How could one forgotten phone call affect a couple who had found true love and happiness with each other? They were about to find out. After a wonderful weekend with Stormy’s family, the happy couple returned to Orlando completely oblivious to the danger that awaited them.
As AJ stuck the key in the door, Stormy slipped her arms around his waist and kissed him lightly along his neck.
“Baby,” whined AJ. “I can’t get the door open with you doing this.”
“I know,” purred Stormy as she ran her hands over his body.
AJ turned in her arms. “Baby, I can take you in my arms and make love to you but NOT if I can’t get in the house.”
Running her hands up his chest, she nibbled at his lips and pressed herself against him. “We could just drop right here.”
AJ laughed, “I’m sure my neighbors would LOVE that and the tabloids would have a field day with it. Come on, let me open the house.”
Stormy let go of him so that he could open the door. Inside, AJ turned to take her in his arms slamming the door behind them. They were completely unaware of the two men sitting in the living room.
“Nice display of affection. Hope you enjoyed it because it’s going to be your last,” came a deep voice that startled the couple apart.
“Who the hell are you?” demanded AJ as he held on to Stormy protectively.
Stormy recognized them immediately and became scared. “How did you get in here, Sylvio?” she asked.
“You should know the answer to that, Danielle.”
AJ looked down at Stormy. “You know them?”
“They’re the guys who were looking for me when you found me. They work for Diaz.”
“And you’re coming back with us now, Danielle,” insisted Sylvio as he started towards the couple.
“I’ll be damned,” said AJ pushing Stormy behind him so that his body blocked the two men that were moving towards them now. “She’s NOT going anywhere.”
“Don’t be a fool, McLean. We have guns and you don’t. Danielle, say goodbye to him and let’s go.”
As the second man made a move to take Stormy’s arm, AJ pushed him back and Sylvio pulled his gun.
“I warned you, McLean,” he said as he slammed his fist across AJ’s jaw.
AJ dropped to his knees giving the second guy a chance to grab Stormy. Blood dripped from his mouth as he said, “You’re NOT taking her anywhere.”
“Alex, please,” begged Stormy.
“No, Stormy!! I’m NOT letting them take you.”
AJ started towards Sylvio but was stopped by a bullet from Sylvio’s gun and he dropped in his tracks, his eyes wide with bewilderment.
“NOOOOOO!” screamed Stormy seeing AJ on the floor, blood starting to soak his shirt.
“Get her out of here,” ordered Sylvio.
As the two men pushed her towards the door, Stormy fought to get away from them. “You can’t leave him here to die,” she cried.
“Yeah, we can.”
The three were stopped at the door by one looming figure with three men behind him brandishing guns.
“RICKY!”
“Drop the guns and let her go,” ordered Ricky
Sylvio and his partner did as Ricky ordered and Stormy rushed back to AJ as he lay on the floor.
Ricky spoke to his men, “Take them out of here and deal with them.”
Ricky’s men did as they were ordered and he moved quickly to his sister and her boyfriend.
Stormy had AJ cradled in her arms holding him, her hand pressed to the bullet wound, as she cried, “Oh god, Alex! Please….don’t die on me! I love you.”
“Cold…I’m cold,” mumbled AJ as he tried to put his hand in her hair.
A blanket was placed over him as Ricky knelt down. “He’s going into shock, Danielle.”
Stormy pulled the blanket tighter. “Do something, Ricky. He can’t die…not now…not because of me.”
Ricky pulled out his cell phone and dialed. When someone picked up on the other end, he gave the address and what was going on. Hanging up, “Help is on the way, Danielle. Alex, hold on. My sister will hate me if anything happens to you.”
AJ tried to laugh, “No…I can’t….let…that happen. Oh…god, it hurts.”
Stormy hugged him tighter. “I know, baby. Don’t think about it. Remember this weekend. Remember the way it felt to make love to me.” AJ’s eyes started to close. “No, Alex…stay with me. Talk to me.”
“I….can’t,” he said weakly. “It’s cold…so….cold.”
Tears poured down her cheeks onto AJ’s skin, “No, damnit!! Don’t do this to me, Alex!! You can’t leave me now.” AJ’s body went limp in her arms and her tears came faster as she held him to her. “NOOOOO!” she cried.
Ricky reached over to check his pulse and said, “It’s the blood loss, Danielle.”
“Why? Why did they shoot him? He couldn’t hurt them.”
“They wanted you and they weren’t going to be stopped.” Hearing sirens coming closer, he said, “Help is here. He’s going to be okay, Danielle.”
As rescue squad attendants rushed into the house, police came in too and they wanted to talk to Stormy and Ricky. It was all they could do to get her to let go of AJ but they managed and the attendants were able to get to him. They worked quickly getting him stable and then loaded him onto the stretcher.
“I’m going with him,” said Stormy.
“I’ll take you,” offered Ricky.
She had regained control of her emotions and she faced her brother. With determination, she said, “No, I’m not leaving his side.”
One of the police officers spoke up, “We really need to find out what happened here.”
“That will just have to wait until I know my boyfriend is going to be okay,” and she followed the rescue squad attendants out of the house.
Ricky asked, “Where
are they taking him?”
“Orange County Memorial. We’ll follow you down there. We need to know what happened.”
Ricky didn’t give them an answer as he followed his sister out leaving the police to secure the house.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
