Sworn to Protect

by Jo Davis

  They made good time getting to the mansion. Shane pulled around back and went in first, making certain the study door was closed before letting Drew come in and go upstairs. No need to be reminded of the room where he’d found his dad.

  Shane went into the kitchen and looked around. There wasn’t much in the way of perishables in the fridge. The cooking pans and utensils looked barely used. He decided he’d simply hire someone to pack up the kitchen and sell the furniture and anything else Drew didn’t want. The majority of Brad’s personal things could wait until another day. He knew Drew would want his dad’s football trophies and mementos. Especially his two Super Bowl rings.

  Jesus. Is that all a man’s life boiled down to—a bunch of keepsakes that could be stuffed into a drawer?

  Shaking off the depressing thought, he walked upstairs with a few packing boxes in hand and found Drew folding clothes. Pitching in, he helped until they’d packed the contents of his closet, dresser drawers, and bathroom. The personal items were last, and they filled two boxes with those, not counting the stereo in the corner. Had he ever had this much crap as a kid? Probably so.

  Two hours later, they had Drew’s stuff loaded. Drew was standing uncertainly in the foyer, and Shane laid a hand on his shoulder. “Is there anything else you want to take? Maybe something of your dad’s?”

  “Actually, I’d like to take his Super Bowl rings and a few other things.” He frowned. “I’m worried that some jerk’s gonna break in and take all his stuff now that there’s nobody living here full-time.”

  “I was thinking about those. Good idea. Let’s just go ahead and get them so your mind will be at ease.”

  “They’re in the study in a safe.” He swallowed hard.

  “I can get them if you don’t want to go in,” Shane said seriously.

  “No, I need to. I want to look around.”

  He searched the boy’s face for any sign that he wasn’t ready. But he really did seem to need the closure. “Okay. But I’ll go with you.”

  Crossing to the study doors, Shane opened them and stepped aside. Drew went in slowly, then stopped and looked around for a long moment. His eyes eventually found the spot on the floor where he’d discovered his dad, and his body shook.

  “I felt so helpless,” he whispered. “I didn’t know what to do. But I tried. I called 911, did CPR forever. Everything I could. CPR doesn’t always work the way it does in the movies, did you know that? I thought it should work. But it didn’t.”

  Tears were streaming down the boy’s face, and he wiped them away. He was still mourning, but it was goodbye, too. An end of a chapter for both of them.

  “You did everything just right, Drew. But I think he was already gone, and nothing you did would’ve helped.”

  “That’s what they told me, but it didn’t seem real. It felt wrong, like I’d stepped into somebody else’s nightmare. I was supposed to wake up and find him there, happy and alive.” He turned to face Shane. “He’s not coming back.”

  “No, son. I’m sorry.” Sweet heaven, the look on that boy’s face.

  Drew fell into his arms and cried. For the longest time they stood there, and this time the grief was different than before. This was the soft, bittersweet sorrow that was finally edging into acceptance. That period of realizing death was final, unchangeable. That their lives would go on, but they would never be the same.

  Drew pulled back and used a tissue from the desk to wipe his eyes and blow his nose. Then he walked to the wall safe, punched in the digital code, and opened it. Then he removed a box and some papers. Shane had seen the rings before and knew they were in the box.

  “I want his trophies, too.”

  Shane fetched another moving box, and they took every treasured item from Brad’s office. When they were done, Drew took one last look around.

  “I’m ready.”

  They pulled out of the gates that afternoon, changed in unfathomable ways.

  And just maybe a little stronger than before.

  • • •

  Daisy was outside, working in the backyard, when she heard a vehicle pull into her driveway out front. Immediately she tensed, half-hoping it belonged to Shane. The other half dearly prayed it wasn’t. She wasn’t strong enough to withstand him in person. Not yet.

  She walked around to the front and a wave of disappointment washed over her. Instead of Shane, his sister was getting out of her car. Shea smiled at her and started across the yard.

