This Time (17 page)

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Authors: Ingrid Monique

BOOK: This Time
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Jack pointed to the other end of the room where Tyce lay facedown. “I took care of him, tried to pull a fast one on me. Curve's man shot me.” Jack winced under the pain.
“So there are two of them?”
“Yeah.” Jack winced.
The whine of the helicopter starting up could be heard.
“Kelee, stay with Jack,” Sean said and headed out the back door.
Sean ran outside to see Curve getting into the helicopter. Curve paused as he was about to close the door. He looked at Sean, surprised, and instantly started firing at him with an M-16 rifle. Sean ducked back inside the house, bullets missing him by inches. No way in hell; he wasn't going to let Curve slip out of his hands, not this time.
“The crate,” Jack shouted at him, pointing to the crate that was holding the back door open. When the firing stopped, Sean ran to the crate. He shot the lock off to see a handheld rocket launcher. He quickly pulled it out; it was loaded. Sean went back outside to see the helicopter taking off over the ocean. Sean flipped off the cap, lined up the helicopter and pressed the trigger. The blast of the rocket leaving the shell caused him to stumble; a sharp pain ignited in his chest where he'd been hit. For a moment it took his breath away. Sean watched in satisfaction as the missile connected with the helicopter and it exploded in a ball of fire, falling into the ocean in flaming pieces. Now it was finally over. Sean dropped the rocket launcher, no longer able to hold it. The pain was getting worse in his chest.
Six coast guards came running up to him moments later.
“Search every hole in that house,” he told them. They nodded and ran into the house.
“Got him?” Jack asked, coming up to him with Kelee at his side. Sean looked at Jack, then at Kelee, grateful they were both alive. Kelee looked at him, concerned.
“Yeah, it's over,” Sean said, rubbing his still stinging ribs where Curve's bullet had impacted and would have taken his life if he had not been wearing his vest. Kelee stared at him rubbing his ribs; he saw dread in her eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile, but it hurt like hell and he couldn't help wrenching under the pain. Instantly, Kelee was beside him.
“Yu' OK?”
“I think I broke a couple of ribs when I took that bullet,” he moaned, leaning against her.
The coast guard helicopter set down not far from them and two guards jumped out and ran over to them. One assisted Jack and the other Sean into the helicopter. Kelee followed and was helped into the helicopter. A few minutes later they were air bound and heading back to St. Pala.
Sean slumped into the seat, trying to catch his breath; the pain was getting to him. He held his ribs. He opened his eyes to find Kelee staring at him. Once again the fear in her eyes unnerved him. He knew she'd gone through a lot in the past week and its effect on her was no doubt traumatic. She'd witnessed him kill a man today; he wondered how that made her feel. She would need time to process it all, but for now she was safe and she was unhurt, and that was all he cared about at that moment.
 
 
Kelee was in a daze staring at Sean. He had saved her life today by taking a bullet for her. If it hadn't been for his bulletproof vest she was sure he would have died. She wondered if he would have really died for her. In the short time she'd been here she'd been kidnapped and held hostage by a madman who would have killed her. It was all so much. Suddenly, she felt like she couldn't breathe, her head was starting to throb. She desperately wanted to see Lori; she was concerned about her condition and the stress it had caused. She prayed Lori, the baby, and Allan were OK.
“Did yu' see Lori, is she OK?” she asked Sean.
“The last time I saw her she was doing fine; a little shaken, but the doctors were still monitoring her.”
“An' Allan?”
“Good; he wasn't hurt.”
“Thank God.” She sighed, closing her eyes. Kelee knew it was over but the fear was still with her.
“Every'ting is OK now. Yu' safe, there's no' ting for yu' to worry 'bout anymore,” Sean told her. Kelee wished she could believe him. So much had happened to her in such a short time, all she wanted to do was get away from it all. It was just too much. Kelee pressed her lips together, holding back her tears.
Chapter 20
They were taken to the same hospital where Lori was. Jack was taken to surgery to remove the bullet from his arm and Sean was taken to x-ray to see how bad his ribs were. Kelee went to the nurse's station to find out if Lori was still admitted. The nurse told her that Lori had gone into premature labor and had given birth an hour ago. Kelee's heart raced with anticipation at seeing Lori and her new niece. Both Lori and the baby were doing fine. Kelee thanked God and raced to the room where Lori now was. She rushed into the room to see Lori sitting up in bed, breastfeeding. Allan was sitting at her bedside watching in awe.
“Kelee,” Allan and Lori said in union.
Kelee ran over to her, throwing her arms around Lori and the baby, kissing her cheek. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Thank God yu' OK.” Lori started to cry. Kelee looked down at her adorable niece and kissed the top of the baby's bald head. She looked at Allan.
“Yu' OK?” she asked. The last time she had seen him he was unconscious. Allan touched the back of his head where he'd been hit and smiled.
“I'm good.”
“I'm so sorry for everything.” Kelee choked up.
“It's not yu' fault,” Lori insisted.
“If I hadn't come here”—she brushed away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks—“yu', Allan, the baby, none of this would have happened.” Kelee couldn't help but feel responsible for everything. If she hadn't gotten involved with Sean, none of this would have happened.
“Stop right there,” Lori demanded. “None of this is yu' fault. I have a healthy baby, she came a little early, yes, but she's perfectly fine.” Lori smiled down at the baby feeding at her breast. The baby was on the small side, but she was beautiful and feeding hungrily. Kelee caressed her small bald head and smiled.
“Where's Sean, is he OK?” Lori asked.
“He's in x-ray,” Kelee told her.
“X-ray; why?”
“He was shot close range, but he was wearing his vest. I think he might have broken some ribs.”
“Thank God it wasn't any worse,” Lori said, relieved.
Allan got up and ushered Kelee into his seat. “I'm goin' to get some'ting to eat, an' check on Sean,” he announced and left them alone.
“She has no hair,” Lori moaned, caressing the baby's head.
“We were both bald when we were born, remember?” Kelee reminded her.
“Oh, yeah, we were.” She smiled, caressing the baby's cheek. The baby opened her eyes; she had Allan's blue eyes. Kelee smiled as the baby grasped her finger.
“I want to hear every'ting that happened,” Lori insisted. Kelee really didn't want to talk about it, but knowing Lori she wouldn't stop until she got the full story. Maybe if she did, then she would figure out how to solve her dilemma of dealing with Sean and the risk that came with being with him.
 
