I got to the airport early, checked in and and got through TSA. Absent-mindedly, I moseyed over to the off-duty store when I saw a glimpse of someone that I wanted to see so badly that it hurt.
I hurried along with the only bags I had, a small duffel and my structured shoulder purse. I walked closely behind the person of interest, hoping to just talk with him. I needed to talk to him to tell him that I was ready.My face showed signs of distress, and the tears made it more dramatic. Dressed in a boyfriend style blazer, dark skinny jeans cuffed at the ankle, a fitted white tee, and a pair of Tieks, I could have been shooting a movie.One of the terminals had just released its passengers, and the rush of business professionals darted out along with children on summer vacations dragging their parents to the bathrooms flooded the walkways. I was losing my target, so I pushed until I thought I had him cornered.I was chasing a skilled killer, one who could off me and hide the body forever. He was also my child's father and the love of my life.He had walked to one of the many books stores to grab a snack and a coffee as well as a health magazine. I smiled because I never knew him to pick those kinds of things. He was always with fresh fruits and tech magazines, and coffees were a hit or miss.Placing all of his items on the counter, I smiled as I fished out my wallet to pay for his treats. I missed him, his smell and his smile. The total was given, and I jumped right in, hoping for some sort of olive branch."Here, I got it! Let me pay for a friend."I looked at the cashier, and she laughed at the bewildered look on the man's face. I let my face tilt up and gasped at my bafoonery."Payment accepted." I heard the card reading machine announce.The handsome gentleman smiled at me, His face, eyes, and smile could win over a mutiltude of women, but I wasn't interested. He was not who I was expecting, but he was still so kind. His blue eyes took in my face, and he stepped back from the counter."It looks like you need a friend and a hug miss." He held out his arms for me to walk into his embrace. He held me there tightly, just rubbing my back with his hands. When I was done crying on the nice stranger, I took my own step back and thanked him."I was looking for a very special friend of mine, and you reminded me of him. I'm sorry for the confusion. Let me pay to get you another hot coffee."He took my hand in his and shook his head. "That's not necessary. If you're ever in Arizona, call me up. I'd love to have dinner with you." He then pulled up his briefcase, extracting out one of his cards he flashed it before my face.I took it out of politeness, but I had no intentions of seeing Dr. Dylan J Schneider ever again. I wasn't into dating these days. My son was the only man in my life, and his grandparents were expecting me to get back to him soon.I left the store with my receipt dangling out of my jacket pocket. With the coated paper business card and my credit card in hand, I was dazed out.The gate I arrived at had a few people scattered about in the bucket seats, ready to board. I had already missed the call for first class and would need to wait for the gate attendant to notice me.Once I chatted with her, she let's me on and I find my seat and snuggle in for a long flight. I reclined my chair and sent a text to the waiting party in Arizona. Before I could turn my phone off, I dozed, exhaustion hitting me like a punching bag.I slept the whole flight and was gently shaken by the flight attendant to wake up. It seems I was last to deboard the plane, I groggily got u, took my two bags, and made my way to the parking garage.The time difference coupled with the arid summer heat gave me solace. I drove slow and steady to the ranch, anticipating holding my little baby in my arms. I missed him so much and was grateful that he was a piece of me and a piece of him.Regal, my son had his father's face and eyes, his loose full wavy dark hair, and it seemed at times his temperament. Papa Dietrich and Madre Vassi were too kind to take on the responsibility of caring for the little one me, and their son had left as we were handling different tasks. The doting grands didn't mind a bit.I walked in with them sitting at the formal dining room inside the ranch's expansive open concept frame. The gooing and gaaing had me tripping over my own feet."Oh hey darling! We'd hope you take a few more days for yourself." Madre spoke like a true mother concerned for her child.I kissed her forehead and moved to kiss Papa on his cheek.His thick and heavy accent voice boomed. "Is it done?""Yes, Papa. It's do. It's all over on that side," I spilled, waiting for his response all the while I was looking down at my lap."I think he'd like to know from your mouth. Maybe this will keep him from trying to kill himself."Madre was placing my son in my arms, and the baby boy smiled big, looking like his Papa and his father. Regal had his grandmother's and his father's hazel green eyes. She then started in on me, too, not caring that the advice she was giving could steer me farther away."You can't be afraid of his threats dear, he was mad and said what he knew would push you away. That man loves you and your baby."You both are right. Thank you so much for your love and support, and I know it must be tough to see your only son hurt like this because of me."I took a moment before leaving the table, "Is he home?""I am." I whirled around to see the man I had been craving stand behind me looking at the little boy in my arms. He walked over to me with slow measured steps. His gait wasn't steady."Are you drunk?" I asked unapologetically. "Reece! You promised you wouldn't be drunk around the baby.""Yeah? Well, you promised me a lot of those things, and yet here we are over a year later, and all I have is the pain of your betrayal.""How else am I supposed to deal with the heartbreak, Vee? You chose wrong, but I'm