Protective Love (Hidden Secrets) (35 page)

I took a deep breath and I began to sing “Imagine Me Without You” by Jaci Velasquez.
  I started off a bit rough, but eventually my voice leveled out and I sang with all my heart.  When I reached the chorus, Mary stepped up and joined in.  Second verse was just me alone.  When I reached the chorus again, I was shocked to see everyone join in.  I finished out the song and my heart felt lighter.

It was a new start.  It was a new day to
make things better and build our bonds stronger as time went on.  It was a new beginning, and the ending was no longer clouded.  Brightness shown and I looked at my family, knowing that things were truly going to get better!

Soon I was moved to a regular
room and I couldn’t wait to get out of that place and start my life.  It sounded weird to say, but there I was, twenty-eight years old and I felt like now I was finally living.

Jason has been amazing.  He
didn’t leave the hospital once, not even for a second.  He had clothes brought and showered and ate all there in my room.  I felt like a whole new me.  The love I felt for Jason grew every day.  Each day he proved to me that he loved me and would be there no matter what.  The pain was pretty intense for a little while there, and he stayed with me.  I had been at the hospital for several weeks, and they were finally talking about letting me go home soon.

“Jason, are you sure you’re ready for me to be in your house?”

EPILOGUE

~JASON~

Kayla had scared me for a while there.  Her pain was so
intense that I thought she might have more wrong with her than the doctors were noticing.  But the pain went away and she returned to being the Kayla before that asshole got a hold of her. 

My heart was so
light, knowing that he would no longer be able to hurt her again, but as someone that worked in law enforcement I knew that the pressure was really beginning.  She was going to have to testify in a trial and relive all her nightmares for all the world to hear.  She was going to be airing what she spent half her life in hiding.  I wasn’t sure how she was going to handle that, but I hoped that she would allow me to support her as I longed to.

“Sunshine, I couldn’t want
anything more.  My house - our house – needs you in it.  When you left for work that day, it didn’t feel like home anymore.  When you are there, it feels like home.  Like heaven.”

“You have been single for so long
, and haven’t had anyone around constantly.  I just worry that it is going to push you over the edge.”

“You worry too much baby.  It will be just fine.  Besides
, we’ve been practically living together for a while now with my staying at your place so much.  If it was going to freak me out, it would have already.  I love you, Kay.  You said yes, remember?”

A huge smile spread across her face. 

“Yes, I did.”

@~^~   @~^~   @~^~

Days had turned to weeks in what seemed like no time at all.  It was time for Kayla to come home and I couldn’t be happier.  She still had some recovering to do, but Kayla was as stubborn as ever.  She didn’t like being babied, as she called it.  Most people would love to be waited on hand and foot, but not Kayla.  Though if I were honest, I didn’t like hovering either and that was all Kayla did for a long time after I was shot.

Against the hospital wishes she walked out of the hospital.  When I got her in the car, I could see how tired she was already in her face.  She had to get used to moving again.  Her body had taken some serious damage, but she could have had worse done to her.  I was so grateful for her being
there with me still.  My life would not have been the same without her.

Once I pulled up in front of the house, she tried to get out.  I had to run to the side and pick her up before she could fight me on it.

“Jason you are not going to carry me around like a fucking toddler or I will go back to my house.”

“You don’t have a house anymor
e.  Everyone moved your things here before you were released.  I wanted you to be comfortable when you got home and you had already said that you wanted to move in.”

“That’s fine.  Carson already asked me if it was okay
if they did.  I just wanted to see if you would tell me,” she laughed.

“You will regret that when you’re feeling better
,” I laughed.

“Promises. Promises
,” she tsked.

I carried her into the house and laid her down on
our
bed.  I took a deep breath and just enjoyed the view of her laying in the very bed I thought I would never have a woman in.  After everything went south with Kathi, I had this house built and bought everything new.  I didn’t want to carry over any of the past with me to my new haven.  I watched her yawn and smiled at her.

“I’m going to make you something to eat.  You get some sleep and I will wake you when
it's ready, okay?”

