In His Arms (Completed)

Chapter 3- Tanta Lucille

Sasha listened to the steady footsteps of Officer Aaron Cunnington as she walked beside him towards an unknown place. He didn’t need the uniform to be the cop; He was the uniform and more handsome than any silver screen cop.

Aaron stopped in front a small creole cottage. ”Welcome to Tanta Lucille.” He said walking inside. Lucille recognized Aaron the moment he walked in. “Aaron baby. How are you?” “Oh you know Lucille. Same as usual work, work, work.”

Lucille laughed picking up two menus before noticing Sasha. “Who’s your friend here? I must say Aaron; she’s a beauty that’s for sure.” Sasha’s face flushed. “This is Sasha Mercado. She’s my partner.” “Oh I figure that.” Lucille said setting the menu’s down in front of them. “Anyway, what will you be having my dear?” Sasha studied the menu. “Oh, the choices. Let’s see. I’ll have the chicken Caesar salad with hot wings, ranch, blue cheese and a Pepsi.” Lucille wrote down Sasha’s order. “What about you Aaron?” “You know what

I want.” Lucille laughed, “Your usual huh? Baked lasagna with nachos, zesty cheese and a coke.” Aaron smiled as Lucille went to go prepare their food. “Interesting place.” Sasha said. “I know it’s one of my favorite places to go.” Aaron said. Sasha smiled. “Well that’s good to know.” Lucille

had come back with their food. Sasha bit into her hot wings; then her eyes widen rolling back. “Delicious,” she said. Lucille whispered in Aaron’s ear. He smiled as she went to tend to another customer. Sasha stared after her before turning back to look at Aaron shaking her head and continuing to eat her food. Aaron stared at her before finishing his baked lasagna. Minutes later, they had finished their meal. Sasha went inside her purse for some cash, but Aaron stopped her. “I’ll pay for the bill. Save your money.” Sasha looked at him. “Thanks.” Lucille collected bill, but Sasha wasn’t done yet. “Lucille,” The older ebony-bone woman turned to look at her. “What is it dear?” Sasha smiled as she handed Lucille a twenty-dollar bill. “That’s your tip.” Lucille’s eyes widened as Sasha walked pass her and out the door. “Aaron, I think you’re going to have a lot of fun with her.” Lucille said. “She seems like a nice girl and she’s tough.” “How can you tell?” Aaron said. “If anyone other than you can survive those six grueling months in boot camp plus four extra months at the police academy and still graduate top of class, you know they’re tough.” Lucille said. “Not only that, but beat the living shit out of Adrienne Peters to almost an inch of her life.” Aaron smiled. “You’re probably right Lucille. It was good seeing you again.” “Anytime Aaron, do you remember what I told you?” “Yeah I do.” He said walking out of the small cottage. Sasha sat on a nearby bench staring across the street. She didn’t seem to notice that Aaron had come out of Tanta Lucille sitting on the bench next to her. “That was nice what you did in there.” He said. Sasha smiled. “Thanks, it was the least I could do.” She turned to look at him. The irises behind his eyes shined crystal blue. It was as if she could see the ocean in them. “Since, you paid the bill. Which you really didn’t have too, I could’ve covered it.” Aaron chuckled, “It was my treat Sasha.” “And I thank you for-“The sky had turned dark and rain poured from the clouds. Aaron grabbed her hand running for cover. “That was a close one.” He said as rain poured hard on the ground. They were under a side building. The blinds draw closed and people nestled inside eating and drinking. “Yeah you can say that again.” Sasha said. They were so close to each other that Sasha could smell the cologne on his shirt. The scent was strong and manly. When she looked up, Aaron was staring at her. “Something on your mind?” “Yeah,” he said running a finger through her long silky brown hair. “I actually do have something on my mind.” “Then what is it?” Sasha said. Aaron sucked in a breath, “This.” He brushed his lips over hers. Sasha’s mouth opened as he deepened the kiss. Twining her arms around his neck, she twirled a finger into his soft silky black hair. Sasha felt the strength of his arms and the heat of his body as he gathered her in. The combination swamped her as if a strong commanding presence had taken charge of the kiss, taken charge of her. She wasn’t sure what would have happened next if he hadn’t suddenly and abruptly ended the kiss. They stood in the shadowy part of building, staring at each other, breathing hard. She felt wildly off balance in fact, she’d been that way ever since she first met him hours ago. The rain had led up and patches of blue and rays of sunshine began to fill the sky again. “Come, we should get going.” He said letting go of her and walking down Auburn Ave. Sasha stared after him before running to catch up with him. Aaron didn’t have to turn to notice that Sasha was beside him her boots clicking against the sidewalk. He glanced at her. Lush red lips with high cheekbones and brown eyes. She wore black trousers, a silk red blouse, a black jacket, and red boots. Aaron stopped in front of a red mustang getting inside. Sasha gasped. “This is your car?” “Yeah it is.” “It’s nice.” She said. Aaron grinned.

