MemoriesErasedTreachery (3 page)

"Are you sure?" He fed the words into Ewyn's receptive warmth.

"
Mmm-hmm…
taking a page from your book--private enclosure, dim lighting, tinted windows," Ewyn murmured as he rose up on his knees and wriggled out of his jeans and briefs.

"Don't fuck with me, Ewyn," Devin growled and unzipped his trousers, his cock bounding out with precum seeping from the tip.

Ewyn leaned close, staring into intense amber eyes, he whispered, "Oh, but Dev, it's
exactly
what I intend to do…
fuck
with you." He winked, smoothed his palm across the moist glans of Devin's cock, then down around the hardening, silky-smooth heat. Gazes locked, he grabbed Devin's hand, brought it to his lips, and eased the first two fingers into his mouth. Slowly and meticulously, he licked and sucked, moistening both digits before guiding them to his ass.

"
Mmm,
I need this…you. Can't wait, hell, don't want to wait," he babbled as he eased down on the fingers, his hips working in tandem with Devin's every stroke. "Oh damn, Dev."

Ewyn worked his hands under the hem of Devin's shirt, edging the material upward, he ran his fingers over a firm six-pack, inching them upward to well-defined pecs. His fingertips circled and teased the flat nipples until the soft nubs pebbled, and then his hands shifted to Devin's shoulders as his mouth followed the trail forged by his fingers. He inhaled Devin's musky scent, his tongue lapping at salty perspiration, his lips teased and sucked on taut skin. His mouth lingered on remnants of jagged scar tissue, a souvenir of the gunshot wound reminding him of his near loss.

Ewyn reached down and pressed a button along the side of Devin's seat until they were fully reclined. He reversed his position, leaned forward, and braced his hands against the dashboard as Devin's cock replaced fingers and made a slow deliberate penetration. A shockwave of intense passion surged through Ewyn's body.

"
Shh-yit…
"

"Bring it, baby," Devin growled as he wrapped one hand around Ewyn's cock, and rested his other hand on the curvature of Ewyn's hip, then lay back.

Ewyn did what he did best and all too soon, his body stiffened, his sphincter tightened, then his cum coated Devin's fingers as sperm flooded his ass.

* * * *

Damn it.

Thought they would lead me to Nicole.

After following them for days and watching their disgusting behavior in public, it wasn't a stretch of the imagination to know why it was taking so long for them to exit the Escalade. They're revolting.

No wonder Nicole thought nothing of dating and fucking around outside her race. Did the family know about her repugnant behavior? Hell. Stupid question. Of course, they know. Her uncle and his partner are a classic example of repulsive acts the entire family condones as their lifestyle. Growing up in that type of environment, why should Nicole act any differently? Her actions are as vile as her uncle's behavior, and the way her father pampers both girls, neither bitch deserves what she has. The entire family has no boundaries.

It was downright embarrassing to learn all of Nicole's friends on campus
knew
about her uncle. Nicole bragging about him as if he's some kind of hero. The little bastard should have died in the attempt on his life. Then, to find out Nicole is pregnant--damn humiliating. Campus rumor-control is reporting Nicole is pregnant by some bastard she had a thing with a few months ago. Some say the son of a bitch is Black, but no one can verify the allegation since the only thing Nicole has revealed to anybody is he attends one of the Ivy League schools back east.

Nicole's roommate verified the pregnancy, but little else, because Nicole is very secretive about the baby's father. The roommate only knows what everyone else knows--while visiting someone on campus, the mystery man met Nicole, and he purportedly has relatives in Riverview. Those leads would be helpful if the man's so-called friends could be located, and they could supply the necessary information about the man's relatives.

"Argh-hhh!"
I could scream, nonstop, if only the headaches would quit. Have to remember to take the pills. Hell. I
need
a clear head for this. Okay…okay, let me think.

Nicole needs a reality check. She has learned all the wrong values, but it's not too late for her to grasp the concept of heritage. Still in her first trimester, abortion is a viable solution. While word on the street alleges her father has disappeared, and considering the bastard's profession, more than likely, one of the other crime families has disposed of him. Without her father's influence or protection, Nicole will learn to see reason.

Just need to find the bitch.

