Raven (19 page)

“You ready?” Todd asks and I nod in response. “Then get in and let’s get you home to your girl.”

Climbing into the passenger seat, we start the hour ride back to Rian. No words are exchanged. They aren’t needed. Todd knew why I wanted this information and what I would do with it. I’m happy that he offered to pick me up when everything was done and I didn’t have to walk back to town.

Todd drops me off at the front entrance of
the gym and I take the stairs fast to my apartment. I need to get to her—hold Rian in my arms—I can get my truck in the morning. Once inside, I tiptoe around the packed boxes and flick on the kitchen light to illuminate my way to the bedroom. Inside, lying on the bed, looking more peaceful than I’ve seen her in a month, my girl’s sleeping soundly.

Going into the bathroom, I quickly disrobe and shower just as fast. Once all remains of the events surrounding today are washed down the drain, I grab the ring from my pants pocket and go back into the bedroom, crawling in bed with Rian.

“You were out late,” she mutters, snuggling into my side.

“I had some things to take care of. Here, this is for you.” Her eyes flutter and adjust to the dark. She places her open hand on my chest and I place the ring inside.

“What’s this?” she asks. I debate on how much to tell her. She trusts me with her secret, I know I can trust her with mine.

“It’s Tom’s.”

“And how’d you get it?” I can hear the panic rising in her voice. Just his name makes her shudder against me.

“You never have to worry again. He won’t bother you anymore.” Rian fumbles with the ring in her hand before tossing it on the floor next to the bed. Understanding what must have happened, we don’t go into details. She squeezes my midsection and tosses her leg over mine.

“You’ll never know how thankful I am for you, Garrett. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby. Go on back to sleep.” Tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear, I kiss her forehead and watch her drift off to sleep.

The nightmare is over for her. She never has to watch over her shoulder anymore. Tom can’t hurt her or her family ever again. I’ll take the burden. Wrestle with the demons. What had to be done is done. She’s safe and never has to worry again. This is my issue to bear.

I’m not one of those guys that says “I’d kill for you” just because it sounds like the right thing to say.
It’s something that a lot of men say, but won’t ever follow through, given the chance. I’m the kind of man that means with his whole heart that I’ll protect what’s mine with every fiber of my being.

It’s not a metaphor for me. It’s something ingrained in my soul. Today, after everything that’s taken place, I know more than anything, Rian’s safe and my father would be proud of the little boy he raised into the man standing here today.

Four Years Later

“Gregory Tyler, you get your little butt back here,” I scream at the two-year-old little maniac who’s taken off with my mascara. If I don’t get that back, God only knows where he’ll decide to “color”.

“I in here, M
omma,” he hollers from the living room.

Rushing around the corner, I see Gregory standing on the cream sofa, black wand in his hand, ready to inflict some serious damage.

“Come here, baby,” I coo, inching my way closer. Step by step, his devious grin grows larger. He thinks it’s a game. If I thought for a second that I’d be able to get the dye off the couch, I’d play along, but it won’t come out and I just might cry.

As he starts to run across the cushions, the wand falls from his hand and I’m barely able to catch it before it touches the fabric. Lying on my back,
weapon of mass destruction in hand, I breathe out a sigh of relief as he runs as fast as his little legs will carry him.

“What’s going
on in here?” Garrett asks, fresh from the shower, towel draped across his hips.

“
Your son is insane. Terrible twos can’t last
that
much longer, right?”

“Mom says that I was pretty terrible until I was about fifteen, so I think we have a little while longer.” That smirk, I’ll never get enough of it.

God, I love this man. Since the accident, he’s not left my side for more than a few days at a time. Not even when the initial detective on the case showed up at Garrett’s mom’s house to inform us that Tom died in a fiery car wreck. I never really understood what Garrett meant by me not having to worry anymore, but I felt a peace I never had before. Garrett said he took care of it and I knew he did. Thankfully, the police were never able to prove anything more than Tom was a drunk and it wasn’t his first car accident, so it all fit into his pattern of behavior. Nothing more ever came from it.

Garrett’s been my constant, my hero in every sense of the word. When he asked me to marry him, I thought he was joking. Then when he got really serious, I thought about it for a long time.

I knew deep in my heart that Garrett was the only man for me, but something about committing to a lifetime with anyone scared the living shit out of me. I declined his proposal. Instead of getting pissed and walking away from me, Garrett forced me to put on the ring. Not as a promise to marry him like most people think, but a commitment between two adults. One who wants to get married and the other who just wants to be in love and enjoy life without labels.

