Steele Promises

Start At Start

Chapter 17

Jaxon limped to the hole in the front of the house, which used to be the front door with his gun behind his back. The moment he was close enough Chey flew into his arms, he grunted from the force, but didn’t fall.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said trying to pull away, but he held her tightly. For a second all he could think about was that she was back in his arms and that she was okay. Then reality set in.

“I thought I told you not to let her come here,” He said to Burt. After he was sure that the intruder had left he’d gotten on the phone and called Burt to get him to find Chey and keep her safe. Only to learn that Chey had been staying with Burt this whole time he was thankful, but pissed off that Burt hadn’t told him earlier. Burt explained that they’d both needed time to cool off before seeing each other.

“I couldn’t keep her away,” Burt said carrying the car seat, and Jaxon’s eyes got big.

“You brought the baby?” he said distraught.

“Mackenzie,” Chey said looking up at him. “I named her Mackenzie and I couldn’t leave her anywhere. What the hell happened here?” she asked looking around at the destruction.

“Maybe you can fill me in,” Jaxon said, he pulled her further into the house. “Do you know a man by the name Antonio Frost?” He watched the blood drain from her face.

“What…How…Who told you about Antonio?” She stuttered. She was backing away from him as though she was about to run. Then as though she suddenly realized something she started frantically looking around the room until she saw Burt holding the car seat. A relieved look flashed across her face.

“All I know is that he sent a man here looking for you. A guy named Rome…”

“No,” she said. “I have to go. I have to move. I can’t let him find me.” She said moving to take the baby from Burt. Burt easily side stepped her without jostling the baby.

“Chey, I need answers here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you or Mackenzie, but I need to know what I’m up against.” Jaxon said taking her by the shoulders and turning her around.

“He’s her father. I left him, he’s…”

“Start at the beginning. You called Preston for help.” Burt said helping her sit in the only chair not destroyed in the fight between Rome and Jaxon.

“If I’m starting at the beginning than I’m starting before I called Preston.” She started from the moment she’d first met Antonio. How when they were together he’d swept her off her feet, and then told them about how she’d witnessed him beat a man to death. She ended telling them about Preston marrying her to cover up the pregnancy and get her away from the old neighborhood where Antonio could find her. “I thought he would have stopped looking for me since he didn’t know about the baby and I didn’t go to the police. I thought he would just let go.”

“Well you thought wrong,” Jaxon said angrily. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“I thought you knew,” she said honestly. “Until you said what you did in the hospital I thought Preston had told you everything in his letter. I didn’t believe there was any way that Antonio could find me either. Oh god if he learns about Mackenzie he’ll take her away from me. He’ll know I kept her away on purpose. I have to go, I have to run if he…he’ll take her…” she could feel the walls closing in on her and she couldn’t breathe.

“No one is taking Mackenzie away from you do you understand me?” Jaxon said taking her face in his hands. “First things first, we have to get you away from this house. We’ve been here too long and there’s no telling…”

“How long it will take before I come back and take what belongs to Antonio?” Rome asked from the doorway. His gun in his good arm, but this time he’d brought two more men with him. Jaxon cursed at his own mistake. He should have immediately gotten Chey and Mackenzie out of here. Instead they’d sat there as she’d told them the problem. Now the problem was back and he and Burt were taken off guard. “I see life’s been good to you Chey.” Rome said with a smile.

“Good enough,” she said trying not to look at the baby Burt sat next to.

“You shouldn’t have left. The boss hasn’t been himself without you. It’s time you come home.”

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Jaxon said standing up.  “Didn’t I already kick your ass enough for one day?”

“For some reason I don’t think you’ll take that same chance with my men here,” Rome said motioning to the two men with him. “Chey if you don’t want anyone to get hurt I suggest you come on. I know the boss wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, but don’t think I won’t kill that bastard just for the hell of it.”

“I’ll come,” Chey said standing up. Jaxon grabbed her arm and Rome’s men cocked their guns and pointed them at him. “Jaxon I’ve already disrupted your life enough. I’ll be fine.” She said even though she didn’t believe it.

“Yeah she’ll be fine,” Rome said in a mocking voice. Jaxon still didn’t let go as his mind raced for a solution. He needed a way out of this so he could get Chey and Mackenzie out. He hoped that Rome hadn’t noticed the baby on the floor next to Burt sleeping in the car seat. Chey pushed him and his weight shifted to his bad leg causing pain to shoot from his foot to his knee. His grip loosened and she made her way over to Rome. “Wouldn’t want to forget the baby would you?” Chey froze halfway to him and he smiled. “You didn’t think I noticed. Let me guess, she’s only a few weeks old. Can’t separate a mother from a child so soon after birth, these are the most critical days for a child's development.”

“Please…” Chey started only to be cut off with a look from Rome.

“Just get the kid,” he said. Chey walked over to where Burt was and picked up the car seat. Burt looked calm and collected.

“I’ll see you soon,” he whispered. She gave him a puzzled look. There was no way he would be able to find Antonio’s house. She hadn’t told them where he lived when she’d told them about her history with him. She didn’t have much time to dwell on the matter because she could tell that Rome was getting impatient. She rushed over to Rome and he took her arm roughly and pulled her outside. He pulled her to his car and pushed her in thankful for all the drugs that he’d gotten to numb the pain of the fight earlier. Antonio would give him time to recover now that he had the girl. It was a huge bonus that she also had a baby, a baby that he was ninety percent sure was the boss’s kid. If it were true the boss might just kill Chey and keep the kid. It would make life a lot easier for them all not to have to worry about her trying to run again.