Body Heart Soul (Blind Vows #2) Read online

  “You should hate me, hate what I did. I was so worried things would be different between us. Your body speaks to my heart, my soul, like no other.”

  “I never said I didn’t hate what you did. While I understood, it nearly destroyed me when I couldn’t find you.” She sobbed some more, clutching to my side. Trying to lighten the mood I joked, “I just think you’re hormonal.” She punched me in the gut as I groaned, “Ow! Guess I deserved that.”

  “I’m not hormonal, not on purpose anyway. And it’s your fault. You did this to me!”

  “Um, I wasn’t there alone, Des.”

  Sighing, she pinched my nipple saying, “You’re infuriating.”

  “You love it.” I lifted her face to mine and kissed her nose. “I love you Des Kerrigan. Nothing can change that.”

  “Say it again.”

  “What, nothing can change that?”

  Grinning, “No, the name part.”

  “Hmm, like that name do you? I like it too. It lets everyone know that you belong to me. Desiree Kerrigan.”

  “Even without your name, everyone knows I belong to you. I love you, Odysseus Kerrigan.”

  “You’re sure I didn’t hurt you, or the babies?”

  She let out a full belly laugh as she inquired, “Didn’t get that far in the book did you? You’re not that big O.”

  “Hey!”

  Squeezing my cock her sultry voice consumed me, “But if you were any bigger we’d definitely have a problem.”

  A couple hours later we emerged from the bedroom and found Will nose first in a book. One of the twin books. Shit! I tried snatching it from him, but he was quicker than me. He tilted his head at me and then at Des and his eyes traveled to her stomach.

  “Are you, I mean... Twins?”

  I scrubbed my hands over my face and looked to Des. She walked to my side and curled into me, confirming, “Yes. It’s twins.”

  “H-O-L-Y S-H-I-T!” He exaggerated every syllable as he said it. Setting the book down, he asked, “Have you told mom and dad?”

  “No. And you’ll keep hush about it. We’re planning to tell everyone, in our own time.”

  Will grinned like a fool, “How much is it worth to you?”

  Des interjected, “Knock it off, Will or I’ll tell everyone what you told me in the hospital.” Will glared at her as I was lost and had no clue what Will had told her in the hospital. “Don’t test me, Will. I’m a woman and I’m hormonal.”

  Scoffing, I asked, “How come you can say you’re hormonal, but I can’t?” She smacked my chest as I laughed.

  Will agreed to keep our secret and when Des was out of the room I filled him in on her birthday surprise. Everyone was meeting us at a restaurant that Saturday night to celebrate her birthday, only Des didn’t know. Her birthday had come and gone while she was in the hospital and I wanted her to know we hadn’t forgotten. She hadn’t said a word about it, but she deserved a night out. Everyone would be there and then some.

  That Saturday afternoon I told her to get dressed. “I’m taking you to dinner.” She glanced at me like she was surprised. “I made reservations and everything. We leave in two hours.”

  “I thought you said dinner?”

  “I did. But first we’re going to do some ‘normal couple’ things.” I winked at her and left the room.

  I took her to get ice cream, to the movies, and then drove downtown to the restaurant. Pulling up to valet, because I wasn’t going to have her walk any further than necessary on that leg, she objected and I quickly silenced her. The valet slid in behind the wheel of her Challenger, a grin on his face, as I met her on the sidewalk.

  “You know, it’s not going to be so easy getting twins in and out of that thing.”

  “We’ve discussed this, O. Until the twins arrive, that car is my baby. You’re lucky I even let you drive her.” She wrapped her arms around me and kissed my chin. “Now I want food! We’re starving!”

  Hand in hand, we followed the hostess to the back room. As we walked through the doors, everyone yelled, “SURPRISE!” Des about jumped out of her skin, but was smiling from ear to ear.

  “Oh my God. O, did you do this?”

  “Yes. Happy Birthday, baby. Sorry it’s late.” She hugged me quickly before we were accosted with greetings from everyone there. All my brothers, parents, and a few friends showed up, Stacey, too. Soon Stacey, Lucy, and Des were sitting at the end of the table chatting it up as I sat down next to her, D on the other side of me.

