About 5 minutes later it was time for everyone to get into positions. Duane Lee jumped out of Beth's car and slid into the back seat of Leland's truck. Leland came round and helped me climb out of the passenger side and then into the drivers seat before climbing into the back along side Duane Lee. My hands were shaking as I drove the last few miles to Carlos's house. "I don't know if I can do this guys. I'm so scared right now." I was starting to panic. I don't know why but I had a horrible feeling about this all.
"Just breath J. You'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to you. You just walk towards me and remember I'm right here waiting for you. I'm going to ring your phone and you leave it on OK? That way I can be there with you and I can come running if anything goes wrong." Leland's voice was soothing to me. I knew he would keep me safe. I may not trust have trusted him romantically right then but I did trust with completely to look after me. He would protect me with his life and so would Duane Lee if it came to it. I pulled up a few yards away from Carlos's house and pretended to jump out and check my back tire. I made sure to go to the one on the road so that it wouldn't be obvious that nothing was wrong when he came out.
I walked up to his front door and tapped lightly. Luckily he answered the door himself and Dog was right he liked what he saw. I was leaning against the railing of his porch with one leg bent up so my foot rested on the rail. "Oh thank god someone is home! Listen, my car has a flat and I cant get the jack thing to work. Can you help me please?" I smiled sweetly at him and hoped I looked helpless enough.
"No problem sweetness. You take your fine ass to your car and I'll follow your lead." He grabbed his keys and slammed his front door. I had to bite my lip to make sure I let his comments slide. I hate men who talk like that about someone they don't even know. "So where's your boyfriend? Girls like you always have a man!"
"Like me?" I looked back over my shoulder as I spoke to him and was furious to find his eyes were fixed on my ass.
"Yeah, sexy bitches like you. You tease us guys into thinking we have a chance and then you get all offended when we make a move. You're all just a bunch of tramps!" He was angry and that scared me. I hadn't done anything to make him this angry. This was a bad sign. I realized then that he must have been high. I felt stupid for not picking up on that before then.
"Hey listen man, I just need help with my car. I don't want to argue with you. Whatever your problem is it's not mine." I picked up the pace then. He was making me nervous and I didn't like it. I could feel his eyes burning through me.
"Fuck you, you fucking whore! Who the fuck do you think you are? You're just a slut who's shaking her ass to get what she wants. Do you think you're something special is that it? Well your not, you're just a bitch and your man should beat the shit out of you for teasing people like this!" He was ranting now and he was trying to catch up with me. I had had enough. My hands were shaking and I could feel tears burning my eyes.
"Leland, please help me. I'm scared." I tried to say the words as quietly as possible but Carlos still heard me. I started running and I ran straight into Leland's arms. He must have already been getting out of the car before I finished speaking. I was crying and I didn't understand why. He hadn't touched me or threatened me but I was terrified of him.
Duane Lee grabbed Carlos and threw him onto the floor. By the time Dog and Beth arrived Carlos was already in custody. Leland wrapped one arm around me and was running his other hand over my hair. "Shhhhh baby it's OK now. I'm here. He won't hurt you now I promise." He was whispering to me. I knew I shouldn't be letting him comfort me like that but right then I didn't care. I was an emotional wreck and I didn't understand why. I clung to him as if my life depended on it. I'm usually a tough person but that guys voice had been so cold and venomous. He had hated me so completely and without any justification. I knew in my head that it was the drugs that had made him like that but heart was still hung up on what would have happened if Leland and Duane Lee hadn't have been there. "Come on Baby Girl. We need to get going now. Duane Lee, you're driving my car." I laughed then and that scared me more. I was laughing because Leland never let anyone drive his precious Hummer except me so he must be worried about me.
"I'll be OK Leland. You don't have to let him drive just because of me." I was shivering so hard as I spoke that my teeth were chattering together. It was a gorgeous summer day in Hawaii so I knew I shouldn't be cold.
"Woman just do as you are told!" He walked me to his car. "Duane Lee grab her while I climb in and then pass her up." He made me sound like a fragile vase or an expensive ornament. He climbed up into the back seat and Duane Lee lifted me with ease up into his arms. He put the lap section of his seat belt over himself and then did the same for me before pulling me back into his arms. "Jaime, you're going into shock I think so you have to keep warm." He slid his hands under my vest so that he was touching my bare skin. Wherever he touched started to burn. "What a welcome back huh?"
I laughed at his joke. I could feel my shivering start to calm down as he stroked my skin. I still found it strange that he could have such an effect on me. "I don't know why he got to me so much Leland. You guys must think I'm such a baby right now. I'm sorry." Every time I breathed in my head was filled with a scent that is so uniquely Leland that I don't know how to describe it. He smells like the gym, our office, boxing gloves, baby powder, latex gloves, hand sanitizer, kids playing at the beach and dog's running in the forest all rolled into one. To me Leland smells like home.
"No we don't. Jaime, the guy sounded evil and we only heard him over the phone. He was chasing you and he looked like he was going to kill you if he caught you. You have nothing to be sorry for. You did amazing!" Duane Lee actually sounded proud. I couldn't figure out why but he thought I'd done well.
