Dark Redemption

by Barron, Melinda

  “I didn’t lie.”

  “You lied by omission. You should have told me why Vince went back the other night. And then, you turned around and got me to agree to marry you.”

  Knox’s face turned serious. “Are you changing your mind?”

  “No, I just, ugh! You’re so frustrating!”

  “Hey, I bought you a great ring, didn’t I?”

  Tatum held up her left hand and stared at the diamond on her finger.

  “Yes, you did. But…”

  “No buts, Tatum. We did what we thought was best to keep you away from Baker. He’s disappeared again, so until he’s caught, you’re in my custody. I’m dropping you off at work, and I’ll be back at seven to pick you up. If you leave without me, I’ll be forced to punish your little ass, do you understand me?”

  “Say it again.”

  “What, punish you?”

  “No, little ass.” She stuck out her tongue and grinned, then made a mad dash for the building.

  From inside, she heard the Indian roar off. She was getting quite used to riding bitch. In fact, she was beginning to love it.

  She stared at her ring again, then put on her apron and stuffed several pairs of gloves in the front pocket. It was a Monday, usually an uneventful day, but when they’d driven up, the parking lot had been full.

  Knox had reminded her not to wander off by herself, and to make sure that she took someone with her if she had to go to the greenhouses, or storage sheds, that were behind the main store.

  She started her assigned tasks of unpacking boxes of pots and knickknacks that attracted the tourists. Every so often she would stop and look at her left hand, admiring the diamond that sparkled back at her.

  Her life had changed so quickly. Two months ago she’d told herself that she’d never marry again, that she would be alone, with no one but George to keep her company at night. Now she had Knox, the most wonderful man she’d ever met, the most loving man she’d ever met, and hell yes, the hottest man she’d ever met.

  She laughed, then hissed a “come here” at Marcy when her friend walked back. Marcy shook her head and mouthed “later,” and Tatum wiggled her ring finger at her.

  Marcy’s mouth dropped open and Tatum threw back her head and laughed. Briscoe, however, picked that moment to remind Marcy that she was behind. The woman’s hound dog look made Tatum laugh harder, and it was after six before the two of them found time to sneak to the back room so Marcy could look at Tatum’s ring.

  “Geeze Louise,” Marcy said. “It’s huge. I want a doctor. Can I have one too?”

  “You can’t have mine.”

  “I can’t believe it happened so fast.”

  “Me neither. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

  Marcy giggled. “Well, I want to meet the doctor. I have to tell you, I worried at first that he was that creepy guy that came in here on Saturday looking for you.”

  Tatum’s blood ran cold. “What guy?”

  “Some dark-headed guy. He came in here on a motorcycle, so I thought maybe it was the doc, but then I remembered that you and the doc were in Chama together. This guy was seriously creepy.”

  Tatum swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, it wasn’t that he was ugly, or anything, he just looked, um, scary. His eyes were creepy. When I told him you wouldn’t be back until today, he lit out of here like his ass was on fire.”

  “Did you talk to him?”

  “Yeah, ’cause like I said, he was on a bike and I thought he might be your doc. I wanted to meet him.”

  “Marcy!” Briscoe’s yell made them both jump. Marcy moved toward their boss, and Tatum went to the storeroom doorway and looked around. She checked her watch. It was after six-thirty, and Knox would be here any minute to pick her up. There was no doubt in her mind that it had been Rodney looking for her on Saturday. And Marcy, trying to be helpful, had informed him that Tatum would be here on Monday.

  Not that she could blame Marcy. Tatum, always a private person, had not told her friend about anything that had happened the past week, other than the break-in, which everyone thought had been random. She’d told Marcy that she’d missed work to look for a new house.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Tatum checked her watch again. “No. Everything’s fine. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day, and I think I’m going to sit back here for a while.”

  “Okay,” Marcy replied. “But if Briscoe catches you, you’re up the creek. You’re already in the doghouse with him.”