  “Spring cleaning?” she asked, pointing at the rake in Daisy’s hand.

  “A little early, but yes. I’ve been pulling weeds and cleaning up the leaves and dead things from winter. March is around the bend, and I’m eager to plant flowers.”

  “Wait until after spring break. Otherwise we’re bound to get one last cold snap that will kill them.”

  “Good advice. I’ll probably wait until then, at least.” She eyed the other woman. “But I have a feeling you didn’t come here to discuss gardening.”

  “No. I dropped by to tell you that Tommy and I are having a cookout next weekend, since the weather is supposed to be sunny and warm, and we would love it if you would come.”

  Drat. She loved the couple and their friends, but . . . “Will Shane be there?”

  “Most likely. Why?” She appeared completely innocent.

  Daisy wasn’t so sure. “I got kind of upset with him and haven’t spoken with him this week.”

  “What did the idiot do now?” Shea asked. “I’ll skin him alive!”

  “He didn’t really do anything,” she admitted. “It’s me. Guess you could say I got cold feet.”

  “That’s understandable, knowing my brother the way I do.” She looked like she had more to say, and she did. “But, honey, I’ve seen the way he is around you, how he talks about you. He’s got his flaws, but I honestly believe he’s totally gone over you.”

  “You really think so?” She bit her lip. “He’s been calling all week, and this morning he left the sweetest message, but I’m not sure. He hurt me really bad before, and I don’t want to be the dumb-ass who goes back for more and ends up crying again.”

  “I get that. Tommy and I had our issues, too. But I think if you give him one more chance, you won’t be sorry.” She cocked her head. “Let him stew another week, just to drive him bat-shit crazy with wanting you. Then come to our party and knock him for a loop.”

  Daisy grinned. “That sounds like a good plan.”

  “Then you’ll come?”

  “You bet. I wouldn’t miss it.” The two women hugged, and Daisy invited her inside. “Would you like to come in, have something to drink? It’s Saturday afternoon, and I have rum and Coke. . . .”

  “I’d love that.” She giggled. “I don’t have to be on shift at the hospital until Tuesday, and I think I’m in the mood to be just a bit naughty today.”

  “Great! Let’s go.”

  In the kitchen, Daisy fished the rum from under the cabinet while Shea got Cokes from the fridge. In minutes they were seated in the living room, giggling over stories of Shane that would turn his sexy face beet red if he knew his sister was spilling them. They were having a pretty fun time, and then Daisy got another idea.

  “Let’s go dancing!”

  “What? I’m a married woman! I don’t dance very well, anyway.”

  “You don’t have to dance. Just come. It’ll be fun!”

  “I don’t know.” The gleam in her eyes said different.

  “I can tell you want to. If it’ll make you feel better, call Tommy and ask if he cares.”

  “Well . . . okay,” she said excitedly, and dug out her cell phone. “Where are we going? The Waterin’ Hole?”

  “No, that’s basically just a bar with some pool tables. How about Boot Scootin’, down by the river? They have live music and a big dance floor.”

  “Sounds good.” Shea made the call, and after a brief conversation, she hung up. “He says that’s fine with him, as long as we let him drop us off at the club if we’re
going to drink. He said call when we’re ready to leave and he’ll pick us up, then take you home. I need to go home and change before we go, so you can ride back there with me.”

  “Aww, how sweet!” It was, and Daisy couldn’t help but be jealous. A little. She had known Tommy from high school, and at one time last year, Shea even thought Daisy and Tommy were dating. She was mistaken, though—Tommy was just a friend of hers, and had just been trying to make Shea jealous. It worked.

  Daisy was glad she and Shea were friends now. A night out was just what the gals needed.

  And for one night, she planned to forget all about a certain sexy cop.

  9

  Daisy and Shea visited for a while until it was time to get dressed, going easy on the rum and Cokes since they’d decided to go out. No sense in getting faced before they stepped out the door. Then Daisy took a shower to wash off from working outside, and dressed in her best jeans and green T-shirt with spangles on it to make her eyes pop. Her brown boots completed the outfit.

