Living In Flames. by Emily Zimmerman. (best free novels .TXT) 📕

“What’s wrong?” He asked me.

“I tried calling Dan and he’s not answering his phone and I didn’t know who else to call-“

“What is wrong, Sky?” He asked me again.

“Dan’s father just showed up at the door. I don’t know what to do!” I said desperately.

“I’m on my way. Stay away from him, and please for god’s sake, don’t let him near Briana.” He ordered.

“Okay.” I said.

I felt alone, so very alone after disconnecting.

***

I sat with my old buddies from the agency; we were laughing and reminiscing over the old days. When I called them and told them about Michaels, they all wanted in. I just haven’t told them about Sky yet.

“So what makes Michaels think he’s got a chance against you now, Dan?” My oldest friend and partner, Johnny asked.

This was what I’d been waiting for. I was a bit nervous to tell them about Sky, and this feeling was a bit strange to me, but I decided to tell them anyway. “Well, he seems to think I have a weakness now.” I said.

I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips, picturing her beautiful, smiling face. “And…would he be right?” Lonny asked, his grey-blue eyes studying my face.

I let out a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid so. Her name is Sky, and I tried staying away from her, but…God, the woman is a friggin’ magnet.” I muttered.

Jared let out a bark of laughter. “Dude, she must be for you to be attracted to her.” He joked.

I would have replied, but I was distracted by Blake’s car speeding by…in the direction of my house. I searched for my phone in my pocket, but found none. I swore under my breath and stood up. “Excuse me for a minute.” I muttered.

Without giving them time to ask, I went out to my car, unlocking it and searching for my cell. When I found it, it was blinking. I had four missed calls from Skylar.

“Shit!” I growled.

I dialed her number as fast as I could, and waited impatiently for her to pick up. “Dan!” She gasped in relief.

“Skylar, I’m so sorry! I left my phone in the car. Are you alright?” I asked.

“I’m fine it’s just…someone came to the door after you left and…well he introduced himself as your father.” She said.

“What?” I shouted.

“I called Blake because I had no idea what to do. He’s quite the charmer by the way; he’s had his eyes on my chest since he arrived.” Her voice was bitter, but I could hear the vulnerability behind it.

“It’ll be alright. Don’t let him near you.” I told her fiercely.

“I know, that’s what Blake said.” She said.

Completely forgetting about the men in the coffee shop, I turned the car on and sped out of the lot. I was going ninety before I got out of the area. There was something I didn’t tell Sky about Tony.  He was arrested for raping a sixteen year old girl while on ecstasy. Why and how he was out of jail was a mystery to me.

I arrived in record time, noting that Blake was already walking up to the front door. “Hey, man. You know anything about him getting out of jail?” I asked him.

“Yeah. He’s out on parole.” Blake said with a clenched jaw.

I opened the door, and we went in. I heard a grunt and then a thud. I rushed into the room, only to find Skylar, still in her tank top and shorts, dusting her hands off as she stood over a groaning Tony.

“Sky?” I asked her in confusion.

She looked at me and shrugged. “He copped a feel.” She said by way of explanation.

I let out a laugh and shook my head. “This is nothing compared to what she did to John. You should have seen it.” Blake muttered. “I’ll have to get you a copy of the tape sometime.”

“My poor baby!” A woman cooed, she looked like she had had one too many joints.

“Are you alright, Sky?” I asked her.

“I’m fine. I think your father just needed to learn a few manners.” She said, walking over to me.

I kissed her on the top of the head. “That’s my girl.”

“Damn, Dan, what did you do to him?” Lonny asked, appearing in the doorway.

“Oh, this wasn’t me.” I said with a smile, turning around.

“Then who was it, Blake?” He asked.

I shook my head. “Fellas, I’d like you to meet Skylar.” I said.

All of the men took a step back. “Skylar, this is Johnny, Jared, and Lonny.” I introduced.

She smiled politely. “It’s nice to meet you.”

They smiled slightly, and I knew they were thinking they needed to wear a cup around this girl. I chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

***

I watched from the kitchen with an affectionate smile as Dan sat on the porch, laughing with his friends. He seemed…at ease, more relaxed than I’d seen him since this mess started. It felt good to see him that way; he always seemed to feel the need to protect me.

Blake took Tony to the police station for sexual assault, and his girlfriend had a kilo of heroin in her trunk. Needless to say, they were both back in jail.

“Skylar, would you like to come with Briana and me to the lake? She wants to go swimming.” Samantha said, coming to stand beside me.

“Sure. I’ll go get changed.” I said, smiling at her.

“I wanted to thank you, by the way.” She said, catching my arm as I turned to go upstairs.

Giving her an inquisitive look, I asked, “For what?”

“I hate that man. He deserved to be kicked in the as-I mean butt. What he did to that girl was inexcusable.” She said, her eyes growing hard at the mention of Tony.

I raised a questioning eyebrow. “Girl?”

