Denying the Devil

by Calle J. Brookes

  Or they had been until Nate had spoken with them both that morning while Perci had still been sleeping.

  She smiled, thrilled to her toes at how wonderful her sons were.

  Nate was going to move forward with adopting Ivy, as soon as she was freed for adoption. In the meantime, the little one was staying right where she was.

  Becoming a Masterson.

  It wasn’t how she’d expected to get her first grandbaby, but to Rhea it was perfect. Ivy was the grandchild of her heart. And she always would be. “There’s my baby girl. What are you doing today?”

  “Mama Perci and Ivy go to the store. Then Pee-be.”

  The bruises were fading. The girl’s eyes were brighter than they had been. The little pink top and white shorts were clean and neat. She was happy. The way a child should be. Rhea looked at Perci. “Where’s that son of mine?”

  “Nate was called in to the hospital. He’ll be there most of the day, I think.”

  Perci was still wary with her, but Rhea had her measure. That hiss and fire was used to hide the fear. She’d asked Levi point blank what had happened to their girls, and the stories he had told her had sickened her. To think that family had dealt with all of it alone like that.

  It shouldn’t have been that way. Damn that Clive Gunderson for not being the man a sheriff should be.

  Her son was a much better sheriff, hands down. And that wasn’t just mother pride talking. The way that Gunderson had abused his power—she wished there was a way to make that man pay for what he’d done to her girls.

  She suspected this one was the one who needed to heal the most, even though Perci undoubtedly hid how hurt she actually was.

  Levi had told her enough to raise her hair, hinting that what happened to Perci still remained a mystery.

  Rhea resisted the urge to just hug her and tell her that her world was going to be a better place now. That Nate would fix everything he possibly could.

  Hopefully Nate understood that as well. “And you and Miss Ivy?”

  “We’re furniture shopping. We’re going to pick it out today and Nate’s going to swing by and pick it up on his way home.” Perci took Ivy back when the toddler reached for her. She quickly ordered, then looked at Rhea when the cashier told her the bill was on Rhea.

  “It’s the least I can do for my new grandbaby.” And Ivy’s new mama. But Rhea kept that part to herself. Best not to rush things. Yet. Strategy was as much about timing as it was action. “Sit with me. Make me look like I’m not up to no good today.”

  Perci smiled.

  Such a beautiful girl. She and Nate would make beautiful, beautiful babies. Rhea bit back a smile, as she imagined it. All of her grandchildren would most likely look very similar. Rhea loved genetics. All the possibilities. She couldn’t wait to see how alike and how different those precious little ones would be. Seven more months and Pip and Matt would take care of the beginning of that for her.

  She’d just focus on Ivy first. Give Nate and Perci a bit more time to make her third grandbaby on their own before she started pushing.

  Pip and Matt and their future little one were enough to keep her busy for now. And Ivy.

  “Come. Talk to this crazy old lady, Miss Ivy. Tell Nana all about Mama Perci and Daddy Nate.”

  It sounded so perfect. She couldn’t have planned it any better.

  47.

  RHEA MASTERSON WAS such a blend of each of her sons, with her own unique dose of snark and humor, that Perci found herself relaxing as the lunch went on. She had not planned to eat lunch with Nate’s mother, but the woman had plenty of stories to tell on her sons. Not just Nate. Some of the things his brothers had gotten up to were...hair-raising. Especially Matt. The quietest Masterson brother had been a bit of a daredevil as a kid. The slightly younger Nate had had to rescue Matt more than a few times.

  Not to mention what had to be done with Levi. According to Rhea, the only reason Levi had survived his childhood was because Nate had made a point to keep his brother in check.

  Apparently Nate was the savior of the group. Always watching, protecting. And slow as molasses sometimes. Rhea made a point of illustrating that particular fact.

  Perci knew what the woman was doing, and she could have told her to save her energy. She didn’t need to sell Perci on Nate any longer. He’d done that all by himself.

  She smiled, thinking of what it had been like snuggled in his arms all night.

  Pan had sure enjoyed teasing her that morning when Perci had come out of Nate’s room and run into her youngest sister in the hall.

  It didn’t matter. She had been right where she was supposed to be.

  But if she was ready to make that a permanent thing, she wasn’t quite sure yet.

  She needed to return to her real life and make her decision. Soon.

  Without Nate and Ivy there with her—distracting her. Tempting her with promises of what could be.

  She had a lot to think about.

  Before she knew it, she’d was shopping for furniture with Nate’s mother. They’d spent a couple of hours before Perci even realized it. And far more of Nate’s money than she wanted to think about. When they were finished, Ivy was napping in Rhea’s arms, and Perci was exhausted.

  Ivy had needed almost everything, including a few more weather-appropriate outfits. And toys. She had only the few Phoebe had packed up from the boys’ stashes.

  Rhea encouraged them to pick out far more things than a child Ivy’s age really needed. But they all enjoyed it.

  Nate was probably going to freak when he got his credit card bill, though.

  “Honey, go home. I’ll take this little one out to your daddy’s. I can visit with those little brothers of yours. Catch up with your daddy. You look like you barely slept a wink.”

  Perci hid a wince.