  Instead of her purse, she simply took her house keys and a small black leather wallet that held her badge, license, and money. She opted to leave her gun at home, something cops rarely did, even off duty. But it hardly seemed like a good idea when going clubbing.

  Daisy rode with Shea to her house so her friend could change into something appropriate. Tommy got a kick out of the ladies rebelling, going out on the town, and teased them the entire time about getting in trouble. As he dropped them near the door, he reminded them to call, and Shea gave him a kiss before driving off.

  “You have one great guy there,” Daisy said with a sigh.

  “Isn’t he a sweetie? Then again, he gets his guy time, too.”

  “What’s he doing tonight?”

  “Just hanging at the house. I think he was going to give a couple of his friends a call, see if they wanted to come over and have a few beers. He finally wore me down about getting a pool table, and he’s been itching to try it out.”

  “See? It’s just as well that I rescued you from having to listen to their BS all night.” She winked at her friend.

  “And keep them supplied in munchies. Without me there, they’ll actually have to find the kitchen themselves.”

  In good spirits, they paid their cover charge and went inside. The place was large, with the promised big dance floor surrounded on three sides by bars and tables, and the stage on the fourth side, facing the crowd. A band was already warming up, and the crowd was gradually starting to arrive.

  They headed to the bar and ordered a couple of drinks, then found a table near the dance floor. It had been a while since Daisy had been out to a nice bar like this one, mostly a country and western dance hall, and she sipped her drink while checking out the scenery. Mostly the tall, lean male variety.

  And she wasn’t as impressed as she used to be.

  Glancing at Shea, she gestured to the male populace in general. “The eye candy is nice, but why doesn’t it get my motor revving the way it used to?”

  “Because you’re already in lust with a hot guy who does it for you in every way?” Shea teased. “And you just might love him, too?”

  “Damn! There’s no might where that man is concerned,” she grumbled. “I just don’t have a clue what to do about it.”

  “Well, you can’t shoot him and hide the body. And I guess simply forgetting about him is out, since we’re here with a hundred eligible men and you can only think of him. So the question is what do you want to do about him?”

  “I want to make him mine for keeps,” she admitted.

  “And the problem is?”

  Her jaw dropped. “Seriously? Hellooo, the man dumped me after taking me for a couple of test drives! He has a string of female admirers a mile long, and every one of them wants back into his Levi’s! I’m nothing but a notch on his bedpost.”

  “Is that really what you think?”

  “I don’t know. There’s this cougar at work who’s doing her best to get him back in the sack, and he claims he had no idea what she was after. I mean, come on. Nobody is that clueless!”

  “Honey, he’s a man,” Shea replied, as though that in itself provided the explanation. But she explained, anyway. “They have filters in their brains that immediately delete any information deemed irrelevant to their essential needs at the moment. And this frequently gets them into trouble.”

  “While women overanalyze everything to the point of a nervous breakdown.” She sighed. “It’s a miracle people ever get together.”

  “Or remain together.” She smiled at Daisy. “But something tells me you’re going to give in to him and give him another chance.”

  “I shouldn’t.”

  “Why? You don’t believe he’s learned his lesson about pushing you away? That he’s basically honest?”

  “I want to, but I don’t want to get hurt.”

  “Nobody does. But if you don’t trust somebody, it’s going to be a long, lonely existence. Believe me. I nearly made that mistake, and I’m glad Tommy pushed me not to give up.” Her eyes grew warm at the memory. “My life would be so different now, and not in a happy way.”

  “Oh, my God. Sugar-coma alert!”

  Shea laughed. “Okay, no more philosophy. Let’s just have a good time.”

  “I agree with the pretty lady,” a masculine voice said. A large hand touched Daisy’s shoulder. “Would you like to dance?”

  Daisy turned to see a nice-looking cowboy hovering with a smile on his face. He seemed polite, and there was no reason to refuse. She had come out to dance, and it wasn’t like she was being unfaithful to Shane. It irked her that she would even think that way.

