Protector of Novah (Valor Knights Book 1)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “You’re a whore.”

  She burst into laughter. “Thank you. I’ve done my best.”

  “My life is destroyed because of you. My wife, kids, and job are all gone.”

  She gave a careless shrug. “Oh get over it!”

  He reached into his pocket and took out a short rope, winding it around his knuckles on both hands and snapping it tight. The light seemed to leave his eyes.

  ShyAnne’s eyes bounced from the rope back to his face. “Did Peter put you up to this? To scare me?”

  Gammon took a step toward her and said, “I wonder how Langley’s ratings will go up in the polls once the public learns that his wife is dead?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  NOVAH AND EGAN had arrived late during the night, tired, and ready for sleep. The second she walked into the bedroom where Finley was sleeping Novah felt a weight lift off her chest upon seeing her baby girl safe. Crawling into bed with her, Novah snuggled close. The second she closed her eyes she fell asleep.

  With the sunlight, she came awake with a stir, looking around the strange room and empty bed. “Finley? Where are you?”

  Worried, Novah jumped up from the twin bed and tore out of the room, took the steps as fast as her feet would carry her. She had no idea where she was going but followed the sound of her daughter’s laughter. Novah came to a screeching halt when she popped her head into the kitchen and found Finley sitting with Egan at the table.

  “There you are, sleepyhead. We thought we’d let you sleep. Hungry for pancakes?” It was her mother who asked from where she flipped flapjacks at the stove. Was this a dream? How could they all seem so…well, relaxed under the circumstances?

  “Mommy! Mommy!” Finley dropped her red crayon and slipped out of the chair to race over to wrap her arms around Novah’s waist.

  She bent and hugged her daughter tight, fighting back tears. She’d missed her so much. “How are you, sweetheart?”

  “We’ve had so much fun, Mommy! Justice has pigs, one of them, a female that is a sow, had a baby and I got to feed her from a bottle! And the baby goat too.”

  The excitement Novah saw on Finley’s face made her realize why they were all happy. “That sounds amazing.”

  “She’s a very good helper.”

  At the sound of the stranger’s voice, Novah looked to the end of the table where a brawny, unshaven, blue eyed man sat. She offered him a smile, guessing he was Justice. “I’m Novah. You must be Justice.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Thank you for taking good care of my girl and Mom.”

  Rita set down the spatula and walked over to pull Novah into a comforting hug. “I was worried, but I knew Egan wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” she whispered.

  Novah looked at Egan and he was digging into his stack of pancakes covered in strawberry syrup. Was he intentionally ignoring her?

  “Pancakes coming right up!” Rita took up her place again at the griddle, served up a plate of fluffy flapjacks and set them at an empty place at the table. “Eat up, daughter.”

  “You know I don’t eat breakfast.” As nervous as she was, Novah wasn’t sure she could eat anything.

  “Try,” Rita insisted.

  Sitting next to Finley, Novah looked at the picture her daughter was drawing. “Who’s that?” There were several stick people.

  “That’s me,” Finley said in excitement. “And this,” she stabbed her finger against the paper. “Is Chestnut. She’s a cat.”

  “Can I meet Chestnut?”

  “Yes. She lives in the barn.”

  “Your mother sure knows how to fill a man’s stomach. I think I’ve put on ten pounds since she’s been here.” Justice patted his flat stomach.

  “You’ve probably made her happy. She loves to cook.”

  “It’s the least I could do as a thank you to Justice and Owl. After all, they were stuck with us,” Rita chimed in as she placed another pancake on Justice’s plate. “Egan, want another?”

  “No, thank you,” he answered, keeping his gaze averted.

  “Owl?” Novah asked.

  “That’s my father. You’ll get to meet him soon,” Justice said.

  “Mommy, I rode a horse. A big one. It was so much fun! Can we stay here forever?”

