Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
B ex threw her arms around Wilder and kissed him back. She’d never dared to kiss a guy in front of her family, but Wilder was different. She loved him. Not some superficial love, but a true, open, accepting love.
Until a ringing interrupted them.
Wilder pulled away reluctantly and dug his phone out of his pocket. “It’s LeeAnn. I have to take this.”
“And just who the hell is LeeAnn?” TJ demanded.
“Calm down. She’s his manager at the club in Charleston,” Bex answered for him as he took the call. “You do know that we will both answer phone calls from people of the opposite sex, right? Or maybe not. Then I won’t have to talk to you.”
“What happened?” he asked his manager. Bex saw his face fall. “How bad is it?” Wilder nodded even if LeeAnn couldn’t see it. “Yeah, I’ll be right there.”
“What is it?” Bex asked, worried it was another break-in.
“There was a car accident. The car came to a stop by hitting my building and it took out our electric panel. We don’t have any power and we don’t know how long it’ll be until it’s back up. I need to meet with our electrician and see what other damage was done to the club.” Wilder placed another kiss on Bex’s lips and then froze. “Wait. How did you all find Bex?”
“That’s easy,” Aunt Gia said. “I took a picture of your sister when she came to tell us Bex was safe and then had our receptionist find you two. She’s eighteen. It took her about five minutes.”
Bex felt her jaw drop. “Rina found us in five minutes?”
“That generation cyberstalks better than the FBI. Anytime she gets a snap, a tweet, or a swipe, she knows the guy’s entire family history and that of the girls he’s dated, made friends with the ex’s bestie, and found out all the dirt on both the guy, girl, and his aunt Theresa’s beef with her co-worker,” Aunt Gia told them all.
“If some eighteen-year-old found us that quickly, then Seabrook and the Kellys won’t be far behind,” Wilder said, clearly upset. Bex wasn’t. She was ready to end this. “You all stay with Bex at all times. I’ll get this handled and be back within two hours and we’ll come up with one of those plans Bex loves so much. Damon, call in the brothers too. We need everyone we can get.”
Bex shook her head. “Take someone with you too.”
“I’m not the one with the warrant out for me. I’ll be back before you know it.”
Wilder kissed her forehead. Then she watched him hurry from his house with the phone to his ear barking out orders. The door closed and the noise started again. Nothing loud, just the chatter of way too many people talking at once.
“You need to eat something,” her mother said, shoving pastries at her.
“Thanks, Ma.”
“He’s a keeper, Bexley. I hate this situation, but I’m so very glad it was that young man who was there for you when you needed someone the most.” There was a knock at the door and everyone suddenly had guns drawn.
“I’ll get it,” Damon told them, walking to the door. “Relax. It’s some of my family.”
“What’s the emergency?” Forrest asked, rushing in only to slide to a stop. “Are we being invaded by Nico’s family?”
“Nico? Who’s Nico?” Aunt Julia asked.
“No one!” Bex called out. “Forrest, this is my family.”
“Family?” Forrest looked around at everyone.
“Didn’t you see the video I sent?” Olivia asked.
“Sorry, Livvy, but I was in my workroom and didn’t look at it yet. I only came when Damon texted me with our code for an emergency.” Forrest then smiled. “And you’ve all met my brother?” The heads all nodded and Forrest just chuckled. “I can’t wait to hear about it.”
The door just opened this time and Pen strode in. She walked up to TJ and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m Penelope. I have to tell you how much I love your work.”
“Being a cop?” TJ asked.
“No, lead interrogator of my brother.”
“Pen,” Damon warned.
“Stop touching the soon-to-be in-laws,” Forrest snapped as the door opened and Rowan walked in.
“Ah, the emergency is a quickie wedding. Not that I’m surprised.” Rowan kissed Bex’s cheek. “Congratulations, sis.”
“Sister! We get a new sister?” Waverly called out as she, Natalie, and Maggie hurried in with Kane, Stone, and Hunter behind them.
“Did Wilder knock you up?” Hunter asked, and a growl rose up from the Moretti men. Hunter rolled his eyes at them. “I grew up with that one,” Hunter said, pointing his thumb at Damon. “You are kittens compared to him. So, I’m going to be an uncle?”
Bex put her fingers in her mouth and let out a sharp whistle as threats of castration mixed with women’s happy tears and baby name suggestions. “Wilder and I are not married and I’m not pregnant. We need to come up with a plan for . . .” A knock at the door had everyone freezing again. Bex did a quick headcount. “All Moretti and all Townsend are accounted for. Who could that be?”
They all watched in horror as the doorknob turned. Guns were drawn again. “Yoo-hoo, we brought two large breakfast casseroles after hearing Bex’s whole family was in town.”
“Relax,” Bex said with a sigh. “It’s Miss Winnie and Miss Ruby.”
“And the Langstons!” Lydia called out as kids pushed past the two seniors and ran into the house as if it were nothing to have so many people stuffed into what Bex had thought was a massive house. “Bex, I had to bring my husband for you to meet.” Bex looked to see a man carrying an infant who looked to be almost a year old in one arm and using a cane in the other. “Bex, this is my husband, Landry. He was in the Marine Raiders but was injured on a mission. Actually, Hunter saved him. Landry, this is Bex Moretti. She’s a detective for the NYPD!”