She nodded her head.  “Can you open the doors?  I like looking at the view of the lake while I fall asleep.”

“Of course, baby.”

I opened the doors and then walked over
, gave her a kiss, and covered her up.  She fell asleep almost right away.  Heading out to the kitchen, I stopped in the doorway and looked at her for a moment.  All the scenes of us together, laughing, playing, and loving danced before my eyes.  How is it that in one meeting my life changed forever?  I guess that thought can be said both ways. 

That one meeting with Kathi d
amn near killed me.  I moved on, hardening myself and never letting anyone close.  Then I met Kayla, and all the time and effort I spent blocking everything out and building walls was wasted because one look at her - one laugh from her – and BOOM! They all fell.  She was mine and I was hers.  It would never change.

Heading out into the kitchen to make some food, I had no idea what to make for her.  The hospital
said to keep her food light at first.  I looked through my cupboards and found nothing really appealing.  Checking through my fridge and freezers, I found a bowl that had a sticker written on it. 

For Kayla

A smile broke on my face.  My mom came here and cooked her homemade soup for Kayla.  Pouring the contents in a pan, I placed it on the stove and turned it on.  I grabbed my phone and dialed my mom.

“Hello?”

“Hey Mom.  Did you and Dad make it back okay?”

“Yes, dear.  How’s Kayla?  Did they release her yet?”

“Yes, I am warming the soup you left for her.  Thank you Mom.”

“Oh, dear.  She is going to be our daughter soon.  Kayla is an amazing woman and I couldn’t have picked better for you if you let me.  She will keep you on your toes and grounded at the same time.  I love you, honey. 
Remember, always treat her that way, no matter what happens in the future.  Love is what makes things grow and work is what makes them last.”

My mom was amazing. 
She and my dad fought many years to have kids, but mom had her own problems and so did my dad.  They didn’t give up though.  They kept trying and trying.  One day a doctor told them that they could do in vitro fertilization, but not to get their hopes up.  It still wasn’t a guarantee that it would take.  Now, almost 30 years later, I stood there, a grown man.  Mom was giving me this speech because she and my dad stayed together, still loved each other and knew that even if they couldn’t have kids they’d still have each other. 

When mom had me they found out she had cancer and had to have a hysterectomy making me the only child that I am.  Sometimes I felt like there was far too much pressure on me to have all that on my shoulders, but then I think about the stories that other family members have told me and that pressure seems more like an honor.

“Mom, can I ask you something?”

“Sure honey.”

“Do you ever wish… I mean, was I enough for you and dad?  Do I make you proud?”

My mom remained quiet for a long period of time before she finally spoke.  Her voice was shaky and I could hear the tears falling down her cheek just by the way she spoke.

“Jason Nichols Gold, how could you ask such a thing?  You were the best thing that ever happened to us.  We have never wished for anything else a day in our lives.  You have never disappointed us.  Even when you turned to drugs and alcohol and trouble after the evil witch and evil scum came into your life.  You picked yourself up.  You took control.  There was nothing more that we wanted than to see our pride and joy functioning and happily.  Were we happy that you closed yourself off from the world?  No, we weren’t, but we knew that one girl was going to come along and knock the life right out of you.  We couldn’t be happier that it was Kayla.  She comes from a great family and has an amazing head on her shoulders.  We love you, Nicky.  Nothing you can do will ever change that or make us wish differently.”

“Thank you
, Mom.  I love you too.  I will keep you updated on how Kayla’s doing.  The soup is done and I need to get her to eat so she can take her meds.  I’ll call later, okay?”

After saying goodbye, I served up some soup for Kayla and carried into the room.  Waking her gently, her heart capturing eyes were glued to mine.

“Hey.  How long was I asleep?”

“Not long.  My mom made some of her famous soup and I reheated it for you.  You need to take
your medication you need to eat, please.”

She nodded and I help
ed her sit up. It was the most amazing feeling in the world.  I finally had the love of my life.  She was sitting with me, wearing my ring and in my bed.

“When would you like to get married?”

“March fifteenth,” she answered hesitantly.

“How…?”

