by Mckoy, Cate
Guarding Light
Book One of a Trilogy
Cate Mckoy
Warning - This book contains explicit violence
and sexual content.
America Star Books
© 2013 by Cate Mckoy.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine or journal.
First printing
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Aneruca Star Books has allowed this work to remain exactly as the author intended, verbatim, without editorial input.
Softcover 9781627728027
eBook 9781611023206
PUBLISHED BY AMERICA STAR BOOKS, LLLP
www.americastarbooks.com
THE BEGINNING
Prologue
Fall of 1988
"Wooo Hooo!" The cheerful shouts echoed off the walls of the boy's locker room. The members of the NFC football team, the Goldbacks, were in various states of undress, changing back into street clothes after winning their first home game.
Jack Gard, quarterback closed the locker he stood in front of as he buttoned up his shirt. He watched his best friend, Jon Taylor Dark (known as J.T.) walk out of the shower area, vigorously rubbing a towel across his blonde head, which was darkened by the water.
J.T. opened the locker next to Jack's, tossing his towels across the bench. "Nice pass Jack." J.T. quickly donned his clothes as Jack combed his dark hair into its normal neat style.
"Thanks, right back at ya." Jack complimented as he put away his comb and packed up his sports gear in his duffle.
J.T. was just finishing up tying his sneakers when he asked, "What have you got planned for tonight?"
Jack gave his friend a confused look and then took in the pandemonium surrounding them, the wild hollering, and happy screams, the all-around party mood of the locker room. "You're kidding, right?"
J.T. stood and began packing his own duffle, shaking his head. "No, not kidding. What are you doing tonight?"
Jack sighed in frustration. He was having trouble understanding his best friend these last few weeks. He always seemed distracted and worried. Whenever Jack asked if everything was all right he received the same answer of 'everything is fine'.
Ever since his return from visiting relatives in London, England the year before he had been acting stranger and stranger. Usually the Dark family visited their overseas relatives every other summer and they stayed the entire summer. Normally J.T. seemed to find those trips enjoyable and he was refreshed. But something had been wrong for the past 2 summers. J.T.'s dark moods seem to come more frequently.
So many considered J.T. an asshole and didn't understand his and Jack's friendship. But J.T. often showed Jack a side others never got to see. It had started when they were 9 years old. They were visiting a mutual friend's house that sat on Winnoa Lake. Jack had unknowingly dived in water he assumed was deep but turned out to be very shallow, struck his head and was rendered unconscious. J.T. had been the only one of the many kids there that day that had the foresight to go into the water after Jack failed to surface.
J.T. saved him that day. It started a deeper friendship that had only, until that point, been a surface friendship because they shared the same school, friends, and went to the same places in town. Jack was 11 years old when he noticed J.T. was sort of a dick to others. But, he was a harmless dick as far as Jack was concerned, plus the asshole side of his personality only appeared every so often it wasn't a constant thing.
J.T.'s actions had been out of character all summer, his less likeable traits showing more and more. He had thought his friend would return to normal once school started but his strange behavior had continued.
"J.T. I was hoping we would be having a blow-your-mind party at your place." At his friend's frown and slight shake of his head Jack added, "Or at least attend Hamilton Stiles bash."
J.T. slammed his locker, grabbed his duffle and headed out of the locker room. Jack followed.
"Sorry man, I have my own plans to celebrate tonight." J.T. had an almost secretive smile on his face, a leering type of smile.
Jack gave a shout of laughter. "Dude, you should have said. What's this one's name?" Jack gave J.T. a knowing smile and a very masculine slap on the back. "Oh, man you can bring her to Ham's party."
They waved to several classmates who called out as they crossed the field towards the back parking lot where J.T.s BMW and Jack's Ford were parked.
"You know her name." J.T. said.
Jack's steps slowed as he started to get a very bad feeling about which girl he was referring. "J.T., please, tell me you are not talking about Catlyn Lyte?"
J.T. angrily swung around to face Jack, leaving the driver's door open as he spoke through clench teeth. "Yes! It's Catlyn Lyte!"
Jack was startled for a few seconds at the extreme anger in his friend's crystal blue eyes, putting his palms up in a placating motion. "Hey, man, I'm just saying--"
"What are you saying, Jack?" J.T.'s anger seemed disproportionate to the question he had asked. So much so that Jack just stared at his friend in deeper confusion.
Jack decided to go another route in his reasoning. "Catlyn Lyte agreed to go out with you tonight?"
Right! Jack knew that was impossible and wanted to see if J.T. would lie.
J.T. lowered his eyes for a few seconds before answering. "Not, exactly." He rushed on interupting Jack's deep felt sigh. "But, after our stellar performance tonight, she has to say yes."