Bex shook his hand. He had a nice smile, but his serious eyes reminded her of Lacy when they were sword fighting. Bex made the introductions and soon kids, Townsends, and Moretti men were all roughhousing and playing as Miss Ruby, Miss Winnie, and Lydia had become instant besties with Bex’s mom and her aunts.
“I can’t believe you’re Stone Townsend,” Jimmy was saying for the hundredth time. Stone was surrounded by Moretti men, some who were absently tossing Langston children around, making them giggle and shriek.
“You’ve found a family here,” Bex’s mother said with a little tear in her eye. “I hate to admit that you could ever have a second family. But Bexley, you’ll be happy here and I’m happy for you.” Her mom suddenly shoved Bex out of the way as she looked out the window and crossed herself as if she needed God’s help. “I can’t believe it, but America’s Sweetheart is running up your steps.”
Bex hurried and opened the door right as Skye Jessamine Faulkner had a hand raised to knock. Bex was once again shoved out of the way as her mom shoved her hand out to touch Skye. “Oh my god. I can’t believe it. I mean, I’ve lived in New York my whole life. I’m used to rubbing elbows with famous people, but you’re my favorite actress.”
“Ma, you think you can let Skye and her husband, Trent, inside?”
“Holy crap,” PJ stuttered as Skye walked in. “Bex, do you know who that is?”
“Everyone, this is Skye and Trent. They’re neighbors,” Bex introduced.
“I would love to meet each of you,” Skye told them, slightly out of breath. “But while Trent and I were out for our morning run, we saw a man climbing the fence into the backyard.”
The excited chatter instantly stopped. Normally, it would be TJ or PJ to take over, but this time it was Bex. “Granger, lead Julia and Paulie’s kids out the apartment side. Hunter, take Gia and Frank’s kids up to the balcony off Wilder’s room. Damon, you take my brothers out the front and flank the intruder. Everyone else, grab a window and a weapon.”
“Dear lord,” her mother whispered. “Did those two little girls pull daggers from under their skirts?”
“They did, and they know how to use them.”
With a flick of his wrist, a knife came out of the end of Landry’s cane.
“What kind of town of this?” her mother sounded horrified.
“The best kind,” Maggie said, pulling a gun from her purse.
“You know how to use that, pretty lady?” Richie asked.
Hunter shook his head. “My wife will shoot your ball hair off as you run from the beating I’m giving you for questioning her ability.”
“Ask him how he knows I can make that shot,” Maggie said, loading the weapon.
“Richie, Maggie is a gold medal sharpshooter,” Bex explained.
“Gold medal of what? The flower club?” Richie chuckled at his own joke.
“The Olympics, you ass,” Bex said, slapping the side of Richie’s head.
“Oh, wow. I’m sorry. Talk about putting my foot in my mouth.”
“Again,” Maggie said with a grin, “ask my husband about that feeling. Come on, let’s go.”
Everyone split off just as a shriek rang out from the backyard. Everyone sprinted for the backdoors, giving up on the split and flank plan.
Bex shot out front with TJ, PJ, Granger, and Hunter ahead of the pack.
“What the hell?” PJ slid to a stop and everyone stared in horror. Even Aunt Julia didn’t correct his language as they watched the man with a hoodie covering his face racing toward them with an alligator the size of a stretch limo in hot pursuit.
“Told you Bubba eats bad guys,” Maggie said, raising her weapon and shooting it. The ground at the man’s feet exploded where the bullet hit it.
“Freeze!” Granger called out. “Shadows Landing Sheriff!”
The man skidded to a stop and his hood fell back.
“Captain Kilpatrick?” Bex gasped and the sounds of untold number of guns’ safeties were heard flicking off.
“Bex! Help me,” Sean Kilpatrick looked behind him as Bubba raced toward him, hissing.
“What are you doing here, Captain?” Bex asked, keeping the gun trained on him even as she kept one eye on the gator.
“I’m here to arrest you. There’s a warrant out for your arrest.” He glanced over his shoulder and paled. Bubba was now smiling and snapping as he got closer. “Let me inside!”
“Nah, I don’t think so.”
“You’re going to let me die?” Sean screamed.
“You’re a police officer?” Levi, one of the younger Langston kids asked.
“Yes, and you don’t hurt police officers,” Sean said, somewhat frantically.
“I didn’t know police officers were scaredy cats. That’s just Bubba.”
“Lacy! Film me!” Landry, Jr, the eldest of the Langston kids yelled as he jumped on Bubba’s back, sending Bubba racing toward the pool. Bubba’s tail flicked and slammed into Sean, sending him flying forward and landing on the ground as Landry Jr rode Bubba like a surfboard. That is until Bubba splashed into the pool and Landry Jr jumped off at the last second, landing on his feet with a big grin.
TJ and Granger were on Sean in a heartbeat. Cuffs were slapped on him and he was hauled up to his feet. “Kord, give Gator a call and tell him Bubba’s in Wilder’s pool again,” Granger ordered. Bubba surfaced from the water, opened his jaws, and attacked a float in the pool. “Now, let’s go inside where we all can have a little chat.”