I’ve never been more thankful that Garrett understands me even when I question every single move I make. We truly are cut from the same mold, made for each other.

Breaking me from my thoughts, Garrett and Gregory fly past me in a flurry. These boys—I’m never going to have enough energy to deal with them.

An hour later, Gregory’s peacefully sleeping in the corner of the couch and I tiptoe out of the room to attempt my shower for the day. Garrett’s lacing up his boots and getting ready to take off for the evening.

“Who’s fighting tonight?” I ask, stepping into the bathroom to get the water running at the perfect temperature.

“Lance. He’s come a long way. He might just take the title,” he responds with pride in his eyes. It was really hard for me to come to grips with not fighting anymore, but Garrett’s been very compassionate, letting me come to the gym and
talk with the girls, and even allowing me to train from the other side of the ropes.

Since my win, a slew of females decided they wanted to try their hand at fighting. Garrett and Zan now have about seven girls that train on a regular basis. The other guys aren’t that happy about it, but it’s doing wonders in the industry. Girls might actually be taken seriously in the future.

When Garrett’s all laced up, he stalks toward me with lust in his blue eyes that have only gotten brighter since the day Gregory was born. I know that look.

“Don’t,” I say, squirming around him, trying to shut the bathroom door before he comes in. He wins.

“What? I love that boy out there. What if we have one more?” Garrett pulls at the hem of my shirt.

“Sorry, one arm means one baby. I can’t handle any
more,” I joke, but so damn serious I feel it in my gut. I did eventually get a prosthetic, about a year or so after the accident, but it feels so impersonal. I’ve embraced my disability and learned to work around it.

Yanking at the waistband of my pants, Garrett slowly slides them off my hips. I try to hide my desire, but again, he sees right through me. Dipping one finger between my thighs, softly stroking my already wet core, I gasp. Coming to my senses, I slap his hand away.

“I only have one arm, but I can still kick your ass. No more babies and you have a fight to get to. You come home and finish this later. And I swear, if you start switching out my birth control with sugar pills, I’ll know and I’ll cut you.”

“You won’t cut me, baby. You love it and you’d love another little Gregory crawling around.”

Swallowing hard, I shake my head back and forth quickly. “Nope. No more little ones. Gregory is more than enough. Too much sometimes.”

“How about you send him to my mom’s tonight and when I get home later we can have some time just for us
?”

“That I can do. I wouldn’t mind having you to myself, even if it’s only for a little while.”

“We’re not just a little while kinda thing, Rian. We’re the ones who are gonna make it—we’re forever.”

Garrett walks out the door and once I’m in the shower, washing my body, I can’t help but remember him saying the same thing when we were just teenagers. Wondering if he remembers, I come to the conclusion that he probably does.
Little things like this make me want to go outside the box and propose to him. Could any man be more perfect?

There’s nothing that he’s forgotten over the years. He made me a promise when we were just kids that he’d always be here for me—with
me—and he’s yet to let me down, even when I thought he was gone, he was there. Garrett taught me how to love without fear, without boundaries.

He taught me how to fight. For myself, for him and for our life together.

This is one fight I’ll let consume me over and over again.

My
boys are my world.

So what if Garrett promised me a house, a bunch of babies and a dog? What I
have—my condo, a beautiful, perfect little boy and a disgusting, smelly hamster that makes Gregory smile is worth so much more. I have love.

They say that every m
oment in your life leads you where you’re supposed to be at exactly the right time. I have to say, I agree with that assessment one hundred percent.

Through it all—the heartache, the happiness, the anguish, the joy and the pain—there’s nothing I’d take back or do differently.

This is my life and this raven’s no longer content with being alone and flying solo. This raven belongs to a man who loves her unconditionally and a little boy who depends on her.

This raven’s found her home.

*************THE END***************

Acknowledgements

Well, where do I begin? This is hard for me because so many people have been involved in the process that is writing this novel. Every piece of advice, critique and edit has made this book what it is. I’m super proud of Raven and I hope you all enjoyed it.

In no particular order, I want to personally thank the following people for their dedication to me and my career. You’re all truly amazing and I’d be lost without you.
If I forgot you, please pardon my brain that doesn’t always cooperate

Jesse
– This is what happens when we stay up all night and think of a new idea. I couldn’t be more blessed to have such a fantastic husband who supports my dreams and goals and never complains when I want to bounce new ideas around. Thank you for everything.