Chapter 2

It was hot as hell.

Yet, Devin lay awake fully clothed watching the reflection of the neon sign across the street illuminate the wall opposite his bed at regular intervals. It annoyed him, but he didn't dare get bare-assed naked--his preferred method of sleeping--or close his eyes for fear of falling asleep. This time out, the assignment required he remain on alert, clothes on. Besides, undressing didn't guarantee sleep.

Since meeting Ewyn, when Devin went on prolonged ops, if he managed to close his eyes, thoughts and images of Ewyn would flood his mind. Unfastening his jeans, his hand would slip beneath the material, release his cock from its confinement, then relive their nights together, which always led to several bouts of satisfying masturbation. You'd think he'd fall asleep after, but sleep would remain elusive because memories of those other hellish events that became part of their lives would resurface, too.

Damn.

Devin sighed and rolled off the bed. Hands shoved down in his pockets, he strolled over to the window and stared out at the flickering neon light and the deserted streets.

His first long-term op since the attempt on Ewyn's life, and hell, he missed Ewyn something fierce. It must be time to get off the front line when his operations didn't have his absolute focus because it unsettled him when he had to leave Ewyn alone. Shit. Mick and Taggart lived nearby and Ewyn had proven he could take care of himself with the skill and resolve of a covert op. Yet Devin couldn't shake the irrational fear Ewyn wasn't safe. Was he being paranoid, or what?

Hell. After surviving those disturbing getting-to-know-each-other exploits, what else could happen?

* * * *

The ambulance pulled away just as Ewyn's Mustang screeched to a stop. He jumped from the car and rushed toward the people milling about the scene.

This cannot be happening.

Both nieces critically injured. What were they doing out on the highway at this time of night? Were they coming home, just before midterms, with no warning, no phone calls? They always called him or Gemma when they were coming home. How long had it been since he'd spoken to either of them, about a month? And if they weren't coming home--damn, babbling
.

Ewyn approached the cop cordoning off the accident scene.

"Sir, you'll have to stay behind the tape."

"I'm the uncle. Someone called me…how bad…" Holy hell. Ewyn stared in stunned disbelief. The car was a mangled mess. How could anyone have survived? "Where are they? Which hospital? Please!"

"St. Bernadine's and you'd better hurry. The paramedics had little hope of the young lady surviving and even less hope for the baby."

"Young lady?" Ewyn snapped. "There's supposed to be two. The caller said two…weren't two women in the car. And what do you mean, baby," he growled. "Whose baby?"

"Calm down, sir. The young lady is pregnant and pretty close to term according to the--"

With tears welling up in his eyes, Ewyn took off running.

"Sir…sir!"

Ignoring shouts from the officer and other police personnel who scrambled to get out of his way, Ewyn hopped into his Mustang, swiped the tears from his cheeks, and peeled out.

Damn. A baby. Which niece, and why didn't she tell him…hell, what was he thinking? Why would his nieces confide in him? He had spoken to Nicole on the phone every other month, but their conversations were primarily business discussions, and he hadn't seen them since spring break, a little over--oh, my God! Whichever niece was pregnant, she knew it then. She should have told him or at least Gemma.

Wait a minute.

The officer had said,
one young woman
. Not good. He reached for his cell phone. He had to call Timothy so he could contact MacGregor. Gregorio needed to come…damn. He flung his phone on the passenger seat. Timothy was out with Devin, so no help there. He was on his own. Tears of pain and frustration welled up in his eyes.

His nieces, dead or dying, and a baby. What did he know about babies? Assuming the baby lived, what was he supposed to do with a baby until Gregorio returned? More to the point, what if his brother wasn't able to come home any time soon. It had been more than a year. Enough time for people to forget Gregorio's past, wasn't it? Maybe he'd find Gregorio himself. Was he still in the States, or did he go back to Italy. They still had distant relatives there. What name would Gregorio use…hell. What did any of that matter? Gregorio had to come home, now.

Gemma!

No, wait. What was he thinking? Gemma couldn't help. She had her own ongoing issues to overcome. At her present stage of remission, his aunt wasn't strong enough to deal with a baby. Hell. Without Timothy there, just telling her about Nicole and Carolyn, regardless of their conditions, might cause a decline in Gemma's progress. No, he couldn't lay the care of an infant on his aunt.

