Irresistible Forces (McKingley) (16 page)

Deyon glanced out of the door, startled she was sitting in the front seat of Warwick’s Benz. She saw Chandler and Kendrix behind Katiya.

“We’ll meet you at the hospital,” Chandler said as he led Kendrix away.

Deyon sat back and barely heard the closing of the door. Distantly, she felt them driving but didn’t really pay attention.
Leo, you’d better be okay so I can kill you
.

“What happened?”

“A car exploded at Rissa’s. Deiter was hurt too,” Katiya explained.

Deyon glanced into the back seat at her. “Deiter and Rissa. What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know.” Katiya’s expression was worried.

Deyon put her hand back and she gripped it. They sat that way for the rest of the trip. At the hospital, Deyon exited the car moving at a fast clip to the doors. Inside, she didn’t spare the desk nurse a look as she pushed through the door into the back.

“Deyon,” the nurse called.

“Where is he?” she asked.

The woman looked at her then gestured down the hall. Deyon glanced where she pointed then rushed forward.

“Jackie. Where is he? How are Deiter and Rissa?”

“I’ll take you to him. Deiter is fine, but I’m going to kill Rissa if she doesn’t calm the hell down.” Jackson’s cheerful tone reassured her slightly.

“She’s usually so calm. I guess being in love makes her loony.” Deyon walked with Jackson as he led her to a room at the back.

She stopped in the doorway, seeing Leo talking with his older brother. He looked fine, but there was a bandage on his shoulder. Leo glanced up and smiled when he spotted her.

“Deyon.”

“It’s good that you look fine because I’m going to kill you. How the hell did you end up getting hurt delivering chocolates to Rissa?”

“Come here, Deyon,” Leo said softly.

She moved towards him, touching Dimitri briefly on the shoulder. He touched her hand then stood leaving the room. At the bed, Deyon didn’t pause—she climbed in with Leo and put her head on his shoulder.

“Damn it.”

She lifted her head. “What?”

“I want to touch you, but the shoulder hurts,” Leo admitted.

Deyon looked the bandaged area on the other side of his body. She met his gaze then stroked her finger over his nose.

“You can’t get hurt anymore.”

“It happens sometimes, but the most important thing is, this time I’m fine.”

Deyon knew with his job it could happen and she accepted that. She sighed then laid her head back against his chest.

“What happened, Leo?”

“I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else,” Leo said.

Deyon looked up at him. “If it’s work related then you don’t have to if you can’t.”

“It is, but I want to share my job with you, not just the frustration.”

Deyon heart raced then she smiled. “Go ahead.”

She listened as he filled her in. “And Dimitri has no leads?”

“No and he’s been checking but nothing. Sometimes you never find out why an arsonist does as they do. And your car—there is nothing we can find. Now the bombing of Rissa’s car.”

“Do you think my car and hers being bombed are related? Maybe even my store fire?”

“I don’t think so.” He frowned. “What was done to your car and your store are two different things. And the fire something else. We’ll just have to figure out what is happening—in each case and why.” Leo looked thoughtful.

Before she could ask anything else, Jackson came in.

“Deyon, you shouldn’t be in bed with him,” he said.

Deyon frowned. “Shut up, Jackie.”

“Get down. I need to finished patching him up and then get him a room. Go keep Rissa out of my hair.” Jackson pulled her up out of the bed.

“I—”

“Check on them for me,” Leo said.

Deyon returned to his side and kissed him then left.

* * * *

Deyon helped Leo out of the car, scowling at his indrawn breath. “You should have stayed in the hospital.”

“I’m fine. You’ll take care of me,” Leo said again, as he had when he’d argued with the doctors to let him out.

They had only agreed because she had said she would and Jackson was in the apartment at her house if they needed him. Deyon helped him inside.

“Thanks, Kendrix,” she murmured as she opened the door.