  “Sweetie, we’re just visiting. Eventually we’ll go home.” It was then that Egan looked across the short distance at Novah, but she couldn’t read his confusing expression.

  The screen door off the kitchen squeaked open and a seasoned version of Justice walked in. They were almost identical except this man had a head full of silver hair and a few wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. He slapped his white straw hat against his denim-clad thigh then hooked it near the door. “I smelled pancakes all the way down to the barn.” He swiped off his work boots on the welcome rug and came to stick out his hand for Egan to shake.

  “Good to see you, Owl.”

  “Glad you’re here, Egan. And this here must be Novah.” He turned his attention to her, giving her a pleasant smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Finley and Rita.” He patted Finley’s shoulder who’d stopped drawing to dig into her pancake. “Bout time I got to put a face to the name.”

  “I’m sure I’ve talked your ear off.” Rita beamed which made Novah curious. She hadn’t seen her mom this flushed in a long time. And the way Owl responded with a dimpled grin only solidified Novah’s curiosity.

  He sat down next to his son, forked a large piece of pancake and shoved it into his mouth. He swallowed the bite with a gulp of coffee. “Do we need to be worried, Egan?”

  Egan said to Rita, “Do you mind taking Finley for a walk?”

  “Sure. She loves early morning walks on the farm, don’t you?”

  Finley slid out of the chair and eagerly met her grandmother at the door. “I’m ready. I’ll be back, Mommy.”

  Novah waved and when the door was closed behind the pair, Egan finally answered Owl’s question. “I don’t know. I tried to call Dave Banner. Hopefully, he’ll call me back.”

  Justice pushed his empty plate away and said, “That bastard Langley needs to be castrated. The man can’t keep his dick—”

  Owl elbowed his son’s arm. “Watch your language. We have a lady present.”

  Clearing his throat, Justice looked at Novah apologetically. “Sorry, ma’am. But the man has a reputation of being someone who can’t keep his fly zipped. Egan told me about the woman being pregnant. Langley can play the game, but he can’t take responsibility. Figures.”

  “Forgive us if we get a little angry or use crude words. I guess we’re not used to having many females out here on the farm,” Owl said, shoveling more pancake into his mouth. “I’m sorry about your predicament but your mamma certainly has spoiled us over the last few days.”

  “You’re safe here,” Justice said.

  “Won’t Mr. Langley just let things go?” Novah asked.

  Egan and Justice made eye contact, exchanging a silent message. “I hope,” Egan muttered.

  “With any luck this’ll all be settled before you leave for Iraq.” Owl downed the remaining coffee in his cup.

  Novah sat straight. “Leave? Iraq?” The stress lines around Egan’s mouth told her he hadn’t expected this information to come out. She pushed the plate of untouched pancakes aside. “You’re worrying me.”

  He stared into his full cup of coffee for three heartbeats then he looked at her. “I signed a contract to go overseas for a month to train troops on dismantling bombs.”

  The breath swooshed out of her lungs. It took her a moment to get her voice to work. “Overseas? Again? I thought you said you retired.”

  “I did retire. I’ll be a civilian over there.”

  “You didn’t think you should tell me?”

  Owl scooted his chair back. “Justice, didn’t you say we had some work to tend to outside?”

  “I did. We better get to it.” The two men were gone in record speed.

  Novah stood, needing some space between he
r and Egan.

  “Novah…”

  “Don’t! You made out to me that you were ready to settle down, for Finley’s sake. Did you lie?” She braced her hands on the edge of the counter.

  “No. I didn’t lie. I am ready to settle down, but I was offered the contract and I couldn’t turn it down.” The creases around his eyes deepened. “It’s only for a month.”

  “Oh? You couldn’t? Because ‘no’ is impossible?”

  “Because helping to decrease the number of soldiers’ lives lost due to IEDs means something to me.”

  She turned and looked out the window above the sink, seeing Finley in the yard playing with a cat who could only be Chestnut. She looked so content that it ripped through Novah. “So who will explain to our daughter that her father will be gone again?” She turned back around, nailing him with what she hoped was a serious expression.

