Cowboy 12 Pack
Page 155
Cady looked at Libby. Something was wrong besides the obvious. A worried look passed between the women. “All right. I’m sure they’re nearby.”
Isaac burst into the room. “Are you all right? Who did this to you?” His brother looked intimidating as always. Tall, broad, a warrior, and Noah had always looked up to him. Isaac was fearless. Now, he knew his hero had feet of clay. Avery stood small and trusting, close to his side. How had she been taken in by Isaac’s perversion?
“I had a run-in with a friend of yours.”
Isaac stared at his brother. He was pale against the sheets. The girls had bandaged him up, but he could still see the lesser stripes, painful evidence of a beating. “A friend? I don’t have a friend who would do this to you.”
“Really?” Noah’s tone was sarcastic, his face a mask of disdain. Joseph and Jacob moved into the room to stand at the foot of the bed. Everyone was here but Jessie and Nathan. “Keep Nathan out of here. He doesn’t need to hear any of this.”
“He’s asleep and so is Jessie,” Jacob offered. His expression showed how confused he was. They all were. “What’s going on, Noah? You act like you’re blaming Isaac for this.”
“I am,” Noah stated flatly. “Ajax whipped Harper. She’s been in the hospital, too. That’s where I was earlier. She called me to come get her. I found her half-naked in an alley covered in blood.” Libby gasped with horror. “Of course, she was a willing victim, at first. Isn’t that right, Isaac? There are people who get off on pain. You know all about that, don’t you?”
Isaac blanched. The shit was about to hit the fan and they were all gonna come away stinking. Hell! He stepped away from Avery. No use dragging her through his filth. “Is Harper going to be okay?”
“What is he talking about, Isaac?” Aron demanded. “You two better speak plainer, cause I don’t like the damn direction this conversation is heading. Tell me that I’m misunderstanding.”
“Oh, this isn’t hard to comprehend.” Noah tried to sit up and grimaced in pain. “Haven’t you ever wondered why Harper and I broke up?”
No one said anything. They just waited. An uneasy feeling permeated the room. Only Isaac knew, but it wasn’t his story to tell. A sick feeling washed over him. He’d never wanted to hurt his family. What he did in his private life was private, but not anymore.
Noah continued, directing his razor sharp comments at Isaac. “You know why, don’t you, brother? She’s into S&M, a pain junkie. She gets off on being dominated and whipped. Harper likes to be tied up and slapped around. Avery, I can’t believe you’re into that. What would people say?”
“Noah,” Aron warned his brother. “Be careful.”
“You leave Avery out of this, Noah. If you have something to say, you say it to me,” Isaac spoke low and evenly.
“Isaac’s a Dom.” The words were spit out. “Isn’t that right, Isaac? Ajax is one, too. He said that you and he have been members of the same clubs. But you two got crossways, didn’t you? And he lured Harper into his trap to get back at you.”
“What’s he talking about, Isaac?” Jacob asked.
Isaac looked at his brothers. There was condemnation and confusion on their faces. Hell, so this was how it was going to be. Fine. So be it. “Ajax is not my friend. I had him banned from some clubs because he abused women, just like he abused Harper and you. Ajax is an abusive jerk who calls himself a Dom. A true Dom gives pleasure, not pain.”
Silence.
Noah finally broke the quiet. “You’ve never used a whip on anyone, Isaac?” A sick smile on his face told Isaac that he knew the answer.
“Yes, a quirt, not a bullwhip. I give erotic pain. There’s a difference.”
“Sure, there is.” Disbelief dripped from Noah’s lips. “I couldn’t abide this sickness in Harper, and I can’t abide it in you. I don’t know you, Isaac. And I don’t know if I want to know you.”
“Noah…” Libby looked aghast. She couldn’t stand conflict.
“Joseph, take Cady and Libby and Avery to the kitchen and ya’ll make a pot of coffee,” Aron directed, evenly.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Avery stated as she stepped up closer to Isaac.
“None of you have to go anywhere. I’ll leave.” Isaac moved one step toward the bed where Noah lay. “You don’t understand me. I’m not going to defend myself. There’s nothing I can say that would change your mind.”
