Free MC: LaPonte by L. Ann Marie Page B

This is the first time I’ve seen
his house with everything in and hung up. It is a show piece. "The
woodwork is beautiful."
    “I’m glad you like it.” He
tells me, holding my hand he walks me up the stairs to see the
finished bathroom.
    “Oh my God! I love it!” I
wonder how he got it done so fast. There is a beautiful deep pale
pink marble whirlpool tub with extended edges and a rack going
across the middle. The rack has bath salts and a candle sitting on
it. It’s beautiful. The shower has four heads and a bench seat
built right in. I can’t believe the way the pink and blues look
together. The marble makes it look so elegant. They complement each
other perfect. How does he do that?
    He turns my face to him.
“I was hoping you’d say that. I want you to move in Kate. I had you
pick everything out just for that reason. I wanted you to be happy
living here. I love you my beautiful K. Will you move in with
me?”
    Holy cow! He loves me. I
feel the tears. “Yes. I’ve waited so long to hear you say those
words to me. I love you Danny. I don’t want to wait anymore.” He
hugs me to him. Saying thank you. He sounds relieved. I have to
smile at that.
    He has his crew waiting to
move my things over. I laugh. He is too much. He calls Chris and
tells him we’ll meet them there. It takes all day but it’s done. I
can’t wait to tell Jess but I’m so freakin tired I can’t do
anything but lay against him on the couch.
    “I’m so glad we’re
finished.” He says sounding as tired as I feel. “I love you Kate.
I’m so glad you’re here with me. I love our house, all the
furniture and accents you picked work perfect."
    “mmm.” Is all I can do. He
laughs lifting me up and carrying me to my brand new bed. I curl up
to go to sleep. He unrolls me and takes my clothes off. Once he
gets into bed I curl up on him and kiss his chest. I feel the pull
of sleep closing my eyes, I go with a smile on my face.

Chapter
Thirteen
    One month…
    Danny takes me to R&R.
Ben has him talking to a cop friend of his about the drugs being
sold at three different houses. I'm at the bar talking to Rob about
how happy I am living with Danny when he freezes. His eyes follow
someone over my head. I don't move. "Slide off and get on the
floor, don't look back, make your way to this side of the bar." He
says so soft I almost miss it.
    I slide off the stool
slowly. A guy starts yelling and I duck to the floor just before
the first shot is fired. I look for the guy; he's on the other side
of the room. Cops are yelling freeze. I crawl to the end of the bar
under the pass thru. More shots are fired and bottles are breaking
above me. I'm squeezing myself back as far as I can get. My whole
body is shaking. Everyone is yelling. I hear bikes and sirens
outside. Rob lifts me up and carries me to the back. "No Danny is
out there." I'm fighting him to put me down. Something is wrong; I
feel it in my bones. "Something's wrong Rob, I need to see Danny,
he needs to know I'm alright." He won't let me go.
    "Kate, be still." He says
in a voice I've never heard from him. I stop fighting. He sits me
in the office and stands at the door. "We're going to wait in here
until Ben tells us we can come out." Again, in that scary
voice.
    I just look at him. I
think I must be in shock. He moves behind the desk pulling a bottle
off the shelf, he pours a glass and hands it to me. I drink it
right down. I cough and my eyes water from the burn. I have to take
a couple of deep breaths. Fuck that burned. He doesn't say anything
else so I just sit and wait. Danny would have come for me by now.
"Something's wrong Rob, I feel it. Danny would have already come
for me."
    He looks down, "We're
waiting for Ben."
    It seems like forever when
Tracy comes to the door. Rob moves out of the way for her to enter.
She squats down in front of me. "Kate, Danny was hit in the
crossfire; an ambulance is bringing him to the hospital. Ben is
with him. I'm going to drive you. Steve is bringing