To Love & To Protect (10 page)

“Everything that I have done since has been to scare her into leaving not to cause her any more physical pain,” Samuel continued.

Ethan was uninterested in his sob story, cut him off and asked, “What is next?”

“I don’t know, but all of their plans end with her dead. Don’t let your guard down for a minute,” Samuel said.

“Give us names,” Trent growled.

“The Red Vipers; you mess with one you mess with them all,” Samuel responded.

“That’s exactly how we feel, right now,” Ethan said. Ethan walked out of the room and said book him to the officers standing outside of the door.

Trujillo and Townsend took on Jason, when Ethan and Trent were done with Samuel.

Trujillo walked into the room, kicked the chair legs of chair that Jason was occupying, to make them go down on all fours.

Jason mumbled under his breath some incoherent rambling.

“Take your do-rag off sir and sit up straight in that chair,” Townsend advised strongly.

“Your brother just took the wrap for the assassination attempt on Representative Anderson. He also took responsibility for the break in to her home and the letter that was put in the collection plate at her church. He is going away for a good long time,” Trujillo said.

“If he confessed to it all then why am I still here?” Jason asked.

“I don’t know why we are holding you, because to look at you I can see why your brother chose the solo path,” Townsend said.

“So your brother was the brains and the man of action in all three cases,” Trujillo half stated, half asked. 

“Now that he is on lockdown, there is no one to complete his evil plans. So I guess Representative Anderson is safe now,” Townsend directed to Trujillo.

“She is not the target anymore?” Jason said. “Our boss doesn’t want her dead he wants her alive so that she can suffer for all the rest of her days.”

“Who is the new target?” Trujillo asked.

“I would rather lie down than to sell out,” Jason said flashing his gold plated teeth.

Jason was sitting with the chair on two legs, enjoying seeing the wheels in their heads turn. He watched the display of emotions cross over their features, and smiled that cat who got the cream smile. Before he knew what was happening, Trujillo had kicked the chair with all his might sending Jason backwards, slamming his head on the hard cement floor.

Jason was moaning and groaning about his head hurting, when he opened his eyes Trujillo was kneeling over him.

“If anything happens to any member of this family, I will be back to finish this,” Trujillo growled at him.

“Man, get away from me man, you crazy!” Jason yelled still holding his head.

“Ahh, he isn’t as stupid as he looks,” Townsend responded as he walked past.

They had enough to book Jason for accessory to commit murder.

Chapter 22

Ethan called Antonio, and asked him what would he need to get the kids out of the country? And was advised that the plane could be ready to leave within two hours, provided that his crew completed a mechanical swipe, fueled the jet, and a flight plan and manifest could be filed while they were in flight.

“Make it happen. No bags just people,” Ethan said.

“Consider it done,” Antonio said. “Ethan, I know that you don’t trust me with the task, but I would die for them,” Antonio finished.

“That makes you the prefect man for the job, get moving brother,” Ethan advised.

Ethan spoke with the FBI and local authorities about bringing in as many members of the Red Vipers as possible. They left the jailhouse, gassed up the cars and went back to Blake- Moore Estates. Once there he explained that he believed that Jasmine’s family was now the target and it would be safe to move them out of the country, while they finished tying up loose ends.

Apart of Jasmine was numb and yet another part of her was feeling everything all at once. Ethan would not permit her to ride along to the air strip, so Jasmine had said her goodbyes inside the Blake-Moore Estates main house. She tried to give a credit card to her sister for any expenses and she pushed them back into her hands and refused them.

“I got them Jasmine,” Renee stated calmly. Renee continued reassuringly, “They will be fine.”

“Okay, okay, take care of yourself too,” Jasmine responded. Jasmine and Renee hugged each other.

She hugged Antonio then crouched down in front of the girls.

“I will be coming to get you as soon as possible. I need you to listen to your Aunt, and be respectful to everyone that you come in contact with,” Jasmine advised.

“Yes ma’am, the girls said in unison. Amber said, “We will even watch out for Dennis.”

“That’s right girls. I love you both.” The girls walked into Jasmine’s arms and hugged her long and hard.

Trent told them that they had to get a move on.

Jasmine acknowledged what was said with a brief nod of her head. She stood up straight, hugged her girls one more time before allowing them to follow Renee and Antonio. She stood on the porch until the last tail light was out of sight.

Eleanor walked up to Jasmine and put her arms around her and said, “Let’s get some coffee while we wait for word that they are safely in the sky.”

Jasmine wiped a tear from her cheek. “I have never been away from them,” Jasmine said. “I don’t like this, she whispered.”

“I know, I know,” Eleanor said still trying to comfort Jasmine.

“Make it wine and you have a deal,” Jasmine declared.