“You’re right,” Noah barked. “I’m laying here scarred for life because my brother is a pervert.”
“That’s not fair.” Avery couldn’t be silent.
“No.” Isaac stopped her. “This has been coming for a long time. It really didn’t matter what I did. I’ve always been the outsider. I’ll never be good enough for this family. It’s time for me to face that fact.”
“Hold on.” Aron put a hand on his arm. “We need to talk about this.”
“What good will talking do?” Noah asked. “I don’t really want to hear about that mess.”
“You don’t have to. I’m outta here.” Isaac turned to go.
“I’m going with you.” Avery started to follow him.
“No.” Isaac stopped her. “You were right. Your dad asked too much of us. This isn’t going to work. We’re from different worlds. We could never be happy together. We’re through, Avery.” He walked away, the chains on his pants ringing in the silence.
Avery’s world collapsed around her. She felt like she was going to die. Should she go after him? Maybe, but not till after she had her say.
“Damn,” Joseph said what everybody was thinking.
“Damn is right. What Isaac is involved in is poison. It’s sick and twisted and anybody that can be a part of it is twisted,” Noah spat out the words.
“I can’t believe it. I sure as hell didn’t see this coming.” Jacob looked to Aron as if for guidance.
“Wait, that’s enough.” Avery stepped forward. She looked around at Isaac’s family. “I can’t believe you people. Don’t you know how much he loves you?”
“Sometimes love isn’t enough.” Noah was still adamant in his condemnation.
“Let me tell you a little bit about your brother. I’ve been in love with him for years. There’s no one like him. No one.”
“You can say that again,” quipped Noah.
Aron held up his hand. “Let her speak.” Noah hushed, quelled by his brother’s will.
“As long as I’ve known him, he has given more of himself than you ever dreamed. Did you know he funds the soup kitchen? By himself? Did you know he has a fund set up to build homes for newly returned vets? Did you know he gives most of his income to charity? Check the records, Noah. I’m sure there’s a way you can tell.”
“I didn’t know that.” Joseph sighed. It was apparent that he wasn’t as ready to lambast Isaac as Noah was.
“He’s always ready to help. I’ve worked for these charities through the church and I always knew Isaac McCoy was one of our greatest benefactors. He didn’t seek attention or even a thank-you. What Isaac does for others, he does because he wants to help.”
“That’s all well and good, Avery. But it doesn’t excuse his involvement in the BDSM lifestyle. And you? Isn’t it true that you spent time in a brothel? And I even heard a rumor that you write porn. Maybe, you’re not the best judge of character.”
“Enough,” Aron barked at Noah. “I hate you’re hurt, but you’re stepping over the line, little brother.”
Libby stepped closer to Avery as if to protect her.
“I’ve done nothing wrong, and neither has your brother.” Avery stood up straighter, determined to say her piece. “As far as his sex life is concerned, Isaac never did anything to me that I didn’t want. He put me first. When you compare him to that nasty man, you do your brother a great disservice. What we share is beautiful and I wouldn’t trade a moment of it for anything. I love your brother and he’s the best man I have ever met.” Avery moved toward the door.
Cady went to her. “Do you want some of us
to come with you?”
“No, I’ll be fine. I’m going to look for Isaac.”
But, she didn’t find him.
*
AJAX COULDN’T HIDE from Isaac. He knew the places to look and when he found him in a bar on the outskirts of town, he backed him out the door before he could rally his cronies. “How dare you touch a member of my family?” Isaac picked him up and slammed his body against the side of the building. “And what you did to Harper has nothing to do with being a Dom. You’re a sick bastard. And you’ve abused your last woman, jerk.” Ajax didn’t have his whip, so he had to take Isaac on in a fair fight, which wasn’t fair, to Ajax. And when Isaac got through with him, he walked away leaving Ajax spitting blood and hatred through his teeth.
Isaac didn’t know where to go. His fists hurt almost as much as his heart and all he wanted to do was go home. But right now, he didn’t know where home was.
