Circle of Deception 2 (17 page)

Alex felt the warm oil she rubbed in her hands hit his back and shoulders and moaned lightly. Her hands felt so good on him, and he felt himself stiffen. Only she could make him respond so strongly to just a simple massage. He was just about ready to flip her and rub her down, when he heard something. He thought for sure his mind had to be playing tricks on him, because they had just tucked her in, but when he glanced over to the doorway, there stood their little girl with tears in her eyes.

Meg saw Alex’s attention shift toward the door, and she looked over to see Allison rubbing her weeping eyes. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

“Mommy, I had another bad dream. I thought you were gone. I called for you and you didn’t answer, so I got scared.” Meg stood off the bed, and Allison rushed into her open arms. “Mommy, I’m scared, are you still going to be here when I wake up?”

Meg held her close and sighed. “Yes, baby, I’m never going to leave you. Tell me about these dreams, when did you start having them?”

Allison hesitated and looked to both Meg and Alex nervously. “After I went back to school. I... I... thought you got tired of being my mommy because you have Jordan now. You pick him up every time he cries, and you have to play with him more than me.”

Alex heard the story, but he wasn’t buying it. Since when did their little girl start lying to them? He could tell by her hesitation that there was something more and the story sounded rehearsed. He knew the only way to get the answers he needed would be with the help of doctor Steinfeld. She had been so helpful in the past, and now they needed her to draw out whatever Allison was keeping from them. They had her appointment the following Monday, and now he was going to make sure to clear his day to see it through.

Alex watched as Meg rocked Allison in her arms until she fell asleep. When she was out all the way, Meg placed her between them and kissed her gently. Alex looked to her and saw tears in her eyes. He reached out and caught one before it fell. “You promised me, no more tears, baby. I’m going to take care of this, I promise you. I don’t want another worried look to cross your face.”

“But, Alex...”

“Meg, trust me. Go to sleep.” He pulled her lips to his and placed a heart-stopping kiss that made her cave. When he released her, he smiled and ran his hand down her cheek. When she smiled, he moved his other hand to cradle her face and put his forehead to hers. “I love you my angel.”

“I love you too.”

Alex released her and went over to look at Jordan. He was sleeping peacefully, and when he lifted him, he didn’t even stir. Meg smiled when she saw him with their son, they looked so handsome together. When Alex approached the bed and placed Jordan beside Allison, cradling him in his arms, she leaned back and pulled Allison to her. They fell into a peaceful sleep with their children in their arms; nothing else compared.

***

“Aiden, promise me that we won’t end up as crazy as Melia and Matt,” Emily sighed. “That whole situation is jacked up.”

Ever since they left the hospital, Emily had been thinking about Melia and her stupid choice. She knew she and Matt had problems, but making a decision that major without telling him was unforgivable. She was beating herself up for not sticking to her guns and telling Matt, but when she saw the look of distress on Melia’s face, she couldn’t go through with it. They had all been friends so long, and now it felt like everyone was caught in the middle. A part of her wanted Matt to know, but then another part of her understood that she didn’t want him to stay with her out of obligation. The situation was so messy.

Aiden sat up in bed and pulled her back against his chest. “Em, I Love my brother, but we are not the same people. Now if you don’t mind, I would rather be discussing so many other things with you. You’re rarely ever here, and I want to enjoy my time with you.”

Emily sighed and folded her arms over his. “I don’t like missing you so much when I’m gone. The shoots are awesome, but it’s getting old always being away from you and everyone I love.”

“What would you like to do about it? I’m fine with you staying here. If I had my way I would lock myself in here with you forever,” he laughed.

“Stop joking,” she swatted. “I’m being serious.”

“Me too. I missed you so much when you were gone, and with all this mess around us, it puts things into perspective.”

