Motown Breakdown (Motown Down #4) (48 page)

Razor came in and his eyes went straight to Sun’s. Yes, he cared for her but in a non-threatening way. And if it wasn’t for him, she’d be… Yes, I owed him much. I needed to accept him as a trusted friend and employee because that’s what he was. Not a threat, a friend. Who the hell was I kidding? Razor was family.

“How you feeling, slugger?” he asks taking her hand. I’ve known Razor for many years and knew he cared for only two people; his mother and his son. Perhaps I’d been too wrapped up in myself to see he also cared for me too. It was obvious he was over the moon for Sun and for that I was grateful.
I owed him an apology
…

“Just tired,” she says touching her neck again. “He drugged me, any idea with what?”

“Heroin,” he says low.

“My parents would be jealous they missed out on free drugs,” she says rolling her eyes. “I don’t feel blown anymore, what’d you give me?”

“The doc gave you something to fight it,” he says this knowing I couldn’t. “Even blown out you fought, Sun.”

“That’s the second time you’ve said my name,” she smiles knowingly.

“He’s dead,” he offers changing the subject but I caught his blush. Razor fucking blushed, Jesus… “Shade beat him to death, I just joined in at the end for fun snapping his neck.” A lie and he and I knew it. Razor delivered the death blow but I was grateful.

“I should have listened to you,” she says softly. “I should have told Shade like you said. I shouldn’t have been so stubborn. So I’m sorry to both of you,” she says looking up at me with pleading eyes. “For everything…”

“You didn’t put crazy into his head, he did that all on his own. That motherfucker wasn’t wired right and a good man doesn’t hurt a woman, Sun, not like that. The doc wants to check you out,” he motions to my body subtly. “You know, to see if there’s damage. You gonna let him, right?”

“Yes,” she whispers turning her head away in shame. Something I’d be putting an end to.

“Good,” he says leaning in to kiss her forehead.
Stow the rage, Shade
… Good God, this was going to take time and possibly sedatives.

“Tell me,” she urges. “I need the details. Please. So I can piece it together, cope, and move on. I have to know.”

He shared the details and I only had to step out into the hall twice during his recap. With knuckles that would be swelling soon, I step back in and watch as he gently wipes her tears away. “Thank you,” she says biting her lip. “I know that wasn’t easy for you.”

“Unlike you, I don’t get to lay in bed all day bossing him around. Some of us have to work.” he says and it was clear Razor was affected too.

Pulling him closer she wraps her arms around his neck and just before releasing him, kisses his cheek. “If I ask you for a favor, will you do it without questioning it?”

“For you, yeah.”

Smiling big, she asks for his phone and he hands it to her. For a moment her fingers fly over the keyboard before handing it back. At his puzzled look she shrugs and says, “Her name’s Jessica. She’s my sister and I love her.”

“And?”

“And you’re going to call her, drop my name right before asking her out.” When he looks ready to protest she holds her hand up. “You promised,” she tsks. “Plus, she’s all about the bad boy and you’ve got that going on. Jess hasn’t had it easy, that cop I killed was her husband who mistreated her. She needs a good man in her life and something tells me that man is you.”

Something close to excitement crossed his face.
No shit
… “Oh and she loves kids, she’s a social worker. I’ve got another story brewing so don’t let me down, Razor.”

“Jeremy,” he says softly. “Name‘s Jeremy.”

Moving away from her bed, he nods to me once before leaving. Coming to her bedside, she reaches for me and snuggles in ready to doze off. “Shade?”

“Yes?”

“Are you really my happily ever after?”

“I am,” I whisper. “Are you mine?”

“Duh,” she says kissing my chest. “Shade?”

“Yes?”

“Why
are you
wearing boxers?”

For the first time in a long time, I smiled and it was like feeling sun on your skin after living life in the shade. Once she fell fast asleep, I tucked her in and did two things after putting clothes on.

Okay fine, three things.

Only Shade would have his very own personal physician. Luckily, he was very gentle and good at his job. Even though I knew it would be difficult for Shade to stay in the room while he examined me, I wanted him with me so we could find out together. With him on a chair next to my head, he spoke softly, giving me kisses and reassurance. Answering the doctor’s questions as best as I could, he finished his exam and looked at me with genuine pride.

“You were not fully penetrated,” he says gently. “But, as you remember, he did assault you with his fingers and the bruises from that are already healing. As your doctor, I would advise you to seek counseling if you feel you need it. As well as avoid intercourse for the next couple of days at minimum. You need to allow your body time to mend because you’re still tender right now.”

“Yes sir,” I whisper trying to be strong.

“Sun?” he asks approaching. “Had you not fought, he would have succeeded. Not only did you save yourself further damage, you managed to do so under the pull of a powerful narcotic. Most women are not so lucky.” Then to Shade he says, “I presume he was
handled
?”