“I have several bottles, red or white dear,” Eleanor asked as they turned to head into the house.

“Red, something sweet, aromatic,” Jasmine suggested wishfully.

“Antonio gave us some bottles the last time that he was here,” Eleanor said as she pulled a bottle down from her impressive wine rack.

Claire walked into the kitchen with Donna and said, “Please go easy on that please. You are giving your speech at the studio in front of half of University of Emerald Grove tomorrow afternoon.”

“Plenty time to sleep it off,” Jasmine said teasingly to her friend. “Don’t worry Claire I will be ready, promise.”

“If you put some food on your stomach it will not have as much effect,” Donna said then asked, “Can I have a glass as well.”

“Everyone looked over at Donna, who responded with, “I am not used to being separated from Dennis and my mom either.”

Eleanor set four glasses down in front of them, popped the cork, and said, “Let the wine breathe for a minute.”

Then she placed four dessert plates in front of them. Eleanor assembled a fruit and cheese tray quickly from the contents of the refrigerator. Strawberries, red and white grapes, assorted cheeses, and buttery crackers, and leftover chicken salad.

Jasmine took her glass of a rich red wine, and inhaled the rich aromatic fragrances and was instantly teleported to the cool mountains of Southern Italy. Fresh jasmine, tangerine and a hint of almonds with a hint of spicy cinnamon filled her nostrils. The wine was delicate and overwhelmingly feminine, Jasmine thought as she savored her first sip.

Jasmine drank her wine and nibbled on the food placed in front of her in silence. The dam that she had built around her emotions was significantly weakened. At this point, she didn’t know whether the wine was helping or hurting. After they had finished the second bottle, Jasmine thanked everyone and said that she needed to get back to her villa. She wanted to shower and get settled in bed.

Everyone accepted her excuses. Kennedy and Kimberly followed behind silently as they walked her to her villa.

Chapter 23

Jasmine walked into the kitchen after Kennedy and Kimberly had secured the premises. She put on a pot of coffee for them, which they were grateful for.

Jasmine was anxious, so she did what she always did when she was anxious; cooked. She went into the kitchen and rinsed out a pot and filled it half way with warm water. She turned the pot on medium heat, and placed a teaspoon of vegetable oil in the water. Next she opened a package of jumbo shells, and placed them one by one into the water. She walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, an egg, and a package of ground sausage. Then she wiped out a frying pan and sautéed the ground sausage, while adding Italian herbs and spices as well as a little sage. Jasmine grabbed a big mixing bowl and mixed all of her cheeses along with the one egg together until she had a creamy well blended product. She removed the sausage from the heat, drained it and stirred it into her cheese mixture and sat it to the side. She grabbed two thirteen by nine inch pans and wiped them out then sprayed then down with a non-stick cooking spray and placed them on the counter. Then walked over and placed the oven on 350. She removed the shells from the heat, and poured the extra water off them, then rinsed them with cold water to help stop the cooking process and rinsed off the extra starch. She grabbed a teaspoon and placed the cheese and sausage into the shell, in prefect rows until she was done. Then she opened one of her favorite spaghetti sauces that had chopped green bell peppers and sliced mushrooms, and poured it over the shells. Before placing them into the oven, she sprinkled a light dusting of granulated sugar to cut the acid, salt and pepper and another layer of shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

She turned on her timer for forty-five minutes. Then set about cleaning up the kitchen. When her dishes were done, she turned to Kennedy and Kimberly, and asked, “Have you heard from Ethan and Trent yet?”

“No,” Kimberly responded, “But that is normal. We are not to the point that we should be alarmed,” she finished.

“Okay,” Jasmine responded.

She made another fresh pot of coffee and then headed to her room. She removed her earrings, and put some cold cream on her face. She selected her royal purple soft, cross backed tank top and the matching pajama bottoms. She lit candles around her room, because candles always calmed her nerves. As soon as she stepped into the shower, the extra warm water relaxed her bunched up muscles. She went ahead and broke down, allowing the tears to fall. She acknowledged her fear and tried to name all of the other emotions that were swimming around in her head and heart.

When she had cried all she could cry, she stepped out of the shower towel dried herself, put on lotion, and dressed in her pajamas. She pulled her damp curls up into a ponytail before going to the kitchen to check on her stuffed shells.

She was surprised to find Ethan sitting on a bar stool drinking a cup of coffee.

He turned as he heard her approach. He reached out his arms to her and she walked willingly into them. He still had on all of his equipment. He looked up into her rich coffee brown eyes, and he could tell by the swelling that she had been crying.

“Are you okay sweetheart?” he asked.

“I am holding on,” Jasmine responded. “How about you?” she asked in turn.

He nodded his head, “I am holding on too.”