 
Sean was grateful to be out of x-ray. He was dying to see Kelee—he needed to make sure she was OK. He was given a painkiller and his ribs were bandaged. Three of his ribs had been broken and he had a nasty bruise. He found out that Lori was still in the hospital, having given birth. He was grateful to know she and the baby were doing fine. Jack was recovering, the bullet successfully removed from his shoulder. Jack was resting surrounded by his wife and kids when Sean stopped by to see him. Giving Jack time with his family, Sean went in search of Lori, knowing he'd find Kelee with her. He couldn't help but be worried about her. He didn't like the look of fear in her eyes in the chopper earlier. He needed to make sure she knew that she was safe now.
 
 
Kelee finished telling Lori what she had gone through. While she felt relieved it was all over, she couldn't help the dread feeling that had taken hold of her.
“Yu' safe now,” Lori told her.
“I don't feel it,” she confessed.
“I know it's hard after all yu've been through, but yu' can't let it consume yu'. Yu' don't have any'ting to be afraid of anymore.”
“I know.” She sighed, tired.
“Then what's really botherin' yu'?”
“I don't think I can be with him, not after what happened. I can't live with that kind of fear,” she admitted with all honesty.
Lori looked at her, disappointed. “Don't yu' love him?”
Kelee looked at Lori, surprised by her question. “I think yu' seein' too much into what went on between Sean and me,” Kelee told her.
“So yu' tellin' me yu' don't love him?”
“Love him, that's too much for me right now. Plus, after what happened, I don't think I can be with a man like him. I can't always be lookin' over my shoulder wonderin' when some maniac who has a vendetta against him will target me.”
“He loves yu', Kelee. He wouldn't let any'ting happen to yu'.”
“It doesn't matter. I can't be with him. Plus, I didn't come here to find a man. I came here to be with yu' and the baby, and if I'd done that I wouldn't have ended up in Sean's drama. I just need to focus on what I came here to do and leave it at that.” She smiled at her niece, who had fallen asleep.
“He wouldn't have gone through all he did to get yu' back if he didn't love yu',” Lori told her. Covering her breast, she placed the baby against her shoulder, tapping her back gently.
“Could we stop talkin' about Sean?”
“Why?”
“It's too complicated.”
“It's not that complicated if yu' love him.”
“I don't love him,” she insisted. “And could yu' stop talking about Sean? I just want to forget everything that happened, everything, including him.”
“I think yu' handlin' this all wrong,” Lori said, disappointed. “Yu' two have such a strong bond, don't throw it away.”
“We have nothing,” Kelee said dryly. “And what we had I'd rather forget,” she said with determination. She had come to a decision; she wanted nothing more to do with Sean St. John.
“Hey, man, how yu' feelin?” Kelee heard Allan ask just outside the door.
“Good,” Sean's voice responded. Kelee spun around, looking at the door. Allan entered with a puzzled look on his face. When Sean didn't follow him, Kelee's stomach crunched up in fear.
“Was that Sean?” she asked, knowing it was him—she had heard his voice.
“Yes, wasn't he in here?”
“No, he never came in,” Lori said.
“Funny, he was standing right at the door. I thought he was leavin'.” Allan shrugged.
“He heard,” Lori said.
“Oh, God.” Kelee buried her face in her hands. She felt really bad. She never meant for him to hear anything she'd just said. She wanted to end it with him, but nicely.
 
