Escape From Obsession (10 page)

“I had some bad times in my life, that’s all. I moved out here to clear my head.”

“You sound like this is temporary. You planning on moving back to New York?” Gunner asked, and she almost said maybe in an attempt to slow things down between them, but she didn’t. She shook her head and lowered her eyes to her clasped hands.

“I’m never going back there. Houston is my home now, with Teddy, Deanna, Julia, and Dale. I’ve made some new friends and everyone is very hospitable and nice.”

“That’s good to know. Then we can work on scheduling some dates,” Gunner stated.

“Dates?” she asked, not getting it. Garrett moved his hand off her knee and took her hand. He brought it up to his lips as he stared down at her.

“Dates, baby, so we can get to know each other. We’re fixin’ to make you our woman.” She gasped as he kissed her fingers and held her gaze.

She had to take a few unsteady breaths. These men were so mature and experienced. She wasn’t.

“I told you, I’m not ready for—”

He placed his fingers over her lips gently. “We’ll take it real slow, darling. My brothers and I can handle slow and easy,” he said and she couldn’t help but think his comment was laced with sexual innuendo. She took a deep breath then turned to look out the window.
How the hell am I going to handle this?

Teddy pulled up to the fundraising event outside of the gym and dojo. The parking lot was taped off and huge tents were set up providing food, drinks, and blow-up slides and jumping castles for the kids. He had worked an all-nighter and only had about thirty minutes to spare. The case he was working on was just about over.

As he met up with Deanna, Dale, Julia, and Jim, he kissed them hello and asked how it was going.

“You have to go check out Gia. She’s helping to run some workout sessions and teaching martial arts moves with some of the kids. It’s so cool,” Dale said as he walked into the dojo.

“That cool, huh?”

Deanna moved closer to Teddy. “Your cousin has gained the interest of many single men around here. They’re vying for her attention.” Teddy narrowed his eyes and was immediately concerned. Gia didn’t like that. She would totally freak out.

“Shit, did you do anything to help her, Jim?”

Jim smiled.

“I didn’t have to. Wes is in there with Gunny. They seem to be spreading the word that she belongs to the McCallisters.” Jim laughed, but Teddy was still concerned.

“Shit. I should have known something was up when she didn’t answer my call last night about the ride home from the game.”

“She rode in the truck with them alone?” Deanna asked and Teddy nodded.

“All three McCallisters?” Jim asked, now concerned, too.

“No, just Gunny and Garrett. They were getting along really well at the game. I’d better go check on her.”

Just as he was about to enter, the crowd of parents and kids was exiting the dojo.

He waited and then made his way inside. He immediately caught sight of Garrett and Gunny, who were standing by the wall with their arms crossed and mean expressions on their faces. He heard Gia laughing along with a few guys who had their backs toward them. He recognized the one really big guy as Duke. He missed him playing with the kids. That would have been funny. Duke was nearly seven feet tall and a total crazy SWAT guy.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Teddy asked Garrett and Gunny as he shook their hands.

“Just watching the show. Your cousin is pretty good at teaching karate. How long has she been doing it?” Gunny asked.

“About five months or so.”

They seemed surprised.

“She took to it quickly,” Teddy added, knowing that she had needed to. Her fears that Antonio would find her remained in the back of her head. His gut clenched. He would do what was necessary to protect her.

She turned and yelled his name. “Teddy! I didn’t think that you would make it.”

He excused himself and headed over there toward her. She hugged him hello and then looked up at Duke, who said hello then shook his hand. The man was beyond extra-large. He was monster sized.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so either. I can’t stay long. I haven’t even been home yet.”

“Did you see Dale, Jim, and Deanna outside?”

“Yes. I wanted to check in with you.”

Duke wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Your cousin is amazing. She has so much patience with kids, too. I thought I was going to lose it.”

Gia chuckled and casually pulled away from Duke’s embrace but not before looking over toward Gunner and Garrett. Teddy peeked at them and saw their pissed-off expressions then them walking over.

“She sure does have a lot of patience. This is a great event. There’s quite a crowd outside.”

