Authors: Priscilla Poole Rainwater
“Way to go, slugger!” Zeke smiled at Latisha as he stepped forward and cautiously took the weapon from her hand. Clicking on the safety, he slid the gun into a large pocket in his
fatigue jacket. “The name's Zeke.” he said, then gave her a wink.
“Regan!” Cassandra screamed as she came waddling out of the house behind Granger.
“Granger. I.....make them let me go! Tell them you want me, that I'm supposed to be your wife!” Martina screamed from the ground, thrashing around like a fish out of water as Granger approached.
“You crazy bitch, you almost killed my brother and my nephew! Where I come from, this means death, an eye for an eye! We don't need the law to tell us you did wrong! You will die, NOW! The only way you're leaving here is in a body bag!” Nicola sputtered as he pointed a 9mm at Martina's head. “You're a blight that needs to be eradicated!”
“Nicola,
NO
!” Granger yelled, not wanting his son to see what he knew was going to go down. Glancing at Jocelyn and Tate, he implored. “Take Regan inside, please!”
Relinquishing her grip on her son, Cassandra knew she needed to stop her brother-in-law from shooting the crazy woman out in the open, in front of witnesses. She refused to lose anyone else she loved because of Martina. “Nicola, don't do this, you'll go to prison. There are too many witnesses here.” she whispered just loud enough for those in the immediate vicinity to hear. Reaching out tentatively, she placed her tiny hand on top of his, and gently tried to coax him into lowering the weapon, but he wouldn't budge.
Latisha stepped forward, putting her hand on his shoulder as his finger itched to pull the trigger. “Nicola, please, put the gun down. Your family, none of them could live with themselves if you went to jail because of her. Let your brother handle this...trust him.”
With a feral gleam in his eyes, Granger whispered just loud enough for Nicola to hear. “She's right bro..I promise she'll be dealt with.”
“Oh, Granger, my darling,
I KNEW you loved me! I knew you wouldn't let that beast hurt the woman you love!” Martina sniffed as she saw Nicola lower the weapon, then turn and walk away angrily.
“Latisha, go check on Satin and Cynne'. Raidon, Zeke, Malcolm, Chris, you stay here with me. The rest of you, could you all please give us some time alone, to straighten things out with the authorities when they get here?” Granger said in a loud voice as he turned and addressed the throng of wedding guests.
Murmuring amongst themselves, and eager to gossip in private, they all turned and filed inside the mansion.
Turning to the young man who was assigned to Regan, Granger said, “ Chris, take the rest of the security detail and sweep the house and grounds, make sure there are no reporters around, then inform the guests we've decided to postpone for a bit. Then escort them from the grounds, please.”
“Yes sir.” he nodded, then turned and trotted towards the main entrance.
“Cass, hon, would you go inside too, please?” Granger asked.
Looking him in the eye in complete silence for a moment, she finally nodded, as if reading his thoughts. Walking up to Zeke, she smiled at him, reached up and touched his face with one hand, then stood on tip-toe and kissed one cheek. “I'm glad you're home safe. And you
ARE
home now, Zeke, you're a part of our family now. Thank you so much for what you've done for us. Granger and I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for you and that other woman's bravery. That stranger who took care of Brett. Thank you so much.” she whispered.
Looking into her warm brown eyes, her words both moved him and shook him like nothing he had ever felt before. “Thank you, darling, it's good to be home.” he stammered.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the sweet, peace-loving woman's demeanor changed as she turned and faced Martina, who was glaring up at her in silence. Delivering a swift, vicious kick to the gut that knocked the breath from her nemesis, she snarled, “You fucked up when you messed with my child. If it had just been me, I would say let them lock your crazy ass up. But you fucked with my child, and shot my man.”
“You black bi...bitch...I'll fucking ....kill you, you wait....and see...” Martina wheezed, still trying to catch her breath.
Nodding once, as if to herself, Cassandra looked up and faced each man in turn solemnly for a moment, her gaze finally coming to rest on her husband. “Handle her any way you see fit. I wash my hands of this. I don't care how you do it, but I never want to have to worry about her hurting us again. Ever!” That said, she spun on one heel and headed towards the mansion, leaving them to do what needed to be done.