Mick and Tag!

Hmm. They probably couldn't help with a baby, but they could contact MacGregor for him.

Ewyn pulled onto the hospital grounds, eased into the visitor parking out front and jumped from the car. He hauled ass toward the emergency room and reached the check-in desk just as several green-garmented hospital personnel barreled pass, wheeling a gurney headed toward the elevators.

"Wait!" Ewyn ran and caught up to the gurney, grabbing its side, impeding its progress. He froze when he glanced at the woman lying there.

"Sir! Stand aside. We have to get her to surgery."

With his hold hindering the trauma teams' forward momentum, Ewyn whispered, "Nicole?"

Severely injured and unconscious, the disfigured face had tubes and other paraphernalia protruding from its crevices. He assumed it was Nicole, and not Carolyn, because of the stray wisps of red hair peeking out from beneath the bandages covering her head. Nicole had the signature Kelley coloring, red hair and blue eyes, while Carolyn had the jet-black, Calderone hair and green eyes. For sure, it was Nicole.

"Sir!"

Ewyn flinched and staggered back. The hospital staff brushed by him at a trot, gurney wheels squeaking as they clattered over the elevator threshold. The doors closed in Ewyn's face.

"Sir…" Someone touched his arm. "Sir…"

He swung around.

"If you'll come with me, I'll explain--"

"I'm her uncle," he interrupted as the nurse steered him toward the waiting room. "Where's her sister?"

"Can I get you something?"

"Miss, uh…" Ewyn glanced at the woman's nametag. "Miss Johanssen. No platitudes, just give it to me straight."

"Sorry, Mister Calderone…"

"Kelley," Ewyn responded automatically.

"Oh, I thought…never mind." The nurse shook her head. "I am so sorry, but the younger girl was dead on arrival, and they don't hold out much hope for the other one." She looked down at the clipboard she held. "Nicole?"

"Yes." Ewyn inhaled deeply, staving off the sob caught in his throat. He couldn't fall apart, not now.

"Nicole is on a respirator. They're trying to keep her alive long enough to save her child. The baby is full term. Nicole was in labor at the time of the accident."

Ewyn turned away, tears blurring his vision. He walked to the wall of windows and stared blindly out into the darkness.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Ms. Johanssen told him. "I'll give you a few moments. Then I'll need you to fill out some forms."

Ewyn nodded. 

* * * *

The baby survived.

Imagine, his brother a grandfather. Of course, Gregorio had had plenty of parenting experience since their dad had died and he'd had to step into the role of father for Ewyn. In addition, with the help of his mother and aunt, Gregorio had raised his two girls. Cecilia had been useless, and now the girls were gone, their young lives cut short.

Ewyn had gone to make positive identification of his nieces and to fill out the necessary paperwork before heading to the nursery. Feet feeling like lead weights, he trudged up the stairway on his way to meet the newest member of his family. He reached the second floor and paused on the stairwell landing.

The remembered sight of Nicole and Carolyn, pale and lifeless, once familiar faces battered, swollen, and barely recognizable, the agony of loss clutched at his heart and a gut wrenching sob escaped his lips. He took a deep calming breath, swiped tears from his face, then yanked open the door and moved inside. The muted hallway lights made the glow from the nursery window seem like a beacon guiding his way. He strode silently across the carpeted floor, his pace slowing as he neared the large display window. He came to a complete stop in front of a bassinet with the name,
baby girl Calderone
on the attached placard.

Ewyn gazed through the glass partition at the miniature figure with her pert nose, little lips pursed and in motion, and a noticeable cleft in her chin. Bundled in a pink blanket, she lay on her back sleeping calmly, her tightly clenched fists resting on each side of a small round head covered by a pink knitted cap. He wondered what color her hair would be.

A jumble of emotions crowded his mind as he stared down at the tiny bundle. He didn't know a damn thing about babies, and God knows he didn't want to seem arrogant, but he thought she was the prettiest baby in the nursery. Full term, she weighed in at nine pounds four ounces, which wasn't unusual for a Calderone, since he had weighed nine pounds at birth and Gregorio had weighed nine pounds eight ounces.