Dark Universe (20 page)

She smiles and sits on the edge of the bed carefully.  “I never want to go through that again.  I thought I had lost you, twice.   It made me feel so weak.  I’ve always thought I was so strong; that because I didn’t need anyone I was somehow tougher.  God I was so full of shit.  I’ve never felt stronger than I do when I’m with you.”

 “Are you going soft on me, Chase?”  I ask, smiling.

“Just in one place.”

“Then come here and kiss me.” 

She smiles and leans down, brushing her lips gently against mine. 
Fuck that! 
I reach up and grab the back of her head in my palm and pull her mouth tighter against mine.  I part her lips with my tongue and she sighs softly.  My hand trails down her back and I press her closer, deepening the kiss.  She tastes like heaven and hell all at once.  Glorious torture.

I try to rise up off the mattress to close that small distance between us and a sharp, burning pain rips through me.  “Ouch! Fuck that hurts!”

Lola giggles, pulls the blanket up and pats my chest.  “Toughen up, cowboy, that’s going to take a while to heal, so no hanky panky until the doctor says so.”

No sex?! 
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“No, she’s not.”  Wheeler says, leaning against the door frame.

“I guess you’re the one I should be thanking for saving my sister?”

“No, Sir.  You can thank yourself for that one.  Just like when you saved your mother.”

I’ve known Sergeant Wheeler since that night with my father.  He’s always been around.  When he was the one who showed up to take Lucas into custody, the day we rescued Connor, I wasn’t surprised. 

“Thanks anyway.”

He nods and looks to Lola.  “Miss Chase, your parents would like to come in.”

She looks down at me and then back to Wheeler.  “Tell them they can come on in.”

“How are they taking it?”  I whisper.

“Better than I would have thought.  I don’t think it ever occurred to them how bad it was, I think he would have killed Nathan himself if he could.”

Her mom knocks on the door and we both turn to see her parents walk in.

“How are you feeling, Drake?”  Caroline asks.

“I’m doing fine, Ma’am.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Caroline?”

“Once or twice more should do it.”

Her dad chuckles and moves to stand on the opposite side of the bed as Lola.  “You saved my daughter.  Words aren’t good enough for that, but thank you.”

I’m pretty fucking shocked that he seems perfectly sincere.  I look to Caroline, sure that there will at least be some blame on her face, but there is none.

“It was nothing.  I’m really sorry about your son.” 

“No you’re not.  Nor should you be, he hurt someone you cared about, twice.  Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”

Caroline steps forward and grabs my hand gently.  “We wanted to let you know that no one blames you for Nathan’s death.  He was a sick man, and his actions are what lead to him getting shot, not anything that you did or didn’t do.”

“We’ve met Delilah and we know you have a pretty great, mom and stepdad, but we were wondering if you would let us be your parents too.  If my boy had been well, I would like to think he would be something like you.”

I’ve been strong up until this point.  I’ve been a man.  I’ve managed to keep from turning into an emotional jackass, but his proposal has totally tipped me over the edge.  I quickly bring my thumb up to rub away the offending tear, and hope that no one notices. 

“Holyshitbuckets!!!”  Nina shouts from the doorway.  
Great.  Just what I needed. 
“Who made Drake Thomas cry?  I would like to shake his hand.” 
It seems some things haven’t changed.
  “I mean, seriously.  I never thought I’d see the day.  How are ya feeling, stud?

“I’m good.  Aren’t you supposed to be in Mexico?  Did Connor finally figure out what a lunatic you are and ditch your crazy ass?”  She laughs and I smile. 

“He’s always known, and he’s right here.  Lunatic girl here practically dragged me from the resort when she got the phone call that Drake was in the hospital.”  He says and then leans in and mock whispers, “I think she might actually like you.”

Lola kisses my forehead and smiles down at me, and a sense of rightness hits me like I’ve never felt.  Four months ago I had a broken family, thought that I was a killer with no redeeming qualities, and didn’t know how to love.  Today I have the love of my life here with me, reminding me that people are just people and I’m doing the best that I can with what I was given.  Today, I walk out of here with more family than one man could ever ask for. 
God help me.

Epilogue

“I don't guess people's hearts got anything to do with a calendar.”

-Hondo Lane

Drake

“Connor, calm the fuck down, man!  You’re going to have a heart attack.”  A few minutes ago, Nina’s water broke in the middle of a very intense round of Go Fish.  Lola is in the room grabbing the hospital bag, and Connor has been running around the place like a chicken with its head cut off, doing absolutely shit to help out. 

“We need diapers and Nina needs her heating pad!  Don’t forget the heating pad; she gets really cold in this trimester.  Wait, will she be cold after the baby is born?  She won’t be pregnant anymore, so she won’t be in the freezing third trimester right?  Should we bring the heating pad?”

“Jesus H. Christ!  Connor, you’re the calmest person in the whole fucking world on a regular basis.  What is your deal?  Chill the fuck out.  This baby was going to come sooner or later.”

“Right…Okay, you’re right.  Totally calm.  I’m chilling the fuck out as we speak.”