  She hadn’t slept a wink. And she wasn’t about to tell the woman looking at her why.

  She and Nate had definitely made up for all the nights they could have been together if they hadn’t been fighting each other so much. She was sore and tired in a way that was absolutely delicious when she thought about it.

  Perci wasn’t about to tell the man’s mother that, though.

  But she wouldn’t trade even a minute of it. Nate had held her through the night.

  For the first time in weeks, months—years—she hadn’t had the nightmares. His arms around her had felt right. Perfect. And she wouldn’t change a moment.

  She wanted more of those moments. She didn’t want to waste another night without him.

  Resolve filled her when she thought of not spending every night with him that she could.

  She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t return to her father’s house and her narrow twin bed again. It was time to step off the edge and actively go after what she wanted, what she needed.

  And what she needed was Nate.

  “I think I’ll take you up on that.” And grab her things. There were some boxes or totes somewhere. She’d pack them up. Take them to Nate’s. He’d issued the invitation.

  He wasn’t about to stop her now.

  She pulled in a breath, as her decision settled around her shoulders. She was going to go home. To her father’s. Just long enough to gather her things and...then she was going to find Nate.

  She didn’t have much. A house as full as theirs had once been didn’t leave much space for a lot of personal belongings per person. It wouldn’t take long to get everything she’d collected to this point.

  And be ready to go with him tonight.

  A thrill of anticipation went through her.

  She’d be with him tonight.

  They could assemble Ivy’s furniture together, get her room ready for her, and tuck Ivy into her bed tonight.

  And then she and Nate could figure out what the future held for all of them.

  Together.

  48.

  CLIVE SAT IN THE BACK booth of the diner and watched that girl long past the time he should have left. She was beautiful today
. Sun slipped through the window and made that red-brown hair of hers look almost like mahogany silk. She had it braided down her back. It was a bit shorter than it used to be. He’d always thought her hair was a pretty color.

  That baby girl was with her again, and he watched. Perci was a natural with the child. Beautiful and easy with the girl in ways Clive hadn’t been with Jay and Clint. Hell, he’d barely spent more than an hour or two each day with Jay when he’d been that age and even less than that with Clint.

  But this child, she was now the golden angel of the Masterson clan, no doubt. That was Masterson’s mother right there, doting on that girl as if she was her real grandbaby.

  He didn’t even do that with Clint’s baby, and she was his great-niece and stepgrandbaby. He snorted.

  That girl would be given every damned thing she wanted. She’d have a mama who loved her. Not to mention one of the richest men in the county for her daddy. She wouldn’t have to want for anything, not like his Jay had. And Clive had had a good job. It just hadn’t been enough.

  It had eaten into his time with his boy and Clint. He would never forget how much time he’d lost with Jay because of that job that Masterson had taken from him.

  Clive adjusted the tie around his neck to keep from choking to death, just as Rhea Masterson scooped the kid up and grabbed the bag from Perci. It was obvious they were moving on from the diner.

  He didn’t know what else to do.

  Clive tossed his trash in the basin nearby. And followed them.

  49.

  CLIVE MUST HAVE SAT in his truck outside that damned diner for hours. In the heat. People stared at him like he was a fool, but he didn’t give a damn.

  None of it mattered. None of it.

  He’d lost Jay. And after that shit with that doctor’s window, he’d lost Maria. She’d stayed with him for the funeral, but Clive knew the truth.

  The only person in this world he gave two shits for anymore wanted nothing else to do with him.

  The way Maria had looked at him. With disgust and mistrust.

  He’d disappointed her. He hadn’t known how she’d felt mattered quite that much to him.

  Nothing. He had nothing. Just how empty and cold his future was going to be yawned in front of him.

  People walked behind his tailgate.

  He noticed the red hair first.

  It took him a moment to figure out which one she was.

  Her twin wasn’t seen much in town, except in the company of that vet husband of hers.

  Perci was right there. Right there. Again. Laughing. Holding that child as if she was the most precious gift in the world. Right there. Almost within spitting distance.

  Clive forced himself to breathe. To not do something completely stupid.

  Perci passed the child to Masterson’s mother, then leaned down to put her shopping bags in the trunk of that damned red car of hers.

  When she turned, the setting sun caught in her hair and highlighted the red. Made her skin glow.

  She looked so damned beautiful, happy, and alive.

  He could see why Jay had been captivated by the woman who looked just like her.

  Alive. She was so damned alive.

  He wanted to feel that life. Just for a moment.

  Clive opened the door and stepped out of the truck.

  His suit clung to him, sweat-drenched and bunched. He didn’t give a damn. He needed that life.

  To see something that was real, something other than the sight of his only son in a damned box about to be lowered into the Wyoming ground forever. He had to get that image out of his head.

  There had to be something about this girl that it made sense that she’d lived and his son hadn’t. There had to be some reason.

  He stepped out from behind the bed of his truck and right into her path. “Perci.”

  50.

  AT FIRST SHE DIDN’T recognize the man in front of her. He was dirty, his hair stuck out all over his head. It took her a moment to realize it was sweat. Clive Gunderson’s brown eyes were red-rimmed with tears. “Perci.”

