18. Declan
Chapter 18
Declan
L ast night was amazing with Riley. I don’t think we can call what happened yesterday our first fight, but we made up like it was. Making love to her is my new favorite activity and if I didn’t have to spend all day in court today, I would have called in sick to do just that.
“What’s on your schedule today?” I ask Riley as she lies on my chest.
“I’ve got an office to set up, the landlord has basic office furniture so I don’t need that but I do need office equipment, supplies, a sign for the door and yesterday, I got an email from someone looking to host a fiftieth birthday party at the club, so I need to call them. Not to mention, tonight I have some very important clients that want to host a Labor Day party on very short notice, so I need to work on that presentation. Lots to do.”
“You know, you could just tell that very important client that waited until the last minute to go suck an egg. I have it on good authority that they would be fine with that.”
She laughs, “I’d never do that.”
“Mommy! Declan!” Nicholas comes running into the master bedroom and lands in the middle of the bed. Once again, we’re both naked under the sheets.
Riley grabs him and tickles him. “How did you find me, you little stinker?”
Giggling, “Uncle River told me.”
Wait. What? “What do you mean, Nickels? When did you talk to Uncle River?” I ask him.
He shrugs, “I talk to him all the time. He’s been sad because Mommy has been so sad and lonely, but he’s happier now.” He’s lying on the pillows between our heads just staring off at the ceiling.
I look over at Riley and she just shrugs. “He’s said something about it the other night to me, but he was falling asleep. I just assumed it was just his normal jibber jabber.” She looks at her son, “Nickels, why is Uncle River happy now?”
“Because we’re here with Declan and Bella now.” He turns to me. “Can I have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast?”
“Sure. We need to feed Bella first, though.” I tell him.
“Okay!” Nicholas wiggles out of our bed and goes in search of Bella, screaming her name.
"What do you have today, Mr. Hayes?” Riley turns back towards me and lies on my chest again.
“Court. I’ve got court all day long. If you need me, you’ll need to leave a message. The judge is pretty touchy over cell phones in his courtroom. Even if they are on vibrate.”
“No worries. I’ll be in my new office all day.” She smiles proudly and my heart grows three times bigger. No one deserves to be happy more than Riley does. I’m so proud of her for all that she’s been through, raising a fantastic little boy all by herself, and accomplishing her dreams.
Pulling her closer to me, I give her a kiss. “Last night was amazing.”
She smiles, “Yes, it was… maybe we can do it again.” Her hand slowly meanders across my abs and then south. Just as she’s about to feel my hard cock, we get interrupted and her hand disappears quickly.
“Bella’s got food. Can I have my pancakes now?” Nicholas asks from the bedroom door.
“I’m coming right now. I’ll meet you in the kitchen,” I tell him because I need him to leave so I can get out of bed. Don’t need to frighten the child.
“You stay here. I’ve got him,” I tell Riley.
She stretches out and smirks up at me, “I think I’ll do just that. Thank you.”
“And we’ll continue that thing you were just doing tonight.” I wiggle my eyebrows as I climb out of bed.
“Promises, promises,” she laughs.
“I keep my promises, baby.” I kiss her quickly before we’re interrupted again.
I shower and change quickly into my uniform so I’m ready for court and then I’m off in search of a little boy and his dog to make breakfast. This is domestication at its finest and I’m loving every second of it.
As I pull into the parking garage at the courthouse, I see Jax and Eli standing next to their vehicles. “Hey,” I call out to them as we all make our way into the elevator.
“I hate days like today,” Jax complains.
“Really? I love ‘em. Today’s the day I get to see the look on these assholes’ faces when they realize I was undercover the entire time. Love watching the cocky motherfuckers go pale when they see me walk in all clean-shaven,” Eli feels his beardless face and chin, “standing in my uniform swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothin’ but the truth. So. Help. Me. God.” He slaps his hands at each word.
Jax laughs, “I never thought of it like that. Makes all those months we were undercover worth it.” He stands up taller as we exit the elevator and bypass the metal detectors in search of our courtroom.
Eli turns to me, “Why do you have such a goofy grin on your face? You get laid or something?”
“He’s got a girl,” Jax answers for me.
“No shit. Is it Riley?” Eli asks me.
I nod with the memory of her on my chest this morning, “Yes, it is. Riley Ashford.”