  “Sure, I’d like that.”

  Shea saluted her with her glass, and Daisy left her to take a turn or three around the floor with the nice cowboy. So what if he didn’t turn her crank?

  Dammit, it seemed only Shane could do that.

  • • •

  Shane was pretty well wiped out, and was sprawled in his easy chair, watching his favorite police drama—so what if the writers had the facts all wrong?—when his cell phone buzzed on the coffee table. Looking at the display, he saw it was Tommy. He almost let it go to voice mail, but then thought, Why not? It could be important.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  Tommy’s cheerful voice sounded in his ear. “Just playing some pool and drinking some beer with a few of my old crew. Why don’t you come on over and relax for a while?”

  “Man, that’s what I was already doing. Drew and I packed up his things at his house and brought them here, and it’s been a bitch of an afternoon.”

  “Well, that’s exactly why you should come! Bring the kid, too. The guys would love to see you both.” Tommy paused, sensing his friend was on the fence. “Come on, big guy. Don’t sit home all alone on a Saturday night like an old man, ’cause that’s just freaking sad.”

  Jesus, the guy was right. And it might help take his mind off how very different tonight was than this same night one week ago.

  “All right. I’ll ask Drew, and if he wants to come, we’ll be over in a few. He might not, though—” He broke off when he saw Drew standing in front of him mouthing, Yes! “Never mind, we’re on the way.”

  “That’s my man! See ya soon.”

  Hanging up, Shane gave the boy a half smile. “I thought you were tired.”

  “I was, but now I’m bored. It’s, like, way lame to sit around on a Saturday night.” This said like it was the end of the world.

  “You sound like Tommy.”

  “That’s who was on the phone?”

  “Yep. Ready to go, then?”

  He didn’t have to ask twice. Shane smiled at the teen’s exuberance when ten minutes ago he’d been moping in his room. Maybe a guys night out was what they needed.

  The night was cool and it would’ve been a bit of a walk in the dark, so they drove down the road to Tommy and Shea’s place. Before they were even out of the truck, Tommy was on the porch, waving them insid
e.

  “Thank God for you, or Shane would be one big party pooper, huh?” Tommy slung an arm around Drew’s shoulders, making the boy smile.

  Seeing the kid happy was worth just about anything. Shane trailed them inside to the kitchen, where he found a couple of the firefighters from Tommy’s former team at Station Five. Howard “Six-Pack” Paxton had taken over as captain when Sean Tanner had been promoted to battalion chief in January. Shane had first met Six-Pack when the firefighter was being terrorized by a stalker, and Shane had been assigned to work the case. The huge man was raiding the chips and dip and sipping a soda. Six-Pack didn’t drink alcohol, but nobody cared. Shane thought that was admirable.

  “Shane!” he called, moving forward to give him a one-armed hug. “Where have you been hiding?”

  “Working, taking care of the place. The usual.”

  They all knew that was an understatement—his responsibilities now extended far beyond his norm. Of course, they were all wondering how the serial bachelor of Cheatham County was faring in his new role. Thankfully, no one mentioned Brad’s death in front of Drew.

  “How are Kat and the new baby?” Shane asked.

  The captain beamed. “My wife is as beautiful as ever, and Ben is the smartest, most perfect little boy in the world. Not that I’m biased or anything.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  Six-Pack merely smiled and turned to Drew. “I’m Howard, or you can call me Six-Pack, like most everyone else.”

  “I’m Drew,” he said, suddenly looking a little shy. He was used to his dad’s larger-than-life athlete friends, but these men were much different. They were real-life heroes, and he simply didn’t know them.

  “Good to meet you, Drew.” Six-Pack gestured to a dark-haired man wearing glasses. “This is Zack Knight, my lieutenant at the fire station.”

  “Hi, Drew,” Zack said warmly. “Welcome to the nuthouse. The rest of the guys are in the game room, shooting pool, and shooting even bigger bull.”