"Duane Lee I broke down like a little girl. I haven't wanted to let go of Leland since and I couldn't even look at the guy. I don't think I did amazing in the slightest so stop bloody patronizing me!" I snapped and Leland laughed. "What are you laughing at?"
"You. That reminded me of the first day I met you. 'That isn't my problem Mr Chapman and I would appreciate it if you could behave professionally from now on.'" He did a half decent impression of me and I was in hysterics laughing. I had forgotten exactly how rude we had been to each other that first day.
"I forgot how bossy you could be Jaime. I have missed you girl." Duane Lee said. I met his eyes in his rear view mirror and smiled. I was feeling better by then and sat up straight in my seat. I still had a death grip on Leland's hand but I felt calmer and more relaxed. I wasn't entirely sure if I was keeping hold of Leland because I was still scared or because it felt so good. I had been away from him for too long.
When we pulled up at the prison Leland wanted me to stay in the car while they booked in Carlos but I refused. I needed to face him because I didn't want to stay afraid of him. I climbed out of his truck and mentally reminded myself to convince him to buy a smaller truck. It was a nightmare climbing in and out of it especially in heels. Once I was down I headed straight over to Uncle and hugged him. He was blaming himself for me being upset and it wasn't him. Carlos was stood by the door for the prison.
"So dude, how does it feel now huh? Am I still a tease? Should my man still beat me?" He snarled at me and went to take a step forward but Duane Lee shoved him back against the wall. "Why don't you ask my man what he thinks? I bet you won't be so tough with him!" I dragged Leland forward and stepped aside so he could stand toe to toe with this guy. "Carlos, meet my boyfriend Leland. Judging by the look on your face I'm guessing you've heard of him."
"You are so fucking lucky that I've mellowed out recently otherwise you'd be in serious trouble right now you pathetic mother fucker!" I saw Leland's fists clench and I knew he was close to losing control. "You want to chase someone? Chase me bitch! I dare you to take a swing at me." Leland uncuffed the guy. "Hit me Brah. I fucking dare you to hit me. Are you a coward is that it? You'll only hit women?" Leland was furious and his eyes were burning amber because of his anger. I'd never seen him look more beautiful then he did right then.
Carlos didn't speak; he simply swung at Leland and clipped his jaw. Leland barely even moved from the blow but in a second he burst to life. He grabbed the guys neck with both of his hands and forced his face down to meet his knee. When Leland let go Carlos straightened instinctively and Leland started raining blows over his face and torso. Leland landed a spinning kick to the chest and Carlos hit the floor. Leland just stood over him and smirked. "What can I say? It was self defense." I took Leland's hand and moved him out of the way while Duane Lee and Dog picked the guy up off the floor and checked him over.
"Feel better now?" I asked as I checked his face. His jaw was red and it looked like it was starting to swell. I hadn't realized that Carlos had connected so cleanly. I was even more shocked then that Leland had barely moved when the blow landed.
"Do you? I know you set me up princess and I'm kind of proud. Weird huh? I'm impressed that you knew me well enough to know I wouldn't be able to resist beating the shit out that punk. I'm also happy that you trusted me to do that for you. You could have taken him yourself you know. You're one tough cookie." He smiled at me then and with his eyes still glowing amber he was too much for me to resist. I stretched up onto my tiptoes and kissed him softly. I pulled away before he could deepen the kiss but he didn't seem to mind. He didn't try to kiss me again either.
"I know I could have but I enjoy watching you fight. It reminds me of how careful you are with me when I see how tough you are out here." I smiled shyly at him and then turned to walk away. "I still need some time Lee but never isn't an option anymore. You turn me on way too much." I laughed as his mouth fell open. It reminded me of that first day all over again. I walked towards Duane Lee and slipped myself under his arm so that he was hugging me. I fitted in with these people so much easier than I did with my own family.
Later that night Baby Lyssa and Beth convinced me to go to a club with them and Duane Lee and Leland. Dog was babysitting with Baby Lyssa's husband Bo and they had all decided that I needed to let my hair down after today so I was tagging along. Beth and Lyssa dressed me since I didn't have any clothes with me. I ended up wearing a blood red mini dress which had a halter neck and wide skirt so the when I span around the skirt fanned out around me. It was a good job I was wearing red lace knickers and a matching bra. Beth loaned me a pair of 6 inch stiletto heels. They were the same color as the dress and wrapped around my legs to just below my knees. I wore my hair piled up on top of my head with some lose curls left out. I barely wore any make up except mascara and lip gloss.
When I walked out of Beth's bedroom Bo, Dog, Duane Lee and Leland were all staring at me while Beth and Baby Lyssa smiled. "You look amazing! Damn Jaime, I didn't know you had it in you. You're gorgeous!" Duane Lee walked towards me and took my hand. He kissed my fingers and then raised my hand above my head and forced me to turn around. "I most definitely approve."
"Bo close your mouth before I close it for you." Baby Lyssa teased as she crossed the room to kiss her husband goodbye. She was laughing because she trusted him completely and even she had to admit that Jaime looked absolutely stunning.
They all piled into Dog's Jaguar about 10 minutes later. Leland had tried to convince them to take his Hummer but all 3 girls had refused. Short skirts and huge cars don't go well together. Leland was driving with Jaime sat next to him and the other 3 piled into the back seat.