“Our parents are close, remember?  I heard my parents talking about it one day.  If you don’t want to I understand.  I just thought that maybe it might…” she trailed off and shrugged.

“You sure?
  My sister would have been honored, but Kay, I want this to be a dream wedding.”

“What could be better than honoring your sister on her birthday?  I would have loved to have met her.  I bet she would have been beautiful.”  She whispered.

My parents got pregnant shortly after they had me.  My mom was about five months along when they found out she had cancer.  A tumor had attached itself to the placenta and was basically sucking the life out of my sister.  My parents made the difficult decision to give birth and she lived for only two days when she passed away on the seventeenth.  I often wondered what she would have been like and what it would have been like having a sister.

Now I look at what the Williams brothers have gone through for their sisters and I knew exactly what I would have done
; gone freaking nuts.  Her room remained half finish for a long time after that.  I was standing at the top of the steps when I was ten and heard my parents talking about how painful it was to see it like that.  So when they went to town, I finished the room for them.  My mom cried for days, but she said they were happy tears because I helped her and my sister.  I never understood what she meant, but whatever she meant by it, mom was able to move past her pain after that.  I was grateful.  One of the hardest things for me was seeing her cry and I’m sure it hurt my dad too.

“Kay?”

“Hmmm,” she said as she took a bite of soup.

“Do you want kids?”

“Yes, but if it is not in the cards for us, I just want you.”

Our life was about to begin, but I had to wonder how everything that has happened recently was going to affect everyone else involved.  Would there be more changes to come or will things just go by smoothly.  On
ly time would tell, but for now, life couldn’t get any better than in that moment.

Fantasy Attraction

Book 2 in the Hidden Secrets series.

PROLOGUE

~Carson~

The Trial

It was exceptionally hot outside, but the temperature inside this room was extremely cold.  Honestly, I was surprised you couldn’t see your breath.  The temperature was odd considering the room was packed full of people.  It made me sick really.  It was like they were all there to get some kind of entertainment at the expense of my sister.  I wish this had been a closed
courtroom, but when the judge came back and denied the request my heart sank.  Not for myself, but for Kayla.

Yeah, sure
I had to stand up here and tell them that a world champion kick boxer was hospitalized by Alex and his rat pack, but that was nothing compared to what Kayla was going to have to speak about and relive… as if she had stopped.  I could hear her nightmares.  Hell, she was safe now and I could still see her fear of being in a crowd or too far away from people.  Jason was great for her and to her.  I was grateful that my sister found him and that he stood there by her side through it all.

“Mr. Williams, are you trying to tell the court that you had no malicious intents when you went to see my client.”

“No. What I’m trying to tell you is that when I went there I didn’t expect to have weapons brought to a fist fight and that his punk ass couldn’t fight his own battles.  But I guess considering his actions that have him here, maybe I should have.”

“Oh yeah
… really?  Let’s go, Carson!  I’ll kill your fucking ass this time!”

BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Order in the court.  I will have order in my court.  Mr. Locer, I suggest you get your client under control.” Judge Bingham ordered.

“Yes, your honor. I have no further questions.”

“Redirect, your honor?”

“Proceed with caution, Mr. Williams.”

“Mr. Williams, are you telling the court that you went to see Mr. Greene to beat him up?”

“No, Sir.  I wanted to kill him, but then I knew I’d disappoint my sister so before I even got there I decided that I would make him feel half the pain has put on my sister.”

“No further questions.”

“You may step down, Mr. Williams.  The court will take a lunch break and meet back here in an hour.”  He banged his gavel and everyone stood and started talking.

I watched my sister being consoled by Jason.  Kayla had to be the strongest person I knew.  Even though I knew she was broken, she didn’t give up and she still found what she thought she’d never have… love.  I have never been the love type, but watching my sister… maybe someday I will find the girl I can’t live without.  Maybe that is what I’m waiting for, someone that I can look at and want to spend time with more than just sex.  Don’t get me wrong, I dated, but honestly, it has been just a physical attraction because outside that I found I had nothing in common with any of them.