Aiden thought back on the conversation he had with Melissa before she got back. At the time, he thought he wasn’t ready to commit to forever, but as soon as she got back, he knew he never wanted to see her go again. He had spent her whole first night back, making love to her and he knew then and there he was gone. After they concluded their steamy reunion and she was passed out, he watched her sleep. He had never done that with any other woman, but he had with her. He knew she was the one, the one he had been waiting for, the one he dreamed of. She was perfect.

Emily turned to face him and swallowed hard when she saw all the intensity in his eyes. He looked like he had something on his mind. “Aiden, what’s that look?”

He sat her up gently and pulled the drawer to his nightstand open. When he revealed a small box to her, she felt a lump form in her throat. He opened it and revealed a huge ring that sparkled even in the dimly lit room. She put her hand to her lips and he smiled. “Em, I know there was probably a better way to ask you, but I couldn’t wait a second longer. I love you, I need you, and I want you to be mine forever. Will you marry me?”

After the first night of her being home, he was at work and it hit him, he wanted to marry her. He wasn’t doing anything special, he was just going over some case files, when he looked down at his cell and saw her picture. He studied it for a few minutes, and then he was up and out the door. His car seemed to guide itself into the parking lot of the jewelry store, and then he found himself in front of the most gorgeous rings. He looked at the case for several minutes and then the clerk came over to help. He pointed out the ring he had been admiring, and as soon as it was in his hand, he knew it was the one. He could just see it on her finger. He was snapped back into the present by her soft ramblings.

Emily gasped and let a single tear fall. “Oh god, oh god,” she stuttered. Aiden held the box out, but his face took on a nervous expression as she continued to repeat the same thing over and over. The apprehension in her voice made him think that maybe his first assumption was correct; maybe it was too soon for them. Emily saw the change in his expression and moved her hand from her mouth. “I’m sorry... I was just... Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”

Aiden snatched the ring from the box and slid it on her finger hurriedly and pulled her to him. “Whew, you had me nervous, baby. I thought I was going to have to tuck my tail and hide.”

“No, you’re not going anywhere, you’re mine now,” she smirked.

“Yours, I like the sound of that,” he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and deepened the kiss. When he flipped them over, she giggled and wrapped her legs around him. He reveled in the feel of her, and rolled to his side, drawing her to his chest. She let out a deep sigh while tracing imaginary circles on his bare chest. “I’m really happy, Em. You have made me the happiest man alive.

“Not yet I haven’t,” she smiled. “We have to celebrate the moment, and I have people to call.”

“They will have to wait, and it’s two in the morning. You owe me something more, and I’m gonna get it,” he flipped her on her back. “Top or bottom, sweetheart?”

She sat up and ran her hand down his cheek and into his shirt. “Both.” When he tackled her assaulting her with sensual kisses, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him. The moment was perfect, perfect enough to freeze in time. She held her hand out and admired her ring as he kissed her, and lost herself in him for the first time as his fiancé. She couldn’t wait to tell the world, but for now they would have to wait. She had other matters to tend to right now.

***

“She is doing what?” Maria screamed. “That girl has lost her damn mind. I’ll slap some sense into her right now!”

“Maria just calm down,” Emilio reasoned. “You can’t do anything right now. You’re supposed to be dead, remember? You just have to stay put. I tried talking to her, but she is so bitter and disrespectful. I think we made a mistake in always coddling her. Now she just expects things from people without giving anything in return.”

“I can’t believe this, so it was a mistake to love our daughter and make sure she was taken care of?”

“Honey, she was more than taken care of, she had the world on a silver platter. I’m not saying it’s all our fault, because Maddie and Meg had the same treatment, but she just took to it differently. They are so responsible and humble, but Melia is selfish. She had me in a fit, I really lost my temper with her today.”

“She must have really struck a nerve with you for you to raise your voice. That girl needs a serious shake down. I just feel so helpless! I want to be able to hug my son and tell him things will be okay, hug Maddie and Meg and tell them how proud I am of them, and slap some sense into Melia. I want my kids, Emilio!”

