The Lonely Hearts 06 The Grunt 2 (34 page)

Brett found her in the bathroom, in the sunken Jacuzzi bathtub, hidden under a ton of bubbles.  She had pulled her hair up in a ponytail and relaxed back with her eyes closed. 

He sat on the edge of the tub and passed her a glass.  “Here you go, baby,” he said, eyeing a pebbled nipple as she reached for the champagne. 

“I wish you could get in with me,” she asked, moving around in the water.  “There’s plenty of space.”

“This foot would probably ruin the experience. I’ll just jump in later,” Brett said, holding up the files in his hand.  “Soooo, the trip was just one part of the surprise.  This is the other part.”

Courtney took a sip of the champagne and rested back in the tub.  “What is that?”

He opened the file and pulled out a piece of paper. Setting it on the edge so she could see it, he waited on bated breath. 

Reading carefully, she finally looked up at him. Her mouth dropped open. “Brett, I don’t understand.” 

“It’s an agreement with a local realtor.  I put our house up for sale.  According to her, the market is hot for our area, and considering all the upgrades we made on it, we should make a killing.”  Brett pulled out another piece of paper.  “And I bought this.”  He put a picture of a 4-bedroom cottage style house by the bay in Palo Alto, California. 

Licking his lips, he raised an arch brow at her. “According to Gavin, this type of property, especially on the bay, is really hard to come by, and he would know…it’s his old house.  We got it a little under market value because he doesn’t really need the cash.” 

“What are you saying, Brett?” Courtney said, tears falling down her face. 

He reached over and wiped them gently. “You mean everything to me, and I didn’t realize that we live in the same house that Amy and I lived in, because I was so wrapped up in my shit, but your talk with me that night made me see life through your eyes.”  He cleared his throat.  “Also, I know you want to go to Stanford. I know you want to start over. I know you need me to be on board with it.  So, I made the first steps.”

“Stanford.” She shook her head.  “It was just a dream until now.  I guess I can actually apply.”  The thought blew her mind. “I never thought I’d even get the opportunity to consider it seriously.”   Courtney’s body trembled in shock. Selling her old house.  Buying her a new one. Her mouth quivered as she tried to speak.  This was all too much for her.

Brett pulled out a letter and set it on top of the picture of the house.  “Mr. Benson’s friend is a former judge. She’s also some big alum at Stanford.  Your mother and I sent her your information and transcripts, basically your mom did, and this lady got you an informal acceptance into Stanford. I mean, informal in the sense that you can go, but you’re going to have to officially accept and I have to send them a check, but I called ahead and told them to expect it soon.”

Courtney put her hand over her mouth.  The diamonds in her ring sparkled in his eyes.  “Is this real?” she asked, setting the glass of champagne down.

Brett knew that Courtney was on the verge of an explosion. Her bright eyes and shallow breaths almost frightened him.  “Baby, I want us to be together for the rest of our lives.  You were right. I needed to put my life into a new context.  I needed to see what’s best for all of us, and that’s not the Marine Corps. Not anymore.” He rubbed her chin.

“Nothing is more important than you and our kids.  That’s why I’m medically retiring out and accepting a job offer with Gavin in San Francisco at his private security firm.  That way the next baby we have, I can be there from start to finish and not miss whole portions of this life we’re trying to build together.”  He smiled at her. “You wanted me. Well, you’ve got me.” 

Courtney’s face was unreadable.  “Could you move the papers, please?” she asked.

“Sure.”  Brett put them back into the folder and then stood up and placed them on the vanity.  This wasn’t exactly the reaction he was…

When he turned around, Courtney had stood up in the tub.  Her body glistened with water and bubbles stuck to her sweet frame.  “Take your clothes off,” she said, eyes blazing.  She stepped out of the tub covered in suds as he pulled off his shirt and wrapped her arms around him. 

Pulling him into her kiss, she passionately tasted his mouth.  She was so forceful, so dominant, until Brett immediately got hard.

Picking her up, he put her on the vanity and yanked his pants open.  Courtney breathed hard.  Spreading her legs wide, she ran a hand from her side up to her breasts and pinched her nipple.

