Wicked Ties (Steele Security Series) (25 page)

“It was fast for Noah and me, too.  I spent time with him in the desert and things progressed rapidly, even when I thought there was no future for us.  But after he was discharged, he showed up here in Miami, at a bar where I was celebrating my birthday with some friends, and we’ve been together ever since. Well, with the exception of the three years when I was dead, but he was still my only one then, too.  When you know, you know!”

A little while later, Bull and Chaise left the Steele’s Miami mansion and headed home.  That word had seemed so foreign to Bull at first.  But now that the case was closed,
and his dad was retired and back with his mother,
home
sounded better and better.  The best part was that Chaise considered his house as her home.  As
their
home.

When they got home,
Bull let Chaise walk in the house first.  She immediately thought it was strange because he always insisted on making sure the house was secure before he let her go in.  But it was late and they were both tired so she didn’t ask about it.

When she stepped inside, she gasped loudly and her hands flew to her face.  She looked around, wide-eyed
, and her jaw hung open.  Her heart was pounding and her pulse was racing.  She couldn’t believe what she saw in front of her.

There must have been a hundred lit candles scattered throughout the house, their flames flickering and casting shadows on the walls.  There were red rose petals lining a path from the garage door, through the kitchen to the den.  The den held dozens of flowers in various sizes and arrangements.  Soft, romantic music filled the air and set the mood.

In the center of the den sat a table with a large, white box wrapped with a huge, red velvet bow.  Chaise turned to find Bull standing just behind her, watching her every move and gauging her reaction.

“When?  How?” she stammered.

Bull smiled, “I would never reveal my methods, babe.”

Chaise admired the different flowers, taking time to smell them and appreciate their beauty.  Her eyes kept straying to the box that waited for her.  Bull smiled, knowing it was killing her to wait.  She eventually made her way to it and looked at him for permission.

“For me?”

“For you, baby,” Bull answered sweetly.

Chaise was busy carefully untying the bow and opening the box.  When she removed all the internal stuffing, she found a small, black velvet box.  She held her breath as she opened it to find a sparkling, diamond ring.  She turned quickly to Bull, her eyes questioning the ring’s intention, but he wasn’t standing beside her.

He was kneeling on one knee.  His eyes wordlessly implored her to accept his promise of forever.  He took her hand in his and then stole her heart all over again.

“Sierra Chaise Steele, I think I’ve known since I met you that you would change my life.  There was something about –you—even that first –night—that drew me to you.  Now that you’ve shown me what real love is, I can’t live without you.  Will you marry me, Chaise?”

“
Yes—oh my god, yes, Colton!”

Chaise fell to her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck.  Bull kissed her, slowly and sweetly at first, and the desire and urgency increased along with their tempo.  Bull gently led her to lie down and he made love to her for the rest of the night. 
On the floor.  On the couch.  In the shower and eventually in their bed.

“Now that we’ve christened the house, maybe we should get some sleep,” Chaise joked.

“I guess I can let you sleep for a little while to recharge your batteries.  Then you’re mine again,” Bull said before sleep overtook him.

The next morning, Bull woke to hearing Chaise on the phone, telling Brianna about how he proposed.  She was so excited and animated, it made him want to do it all over again, just to please her and make her feel loved. 

He realized they were so much alike in that they didn’t feel loved by their father when they were younger.  They were both abandoned—but in different ways.  His protective instincts went into overdrive when he thought about how Chaise and Noah’s father must have treated her.  He knew it had to be severe for her to refuse to return home when her life was in danger.

He vowed she would never have that problem again.  She would always have a safe place to call
home—physically and emotionally.  He found he loved the responsibility of being “the man of the house,” and Chaise enjoyed letting him take the reins.  It made her feel safe and kept her anxiety at bay.

She didn’t know that Bull had asked for Noah’s permission to propose to her until Brianna explained it.  The two men had a long talk about what it would mean to their families, their friendship
, and their working relationship.  Noah knew that no matter what, once Bull made a commitment, he would honor it to his death.

There was no doubting the love between Chaise and Bull.  Noah assured Bull that he would be honored to have him as his brother in law.  Noah’s talk with his sister had only cemented his decision even more. They would be Aunt Chaise and Uncle Bull to Noah and Brianna’s baby.  They would be one big, happy family.

Bull slipped out of bed and eased up behind Chaise.  He wrapped his arms around her, startling her, but she didn’t miss a beat in her description of his proposal.  “Tell her all the neighbors know my name is ‘Oh God, Colton’ now,” he murmured in her ear.

Her face turned beet red and she playfully swatted him away.  He laughed when she said, “Oh, Colton said to tell you ‘good morning,’ that’s all.”

Chaise ended the call and took a seat in Bull’s lap.  “I’m so happy.  Thank you for everything you did last night.  It was perfect!”

“Anything for you, my love,” he replied sincerely.

“Things are happening so fast.  Your parents are moving down here soon,” Chaise said.

