for me to be kept from her. Before I can make my final threat, the district attorney, Spencer Welch, comes strolling in with his smug attitude. “I want this woman moved,” He announced.
“Who the fuck do you think you are!” I yell as two cops take hold of me and push me into a wall.
He turns slowly in my direction, “I am now in charge of this woman’s care.”
“You don’t have any right to do that!” I said as he waves a court order at me. Shaking my head, “Leave her where she is, at least. I will leave, but leave her where she is.” I asked but he continues to ignore me. “Are you listening to me, you smug bastard? There is no reason to move her! You fucking son of a bitch! I swear …”
He immediately turns and smiles at me, “Is that a threat? I think that is a threat on the district attorney. Arrest him!” He said and immediately I am thrown to the ground and handcuffed.
As I am pulled back up, I catch sight of Kayla as they begin moving her. “Nick?” She said waking up and becoming more alarmed as she takes in the entire scene. “Nick! Nick, no! What is going on?” I hear her scream for me as they escort me out. Before I can get on the elevator, she somehow manages to leave her bed and comes running to me, holding on to my neck as she tries to hold herself up. “Nick, what happened? Why …”
Her arm is bleeding after pulling out her IV and she is still extremely weak as she struggles to hold on to me. I lay my head against hers, kissing her as I whisper to her, “It's okay, Princess, I am going to take care of everything. Don’t worry.” Standing strong, I watch as they pull her away from me and place her back in bed. I jerk away from my escorts and walk out with them on my own, but am still shoved into the back of a patrol car- something I haven’t been through since I was arrested for stealing a knife when I was fourteen.
While waiting for my attorney, I have been sitting in a room alone for hours. “How are we, Mr. Jayzon?” The District Attorney said as he walks through the door. “Nothing to say? That’s fine. Your girlfriend is in a vulnerable state, so she should be able to tell us all we need to know. We have made sure she isn’t given any medication so she can stay awake and talk to us as long as we need her to.” He smiles at me. “Unless you would like to be a man and save her from that ordeal?”
“What exactly do you want to know?” I asked curiously.
“I want to know your relationship with Connor Daniels? What kind of business did you deal with together? Why did he let you walk away with Kayla? All these questions are very concerning to me.”
“Let me know when my attorney arrives.” I said sitting back in my seat.
Tensing up and snarling, Welch slams his fists on the table. “We are going to nail your ass to the wall!” He yells at me. I don’t give, not even a little bit. “Fine. You want it this way? Then I will get everything I need to know from Kayla. Your attorney is here, by the way.” I leave quickly with my attorney and rush back to the hospital, demanding Kayla be moved back to the room I paid for. Sure enough, I am again face-to-face with the district attorney. “Mr. Jayzon, you are not welcome here.”
“Then tell me where Kayla is and I will move her to another hospital.” I said.
He laughs at me, “As her temporary guardian, I cannot allow that.”
Taking a step into his face, “As her husband, and true legal guardian, I demand it!” My attorney shows the court order verifying and approving my marriage to Kayla. After I confirm with Kayla’s doctor, I take her home to finish recovering much to the displeasure of the district attorney.
~
Within a few days, Kayla improves and begins to make me crazy asking questions about what happened and how I was able to get her away from Connor. She barely remembers the events and I prefer to keep it that way, especially with the district attorney making it clear he will do whatever possible to talk to her.
I spent most of the day handling some business and left strict orders at the house to keep Kayla on lock-down until I get home. Upon entering the house, I know I am in trouble when Dwayne looks beyond stressed. “That bad, huh?” I asked.
“Nick … that girl is … persistent, I will give her that. But if you ever ask me to baby-sit her again, I would rather you shoot me instead.”
“What happened?” I laugh imagining the worst. He tenses up waving his hands at the back door, then upstairs, the phone, the rug for some reason, he shows me the marks on the back of his neck, his leg and then agonizes in the direction of the side door all the while still unable to speak clearly. “What?” I asked confused.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I am leaving to go get a drink- several on you. She is all yours. Thank God.” He says exiting in a huff.
Once I enter the bedroom I see Kayla sitting up with a terrible pout. “You feel any better?” I asked nearly laughing after seeing Dwayne.
“I’m not talking to you.” She said with her arms crossed and looking away from me.
“Why?”
“You know why!”
“Kayla, you’re still sick. You need to stay in the house and get better.”
“I am not! You are hiding something from me. Don’t lie because I know you are.”