  “A month, Novah.”

  “I’ve heard that before.” Rubbing her forehead, she inhaled and exhaled slowly. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. We’re divorced. You can do what you want, as long as you explain the details to Finley.”

  His brawny shoulders slumped. His skin paled. “Novah—” His phone beeped from his pocket which halted his words.

  She turned to watch out the window again as he answered, barely listening to his gruff words and instead focusing on her happy girl playing on a tire swing.

  Novah blinked back tears. Why was she so emotional?

  Because I’m scared.

  When he hung up, she asked, “Who was that?”

  “Mike Gammon. He says he needs to speak to us.”

  “To us? He works for Langley, right?” She pushed away from the counter, feeling a heaviness over her chest.

  “Something isn’t right, but if I talk to him maybe I can get some answers.” Egan stood.

  “What did he say?”

  “That Langley had no clue that he was calling. He just wanted to talk.”

  “Can you take him at his word?”

  “I need to go, Novah.” He met her gaze. “Stay here with Finley and your mother. I’ll come back soon.”

  “He said he wanted to speak to the both of us.”

  “I’m not taking you along.”

  “I’m going.” She lifted her chin.

  “Novah—”

  “Stop. I won’t be left behind again while you scurry off on another mission. This has as much to do with me as it does you.”

  He must have sensed her determination because he nodded. “Can you be ready in five minutes?”

  “Give me three.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  EGAN DIDN’T LIKE having Novah with him but how could he have denied her? One of the things he admired most was her stubborn character.

  He followed the address Gammon had given him and parked in front of the quiet cabin. Egan looked over at Novah who hadn’t said more than two words to him since they left Justice’s. “You stay.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “Oh, Novah! Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

  “I won’t say a word. I promise.”

  Opening the driver’s door, he slid out and said to her, “If you say one word you’re coming back to sit,” he warned. Then he closed the door and made his way up the rickety porch and knocked on the screen door with her following. “Hello?”

  After several knocks and no response, he opened the door and stepped inside the shadows of the cluttered house. Toys loitered most of the living room and the kitchen was cluttered with pizza boxes, empty beer bottles, and other containers. The place was eerily quiet like the family had just walked away from what they were doing.

  “He’s not here, Egan,” Novah said.

  Crossing the kitchen to the back door, he looked through the screen door. There were a few small buildings in the back. Egan stepped out and held the door for her.

  “Glad you both came.” Mike was sitting under a tree with a metal box on his lap.

  Novah grabbed Egan’s elbow. “What, Novah?”

  “That’s him. He was one of them men who kidnapped Lindsay.”

  Egan nodded. “Where’s your wife and kids, Gammon?”

  “She’s gone.”

  Egan watched Gammon open the box and take out what looked like a controller. The hairs on the back of Egan’s neck lifted. “What do you mean she’s gone?”

  “Gone as in she asked for a divorce. Can’t say I blame her.” Gammon looked tired, and drunk.

  “She’ll be back. I’m sure.” Egan took a small step, focusing on the metal box in curiosity.

  “No, she won’t. She said I’ll never see her or the kids again, not after she found out what I’ve done.” With his free hand he rubbed his sweaty brow.

  “What did you do, buddy?”

  Gammon brought his red-rimmed gaze up. “I fucked ShyAnne. Repeatedly.”

  Egan swallowed hard. So it was Gammon that ShyAnne met by the pool. What had the man been thinking? He had a wife, kids, a new one on the way… “People get angry and they say things. There’s still a chance for you two. To talk things through.” One more small step and Egan saw the light on the controller and the wires connected to the box. Shit! “Gammon? What the hell are you doing?”

  “Don’t come any closer, Banks. I just felt I needed the truth to be told.”

  “Listen, is this because of your wife and kids? People have problems, you might even get a divorce but trust me, your kids still need you.”

