Page 27 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
“I’m going to leave now, Cupcake, because if I don’t I’m going to end up doing all sorts of things to you that I know you’re not ready for… at least not yet. I’ll come help take care of Chuckie while you’re at work, okay?”
I stay where I am, keeping my lips at her ear, while waiting for her answer. I hear her swallow and feel her nod.
Before I can stop myself I nip her earlobe with my teeth. A low growl erupts from my throat when she lets out the sexiest fucking whimper. My hands squeeze her hips, digging into the soft flesh. “One day soon, Grace, I’m going to have you, and when I do I’m going to fuck you with nothing on but those sexy fucking socks you’re wearing.”
Before letting go I give her a quick kiss on the head, then get the fuck out of there before I break my promise.
A few days later I’m wiping down a table, and getting things back in order after the crazy supper rush we just had, when Mac calls out for me, “Grace darlin’, phone’s for you.”
“Me?” I ask, shocked, who would be callin’ for me at work and not my cell?
Mac nods with a frown, “Yeah, want me to ask who?”
I shake my head, “No that’s all right, I’m comin’.”
I bring back the dirty dishes I have in my hands then grab the phone from Mac. “Hello?”
“Grace, it’s Cooper.”
“Oh hi, Cooper. What’s up?” Strange, Cooper has never called me before.
“I’m sorry to bother you at work, Grace, but do you think you could come down to the station?”
And just like that my stomach drops, and my heart begins to pound with anxiety. It’s the same feelin’ that plagued me that awful afternoon three years ago.
“Is everything all right, Cooper?” I ask shakily.
I hear him expel a breath, “I’d like to wait until you get here, Grace, to talk about it. Did you want me to come get you?”
I shake my head then realize he can’t see me. “No it’s not even a block away. I’ll walk. I’m leavin’ right now. I’ll be there soon.”
“Thanks, Grace. See you soon.”
I hang up the phone, my hand visibly shaking.
“Darlin, everything okay?”
I look at Mac. “It was Cooper. He wants me to come down to the station. I can’t imagine why.”
He gives me a worried look in return. “Do you want a ride?”
I wave him off, “No it’s fine, I’ll walk. Will you and Shelly be all right?”
“Of course, don’t worry about us. You just take care of this, and make sure you let me know what’s going on.”
Grabbing my coat, I give him a quick kiss on the cheek then glance at the clock. “If Sawyer comes in before I get back can you let him know where I am?”
He nods, then I’m out the door, givin’ speed walking a whole new meanin’. My nerves become more frazzled the closer I get.
When I walk into the station Cooper is out in the lobby, waiting for me. And the look on his face says it all: somethin’ is very wrong.
“Hi, Grace,” he greets me softly, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Hi, Coop. You’re scarin’ me, what’s goin’ on?”
He looks at me sympathetically. “Come into my office, there’s someone here to see you.”
Huh? Puzzled, I let him lead me into his office, and when I see who’s waitin’ for me everything in my body freezes, including my breath.
“Detective Ramirez?”
“Hello, Grace,” he replies with a kind smile, but can’t hide the regret on his face.
“What on earth are you doin’ here?”
“Have a seat,” Cooper says gently. I let him push me into the chair; and my heart begins to pound so loud it’s all I can hear.
“Grace, I have some real upsetting news,” Detective Ramirez says. “What is it?”
“Miguel Sanchez was released from prison a week ago.”
Shock, anger and fear slam into me like a freight train. “WHAT? What do you mean? That’s impossible.”
I begin to feel light-headed, my breathing becomes shallow and I feel like the walls are closing in around me. I try to focus on Detective Ramirez and what he’s sayin’, but only catch bits here and there because I feel myself slippin’ into hysterics… I catch somethin’ about DNA, and doing everything in my power to fix this.
What he says next sends me over the edge. “He wasn’t allowed to leave town, Grace, but he’s gone missing and we don’t know where he is.”
“Oh God!” I fall out of the chair onto my knees, grabbing the garbage can by Cooper’s desk I empty everything from my stomach into the small metal dumpster.
“Shit!” Cooper drops beside me and puts his hand on my back, but I don’t feel it. I feel nothing but pure fear.
I have to get out of here; I have to run.
Without a second thought I’m on my feet and rushing out of Cooper’s office. “Grace, wait!”
Ignoring Cooper, I rush out the front door and run smack into a brick wall.
Strong arms grab me and shake me, I can’t focus on Sawyer, he’s all blurry from my tears. I see his mouth moving, I see him yelling at me, but I hear nothin’ comin’ out.
Fear and desperation has me ripping from his grasp and running faster than I ever thought possible and I don’t stop. I only have one instinct right now, and that’s survival…
Two and a half years before:
“All rise,” the bailiff bellows out.
Everyone stands, and even though Detective Ramirez reassured me everything would go fine I still feel anxious.
I look over at ‘him’- my uncle, my mother’s brother, the only family she had left, and see him looking bored, as if he would rather be anywhere else than here. I clench my jaw and swallow thickly. He’s terrible and now I know why Mama never stayed in contact with him. He’s mean, vindictive and I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen him at his worst yet.
Next my eyes trail over to the only other person I hate more than my uncle: Miguel Sanchez. Who is now a member of the Latin gang he and his brother so desperately wanted to be a part of, which is why they killed my mother in the most terrible and vile way. He looks over and glares at me with so much hatred it causes a shiver of fear to travel through my body. As much as I hate him, he also terrifies me. I still have nightmares from those dark, evil eyes that stole my mother’s last breath.
