Fury rose in Liam as he listened to Lorraine’s muddled description of what had gone down at Buck’s place. Corruption had no place in this town. His back straightened and he focused hard. They’d save Yasmin and Josiah, and they’d free Safe Haven of the poison that was Buck Mulligan. There was no alternative.
“Rocky,” he said as they approached Buck’s place. “You and Rio need to stay in the car and help your mom. You can watch, but don’t come out. Stay on the phone with Rita and Jimmy and Miss Vi. Let them know what’s going on. Understand?”
“But I want to...”
Liam turned and gave him a full-on glare. “What’s Yasmin going to say if I let you be in danger?”
Lorraine croaked from beside him, “He’s right, son. This is adult business. Besides, I need you here with me.”
Rocky’s eyes flickered back and forth from Liam to his mother and back again. Tough when you didn’t know exactly who was your authority figure, but that was life for some kids. He’d been there.
They parked on a dirt road in a thick stand of pines. Buck’s place glowed white through the trees. “There’s a dock just down there, if I remember right,” Cash said, pointing. “Let’s go through the woods to there and then circle up toward the house.”
Rio let out a yelp when they left the SUV, but Rocky calmed him instantly. And then Liam and Cash were creeping through the swampy pines. Like when they’d played as kids, or escaped consequences for bad behavior as teenagers, but now the stakes were high.
The dock was splintery and decaying, at odds with the pristine house. Showed that Buck wasn’t a real low country person. He didn’t prioritize the connection with the water.
Movement up near the house caught Liam’s eye, and he put a hand on Cash’s arm and nodded toward it.
Mulligan was coming out, scanning the water, with a weapon he wasn’t authorized to have at the ready. But something was wrong with how he looked, and it only took a minute for Liam to realize the man was soaking wet.
Liam pulled his weapon, holding it low but ready, and Cash did the same. That didn’t surprise Liam; his brother did some of his business dealings in dangerous places and he was a crack shot.
Jerking his head to one side, Liam indicated for Cash to separate off toward the house. Hopefully they’d cut the man off and take him down without a shot fired. Even though he deserved injury and more, if what Liam suspected was true, he’d still try to take the man in unscathed.
They were about to do a standard distract-and-capture when the sound of a boat’s motor came from the water. Buck obviously heard it, because he straightened and turned that way. “Coming back here. I knew y’all would. Crazy man pushing me out of the boat...you’re gonna pay for that.” And then he was muttering dark threats of which Liam could only understand a few words.
Liam knew who was going to be in the boat before he saw them, and his heart sank.
Yasmin and Joe, standing beside each other. Joe used to be an expert sailor and boatman, and obviously still remembered how. Yasmin sat close beside him, talking intently. But how steady they were mentally was anyone’s guess.
Liam broke cover. “Stay away,” he called, coming out into the open and waving his arms, gesturing for them to stay out of Mulligan’s range. Then he turned and stared the man down, weapon still ready.
“What the... I’m going to kill you,” Mulligan snarled. “Always messing with my plans.”
What made it worse was that Yasmin and Josiah just kept on coming.
Mulligan walked toward the water’s edge.
“Stay back,” Liam ordered.
“Can’t believe you think you’d do for chief. Naive. People know they can work with me.”
“What do Yasmin and Josiah have to do with that?” Liam genuinely wanted to know, but he also wanted to distract Mulligan so that Cash would have time to do...something.
“They wouldn’t have had anything to do with it,” Buck said grimly, “if Old Crazy, there, hadn’t been where he shouldn’t be when Lorraine and her idiot husband came into town.”
Liam tried to process that. “Her husband who’s in California?”
“Her husband who’s dead, and if anyone deserved to die, it was that jerk,” Buck said.
Understanding crashed in on Liam. “The guy in the car was Lorraine’s husband. Rocky’s stepfather.” His head pounded with the shock, and the self-recrimination that he hadn’t figured that out sooner.
There was no time to think about all the implications now. “Did you do it on purpose?” Liam asked, hoping to distract Buck.
But he ignored Liam, still walking toward the boat. Getting closer.
“I hate to have to shoot you, but I will,” Liam said. Buck was close enough, now, that Liam could smell nervous sweat coming from the man.
Then everything happened at once. Cash burst out from under the docks and feinted like he was going to board the boat, but with some kind of hand signal, Joe leaped off the deck and they both landed on Buck, taking him down. That freed Liam and he turned to Yasmin, but then there was the sound of a shot and Buck took off running.
“Wild one!” Cash said. “We’re fine!”
But Buck was turning, taking aim at Josiah. Yasmin leaped in front of her brother, and then Liam dived in front of her.
“Buck’s scared of dogs!” Yasmin screamed.
A dark shape hurdled through the air: Rio, leaping at Buck and knocking him to the ground. Rocky yelled something. Cash and Liam, Yasmin and Josiah all ran toward the man, boy and dog.
And together, they overpowered Buck.
* * *
RITA SPENT THE next day helping to do damage control. She’d never liked Buck Mulligan, but she wouldn’t have pegged him for a criminal mastermind. “He just didn’t seem that smart,” she said to Yasmin, who was parked on Rita’s couch with a big cup of hot tea.
