by Lee Taylor
Jesse looked away, knowing the heat on her face gave her away.
Chapter 23
Jesse looked up at the scoreboard. She could barely see it through her tears. Ten minutes after the final buzzer sounded the crowd was as large as it had been in the beginning. No one wanted to leave. It had been an astonishing game. Jesse replayed the game in her mind, still not believing it.
The first half had been horrible. The Wildcats were exactly as advertised. Big, aggressive, and more than a little dirty. They shoved, tripped, and generally ganged up on DaShon. It was a relief when the halftime buzzer sounded. The score was Wildcats 36, Warriors 18. Sean’s shrug said it all. It looked like a run-away defeat in the making. Even Zoey was quiet, contemplative. The Wildcats kept three men on DaShon at all times and by the end of the first half they’d virtually shut down the Warrior’s superstar. DaShon was a dismal 3-11 from the floor for six points, a fraction of his norm for a half. Jesse could only imagine what was going on in their heads as the Warriors left the court. She sent a silent prayer to Trey and to Dameon. Trey had barely played and when he did, he missed all four of his field goal attempts. Jesse’d comforted herself that at least he was shooting, but her heart ached for him. His confidence was likely in tatters.
When the Warriors returned to the court, Trey and DaShon instituted their new pick and roll play. They were shaky at first, their timing was off. Then as though the hours of practice clicked in they began to work like a well-oiled machine. Ignored by the Wildcats, Trey was able to make two and then three unexpected baskets from behind the arc. The Wildcat lead deflated from nearly twenty to under ten points. The crowd went crazy and the deafening roar that met Trey’s third triple didn’t stop. For the first time in the game, the Wildcats took their attention off DaShon and paid attention to the scrappy young kid who had upset their game plan. The din was fierce. Jesse was sure she wouldn’t be able to speak after the game, she was screaming so loud. The only louder ones were Zoey and her dad.
Freed from the constraint of an aggressive defense, in the last minute of the game, DaShon paved the way for an upset victory with a three-pointer. With twenty seconds on the clock, the Warriors trailed by a point. Fouled by an agitated Wildcat guard, DaShon stepped to the free throw line and with four seconds to go, coolly sank two free throws and the game was history. The Warriors won by one shocking point.
The crowd around Dameon and the boys was twelve deep. Local TV camera crews fought ecstatic fans to get close enough to grab a prized interview. The excitement in the arena was electric. Jesse and Sean held back an eager Zoey trying to ensure the little girl didn’t get trampled by overzealous fans.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jesse saw Garrett with several men she didn’t know. From their expensive suits she assumed they were friends from the hospital, likely other physicians. They looked out of place, much like Garrett did. Obviously they were men who weren’t accustomed to being jostled by screaming fans.
She turned in time to see Dameon and Trey approaching, their faces lit with excitement. Over the cacophony, she heard one of the men next to Garrett say in a loud voice, “Jeeze, Garrett, that woman looks exactly like your son.”
Garrett’s scornful response was audible.
“Yeah, that’s his mother.”
By this time both Jesse and Sean were close enough to hear the conversation. Jesse learned later that Dameon also heard and did his best to distract Trey.
“Oh, right. The disappearing mother you told me about.”
“That’s her, alright. Some mother. If you don’t mind chasing her from one brothel to another across the globe.”
Jesse saw Dameon’s eyes flash and his body tense as he quickened his pace. But Sean beat him to it. Jumping in front of the startled group, his eyes blazing with anger, he called out.
“Excuse me, Garrett. You fucking son of a bitch. I heard what you said about my daughter.”
Chambers paled and jerked back. Patrons close to them stepped back startled. In seconds the space around Garrett and his companions had cleared making way for the irate, red-haired dynamo who was now within striking distance of his former son-in-law.
Garrett’s attempt at a greeting was forced, shrill and ended in a squeak.
“Uh, um, nice to see you, Sean.”
“It sure as hell ain’t nice to see you, Garrett. But then it never has been.”
He spun to face Garrett’s shocked companions.