suffering."He beat his hand to his chest so hard that it startled our son, who had just started to doze."Please, let's talk about this in private." My plea escaped as I looked to his parents for help again.I was hoping they'd take the baby just in case Reece really lost it. Both Papa and Madre departed the room, leaving us to the challenging silence.He spoke up, disturbing the peace."There's nothing outside the care of my son to talk about, and because he's here, I can't really tell you how I feel."Reece reached up and grabbed the sleeping infant from my arms and stormed out. Great, now I'm also incapable of preventing my drunken baby's father from taking the child.I followed behind him quickly, and as he went into the guest wing of the ranch home, I knew where he was going. He was entering the nursery. Reece sat with the child in the rocking chair and began tracing the soft hairs on his head, murming to himself and to baby Regal."Your mother broke my heart. It's not supposed to be like this." Reece bagan weeping, and he rocked the child in the chair.I was ashamed of the condition of this strong but broken man, so I left out of the room.A few days later, I sat on the porch of the house that was a temporary stopping place for me. Swinging myself on the suspended rope and board contraption, I had so much to consider.In another day, I was headed off to Air Force basic training in San Antonio, Texas.Having a baby out of wedlock and in the midst of chaos wasn't part of the plan. I was supposed to be in college, or I should have at been at least celebrating my first year as an airman in the military, but none of that materialized.Part of the trouble started almost two years ago when I met Roman shortly after my first boyfriend, Jonas, cheated on me. They, along with a few other guys, were either loose associates or friends with Reece. I was still in high school on my way to graduating when I came into contact with them all.My best friend Brody and I had gone to hang out at one of the local spots where the men showed off their cars and big bass systems, and the women showed off their assets. The site's sights were like the set of a bootylicious music video. Ratchet.After Jonas started to beg me back, I went off to the side to talk to him. He wanted to explain his cheating ways and reason with me concerning our now defunct relationship. I didn't want drama. I had enough waiting at home. And that's when Roman approached us."Say man? This your girl?"The dude spoke up. He had a twang in his speech. It was definitely mid-west. I looked to Jonas for his response. He just shrugged."So I thought you told me you didn't want her no more. She looks like the type you take home to momma...what's wrong with you? That chick you was with last night ain't nowhere close to this lady right here." I chuckled. He sounded like Nelly a little bit when he said the last word."Say, miss lady. What's your name and where are you from?" he asks while licking his lips, pulling me away from my ex."Valiant is my name, and I'm from here. Born and raised." I bounce my eyes between his eyes and his dangling chain."Say, I know Jonas, and he can't treat you like I can treat you. Let me get your number, and we can talk. You fine as hell, and I don't know why he cheated, but I'm trying to be your next and forever man." I laughed so hard at the ridiculously overused pick-up line that I was surprised he had any confidence left.Before I could reply, he had leaned in and kissed my neck in a way I've never experienced. There were so many sparks between us, I thought we'd catch fire."I promise if you let me in, I'd eat you like a buffet and fuck you so senseless that you'd sell your soul to the devil to be with me." Roman growled.He's certainly not a saint."I'll give you some time to get to know me and me you. What do you say Miss Valiant?"Wait a damn minute! What? I felt like I was about to be dragged to hell by this man.Reece's POVValiant had returned to the ranch a few days ago and I had taken my son from her. I didn't want to talk to her, I mean I couldn't talk to her. I looked at my baby Regal Vincent Shields, he was strong and determined much like his mother and me. When he had fallen asleep, I knew I had to do some more soul searching. The woman I loved and disliked the most kept me in a constant cycle. She'd been hurt the most in her life but she loved to see others treated well and succeed. All others except me. "Fūck it." I murmured, stepping back from the crib where my little heart. my saving grace laid sleeping on his back. I turned on the baby monitor, checked the water levels on the humidifier and set the air purifier before walking out of the door. Funny how I could condition his atmosphere in this way and still harbor this unease for his mom. Making my way to my room, I slipped into my black tactical shirt, pants, boots and gloves readying to head out to what me and the guys called
Valiant's POV "Sweetheart?" I heard Papa calling out to me. "Where did you go? I have been here for over ten minutes, watching you. Are you okay?"The memories were pushed back to the dark recesses of my mind as I dropped my eyes to my feet. I don't want him to see me like this his face reminded me of the one I wanted to hold. "Listen darling, it doesn't look like you two have reconciled. I'm gonna take Buddy and the guys out hunting for a few hours. Madre has Regal, and you should take that time and head into town.""The guys?" I stammered. I hadn't seen them in well over a year and hadn't spoken to them in about four months when they called to congratulate me on having the baby. I missed them so much, especially Todd. "Yeah, they got in a few days ago but had some things to sort out with Reece. They are staying a few more days. Maybe you'll see them before you ship." He earnestly replied, not knowing that I needed their support to help me. It was strange that Todd hadn't at least