*
THE WEEK PASSED in a swirl of upset and frustration. Isaac was nowhere to be found. Levi was running the bar and Doris swore that she hadn’t heard from her boss. The McCoys were torn between hunting Isaac, tending to Noah, running their ranch and getting ready for a wedding. Feelings were worn on sleeves and tempers ran hot. Avery moved back home. There was nothing else she could do. Even when Isaac came back, she wasn’t so sure he would want her. Self-doubt ate away at her. She’d been so sure he had begun to care about her. Every time they touched, she’d convinced herself she could feel his love. Perhaps, it had been wishful thinking on her part. Tricia hadn’t asked too many questions, perceiving that Avery was beyond hurt. Space was what she needed and her partner gave her that.
The bouquets she created made her cry. The charity meetings made her cry. It was odd. She had expected to be ostracized by the city and the town’s elite, but that wasn’t the case. One woman even asked for her autograph, saying she had read some of her work. How she came by the pen name, Avery didn’t ask. She was just grateful rocks weren’t being thrown at her at the Post Office.
After three days without hearing from Isaac, Avery had backed her ears and called her father, telling him the wedding was off and she didn’t want to hear any argument from him. He had started to preach at her, but she’d told him that she adored him and her mother, but the days of browbeating her to do his will was over. Shock was the only word she could label his quick agreement. In fact, their conversation had progressed by him telling her how proud he was of all her hard work and writing. When he’d said writing, she had almost bitten her tongue off. Without her asking, he volunteered that one of the deacons had come forward with this bit of ‘damming’ information on her, but the church had been much more horrified to learn the deacon had been visiting a hooker than the revelation she wrote racy romances. Before she hung up, she’d promised him she would visit for Thanksgiving and bring his favorite ooey-gooey pumpkin butter cake. But despite her work, her writing, and an unexpected peace with her father, Avery was desperately unhappy. Without Isaac, life had no meaning.
Chapter Eight
‡
“WE’VE GOT TO do something. Hell, I don’t know where else to look or who else to call. It’s like he’s dropped off the face of the earth. Kane did say there was talk he had been in a bar fight the night he left.” Jacob poured a cup of stout coffee. He had so much to be thankful for; a beautiful wife, a sweet baby on the way, and his home was taking shape. But knowing his brother was somewhere alone and unhappy ate at his gut.
“I’m not surprised. His tearing up a bar is par for the course.” Noah was healing. Cady had helped and stiffness and soreness were going to be the only ill effects which would stay with him any length of time.
With a steady hand, Jacob set the coffee cup down. It wasn’t often he lost his temper, but he had all he could stomach. “Noah, I love you. You’re my brother and I wouldn’t trade you for anything, but I’m going to tear you a new one if you don’t let up on Isaac. Not everybody is as tight-assed as you are. I’m not into heavy kink, but if I thought Jessie would enjoy a light spanking…hell, why not? More than once, I’ve tied her to the bed and it only makes the excitement rise, if you know what I mean. Your brother is a damn good man. He may march to the beat of a different drummer, but so do you. And I hate to tell you this, but I much prefer his cadence to yours.”
Noah could tell his brother was displeased. And for a minute, he felt anger. But this was the brother who’d held him at night when he had been broken hearted over the loss of their mother. This was the brother who’d stayed up late with him to make sure he memorized all the state capitals, and it was Jacob who encouraged him to study business when Aron had been pushing for a Law degree or at least an Agriculture degree. Jacob had seen where Noah’s strengths lay and knew the family would only benefit by letting him follow his heart. “Jacob, I…”
“No, let me finish. I don’t often speak my piece, and this has got to be said. I love you and I’ve forgiven you, but I can’t completely forget that your reluctance to accept Jessie almost cost her life and me my world. You push too hard, Noah. You’re too unyielding. You think you have all the answers and black and white are the only two colors in the rainbow. Even you have to admit, you were wrong about Jessie, as wrong as wrong can be. And you’re wrong about Isaac and Avery. After Jessie was kidnapped, it was Isaac who stuck with me through thick and thin. He never left my side. I don’t discount what you did. You fixed up the nursery for her and you were the first on the scene and were wounded so she could be saved. But, and this is a big but, it wouldn’t have happened at all, not like it did, if you hadn’t interfered. You said things that made her believe I didn’t love her. Now, you’ve pushed Isaac away and he, in turn, has pushed Avery aside. What if they’re supposed to be together and what if your unyielding spirit and narrow-minded bullshit tears Isaac from our lives and destroys their happiness? How would you feel then?”