“That’s right.  They’re selling the house in Alabama and moving here to be closer to us,” Bull replied with a smile.

“Brianna said her dad wants to offer me a job with his hotels.  I’ll be the Human Resources Manager for all of his hotels, but I’ll mainly work out of the new one they’re building here.  It’s exciting, isn’t it?  Starting a new life together?” Chaise asked, carefully watching his reaction.

“It’s better than I ever thought it could be,” Bull answered as he repositioned Chaise so that she straddled him. 

Chaise leaned in and kissed him in response.  “Thank you for not giving up on me when you had every reason to just walk away.”

Bull shook his head from side to side, “If I had to pick one thing I would rather die than live without, it would be you.  I really never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait to make you my wife.”

“Well, Mr. Lanier, why don’t you give me a preview of the honeymoon?” she asked seductively.

“
Mmmm, I’d be glad to, future Mrs. Lanier.  Your first preview will be a lesson in
Bull riding
,” he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her.  “But first, I need a date.”

Chaise’s eyes crinkled at the corners and her lips twisted to the side as the thought about her wedding date.  Bull smiled at how cute the gestures looked on her.  “I think a late April wedding.  Noah and Brianna’s baby will have already been born and then our whole family can be there with us.”

“April it is.  Now, it’s time to try on your spurs,” he said as he jumped up and ran down the hall with Chaise wrapped around him, laughing hysterically.

“Couldn’t ask for a better start to a new life,” Chaise said dreamily.

The hissing of oxygen flowing through tubes, the dinging of patient call lights
, and the
sterile smell of the hospital brought back memories of Brianna’s hospitalization—a memory Noah would much rather forget.  This visit to the hospital was under different circumstances, but no more desirable.

Chaise had received an urgent phone call from Sara Steele, their mother.  Steve was in the hospital and the news was not good.  He was rushed by ambulance to the emergency room during the night and was taken straight into surgery.  Sara was frantic to reach all of her children.  Steve was in pain but awake and asking to see them.

When Noah first heard the news, he was hesitant to agree to see him.  He didn’t think the hospital, post-surgery, was the best place for a family reunion after so many years apart.  Sara insisted, however, and between Brianna and Chaise, Noah really didn’t stand a chance.

Noah, Brianna, Bull
, and Chaise all walked silently down the corridor to Steve’s room in the ICU step-down unit.  His condition was being carefully guarded but he wasn’t in such dire straits as to need the constant monitoring of the ICU nurses. 

Chaise held on to Colton’s hand tightly as they walked.  The impending visit weighed heavily on her mind.  The anxiety level began building in her chest and she knew the only thing that kept her attack under control was the fact that Colton was with there with her.  She felt him squeeze and tug on her hand lightly, asking her to look at him.

“I’m here, baby.  Whatever you need, I’m here for you,” he said warmly. 

She nodded and squeezed his hand as she leaned into his side.  “I can’t imagine doing this without you here.”

The beeping of the heart monitor and the ticking of the IV machine were the only sounds in the room.  Sara was asleep sitting up in her chair and Steve was resting in the hospital bed with his eyes closed. 

Brianna said, “Maybe Bull and I should wait outside the room to give you and Chaise time to talk to your mother alone.” 

Noah shook his head, “No. 
This
is my family now—you, our baby, Chaise, and Bull.  We go in together.”

Noah walked into the darkened room first and Sara sleepily opened her eyes.  When she saw Noah, her eyes grew wide and she jumped up from her chair.  As she rushed to him, with her arms widespread and tears in her eyes, Noah felt the regret wash over him.  It had been too many years since he’d seen his mother.

He wrapped his arms around her and whispered his greeting in her ear.  “Hi, Mom.  How are you holding up?”

She pulled back and looked from him to Brianna, who stood proudly beside Noah.  Sara’s eyes dropped to Brianna’s small bump and her hands flew to cover her mouth.  “Noah?”

“Mom, this is my wife, Brianna.  Brianna, this is my mom, Sara,” he replied in hushed tones.

Sara looked at Brianna and suddenly threw her arms around her neck.  Sara hugged her tightly as she cried softly.  Brianna patted her on the back and whispered soothing words to her. 

Sara opened her eyes and saw a large, formidable figure behind Brianna.  Once her eyes adjusted, she saw his arm was wrapped around her daughter, Chaise.  Turning Brianna with one hand, Sara used her other arm to grab Chaise and pull her in for a group hug.

When Sara let go of them, Chaise made her introductions.  “Mom, this is Colton, my fiancé.  Colton, this is Sara, my mom.”

“Fiancé?” Sara asked and both Bull and Chaise nodded.  “I’m so glad I didn’t miss the wedding!  Or my grandbaby’s arrival!”

“You aren’t having a family reunion without me, are you?” a weak voice called out.

All heads snapped to the direction of the voice.  Steve’s automatic pain medicine dispenser gave him another dose of pain medicine as Noah and Chaise moved to his bedside.