Brett pulled off his pants and underwear, then immediately went to her.  His penis was rock hard, aching to be buried deep inside of her.

Her hands roamed over his stomach, caressing deep crevassed muscle as he grabbed her by her buttocks and pulled her to edge of the vanity. Trailing a kiss down her shoulder, he slipped one of her eager nipples into his mouth and watched as she laid back, head against the mirror.

Her moans were sweet, soft.  As her hips rose up, her sex pushed against his lower abdomen.

Throwing one smooth leg over his shoulder, he rubbed his knuckle over her clit then slipped a digit into her wet sex.  She moaned louder and her back arched.  Slipping a second finger into her, he growled.  Water and soap trailed into her belly button as she pushed her hands against the mirror.  She wanted him inside of her so badly. 

Without warning she felt his velvety tongue in between her thighs, spearing in between the folds of her swollen flesh. In and out he went until he felt her hands move from the mirror to his head, gripping his dirty blonde hair as she guided him.  He pinned her thighs down and lapped at her, drinking in her wetness, sucking at her over and over again until audible sound of his mouth and her wetness combined with his rhythm made her cry out. 

“I’m close,” she said, holding his head.  Her mouth refused to close as she watched. 

He pulled her closer to him, kissing her deep, licking her from her throbbing clit all the way down to the end of her labia then spearing inside of her. 

“Yes,” she screamed.

He moved faster and faster, held her tighter until finally he pushed her over the edge and her orgasm sent her spiraling into a paralyzing ecstasy.  As her vagina pulled, he rose up, eyes hooded with dark eroticism.

Grabbing her little body by her waist, he pulled her down off the vanity, flipped her over and pushed her breasts up against the cool marble counter.

Courtney opened her legs wider.  “Fuck me,” she begged.

Her words made him mad with need. His large hands reached in front of her rested on her stomach.  Pulling her closer to him, he pressed his erection against her.  “Fuck you?” he asked, voice husky.

“Yes,” she panted.

Brett slapped his rock hard penis against her sex.  “Fuck you hard?” he asked, slipping a finger inside of her just to make her scream.

“Please,” she begged. “I need you so bad.”

With his hard sex fisted in his hand, he ran it over her sensitive flesh.  The tease was agonizing for her.  “Ask again?” he said, rubbing it over her clit. 

“Please,” she cried out. Slipping her fingers in between her thighs, she made him watch.  “Take me.” 

The sight of her playing with herself pushed him past a tease. He released a hissing archaic growl before pummeling mercilessly into her body.  His smooth steely penis ached as he filled her with each thick heavy inch until he was at her hips.  With one hand, his fingers dug into the sides of her hips as he thrust in and out, holding her body down with the other hand against the vanity. 

Each stroke was harder than the next.  Making her body jerk, he stretched her sensitive skin, pushing his chest up against her back. 

His arm came around her and he nibbled at her ear as he felt her body start to tremble.  “Yes,” she screamed.

“Come for me,” he said, standing back up. He spread her cheeks open to get a better view of her.  Slapping harder and harder against her, he played her clit as he destroyed her.

“Brett!” Courtney screamed, her voice hoarse.  The sound of his body slapping against her own echoed throughout the bathroom. 

“Give it to me,” he said, grabbing her by her hair and raising up on his heel. 

She backed into him, pushing harder and harder and he went deeper and deeper. Reaching back, he smacked her left cheek then smoothed his hand over it. 

The sensation of pain and pleasure again sent her over into a spiral and her orgasm pulsated throughout her body. 

Brett could feel her contractions.  Hard and fast, he bent over her back and gripped her shoulders, pulling her closer to him as he felt himself explode inside of her. 

His loud roar spilled out into the living room and hallway. Shaking, he held on to her, digging his nails into her flesh, he released every ounce of himself before he let her go. 

Courtney nearly collapsed.  Standing up, she turned and looked at him with amazement.  “Care to take this into the bedroom?” she asked, throat dry. 

Brett grabbed the champagne.  “You read my mind.”