“Yeah, I’m going to go check it out now,” Duke said then gave Gia a light tap on her arm in a flirty, teasing manner and she chuckled then shook her head.

“He is gigantic. Holy crap, I bet the bad guys see him coming and just give up on the spot,” she whispered to Teddy.

“Hey, Gia, that was great. It looked like you were having a lot of fun,” Garrett said as he joined them. He immediately placed a kiss on Gia’s cheek and Gunny followed doing the same. Gia blushed and Teddy decided that maybe she did like them and was considering trying to date again.

“Gia, can you come help with the cotton candy machine? It’s running amuck,” Lee said as he stood in the doorway.

“Excuse me, guys,” she said then hurried toward the door and Lee. He was smiling as he placed his arm over her shoulder. Gunny and Garrett made a noise.

“Hey, I wanted to talk with you two.”

“What’s up?” Gunner asked in his very serious and abrupt manner. He was hardheaded and strong willed. All the McCallisters were.

“It’s about Gia.”

“Is everything okay?” Garrett asked.

He eyed them over. He didn’t quite feel comfortable getting involved with this, but he took it as his role. Gia had called him months ago about her situation. She was in danger and dire need and she reached out to him, her only family. Having been through so much, she needed him, the older cousin, to guide her and assist her. She was worth any uncomfortable feelings he might have.

“Well, to be blunt, what are your intentions with my cousin? I mean I know you two and Wes like her. That’s damn obvious by the daggers you send to every guy that’s next to her.”

Garrett looked very serious.

“If she would accept an invite for a date we’d have a better answer for you. I mean we are definitely attracted to her and like her. The three of us have never liked the same woman before.”

“Well, is this something that you’ve considered in the past? A ménage relationship?” Teddy asked, feeling more uncomfortable. His cousin was “hot,” as his son Dale and his friends referred to her. But she wasn’t stuck up or a bad person. She was fearful still.

“We have. We’ve discussed the possibility amongst ourselves. We want her and we’re interested,” Gunny said very firmly and as if Teddy didn’t have the right to ask any further questions.

“Listen, Gunny, I know you’re older than I am, but I’m her only family. When she needed help, she called me. I feel responsible for her. I just wanted to know your intentions and tell you to take things slow. She went through some shit in New York. That’s all I’m saying on the subject. She’s a good woman and a kind woman that has had a lot of struggles in her life. Don’t hurt her, or I’m coming for you,” he said.
Enough of the uncomfortable feelings.

“We won’t,” Gunny said.

“We promise,” Garrett added and then they shook hands before heading out of the dojo.

* * * *

“I really don’t want to go there today. I’m tired from the event,” Gia said as she put on a pair of hip-hugger jeans and a camisole with a sheer blouse overlay.

“Come on, Gia. Everyone is going to be there. We don’t have to stay late. We have work tomorrow,” Sammy said.

“I know you like Shane. He and his brothers are going to be there right?”

“Yes, please come with me. I need you. Plus Helena and Kaleigh may be going, too.”

“Fine, but I’m only staying for a little while. I don’t even like the games that are on today. I’m sure the bar is going to be showing the football games.”

“They sure are. It will be fun,” Sammy said then hung up.

Gia went back into the bathroom, sprayed a little perfume on her wrists, then checked her makeup. She wasn’t much on makeup. Light shadow, a bit of clear mascara, and some lip gloss. She couldn’t help but wonder if she would see Gunny, Wes, and Garrett there. She felt that nervous sensation, but then there was something else. Ever since Gunny kissed her and Garrett kissed her knuckles during the ride home from the game Saturday, she couldn’t stop thinking about them or about Wes showing affection next. He had given her a kiss hello at the fundraiser, which totally surprised her. But that hour ride home with Gunner and Garret caused some major changes in her thinking. For one, she accepted that she was attracted to the men, including Wes. They didn’t need to know that yet. It was like walking on egg shells and she feared the next step. The more Garret and Gunner talked to her about their lives, the more she liked them and thought that they were nice guys. They had even tried to talk her into dinner with the three of them that night, but she turned them down. She needed to put on the brakes. The three of them were around her constantly and she felt like she could get used to it.