Panicked, Martina looked up at the men who now circled her, and even in her madness knew they all wanted her dead. “Granger,
STOP THIS!” she sobbed in desperation, her face fire engine red, tears streaming down her cheeks, and a rope of drool hanging from one corner of her mouth. “We...we...we can work something out! I'll go away and wait for you to come to me, Ok? I won't bother Cassandra anymore, Ok?” she asked with a trusting, shell-shocked smile.
Squatting down beside her, Granger's handsome face twisted into a sneer that was only able to hold a fraction of the infinite contempt he felt. “You've fucked with my family, you've fucked with ME, for the last time. By the time we're done with you, you'll be waking up in hell with that freak cousin of yours. You will never get the chance to hurt anyone I love, ever again.”
“OWWWWW!”
Martina cried as Zeke squatted down beside her, then plunged a syringe into her right arm, the strong, fast-acting sedative taking effect almost immediately.
Hearing sirens in the distance, Zeke hoisted Martina over one shoulder, then looked at Granger and said, “I'll be back when it's done.”
Chapter 61
Heading to the room Cassandra had told her she could use, Latisha sighed as she massaged her aching lower back. She was drained both physically and emotionally. Since it seemed as if everyone and their brother was staying at Granger and Cassandra's new estate, she really wanted to stay at Nicola's place, to enjoy a little more solitude. But it seemed Cassandra and Granger (which they insisted she call them) wanted the people they considered family all together in one place. It was a bit unsettling how they had just seemed to pull her into their tight circle of close family and friends, in such a short amount of time.
Unused to such kindness, she briefly wondered if she should just leave. Initially, she had only taken the job at the estate
to
avoid her greedy, libidinous step-father, Pete Luckerman.
If Pete finds out I'm here, he won't stop until he gets to me! What if one of those reporters got a picture of me?
I NEED TO LEAVE
!
She
thought.
“Latisha?” a soft voice called from behind her.
Nearly jumping out of her skin, she turned to see Nicola standing there, his white dress shirt open, exposing his chest, and she felt her pulse quicken. As lonely as she was feeling at that moment, she didn't think she could handle his flirting and brazenness.
“You saved Regan. You were so strong. I guess what my grandmother said is true: Acqua cheta rovina I ponti. (silent waters run deep). Do you know what that means, Bella?” He asked, stepping towards her and caressing her smooth, delicate face.
Feeling the electricity of his touch, she nodded as a small smile lit up her cherubic face. “Silent waters run deep. I didn't do
anything
spec......” her voice was cut off as she suddenly found herself engulfed in his embrace. There was no groping, no grinding, just a hug, a hug they both needed.
Closing her eyes, she unexpectedly found herself letting her guard down as she rested her head on his chest, absorbing his warmth, cloaked in an unfamiliar, yet pleasant shiver of awareness. “I 'm crazy about that little boy, and I didn't want to see you do something that would take you from your family. You mean a lot to....” her voice trailed off, fearing she'd exposed too much of herself. Breaking free from his grasp reluctantly, she took a single step back.
Looking her in the eye, he made no move towards her, but simply said, “Thank you. Other than my grandmother, no woman has ever looked out for me. Most just want what they can get. Get some rest, il mio bello (my beautiful) it's been a long, trying day.” That said, he cupped her warm face with both hands, then leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her
forehead.
With wide eyes, she watched as he turned and began walking away. She wanted desperately to call him back, but found herself unable to for some reason. Touching the spot he had kissed moments earlier, she heard her cautious inner voice warning her to stay away from him and resist, but her body hoped he would touch her again.
***********************
After giving a statement to Detective Brian Lemont, Granger headed to the master bedroom, ready to just crawl into bed with his family and sleep for a year. Stopping just inside the doorway, he drank in the sight of his wife curled up in bed with Regan, his little hand resting on her rounded belly. She was humming, eyes closed, and gently caressing her son's face. To see them both there and safe gave him a great sense of joy, and a feeling of peace suddenly washed over him, knowing that Martina was in capable hands at last.
When Cassandra looked up and smiled at him, he felt his knees weaken, and right at that moment he fell hopelessly in love with her all over again. “You alright honey?” he whispered, trying not to wake Regan.