  “So, D, how’s life?” He was my baby brother, but always stuck closest to Dorian while I was usually with Heath and Will. Sometimes I worried he got in to the same business as Dorian for the wrong reasons, but he was a grown man and seemed to be doing well for himself.

  “You know. Same ole, same ole. You?”

  “We’re good. Enjoying a little normalcy. We haven’t had much of that.”

  “Shit, and now you’re having a kid. Enjoy it while you can.”

  Clapping his back, “I plan to! You should try it.”

  Laughing he grimaced, “Not likely.”

  ~ Desiree ~

  ~ Chapter 27 ~

  “How is it that we never met until a few months ago?” Lucy and I stared at Stacey and she just laughed.

  “You two have both been invited to the same things, but schedules never worked out.” Stacey looked to me and said, “Don’t think you’re stealing my best friend. She’s mine.”

  Lucy laughed as I teased, “We’ll see about that. We’re related now.”

  “By injection only!” Lucy and I started cracking up at Stacey’s comment.

  “Yes, speaking of injections…” I stood up and once O realized I was trying to get everyone’s attention, he walked up behind me. He whistled and then all eyes were on me. His hands were on my shoulders as I thanked everyone.

  “Thank you so, so much for being here. It means a lot to me that you’ve all welcomed me into your family.” My damn hormones started raging as my voice cracked. “I know it hasn’t been easy and it’s been a whirlwind.” Looking to Will, “And some of you, well, two of you, have even taken a bullet for me. It really means more than you know.” O stood behind me, his chin against my temple as his arms circled in front of me. He was rubbing my belly, though I wasn’t sure if he knew he was doing it. “Without the support of all of you, we wouldn’t be here today.”

  I looked to O, and he knew what I was thinking. Whispering, “Go ahead.”

  “So, I’m pretty sure you all know that the whirlwind continues. It’s early and I’ve had miscarriages in the past, so I’m hesitant to share, but we’re pregnant.” O squeezed my hand as the cheers began.

  “Hang on, she’s not done.”

  Everyone quieted again as I glanced to his mother, then Lucy and Heath, to Will, and back to his mother and father. “Well, I guess the family tradition continues. It’s early and I’m scared to death, but come January, or sooner, there’ll be another set of twins in the family.”

  The room grew silent and then his mother stood up asking, “Are you serious?”

  O replied, “As a heart attack!”

  Will threw his fist in the air, “Booyah! And I knew before all of you!”

  His mother squealed and then ran over and embraced us. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Everyone started congratulating us and began asking how I was feeling, fluttering around me like I was a delicate flower. O joined his brothers for a celebratory shot as the girls decided to order dessert.

  “So, January?” Lucy caught my attention as all eyes were on me as we ate our dessert.

  “Yes, the 15th, but with it being twins, it’s likely to be around Christmas.”

  “Aww, that’s so exciting. I’m happy for you.”

  “Just pray for me. I’m really scared. We debated about telling anyone because I had three miscarriages several years ago. But I’d rather have everyone’s support instead of going through it alone.”

  His mother clasped her hand over mine, “
I believe everything is going to be fine. Have faith, dear.” Leaning in she confessed, her voice soft so only I could hear, “I had my share of miscarriages and loss, too. D was a twin.”

  Glancing down the table to the youngest Kerrigan, my heart went out to them both. No one seemed to hear as I looked to her, confused. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry.” I wasn’t sure if she was implying that she’d lost his twin during pregnancy or after delivery and I didn’t even know if anyone else knew. “Do they know?”

  “They know, but D doesn’t like to talk about it. He was older when it happened. It nearly tore our family apart. That’s also around the time Dorian and D became inseparable. Dorian was so afraid of losing D, that he never let him out of his sight.” I wiped at a stray tear. “It’s ok, dear. It’s been a long time. The heart can heal, but the scars still linger and ache.”