She finished up, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed out.

* * * *

New York City

“Did you find out anything?” Antonio asked Franco.

“No, sir. Not yet. Just as we think we’ve tracked her down, it turns out to be the wrong person.”

“You tried running her name through motor vehicles?”

“Yes, if she owns a car or is driving one, it may be registered under another name.”

“Like who? She had no family. She never mentioned any family that I can think of. Did you question that little friend of hers? Celia Vye? She still works at the advertising firm. They were kind of close.”

“She’s not talking and I didn’t know how much pressure you wanted me to apply, considering that you recently got out of jail for assault charges.”

“I don’t give a shit how you get the information. Just get it and if you think she’ll go to the cops then you know what to do.”

“Yes, sir. I’m on it.”

Franco walked out of the office and Antonio looked out the window at the skyline. It took some schmoozing and a bit of muscle to get back into the swing of business again. He’d lost some of his more legitimate dealers because of his jail sentence, but he didn’t snitch anyone out. He served the full time for the charges and he was stronger because of it. While in jail and unable to wear his designer suits and get recognized for the superior being he was, he had learned that he desperately needed closure. He needed Gia in his life or at least to see her one more time before he disposed of her. That choice was ultimately hers. Although, it seemed his partner Valdere had become somewhat obsessed with her. Her picture hung on his walls. The perfume she wore, the clothes she wore, everything was set up in the penthouse for their woman to live. It was as if Valdere had to have her because she had gotten away and disappeared. Valdere spoke about sharing her, but Antonio had other intentions. This could play in his favor after all. But certainly, she wouldn’t come freely. She would need convincing, threatening, or whatever else. He hoped that Franco got some info on her whereabouts. That way, if she was able to form friendships, they could use those friendships to threaten her with. She belonged to him after all. She was destined to be his woman. It would be him to decide if she would be with Valdere, not Valdere. He missed her sweet body, her submissive personality, and the way she gained everyone’s attention around her. That was the kind of woman he deserved to have by his side in business and pleasure. Not some whore who spread her legs to get on top. He wanted Gia and he would have her.

* * * *

Houston

Gia was laughing at something Wes said about Garrett. His hand was on her hip and she didn’t mind one bit. Since she arrived at Casper’s, Garret, Gunner, and Wes were being very attentive and they were making her feel more and more comfortable. At one particular moment, Garrett leaned in close to her and whispered a compliment, saying he liked her outfit. As he adjusted his body in the seat, she noticed him cringe a moment.

“Are you in pain?” She asked him and his expression changed. He seemed angry. Either it was because she noticed that he was in pain or because it upset him. She wasn’t sure, but as he turned away from her, shifting his body slightly as if trying to avoid her questioning, she reached over and covered his hand. She gave it a squeeze and when he turned to look at her he seemed shocked.

As the night went on, Wes and Gunner took positions next to her or even behind her as they all conversed with their friends. Any opportunity to share her space or give her a smile or wink was taken advantage of. She didn’t mind one bit and started to give them shy little smiles in return. Nor did she mind the small featherlike kisses Wes placed on her shoulder and neck as they engaged in conversation with Garrett. She was not only getting used to their public displays of affection, but knew their intentions. They basically wanted every man around to know that she was taken. It warmed her heart and somehow made the anxiety and fear of them hurting her slowly disappear. The more they talked and the more she got to know them, the more comfortable she felt with the idea of moving forward and taking this chance with them. They were good men. And earlier she’d had the opportunity to meet their mother who was a total kick-ass-and-take-names-later woman. She was tough and the sons adored her. It was sweet to see. She wondered if the way a man treated his mom showed a lot about him. The fact that she was thinking along those lines only slightly scared her. The attraction she felt was strong. She caught herself gazing at them individually or together and imagining their large, masculine hands touching her, caressing her skin intimately. Despite their size and all those muscles and special abilities commandoes must have, she believed their touch would be gentle, passionate, and detrimental to her sanity, which was growing weak.