Ethan didn’t tell her that it had been hard to place the girls into someone else’s care. He knew that technically they weren’t his kids, but in the short time that he come to know them, he had grown to care about them as much as he cared about their mother. If something were to happen to them, he would never forgive himself.

He decided to change the subject, “I see you been cooking,” he said gesturing towards the stuff shells someone had removed for her.

She smiled and said, “Yes it is one of the girl’s favorites,” Jasmine said. It will taste better tomorrow when all the flavors have marinated together, but I am sure you are hungry. So you want to try a sample?”

“Sure, it smells delicious,” Ethan said. “You are a woman of many talents. Oh Kennedy wants the recipe,” he said.

He began to take off his gear. “Let me take a shower before I eat through, he said.”

Jasmine finished cleaning up the kitchen and wrapping up the food and putting it up.

When Ethan walked out of the room with just his pajama bottoms on, damp dirty blonde hair, his clear water blue eyes shining with gratitude for a home cooked meal, and twin dimples setting off that megawatt smile, Jasmine’s heart stopped for a second before starting to pick up pace. Her eyes traveled over his muscles, noticing the light spread of dirty blonde curls across his chest. He had shaped up his goatee. He looked so sexy.

“Thank you, baby,” he said as he sat on the barstool, in front of a plate of stuffed shells, garlic bread, and a fresh garden green salad, with a glass of sweet ice tea. You didn’t have to do all of this,” he said.

“It was my pleasure,” Jasmine said, realizing that she enjoyed being the little lady for this man. He was always so grateful for the smallest things, which pleased her to no end. Loving him was easy. That surprised Jasmine. She turned the word over and over inside her head. She didn’t know when it had happened, but somehow she had managed to fall in love. Her eyes started to roam all over him, like she was trying to memorize his features. They had not consummated the relationship, in the name of taking things slowly. She had enjoyed lying beside him, feeling his warm hard body against her soft curves. Now she wanted to feel his big hands against her skin, his kisses all of over body.

She moved away from the table afraid that he would notice her desire. She stood facing the window, watching the waves tossing back and forth.

Ethan finished eating and washed his plate and glass. Then came and stood beside Jasmine. She had washed her hair so it smelled like coconut butter, olive oil, and Shea butter. Her pajamas hugged her round bottom then fall to the floor. Her perky breast was standing at attention.

Ethan smiled as he wrapped his arms around her lovingly. She rested her head against his chest, but continued to watch the waves.

“Jasmine, are you sure that you are okay?” Ethan asked.

“I am dealing with everything,” Jasmine responded. “Processing, trying not to grow bitter and not allow hatred to consume me,” she said honestly.

“I am sorry. I am working to tie up all the loose ends. I am sorry for not being further coming with the information earlier, I was trying to protect you,” Ethan said. “If I can do anything for you just let me know.”

Jasmine turned and faced him, and was surprised at how shy she was. “There is something you can do for me,” Jasmine said.

“Anything,” Ethan said.

“Make love to me right now,” Jasmine said softly.

“Are you sure, Jasmine?” Ethan asked. “It has been a hard long day, and you are hurting. I don’t want to take advantage of you. I don’t want you to regret this,” Ethan said.

“I want you. I care about you. Tonight, I just want to be yours in every sense of the word. I want to be your woman in every way,” Jasmine said turning in his arms to face him.

Ethan looked into her rich coffee colored eyes and saw desire there. He reached down and lightly ran his fingers over her face then he leaned down and took her full lips into a passionate kiss.

Ethan broke the kiss, took Jasmine by the hand and escorted her to the bedroom. The candles were still lit in the room from earlier. He turned on the radio, to his delight love making music was on. Ethan smiled down at her. She had him completely caught up under her spell. He loosened her hair from her ponytail. He ran his fingers over her hair, down over her slender neck, and over her exposed shoulders. She was trembling. He mistook it for fear and paused for a moment. He looked her in the eyes and asked her if she was sure.

Jasmine was lost in a sea of emotions and sensations, nodded her head. His hands had stopped moving over her body and she wanted him to continue. She reached down and removed her pajama top and walked over to the bed.

Ethan sucked in a quick breath. Damn she was even more beautiful than he had imagined. Her rich caramel colored skin, her ample full bosom with Hershey kisses colored nipples. Ethan thought he was the luckiest man on earth. He walked over to the bed.

Jasmine ran her hands over his face, as he had done her. She knew that she would have beard burn in the morning but she was looking forward to it. His pink lips were slightly swollen from their kisses. She ran her hands across his shoulders, and down his torso. He soaked down onto the bed and devoured her mouth with intense passion. Jasmine wrapped herself around his hard body. 