“I agree, but there’s smart and smart.” Yasmin’s voice was husky, strained; apparently, she’d done a lot of screaming last night. “I guess he was the dumb-like-a-fox kind. He almost got away with all of that. He sure had Chief Ramirez fooled.”
“How do you mean?”
Yasmin lifted her hands in a palms-up position. “Apparently he told the chief a bunch of lies about Liam. Got him to believe that council would blame him and his legacy in Safe Haven would be ruined if he backed Liam over Buck.”
Rita shook her head. “And Buck turned out to be a killer. Although the actual murder seems to have been an accident. Right?”
“Uh-huh. Buck was trying to help Lorraine—apparently they’d had a relationship years ago and still cared about each other—and he just got out of control, hit the guy too hard. If he’d come forward and confessed right away...” Yasmin sighed. “Among other things, Joe wouldn’t have had to go through so much.”
Rita’s heart tugged. God willing, Yasmin would never experience the mental health issues her brother faced, but she seemed to feel every nuance of the pain he went through. “How’s he doing?”
“It could be a setback.” Yasmin sighed. “His doctor insisted he go to the hospital for twenty-four hours of observation. But I’m almost thinking he’ll end up better than before. He felt good that he could help Cash take Buck down, and he actually pushed Buck out of the boat and drove it, which I could never have done. It was like some of his old self came back. I hope it stays.”
“Is Rocky doing okay?”
“Yeah. He suspected the victim was his stepdad, because he and Joe saw a lot of the fight. He was afraid his mom had killed his stepdad, though, so he was more worried about what would happen to her. The stepdad... Rocky won’t miss him.”
Her voice trailed off at the end, and she sounded drowsy, so Rita didn’t press her for more information, including about what might be happening between her and Liam. She wanted to know, and wanted to help both of them, but they’d been through way t
oo much. Liam was busy at headquarters, writing up and interviewing and explaining, and would be for a while. And Yasmin had basically collapsed after everything had finally settled the night before.
Rita was still holding inside herself, like a delicate glass of happiness, her joy about one thing: Liam and Cash both seemed ready to have some kind of relationship with her. Like their older brother Sean, who’d been a rock throughout these crazy two days. It would take time, and who knew where it would all end up, but they’d both hugged her and apologized for being distant and said they wanted to talk when the situation with Buck got resolved.
She’d just pulled a blanket over Yasmin, who’d already dozed off, when there was a quiet rap on her front door.
When she opened it, there was Jimmy. Hope flared inside her.
He looked just as handsome as the first day she’d met him. Shaved head, muscles, tattoos...he was a sexy guy for sure.
But now, she knew more about him, knew of his compassion and tenderness, his patience and passion.
What was more, she felt worthy of being with him now. No, she didn’t completely know who she was or what had happened in her past, and that might always remain a mystery, shadowy and shrouded. But in the warmth of the Safe Haven community, working side by side with Yasmin and Liam and Sean, she’d started to believe that she must have done her best. Maybe she didn’t have to be down on herself forever to make up for whatever wrongs she’d done.
There were people like Josiah, who suffered so much more than she did, and worked so much harder for happiness. And there were kids like Rocky, desperate for any connection with their moms. She’d rediscovered her children and was starting to build something with them. For now, it was enough.
Like Jimmy had said, she wasn’t getting any younger and neither was he. She put a finger to her lips and gestured toward the front room. “Yasmin’s sleeping, but do you want to sit on the balcony, talk a little?”
He nodded, without smiling. Uh-oh. Maybe she felt like she deserved happiness, but it was very possible that she’d blown her chances with Jimmy. Was he here for a final goodbye?
As she led him through the kitchen toward the balcony, though, she caught a whiff of something sweetly floral and fragrant. At the balcony door, she turned to look at him, but he just lifted an eyebrow.
Still no smile, but his hand was behind his back.
On the balcony, he pulled it forward. Red roses...at least two dozen, in what looked like a crystal vase. “These are for you,” he said.
She pressed a hand to her mouth. Buried her nose in the flowers and inhaled their fragrance. And then set them down and turned to him. “Thank you. Does...does this mean we have a chance?”
“Do you want one?”
She tilted her head to one side and nodded. “I want it more than anything. I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through.”
“And I’m sorry for being impatient. I can’t imagine what this has been like for you, coming to Safe Haven to figure out your past.”
“I haven’t figured it out, not entirely,” she said, “but you’ve made it better than I could have imagined.”
He opened his arms. “Come here.”
She walked into them, and he held her as the low country breeze cooled her face and warmed her heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY
A WEEK LATER, Yasmin perched on the edge of her desk at the women’s center and looked around at the women gathered here. Rita, Norma and Claire: they’d all become closer friends through the challenges they’d faced together.
Even Lorraine, who was technically still a client, was here because she’d said she wanted to help.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to keep this place running smoothly,” Miss Vi said. She was already way overcommitted at the library, but when she’d realized what all had happened with Lorraine and Buck and Yasmin, she’d decided she needed to put in some hours here, as well.