 
Sean really couldn't blame Kelee for feeling the way she did. He'd put her through a lot. She'd been through a dramatic situation, being kidnapped and held hostage with a gun at her head. If she hated him for it all, he had no one to blame but himself. He'd lied to her and put her in danger. If she left St. Pala tomorrow he couldn't blame her. He didn't want to lose her, but she'd said it, she wanted to forget everything and that included him. Sean didn't feel like going home, so he decided to head west.
 
 
Lori was released from the hospital a few hours later and they all went home together. Lori hadn't bought up the subject of Sean and she was grateful. Back at the house Allan saw to Lori and the baby while Kelee retired to her room. She was emotionally and physically drained. Sean was all she could think of. She knew her words must have hurt him, but she just couldn't see herself with him knowing the danger that came with him. He was a good man and the chemistry was unbelievable between them, but she needed to feel safe; she knew she wouldn't be with him. She wished things had ended differently, but it was over and done now. There was nothing she could do about it. Tired, Kelee took a shower and get some much needed sleep.
 
 
When Kelee woke it was nine the next morning. She felt refreshed and her headache was gone. She found Lori in the living room watching the baby sleep in her bassinet. Kelee sat beside Lori looking at her niece.
“She's so beautiful,” Kelee said, taking in the baby's small perfect features.
“Isn't she?” Lori beamed.
“Mama is going to be so happy when she sees her.”
“Damn, I have to call her an' tell her I had the baby. Every'ting happened so fast I forgot to call her.”
“Just don't tell her about me getting kidnapped. I don't think she needs to know all that.”
“Yu' will tell her?” Lori asked.
“Yes, but not right now. There are other things I have to deal with first.”
“Like Sean?”
“Like goin' back to my life in New York.”
“Why don't yu' stay here?” Lori asked. Kelee looked at her. “St. Pala feels more like a home to yu' than New York, yu've said so yu'self. Wha' yu' have there besides work, which yu' can do here?”
Kelee did feel at home here. New York didn't feel this warm or welcoming to her. She knew it had to do with the fact that she didn't have any family there. She had family here, but her life and career were in New York not St. Pala.
“Stay with us,” Lori said and hugged her. Kelee leaned against her.
“I can't. Not now,” Kelee admitted. In her heart she wanted to stay but she couldn't. The thought of being in St. Pala and seeing Sean was too much. St. Pala was a small island and there was no way she could avoid him, he was like family to Lori and Allan.
“Go get some'ting to eat, yu' must be hungry,” Lori told her. Kelee nodded and headed into the kitchen to get breakfast. A few minutes later Lori joined her, baby monitor in hand.
“I was thinkin',” Lori started. Kelee took a sip of her tea, ready for an earful.
“Go on,” Kelee said.
“I think yu' should call Sean.”
“I told yu' I don't want to have anything to do with him.”
“After what he overheard, yu' need to clear the air with him. Tell him why yu' feel the way yu' do. Don't go back to New York without clearing 'tings up.”
“I thought about that, but what difference would that make?”
“Sean is like family. I hate to see 'tings end badly between yu' two, that's all.”
Kelee knew she was right, she had to talk to Sean, clear the air between them.
“Yu' right,” Kelee admitted. Lori smiled with satisfaction. Kelee prayed Sean would want to talk to her after what he had overheard.
 
 
Sean wasn't at the house when Kelee called and his cell phone kept going straight to voice mail. Kelee called Jack, who was home recovering from his gunshot wound. Jack told her he'd give Sean a call. Two hours later Jack called back.
“Did yu' get him?” Kelee asked, anxious.
“Yeah,” Jack said.
“Is he OK?” she asked.
“He didn't sound like himself,” Jack told her.
“Did yu' tell him I wanted to talk to him?”
“Yes. He said it was over between yu' two. What happened?”
“He overheard some things that I didn't mean for him to hear. I just need to clear things up with him before I leave.”
“When yu' leavin'?”
“Soon,” she said. “Do yu' know where he is?”
“The cabin. He goes there to cool off when he's upset.”
“Thank yu' and take care,” Kelee told Jack.
“Yu' too.”
 
 
Kelee found Jack and Lori in the living room. Lori was breastfeeding. Allan sat by her side, the baby holding onto his finger. There was so much love in his eyes for his daughter. A part of her envied what they had, a loving relationship and a beautiful baby.
“Did yu' get him?” Lori asked, looking up at her.
“Jack said he's at the cabin,” Kelee told her, sitting across from them.
“I'll take yu' there if yu' like,” Allan said. Kelee smiled at him, relieved.
“Sounds good to me.” Lori beamed.
“Yu' want to pack a bag just in case?” Allan asked. Kelee smiled at him.

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