She went to step back in the tub to wash off but Brett stopped her. “No,” he said, looking at her body.  “I want you just like that.”

“No washing off?” she asked, threatening to stick a toe into the water.

Brett licked his lips. “I’m just going to get you dirty all over again.”

Chapter 26

“It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man.” 

-
Psalm 18:47

Parking among the litter of cars in the crowded lot, Brett and Courtney arrived at the Onslow County Courthouse early on Tuesday morning to go through the clearance process and meet with Mr. Benson, who was there nearly an hour before with his three-man wrecking ball team making sure that everything was ready. 

With a charismatic, million dollar smile, he met them just past security in a sharp tailored blue suit cut to fit his NFL linebacker frame. 

“Brett, Courtney,” he said, shaking their hands.  “Nice day for a trial, huh?” He winked at them both. 

“If you say so,” Brett said under his breath. 

With a quick glance, Mr. Benson scanned their appearance individually and as a couple.  Standing as straight as an arrow, Brett was wearing his Marine Corps issued Alpha uniform that fit his tall wide frame to perfection, boasting a green coat with his staff sergeant rank, green trousers, khaki long-sleeve button-up shirt, khaki tie, tie clasp, and black shiny shoes. On his coat, a host of ribbons and marksmanship badges brandished the left chest.  His dirty blonde high and tight had been shaped the night before and his face was shaved as smooth as a baby.  While mostly healed, his face still carried a large scar across his eye lid to the side of his temple and a scar across his wide mouth.  However, Mr. Benson was pleased.  Brett looked like the new poster child of the Marine Corps, plus the boot on his foot didn’t hurt.

Courtney had been dressed by her mother for the day to appear more of a Stepford mom than the rabble rouser she was.  Her feathery hair was styled in a classic wrap.  Her make up simple and soft, only designed to bring out her natural features.  She wore a lively pink V-neck shapely sheath St. John dress with matching pink heels and pearls as accessories and a simple gold wedding band instead of her normal huge diamond.  Mr. Benson was impressed.  She looked like a first lady, and in a trial, it would be hard to attack her without violating someone’s fragile sensibilities. 

“Well, how are you both?” Mr. Benson asked, ushering them down the halls past other people who waited impatiently for their appearances, argued with their court-appointed lawyers and talked on their cell phones.  Some of them wore jeans and stretched out cotton t-shirts, others wore worse, making Brett, Courtney and their dream team of lawyers stick out like a sore thumb. 

“Fine,” Courtney lied with a shaky smile.

“Nervous as a whore in church,” Brett said honestly. He hadn’t slept a wink the night before and based upon how much tossing and turning Courtney had done, neither had she.  Still this morning they were up at the crack of dawn running off of pure adrenaline. 

Mr. Benson laughed as though their worry was completely unnecessary. “Don’t be nervous. 
Be sad, shocked and hurt
, like we practiced. That goes over better.  Remember you’re the victims here.”  He raised his thick dark brows at Courtney. “You let me be nervous for you.” 

“You nervous?” Courtney doubted it. 

“Well, one can pretend,” Mr. Benson said with a twinkle in his eye. 

Today, more than ever before, Mr. Benson exuded a certain bright-eyed confidence that most people had only after they won a case.

As they made their way to the courtroom where the trial would take place, they saw a bench full of familiar and not-so familiar faces and just a few feet down, the plaintiff and his one lonely attorney sat with Sharon and William Riley. 

Mr. Benson waved down to them sardonically.  “This trial is going to be like slaughtering pigs.”  He turned to Courtney and Brett. “Okay, you know your Mom and Dad, of course.  You know James Gavin.  You know Judy Mabry.” He paused at the other group of people.  “But here’s some folks that you don’t know. This is Mrs. Catherine Tabor, Leo’s ex-wife. She’s going to be a character witness for you today, and she’s also one hell of a lawyer in Wilmington.” 

Courtney’s eyes bucked as she offered her hand. “Thanks so much for doing this,” she said sincerely.

