Page 50 of Silver Spoon Falls, Vol. I
THIRTY-FIVE
ZANE
I sit at my desk, making sure I have all my ducks in a row, and hold my phone against my shoulder to grumble.
“Your brother promised me he’d keep an eye on you until I get home,” I inform my little rebel.
“Hopefully, we can tie this up quickly and make it home tonight.” Jude and I are heading down to San Antonio to meet with Josie Broussard and her daughter.
The trip is necessary to get the proof we need to bury Jimmy Gatlin, but I can’t stomach the thought of spending the night away from Autumn.
Over the last week, she’s become as vital to me as oxygen.
When we returned to Silver Spoon Falls from our getaway, I convinced her to stay with me at my apartment.
I expected Playboy to threaten my life, but the asshole was shockingly supportive of our relationship.
He actually threatened to cut off my dick if I hurt his sister, but I consider it a win since I’m still breathing and have all my appendages.
“Please don’t give Playboy the slip and stress me out.
” Anymore, I add silently. Loving Autumn will definitely keep me on my toes for the next seventy or so years, but I’m not complaining.
Well, except for my genes. I’m complaining about the Montoya genes’ tendency to produce gray hair in the face of stress.
This morning, I stared in the mirror while shaving and found a goddamn gray hair.
A gray hair. I’m too fucking young to have gray hair, but the combination of keeping my girl in line and my genes is too much for my body to fight.
“You’re already giving me gray hair, little rebel. ”
“I noticed that hair near your temple last night.” My little troublemaker laughs while neglecting to promise that she won’t cause any trouble while I’m in San Antonio. “It’s very distinguished looking.” Autumn’s voice drops low. “And it really turns me on.”
“You just have to fuck with me.” I groan, picturing her impish smile. “You won’t sit down for a week if you give your brother the slip and stress me the fuck out,” I threaten, but we both know I’m blowing smoke. I would cut off my own arm before I hurt Autumn.
“I promise to be good if you come home quickly.” I finally draw in a full breath as the constriction around my chest eases.
“It’s a deal,” I tell her and see my boss waving at me from my office door then pointing down at his watch. “I have to go, little rebel, Jude is about to have a stroke. Be good.”
“I’m going to miss you.” Her voice quivers, causing my heart to drop. “Come back quickly.”
“I promise.” I hang up and follow my impatient boss out the door.
Jude drops his overnight bag in the back of my SUV. “You’re not going to need that,” I tell him, knowing I’ll do whatever it takes to wrap up this meeting quickly so we can return to Silver Spoon Falls tonight.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry, honey bunny.” Fuck a duck. I’m not even shocked. You can’t take a shit without everyone in town knowing about it.
“How did you find out?” I slam my door shut and start the vehicle.
“Playboy overheard Autumn call you that.” My boss’ annoying smirk causes me to grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. “He told Hacker, who told Cash, who then told the entire MC.” He shrugs unapologetically. “Welcome to Silver Spoon Falls, the home of no privacy.”
“Does anyone else know?” Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire town knows by now.
“Oh, I’m sure they do.” Jude laughs as I pull up at a stoplight. The light turns green, but I wait until he takes a sip of his coffee before stepping on the gas. “Fucker,” my boss sputters as the hot liquid drips down his chest.
“Oops.” My reaction might be considered childish, but I don’t regret it. Good God. A thought suddenly occurs to me. My little rebel is rubbing off on me.
“Oops, my fucking ass,” Jude growls and dabs at the stain with a napkin. “You owe me a new goddamn shirt.”
“Bill me.” Buying this fucker a new dress shirt will be a small price to pay for the enjoyment I received.
“Don’t you worry. I plan to,” Jude tells me before grumbling under his breath. “You’re lucky you’re a brilliant lawyer or I’d have you back taking care of traffic tickets with the new hires.” We both know that won’t be happening.
We spend the rest of the nearly four-hour drive going over our strategy. Jack’s report gave us quite a bit of insight into the Broussard women. Josie’s husband died when her daughter, Lynn, was two years old. Josie worked three jobs at a time to support them without family support.
When Lynn was sixteen, Josie took a job working as a maid for Jimmy Gatlin and his wife.