Her focus was on building a small library at the center, of course. Building up one for women, in addition to the kids’ one they already had. Miss Vi was putting together a list of books that were uplifting to women who were struggling with domestic violence or abuse, and she’d already started raising the money to purchase the books, along with shelving and lighting.
She’d also suggested that Josiah teach the kids, and maybe the moms, to play chess, since his work with the kids’ chess club at the library was going so well. Even though Yasmin wanted most of the center’s activities to be organized by women, she’d make an exception for Josiah. He loved teaching chess to kids and could wax eloquent about the benefits: thinking ahead, problem solving, good sportsmanship.
The others weren’t quite so forceful as Miss Vi, but they were all helping with the center, even talking about getting it back to its roots as a live-in center. Norma was considering joining the staff part-time, as a counselor. Rita was committed to helping however she was needed; she freely admitted to being a jack-of-all-trades. And Claire wanted to do something for younger women, who tended to think of women’s centers as being for married women with kids. Claire insisted that dating violence happened at every age, and she wanted teens and twentysomethings to know about how to spot it and avoid that type of partner.
Yasmin looked around the office and sighed. “I’m sorry it’s so crowded in here,” she said. “I wish we had a bigger facility.”
“I wish it were residential,” Lorraine said. “That might have kept me away from my husband. I just never knew where I’d stay if I cut him all the way off.”
Yasmin bit her lip to stifle the critical words that wanted to come out. Lorraine had done something nearly unforgiveable in letting Rocky suffer as he had, but she was penitent, open about not having been a good mother, and supposedly, she wanted to raise him.
And Yasmin knew something she couldn’t yet tell the others: Cash was thinking about making a big donation to the center. Which might mean that they could develop a residential program in the future, by building onto the church or by finding another property that would suit.
“I need some air. Let’s go out onto the steps,” Lorraine said, and the others agreed. As they walked outside, Lorraine tugged at Yasmin’s sleeve. “Something’s been bothering me,” she said. “Are you going to report me to social services for what I did, neglecting Rocky like that?”
“I’m not sure. But I’d definitely like for you to consider staying in Safe Haven, where you can get the support you need.”
“I’m already looking for apartments,” she promised. “I want to do better, Yasmin. Honestly, I do.”
“Hey, look!” Norma said in a falsely quiet voice. “The cops are coming! Somebody’s in trouble.”
“I’m outta here,” Claire said.
“Me, too,” Rita said, and Norma followed her. “Come on, Lorraine, breakfast at the café is on me.”
Yasmin tilted her head to one side as she watched her friends hurry off. That had seemed odd.
Then she refocused her attention on the police car that had pulled up in front of the women’s center.
She and Liam had spent time together during the past week, talking through what had happened. They’d worked out their differences, she felt. They even had plans for a date tonight, so what was he doing here now?
Liam got out, in uniform. He was holding a box from the café. “I brought you breakfast,” he said, holding it out to her.
“Thank you.” He was so thoughtful, and she had hopes that one day she might regain his trust. She opened the box. “My favorites!” Jean Carol’s cinnamon rolls were to die for, and she normally limited herself to just one, but there were three here.
“Have one,” he urged. Just as he had so many times when they’d dated before, and she was touched he remembered her favorite breakfast after all this time.
“Only if you will, too.”
“Okay, if you insist.” S
o they sat in the morning sunshine and ate their rolls.
“Split the last one?” he suggested.
“Oh, well, if you insist.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” He ripped it carefully and handed her half on a napkin.
She picked it up, and something sparkled underneath. “I think there’s...” She trailed off.
It was a ring. A diamond engagement ring.
She lost her breath. Slowly, she raised her eyes to his. “Liam?”
He shifted to the step below her and looked up. “Yasmin, I’ve loved you for so many years, and I’ve almost lost you twice. I can’t take a chance on losing you for real and for good.” He wiped a fine sheen of sweat from his forehead.
“Wait,” she said. “What did you just say?”
“I said I can’t take a chance—”
“No,” she interrupted, waving a hand, staring at him. “The other part. You love me? Not just for old times or because I need help with my life?”
“No.” He smiled then. “I hope I can help you with your burdens, and I’m glad I’ve known you forever. It’ll make a great basis for a marriage.” He tilted his head to one side, looking at her with eyes burning. “But only if you feel the same. If you love me, too, as more than a friend.”
All the breath she’d been holding burst out of her in a nervous laugh. “Do you think I’d kiss a friend the way I kiss you?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe you’d better show me again.”
He was kind of joking, she knew that, but she slid forward, her heart seeming to expand in her chest, her throat tight. She tangled her fingers into his dark hair and pressed her lips to his, trying to put all her love and caring into this one kiss.
It was Liam who finally broke it off, breathing hard. “Will you marry me and let me protect you and help you and take care of you?”
She bit her lip to stop the tears. Nothing could stop the swell of emotions in her heart, though. “Liam...there won’t be any kids.”
“No biological kids, but there are other ways. Adoption, foster care. I’m open to either.”
Low Country Dreams Page 25
