Mountain Angel (Northstar Angels, Book One)

by Suzie O'Connell

  “Hello again, Sara.”

  Her head jerked up, as if she hadn’t expected him to be right there. “Hello, Patrick.”

  Aelissm thought she now knew what June meant about hating someone on sight. It wasn’t just what Pat and Uncle Bill had told her about Sara. There was something about her that Aelissm didn’t like. It might have been how she looked down her nose at them, even from the bottom of the stairs, or it might have been the luxury car. Maybe it was the way she walked, conscious of her every step and throwing in a little extra sway of her hips. The what and the why didn’t matter; all Aelissm needed to know was that she hated the woman.

  “I can honestly say I’m surprised you hate me so much you’d come all the way out here,” Pat said coolly. “Northstar’s not exactly your style.”

  “You have no idea how much I hate you, Patrick,” she replied sweetly. She turned to Adam and said, “If you’ve finished your chat, you may go find your little darling, Adam.”

  “I hadn’t, actually, so—”

  “I wasn’t giving you a choice, my pet,” Sara said in the same tone of sugared poison. “You’ve done your part and you’ve had your say. Now, be gone.”

  Adam glanced at Pat and Aeli, obviously wanting to stay. Aeli found herself reacting to him like she once had, as a friend. It was as if the past year had never happened. That he felt horrible about bringing Sara into the mix was obvious from the expression on his face, but there was another emotion alongside it. He felt duty-bound to protect not just Aelissm, but Pat as well. His gaze flicked between them all.

  “There’s no point in you getting mixed up in this mess, too,” Pat told him. “I’m sure Amber needs you right now. Aeli, why don’t you join him and you can help him explain things to her.”

  “I’m not leaving you alone with her,” she replied.

  She placed herself between him and Sara, gently but firmly wrapping his arms around her. There was no way she was going to give that bitch any opportunity to undo all the work she’d done to teach Pat how to live again. Maybe if she and Adam were there, Sara wouldn’t fall into old habits.

  “Please, Aeli,” Pat pleaded softly in her ear.

  “No.”

  “Oh, let her stay, Patrick,” Sara remarked. “I’d like to meet your new whore. I’m Sara Montgomery, by the way.”

  Aelissm lifted her brows and nearly laughed. “I’m Aelissm Davis and the only whore around here is you, honey.”

  “Oh, Patrick, she has a wicked little tongue on her, doesn’t she?”

  “Aeli, my love, please go inside. I’ll be all right.” He leaned down to kiss her neck and whispered, “If I need you, you won’t be far out of reach. Take Adam inside and find Amber.”

  “I think I’m going to be sick,” Sara muttered. “I never knew you were such a woman, Patrick.”

  “I’m shocked you even know what a woman is, Sara,” he retorted without missing a beat. “Because you sure as hell aren’t one.”

  The shadow of surprise on her face was priceless. Maybe Pat would be all right after all. Sara obviously hadn’t expected him to snap back like that. Still, Aelissm didn’t want to leave him alone with her. God only knew what she’d do. But he’d asked her to, so she had to assume he knew what he was doing.

  “Touch him and the scar you gave him will look like a pin prick compared to the one I’ll give you.”

  Aelissm followed Adam inside and settled down near the doors. She leaned against a table, refusing to be distracted by anything. Not even her grandparents’ demands to know what was going on or Amber’s desperate plea for information broke her concentration. She stared intently at her lover and his ex-fiancée, concentrating on every minute change in body language. Her heart began to race as she watched Sara quickly descend from haughty disdain to graceless aggression. It wasn’t long at all until Sara did something that made Aeli’s stomach clench. When Pat jerked away, the petite socialite reached to strike him and Aelissm ran to the kitchen to grab the old .38 pistol she kept there. It hadn’t worked in years, but Sara didn’t know that.

  Chapter Twenty

  PAT APPRECIATED AELISSM’S SUPPORT and missed it, but he was glad she’d gone inside. He’d rather have her safely out of Sara’s path than trying to protect him. Besides, this was something he needed to face on his own, or he’d never be free of this manicured demon.