Letting out a long, tired sigh, she raised up and rested one cheek in the palm of her hand. “Well, my sweet man, a madwoman ruined our day. My sweet son and my husband was almost killed. My brother-in-law almost committed murder in front of the entire world, and top it all off, my best friend had to be sedated and almost got a one-way trip to the rubber room because of that silly horror movie protocol she's always going on about.” Holding out one hand and motioning for him to come close, she allowed herself a small laugh. “I guess, all in all, it could have been worse. I have all the people I love still around me, so I'm happy. I'll never take you, Regan, this baby, or the other people in our lives for granted again.”
Taking her hand in his, he climbed onto the California king bed and glanced at Regan, who was still snoozing peacefully. Reaching out, he pushed a lock of hair from the boy's beautiful little face. Blinking back tears, he murmured, “We've been through hell for three long years, and you're probably gonna kick my ass for saying this, but I would go through that hell all over again just to be with you. I regret nothing. As a matter fact, I thank God the day I met this little tree hugger, yelling that I was a fat-cat business man.”
Laughing, Cassandra remembered that far away day fondly. “And I don't regret meeting the fat-cat businessman that I thought was destroying the land.”
The silence between them seemed to stretch for an eternity before either spoke again.
“Granger, is she really gone? Will she ever bother us again?” she asked at last.
Granger wondered how much he should say to her, but in the end, suspected she knew. Leaning down and kissing her lips, he said in a low voice, “Honey, I promise you, where
she's being put she'll never be able to bother us again, unless you believe in spooks. Just trust me. I know I have failed you a lot, but this time I won‘t, and haven‘t.”
Satisfied with the answer, she nodded. “That's good, because I'm in labor. You would think after today’s activities your daughter would want to wait, but she's ready to join this insane family.”
********************
Raidon sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Cynne' slept.
She'd been so upset, Doctor Zachrick had sedated her.
When she kept raving about horror movie protocol, the doctor had advised them she might need to be admitted to a hospital for 72 hours of psychological evaluation, and that maybe the threat Martina had posed caused a delusional episode.
It took a lot of explaining by all of them to convince the Doctor it was just an odd habit Cynne' had, due to her love of horror movies.
Just thinking about it made Raidon chuckle for what felt like the hundredth time. He didn't plan on ever letting her live the fainting episode down. Still chuckling, he stood, stripped down to his underwear, then climbed into bed beside her and pulled his sleeping beauty close to him.
Snuggling up against him in a purely subconscious gesture, she tossed one leg over his. Resting her head against his chest, she mumbled something he couldn't quite make out, then settled back into a deep sleep.
Brushing her braids off her face, he felt his heart flutter.
I want to spend the rest of my life like this.
Reaching for his cell phone on the nightstand, he flipped the phone open, and pushed speed dial number one.
“Hello son, everything alright?” Mr. Bishop answered on the third ring, his deep voice full of concern for his adoptive son.
With renewed mirth, Raidon reflected on the fact that Pop Bishop still thought he was a scared little boy who needed his protection. “Hi, pop. Everything's peachy. Listen, could you tell Ma to get on the other line? I have something to tell you both.” he said, feeling his heart beginning to race with excitement. He knew he was about to take the biggest step of his life.
Several seconds later his mother was on the other line. “Baby, what's wrong, are you hurt? We heard what happened to your friends. I tell you, there's some crazy folks in the world. Why do you....”
“I'm going to ask Cynne' to marry me!” he blurted out in a whisper, hoping not to wake her.
Complete, stunned silence on the other end for a moment, and Raidon supposed it was because he had always said he would never get married and be saddled down with kids. But that was before he had met Cynne'.
“WhooooooEEEEEEE,
we're gonna' have us some grand babies!” his mother whooped after a moment. “You should get to work on that, right now. This is just too much! Your sister is talking about her and Falon waiting for a few years, what kind of mess is that?”
Mr. Bishop interrupted his wife, knowing if she got side tracked on the subject of grandchildren, she would be on the phone all night rocking and rolling about it. “Son, before you start making them babies, bring my new daughter home for us to meet. First Joy, now you. I'm proud of you, son. Does this old man good, knowing both of my kids are finally settling down.”
After talking several more minutes, Raidon hung up with a thoughtful look on his face, then looked down to see Cynne' staring at him with wide brown eyes glowing with love.
“Yes....the answer is yes! I would love to be Mrs. Bishop.” she said softly, unable to blink back the tears of joy.
Feeling a deep wave of contentment and happiness wash over and through him, Raidon knew the final piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place.
******************