“Brutally,” he says fighting back his rage.
Huh, a doctor with a grey moral code. I really like him
…

“Shade introduced me to my wife,” he says with a smile. “Like you, she’s had her share of traumatic events. But also like you, she’s strong and has a man who will do anything for her. If you need me, I am but a call away.”

Nodding my thanks, I wait until he leaves the room before giving him a questioning look. “He wasn’t always a doctor,” he smiles. “And when he met Bethany, he fell hard personally slaying all of her demons. Let’s just say there was
a lot
of bloodshed.”

“She fell back right?”

“She did,” he smiles again. “I know that look, you’re plotting aren’t you?”

“Maybe?”

Then his face went from smiling to serious. Moving back into bed with me, I swear he almost looked nervous. Taking my wrist, he kisses the moon there and I melted on the spot.
I would never tire of this
… Rolling up his sleeve, he brings his wrist to mine and when I saw it, my breath caught.

A beautiful, brilliant sun was fresh and puffy on his skin. “It’s for me?” I ask stunned.

“Only you,” he says kissing me once. “I also may have taken advantage of your pliability while you slept.” It was hazy but I remember him speaking to me and my saying,
always
… “How so?”

“I married us,” he whispers unsure of my reaction.

“While I
slept
?”

“I couldn’t risk you saying no,” he reasons as only Shade can.
Bossy man
…

“I see,” I humph.

“You’re upset,” and when his face fell, I didn’t have it in me to torture him. Later, yes. Now, no.

“I won’t be upset
if
you do it again, while I’m awake to participate.”

Clearing his throat, he kept it simple and perfect. When it was my turn to repeat the words, I was proud I didn’t screw them up (much). When he says
always
, I repeat…
always
.

“We’re also going to start going to church,” he says out of nowhere.

“Uh,” I stumble. “Why?”

“I think I owe God for a lot of shit,” he shrugs then narrows his eyes. “You don’t want to go?”

“First, I don’t think you can say God and shit in the same sentence. Second, I don’t need to go to church to know he exists.”

“You don’t? Why?”

“I know he does because he sent me to you.”

“Jesus Christ,” he says awe struck.

“Amen,” I giggle.

I wasn’t a fortune teller but I was a pretty kick ass author and even I couldn’t have written this had I not lived it. If someone told me to get here, I’d have to endure my past again, I’d do it without complaint. Shade was worth any price.

For the next week while Sun healed, we did a lot of talking.

About her past and my own.

Now we’re in the kitchen having coffee and I told her I was walking away from this life, wanting to start fresh. I explained that she was my weakness and in return for the admission, she looked like she wanted to slap me. “Wrong,” she says hopping up on the counter. “There are women and men out there that need us. Plus, it’s who you are and who I fell in love with. I swear to you, if you take up golf and smoking cigars, I will kick your ass.”

“You want me to continue? Knowing I have enemies? That my enemies become yours?”

“So let
’s say you quit,” she rolls her eyes which was adorable. “Your enemies are going to throw their hands up and say oh well? Doubtful. Besides, we all have weaknesses. I want  this life with you. I also
need
more material, Shade.”

“I’m staying in the game to help you write books?”
Don’t fucking laugh
…

“My muse and I agree, it’s the least you can do.”

Coming to stand in between her legs, she drapes her forearms over my shoulders and smiles.
Wrapped around her finger…
“My wife needs her best seller, does she?”

“She already has it,” she smirks.

“She does?”

“You’ll see,” she quips. Then the little minx distracts me by kissing me senseless. Leaning her back on the granite, she moans pulling me closer with her legs. “Need you,” I moan grinding into her. The months without her had me ready to blow at a moment’s notice but fear of hurting her kept me in check.

“Uh oh, someone isn’t Mr. Pre-dick-table anymore,” says Luna snorting. Freezing in place, I do my best to shield Sun from her view but failed when she leaned around me and pinky waved.

“Hi bestie,” she smiles big, still not letting me go. “Oh and you too, Crews.”

“Hey Sun,” he mumbles clearly uncomfortable.

“Again with the timing,” I groan.

“You said and I quote, feel free to stop in and check on Sun.”

“I meant with a courtesy call to preempt the visit, Luna.”

“This is awkward,” Crews says staring at his feet.

“Let me up,” she says wiggling away. Righting her clothing, she hops down and heads straight for Luna who of course, started to cry. “Shh,” she says petting her.

“Shade said…” she tries and fails miserably. “You were h-hurt and – ”

“I’m okay, Meryl,” she insists looking at me for help and who the fuck is Meryl?

“Sun has news,” I inform her.

“News?” she quiets but doesn’t let go. “What news?”