Like this last chick I dated, Lana, she made the blonde joke blondes look good.  The one thing she had going for her was she was hot, very nice to look at.  Unfortunately, the times in between were like pulling teeth with no numbing.  She couldn’t carry a
conversation to save her life and my biggest pet peeve of hers… she said ‘like’ constantly!  It raked on my nerves so bad.  I was surprised I lasted as long as I did.  I shudder at the thought.  She was the reason I quit dating.  I was tired of finding all the wrongs.  I wanted to find the right one, like Kayla had.  It was a girlie statement, I know, but true.

My family was a big family and I always thought I’d have the same.  The love my parents have and the kids.  Never a dream I voiced, but it was still there.  There were many times that I thought that I would never find it, but then I look at my sister and realize.  I won’t find it.  It will find me when I least expect it.  Or well at least that is what I hoped.

After having a quick lunch we all met back in the court room.  Kayla was going to the stand next.  We were all there aside from Mary.  She couldn’t get the time off from the tour that she had already postponed to stay with Kayla during the investigation.  She was able to make her court appearance and boy did she live up to the family trait.  As she was walking out of the courtroom, she walked over to Alex’s side, leaned over the rail and whispered something in his ear.  When he turned around with a big smile on his face, he mouthed something back and she decked him.  I think she might even have broken his nose.  The judge demanded to know what happened.

“I
said that I hope Bubba is nicer to him than he was with my sister.  He turned around and said that he would show my fine ass how nice he could be.  So I punched him.”  She shrugged.

Even my dad
laughed, which was a sight to see.  Usually when he is in work mode, he is stiff as a board.  Honestly, I think he was proud of Mary.  I know Kayla is when she high-fived Mary as she left.  Had Kayla been around more growing up, I would have taught her to fight as I did my other three sisters.  Maybe she might not have endured what she did for so long if she could fight.

“Are we ready to begin?”  Judge Bingham’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Yes, your honor,” both sides said in unison.

Evidence upon evidence was showcased before the jury and judge.  I couldn’t look at
any of it, especially when they got to the pictures that he had been mailed to the police department.  Nate and Jason were called to the stand.  Nate’s affair with Mary was brought up by the defense.

“Were you not having sexual contact with Ms. Mary Williams while on an undercover job?”

“I was yes, but she was not the victim or the target and it was never during the hours that were supposed to be focused on the job.  I’m allowed to have a life Mr. Locer.  Just so happens this one was related to the victim.  My personal life is not what brought us here today.  Kayla’s torture, abuse and rapes are what we are here to discuss.  Let’s get back on topic shall we.”  Nate said politely, but you could hear the ice in his voice.

I actually really liked Nate.  If I were to pick someone for my sister it would be him, but I was very pointedly told that it was casual nothing serious.  It kind of sucked because Nate definitely fit into the family.  Jason had told me that Nate didn’t have
a family.  So whether he dated or married one of my sisters didn’t matter, this man helped save my sister and for that… he was family.  I told him that.  Yes, even guys can be sentimental.  I owed Nate everything.  He put his life on the line to find out more information to save my sister and for that… I am forever in his debt.

“No further questions.”

“Redirect.”  The judge nodded.

“When you were approached with more information involving more than just Mr. Greene, what did you do?”

“I worked well after my shift to get to the bottom of it.  A lot of it was done on my own time, but judging by the information I received it was essential that I worked with both discretion and quickly.”

“What was the information you received?”

“That there was a cover up job happening and the police department was in the center of it.”

“Anyone specifically?”

“Yes, Captain Dale Day.  I did some searching and found numerous contacts between Mr. Day and Mr. Greene, but also another source.  That one turned out to be difficult to track, but after numerous dead ends and days of pushing through, I did finally track down who else was involved.”

“When were you able to finally accomplish that?”

“Last night actually.”

“Your Honor, with your permission I would like to reveal these findings now.  I don’t even know them myself.”

“Granted.”

“But your honor…” Mr. Locer tried to interject.

“Silence, Mr. Locer.”  Judge Bingham turned to Nate. “Go on Detective.”