  His time in Montana and the knowledge he would have to face her had given him the stability of mind to deal with her, but seeing her again was something he couldn’t have prepared himself for. He felt the same aching nausea as if he’d been kicked in the groin. Whatever attraction she’d held for him had died a long time ago and now, with Aelissm for comparison, he was revolted by the thick, concealing make-up she wore, the artificial highlights in her rich chestnut hair, the designer clothes and the air of superiority. The last he recalled all too clearly and found it no more appealing than he had since he’d first realized the nastiness that came with it.

  “Ooo, Patrick, your little kitty has teeth,” Sara said laughingly. “Did you hear her threaten me?”

  “Leave Aelissm out of this, Sara.”

  “Why should I? She currently has something I wasn’t finished with.”

  It was just like her to think of him as a possession. He’d never been anything more to her, and he was wise enough now to know it. He understood enough about her that he wouldn’t slink away from her in horror. What he still couldn’t figure, though, was how he’d ever let her dominate him. She was more than a foot shorter and over a hundred pounds lighter.

  “What’s the matter, Patrick, little miss kitty got your tongue?” Sara stuck out her own tongue and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “I bet she does. Tell me something. She seems like such a plain girl. I’ll admit, she has a pretty face, but there can’t be much else about her to hold a man. I mean, she’s just a country bumpkin. Is she at least a good lay?”

  “Better than you by a long shot, because she isn’t just a ‘lay’.”

  “And that’s all I am, is that right?”

  “Let me think. Amidst all the pain you caused me, the sex was the only good thing about you. But, compared to Aelissm, you were just… okay.”

  “You son of a bitch,” she hissed.

  “It’s not a good feeling to be found lacking, is it, Sara?”

  “You would know.”

  He sighed tiredly, wishing he was back inside with the people of Northstar and the woman he loved. He’d rather be anywhere but standing out here in the face of an approaching storm, confronting a woman he should have been through with years ago. “We’ve been here before, Sara, and it’s never gotten us anywhere. What do you want from me? You certainly don’t want me. You never did. So, you can’t be jealous that I’ve moved on.”

  “You’re right about that, at least. But I do want you, Patrick.”

  The smile that curled her lips was predatory. She took a step toward him, her eyes glittering with malice. Still, the old fear did not stir. She must have noticed, because her brows momentarily furrowed in confusion. He stared down at her, tense and anxious, but angry rather than afraid. What could she do to him now that she hadn’t already done? Not a damned thing because he wasn’t going to let her and if he didn’t let her, she wasn’t strong enough.

  “So, you found your balls, huh?” she asked and reached for his crotch.

  He saw the intent in her eyes and backed out of her reach. “Those don’t belong do you anymore, darling. I don’t belong to you anymore.”

  “I’m sure you’d like to think so, Patrick, but you see, you owe me and until that debt is paid, I own you.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The six months of my life I’ll never get back. The cute little ankle bracelet. The restraining order. And the shame of it all.”

  Restraining order? He’d never…. Bill. No wonder he hadn’t personally seen her in a while. In fact, the last time he had seen her, she’d sheathed a paring knife in his chest. Remembered pain lanced
through the three-year-old scar. He’d spent almost a week in the hospital from the infection and the surgeries to repair the damage. He was lucky he had full use of the muscles and tissue she’d torn through, but he’d have the scar for the rest of his life as a reminder. He should have let Bill charge her with attempted murder. Instead, she’d been charged with aggravated assault and spent a mere six months in prison for it.

  “I paid for that ten times over long before Bill filed the charges. I don’t expect you to understand that you were abusing me, but surely you haven’t forgotten all your other indiscretions. It’s a long list, Sara, and I’m not sure I can count them all. You slapped me around, you debased me, and you controlled every aspect of my life. I lost touch with every friend I had but Bill. I even pushed my family away because of you. Do you know I’ve barely spoken to them since before I left you? And let’s not forget that night at the diner, when you accused me of cheating on you. That in itself was bad enough, but I was in the middle of an interview with an assault victim. It took me a long time to convince her to talk to me again. But I couldn’t tell you who she was. I couldn’t even tell you why I was there, and you didn’t trust me enough to believe I’d never cheat on you. Maybe that’s because a cheater thinks everyone cheats like they do. For the record, I was never unfaithful to you.”