Pointing to Jesse who’d stepped back and was doing her best to shield Zoey from the ugly scene, Sean’s voice was low, vibrating with anger. “As you can tell, I’m that beautiful woman’s father.” Shoving his face inches from the cowering men, he barked, “I don’t know you, sirs, but my name is Sergeant Major Sean O’Donnell. That is my daughter, Major Jesse O’Donnell.” Throwing a disparaging glance at Garrett, he sneered. “And this piece of shit? He’s a man so low he spews lies about the mother of his son. Be careful of him. Know that any man who insults a decorated United States soldier who risked her life to protect assholes like him is a coward. And that word doesn’t begin to describe this pathetic snake in the grass.”
At this point an excited Trey crashed his way through the crowd apparently oblivious of the altercation unfolding between his father and grandfather.
“Hi, Dad. Hi, Grandpa!” He ran past the men to Jesse. Grabbing her hands he swung her in a circle. He was incoherent with excitement.
“Mom, mom, did you see me? Did you see me make that second three-pointer? I tried to think like DaShon. Like Coach says, ‘Just watch it go in.’ I did. And it worked!”
Dameon and DaShon came up behind him. Both were smiling but Dameon’s eyes were cold, hard, confirming that he had overheard the confrontation between Garrett and Sean. Fortunately, in his excitement, Trey seemed to have missed it.
“What did you think, Mom? Wasn’t DaShon great? Did you see him draw that foul? Right at the end? It won the game!”
Jesse hugged him. “Yes, Trey, I was so proud of you. Both of you! Of the whole team. You played beautifully.”
As if seeing Garrett for the first time, Trey rushed over to him.
“Dad, can I stay at Mom’s again tonight? Grandpa is only going to be here for one more night. Please, Dad.”
Sean stepped forward inches away from Garrett. Daring him to disagree, he glowered at the flushed man.
“I trust we can make that work. Don’t you, Garrett?”
Garrett looked from Sean to Dameon and visibly swallowed. Backing up into the circle of his friends, he drew himself up with a shaky sneer. “Why not? I’m sure Trey is accustomed to your Houdini antics. Just like his mother, you come in and out of his life when it suits you, no matter what it does to anyone else’s schedule.” He glared at Trey. “Sure Trey, go ahead. Do whatever you wish. Why the hell would I care?”
Followed by his startled friends, Garrett stormed off.
Dameon filled the shocked silence.
“Trey, you and DaShon go get changed. I’ve arranged for a bus to take the team to the restaurant. All the parents are meeting us there.” He turned to Sean. “Sergeant O’Donnell, I presume you are coming with us to celebrate. We are going to a special restaurant. I promise you will enjoy the owners, especially the red-haired doyenne who runs it.”
Sean’s voice showed the strain of the argument but he managed to contain his anger.
“I wouldn’t miss it, Dameon.”
Dameon waited until Trey and DaShon were out of earshot then turned to the agitated sergeant who was still radiating fury. He threw a comforting arm around the older man’s shoulders.
“Sean, I gotta tell you. That grandson of yours might be one of the finest young men it’s been my pleasure to work with. And I don’t have to tell you how I feel about your daughter. But how the hell did any of you end up with that pretentious son of a bitch?”
~~~
At the restaurant in a free moment, Sean turned to Dameon. Waving his hand at the group of team members and their famil
ies, he spoke quietly. “Gotta ask. Who pays for all of this? There has to be sixty people here. And a lot of these folks don’t look like they have a pot to piss in.”
Dameon agreed. “You’re right. Some of them are hard-pressed for essentials, much less supporting a first class athlete. We have a fund that I started. It’s going well. The department helps me. I pay for things like this that are extraordinary—anything where we involve the families. But the fund covers our uniforms, travel, special needs of the kids, etc. I’ve got five former college basketball players on the APD. They’re my assistant coaches. They donate a considerable amount of time, as I do. Remember, we’re a showcase for the Albuquerque Police Department. This is the case I make with the foundations and the City. We’re pulling at-risk kids off the street and playing great basketball. From the flurry of media we’re attracting, we’re starting to get national attention. I’ve got Chiefs all over the country wanting to know how we’re doing what we are doing.”