  Marcy hugged Tatum tight. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.”

  When she was gone, Tatum moved to the back of the storeroom and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed Knox’s number, her hands shaking. If he’d ridden the bike to pick her up, then he wouldn’t be able to answer. She knew that coming here without a means of transportation today was a bad idea, because job or no job, right now she would be hauling ass back down the highway. The phone rang four times and went to voice mail.

  Another glance at her watch showed that ten more minutes had passed. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Knox’s number again, willing him to answer. This time the phone went straight to voice mail. She tried Vince’s number and got the same response.

  “Shit!” She pocketed it, then headed for the back door. No one but employees were supposed to be in this part of the store, or the grounds. She hated to look like a coward, hiding from Rodney when it wasn’t even a certainty that he would show up. Vince had assured her that they thought he’d probably left town after Malfee’s murder.

  Of course him showing up here on Saturday proved otherwise. She took a few tentative steps outside, looking around to make sure no one was in sight. She stepped into the sunlight and headed for the southern tip of the building, where she could watch the road for Knox’s arrival.

  Her heart was doing triple time, and her hands were shaking. Sweat formed on her brow.

  She was seconds away from seeing the road when Rodney stepped around the building. He looked as surprised to see her as she did to see him. His surprise quickly turned to anger.

  “Fucking, bitch. I’m not going to prison because of you.”

  “You’re right,” Tatum said slowly, inching backwards. “You’re going because of yourself. You killed Craig. You bastard.”

  “Prick wouldn’t mind his own damn business. If he didn’t want the money, he should have just turned his nose the other way, like the others did. But he had to be Mr. Goody Two-shoes. He got what he deserved. The only thing that really pissed me off was he died too fast.”

  Anger clouded Tatum’s judgment. An image of Craig’s smiling face filled her mind, and she launched herself toward Rodney, clawing at his face and bringing her knee up to his groin.

  He was too fast for her, however, and he sidestepped the knee. Her nails found their mark, though, and he howled in pain. His backhand sent Tatum reeling. She screamed out in rage as he straddled her and put his hands on her throat.

  “I’ll make this one last,” he said as he tightened his grip. “Maybe, if there’s justice, your bastard uncle’s watching and will feel the pain, too.”

  “Tatum!” Briscoe’s voice rang out from the storeroom doorway. “Get off her!”

  She could hear his feet pounding against the dirt.

  “Briscoe! Santa Fe PD. Let her go!”

  She’d never been so happy to hear Vince’s voice. Baker tightened his hold and Tatum moved her hand from his grip, reached out and grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in his face. He coughed and sputtered, letting go of her neck, and falling backwards on his knees.

  Tatum gasped as Briscoe grabbed her arms and drug her away from the angry man, who was spitting dirt and screaming expletives at her.

  “Down, Baker!” Vince screamed. “Get down on the ground!”

  “Fuck you! I’m going to kill the bitch!” Baker turned on Vince, his arms flaying in the air. Suddenly, his body jerked.

  Tatum realiz
ed that the sounds she’d just heard were gunshots as Briscoe toppled to the ground.

  She was vaguely aware of Briscoe pulling her shaking body up from the ground and rushing her toward the building, of Marcy pulling her close, of Vince yelling for everyone to get back, and the sounds of distant sirens growing closer.

  After a few minutes, she pushed away from Marcy and looked toward Vince. He sat on the ground near Baker, his gun dangling from his hands.

  “Vince.”

  “Knox had a last-minute appointment,” Vince said, his voice devoid of emotion. “He asked me to come.”

  “Drop the gun, now.”

  Tatum turned toward the sheriff’s deputies who rounded the building, guns drawn.

  “I’m with the PD,” Vince said softly. “I’m putting it down.”

  He dropped the weapon and, following the other officer’s instructions, slowly pulled his badge from his pocket. One officer examined it while the other one bent down to examine Baker.

  “He’s dead,” the deputy said. “We’re going to need a crime unit.”

