Now, though, she looks like she’s strung out, skinny as all get out, her hair a matted mess, and clearly unstable. Bekah looks nothing like the lab technician she once was.
“You can’t make me!” she yells, not getting out of the car, but rocking her body back and forth while throwing her car in reverse and slamming on the gas.
Travis and I have no idea what she’s doing, but her car lurches backward, her reverse lights are on, and she’s heavy on the gas pedal. My only thoughts are of getting back to Giana to get her out of the vehicle. There’s no way I want her pinned beneath the side of the mountain and Bekah’s car.
I turn around and run, my only thoughts being for my angel when I hear the tires squeal.
Giana throws open the driver’s side door, running into my arms.
“Fuck, angel, we gotta move. She’s coming right towards us.” Giana doesn’t move though. Her legs are wrapped around my hips. I’m not looking forward. Instead, I head for Travis’s vehicle knowing he can keep himself safe.
“Drake, listen to me. We’re okay.” She cups my cheeks. I finally make it to the squad car, pulling in gulps of air.
It’s then that I turn around. The car that was once in reverse and barreling towards Giana is gone. It takes another glance to see Travis’s form standing by the ledge and flames licking up from over the edge.
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Giana whispers.
“Me too, me fucking too.” I kiss Giana with everything I have to give.
“Ahem. I know your eyes were on Giana. So, I’ll give you the condensed version. Bekah threw her car in drive, I’m assuming to try and flee, but gunned it so fast she went over the edge before I could even yell for her to stop. A few of my deputies are on the way, so are Slade, Bridger, and Easton. Which also means their wives will be in tow, my own included. I’ll need statements, even though I was here,” Travis states.
“No problem. I think Giana and I may take a vacation after everything is said and done.”
“We may as well, since I’ve already dived into my vacation time.” We don’t talk about what happened. Not right now at least. When we give our statement, that will be more than enough to have to relive. Instead, we shoot the shit until the cavalry arrives.
Twenty
Giana
Two Weeks Later
Drake wasn’t lying when he said it was time for a vacation. We jumped on a plane the minute we were done with everything Bekah related. Thank goodness Travis was there. It really cut down on the amount of time and paperwork we would have gone through. I mean, I hate that Bekah died when she really had some other stuff going on. On the other hand, I’m thankful we won’t have to go to court or deal with the aftermath of when she would have gotten out of jail and might have stalked us again. It’s something that still conflicts us now, even when we’re two thousand miles away.
Though the over-the-water private bungalow really is nice. Today is our first full day here. Our plans are simple, rest and relax. Our food is brought to us, and we never have to leave, which is what we’re doing this week.
I walk out to the deck where Drake is sitting, drinking a cup of coffee. He’s only wearing a pair of swim trunks and a baseball hat. His tattoos are on display, and he’s so lost in thought he doesn’t hear my footsteps. We pretty much crashed the moment we got here late last night, and I hated not waking up with his arms wrapped around me.
“Babe, you okay?” I ask once I’m standing in front of him.
“Morning, yeah. Lost in thought. Did you sleep good?” He scoots his chair out. I threw on my bathing suit before I came out here.
“I did. I think the flight did me in. Anything I can help you sort out?”
His hands go to my hips, pulling me in between his spread thighs.
“Sit on my lap,” he demands. I get on top of him, my legs straddling his waist. I swear if I could crawl inside him, I would. Drake is that piece of my soul I never knew was missing.
I nuzzle into his neck. He slides his arms around me, both of us basking in the warm sun, a slight breeze skating across our skin. I’m so content with Drake, I don’t realize he’s sliding a ring onto my finger until it’s firmly settled.
“I was going to ask you to marry me, but the truth of the matter is, I know the answer. You know how much I love and need you. How I want our babies growing inside you, our home filled with love and laughter. You giving me shit, even when we’re old and gray.” I don’t even care what the ring looks like. All I care about is that I get to become Mrs. Giana Martinez.
“I love you, so freaking much. You do already know the answer. I also have something to tell you as well.”
Lately, the smell of certain foods had my stomach queasy, especially at breakfast time. I took a test the minute I had a spare chance and Drake wasn’t watching me like a hawk.
I move his hand to my stomach. “We’re going to be parents, maybe before we're even married.”
“The fuck we are. We’re getting married while we’re down here. Just the two of us, and I’m going to love you and our baby with everything I have to give.”
“I never doubted you for a minute, but what do you mean we’re getting married while we’re down here? Do you want Mom and Dad to maim you?” I ask.
“Angel, why do you think I was so deep in thought. I talked to your parents the other day, got their blessing, even told them we’d more than likely get married down here. Your mom cried at first. Your dad gave me that evil eye he only shows when he’s pissed. Once I told them I didn’t want to share this precious moment with anyone but you, they understood. That being said, don’t be surprised if our house is full of friends and family when we get back. Hell, my parents will probably be there. They called yesterday, so I gave them a heads up.”
“Well, since you have everything in order, I think it’s time you feed me and take me back to bed.” I wiggle my eyebrows. That was another thing that I noticed a change in happening, besides the queasiness and the wanting to sleep morning, noon, and night. My sexual appetite was rampant before, but now, it’s on overdrive.
“Considering we’re getting married tonight, I guess we better do that now.” He stands up, his chair crashing to the floor. I wrap my legs around his waist. This is just the beginning for us, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Epilogue
Drake
TWO YEARS LATER
“Jesus,” I mutter as I walk in the door. The house is a wreck. Toys are strewn everywhere. Clothes that need to be folded are on the kitchen table.
I drop my keys in the bowl Giana leaves on the kitchen counter along with my loose change when Corbyn comes running around the corner, buck-ass naked.
“Daddy!” His arms are up, and he wants me to pick him up.
“Hey, where are your bottoms, little dude?” I place him on my hip, not caring what he’s got going on.
“Pot pot.” Giana has been letting him take his diaper off when he has the desire to try and go on his plastic toilet contraption. I keep telling Giana he needs a urinal, but she just rolls her eyes and says that’s a bit extravagant when a fifteen-dollar toilet will work just fine for the time being. Little does she know, one is coming in, and soon. He needs to know how to pee both ways. She had no idea men didn’t even have doors on the stalls in the men’s restroom until I told her. Her face was one of disgust. It caused me to laugh.