Noah just stood there in deep conviction. His brother was right. He was wrong. “What can I do? Let’s go find him. We can call Roscoe if we have to.”
Jacob patted him on the back. “That’s my boy.”
*
LATER THAT EVENING, the brothers sat with Kane and Zane at Hardbodies. Their hope had been that Isaac would show up or at least they could get a word of encouragement from Doris. Because, if he was going to call anybody, it would be her. She was like a second mother to him. But she was adamant. He hadn’t called and she was as worried as they were. “He beat the hell out of Ajax. And the word is, Ajax deserved every blow. The owner of the dive didn’t press charges. He considered that Isaac did him a favor. Still and all, as Mama would say, I don’t trust that man. He’s trouble. He and all his friends are trouble.”
“Do we know who he hangs with?” Joseph asked.
“Some of them, but I intend to talk to Levi. He might know more than I do. He’s a Dom too, you know?”
“No way!” Aron exclaimed. “You know, there are more people into that stuff than I ever figured. I caught Libby reading an erotic romance novel called, ‘Master, May I?’ and I read some of that stuff, and well, all I can say is that a good time was had by all.” He got tickled at his own joke and laughed. Sobering, he looked at his friends and family one by one. “We’ve got to make this right. Until we find Isaac, we can’t do much on that end, but we can see about Avery. I want to make sure she’s at the wedding. Zane…” He turned to Kane’s twin. “Would you mind checking on her and, if you don’t already have a date to the wedding, maybe you’d consider asking her to accompany you?”
Zane leaned back in his chair and smiled. “I can see your reasoning. She’ll probably refrain from whacking me with a broom…seeing, as I’m blind and all. The rest of you might not be as safe.”
“Exactly.”
*
“I NEED TO talk to you, Noah.”
He almost hadn’t answered the phone. It was Harper again. She had called a dozen times since his run-in with Ajax. “I don’t see as how we have much to say to each other.” Lord,
he was being a hard-ass again. Jacob’s speech came back to haunt him. “What can I do for you? Do you need anything?”
“No, my parents have let me move back home. But, I heard Isaac is gone and I want to talk to you about him. I don’t want to do it over the phone. Is it all right if I come over?”
It went against the grain, but if he was going to turn over a new leaf, this was a good place to start. “Sure, I’ll be waiting.”
He didn’t have to wait long. The slight tap at the door alerted him that she had arrived. Apparently, she was parked at the end of the driveway while they talked on the phone. Since his ordeal, he hadn’t ventured out of the house. Too many people would ask questions. He hated other folks knowing his business. Guess that was how Isaac felt. Hell! When he opened the door, he was shocked at how thin and pale Harper looked. There were still some red marks near her face where the whip had wrapped around her neck. He fought down the attraction. Hell, would it always be there? “Harper, come in.”
She looked at the floor, clearly embarrassed. “Thank you, Noah. I appreciate you seeing me. I won’t keep you. Don’t be mad at him, but I ran into Joseph and he told me everything.”
“He had no right,” Noah began, but stopped. “Joseph is family.” If he could only remember that truth, they wouldn’t be in the mess they were in now.
“I should never have involved you in this. I’m trying to get my head on straight.”
Noah felt his heart stir. But, what about Skye? Dammit, he was confused. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, and I’m glad you called me. That’s what friends are for.”
“I wish we were more than friends,” she whispered. Shaking her head, she got to her point. “Someone beat Ajax up and he’s mouthing off, talking about getting revenge. And he says it was Isaac.”
“Damn, he did it for me.”
“Yes, when I heard you’d gone back to confront him, I nearly died. I never intended for you to be hurt, not any of you. Now, I hear Isaac is gone and I presume it’s over what we have in common.”