Testosterone Poisoning Book 3

By Carole McKee

Storm is recovering from his injuries from the explosion. Back from the dead, he quits the County Police Force and is planning a new endeavor. Storm and Kyla’s new baby, David, (born on that terrible night of crime) is introduced to his two older siblings when they return from their long vacation in Florida. It is a fun trip, planned and carried out by their grandparents, the wealthy Stanford's; but they can’t wait get home to meet their little brother. Their life returns to normal as they enjoy family outings and home life. But Storm's past comes back to haunt the happy family with another disaster. Is there a happily-ever-after for Storm and Kyla?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carole McKee
• Release date: Oct 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310998645

Carole McKee

I am originally from Pittsburgh, but I now reside in Florida, with my two cats. My first attempt at writing was when I wrote a tribute to my Black Lab after he passed away. That short story appeared in a veterinarian's magazine and now appears in a paperback collection of short stories, "Forever Families" edited by Shelagh Watkins. After earning a couple of college degrees, I started writing for fun, and as a hobby. I completed my first novel "Perfect" in 2007. I entered the book in a contest and it received an honorable mention. In addition to that, I received a lot of great feedback on that first attempt, so I decided to try another. That led to my second book "Choices" and then came "The Bushes are Red" and "The Full Nelson"--a trilogy that is turning into a series, because readers didn't want me to stop there. Another book, in that series ("Consequences") was released in April, 2013. In December, 2011, "Kisses from the Heart" was published--all new characters. "Maddie's Garden" (2011) is another new story with all fresh new characters. "Second Chances" came out in 2012, and "Going Home" came out later that same year. There are many more to come. I love writing and will continue to write every day. Please email me! I answer all emails as soon as I can. [e-mail].

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Book 3 As Long as You Still Breathe

By

Carole McKee

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

Carole McKee on Smashwords

Testosterone Poisoning; Book 3; As Long as You Still Breathe

Copyright © 2015 by Carole McKee

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced with this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

DEDICATION

To Diane Kennedy

Chapter 1

Kyla held two-and-a-half-week old David in her arms as he nursed greedily from her breast. She smiled down at her beautiful baby boy, David--named after Storm’s most beloved uncle who died from leukemia years before Kyla had met Storm. David had Storm’s black hair but it looked like he would have Kyla’s turquoise eyes. He was definitely going to break hearts someday; Kyla was sure of it. As she looked down at her son she heard the front door open and close. Storm was home. He limped into the bedroom and bent down to kiss her neck. His movement caused David to stop suckling and open his eyes.

You like that? Storm asked his baby son. That’s Daddy’s. David stared blankly up at him.

Actually, I believe it’s mine, Kyla laughed.

Well…technically….

No, not technically…it actually is mine.

But I have a ninety-nine year lease on it. Storm teased in a soft voice so as not to frighten David.

And what happens after the ninety-nine years are up?

I’ll renew my lease, he said, as he kissed her cheek. David went back to his breakfast.

What did the doctor say? Kyla asked, continuing to speak in a hushed tone.

He said I should be a surgeon.

Because your stitches were that good?

Yeah….and that I treated the wound like a pro.

Storm and his partner Donnie were the victims of an attempted cop killing just three weeks earlier. Fortunately they avoided the certain death that was planned by a narcotics ring that they had been tracking and eventually put behind bars. Both Storm and Donnie were presumed dead when their car exploded due to a bomb that was placed inside the car. Thankfully, Storm had installed a remote starter on the car, and if he had not used it at that time, the bomb would have killed them. The blast from the bomb had thrown them clear of the explosion, but they had been injured. They managed to get to safety and patch themselves up, and after a trying effort, were able to get back to their wives. Storm came back from the dead just in time to deliver little David, but first he and Donnie had to take care of the men who were terrorizing Kyla inside their house. The two criminals knew Storm and Kyla Galloway had money and they had come for a payday. Storm ended up killing one of the men as he made threatening advances toward Kyla, who was in hard labor with David. It was a night of terror for Kyla but it ended well. Not only did she deliver a beautiful son that night, but she had her husband back.

When Al Hamilton, a homicide detective, had come to break the news that Storm and Donnie were killed, Kyla had been shattered. She wasn’t sure she could go on living. Fortunately their other two children were away on vacation with her parents, so she didn’t have to deal with their grief at the time. Her own was all she could handle, and she hadn’t done that very well. She fell apart at the memorial service and she felt so lost when she was alone. Storm and the children were her life. Seeing him still alive was so overwhelming, that she became hysterical--and so incredibly relieved and happy.

He quit his job the night David was born. Never again would he ever put his wife and children in jeopardy because he was a narcotics detective. When he saw the fright on Kyla’s face when that goon moved towards her, he knew that was the end of his time with the elite county narcotics special forces. Kyla--his Kyla--meant everything to him. No two people ever loved each other as much as they did.

So is that your next venture? Medicine? Kyla asked.

No….I’m just going to sit around and get fat and lazy. I might start watching a few soap operas, he teased.

Sweetheart, as long as you still breathe, I don’t care how lazy or how fat you get. Kyla kissed his cheek and started to get up from the loveseat they had just added to their bedroom. It was a comfortable place to nurse the baby. In fact, because of the carnage and blood splatter left on the floor and the walls, the entire room had been redone, including all new furniture, before they could claim the room as theirs again.

Here, I’ll take him, Storm offered, as he reached for David. Storm was definitely a ‘hands-on’ father. He had always jumped right in to lend a hand any time Kyla was doing anything with the children.