Chandler followed them with the things they needed for Leo. He’d offered to help Leo in, but the stubborn man refused to let anyone but her to help him. She took him directly to the bedroom and got him settled. Leo grumbled a bit but went right to sleep. Deyon returned to the living room, spotting her friends in the kitchen, she told them where she was going before she slipped out the house to go to the building behind it. Inside she flipped on the lights then got ready. In moments she took her shooter’s stance and fired at the target. In quick successions she emptied her gun. She pressed the button to bring the paper closer, noting it was dead centre.

“When did you build this?”

Deyon turned, startled, and looked at Leo. The white bandage was a stark contrast against his shoulder.

“You should be in bed.”

“And I will be as soon as you join me. Now answer me.”

“Oh…I asked James to oversee it for me.”

“James. How the hell do you know James?”

“From Shannon. I’ve been emailing with her while I was gone. Talking about weapons and so on. I mentioned your concern and she suggested I talk with James about setting up a place like this for using my weapons. There are places to sword fight and she’s going to teach me to kick box.”

“Oh, Lord. Like you need any help being more dangerous.” Leo smiled then came close to her. He took the gun she held and placed it on the counter behind her before cupping her face. “Come to bed.”

Deyon stared into his dear face. “I love you, Leo.”

He smiled. “I know.”

“Is that all you have to say?” she demanded.

“You know I love you too.” Leo winked.

Deyon heart filled, but she wasn’t letting him get away with that. “Tell me proper and I’ll give you what I brought back for you from my trip.”

“I thought we did that in your office earlier.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Ass.” Deyon smacked him gently in the chest. “Say it.”

“I love you, Deyon.” Leo stared into her eyes. “And I plan to keep telling you that every day. Now gimmie my gift.”

Deyon laughed then pushed her hand into her pocket of her jeans. She pulled out the small bag there and handed it to him. “I was going to be all romantic and stuff, but I’m too impatient for that.”

Leo looked at her curiously and opened the drawstring then shook the contents into his hand. He stared at the braided gold ring with grey stone in the centre. Deyon loved how the masculine ring looked in the palm of his hand but wanted it on his finger. She took it, lifted his hand then slid it on herself.

“Ummm…Deyon, is there a reason you put it on my ring finger?” Leo sounded amused.

“You’re marrying me, Leo.”

“Is that a proposal?” He smiled.

“Nope. It’s a ‘I know you’re marrying me because if you don’t I will tranq you and take you before a preacher’.” Deyon slid her arms around his waist. “Even when I was away and upset at you, when I saw the ring I knew what I wanted and you’re it, Leonardo Wright.”

“You know when a woman asks a man to marry her he likes to be romanced not threatened.” Leo chuckled. ”Then again, you wouldn’t be my Deyon without it. I’ll marry you, Deyon.”

“I didn’t have any doubt you would. Just so you know, I don’t want a big wedding. I want to be married here in my backyard and come towards you barefoot in my wedding gown.”

“With the way Mama is wedding crazy with the others, I’m going to leave talking with Mama to you,” Leo said.

“I’ll handle your mother. She’s not going to tell me how I want my day.” She wasn’t too concerned about Mama Wright—she knew how to get her way with her. Deyon licked her lips. “Usually when you get engaged I think you would get naked and get wild, but you’re hurt so that will have to wait.”

“I’m not that hurt,” Leo protested.

“For what I want to do, you need to be in optimum health.” Deyon took her gun and put it away then led him out of her weapons’ building.

“Come on, Deyon. How long is that going to take?”

“Two weeks if you don’t push it and go back to work too soon.” Deyon patted him on the chest. “It will be worth it.”

Leo sighed. “Damn woman.” Then he hugged her. “You know I’m going to enjoy telling our children how you proposed to me in your weapons’ building. They are so going to think Mommy is strange.”

Deyon loved the sound of that. “Being our kids, they’ll understand.”

Leo laughed, kissing her under the moonlight. Deyon hugged him around the waist, loving this man who had drawn her in with an irresistible force. She was going to enjoy seeing where their journey as a couple would lead them. Deyon already knew it would never be dull but certainly very unique. She tightened her grip and moaned, holding the man who would be by her side forever.

Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

McKingley: Pure Harmony

McKenna Jeffries and Aliyah Burke

Excerpt

Chapter One

Jonathon Wright groaned and shifted against his cool sheets. As he’d been doing every morning for the past two months, he reached across the expanse of his king-sized bed to find…nothing. No warm body waiting for him. No soft silken skin to slide along his as they made long, slow love.

He was alone in bed.

Again.

A frustrated grunt left him as he ignored his rock-hard shaft and climbed from the bed. Once in the shower, he braced his hands along the sandstone-hued tiles and allowed icy cold pellets to pound his skin. The temperature encouraged him to hasten through his shower and soon he stood on the thick rug towelling off. It didn’t take much to get dry—being in New Mexico with such low humidity, it seemed the water evaporated from his skin.

Rubbing the towel over his shorn head, he tried to ignore the flashes of memory that insisted on popping up.
Get a grip, Jon
, he reprimanded himself. After hanging up the towel, he made his way to his bedroom and got dressed. He had a piece of toast for breakfast then walked out of his condominium with a coffee in one hand, his briefcase in the other.

He headed for the college where he’d agreed to give guest lectures for first year law classes. As he drove through McKingley, his racing mind began to slow. He loved it here, had grown up here, and had graduated from the very college he was on his way to. His entire family lived here, and, while sometimes they made his life miserable, for the most part he was thrilled to have them so close.

In fact, he’d worked with a friend of his eldest sister Katiya a few times. Yurandol Blake was an attorney for the local FBI field office and they had occasionally done things that caused their paths to cross in the legal world. She was sharp, lethally so. In fact, she had been the one to ask him to cover the class today. Something had come up on her schedule and she wasn’t able to make it.

He pulled into the parking lot and drove through to find an empty space. Locating one, he whipped in and shut off the engine. He sipped his coffee and watched the students stroll by.

A bit later, he strode across the well-manicured lawn towards the law building. Pushing through the door, he felt he was swept back to when he’d been a student here. Ever serious, he’d been very focused—on his studies, living at home and saving his money. After he’d passed the bar, he’d purchased his condo as a gift to himself.

He nodded at people he went by as he made his way to the auditorium. Entering, he walked down to the front and placed his briefcase on the table nearest the podium. Opening it, he organised his papers. He took another drink to finish his coffee and settled the mug by his case.

Grabbing the back of the chair, he manoeuvred it so he could sit and watch the students continue to stream in. When the clock indicated the time was right for the class to begin, he stepped up to the podium, turned on the microphone and introduced himself before beginning the lecture.

* * * *

By four in the afternoon, the last of his students had left his final lecture. After piling his things back in his satchel, he snapped it closed and headed for the exit. A storm had rolled in, dampening the ground. He eyed the ominous clouds hovering overhead. As he walked across campus, the rain began again. The sky opened up and fell in a torrential rush.

Muttering a curse, he dashed for the nearest building.
Damn it!
He noticed the water droplets on his silk suit. He wiped off his briefcase and fought a frown. New Mexico weather was unpredictable at best.

The halls were mostly empty, which made it very easy to hear the haunting melody that poured from a room. His skin prickled and, of their own accord, his feet took him towards the sound. Never had music drawn him with such intensity before.

He paused at the door and stood there, allowing the notes to flow over him. Unable to resist, he proceeded into the large room. The lecture hall was mostly dark, except for the lights upon the stage that illuminated a large gleaming black piano on centre stage. A woman sat there playing. His heart pounded erratically in his chest as he stared at her. His palms grew sweaty and he swallowed repeatedly as he walked closer.

It’s her.

His extremely analytical brain worked out the percentage of likelihood that it could be her. On the other hand, his body already knew. He grew hard and lust coursed through his veins.

Harmony.

She was alone, as far as he could tell, and unaware of his presence. Her long, thick black hair hung down to the middle of her back, clasped at the base of her neck by a simple barrette. She wore a long-sleeved coral shirt that complemented her skin tone. She moved in time with her playing.