“Hi, Dad,” Chaise replied.  “How are you feeling?”

“Better now that the two of you are here,” he answered.  “I have something I need to say to you both.”

Noah took a deep breath and readied himself to leave and take his family with him if Steve decided to start his usual rant.  “Go ahead,” Noah replied.

“I’m sorry, kids.  I’m so sorry.  I love you both and I want you back in my life.  Not just because of this, but finding out you have Stage Three colon cancer is definitely a wake-up call for how you’ve lived your life.  I look back and I’m not proud of the type of father I was to you two.  I want a chance to make it up to you.  I want to walk my baby down the aisle.  I want to be a good grandfather,” Steve choked up on his last words.

The room was silent.  Both Chaise and Noah were stunned speechless at his admission and his request.  Noah looked around at his family and they each nodded their approval.

“Apology accepted, Dad,” Noah replied quietly.  “Let’s be a family again.”

The pain medicine took effect and Steve soon slipped back into a deep sleep.  Despite the prognosis, Chaise knew that her family would be whole again.  Somehow everything would work out as it was intended to be.

They stood, gathered around their sick father, chatting and making introductions as Steve went in and out of sleep.  Their future was ahead of them and no matter what it brought, Chaise, Colton, Brianna, and Noah would face it together.

There is strength in numbers and in family ties.

THE END

BY

LL
COLLINS

RELEASING MAY 23, 2014

Prologue

Ellis

He sat, still as stone, transfixed on the beady eyes of the judge that was about to deliver his fate. From his right he heard a small cry, and his gaze immediately swung from the judge to look at him. He didn’t look at Mandy. He couldn’t. The baby kicked his feet as she put a bottle in his mouth, and tears filled Ellis’ eyes without warning. He gripped the cheap suit he was wearing to keep from getting up and going to
Mason. He wasn’t allowed to touch him. The fact that she brought him here today was just to torture him, to remind him again that he had royally screwed up.

His eyes slid up to hers and he searched them for any sign that she might call this whole thing off. What he saw there was exactly what he predicted. She enjoyed every second of this. The small smirk playing on her lips made his gut clench.
This wasn’t someone’s life to her, it was a game. She knew she was going to win and he would never see him again.

“Ellis,” his attorney whispered from his other side. When Ellis didn’t respond, his gaze locked on the two people he knew he’d never see again after this day, he whispered it a little louder.

Blinking his eyes, Ellis forced himself to look at the attorney that was probably fresh out of law school and being forced to help worthless trash like him. His mother wasn’t even here, but that wasn’t a surprise. She was off getting high somewhere. She could care less what happened to him. There was no one in this room that cared about him.

“Keep your eyes off them, buddy. It’ll only make it worse.” Ellis didn’t know how this day could possibly get any worse. He knew he screwed up. It was the way he did things. What else could anyone expect when he grew up the bastard child of another screw up? But this time, he didn’t mean it.  When he had ended up in
juvie, he knew he deserved it and didn’t care. It was better than being at home. This time, though, he knew he would leave his heart in this courtroom today. He would never be the same again.

Stealing one more glance over at the two of them, Ellis turned his attention back just as the judge started speaking. Taking a shaky breath, he wished he could crumple on the floor and cry,
beg the judge not to do this, not to let her do this to him. But he was a man, and he couldn’t. He forced his eyes to the judge, squirming as the man delivered his fate.

“In the case of Ellis Warner vs. Mandy Wright, to determine parental rights of the minor child, Mason Wright, I have come to a decision. There has been an overwhelming amount of evidence here, as well as testimony. Due to the past of the father, Ellis Warner, the lack of support he has, as well as the disturbing events that brought us to this point, it is my final decision that the best interest of this child is to remain with his mother. Ellis Warner, your parental rights are hereby terminated. You are to have no contact with Ms. Wright or your son in any capacity. It is as if they no longer exist on this earth. I would suggest that you get your life straight, son, and move on. You have a sentence to fulfill and some community service after that. You still have a chance at having a life, if you choose to turn it around. You’re only seventeen. Let this be a learning experience for you.”

Ellis pressed his lips together so he didn’t cry, but his eyes filled with tears anyway. He knew that this was going to be the outcome, but hearing it made pain radiate throughout his body. He couldn’t help it, he had to look at Mandy again. One tear dripped down his cheek as his eyes met hers. She looked away quickly as Mason squirmed in her arms. Ellis looked at his baby boy for the last time. His dark hair, the same as his, his little chunky body. He knew that, behind his closed eyelids, his eyes matched his as well, green with blue in them. He would never know what would become of his son, and maybe that was for the best. Ellis knew he wasn’t any better than his deadbeat father, or his drug addicted mother. He was worthless. Mason would be better off without him.

“Let’s go,” the bailiff announced from behind him, making him jump. He was going back to be locked up, but none of it mattered. He was dead inside anyway. Today was just the final blow. He looked over his shoulder one more time to see Mandy watching him, Mason asleep on her shoulder.