Roman's POVIt's been a few days and I was at a loss. Val had finally left me, I knew it was coming. I waited with bated breath for her to tell me sooner than later of her plans to disconnect. Even before we moved from Georgia to Texas, I knew she was in love with Reece and only with me out of obligation. He was the good guy, everyone loved him and he was great at everything. Of course, she would fall for him. It was evident that Valiant couldn't resist his charms. He had told me about her before I had seen her with Jonas. Reece came into my apartment one night smelling of whisky and sex rambling about how he'd try to get her out of his mind. That night, he was with a girl he'd been dating for a few months, but he couldn't finish the do with her because his mind was clouded with this new woman. He'd broken it off with his constant, telling her he was interested in someone else. Needless to say, it didn't go over well. There was a big fight. Anyway, fast forward a few months, and I
Roman's POVThat night, I took her in every position testing her limits and when she said that she couldn't, I adjusted. I needed her for more than the one reason I sought her out. When I was done with her, she'd passed out from the multiple orgasms I had given her. I looked at her tangled hair, sweat laced body and her deep and settled aura of sated desire. Beyond gorgeous, a bevy of emotions washed over me. The next morning I dictated to her what my expectations were, assuming my unspoken position of authority as her boyfriend. I would fūck her into submission if she challenged me now knowing how she responded to my efforts on last night.Her kinks were whatever mine were and whatever her body could handle. This was too easy. Over breakfast I announced, "I'm meeting your family today, so call them and let them know." Her complexion paled and she protested. "I think we should wait, I'm not ready for you to meet them." The sass that dripped off of her made me batten down my domin
AUTHOR'S POVWhile Roman considered all that had transpired up until he found out her secret, he was angry at himself. All in his life was being upended because he was too gullible and sloppy. The same people he was trying to either evade or placate stay close to him. So close that they were his shadows. He had considered all the ways he had tried to woo Valiant Williams and make her submit to him completely, but she was too intelligent. The woman was older than her age and wiser than any tree owl. She had book and common sense, and her background made her a triple threat by making her street wise. The o lnly thing missing was her exposure to it all in the real world, and thanks to Ro, he was showing her how to get her credit hours. The natural way she made friends and deciphered her enemies was too scary. It was like God had given her His eyes, and she could disrupt rules while making new ones that everyone had to abide by. There were no decisions that she made without having a go
Valiant's POV My body had started to ache while laying on the cot, the mattress was unbearably thin causing my body weight to sink into the sharp metal coils. I laid there exhausted from fear and lack of patience waiting to be discovered as missing and rescued by the man who currently resented me. In my head and before my eyes that were closed, I cursed Roman in my head. He was the reason I was caught up with Lettie in the first place. She was the one he cheated on me with right before he discharged the army. She was the other woman. I was incredibly incensed and outrageously pissed off at the whole scandal. They literally made my sins look like white out and plain printer paper. This crazy bịtch was the bain of my existence and my dislike for her was turning into hatred. The kind of hatred that would cause a person to go Norman Bates, functional and psycho all in one slaying. Lettie's only goal in life was to annoy the hell out of me until I banged my head on the pavement in a
Reece's POV Dad had taken me and the guys out to the cabin in the hills to hunt but little did I know it was also for an intervention. I guess they'd grown tired of my stubborn ways in not forgiving Val. This girl had hurt me more than anyone I've ever met in my life. I loved her and was proving to her that I could and would protect, provide and love her and our son. Yeah, granted I had left some very big important things out concerning who I was and some of the covert missions I had to complete but I know she would never understand or go for a guy like me. I had been told that I was good looking and desired by many women but I could care less. Shockingly to many, I wasn't the sleep around type. My parents taught me to respect myself and to respect anyone I was interested in. They had married young and had me young so I always wanted marriage and children. Besides that, my familial heritage was really wealthy. I was careful not let it slip and amass a groupie or goldigging fiasco
Valiant's POV Drifting off to sleep I silently prayed for God to reunite me with my baby. I missed him, his smell, his smile and his father's eyes. Regal. His name came when I first saw him and he gazed at me after an emergency c-section. He looked like an heir, spitting image of his handsome daddy. I had just found out two of Reece's biggest secrets and the stress of it all sent me into early labor. "Our little prince." I cooed to my son and he stared into my eyes and for a moment I felt his power. The blood of a warrior, mind of a mogul and aura of kingship. I could see his eyes searching while his brain worked to register my face and I'm sure his heart knew me as mother. "Regal?" I asked him. He made a cute face and began rooting with his lips. I placed him on the teat closest to him and he began drawing out from me. "Regal?" He stopped and stared again. "Your name is Regal Vincent Shields. Your father is Reece Dietrich Shields and I am your mother, Valiant Desiree William