My Family
– Okay guys … There’s a lot of you, and I’m going to miss some, but here goes nothing. Tyler and Brayden … you two are my everything. There’s nothing that I don’t do for YOU. Thank you for being my children and trying so hard to keep me motivated with your ever growing list of demands. I’ll try to produce. My mama and sister. You two have loved me since the second I was born, and that’s the most amazing feeling a girl can have. I hope I make you proud. Brianne, my sweet, sweet cousin who comes to spend a few days with me each summer and we always have a blast. I love you Felicia. Nikki, the only big sister I have. Thank you for watching my kids so I can go see these readers that want to meet me for some insane reason. Jeana, Mikey and Gregory, my other siblings who are the best a girl can have. Remember, no matter what, I get you guys in the divorce. My mother in law who fights with me for new copies of books and babysits whenever I ask. Grandpa Andy … you read my books and I’m still sick to my stomach. Christmas will never be the same. They were meant for Grandma Jean, just so you know.

Madeline
– I honestly have no idea what I’d do without you. The greatest thing about our relationship is we can go days without talking and just jump back into it without skipping a beat. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with me … not just writing, but what makes you, YOU! There’s nothing about you I’d change! Well, except your zip code. Thank you for everything. You know what it all is. It’s appreciated more than you know!

Nicole
– My nighttime companion, except for when you leave me to finish. Finally meeting you in NYC will be one of the best memories I’ll carry with me. It was short and sweet, but just to know you actually exist and aren’t some strange man living in his mothers basement gives me so much peace in my heart. I’m actually writing these while you’re at James Taylor and I miss you already. I tried to make this as awkward as possible so you don’t feel creepy inside. Tell your mom I said hi!!!

Don
– My photographer for Raven’s cover … Thank you for taking the time out of your hectic life to come to Detroit to shoot this. I’m beyond honored and can’t thank you enough!

James
– For being my perfect Garrett, I’ll never be able to say thank you enough. We’ll work on your resting asshole face for our next project together! Smile more, it looks good on you!

Stephanie
– My fruit loop. Ups and downs, and sometimes a little sideways, having you with me on this journey has been great. Always remember, no matter what, that you’re extraordinary and everyone will know it one day! Don’t forget to love me even when I harass you in your dreams <3

Sommer
– This cover … Girl!! You already know. Everything you show me is a piece of art and I just wanna frame it in my living room. You never let me down and I might be biased, but every author should use you for the amazing graphics! Every damn cover is breathtaking! Even the ones you don’t want to do <3

Toski
– For still being in my corner no matter what. Late night phone calls, funny PM’s and Jax Teller wants you to buy this makeup memes. You not only capture excellent images, you capture my heart! Firefighter’s coming up soon, get ready!

My Beta Readers
– Toni, Rebeka, Kellie, Carrie, Kara, Michelle, Joni – YOU GUYS ARE BEYOND AMAZING!!! I couldn’t have put this book out if it wasn’t for you! Thank you for being there to call me out and lift me up. You’re the best a girl could have!

Tiffany Tillman
– YOU EDIT MY LIFE!!! I sit here like how the hell is this book going to be beautiful and make sense and then you come along and rescue me. THANK YOU!!! I owe you the world and so much more!

My Aces
– I don’t care what anyone says, or what blog takeovers we don’t win … YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. Hand picked babes who rock my life, make my teasers and share the hell out of me. I’ll never be able to say thank you enough for all that you do!

Kolbee
– my sweet angel disguised in a grammar nazi’s body. A woman who’s the exact other half of me. I’m so serious. If I was cloned and there was another me walking around this world, she would be you! Thank you for coming aboard and taking on the daunting task of keeping me in check. I’m not the easiest, but I do have the foulest mouth.

Pammy
– my heart and soul. There’s never been a more kind, caring and wonderful woman. You are the epitome of excellence and dedication. Every day, I strive to be a little more like you and I hope it’s working.

And Finally
… The countless bloggers and readers who took a chance on me almost a year ago. It’s because of you I have the courage to publish. Not all my reviews are excellent, but they’ve all made me a better writer. I’m so honored each time one of you message me or post on my wall. I hope one day, you’ll all know what it’s like to have all these feels running around in your body. I wanna cry, scream and dance all at the same time. Never stop doing what you do. For authors, you make the world go round. You’re OUR rockstars!!!