She’s right. Connor’s bail was denied, so it is just a matter of time now. Until Connor and his left over men are taken care of, I am not taking any chances that he may have an ally or two who would do him a favor before he dies. Once he’s gone, the favor is meaningless and then she can go back to a somewhat normal life. “Can you please appease me a little longer?” She stiffens in a deeper pout. “I bought you some new books.” Nothing. “If you’re so much better, then prove it to me.
” As tired as Dwayne looks, she must be nearly a hundred percent, and the way she teased me last night, I am sure she is just as horny as I am. She glances my way but remains silent. “Okay then.” I said turning my back on her and putting my jacket in my closet. Within a few minutes I feel her against my back and her hands working down my pants. “Thought you were mad at me?”
“I am but …” She lets go and I turn around to see her fidgeting.
“But you’re horny, aren’t you?” I said with a smile pissing her off even more. She stomps her foot and tries unsuccessfully to run from me. “That makes two of us, Princess.” I throw her over my shoulder while she giggles and squirms to try to get away from me.
“Nick I am still sick.”
“Really? Okay, we will wait then.” I put her in bed and walk back towards my closet.
“Nick.” I shake my head, ignoring her. “Nick.”
“No, Kayla.”
“But, Nick, I wasn’t being serious. I am better.”
“Nope, I am not interested anymore.”
“Nick.” She throws her shirt at me and I turn around quickly to watch her begin dancing for me, stripping down to nothing, as she teases me back to her. Never has anyone been able to seduce me like her. Her body is amazing, but her sweet seductive eyes bring me to my knees. I sit down enjoying the show that is working its way towards me, tasting her skin whenever she gets near. She strips me down, allowing me to touch and kiss her. Taking my hands, Kayla wraps them around her as she sits down on me with her back facing me. Her ass looks so good moving on me slowly, I become hypnotized by it. She leans back on my chest, taking in my lips and opening her mouth for my tongue to slip easily in next to hers. After massaging her tits, I slip down between her legs and play until her eyes roll, her jaw tightens and she comes strong on me. She is so exhausted, I have to take over. Picking her up, I hold her tight and fuck her hard as she whimpers and moans her pleasures.
When I’m done she leans back and kisses me gently with a smile. “So, you’re not mad at me anymore?” I asked playing with her hair and kissing her bare back.
“I didn’t say that.” She said still smiling.
“How many times will it take before you’re not mad at me anymore?”
“I’ll let you know when it happens.” Laughing, I pick her up and throw her in bed.
“If you can give me a few more days then I will give you whatever you want.” I said hovering over her smiling angel face. She seems to look right through me, tracing my face with a single finger reminding me how deeply I feel for her. It scares the hell out of me. I should listen to Luke and push her as far away from me as possible but, no matter the warnings, I can’t let go of her- not again. I kiss her gently on the lips and it shocks her for some reason.
“I love you, Nick.” She said watching my response closely. Run. Run now! Fucking run, you idiot. “Do you love me?” You should have run, dumbass. Those sweet green eyes hold my focus and I can’t do anything but crumble in her arms.
“What do you want me to say, Kayla?” I asked trying to hide my face from her.
“What you feel. I love having sex with you, Nick, but I would love even more to make love with you. To hear you say it. I know you do. Why can’t you just say it?”
“If you know it, then why do you have to hear me say it?”
“I guess there is still some doubt in my mind.”
“Kayla, I don’t even know what it means. Love? It makes no sense to me. I enjoy being with you. I don’t want you to leave, but outside that …” Her hands loosen around my neck and I feel her vibrating underneath me. Looking beneath me I watch her curl into a ball and begin to cry.
“I don’t understand, Nick. Why do you do these things for me? Why do you go out of your way to protect me?” She cries rolling away.
“I don’t know. I don’t understand anything when it comes to you.” She continues to cry and scoots further away from me. “This is ridiculous. We were having a good time … uggghhhh.” I get up angry, “You know what I don’t understand? Why I have to say I love you? My father said it every day to my mother, but it didn’t mean a damn thing! It doesn’t mean anything, Kayla. It’s just a word! All that should matter is how I treat you.” Still she lies there, ignoring me and crying. “Fuck! This is …” Storming back to her, I straighten her out and hover over her until she looks at me. “I love you. I love you Kayla. I hate it, but I do. You drive me absolutely insane but I love you so much that I think about you constantly. Even when you are asleep right next to me, I worry that if I fall asleep that you might not be there when I wake up. Before I found out that Connor took you, I thought you left and I seriously considered hunting you down and bringing you back. Hell, Kayla, I fucking married you!”