  His laugh was cold and full of acid. “She made me so mad. She’d used me all along.”

  “Your wife?” Egan visually inspected the wiring but couldn’t see much from his position across the yard.

  “Stop right there!” Gammon barked. He lifted the controller, waving it in warning.

  “Okay, okay!” Egan held up his hands in defense. “Novah, you go back to the car.”

  “Fuck no! She needs to hear this too. If she makes a move, I’ll blow all three of us away,” Gammon said through tight lips.

  Novah didn’t move but Egan sensed her fear.

  “I wasn’t talking about my wife. She was good to me. I’m talking about the woman who screwed with me…and fucked with my head.” He couldn’t seem to bring himself to say her name.

  “What happened?” Egan realized he couldn’t get too close. Gammon’s hand clutched the controller and he was shaking like a leaf. The only choice was to keep him talking and hopefully talk him out of doing anything stupid.

  “I fucking killed her. Dead. She told me I was the only one but there were others—many others. I lost my family because of her. She thought it was funny. Even as I wrapped the rope around her neck she laughed at me. I did everything she asked. I didn’t want to kidnap that woman, but I thought it would mean ShyAnne would be happy.”

  “Where is ShyAnne’s body?”

  He blinked as if wrapping his head around Egan’s question. “Where it belongs.”

  “Where is that?”

  “In Hell. You both should go now, or you’ll end up there too. Tell people what I did because I was wrong.”

  “Egan?” Novah’s voice came to him on a drift of wind. “Let’s go.”

  “Go, Novah. Now!” Egan urged.

  “What about you? Let’s both go!” Novah grabbed his arm.

  “Listen to her, Banks.” Gammon patted the controller.

  “Novah! Go!” Egan demanded. “Gammon, don’t do this. Think of your kids.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m doing. You should have listened.” Banner pressed a button and a red light switched on followed by an ominous ticking sound.

  Egan’s training snapped into play. He swiveled, grabbed Novah and they both ran for cover. They dropped down beside the cabin and he covered her body as an alarm sounded. Then the blast came and debris rained down upon them.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “DAMN! THAT FUCKIN’ bastard! What the hell was he thinking? Are you okay?”

  Novah heard Egan’s muttered question throu
gh the ringing of her ears. Realizing what had just happened, she pushed herself to a sitting position, seeing a cut on his face. “I’m okay. Are you okay?”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’m fine. Are you really okay?” He made a quick, frantic investigation of her face, her arms. A smell remarkably like fireworks filled her nostrils, making her sputter.

  “I-I’m okay.” Unidentified debris scattered the area around them. “There was an explosion,” she muttered, mostly to herself.

  Egan cupped her cheeks. She’d never see him look so frenzied. “Listen. We’re miles from anyone so it’s possible no one heard the explosion, but if they had they would have called it in by now. Are you okay to drive?”

  “Yes…but what are you saying?” She tried to wrap her head around his words. The ringing had finally faded some.

  “The law will come and they’ll ask a lot of questions. I don’t want you involved. I’ll handle it all. You get in the SUV and drive back to Justice’s.”

  “Why? What about you? I can’t leave.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Go be with Finley and I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He helped her up from the ground. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Y-yes. Are you?”

  “Peachy.” With nod, he plucked his phone from his back pocket and used it to call Justice.

  ~~~~~

  The house was quiet.

  He found Novah asleep with Finley. They both looked so peaceful. She could have been hurt tonight and it would have been his fault. He should have never let her come along. His feelings were getting in the way and that made him dangerous.

  Leaving the bedroom, he took the stairs down to the kitchen where Justice had been waiting. “What the hell, man. What was Gammon thinking?”

  Rubbing the ache out of his jaw, Egan swallowed his emotions. “He wasn’t. Langley will twist it to put all the blame on Gammon. Bastards. He made a good patsy for them. I need to go.”