  “Boohoo. Poor little Patrick.”

  “Bill was right. He wanted the judge to lock you away for the maximum and the judge was going to, but I pleaded with them for the most lenient sentence. I just wanted it to be over.”

  “So, I should be grateful? Never. No one shames me, Patrick. No one.”

  “I guess you should’ve thought about that before you stabbed me.”

  His lack of submission was beginning to wear on her patience. He could see it in the deepening scowl on her face. It was incredible how such a physically beautiful woman could be so ugly. He should walk away right now and end it before things deteriorated further, but he couldn’t swallow the need to retaliate. She felt she’d been wronged? He’d begged for leniency on her behalf, after everything she’d done to him. More than wanting to be done with her and foolishly thinking she’d appreciate his generosity, he’d actually felt guilty for the bruises he’d left on her arms and on her cheek.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve thought about it.”

  “Just how were you planning to exact your delusional vengeance on me, Sara? From where I’m standing, I don’t see a damned thing you can do to me.”

  Sara’s attention shifted momentarily away and he followed her gaze. Aelissm was resting against a table, watching them with taught intensity. All at once, he felt as if ice water had been poured over him.

  “That’s the beauty of it,” Sara purred. “I don’t have to do anything to you.”

  Before he could stop her, Sara grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanked his head down and kissed him. She threaded her arms around his neck and pressed her body tightly against him, moaning as if she thought it might still arouse him. He jerked his head back, peeled her arms open and pushed her forcefully away. For a moment, he thought he was going to vomit. Memories of past encounters with her flooded his mind. In brilliant, painful clarity, he remembered rutting with her—there had been no love, so it had been nothing like the thrill of making love to Aelissm, just mindless, visceral oblivion driven by the hatred of how she made him feel and act. He remembered the pain, too, both the physical abuse and the debasing, soul-destroying insults. It would never be like that with Aelissm.

  All at once, he wanted her reassuring presence. But, at the same time, he knew Sara had nearly lost control of her temper and he wanted Aelissm as far away from his venomous ex as he could get her.

  “You must have lost your touch, Sara,” he said. His voice trembled, but there was nothing he could do about it. “You never used to make me want to puke.”

  He saw her coil to strike and grabbed her wrist before her palm connected with his face. He caught her other hand in plenty of time, too, and pushed her back against the deck railing. Either she wasn’t as quick as she used to be or his instincts and reflexes had sharpened. An emotion he was more accustomed seeing in a mirror widened her amber-colored eyes. For the second time in their tumultuous history, Sara was frightened of him. Realizing what he’d become—what she’d again made him—he released her and backed away. She lunged at him, but stopped in her tracks before she reached him.

  “I thought I told you not to touch him.”

  Relief flooded through him at the sound of Aelissm’s voice, but it was short-lived. He turned to find a pistol in her hand, aimed at Sara’s head. The adrenaline ebbed, leaving him shaking in fear. Not for Sara’s life, but for Aelissm’s freedom. The look in her eyes terrified him like nothing ever had. He didn’t doubt for a minute that, given the opportunity and further provocation, she’d kill Sara.

  “Aelissm,” he entreated. “She’s not worth it.”

  Slowly, she lowered the gun and clicked the safety on. She slid a reassuring hand across his shoulders, letting him know she wouldn’t do anything foolish. And that she was there for him. Still reeling from Sara’s kiss, he couldn’t find the words to thank her, or the strength to tell her he was all right. Even if he’d been able to speak, it would have been a lie, because he wasn’t fine. He felt his grip slipping and it took everything he had left to hold on to the courage to continue this ridiculous battle.

  “I hope you understand that I’ll happily go to prison to protect him,” she said to Sara.

  “I was merely defending myself from him. Surely you saw him try to hit me again.”