“Glad to,” Catherine said, feeling her ex-husband glare at her from the next bench over.  He’d never understand how much she was going to enjoy this. 

Mr. Benson tried to control his laugh. “This is Lance Corporal Mark Sheer. He was one of the Military Police who arrested Leo Tabor on the golf course the night that he was caught with his commanding officer’s wife.”

“Nice to meet you,” Brett said, shaking his hand firmly. “Appreciate you for doing this.”

“My pleasure,” Mark said, looking at Brett’s medals.

“And I want you two to sit here, right between Gavin and Catherine,” Mr. Benson said, motioning toward the bench.  “Let me huddle with my team for a second and then I’ll be right back.”

When they sat down, Mr. Benson and his team gathered in the corner in clear view of Leo and his attorney. He was internally trying to intimidate them and whether he knew it or not, it was working.

Brett and Courtney had worked with Benson’s dream team for a month to get ready, every day for an hour, Monday through Friday.  One black woman, one black man and white man all under the age of 30 with plenty of energy and clinging to Mr. Benson’s every word, the lawyers had combed through every piece of the case and prepared an ironclad defense for the Black family.  Now it was time to execute their masterplan. 

Gavin scooted over as Brett sat beside him. 

“Hey,” Brett said, removing his cover.  Already he had started to sweat in all the layers of clothes. 

“What’s up,” Gavin said, wiping his tired eyes.  In a sleek black Michael Kors suit and shaven face, he looked like a different person than his normal rugged self.  And his presence continued to grab the attention of Catherine, who was glad that Benson had given some space between her and the sexy private investigator or she might have just reached over and attacked him. 

“Late night?” Brett asked, looking over at his friend.

Gavin’s voice was low and brittle like he was battling a hangover.  “Oh yeah. Spent most of it at a fucking golf course last night.”  He huffed and rubbed a hand over his head. “I hate golf.”

“Some girl you chasing got a father with some money or influence you need?” Brett asked, scared to hear the answer.

Gavin looked over at Brett and smiled.  “I’ll tell you later.” 

“Alright, let me give you guys and gals an update,” Mr. Benson said, clasping his hands together as he returned to them.  He heaved a deep breath.  “We have had a slight change in today’s events.  The judge who was assigned to hear the case, Barrington, got really sick yesterday at the golf course and was rushed to the hospital.”  He raised his palms.  “Don’t worry. 
He’s alright
.  Just really bad food poisoning. Something tropical and very nasty, but he’ll survive. He’s going to be out for a few weeks recovering, but we have a very capable judge taking his place.  Her name is Ellen Warford. You may have heard of her before. She has a twin sister, Mae Warford, in Raleigh, NC who is a judge also. They’re like royalty around these parts and from what I’ve seen a very fair and balanced judge. 
Anyhow,
she’ll be hearing the case and hopefully, helping us reach a verdict.”

Diane had heard of the fabulous Warford sisters.  They had made all the social papers for the last decade.  Smiling, she leaned into Jeffery. “Ellen Warford is a black woman married to a white retired Marine,” she said astonished at Mr. Benson’s skill. “This is a perfect match for the kids.”

“Too perfect,” Jeffery said, shaking his head. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but he did know that it was no coincidence.  “As long as it plays in our favor, I won’t complain.” 

Brett turned to Gavin and frowned. “How much of this were you responsible for?”

Gavin yawned. “Leo’s ex-wife was easy to find and eager to burn him at the stake. The MP was happy to help after he found out you were a Marine.”  He shrugged like it was no big deal. 

“And the golf course?” Brett asked.

“
Plausible deniability
, bro,” Gavin said, pushing back on the bench. “Learn it and love it.” 

Brett looked down at the bench about 20-feet down from them.  “Is that Leo?” he asked, eyeing the man like he wanted to kill him.

Gavin didn’t bother looking over at the guy. “Yep, that’s him.”

“What happened to him? Was that you, too?”  Brett asked as he sat back.

“I can truly say that I didn’t do that,” Gavin laughed. “Evidently, the guy ran into a few Navy SEALs who were not too happy that he was a poser.”  Though he was responsible for the introduction he wasn’t responsible for the outcome.  Pity. 