A year later, Josie abruptly quit her job and moved several hours away after filing a police report claiming Jimmy had made sexual advances to her underaged daughter.
Four months later, Josie dropped the charges.
Within hours, her bank account mysteriously increased by six figures, and Jimmy Gatlin created a college fund to benefit Lynn Broussard.
Jack couldn’t find the actual agreement, but there’s no doubt the dickhead paid them off.
Now, I need to convince Josie and Lynn to confirm it.
Then I’ll hang that motherfucker by the balls and move onto the very important task of knocking my girl up.
We pull up outside the modest ranch house on the outskirts of San Antonio just before lunch time. It’s easy to see that the woman who opens the door has had a hard life. According to our report, Josie Broussard is forty-one, but she appears to be at least ten years older. “Ms. Broussard?” I ask.
“Yes,” she confirms as I hold out my hand to her.
“I’m Zane Montoya,” I tell her and shake her hand before pointing to Jude. “And this is Jude Despora.”
“Please, come in.” She steps back to let us follow her in. “Would you gentlemen like a drink?”
We both shake our heads no and follow her into the living room. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us.” I’ve practiced this fucking speech a thousand times. “We really need your help.”
“Before you get started,” she interrupts me, “your investigator told me a little about why you men are here, and I don’t want to waste your time. I don’t think I have any information to help you.” Fear flashes through her eyes, telling me she needs reassurance.
“Please, let me explain the situation to you.” I’m not giving up.
I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my little rebel.
Josie Broussard listens intently as I describe what the asshole is doing to Autumn.
“The success of his lawsuit depends on his lawyer proving that my girl damaged his reputation using false information. We believe you can shed light on Jimmy Gatlin’s true nature and show a pattern of inappropriate behavior with young girls. ”
“I can’t help you,” the frightened woman insists, but I’m not ready to give up.
“What can we do to reassure you that you and your daughter won’t be harmed by helping us?
” Jude steps in as my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I attempt to ignore it, but whoever’s trying to reach me is persistent.
The third time it vibrates, I pull it out and discreetly glance at the screen.
I see two missed calls and a text from Jack.
I click on the text and read it.
Big news. I need to talk to you now. Urgent.
“Excuse me,” I tell Ms. Broussard as I give Jude a look to convey that this is important. “This is urgent.”
I step out into the hallway and dial Jack’s number. “What news?”
“Jimmy Gatlin’s twenty-three-year-old step-daughter just made a police report claiming that he’s been having inappropriate relations with her for several years.
Evidently, a few of her friends also have stories to share.
The dumbass actually sent inappropriate texts to a judge’s daughter.
” The rat bastard. Disgust roars through me at the thought of this dickhead preying on other girls.
“He isn’t going to weasel his way out of this one. ”
“Thanks for letting me know.” I tell him as all the implications roar through me. This is much bigger than just my girl. “Can you email me the full report?”
“It’s already on the way to you.”
“Thanks.” I hang up and rub the back of my neck as my mind whirls.
I walk back into the living room and interrupt Jude. “Ms. Broussard, there’s something you need to know.”
I explain the new turn of events to Josie Broussard and Jude.
She doesn’t appear to be shocked at all that the bastard had more victims. After thanking her for her time, we leave to head home.
Tomorrow morning, Jude is going to file an emergency request to have the suit put on hold until the criminal proceedings against Jimmy Gatlin are adjudicated since they have a direct bearing on the defamation suit.
It’s the longest fucking drive home, but I want to discuss the situation with my little rebel in person. My soft-hearted troublemaker isn't going to be happy that there are more victims.
After I drop Jude off at the office, I race home. It’s after ten o’clock when I finally unlock my apartment door, and I breathe a sigh of relief when I find the alarm activated and my little rebel sound asleep on the sofa.
I kneel next to the sofa and lean over to place a light kiss on her soft cheek. “Little rebel, I’m home.”
Autumn’s cocoa-colored eyes blink open sleepily as she smiles. “You made it back. How did it go?”
“We can talk about it tomorrow.” She’s clearly exhausted, and I don’t want to do this when she isn’t fully awake. “Let’s go to bed.”