  Chapter 21

  Tatum jumped up from the wooden bench and ran toward the grand jury room door when it opened. Knox came up behind her, his hands on her shoulders, holding her back.

  “Give him a minute,” he whispered in her ear.

  Vince walked out slowly, talking with his lawyers. Then, he turned a smiling face on Tatum and Knox.

  “It’s over. They deemed it a clean shoot. No charges.”

  “Thank God!” Tatum hugged him close and Knox nodded and shook his hand.

  “Let’s celebrate,” Knox said. “There’s already a crowd at our house, cooking and getting ready for our arrival. Steaks and corn on the cob and potato salad and beer. Sound good?”

  “Sounds delicious,” Vince replied. “Let’s go.”

  They started off, then Tatum pulled back. “Wait! I’m going to invite Briscoe and Marcy.”

  She ran toward her friends, who were just coming out of the grand jury room.

  When she was gone, Knox stepped closer to Vince.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I killed a man. How do you think I’m doing?”

  “You killed a criminal. You killed a man who was trying to strangle the woman I love. If you hadn’t killed him, then I would have tried to find a way. And, if he’d succeeded and killed Tatum, I would have killed him, and you for letting it happen. It’s a vicious cycle.”

  “Very funny,” Vince replied with a frown.

  “All I’m saying is that Baker made his choices. His choices are what led to his death. Not you.”

  “I know. I’ve told other people that for years. It’s harder to hear, though, when you’re on the other side. A man’s dead because I shot him. I was judge, jury, and executioner. I have nightmares, Knox. I can see his face, hear him screaming that he’s going to kill her. Then, suddenly, he’s standing at the end of my bed calling me a murderer.”

  “You’re not a murderer. You saved the woman I love. When you think of the bad part of it, remember that. Tatum is alive because of what you did.”

  Vince smiled, and the smile increased when Tatum joined them.

  “They’re going to follow us. So, Vince, you sticking around after everyone is gone? Knox says he has a surprise for me tonight.”

  “Oh yummy,” Vince replied. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Well good. That means you’ll stay and play with us.”

  “Making plans without my permission, Vixen?” Knox turned toward Tatum, his eyes twinkling.

  “Will it get me punished?”

  “Most definitely.”

  “Then, yes, I guess I am.”

  Knox stopped and turned toward Tatum.

  “You know, Vixen, one of these days I’m going to make you go without a punishment. How would you like that?”

  She gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.”

  * * *

  “I don’t like that grin on your face,” Knox said as Tatum approached him. He was cleaning the grill rack while it was still warm.

  “I think we should fix Marcy up with Pablo. What do you think?”

  “Are you serious?” He stopped scraping and turned toward her. “Is Marcy even a sub?”

  “I don’t know, I never asked. It’s not normal lunch conversation. But they seem to enjoy talking to each other.”

  She turned her gaze toward the two. They’d been talking for much of the evening and seemed to be getting along. The party was winding down, and most guests had left. Numerous people had shown up to show support for Vince, and to celebrate the grand jury’s decision.

  “Stop playing matchmaker,” Knox said.

  “Hey, it worked for us.”

  “Only because I knew how to handle you.”

  “Oh really? From the beginning?”

  “Don’t start with me, Tatum. And I’m telling you, Marcy couldn’t handle Pablo.”

  “I’m going to push for it,” she said, skipping away from him.

  “Tatum! Tatum, get back here!”

  “And her hair’s not even red,” Vince said, sitting down and taking a swig from his beer. “Tatum, you got some ’splaining to do.”

  Knox laughed and pointed his grill tool toward Vince’s beer. “How many of those have you had?”

  “Too many to drive. What’s on tap for tonight?”

  “Destiney finished Tatum’s collar. I was going to wait and give it to her for a wedding present, but that’s still six months from now. I don’t want to wait that long. I want her officially collared as soon as possible. I was hoping you’d be among the witnesses.”