“Well they fucked him up,” Brett smirked. “Damn, I wish I could have been there.”

Courtney grabbed Judy’s hand and held it in her own.  “You’re a life saver,” she said, smiling at her. “Thank you for this.”

Judy cracked a wide smile. “Your attorney offered me the opportunity to sit on a stand and call Amy Black’s narrow ass a whore.” She chuckled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” 

Courtney suddenly understood why Mr. Benson was so incredibly confident.  He had assembled a group of people that would not only vindicate her husband and vouch for his character but also help crucify Leo Tabor and Amy Black posthumously. 

“Okay,” she said, releasing her anxiety. “This is going to work out.” 

***

Leo pulled at his restricting neck brace and tried to ignore the aching pain shooting up his knee to his groin and the dull ache in his lower back as he tried to get comfortable on the hard bench. 
But there was no hope.
Wearing a full cast on his left leg, a less-than-attractive back brace and a neck brace, he sat beside Sharon and William Riley, while the lawyer looked over the files one last time as if he would discover some miracle that hadn’t sprang forth since they started this shit.

It occurred to Leo as he lay in the hospital alone for those weeks that this had been a bad idea. In fact, it ranked as the worst idea of his life. If he had just stayed away from the Riley’s and Brett Black, he would have still had a perfect nose, a bright smile and some sex appeal that might have landed him an old cougar to mooch off of until he got back up on his feet, but in his current condition, no one wanted any part of him. 

That was something he wasn’t used to.  He had been beautiful his entire life and now he was just handicapped. 

Leo had been sulking about his pathetic situation for weeks.  After being jumped by three Navy SEALs in the bathroom of the strip club the same night of the fight with Gavin, he had been hospitalized for weeks and left with an enormous doctor’s bill.  To make things worse, things were now very shaky with Amber, who promised to put him out on his ass if he didn’t win this case.  He knew she was a gold digger but he thought she would at least keep her cool until after the trial, but after being found out about being a defunct Navy dentist with a missing tooth he couldn’t afford to replace, she treated him like pure concentrated shit. 

Damn, he hoped to win just so he could rub it in Amber’s face before he hobbled his ass on a plane and said goodbye to the United States. 

“This isn’t good,” the lawyer said, shaking his head.  Benson was going to make him into his bitch in that courtroom today with what they had and he knew it.  He had begged Leo to walk away, but the man wouldn’t, and so he had to proceed. 

“What isn’t good?” Sharon asked, trying not to look down at all the people who had come to Brett’s defense. She didn’t even know he had that many friends. Now she wished that William had allowed her to bring some of the congregation from the Church, but he had insisted that this was a personal matter that would not be discussed outside of the home.  

“We have a new judge.” The lawyer closed his files and shoved them back in his briefcase.  “Barrington is sick. Word is that he’s got some kind of food poisoning you can only get from India.” 

“What’s wrong with having a new judge?” Sharon asked, wishing William would have a little more buy in to this trial.  He had checked out of the entire process since Brett Black showed up at their door nearly three months ago.  It was like he didn’t even care anymore.   

The lawyer lowered his voice and turned to her. “She’s a black woman.”

Sharon’s eyes grew big.  Even though she knew what the lawyer was implying, she still prodded. “That’s not supposed to matter. The judge is supposed to be impartial.”

“They are going to call you to the stand and make you confirm the fact that you used racial slurs about Courtney Black.”  The lawyer rolled his eyes.  He wasn’t too keen on what Brett had asserted in the briefs.  Evidently, the First Lady of their Church was a racist. 

Sharon swallowed hard.  “Well, I will just say that I was angry.”

The lawyer was not impressed with her answer.  “Brett is also accusing you both of being a part of the Klan.  He’s saying that Amy told him very proudly before offering to take him to a rally herself.” 

“We can deny that.” Sharon blinked fast like the lawyer had just slapped her.

“You won’t say anything at all,” William finally said to Sharon. He turned to the lawyer.  “I’m seriously considering leaving here with my wife before this begins.”