Page 16 of Stolen Moments with a Bad Boy

Fourteen

E rie

Three months after my attempted assassination, I still had a hard time processing that my own brother wanted me dead.

The man was so serious that he’d made a couple of attempts.

He even hired my own man to take me out.

Troy Jr. was as delusional as they came.

Since he was still a free man, I feared when the next attack would be.

Ro continued to reassure me, but I didn’t fully believe it because something told me that Troy wouldn’t stop until I was dead.

What Troy didn’t know was that I had a real rider by my side.

He could continue with his attempts, but Ro was going to handle business every time. My baby didn’t play about his Bella.

I’d recovered quite well. There was still some soreness in my shoulder. The thin scar on my head was close to being invisible. The healing process was slow, but nonetheless, I was good. I was grateful for my fighting spirit and a very caring lover.

Today was a special day for Ro and me. I was in my office and worked diligently to tackle everything that I needed to do before I was forced by Janeiro and Londen to go on maternity leave. The last task on the list was my proposal for Raquel, my lounge bartender. There was a knock on the door.

“Come in!” I shouted.

Raquel popped her head in.

“What’s up, boss lady? You wanted to see me?” she asked skeptically.

“Yes. Come on in and have a seat.”

“Is everything okay?” she quizzed, taking a seat in the opposite chair of me.

“Relax, Raquel. You’re good, boo. Remember some months ago, I told you I had a proposal for you?”

“Oh, yeah. It slipped my mind. My bad, boss lady.”

“No problem at all. The proposal I wanted to run by you was us working together to start our own line of fruity alcoholic drinks.”

“Yoo! That’s a dope ass idea! I’m down seriously!” she replied eagerly.

I smiled genuinely.

“Yass, boo! Let’s get this schmoney!” I animatedly rubbed my fingertips together, making the universal money gesture. “Okay, do you have time to talk?”

“Yes, I do. I got nothing but time right now. Thank you for this opportunity, and I won’t disappoint you. I honestly thought you gassed me up, but now I see you meant every word.”

“You damn skippy. I don’t fake it for nobody, boo. Now, here’s the contract I had drafted for our business. This is an equal partnership. I want you to find your own lawyer and have him look this over. If you can’t afford one, I will cut you a check to pay for one,” I stated.

“No need, boss lady. My uncle is a lawyer, so I get a family discount. Thank you for the offer. We about to take over, girl!”

“You ain’t saying shit but the truth. Now, go celebrate but pay attention to the deadline for the contract. I want to make sure we get the ball rolling soon.”

“Oh, no doubt. I’m on top of it.” Raquel stood to leave when there was a knock on the door.

“Come in!” I yelled.

Dawn stepped into my office, and immediately, the atmosphere changed. Raquel and Dawn stared at each other with lust filled eyes. Raquel’s tongue snaked out of her mouth and ran across her upper lip with skilled precision.

I cleared my throat. “Hey, Dawn!”

“Hey, Erie,” she spoke, not taking her eyes away from Raquel.

I looked between both of them. The sexual energy that filled the air was thick enough to choke on. Their pheromones seasoned the sexual tension with their own fragrance, lust number nine.

“I'm sorry to interrupt, but there are a few more things I need to handle,” I remarked. It was my way of trying to break them from their reverie of each other.

“My bad, boss lady. I just need a moment to get to know this beautiful woman standing in front of me. What’s your name, sweetheart?” Raquel inquired.

“I know you just heard Erie say my name,” Dawn sassed.

“I did, but I’m asking you. Now what’s your name?” Raquel repeated, swaggering in front of Dawn.

“My name is Dawn, and you are?”

Raquel licked her lips sexily. “My name is Raquel, but the most important people in my life call me Toy. I’m hoping you can be one of those people.”

She picked up Dawn’s hand and placed a gentle kiss on top of it.

“We shall see, sexy.”

They exchanged information, and Raquel walked out my office.

“Hey, Erie, again. I’m ready to set up your new surveillance cameras.”

“Yes, boo. I’m ready. Do you need me to show you around again?”

“No, babes. I’m good. It’s my job to remember things like this. You can do your work while I set up and go from there.”

“Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”

My fingers worked the keys of my laptop while I came up with ideas for the baby nurseries. After some much-needed online shopping, time went by. Before I knew it, Dawn tapped me on my shoulder.

“I’m all done.”

“Already, love?” I quizzed.

“Yes, ma’am. What I installed for you are state-of-the-art surveillance cameras. They’re tiny and waterproof. These little devils are so good that even if the power is tripped, they still work because of the engineering behind them.

“If there is an emergency of any kind, they automatically alert the police. You also have a new security system that’s mobile. You’ll have access to your security footage and everything else, no matter if you’re in or out of the country,” Dawn explained.

“Wow! This is absolutely amazing! Thank you so much, Dawn. How much do I owe you?”

“Don’t insult me, girl. You’ve paid me enough by breathing life back into my boss.

Doing this is just a simple thank you, but if you must know, Janeiro already covered the expenses.

Now, I need to get going, and so do you if you plan on making your flight to you guys’ babymoon on time. ” Dawn wiggled her eyebrows.

“You are absolutely correct. I’ll walk out with you before Janeiro picks me up and carries me out caveman style.”

We laughed together.

“You have a point there.”

We gathered our things and made our way to the dining hall of my café.

I walked over to Londen and gave her a big hug. “Are you sure you can handle this for a week? It’s okay to want to change your mind.”

“Girl, if you don’t get gone and enjoy this time with your man. One day soon, I’ll be doing the same, and I won’t think twice about it,” Londen revealed.

“I know you won’t. You and my dad are obsessed with each other.” I playfully pretended to frown.