“You what?” She asked with her jaw dropped.
Fuck! Might as well tell her now. “On our trip. It wasn’t a joke. I am not real sure it is legal here in the States, but yes, I was sober enough to pay the priest to marry us with those two cheap shell rings you bought. You joked about it, but I made it happen and even ….” I leave her to go into my closet safe and pull out the small box I have had hidden from her since I bought it. I lay the box in front of her and watch as she opens it to find the diamond ring she looked at in the jewelry store. “I don’t know why I bought it. I never had a plan to give it you, but I knew you liked it and so did I.” Exhausted by my confession, I close my eyes and let my head drop.
“We’re married?” She asked. I slowly look up into her eyes and she looks as though she is about to burst into song. “You married me? You love me so much that you married me without me even knowing it? You bought an engagement ring even? That’s kind of insane.” She laughs.
“Well, I had been drinking too.” I said falling back into the bed rolling my eyes. Kayla takes hold of me and kisses all over my face. “Stop, because now I am mad at you.” I said fighting my own smile.
“No. You’re my husband and I can do what I want with you.” She giggles.
“I should never have said anything.” I said enjoying her sweet kisses immensely.
“No, you probably shouldn’t have, but it’s too late now. So, kiss me and tell me you love me.”
“Why should I?”
Kayla leans up and kisses my cheek, nibbling on my ear, “Because unlike our stupid parents, we actually love each other. I won’t ever hurt you, Nick, don’t hurt me by denying me what you feel for me.”
I watch her lie down on top of me and nothing in my life ever made more sense than this, “Don’t ever leave me.” I said with a shaky voice.
“Never, I promise.” She said looking deep into my eyes.
“I love you, Kayla.” I said holding her securely in my arms. I would die for you without question.
~21~
Kayla
While Nick is dreaming peacefully, I try to check the internet to see what is going on. Unfortunately, Nick has locked the computers and my cell is nowhere to be found. After finding his keys, I sneak out to find the information on my own. Nothing like an old fashioned newspaper to give me the information I am looking for. Once I have read everything cover to cover, I return to Nick who is none too happy with me. I try to smile innocently when I walk in but his stiff posture remains. “Hi, baby.” I said kissing him gently.
“Where have you been?” Nick asked.
Stomping my foot with force, I throw the paper in front of him and show him my worst attitude. “Nick, damn it! You can’t shelter me forever! I want to know what’s going on!
Nick puts his tea down sighing and takes my hand, “There is no need for any of this attitude …”
“Connor was murdered in prison? How? How did he even end up in prison? And did you hear how he was murdered?” Nick fights a smile assuring me that he does know. “Nick, it was-”
“What he fucking deserved. And I don’t want to hear you say otherwise.”
“Why do I get the feeling you had something to do with it?” I asked watching him closely.
“He was in prison, Princess. How could I possibly have anything to do with it?” Nick kisses me tenderly as if I am supposed to believe he is innocent.
“Nick, please tell me what you did. At least tell me that you’re going to be okay- that you’re …” I crush myself against his chest, fisting his shirt. “You’re not going to be investigated and harassed for this, are you?”
“Nah, the cops are busy sorting out all of Connor’s associates and trying to clean up that mess. They don’t have time for me right now, even to harass me for no reason. Why do you think I have been here with you so much?”
“Trying to stay out of trouble?” I said wrapping my arms around his neck as he smiles wide.
“Trouble? And when do I ever get into trouble?” Nick winks. “So, do you think you could handle a night out?”
“I would love a night out.” I said with excitement.
“There is a charity function tonight that I need to make an appearance at. I would love for you to go with me.”
“That sounds perfect, but can I buy something new?” I asked anticipating shopping at my favorite store again.
“Of course. I can drop you off on my way to a short meeting and then pick you up on my way back.”
“What kind of meeting?” I asked to his immediate sigh. “It was worth a try.” I say with a slight smile.
“Stop trying.” He said with no smile at all.
“But maybe I could help you.”
“Kayla, I am not going to talk to you about this. I am not going to let you into that part of my life. Don’t ask me again.” I nod laying my head on his chest with a small sigh.
“Maybe I could help you in some other way, Nick?”