She bit her lip. “I guess Dan didn’t tell you the whole story.”

I shook my head, saying in a dry voice, “As usual.”

She sighed. “I’ll let him tell you that one.”

I rolled my eyes; he’s always hiding things from me. I ran up the stairs, quickly changing and packing sunscreen and a towel in my beach bag.

My bathing suit is a two piece, with a ruffled, soft pink top, and a skirt bottom, which had small flowers embroidering the hem.

Someone knocked on my door as I was slipping on some shorts.

“It’s open!” I called.

Samantha came in, looking like a model in her two piece yellow bathing suit and silk cover up wrapped around her waist.

“The boys are coming with us.” She informed, pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

“That’s nice. Dan needs to get out and relax a while.” I said, slipping on my sunglasses and turning to her. “Are we ready?”

“Yes. Briana is waiting downstairs with Linda.” I nodded and we started out of the room.

I was pulling my hair out of its braid when I came down, and I could hear the boys in the kitchen, loudly talking and laughing. I swear, all went silent when I entered.

Dan’s eyes raked down my body, turning molten chocolate. I felt my cheeks flame in embarrassment as I noticed the other men, their mouths hanging open.

“You’re drooling.” Sam teased mercifully behind me, making them snap their mouths closed and look away, Dan only smiled at me, paying no attention to the others.

“Come on!” Briana urged, tugging on my arm. “Let’s go outside!”

I laughed affectionately at the eager child and let her lead me outside; pretending like she was going too fast and I couldn’t keep up. We started for the lake, Dan catching up with Briana and I, and the rest of the group following close behind. We slowed to a walk as we reached the break in the forest, Dan pulling me into his side and kissing my temple.

He slipped off my sunglasses and threw them in my bag. “You look great in that bathing suit. I don’t like the way the others are checking you out, though.” He muttered, tightening his arm possessively around me.

I laughed and leaned my head on his shoulder. “You are a bit protective, aren’t you?” I teased him.

He kissed the top of my head. “I have every right to be. You’re mine, and will always be mine.”

Briana fell back to walk with her mom, talking to her excitedly about all of the activities they’d do at the lake. “When we get married, let’s have a girl.” He said abruptly.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I looked sharply up at him. My voice managed to stay steady, despite the feelings that muddled my thoughts. “Married?”

He grinned down at me. “You didn’t think that I’d just leave, did you?”

I let out a small laugh. “I guess I didn’t think about it.”

“Well you’d better start.” He teased.

I knew he was teasing, and that he didn’t know about the arrangement in only a few days, but the thought sent a sharp pain through my chest, and it was suddenly all I could think about. Having a life with Dan, watching him hold his first child in the hospital, seeing the wonder in his eyes as he stared down at the tiny infant…and knowing I wouldn’t live to see that future.

“Sky? Is there something wrong?” He asked softly, slowing us until we were behind the others, and wiping a tear I hadn’t noticed had fallen from my cheek.

I forced a smile. “It’s just…I really want that life with you, Dan.” I whispered.

I wasn’t lying to him. I wanted that life, more than anything in the world, but I couldn’t have it. I couldn’t be happy with the man I loved. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine in a slow, tantalizing kiss, but it didn’t take my mind off things. “I know, babe. I want it too.”

***

After swimming at the lake, we walked back, everyone around us laughing and talking. Sky seemed…lost in thought. She had been since I mentioned marriage to her. I hoped that I hadn’t ruined everything by mentioning this to her, I just thought she felt the same way.

“Sky, if I said something earlier that upset you…”

She looked up at me, her beautiful blue eyes silencing me instantly. “No, no. You didn’t, of course not. I’m just…worried.” She explained, pressing a hand to my cheek.

I knew the feeling. I was so worried about her I could hardly think. My life revolved around her. If I were to lose her…I couldn’t even think about it.

“Don’t worry, love. I’ll protect you.” I assured her, forcing the worry to the back of my mind.

I saw her swallow, and I could have sworn that guilt flashed in her eyes, but it was gone too quick to know for sure. She suddenly stopped, making me pause as I looked back at her with a questioning look.

“You go on inside…I need to think about some things.” She said, giving me a weak smile.

I raised my eyebrows, but the look on her face stopped me from protesting. I nodded and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be in the house if you need me.”

She nodded, putting her hand on my cheek with a soft smile. I left her to go into the house, watching from the window as she walked over to the garden Linda recently planted. She sat down and stared at the flowers, playing with the petals of a fully bloomed rose. Her eyes were distant as they stared without emotion, and suddenly, her face crumbled. She put a hand to her mouth as tears filled her eyes, streaming down her cheeks, and I could faintly hear her sobbing from where I stood. I had no idea what to do.  Should I go out there? Would she be mad at me for not respecting her wishes to be alone?

“Well, are you going to go out there and comfort her, or stand there like a stuffed animal and do nothing?” Linda suddenly appeared beside me, looking at me with stern eyes.

“But what if-“

Linda put a hand up, stopping