Sean whistled. “You’re an impressive guy, Wolf. And so you know, I’m not famous for passing around compliments.”
Dameon grinned. “I might have guessed that. Thanks, Sean. Appreciate it.”
The trash talk around the table was fierce. Dameon kept it under control with a shake of his head or a flick of his wrist.
Rodrigo was giving Trey a bad time to the delight of the other players and an embarrassed but proud Trey.
“Six free throws, white boy! Twelve fu… freaking points.”
Dameon broke in. “What was important about those free throws?”
DaShon spoke up. “He had to get fouled to get them?”
“Right! And what does that mean, men?”
Dixon yelled, “It means he was playing hard, taking chances.”
Rodrigo picked it up. “Hell, yeah… I mean, heck yeah, Coach. That little white boy put his pansy ass right in the middle of that gang of grab-ass gangbangers and didn’t care who smacked it. Or how many times! He just kept shoving his way into the middle of the pack daring them to try and stop ’im!”
Juan added with an admiring glance at DaShon, “Yeah, and our big guy just skated down the court and pulled the win out of his ass!”
Dameon didn’t bother to correct him. It was true.
~~~
Later that night, Jesse sat on the patio with her father. It was a clear night. The stars lighting the black sky competed with the flickering flames in the fireplace. Coming down from the whirlwind of excitement of the previous two days, it felt good just to sit quietly. For the first time since Friday, Jesse and her father had a chance to sit together and enjoy the simple pleasure of being with each other. Jesse gave a contented sigh and nodded yes when Sean held up the bottle of Wild Turkey.
Sean refilled their glasses then pulled his chair closer to hers and pinned her with a thoughtful look.
“I’ve been thinking, girl.”
“You have? Again? What are you thinking about that has you looking so serious?”
“I’ve been thinking about that man of yours.”
Jesse frowned and sat up straight in her chair. Before she could tell him that Dameon wasn’t ‘hers,’ Sean continued.
“I don’t know how he could get any better, daughter of mine.”
“Dad, please. Don’t. Don’t spoil our time together. I don’t want to talk about Dameon. I just want to enjoy our last night together.”
“Jesse, there’s no way that I’m leaving here without talking to you about that man.”
When she put up her hand to stop him, Sean gave a firm shake of his head.
“Uh uh, girl. We’ve spent too much of our lives not talking about things we should have. You need to know, girl, I’m pulling rank. You may outrank me in the Force, but for the first time I’m pulling my ‘father’ rank.”
Seeing the implacable expression on her father’s face, Jesse sighed.
“Please, Dad. Try to understand. I can’t do it.”
“Can’t do what? You’re obviously crazy about him and his tongue’s hangin’ so low he’s practically licking the sidewalk in front of you.”
Jesse gave a disparaging shrug. “Sure he’s physically interested in me. They all—”
“Uh uh. Don’t do that. Don’t compare Dameon to any of those fuckers you’ve known in the past. That’s not the picture I get of him at all, Jesse.”
Jesse took a deep breath. She needed to make her father understand.
“Dad, I know you mean well. But you have no idea how hard these last two years have been. What my life has been like. I can’t go into any kind of a relationship. I just can’t. It won’t work. I know it won’t.”
Jesse stopped and looked down at her hands. She realized that she was twisting her napkin into shreds and took a deep breath. “Somehow, I… I just have to let Dameon know that.”
Her father sniffed and cocked a brow.
“Well. Good luck with that. How’s that going for you, girl?”
Jesse laughed and reached out and punched him playfully on the arm.
Sean shook his head and grinned.
“I dunno know, girl. You may have met your match. Not only is Dameon crazy about you but that little girl is nuts about you, too. And hell, she’s gonna marry Trey. Keep it all in the family.”
They both laughed.
Sean added. “It seems that when Zoey makes up her mind about someone she makes it stick. She must have learned that from her father.”
As good as it felt to laugh, Sean’s persistence upset her. Jesse’s chest tightened. She needed to make her father understand. And to convince herself.
“You don’t understand, Dad. It’s just not right. Dameon wants more… more than I can give. I… I just have to make that clear to him—somehow.”