“Girl, hush. Everyone knows you’re a creep about Janeiro. You’re always invading his personal space in any capacity and don’t feel bad about it. Only if he knew relationships aren’t supposed to be that weird. Am I lying, Dawn?” Londen chortled.

Dawn held up her hands in a surrender pose and chuckled.

“Whatever. Ro loves my weirdness. He’s equally obsessed with me as I am about him. Nah, hater.” We all laughed.

“If you say so. That poor man just goes along with whatever you say to make you happy, Erie,” Londen expressed, bumping my hip playfully with hers.

“I think so too, Londen. But it feels so damn good to have someone love you unconditionally without any hidden motives,” I admitted.

“Janeiro is enamored with you. Like Troy Sr. loves the heck out of me. I don’t know what we did to get blessed with two loving men, but I’ll tell you one thing . . . I ain’t letting mines go, and neither should you.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“You damn right about that. Alright, sis. I'm heading out. Call me if you need anything. I also left Janeiro’s info in my office. Dawn is across the street keeping eyes on things from a distance.”

“No problem, boo. Enjoy your babymoon, and try not to smother Janeiro too much,” she teased.

“Whatever, big head. I’m gone. Love you.”

“I love you too. Dawn, tell Janeiro to take care of my baby, or it’s going to be some problems,” Londen joked.

“You already know he’s on the job,” Dawn responded.

Londen and I hugged, and we stepped outside to see Janeiro leaned against his truck. Damn, this man was so damn scrumptious. His blue eyes paired well with the cerulean polo he wore. His ankle length, dark brown pants balanced the cherry-brown loafers he sported. My man knew how to dress.

I turned to Dawn. “Thank you for everything, love. I’ll see you in a week.” I hugged her tightly.

“You’re welcome, boo. You’re family now.”

She hugged me back equally as tight. She and Janeiro gave each other a nod as she strolled across the street. He greeted me with a breathtaking kiss before he grabbed my travel bag and purse and placed them in the back seat.

“My love, your chariot awaits,” he professed in that beautiful Italian accent of his. Janeiro opened the car door and helped me inside.

My stomach grew bigger by the minute. Carrying triplets was no easy task at all. I bumped into objects a few times a day. Once I was all the way in, he closed the door and jogged around to the driver’s side.

“So, you’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?” I queried, snuggling under my favorite travel blanket.

“Erie, you are too spoiled,” he teased me. “I’m still not telling you until we make it there.”

Janeiro tapped my nose and drove off.

Roughly a half hour later, we pulled up to his family’s private airstrip. A very tall and muscular man walked up to the car. His bald head shined, and his menacing demeanor made me uneasy.

Janeiro got out and greeted him. They walked around to my side, and the man grinned at me. Wow, he had a beautiful smile. Now, he looked sweet as pie. His grin reached his eyes, and I knew he was a genuine person. Gigi taught me what to look for with untrustworthy people.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t see the evil that brewed in my own brother. That was how life went, though. We as people were always blind to our own shit. Janeiro helped me out of his car.

“Navy, this is my life partner, Erie. Erie this is Navy, my family’s most trusted guard since I was a boy.”

“Nice to meet you, Erie. You have to be the world’s most hidden treasure to get this guy to soften up,” Navy teased.

“It wasn’t on purpose. I accepted Ro for who he was. All that time and attention I gave him has ended up with me in this pickle. Now, I’m carrying all three of his most treasured pieces,” I cooed.

Navy’s eyes widened in shock. His voice trembled.

“Triplets? There’s triplets in there?” he probed again for reassurance.

Janeiro and I laughed.

“Yes, triplets,” I responded. “Don’t worry. That was everyone’s initial reaction at first. That includes us, too, because we most definitely didn’t see it coming.”

We chuckled together again as Navy wiped down his face, still in utter shock.

“Wow, this is truly a blessing. Congratulations to you both! Erie, welcome to the family, dear. Janeiro, you guide her safely to the plane, and I’ll bring in the bags,” he instructed.

Janeiro nodded. He took his time and helped me up the stairs and led me to our seats.

“Wow, Ro! This plane is absolutely stunning!” I noted in awe.

The warm vanilla and brown colors splashed together and made me feel welcomed. Janeiro sat right across from me. This was his way of being able to see me at all times, never giving anyone the opportunity to harm me in any way.

“I’m glad you like it, Bella. There will be plenty more flights in our future,” he asserted.

I released a girlish giggle. “I can’t wait either.”

Ten minutes later, Navy walked back over to us. “We’re about to take off. Can I get you guys anything beforehand?”

“I’m okay for now,” I replied.

“I’m good as well,” Janeiro responded.

“Alright. We’re taking off now. Buckle up.”

He walked away, and the airplane rolled to gain momentum. Minutes later, the airplane soared through the pillow-soft clouds. I sat back and closed my eyes. The babies made me so tired. I opened my weary eyes when I felt someone touch me.

“Come with me, baby.”

Janeiro removed my seat belt and led me through a curtain covered room. There was a queen-size bed with a beautiful comforter set and pillows. Some very relaxing looking chairs with ottomans were present as well. There was a mini fridge and stacked snacks all around. This was my kind of place.

Janeiro helped me to the bed. “I would’ve brought you back here sooner had I remembered it was here. I rarely use this room. Navy reminded me. I wanted you to relax and be as comfortable as you can. I know it’s not easy carrying one baby, let alone three, but I want you to know how grateful I am.”

“Aww. Thank you, Ro, baby. You are the absolute sweetest. Will you join me? You know I get my best sleep when you’re around.”

“You don’t even have to ask,” he retorted.

We climbed into bed together. I was so blessed to have Ro. I was so grateful that God saw fit to save him just for me. Janeiro was my forever. I snuggled deeper into his chest before I slipped into a peaceful slumber with my love.