“FUCK!  That hurts!  Heeee heee heee, whoooooo.  Heee heee heee, whoooo.  This breathing shit is bull shit.  FUUUUUCCCKKKKK!”  Nina grabs her stomach and doubles over as another contraction hits her.

“LOLA, WE HAVE TO GO NOW!  DON’T FORGET THE HEATING PAD!!!!”  Connor shouts, much louder than necessary and sweeps Nina into his arms and practically runs to the car.

Lola comes jogging out of the bedroom with the biggest suitcase I’ve ever seen.  “Did they put the flat screen in this sucker?” 

“Let me get that, baby.”  I grab the luggage from her and kiss her on the cheek.  God she’s so fucking sexy.  She’s wearing her usual plastered on jeans, cowboy boots and a black t-shirt.  In fact, now that I think about it, we sort of match. 
Fuck we’ve turned into one of those matchy couples. 

The horn honks outside and we run out, throw the suitcase in the back and hop inside.  We barely get the doors closed before Connor takes off.  Eight minutes later, Lola and I are sitting in the waiting room.  Lola is pacing, nervous about the birth.  I’m nervous for a completely different reason.

I have a plan, and it’s been seven months in the making.  We were just waiting for this little bundle of joy to decide to join us.  A few months ago, Nina walked into our apartment when Lola was out riding and she threw something in my face.  It was one of those shirt things that babies wear, that snap at the crotch.  On the front in big pink letters was a question.  “Will you marry me?”

“Uh, Nina.  You’re already married, remember.  And trust me on this one; Lola hits harder than you.”

“It’s not for you dip shit.  I saw this today at the mall and it hit me that you haven’t made an honest woman out of my best friend yet.  I know that you two are all, black sheep and don’t want to move too fast or whatever, but what the fuck?  You love her don’t you?” 
This broad is totally nuts.

“You know that I do.”

“Then I ask again.  What the fuck?”

That’s about when I showed her the ring I picked out the month before, and the plan was formed.  As soon as Nina pushes that baby girl out, we are going to walk in there and Lola being Lola is going to snatch her up faster than a raspberry filled doughnut.  That little bundle of joy is going to help me ask the love of my life the most important question in my life, all within the first few seconds of her life. 

Fuck.  I sure hope she says yes.

Lola

That poor bastard.  I’m a total bitch for making him sweat it out like this, but really.  What kind of an idiot hides an engagement ring in a sock drawer?  It’s like he doesn’t know me at all.  It’s been so hard keeping it a secret these past couple of months.  I don’t know how he’s been doing it, but he has.  I was literally shoving bridal magazines and jewelry catalogs in his face every two seconds, but he never caved.

Maybe I should work on my surprise face.  Is that baby out yet?  Come on, Nina.  Push for God’s sake.  
Lola, queen of my world, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?  Why yes, Drasin.  I surely will.  Kiss.

“Ummm, Lola?”

“Yes?”

“Why do you keep making that face?”

Whoopsie.

The End

Acknowledgements

I have so many people to thank that I don’t even know where to begin.  First I have to thank my mom and dad.  It’s no secret to the people who know me that Detective Edward Wheeler in Sapphire Universe and again in Dark Universe is based on my father.  He was a detective for most of my childhood, a policeman for the whole of it, and captain of the SWAT team for as long as I can remember.  He’s also one of the few real cowboys left in this world.

My mother went to college for horsemanship and she often says that she married my father because he was the only man she ever met who could ride better than her.  I remember when I was little she would spend hours down at the barn just to be around the horses.  It was their passion for these animals, old fashioned principals, and amazing stories that gave me the inspiration for this book. 

Next I need to thank my best friend, Laura; the inspiration behind Lola from the beginning.  There is no way I could ever capture all your awesomeness into a fictional character, but I tried my best.  Your loyalty, spunk, and general love of life are things you don’t find in many people, and I count myself among the lucky in this world for having known you.  How many people have a best friend who will edit their books while stuck overseas on a ridiculously long deployment?  Not many.

Edmundo Herrera, my amazing husband who supports me and puts up with my constant jabbering about book ideas and my latest research, thank you.  I love you for reading every article I shove in your face.  I love you for letting me hide out and write all day.  I love you for cooking dinner and doing laundry when I’m rushing to meet deadlines.  I love you because you’re amazing. 

My sister Stephanie Herrera, for getting excited about all of my books and begging me to tell you how they all end even though you already know I’m not going to.  You made me feel like an author before Sapphire Universe was even published, and you give me the confidence I need to keep writing every day.

I have so many new friends in the writing community and I don’t have enough room to thank you all, but I’m sure going to try.  Beth Michele Luciano, Tracey Manning, K.J. Bell, Cheryl McIntyre, Nikki Groom, Jennifer Given Leary, Chris Carmilia, Natalie Catalano, Yvette Cervera, Whairigail Adam, Katie Lock, Jennifer, Jodi Murphy.  I know there are probably about a hundred more people I need to thank, but I absolutely love every single one of you.  Without you other authors, bloggers and readers I wouldn’t have made it here.  You are such an amazing support system and I’m often left speechless at how passionate you all are about books.  Reading them, writing them, sharing them and supporting them, no matter what you do, you’re important, and I thank you for it all.