“It took some digging, but after what seemed like an endless journey I found a slip up that
allowed me to track down who was behind this mysterious name of Hershey.  They had done an incredible job of covering their tracks, but one night there was a slip up and it allowed their cover to be revealed.”

“What night?”

“The night of her attack at the hospital…”

“But the man responsible for that had nothing to do with Mr. Greene or Mr. Day.”

“Right, Sir.  When Kayla came in and reported being raped, the nurses had to stitch several areas and treat any other wounds as well as perform the kit and so on.  Panic set into this individual and they called Mr. Day with their regular cell phone.  Mr. Day then called Alex.”

“Who are we talking about?”

“Nurse Michelle Lancer-Saint and Dr. Gerry Saint.”

“What?” My dad whispered and stepped back a little.

Eli got up and made our father sit down.  He talked to him for a minute.  I couldn’t hear anything they were saying before turning around and addressing Nate.

“They’re both involved?” Eli questioned.

“Yes, Sir.  I searched their background records and found…”

“That they were close friends to our family and about eighteen years go they were no longer in contact with us because Gerry and Michelle were in bad
straits and wanted Jane and me to do something illegal to help them get back out of debt.  We told them that was not the kind of people we were and told them that we couldn’t be friends with them if that was the type of people they were.  We had a family to think about.”  Larry supplied.

“Yes, I did find their financial standings and suddenly seventeen years ago they came into a ton of money, but I’m guessing that the anger toward their former friends hadn’t subsided.  Sixteen years ago, they contacted Alex’s father.  It was around the time that Carson wouldn’t throw his fight.  The scheme started then with calls constantly between the defendant and the Saint’s. 
However, nothing indicates that Alex’s father was ever involved in the actual plan.  When interviewed he said that he had no involvement.  When shown the call records, he told us he was at work during those times and actually showed up proof that he was there. We thought they were forged at first, but with some investigation, he was telling the truth.  If I may state my professional opinion?”

“Go on Detective.” The judge stated.

“I think it was a case of right calling at the right time.  They had phoned other parents hoping that someone’s child hated their Williams’ kids.  They found an already troubled youth and latched on.  Alex was angry with Carson and revenge on him was sweet.  Why he continued?  I would have to say it was the money.  They paid him well and soon paid Mr. Day as well.”

The case continued on, but when Kayla got on the stand it was the hardest of all.  She went over every attack.  I wanted to puke with how much she went through and we could have stopped.  The fury I had running through me was not just focused on all those involved, but myself.  I was supposed to protect her.  That was what big brothers did and I didn’t even come close to it.

Kayla was shaking by the time she was released from the stand.  How dare they ask about her sex life?  What the hell did that have to do with what they had done to her?  Nothing!  That’s what!  I wanted to strangle the defense attorney when he tried making it sound like she asked for it.  Right, she asked for the nightmare she lived it because people as for that shit!

The jury wasn’t out long before they found all of them guilty.  Their sentencing would be next week.  So this whole thing after two months of court dates and interviews
… Kayla should be able to officially put this all past her next week.  She can officially move forward.  She has a wedding to plan.  The first one in the family.  Honestly, I thought for sure either Eli or Mylee would have been the first to get married.  Kayla had never made in there because she was so distant from life around her, of course we now know why that was.  I am happy for her, it brings to mind.  I’m not young and if I want a family as big as mine or close at least…

Actually, if
I’m honest with myself, it isn’t about the size of my family that has me wondering about my bachelor streak to end.  It’s just wanting to have a reason to come home at the end of the day or fight.

Shaking my
head, I look up at everyone, as they talk about plans for supper.  I don’t need that stress, do I?  Do I want the hassle of having to plan and clear things through someone else?  Oh hell I don’t know!  Maybe I just need to get laid.  I haven’t been laid since I was injured and that was almost a good nine months now.

You want quality not quantity my man,
screamed a voice in the back of my head.

Maybe the voice was right, but right now I just wanted to make sure my sister was okay.  It was almost over and soon she could begin a life without fear and only love and happiness.