  “I’m sorry. O never said anything. I had no idea.”

  “It’s ok. So, when do you find out what you’re having?”

  Sighing, “Uh, usually twenty weeks, I’m about eight weeks. Right now I’m just trying to make it to the second trimester.”

  “Set small goals. Sometimes that’s best. If you need anything you just let me know.”

  “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be calling you all frantic at some point.”

  “I’m always here.”

  The next morning, after a bout of morning sickness, I found O still asleep in bed. There came some banging on the door to the apartment, so I wobbled my way to the door just as Will stepped from his bedroom with no shirt on. I rolled my eyes at him before looking through the peephole, and saw Detective Rollins. What was he doing here, on a Sunday morning no less?

  Opening the door, he flashed his badge, “Desiree Kerrigan.”

  “Yes?”

  He nodded and two other officers pushed their way around him. “Desiree Kerrigan, you’re under arrest for the murder of Saul Templeton.” I didn’t hear anything else that they said.

  Will rushed over, yelling, as Detective Rollins kept him at bay. O then burst out of the bedroom, fury covering his face once he saw what was happening.

  “What the fuck are you doing?”

  “Odysseus, I suggest you call an attorney. She’s going to need one.”

  “She’s pregnant! You can’t lock her up.”

  The detective looked to me and nodded his head, “So you lied to us. You swore you weren’t pregnant.”

  “Because you never would’ve let me be the bait.”

  “I suggest you stop talking Mrs. Kerrigan.”

  They started pushing me out the door, my walking cast slowing me down. “O?”

  “I’ll get you out of this baby. Don’t say a word.” He got nose to nose with the detective and spit out, “If so much as a hair is missing from her head I’ll sue you and your whole department. She’s pregnant with twins and has a broken leg. So help me God.”

  “Call your attorney. She’s going to need it.”

  Walking out the back door, a police car was waiting as they slid me into the backseat. I became numb, not even able to cry. I was booked once we arrived at the station. I’d felt less violated by Saul and that was saying a lot. I was put in a solitary cell and given a single blanket for comfort. With it being Sunday I already knew I’d be stuck here until morning. I didn’t sleep more than an hour or two that night.

  The next morning I was put in an interrogation room and waited. A man in his forties, wearing an expensive suit was sent in and he sat down across from me. I wasn’t sure if he was a detective or a lawyer. Watching as he pulled out some folders, a few pens, a tape recorder, and a pad of paper, I was leaning toward lawyer.

  “Mrs. Kerrigan. I’m Zach Connors. Your husband hired me.” I scrutinized him with my eyes knowing that there was no way O could afford him. “I’m also a good friend of Dorian’s.”

  That made more sense. It seemed Dorian’s connections were never-ending. I’d heard about Judd and how they’d come to the safe house just hours after I’d snuck out. I joked with O about making sure to never piss off Dorian because he probably knew a hitman, too.

  “May I call you Desiree?”

  “Des is fine.”

  “Ok, Des. Why don’t we start from the beginning? I need to know everything about your relationship with Saul Templeton.”

  “I don’t understand. I killed him in self-defense.”

  “Well, they’re saying it was premeditated since you left the safe house alone and armed with a gun.”

  “They knew I had the gun.”

  “That may be, but the autopsy is saying he was shot at point blank range, almost execution style, multiple times after you tortured him.”

  I started laughing. “After I tortured him? Christ. What the hell is wrong with these people?”

  “Des, I’ve spoken in great length with your husband. I know about the PPO and the attacks from Saul. All of this will play very well for you. Now, let’s start from the beginning.”

  I told him everything. I’d met Saul through work, he was a patient. It quickly turned romantic and then I was living with him. He doted on me and vice versa. Shortly into our relationship I became pregnant to miscarry shortly after. That was around the time he started becoming very possessive and controlling. After two more miscarriages the abuse started, mostly mental and emotional before it turned into sexual abuse. I began missing work and stopped seeing my friends; friends that to this day were still out of the picture for the most part. When I tried ending things, it got ugly. I left with the help of Stacey, filed a PPO, and found a new place. I had to start from scratch with only the clothes on my back.