Jack studied his friend's hopeful expression in growing wonder. What was it about Catlyn Lyte that drove his friend nearly off the deep end? Jack was the first to admit when a girl was pretty. And Catlyn Lyte was definitely in the ten category, however, Jack didn't think she could be worth all the time and trouble J.T. had already put in on his pursuit of her, an extremely unsuccessful pursuit. Not to mention the humiliation of rejection.
Catlyn Lyte had come to be in their class, when Jack and J.T. and all their friends were fifteen, at the tender age of twelve. Her IQ was one of those scary ones in the stratosphere. Her mother and the school district had placed her in several grades above her peers.
David Gard, Jack's father had said it was some sort of political thing. His dad was always looking for the conspiracy in everything. Jack didn't think it was that complicated. He thought that Catlyn was just a smart little girl whose mother had taken advantage of the accelerated program offered in their district for gifted kids.
At first everyone had just steered clear of Catlyn, being the oddity that she was, not only a twelve year old among fifteen and sixteen year-olds but also the only black person in the advanced honors where she had been placed.
But one girl, Sara Dolson had taken one look at Catlyn, introduced herself and then proceeded to take the pre-teen under her protective wing. Since that long ago day in the ninth grade the two girls had been inseparable, the best of friends. And as the years went on the three years separating Catlyn and most of her classmates just seem to disappear. Now they were all seniors, most eighteen and Catlyn fifteen.
The girls were very active in the school. Both were cheerleaders. Sara was captain. They both were in the school's budding computer club. Sara was the class president and Catlyn was on the school paper. Both girls were very popular. Not only because they were beautiful girls, Sara being the traditional Blonde Bombshell and Catlyn being an exotic striking beauty, but their strong friendship made them popular as well. They were constantly at each other's side, doing almost everything together
. Their classmates had come up with names for them. The Ebony and Ivory Princesses and The Salt and Pepper Babes.
Catlyn was a very likable girl. Jack liked her very much. She was quiet mostly to counter Sara's bubbly vivaciousness. Her calm mannerism was pleasant to be around and she often showed a deep compassion and empathy for her fellow student. She didn't like discord in any way. Catlyn treated everyone the same, whether they were black, white, male or female. She seemed to like everyone, everyone that is except J.T.
Jack didn't know what J.T. had done to offend Catlyn but it must had been something big and it must of been very shortly after she arrived in their group, because it had been from day one that Catlyn showed her aversion to J.T. And it was hard to believe someone as sweet and fair as Catlyn would judge someone sight unseen. Jack knew one thing, if Catlyn had an issue with J.T., it was valid. But hell if he knew what it was that caused her dislike of J.T.
Trying yet another tactic Jack offered, "Have you ever stopped to think that the reason Catlyn doesn't want to date you is because of the black white thing?"
J.T. shook his head. "She is constantly in Sam's company, laughing with him. He walks her around the school with his arm thrown over her shoulders." Making his point J.T. said emphatically. "And he is as white as us."
"And that may not be what you think when you take into consideration that Sam is her best friend's brother." Jack countered.
Just as J.T. was about to answer a line of cars with cheering, shouting and laughing students started to pass, among them was Sam's (Sara's twin brother) mustang convertible. Right there in the front was his crush Sara and her best friend, Catlyn. Catlyn was in between Sam and Sara and the back overfilled with cheerleaders. Sara was driving and came to a slow stop across from where Jack and J.T. were standing as the queue to leave the parking lot slowed.
Sam whispered something in Catlyn's ear and she laughed, giving Sam one of her amazing but rare smiles. Sam then leaned over and kissed her cheek and Catlyn returned the kiss to Sam's cheek.
Suddenly the occupants of the car all turned and saw J.T. and Jack. They all waved and shouted hellos. Sam shouted, "Dude, you going to Ham's bash?"
Jack knew the question was directed at him rather than J.T. The Dolsons were protective of Catlyn and minimized their contact with J.T.
Jack walked across to the car and did a sideways hi-five with Sam. "Yeah, man, I am there." Jack bent over to look across at Sara. "And will the prettiest girl in school give me her first dance?"
Sam rolled his eyes and laughed. Sara smiled and blushed prettily, nodding her head in the affirmative. Jack turned his attention to Catlyn. "And the second prettiest girl in school is she going?"
Actually, Catlyn was just as beautiful as Sara. She too smiled at Jack and he couldn't tell if she was blushing but she seemed to be. Her shy smile bloomed as she looked down and her ridiculously long eyelashes hid the deep brown depths of her chocolate eyes. She looked up quickly and then back down as she explained. "Mom, won't let me go to an adult party like that, thinks I am too young."
"Well, we'll see you in school on Monday and tell you all about it." Jack winked at her.
She smiled fully at him and his heart stuttered for a second before thumping faster. She really was stunning Jack thought as he continued to hold her gaze with his. She continued to hold his gaze until Jack felt as though the ground was tilting.
Suddenly Catlyn tensed and her beautiful smile disappeared as her focus became centered over his right shoulder. Without looking, Jack knew J.T. had move to stand right behind him.