  “Here?”

  “No, at Jaguars. My baby doesn’t like to be naked in front of people, so I’ll make her do it every once in a while. Takes her out of her comfort zone. Reminds her that she belongs to me.”

  “Good plan.”

  “Let me tell you, she’s a wildcat. She’s a damned good sub in the bedroom, but outside of it she has a mind of her own. And I love it!”

  Knox waved at several friends who were heading out. Tatum was at the gate, checking to make sure that everyone who was driving hadn’t had too much to drink.

  Pablo and Marcy were the last to leave, and after they’d gone through the gate, she laughed at Knox.

  “See. I told you there might be something there.”

  “You. Naked. Living room. Now.” He pointed the scraper at her.

  “I thought we were going to Jaguars.”

  “Tatum. Don’t argue with me. Naked. Living room. Now. And make sure you’re on your knees.”

  She headed toward the house, stopping to pet Fred on her way. He laughed as he heard her mumble something to the dog that sounded like, “I wasn’t arguing, and he didn’t have to be pissy.”

  “See what I mean?” Knox threw up his hands.

  “You love it,” Vince replied. “You wouldn’t have her any other way.”

  “You’re right. I’m counting my blessings every day.”

  They moved toward the house and when they went in through the back door, Knox was gratified to find Tatum naked and kneeling, facing toward the couch, her arms behind her back.

  “Go and get George,” he said. “Then come back to the same position.”

  She went to the bedroom quickly and he and Vince sat down on the couch.

  “You feeling all right?” Knox asked.

  “Sure, I’ve had a few of these.” He held up his beer bottle.

  “We’ve had this discussion.”

  “You’re right, we have. But Knox, I…”

  They fell silent as Tatum entered.

  “Bring the chair,” Knox said.

  She moved the Papasan chair in front of the couch and settle back into the cushion.

  “Make love to George.”

  She bit her lip, then slid the vibrator into her mouth, sucking it deep. Knox’s cock hardened but he was determined not to take her until after the collaring ceremony
tonight.

  “Good girl. Keep going.”

  He and Vince settled back to watch as she turned George on, then slid him over her nipples and around her breasts. Her soft moans filled the living room and his cock began to throb. He glanced toward Vince, who watched, but was not as affected as Knox was.

  Worry for his friend settled into his mind. The next few months weren’t going to be easy. Vince was going to have to come to terms with killing a man, and he and Tatum would be there to help. He just wasn’t sure exactly what he could do.

  When Tatum’s moans increased, he smiled. She’d moved George down to her clit, sliding him back and forth over the swollen nub.

  “May I come?”

  “Not yet. I like watching you. Fuck yourself.”

  She scooted down in the chair and slid George home, her pussy opening easily to take the toy deep inside her. She moved a hand to her breasts, tugging and pulling at her nipples as she called out Knox’s name, begging him for release.

  “Not yet.”

  “Master.” She whined as she bucked against George. “Please!”

  But Knox just shook his head. “You’ll come when I’m ready for you to.”

  “Suck him. Clean your juices off. Just make sure you turn him off, first.”

  Her loud sucking noises replaced her groans and Knox palmed his cock. He looked to Vince, who shook his head. Knox nodded, then stood and walked to Tatum, unzipping his pants.

  “Suck me instead. Put George back in your pussy.”

  She sucked him in greedily, George disappearing back inside her folds. Knox felt the pressure build in his balls and he stroked Tatum’s hair.

  “Take it all, baby.” He shot off instantly, the feel of her warm mouth more than he could handle. He was gratified to feel her swallow his offering.

  “Come, Tatum,” he groaned. “Come for your Master.”

  And she did, her hips shooting off the chair as she continued to suck his cock, which still throbbed in her mouth. When she finally released him and relaxed in the chair, he gazed down at her. “Damn, you made me lose control. I hadn’t planned on that.”

  “I guess you’re just going to have to punish me.”

  “I guess I am.”