I lift Autumn against my body and carry her back to the bedroom. “I missed you.” I run my nose along the sensitive skin below her ear as I lay her on the bed.
“Show me how much,” Autumn tells me as she reaches over to run her soft hand over my rapidly expanding cock.
“You’re tired.” I lock my knees to remain standing as she unzips my pants and slips her soft hand inside. She runs her thumb lightly over the tip to gather the wetness before spreading it around.
“I’m never that tired.” My little rebel glances up and smiles. “I missed you.”
“Fuck.” I should let my little rebel rest, but I don’t have the ability to resist her.
She has an unbelievable hold on me, and I can’t resist the invitation shining in her eyes. Stepping back, I tear away my clothes while Autumn pushes her light pink sleep shorts down her silky legs.
“Keep going,” I demand and watch as she pulls her t-shirt off and tosses it away. Autumn stares into my eyes and reaches down to pinch one rosy nipple between her thumb and forefinger.
“I need you,” she whimpers and slides her other hand around my cock. “Like, now.” I give my head a shake to clear the cobwebs and crawl over her luscious body.
“Then have me.” I roll over and wait to see her reaction. Autumn doesn’t disappoint. She reaches over and slides her soft hand up my cock while closing her soft lips around one of my nipples. When she nibbles it with her sharp teeth, I almost come in her hand.
“I want to ride you.” She constantly surprises me with her eagerness to run the show.
“Giddy-up,” I groan as she lines my cock up with her wet opening.
I reach up and tweak her nipples while she sinks down, enveloping my erection.
She leans back to rotate her hips, and I almost embarrass myself and come.
I take a deep breath and breathe through the pleasure bombarding me from all sides.
Once I have my cock under control, I wrap my hands around her curvy hips and use my hold to pull her down to meet my rapid thrusts.
The bed groans under us as I lose myself in her sweet pussy. “I love you,” she groans, throwing her long straight hair over her shoulder. “I just thought you should know.”
I pause my thrusts and look up into her shining eyes. “You fucking amaze me,” I groan. “I don’t know what to call what I feel for you, but it’s way the hell more than just love. You own my heart and soul.”
Autumn’s bottom lip wobbles as her eyes fill with tears.
“I had no idea what love was until I met you.” Her inner muscles clench around my cock.
“I'm terrified I'm going to mess this all up and ruin us, but I have no idea how to live without you.
So, I'm not fighting it anymore, Zane. I'd rather be scared with you than live a lifetime without you.
" She’s my miracle. Autumn lifts up slightly before sliding back down on my cock.
My little rebel proceeds to blow my mind as she brings me to heaven.
Her nails dig into my chest as her silky walls clench around my cock, dragging my orgasm from me. I throw back my head and shout her name while fireworks explode behind my closed eyelids.
“Holy cow.” Autumn drops across my chest and places a kiss on my chin. “I’m wide awake now.”
After our breathing and heart rates return to normal, I sit back against the headboard and explain the day's events. Just as I’d suspected, my girl is torn.
While she’s happy the jackass has no hope of winning the lawsuit, Autumn hates the idea of him victimizing other girls.
“He got away with all this because I stayed quiet.” Tears roll down my little rebel’s cheeks, and I shush her before leaning over to kiss away the tears.
“You were a child, and you depended on your dad to protect you.” This absolutely isn’t my girl’s fault, and I’m determined to convince her that she shouldn’t feel guilty.
“Your dad was more concerned with stealing from his former partner than taking care of his daughter.” If the bastard wasn’t already dead, I’d take great pleasure in killing him.
In the most painful way possible. I take some comfort in the fact that I’m sure the motherfucker is currently the devil’s butt boy.
“I love you.” Autumn snuggles against my side. “But I really feel like I could’ve done more.” As she falls asleep, my mind fills with ideas. I spend the rest of the night running the ideas through my mind, wondering if I can pull it off.
The shit hits the fan the next day, and I’m forced to put my plans on the back burner until we get the asshole situation under control. When Jimmy Gatlin’s lawyer quits, Judge Hamilton dismisses the entire civil suit, anticipating the idiot going to jail for a long fucking time.