  He just stood there, repeating her name. Staring. At her, at Rhea and Ivy directly behind her.

  “Mama, Mama, Mama.” Ivy chose that moment to call for her. To remind her that she wasn’t alone. Wasn’t alone and vulnerable alongside a deserted highway any longer.

  Perci stepped to the left, putting herself bodily between Clive Gunderson and Ivy. “Gunderson.”

  “He’s dead.”

  “I know. Nate told me.”

  “You’re not. You’re right here in front of me. Perfect. You’re not sorry at all, are you?”

  “Why should I be? He almost killed me. He almost killed my sister. And he...you...made our family miserable, terrified, for four years. That’s hard to forget.” All the times he’d terrified her at night coalesced in her mind. Reminding her of everything. Everything she’d lost, everything that had happened to the ones she loved because of it. Everything. Perci wouldn’t let him do it to her again. Not anymore. He didn’t have power over her anymore. “If you don’t mind, we need to get going. It’s getting late and Ivy needs dinner and put to bed.”

  “You’ll have it all.” He stared at her. Rhea said her name and wrapped one hand around Perci’s elbow. “You’ll have that baby. Have that doctor. That family of yours. His. You’ve won. I have nothing. Not now. It’s all gone.”

  Perci risked a glance at Nate’s mother. Rhea held Ivy tight. But they were all far too exposed.

  And Clive Gunderson held a pistol in his hand. “Rhea, get Ivy into the car. Or take her back inside. I think...she needs her diaper changed. Can you take her back inside for me, please? I’ll be in to get her in a minute.”

  51.

  FOR THE FIRST TIME in a long while, Rhea didn’t know what to do. Her arms tightened around Ivy. Perci shifted in front of her, using her body to protect the little one’s.

  Clive Gunderson just stood there. Staring. When she saw the gun, Rhea gasped.

  His hand was clenching and unclenching on the grip. His eyes were trained on Perci like she was the only one in his world. Fixated. Mad.

  She’d seen men like him before.

  “Rhea, take Ivy inside. Please?” Perci said again.

  Rhea took a step back. She didn’t want to leave Perci out there alone. Not with him.

  Ivy sniffled and laid her head on Rhea’s shoulder. That baby didn’t need to be out there for whatever Gunderson was wanting.

  “Go, Rhea. Please.” The desperation in Perci’s words broke through her paralysis.

  Rhea understood. She was a mama, too, after all.

  “I’ll wait for you inside.” Rhea took a step away, then another. “Don’t take too long, ok?”

  “I won’t.” Perci didn’t look at her. Didn’t take her eyes off Clive Gunderson.

  “Perci,” Gunderson said again. “I...tell me why.”

  “Why what, Gunderson? I don’t think you and I have anything to talk about. Not anymore.”

  Rhea kept going until she reached the sidewalk. She carried the baby inside and grabbed her phone.

  She dialed 911 as fast as she could.

  52.

  PERCI STAYED RIGHT where she was until she was certain Rhea had had time to get Ivy inside. Then she moved closer to Pan’s SUV. “I don’t know what you expect me to say. What your son did was wrong. It led to his death, nothing I did. Or my family. He did it. I don’t know what you want from me.”

  Her eyes never left the gun in his hand. She wanted to run. To get as far away from him as possible.

  Every single time he’d pulled her over at night, he’d had that same pistol in his hand. He’d forced her to cooperate while he searched her car. While he made her kneel in the mud on four separate occasions.

  While he kept her there next to the road while he’d eaten a damned sub sandwich once. She’d despised subs ever since. Telling her things she would never repeat to anyone.

  He’d loom over her, threaten her. Every t
ime she’d wonder if that time was when he’d make good on his threats.

  Whatever he could do to keep it clear to her that she was in his control. That she was powerless.

  She wasn’t powerless any longer. She wasn’t.

  Perci also wasn’t about to leave Clive Gunderson anywhere near Ivy.

  She would not let herself be intimidated by him ever again. She turned her back on him and headed back inside, gambling that he wouldn’t do anything to her in broad daylight.

  He never had before.

  She’d wait until he was gone—or call Joel.

  Her brother-in-law could deal with Gunderson far better than she could.

  She was tired of giving her energy to this man. It was time she let go of the hold he had on her and moved on.

  With Nate.

  53.

  SHE JUST WALKED AWAY. Clive watched her just walk away. As if he, as if Jay, didn’t matter. He rubbed his hand over his face as he watched her.

  Maybe they didn’t matter to her anymore.

  There were others outside, watching. Watching him. Curious.

  Gossips, the lot of them. Looking for a show.

  He wasn’t going to be their damned entertainment.

  She shifted again, small and fast and headed to that new baby of Masterson’s. He’d scared her away, no doubt.

  He hadn’t meant to do that. He’d just wanted to talk to her. That was all.

  Like he hadn’t done before.

  Clive took another step toward her. Then another. Until he caught up with her. He had her shoulder in his hand before he’d even realized he’d moved. He bodily moved her toward the rear of a pickup truck. Where no one could see.

  Perci spun to look at him, a wild fear in those blue, blue eyes of hers.