He spoke over Jack's shoulder. "Hi, Catlyn."
She didn't speak, turning her head to stare out the windshield.
Normally Jack would have stepped aside to let J.T. take his turn to speak but for some reason his protectiveness kicked into overdrive and he was reluctant to allow J.T. even a centimeter closer to Catlyn.
"Dude, why do you continue to try?" Sam put in before J.T. could say anything else. "Leave the girl alone. She obviously doesn't want to talk with you?"
"Dolson, mind your business." J.T.s pleasant stance changed to combative. "I was talking to Catlyn."
Sam got out of the car. Jack stood and stepped back, which forced J.T. to step back. Sam faced J.T. and warned. "Man, I am done being polite with you."
Sam advanced on J.T. Jack kept a restraining hand between the two, keeping pace as Sam backed them to J.T.s car then continued in a stern voice. "I am telling you, don't talk to her, touch her or look at her!"
J.T.s spine straightened to his full height of 6 feet, chest jutting out. "Or what, Dolson?"
Sam crowded into J.T.s personal space. Jack then put a restraining hand on both their chests, forcing a bigger gap between them.
"Come on, guys, we're all teammates." Jack reasoned.
Sam kept his eyes on J.T. "We may be teammates but we're not friends Dark. And, I am telling you for the last time stay away from Cat!"
"Cat, is it?" J.T. smirked. "Is that what you call her now that you are getting her pussy? You're getting Cat's snatch? So, how is dark meat, Dolson?"
Sam gave an angry cry before going at J.T. like they were in football practice. Jack knew as soon as J.T. uttered those fighting words there would be no reasoning with either of his friends. So he braced himself, strengthening his arms against each man's chest. But they were all slammed against the BMW by the force of Sam's shove.
Jack put more of his substantial body in between the two, catching a punch meant for Sam on the shoulder. "Come on, guys. Stop this!" Jack pushed hard against J.T., forcing him back the few inches he gained as he tried to rush Sam.
Sara and Catlyn both got out of the car. Sara screamed when she saw the punches which her brother and J.T. were exchanging. Several hit Jack as he continued to try and separate his two best friends.
Catlyn rushed to the trio and grabbed Sam's arm, pulling him towards her. Not really seeing, J.T. swung hard, missing Sam, his fist connecting with Catlyn's jaw. The sickening smack, Sara's scream and Catlyn's gasps of pain as the force of J.T.s punch flung her to the ground seem to paralyze everyone.
J.T., Sam and Jack all froze and looked on in horrified surprise as Catlyn shakily sat up, cupped her jaw as blood trickled from her bottom lip. Jack swore and gave his friends one last push in opposite directions before going to Catlyn still on the ground.
"Oh, baby!" Without thinking, Jack kneeled, picking Catlyn up, cradling her against his chest. She put her arms around his neck and laid her head against his chest as she started to cry.
Jack started to walk down the row of cars towards his own Ford sedan. As he heard someone start to follow them he shouted over his shoulder, not caring which one it was, "Don't! Stay back!"
When he reached his car Jack opened the passenger side and gently placed Catlyn sideways on the seat. She was crying, nursing her jaw with her right hand and wiping blood off her lips and chin with her left.
Jack opened his glove compartment and took out his mini first aid kit his father always insisted he carry in his car. Squatting in the open doorway, he took out several medical wipes and gently taking her hand away from her jaw, soothing as she protested. "Ssh, baby. It's ok. I won't hurt you but I have to see." His voice turned husky.
He wiped the blood from her lip and chin, being very careful not to cause her anymore pain. She was docile under his touch, sitting quietly as he finished by cleaning the blood from her hands.
Cautiously he put his fingers on her chin, tilting it tenderly. "Sweetie, you're already starting to swell and I think you're gonna turn a bunch of colors." He looked in her tear drenched, soft brown eyes and felt himself drowning in their depths. "How do you feel?"
In her soft tones that sent a shiver down his spine and rushed straight to his dick she answered, "I feel like I've been punched by a six-foot football player."
For half a second Jack froze until he saw the twinkle of humor in her eyes. My God, she was lovely. Beautiful. Wait! Jack shook his head. What was he th
inking? Sara was his girl, his crush for two years now. What was he doing drooling over Sara's best friend? And a baby at that! At his last thought, he took a quick glance at the breasts that were highlighted sexily in her blue and gold cheerleader outfit. Her breasts were bigger than Sara's and most of the girls on the squad. Catlyn may be three years younger than her classmates but her body was just as mature as theirs. And she was built along the lines of a center-fold. Damn!
Jack quickly brought his eyes back to hers so she would not catch him staring at her chest. She got enough of that from J.T. and he most definitely did not want to be in the same category as J.T. with this girl who was affecting him.
He laughed at her humor. "Next time, stay out of the way sweetie," Jack cautioned. "Let me handle it, ok."