“We’re working on it, you just have to be patient. It’s like Amanda fell off the face of the earth.”

“Well then I’m going to see my kids.”

Emilio raced around and grabbed her arm in protest. “Maria, you can’t! We’ve discussed this, we can afford to let them see you without being completely sure. I know everything is a mess right now, but you can’t put yourself and the kids in danger. All of this sacrifice could be for nothing if something happened to either of you. It’s something I can’t face a second time, I won’t lose you again.”

Maria looked in his eyes and saw the fear and heartache, and calmed enough to reclaim her place on the bed. She took his hand and pulled it to her lips to place a light kiss and smiled at him subtly. She felt him relax and saw his expression soften and laid her head in the crook of his neck. “I’m sorry, I’m being selfish only thinking of what I want versus what is necessary. I just hate what they must think of me. I know how Melia feels, but Meg and Maddie must also hold some form of resentment as well. And Gio, god I hope he didn’t think it was because of him. For them to think I just left for no reason breaks my heart. I love them more than anything in this world.”

“This is not your fault, all of this is because of that snake, Ben. If he wasn’t already behind bars, I would put my foot somewhere the sun doesn’t shine.” Maria grunted and leaned back with a stoic expression. Emilio’s eyes bucked and he huffed in realization. He released her and sat up straight. She took his silence as a negative and sighed, waiting for the blow up, she knew was sure to come. She placed her hands on either side of her face and closed her eyes. “Maria! What does he have to do with any of this?”

She looked at him nervously and placed her hand on his. “It’s wasn’t my intention to involve him. When he was questioned, they showed him the autopsy photos, and he saw that it was Carmen and not me. He has helped us ever since. He is the one who told Melissa and enlisted her help.” She could tell he wanted to be livid, but all he could do was smile, throwing her off completely. When she saw this, she relaxed. “So you’re okay?”

“I’m not thrilled, but at least he helped this time, even if most of this is his fault.”

“Not entirely, sweetheart, he may have been the villain in my story, but I was the one who stole Amanda’s husband. I knew he was married, and I still allowed him to fall for me. It was my selfish decision that jump-started this whole vendetta. The crazy part is, Richard and I never would have lasted long term. He was a wonderful, caring man, but I knew that he would one day tire of Meg and I just the way he did Amanda. I never allowed myself to fall for him fully. You’re the only man I’ve ever really loved.”

“And you’re the only woman I’ll ever love. Sweetheart, we all make bad decisions, but nothing you did deserved all this heartache. If you don’t mind me saying so, no man could ever get tired of you or Meg. You’re two of the most amazing women I ever had the pleasure of knowing. You two give your all to everyone you meet. I just want this whole ordeal over, it has affected too many already. People have lost their lives behind this madness, it’s time it ends.”

Maria laid her head back on his shoulder and exhaled. She felt so comfortable in his embrace. She felt a safeness she never felt with any of the others, a closeness that was only present with Emilio. They had always shared something special that couldn’t be put into words, love didn’t sum it up; it was enchantment.

Emilio pulled her back and swept his finger across her lips. He closed his eyes, feeling the softness of her warm, inviting mouth and hesitated hovering just above her. The look they shared caused his heart to flutter, it was like looking at her for the first time all over again. While gazing at her, he smiled in remembrance of the first time he laid eyes on her.

***

She was with Meg loading groceries into her backseat, when she accidentally bumped the stroller. When Meg began to roll, she chased after her hysterically. When Emilio saw the struggle, he raced over and caught the wailing infant. Maria caught up to them with tears streaming down her face.

The first look they shared was magical, Emilio had never seen such a beautiful woman in all his life. He was frozen as he held the stroller, until the cries of the child below him snapped him out of his trance. He took one look at Meg, and he was in love with her as well. Looking up to Maria for permission, he lifted her from the stroller. Her cries subsided as soon as he held her against him, and he and Maria shared their first laugh together.