Okay, I have to change his sheets, and he hasn’t burped yet.

I’m on it. After you do that, you can take a shower if you want. Donnie and Linda are coming over in awhile. Donnie and I have to go clean out our desks.

Kyla stopped and looked at Storm. Love, are you sure you want to do this? I know how much you always loved being a detective.

I’m sure, because I love you more. I will never, ever put you in a position like that again. You have no idea what that did to me when I saw you at the mercy of that moron jackass. I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands. Besides, it’s time, Honey. Time for a new chapter. A change. For me and for Donnie. We’ve been very lucky over the past few years. Why push it?

I just don’t want you to be unhappy. Kyla shrugged.

As long as I have you and the kids I will never be unhappy, he responded, making her smile.

Kyla finished with the bassinette bedding and Storm brought David over to put him in it. He was already asleep. What time will the kids be here? They are coming home today, right?

Storm, Junior and Kylene were still on vacation with Kyla’s parents. Kyle and Lauren Stanford took the children on a long vacation which had lasted more than a month. The five and three year olds were anxious to get home and meet their new baby brother. All of the drama concerning their father’s job had been kept from them as well as Kyla’s parents. Of course they would tell Kyle and Lauren, but they didn’t see a need to tell the kids or their nanny anything that had happened.

The kids will be here around four or four-thirty at the latest. My parents said they should be right on schedule. Storm, they are so excited about the baby. They can’t wait to ‘play’ with him. Kyla put her hands up and made air quotes as she said it.

Wait ‘til they see how little he is. That will intimidate them. Storm laughed. Go take your shower and I’ll make a pot of coffee for Donnie and myself.

Kyla nodded and headed toward the master bathroom. She couldn’t wait until she could have a cup of coffee. Decaf just didn’t do it for her. She turned the water on, got undressed and welcomed the warmth of the water down her back.

Chapter 2

Kyla just finished dressing when she heard Donnie and Linda’s knock. She grabbed one of the extra bassinettes that they kept for when either Linda or Kyla’s best friend, Zippy came over. All three had had their babies within twenty-four hours of each other. David and Kane, who was born just two minutes before midnight, arrived on August fourth and little Darcy-Lynn was born

the very next day. All three mothers were looking forward to a joint first birthday party.

Is he sleeping, Linda? Kyla whispered. Linda nodded, and started down the hall to the

extra bassinette. Kyla followed her to make sure she had what she needed, and then she turned the baby monitor on before they joined their husbands in the living room. Storm brought in coffee for himself and Donnie and decaf tea for the women, since both were nursing. They settled down to drink the beverages and chat before the men left to clean out their desks in the detective’s bullpen.

Storm, I got enrolled in those three finance classes you told me to take. I start next Monday at community college. I figure I’ll do those there and if I need advanced classes I can go to one of the other four-year colleges in the area to get the rest of what I need.

Good deal, Donnie. Hey, you’re going to get a lot of on-the-job training with me, plus you already have a Bachelor’s degree, so it won’t take too long to get you certified. In the meantime, we have to work on getting the office ready. Maybe we can start on that tomorrow. Kyla? Can we?

It’s up to you, Love. I think it might be nice to spend a couple of days here with the kids though. Don’t you?

Okay, you’re right. Maybe start on Thursday then? That will give us four days before Donnie and Storm, Junior start school. Hey, you and my kid will have something in common. Maybe you can do your homework together, Storm teased. The other three laughed just before they heard sounds from the baby monitor.

One of them is awake, Donnie acknowledged.

It’s Kane, Linda answered.

How do you know? he asked, causing Linda and Kyla to look at each other and laughed.

What’s so funny? Both of them sound alike. How can you tell who is crying?

Come on, pal….let’s go. I’ll tell you in the car. Storm gave Kyla a quick kiss before he walked outside with Donnie and got into Storm’s SUV.

Okay, now tell me, Donnie said as he buckled his seatbelt. Storm Grinned.

When one of the babies cry, the baby’s mother feels her breast filling up with milk.

No shit? I never knew that.

You should read more of the books on pregnancy and newborns. I read them all. You’re probably still afraid to handle Kane, aren’t you? Do you change his diaper or bathe him?

No….I’m afraid I’ll break him or something. Donnie snorted a laugh.

Read those books. You’d be surprised what you’ll find out. I bathe my babies, change their diapers, feed them when they are older…hell, they’re my kids, too. Kyla shouldn’t have to do everything.

Wow….you should be nominated for husband of the year, or something.

Yeah, well, I promised to be the perfect husband, and I do my damnedest to keep that promise. Kyla’s a great wife, too…so it balances out.

Storm steered the vehicle into the parking lot of the county police department and found an empty space. He felt a twinge of sadness and regret, but quickly shook it off. No way could he stay. Besides, he had a great education and skills in finances and financial planning. He could still operate as a detective of embezzlement if any company wanted those services. It would be good--this was the right move.

Storm, are you thinking what I’m thinking?

I don’t know. What are you thinking?

How much I’m going to miss this place.

Yeah….I’ll miss it, too, but…no way…I can’t ever put my family in jeopardy like that again. Kyla told me that creep threatened to shoot David in the head when he came out. I just can’t take any more chances. You understand that, don’t you?

Yeah….I do. It’s better this way….for everyone concerned.

Look at the bright side. We’ll still be our own boss and we won’t have to answer to anybody…except our clients. That’s a plus. Storm shut the car off and got out. He waited for Donnie and they walked into the building