“Thanks now get inside.” Sasha’s mouth dropped as she stepped inside the vehicle. Aaron backed up before speeding down the parking lot. Sasha admired the vehicle. “Wow, the horsepower easily has to be a 580.” Aaron glanced at her as

He drove down Crescent Ave. “I didn’t know you were an expert on fast cars.” Sasha laughed, “Well my dad owned a collection of luxury cars. Ferraris, Mustangs, Lamborghinis, jaguars, you name it. Old and new. When I was nine, he and

My brothers brought in cars popping the hood up. I watched as they built and repair them.” “Where’s your dad now?” Aaron asked. Sasha’s eyes watered. “Dead. He died on the job.” “Sorry to hear that, but wait your father was a cop?” “My whole family is.” Sasha said wiping her eyes. “My mom was a lieutenant and my dad was the chief of police. My brothers were detectives and special agents. I’m the only girl so I didn’t have any sisters. What about you?” Aaron chuckled, “What do you want to know?” “Well, you don’t have tell me about you having a Military and Law background that’s for sure.” “Well in that case,” Aaron said pulling over. “Let me start from the beginning.” He sighed, “It’s true that everyone in my family has either a military or law background and yes I did come from a large family. To be exact, I have thirteen other siblings. So yeah, I’m the last. I have seven sisters and six brothers so life was somewhat hectic. My parents were strong-willed. My father was always demanding, while my mother was gentle and caring. Since being the youngest and the only offspring to follow both parents’ footsteps, I had the most to prove. So after surviving the gruel some boot camp of the Army, then fighting my way through the police academy, you can pretty much say that life didn’t get any easier.” Sasha nodded. “If I may ask, what of your personal life? I mean were you ever married?” “Never married, but I did have a few girlfriends. Aubrey Peters was one of them.” “You dated Adrienne Peter’s older sister?” Sasha said through gritted teeth. “Yeah I did for six months until I caught her cheating on me with my former best friend. That’s why I dislike her younger sister so much and I’m actually glad that you whopped her ass.” Sasha smiled, “Thanks you know I thought you were entirely an obnoxious jerk, but now you don’t seem to be that type of person.” “Oh really?” Aaron said pulling onto the street again. “What kind of person I am to you now?” Sasha bit her lip, “Dedicated, strong-willed, determined, courageous, and brave. You’re seem like a renegade man on the job and a ladies man outside the job.” Aaron laughed when they arrived to the police station. “Funny that you said that because it’s actually true.” “I thought so.” Sasha said stepping out of the vehicle. When she and Aaron walked inside the police station. Everyone stared at them. “Officer Mercado,” Sergeant Timothy Weber said. “Let’s go. The general orientation is about to begin.” “Oh right.” Sasha said checking in waving bye to Aaron and running down the hall. “Where have you been?” Donald said. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Sasha said as she joined the other rookies for orientation. Two hours later, Sasha walked out of the orientation room set to go home. Driving down Bankhead Highway, Sasha arrived to her cozy townhouse. When she walked inside, she noticed something wasn’t right. She tried to put on the light, but to no avail. “What the hell is going on here?” she said as something cold and hard came at the back of her head. Sasha collapsed on the floor unconscious. Blood pouring from her head rapidly. “NICE WORK BIG SISTER!” Adrienne Peters said. Aubrey smiled. “NO PROBLEM.”