Eli looks at Jax, “By the looks of it, that won’t be her last name for much longer, huh?” They both laugh at me, but I don’t care. It’s not the first time I’ve thought about it and if I have my way, they’re right. She’ll be Riley Hayes and maybe even Nicholas Hayes. I may be jumping the gun a little there, but I can dream.
“Gentlemen. The judge is ready for you.” The courthouse lieutenant states as he opens the door to the courtroom.
Eli smiles big, “Showtime!”
As soon as the three of us enter the courtroom, chaos erupts as the two defendants realize who we are, recognition all over their faces, and they stand up and start screaming that it was all a set up. One of them, the guy with the beard down to his bellybutton, tosses the table they were sitting at and their lawyers’ briefcases, water bottles, and laptops go flying.
All three of us go into protection mode as I cover the judge, Eli covers the prosecutors, and Jax rushes the jury out of the room as the bailiffs grab both defendants. One of them is tackled to the floor as they both are put in handcuffs. We’re here to testify against these drug smugglers and if any of us touch them now, it could blow the case.
Once everyone is calmed down, the defendants are taken out of the courtroom and put in a holding cell in the back of the courthouse until they can control their outbursts, while in the meantime, the courtroom is put back together again.
“Ready to try this again?” The courthouse lieutenant asks us as we’re standing outside of the courtroom.
“Yep. Let’s do this.” Eli leads the way into the courtroom where we find both defendants, shackles and handcuffs in place sitting next to their lawyers – three bailiffs behind them at the ready in case they decide to blow up again.
“Here we go,” Jax says as we take our seats, and the trial begins.
Because of the delay in starting thanks to the two asshat defendants, the judge wanted to get through at least opening statements which took way too long, before breaking for lunch. My stomach was protesting – loudly.
After we exit the courtroom, Jax and I follow Eli to the in-house station inside the courthouse to sign out. “Where do you guys want to eat?” I ask.
“I hear the bistro down the street has great paninis,” Eli says.
“Sounds good. Lead the way.” Jax says as we walk out of the building and down the narrow walkway between two buildings.
I turn on my phone and it immediately starts alerting to a text message. Then another. Then another.
“Damn. You must be doing something right, Declan. She’s demanding,” Eli teases me.
I smile proudly, “What can I say, fellas. I’m that good.” I pull out my phone to read the texts secretly hoping she’s sexting me.
Riley: Call me.
Riley: Declan, call me as soon as you can.
Riley: I need you to call me ASAP!!!!
Riley: WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU? CALL ME!!!
I see a notification on my phone, and it shows that Riley’s called my phone twenty-four times in the last three hours that I’ve been in court. Something’s wrong, obviously. This isn’t sexting.
I click on her picture to call her.
“Declan! Tell me you have Nicholas,” she answers on the first ring.
I can hear the desperation in her voice. “What? No. What’s going on, Riley? What’s happened?”
“OH, MY GOD!” she screams and I have to pull the phone away from my ear. Both Jax and Eli look at me as all three of us turn around and start running to the parking garage to get our vehicles.
“Riley, baby, tell me what’s happening.” I’m using my cop voice that I’ve been trained to use in stressful situations. Right now, that’s what she needs, even though I have no clue what the fuck is going on.
“He’s got him. Oh, my god. He’s got my baby!”
We make it to the parking garage, “Get in. I’ll drive.” Jax says to me.
“I’m on your six.” Eli says as he jumps into his undercover vehicle.
“Where are you, Riley? Tell me where you are baby. I’m on my way.”
She’s crying, “I’m at home.”
“Are the doors locked?” I ask her and then look at Jax and mouth ‘home’ and he nods and starts navigating through the streets with lights and sirens on.
“Um, I don’t know!” Riley says into the phone. “I want my baby!”
“Riley, I need you to listen to me carefully. We’ll find him but right now I need you to lock all the doors, grab Bella and pull out one of the guns and go sit in my bedroom. Can you do that for me?”
I hear the beeping sound of the electronic lock of a gun locker, but she must have put in the wrong code because it’s now buzzing. “Baby, one number at a time. 34953.” I hear her enter the numbers and I can hear it unlock. “You’re doing great. Grab Bella and go into my room, close and lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone. I’m almost there.”
“Bella – come.” Riley says. “Okay, we’re in your closet.” Her breath is ragged. “Declan.” She sounds so small and lost.
“Yes, baby? I’m here. I’m not hanging up on you.”
“He’s got our boy.” My heart breaks into a million pieces.
“We’ll get him back. I promise.”