Sean’s eyebrows shot up.
“Mind if I tell you, girl? That’s the biggest pile of bullcrap I’ve heard in a long time.”
He shook his head then raised his glass and toasted her.
“I dunno know, daughter. You may have run into someone who’s as determined as you are. And, honey, just so you know? I’m pulling for him. Because I can’t think of a better way to pull for you.”
Chapter 24
“Eric was right, Jesse.” Ethan Stockton swiped at the lock of blond hair that hung rakishly over his eyes. “You don’t mind if I call you Jesse, do you, Major?”
“No, please do.”
“And you must call me, Ethan.”
When Jesse nodded, the handsome man striding back and forth in front of her stopped and stared at her. He was effusive.
“Eric said you would be perfect to help me. He said there isn’t a gun that’s been manufactured that you aren’t on a first name basis with. And that you are a renowned martial artist. What he didn’t tell me was that you may be one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.”
Jesse tried to act enthusiastic. What else could she say to the beaming candidate who was describing the event on Saturday except that it sounded delightful?
She managed to hide her frustration and silently congratulate herself. She’d done it. She’d convinced the leading candidate for governor that not only could she provide personal security to his wife and two teenaged daughters, but also to him. The guise that they’d agreed on was that she was a personal aide to Selma Stockton, his wife.
Ethan was her first potential client that hadn’t come recommended by Raoul. Although she knew that Raoul had enthusiastically seconded Eric’s referral. Dameon should be pleased by that. Jesse wondered if he would be as concerned with the imposing man’s ‘candidate perfect’ looks. Tall and slim, Stockton had the wiry body of a runner—another connection between him and Jesse. She thought with a wicked smile, at least she could reassure Dameon that Stockton didn’t have ties to the Mexican mafia. She decided she wouldn’t mention that her never-fail antennae picked up that the candidate was also a profligate womanizer.
The womanizer part she could handle with ease. Her heavy heart stemmed from the news that the
candidate’s coming out party, the reason Ethan hired her, was scheduled for Saturday. The same day she’d planned to be in L.A. with Trey and Dameon cheering on the Warriors at the Aspire Tournament.
~~~
Dameon was consoling. “Damn, Jesse. What can I say, tiger, except that you have no choice. This could be a huge break for you. The word on Stockton is that he has a better than even chance of beating Martin in the primary and if he does he’s a shoe-in to win. That is as long as he can keep his pants zipped.”
At Jesse’s gasp, he chuckled. “You think I don’t know Stockton’s rep with the ‘ladies’? Hell, Jesse, cops know everything—especially if the dirt is sleazy. Plus, knowing what a jealous son of a bitch I am, Eric already warned me to be nice. He said Stockton is on the move and could open doors for you.”
“I’m surprised, Dameon, and relieved, even though I could strangle my lawyer. Dear God, I thought attorneys were supposed to be close-mouthed. Mine is a virtual sieve of information.”
“Ah, honey, he’s just looking out for you. Wanted to be sure I wouldn’t give you any grief. He knows that after siccing Raoul on you, he’s on a short leash with the Albuquerque Police Department. At least that’s what I hear from the Chief.”
Jesse laughed then went back to the issue that was tearing at them both.
“Dameon, Trey will be so disappointed. How can I explain that once again my work is taking me away from him?”
“Now. C’mon. Give yourself a break—and give Trey some credit, too. It’s not the same, tiger. As much as he wants to show off for you, Trey knows you’ll be there in spirit. And, honey, we’ll spend all day Sunday together watching the reruns of the championship game because I’m convinced our team is going to make it into the finals.”
After they rang off, Dameon tried to shake off his disappointment. He’d put on the best face he could with Jesse, knowing how upset she was to miss the tournament. He should be embarrassed. But, as much as he wanted her in the bleachers, he was as frustrated by the fact that the plans he’d had for after the game had been shot to hell. Once he’d known they were going to L.A., he made the decision. He arranged five rooms for the boys, each room chaperoned by one of his assistant coaches. In addition to the room he booked for Jesse, he reserved a special suite for Jesse and himself.