He gave her pleasure in ways that she had never experienced before. She matched him in every way. Sometime during their sexual dance, all clothing had been shed. Ethan used his fingers to see if she was ready for him.

Ethan smiled, because she was soaking wet with desire for him. He used one finger, then two to help her body get ready to receive him. Then he slid slowly, inch by glorious inch, into her velvet folds. She moaned his name, as her body stretched to accommodate him. She was so tight.

Moments later they both reached new heights together. As they were coming down Jasmine began to cry. Ethan shifted his weight, and asked her if he had hurt her. 

Jasmine shook her head no.

“Then what is wrong?” Ethan asked. “Are you beginning to think that it was too soon and probably a mistake?

“Nothing is wrong honey,” Jasmine said, seeing the concern in his face. She ran her hands through his hair. “I have waited my whole life for you,” she said not quite meeting his eyes. “I think,” Jasmine paused, “I am in love with you. What we just experienced was beautiful and my heart is so happy,” so I cried. “I have had sex before, obviously,” Jasmine said. “Yet I have never been made love too. Thank you.”

“Oh sweetheart, I am not that good, it’s probably the wine,” Ethan said laughing at himself.

Jasmine hit him playfully and laughed as well.

“How did you hear about the wine?” Jasmine asked.

“I know everything about you baby,” Ethan said teasing again.

He stood up and scooped her up off the bed and carried her into the bathroom. Were they lathered each other up and ended up making love under the spray of the warm water.

That night, amiss everything that was going on, Jasmine slept soundly in the arms of a man that she had come to love.

The next morning, Jasmine woke up to sound of her alarm. She silenced it, but lay there for a few minutes as she began to become fully awake. Ethan was already gone, but he left her a note.

It read: Good morning beautiful, thank you so much for last night. You told me you loved me, and I didn’t say it back, but I hope that I showed you. Have a great day, my pocket full of sunshine.

Jasmine stretched in the bed, allowing the sunlight to dance across her face. She lay there for a few minutes before checking her phone for any messages from Renee or Antonio. Jasmine sighed when she looked at here phone and there was only a message from Nicole. She took comfort in the fact that it was nearly a ten hour flight.

Jasmine got up and got ready for her spa day. After which, she had her talk at the school and after that she was going by her home. She showered and got dressed. She went into the living room Michelle, Stacy, Kimberly, and Kennedy were waiting for her. She said, “Good morning.”

Jasmine immediately knew by their response that something was wrong.

She looked at Kennedy who began to explain, “Samuel was found hung in his jail cell this morning. It was supposed appear like a suicide, but there is evidence that points to homicide.”

“Oh,” Jasmine said.

“His mother is angry, and is placing the blame on you,” Michelle continued.

“Wow,” Jasmine said.

“She has started up an account on HelpFundMe to help pay for the funeral,” Kimberly supplied.

Jasmine texted to Sasha Jeffcoat, to make an anonymous donation of $3,500 to Samuel’s account, she also wanted the Boys and Girls Club that he had belonged to send flowers.

Keeping herself in check, she asked if they were ready to move out. She put on a pair of sunglasses, and stepped out into the beautiful sunshine.

They took three cars total and arrived at the Emerald Grove Day Spa in no time, and without incident. She walked into the Spa; Nicole rolled her eyes about her hair, but hugged her anyways.

“What are you getting today?” Nicole asked.

“I want a full body massage, with a cold stone facial, my hair relaxed and styled, a manicure and pedicure. I also want to go over my wardrobe for the interview and for the Fundraiser event. We have two and a half hours is that enough time?” Jasmine finished.

“Honey we got you,” Nicole said laughing.

“Michelle are you still getting your massage, it will help with your edema?” Nicole asked.

“Yes indeed,” Michelle responded.

“The option is opened to the rest of you as well,” Jasmine said, then turned and informed Nicole that Donna would be coming by at some point.

Nicole selected Jasmine’s outfit for the interview, while Mark, one of her massage therapist gave her a deep tissue massage, geared towards relaxation and stress reduction. There were lavender scented candles lit. The table had been preheated and a fan was circulating cool air throughout the room. When she was settled on the table, the lights were dimmed and a mediation cd started. Mark poured coconut scented massage oils into the palms of his hands, and started to massage her from her neck all the way down to her feet. Then had her turn over and did the same for the front. Lastly he took peppermint scented oil and applied it to her face, then started her cold stone facial. Mark completed her session and told her to wrap in the towel that had been provided for her. She went and took a hot shower in one of the shower stalls, to remove the excess oils. Then she towel dried and dressed in a white high neckline sleeveless shirt that had a gold and white pearl beaded choker neck and back tie. And a pair of casual black dress slacks, finished off with a pair of white wedge high heel sandals.