  “Oh, give me a break! You can’t honestly think I’d believe you.”

  “You should. Go ahead. Ask him about the last time he hit me.”

  “You mean, the time he hit you after you’d stabbed him? Sorry, honey, but he had every right to knock you on your ass. From what he and my uncle have told me about you, he should’ve done it a lot sooner. An abusive little bitch like you never deserved him.”

  “Think you’re tough stuff, honey?” Sara asked. “Go ahead. Unleash those claws, little kitty.”

  “No!” Pat bellowed, too late to stop her.

  Aelissm’s head snapped around with the force of the slap. She landed a punch to Sara’s jaw before the other woman could duck. Pat stepped between them before it could get any worse. As he did, something caught in the sleeve of his shirt and Sara stumbled into him, thrown off balance by the unexpected snag. He turned on her and snatched her by her arms. Then he saw the little blade in her hand. He twisted her wrist until she dropped the weapon, spun her around and pinned both hands behind her back. It shocked him how easily he overpowered her. The harder she struggled, the tighter he held her. She fought herself right into a wrenched shoulder and she squirmed and whined in pain, but he didn’t loosen his hold.

  A quick inspection of Aelissm found her whole and impressively calm.

  “What is it with you and knives?” he asked Sara without much vehemence. His relief that she’d failed to cut Aeli overwhelmed his anger.

  “I think this has gone on long enough,” Aeli said. She methodically, calmly checked the safety on her gun and it was only the slight tremble of her lower lip that revealed the lingering effects of the fight. “If she pulls another stupid stunt like that…. Why don’t you bring her inside, Pat? Aaron can deal with her from here.”

  “Who can deal with me?” Sara snarled.

  “Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Hammond,” Pat replied.

  “Oh, how quaint. You even have your own little Wyatt Earp. Good. I’m sure he’ll enjoy an explanation of your treatment of me.”

  “Are you really that deluded?” Aelissm asked. “He’s my neighbor and friend. What makes you think he’d be on your side?”

  “He’s a cop,” she replied.

  “So’s Pat. What’s your point?”

  Unwilling to continue the conversation any longer, he said, “Why don’t you bring Aaron out here? I don’t want to ruin everyone else’s night by
dragging her in there.”

  Aelissm obeyed. For the few moments she was gone, he stubbornly refused to be pulled back into an argument with Sara. Nothing had been accomplished and nothing had been proven tonight, other than she no longer had any hold over him. Before he had time to consider what needed to be done to ensure she’d never bother him again, Aelissm returned with Aaron and Adam on her heels.

  “This must be Sara. Aeli tells me this little vixen is causing some problems,” Aaron said.

  “In a manner of speaking,” Pat replied.

  “She threatened me with a gun,” Sara spat.

  “A gun that has a broken firing pin,” Aaron remarked. “It hasn’t worked in a long time.”

  Pat glanced at Aelissm, who was quite pleased with herself. She’d never told him the pistol her grandparents kept in the kitchen of the inn didn’t actually work. The urge to laugh struck him as being very inappropriate, but it was hard to swallow.

  “How was I supposed to know that?” Sara asked.

  “Don’t matter, does it? You pulled a perfectly good, functional knife on them. And you didn’t just threaten, you tried to use it. I’m going to give you two choices, Miss Montgomery. You can either leave peacefully and I’ll simply escort you back to Devyn or I can arrest you for assault and trespassing.”

  “Trespassing? This is a public establishment!”

  “It is, but you have been asked to leave.”

  “By whom?”

  “Me,” Aelissm replied. “On behalf of my grandparents, who own this inn.”

  “What’ll it be?” Aaron asked.

  Sara glanced from Aaron to Aelissm to Pat.

  “You’re fighting a losing battle, Sara,” Pat said. “If you leave now and leave me the hell alone from this point on, I won’t even press charges. I told you the last time around. I’m finished. I want you out of my life.”

  “She won’t leave on her own,” Adam observed. “She’s the wrong combination of selfish and stubborn. She won’t leave without getting what she came for.”