Redemption: AmBw Romantic Suspense

Good. They won’t need a walk tonight.

With just my towel on, I lay down in bed.

Footsteps sounded outside my door.

I strained to listen.

It was only one person. Ebony must have put the kids to sleep. I heard no sound from the little ones.

Did she hear me jacking off? No. The walls are good with soundproofing. Plus, she couldn’t hear any sounds from my shower.

The sound of the footsteps continued until I knew she’d made it to the stairs.

I looked up at the ceiling and considered going down there to talk to her.

No. She needs her space. I’ve been around her enough. And plus, I’ve just been jacking off to her. It’s gotten weird enough today.

I blew out a long breath and wondered how much her living on my property would change.

My phone rang.

I rolled over, grabbed it, and answered. “Yes?”

“Wyatt is in a hospital in Portland,” Kevin said over the line. “Someone shot and stabbed him. The statement on the police report said that he told them he was robbed.”

“The police took a report?”

“Yeah. I think that’s the procedure, when someone comes into the hospital injured like that.”

I frowned, pissed that Wyatt didn’t die in the apartment that Ebony had left him in. “What’s the name of the hospital?”

“Adventist Health Portland.”

“Do you know how long they’ll keep him?”

“No. He’s got stitches around his crotch and on his thigh. No notes on removing a bullet, so it was probably a through and through. Bullet went in one side and came out the other.”

“He could be out in a few days.” I rose. “He has a military background. I doubt this is his first time getting stiches.”

“That makes sense. The report also notes that there’s no infection present.”

“Too bad,” I muttered.

“Maybe, with the storm they’ll keep him.”

“He won’t let them. He’s got mayhem to cause.” I shook my head. “How did he pay for the medical bill?”

“That’s good news. Some sort of Veteran’s Affairs insurance covered some of it. He paid a small deductible.”

“With a credit card?”

“Bingo. You know I’ve got it.”

“Good. I owe you. Keep track of it for me. I don’t want him anywhere near here. The first sign that he’s in Washington, let me know.”

“No problem. With this storm, I’ll have nothing to do but track him and watch Netflix.”

“Thanks.”

“How are you?”

I raised my eyebrows. “What?”

“You need some company?”

I laughed. “Are you asking to come over and get laid? I’m a gentleman. I prefer more courting.”

“Real funny. I just figured you were alone.”

“I’m not.”

“I mean more than Salt and Pepa.”

“Trust me, Kevin. I’m not.”

“Whatever, man. Just letting you know, some of the girls will be over here tomorrow, if the roads clear up a little downtown. I’ve got beer and—”

“I’m fine. I’ll be here. You just make sure you keep track of Wyatt Day.”

“Alright. And if you get lonely over there in that big house, give me a call. I’ll helicopter you some beer and pussy.”

“I’ll remember that. Talk to you later.”

“What?” Kevin asked.

“Talk to you later.”

“Usually you hang up.”

I shrugged. “Perhaps, I’m in a chipper mood.”

“Or maybe you’re going crazy in that big house.”

“Not likely.” I hung up and grinned.

Helicoptering pussy and beer?

If Kevin knew I was jacking off in the shower like a maniac, he might’ve laughed. But guys didn’t confess things like that to each other. At least I never had that sort of relationship with another.

I set my phone on the nightstand and lay back down.

Wyatt Day is in Portland healing. You’re one lucky motherfucker. If the roads were clear, I would drive over there and slit your fucking throat.

The image of me torturing him played in my head. His screams rose in my skull. His blood sprayed over my skin.

And slowly, my eyes closed, loving the imagery of his pain.

Chapter 10

Family

Ebony

Five days passed. Just when the snow melted a few inches, another foot of it came that evening.

The second day, the electricity went off. We were plunged into darkness. We used flashlights. Thank God, Yoshiro had a gas stove and fireplace, or we might’ve froze and starved to death. Carrying candles and flashlights around we made it work.

Yoshiro had an old radio that worked on batteries and played cassette tapes. The kids had never seen a device like that before, which made Yoshiro and I feel extremely old. But that didn’t stop us from playing his old tapes of Hip Hop groups from the late 80s and 90s. The kids did smores, using the flames from the fireplace to roast the marshmallows. And Yoshiro showed off his dance moves, proving that rapping wasn’t the only thing he was bad at.

That night we all passed out in the living room—the warmest space in the house. Poppy and I fell asleep on the couch. Yoshiro snored on the loveseat. Kia and Jalen wrapped themselves in blankets and snuggled with the dogs.