Sorry this has taken so long...very long story but hopefully I am through with it all and will be able to focus on my writing. All mistakes are my own, I apologize for them. As always a big thank you to MaaddMaaxx, without you I wouldn't even get to post!
Jared rode the elevator up to Jason's apartment, for what he hoped was the last time for the day. He was tired -- physically, mentally, and emotionally. He was sleeping very little and he knew Jason wasn't sleeping much at all either. In fact no one was really sleeping. That is how they were all pulling 20 hour days. They couldn't sleep. Jared had been fine at first, her scent was on his bed from when she slept there the night before she left. It faded fast though and now he was left feeling very lost and empty. The ding above the elevator told him that he was at Jason's now. The doors slid open and he walked into the room, noting that most of the team was present, including Kaleb.
"What's going on?" Jared asked the room as a whole.
"Well the DA closed the case against you for a lack of evidence. They are ruling the shooting as self-defense. So you don't have to worry about a trial." Jason informed him.
"That's good, right?" Jared asked confused as to why everyone seemed too quiet.
Trenton, who appeared to be the most alert of the bunch, gave his update, "Well we were thinking that Tom was at the last building that we hit. My sources on the street says that he is being listed as dead by his crew. They are scattering like roaches in a newly lit room."
"Yeah, well just remember that roaches may scatter but they actually regroup where you can't see them." Jason stated, giving a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair. "Look we give this one more week. We keep hitting all his place just like we have. If we don't shake him out -- we consider it done and go get our families."
Everyone there had a big grin on their face at the thought of rejoining their families. Trenton even was happy, "Thank God, you all need laid -- badly! You're shitheads without these woman to keep you on the straight and narrow!"
Jared started laughing and replied, "You just wait until you find yours. Let's see how you react to her not being there."
The rest of the guys joined in on the laughter, they all begun to feel the tension leaving their bodies as they felt the end nearing. Jason had an odd look on his face while he looked at Jared.
"So when are you going to ask her?" Jason asked.
"Ask her what?"
"To marry you? You don't think that we've missed the way that you are without her? You've been acting like a man being driven with a purpose in the last two months, not someone under an obligation for a favor returned."
Jared smiled at him, "I haven't decided yet, I want to make it memorable for her."
Jason replied, with a grin on his face, "Well, mother will enjoy planning and having one of our weddings on the island -- just an idea."
Jared laughed, "I am sure she will but when you tell her -- remind her that I have to actually ask Olivia to be my bride still!"
"No promises, you know mom." replied Jason.
"Hey can we stop yacking and start working so I can see my wife this month sometime?" asked Ty in an aspirated voice.
Jason slapped him on the back, "Let's get this week over, and go get our ladies."
Two weeks later...
Jared sat back and closed his eyes as the small plane began to taxi down the runway after it landed. He was exhausted. In the first week they had continued to hit all of Tom's hot spots. They never got it confirmed if he was dead but they did know that he wasn't in the city anymore. The top people in his crew hadn't seen him in over a month and didn't hold much hope that he was alive. So just to be on the safe side they hit his spots hard another week.
Jason ended up with several of Tom's guys wanting to join him but no one trusted them yet. Jason told them that they needed to prove themselves first. Leaving it up to those few to figure out exactly how they would do that.
All Jared wanted to think about was landing on the island and seeing Olivia and Chloe. He needed to feel them as he hugged them and feel their arms around him. He was tired of them just being a voice on the telephone. As he felt the plane come to a stop he and the other guys began to get up and collect their bags that they carried on. When they all left the plane and walked out onto the tarmac you could feel the rejuvenating that seemed to surge through them as the moment of reuniting with their loved ones suddenly was a tangible moment for all of them.
"You know your mother has been making lots of plans ever since she found out the plane would be heading down here. Don't think that she will not say anything about it being a week late."
"Stan, how have you been?" Jason asked as he gave the man who taught him almost everything he knew about the business a hug. Stan was like an uncle to most of the guys on Jason's team.
"I've been busy. First you send a lotta women and children down here. If that wasn't enough most of the woman are pregnant so let's not even start talking about the hormones that are raging on this island! Now I can handle a lot of things but I tell you what, when you send in your secret weapon -- well that's where I gotta say my piece."
Jason looked at him oddly, "Stan are you drunk? What the hell are you talking about."
Jared began to smirk before Stan even answered, "Chloe. That child can round all the others up and get them to agree to anything she wants. She simply has to look at your mother and give her an innocent smile and even your mom is puddy in her hands. If you don't want a revolution of around here from the children -- well the rules are clear, keep Chloe happy! About the only person she doesn't have wrapped around her finger is Olivia. That little shyster was crying the other day and acting like her world had simply been destroyed -- all because she was asked to go get her bath. She all but had your mom willing to let her skip the night when Olivia walked in. She took one look at Chloe and informed her that she wouldn't speak twice, Chloe better shape up and do what she was told to do or Olivia would make sure she had a really good reason to cry. That little girl jumped right up and took off as if she had never been even remotely upset. Do you know she got me in trouble too? She convinced me that chocolate cake was okay for breakfast. After all it has eggs and milk in it! How could it not be okay for breakfast?"
Jared broke out laughing, he remember all too well the little minx trying to convince him that Olivia wouldn't mind him giving her chocolate cake for breakfast the first morning that he met her.
"Next time -- warn me that you have a secret weapon a coming and I will prepare myself better. You know your mother is still not very happy with me about the cake. And when we got caught -- the little faker told them that she begged for cereal because it was 'a healthy way to start the morning'. I got in so much trouble from not just your mother but all the mothers...well except Olivia who actually believed that Chloe would try to get chocolate cake for breakfast. Anyways now they are your problem along with the leader of the resistance against the adults -- Chloe. Wish you the best of luck Jared!"
"Is that why you are hiding down here at the tarmac? Because Chloe, a little girl not in school yet, has gotten you in trouble?" Jared asked unable to keep the chuckle out of his voice.
"No, I'm down here cause the pilot radio ahead and let me know that you all would be here soon. Smart ass!"
Jason couldn't help himself from asking, "So are you upset because Chloe got you in trouble or because she has interrupted your sleep. Or could it be that since Chloe has been here she is interrupting those moments with mom that 'mean so much' to you?"
By the look that Stan gave them, the guys knew; Chloe has had a radar setting and has been interrupting Stan and Colleen's adult time.
As they continued to walk up to the house, Stan filled everyone in on everything that had been happening and where everyone should be right now. When the group reached the patio they broke off and went their own way to reunite with their loved ones.
Jared took the path from the house that lead down to the beach houses. According to Stan, Olivia had been placed in the beach house that was typically used by him. When he reached the door to the beach house, he paused, this was it. He knew that the next few minutes may change the course of his life -- hell he was hoping that it would. With his fingers crossed he quietly let himself into the house with his personal key.
* * *
Olivia had just gotten out of the shower only drying her hair. She had taken to leaving the balcony door open so that the cool breeze from the ocean could dry her. She loved the breeze blowing over her body after a shower, it had become one of her favorite, private activities. She stretched out on her back on the bed, relaxing and for the millionth time wishing that Jared hadn't put her toy back. She had several erotic dreams the night before starring Jared and herself.
"Woman, you have a choice either wear some clothes and get me up to my mom's house or get ready to not leave that bed for a while." Said a very gruff voice.