  “He violated the PPO a few times before I started reporting it. I never thought the law wouldn’t be able to protect me or that he’d take it as far as he did.”

  “This is all great. Now. That night. What happened?”

  ~ Odysseus ~

  ~ Chapter 28 ~

  It was Monday morning. I hadn’t gotten any sleep the night before. Will sat with me at the police station, but I never did get in to see Des. Dorian and I stayed in touch via text and he said that his attorney friend wouldn’t be able to do anything until morning. He was in there with her now. I was so fucking angry about her being locked up that I was ready to wring someone’s neck. After all the shit Saul had put her through, the department’s lack of protecting her, and she finally did what needed to be done, and now they were arresting her for his murder. What she did to him couldn’t be justified as murder, it was mercy. If I’d gotten my hands on him, that would’ve been murder.

  I didn’t get a chance to see her until we sat in front of the judge. It took all my willpower not to jump over the seats and hug her. She had bags under her eyes, but put on a brave smile. The judge was talking and I tried to focus.

  “How does the defendant plea?”

  “Not guilty, your Honor.”

  “Bond?”

  “We’d like the defendant retained in custody. She’s a doctor and has connections.”

  “Your Honor, exactly. She’s a doctor and has patients to care for. She has a broken leg and is pregnant. She’s not going anywhere. We ask that she be released to her own recognizance.”

  My blood was boiling.

  “Bail is set at one hundred thousand.”

  Jesus fuck. Where the hell was I going to get that kind of money? They dragged her away before I could say two words to her. The attorney motioned to me and I stepped closer.

  “This is all normal. Do you have anyone who can post bail?” I just shook my head. I couldn’t ask anyone to do that for us.

  “It’s already taken care of.” I turned to stare at Dorian. Where had he come from? “Don’t worry. We got you covered.”

  About an hour later, I waited in the station for her to be released. Dorian, Heath, and Will had put up the gyms and the apartments as collateral for bail. I would never be able to repay them for their belief in us. Des emerged from the back and walked toward me. Closing my eyes, I sighed as I held he
r.

  She seemed completely detached as she mumbled, “Please get me out of here.”

  We walked out to my truck and I helped her climb in. Once I sat next to her, I wrapped my arms around her, but she didn’t return the sentiment. “Des?” She pulled back when I tried to stroke her cheek.

  “O, please. I just want to go home.”

  I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. “I would’ve kept you safe, Des.”

  She glared at me, knowing what I was referring to. “I know, but it was the only way I knew how to keep you safe.”

  Sighing, I kissed her hand. “You’re infuriating. But I still love you.”

  With half a smile, she replied, “Just the way you like it.”

  She fell asleep on the way home and woke as I opened up her door. “Did you sleep at all?”

  “What do you think?” She was pissy and I understood, I just wish she wouldn’t take it out on me.

  She walked right into the bedroom and sat on the bed. “Can I draw you a bath?”

  “Hmm?”

  “A bath. I’m going to fill the tub.”

  “I can’t.” She pointed at her leg. “I’m not supposed to soak it.”

  “We’ll prop it up.” She just nodded as I walked to the bathroom and filled the tub.

  She didn’t talk, just lay back in the tub. I was surprised she let me wash her body, but it was almost like she wasn’t aware of it. I took care to keep her leg dry. Washing her hair, I could see the fatigue claiming her. Once her hair was rinsed, I pulled the plug and helped her to her feet. Wrapping a towel around her once she stepped from the tub, I carried her to the bedroom.

  Pulling a t-shirt and underwear from her drawer, I helped her dress. “Can I get you anything?”

  “Some juice or fruit would be nice.”

  I kissed her temple and left for the kitchen. I returned with a glass of apple juice and some fresh fruit to find her passed out. Pulling the covers over her, I placed the juice and fruit on the night stand. I sat down on the other side of the bed, my head against the headboard. What the hell were we going to do now? Every time we thought everything was fine, something horrible would happen.