Ring of Fire

by Taylor Lee

  Nate turned to leave then glanced across the room.

  “Saw Tucker over there. You got a nice kid, Cougar. Better than you deserve. Smart, too.”

  “What do you know about him, asshole?”

  “I know he lives with his mother. I know that they both gave up on you years ago.”

  Nate ignored the angry flush rising on Cougar’s neck.

  “You weren’t around so you wouldn’t know but I coached him when he was a kid, a middle-schooler. I saw the promise in him then. I’m wondering why he didn’t go out for basketball at the college. Hell, he could have played center, point guard, any position he wanted. He’s a versatile player, tall and fast.”

  Cougar’s face flushed a deeper red, then he sneered. “Maybe he has more important things to do, Big Dog.”

  “Maybe.”

  “I’m warning you, Nate. You stay away from that kid.”

  Nate shrugged. “Sure, but it seems like he’s old enough to make up his own mind about the lay of the land.”

  Cougar growled, “Yeah, he is. Right now he’s making some big decisions about the direction he’s taking in his life. And for the first time, Nate, he’s gonna be making the right decisions.”

  Nate sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Knowing who you are, what you are, Cougar? I’m sure hoping that you’re wrong about that.”

  Chapter 8

  Nate forced a smile on his face and moseyed back across the room face but couldn’t squash the uneasiness rollicking in his gut. You didn’t have to be a trained cop to feel the danger lurking in the pub. It hung in the air like a curtain of early morning fog on the lake. Unlike the mist that burned off with the heat of the sun, the threat in this room could as likely blow up as burn off. Nate slid onto the chair next to Erin and rubbed his balled up fist against her knee. Her soft smooth skin and the shiver his touch elicited chased away the demons threatening to swamp him.

  Wrapping a big arm around Erin, he glanced up and saw Britney Mallory sidling up to their table. The young red-haired miniature Kieran was gazing up at him adoringly, her freckled face flushed pink. Nate saw Sam and Connor exchange a look, rolling their eyes at her obvious infatuation.

  “Umm, Nate. Uh, Detective Stryker? Sarah, I mean, Mrs. Jones, asked me to give this to you.”

  The young girl handed him a folded piece of paper and stepped back crossing her arms as if uncertain what to do next.

  Nate took the note and gave her a quick smile.

  “Thanks, Britney. Hey, your dad told me you are going to give the Valedictorian address at next week’s graduation. Congratulations. I’m proud of you. I know you work hard to help your dad out now that your mom’s sick. Working the way you do and studying too? That’s impressive Britney. I know your mom and dad are bursting with pride. You done good, girl.”

  The young girl flushed brighter, her eyes widening when she saw the size of the bill he shoved her way.

  Nate smiled at her.

  “Keep that for yourself, Britney. It’s an early graduation present. Buy something pretty just for you. You got to look good standing up on that stage.”

  The young girl didn’t hide her excitement. “Thanks, Nate. With this and the money my grandma gave me, I’m going to be able to buy that dress I didn’t think I could afford.”

  Connor reached in his wallet and added another bill to her kitty.

  “Knowing you girls, the shoes that match the dress are just as important. But Nate’s right. You need to look good on that stage. Do us all proud, you hear, girl?”

  Britney glowed with pleasure. “Thank you Capt. Lang, I mean Connor. I appreciate it.”

  She darted back to the bar and excitedly showed her father her stash.

  Kieran glanced over at their table, unmistakable moisture in his eyes as he saluted Nate and his cousin.

  Nate nodded to Connor. “Thanks, Cuz. That was good of you. Damn, imagine that. Little Britney Mallory is graduating from high school. Does that mean you and I aren’t as young as we think we are? Sure as hell hope it doesn’t mean we’re going to have to start acting our age!”

  In the middle of his forced banter with Connor, Nate unfolded the note and read it before sticking it in his jean’s pocket. Unwinding himself from his chair, he stood at the edge of the table and leaned in close to Erin.

  “Baby, you gotta excuse me. This note’s from Sarah. You need to understand, Erin. I’m dealing with some ugly stuff here, honey, some bad shit. I won’t be gone long. I’ll explain when I get back.”

  He motioned to Connor who nodded his understanding and edged over closer to Erin.

  Erin assumed indifference although her heart was pounding. “What can I say, Nate? Do what you need to do.”

  Nate frowned then turned to go. “You know I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  ~~~

  Sam eased in next to Erin.

  “Erin, I want to tell you straight up—and Connor and Dan will tell you this too. The reason Nate is going out there is for one reason only. That woman needs help and knows the only person she can turn to is Nate.”

  Erin tossed her head and couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “Yes, Nate’s always been drawn to vulnerable women. And she’s a blonde to boot.”

  Seeing the matching frowns on Connors and Sam’s face, Erin shook her head.

  “Don’t worry, any of you. I know I’m being foolish. It’s a reflex. Pavlov. I understand what you’re saying. Actually, it’s one of the things I love most about Nate. It took me awhile to see beneath that tough guy image he projects to see that he’s the most caring person I know.”

  Connor put his arm around her. “I’m glad you know that about my cousin, Erin. And don’t forget that the person he cares about more than anyone is you.”

  Connor hesitated then forged ahead.

  “While we’re at it, I want to apologize for my mother. I saw that crazy conversation we were having about Nate and all his shenanigans upset you. Especially that stuff Mama D said about Sarah.”

  Kaitlin broke in. “You have to forgive my mother-in-law, Erin. She’s like a mama bear as far as her ‘boys’ are concerned. God help anyone who criticizes Luke, Connor or Nate and now Sam is being added to her protected species. Not that she doesn’t like us women who manage to capture one of her ‘boys’. As long as we understand that if we ever do anything to hurt them we’ll be out on our ass so fast, our heads will spin.”

  Connor blushed. “I hate to agree, but Kaitlin is right. Mama D is fierce. For some reason she thinks all of us big men are vulnerable boys at heart and it’s her job to protect us. But I promise you, Erin, her heart is in the right place. She didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Annika tipped her bottle toward Erin with a knowing nod. “You’ll notice, Erin, that I didn’t contribute any ‘star-studded’ stories from my teenage years any more than you did.”

  Erin gave the gorgeous blonde cop a grateful smile. She and Annika had become friends and little by little they’d shared some of the ugliness of their pasts with one another.

  “Thanks, Annika. I appreciate that. But just so you all understand, I loved those stories about Nate. I’m crazy about him and glad that he had the people around him that he did. He’s right. He could easily have gone bad but he didn’t. It makes me love and honor Mama D, Marcus and the Chief. I’m grateful to them. And I know Nate is.”

  Sam moved closer to her. His expression was serious, concerned.

  “Erin, we all know your background. You’re our hero.”

  When Erin held up her hands, Sam persisted.

  “No, Erin, hear me out. There’s something I’ve wanted to say to you for a long time. There’s a hell of a lot more women like you were, abused women and girls who aren’t as strong as you are. But unlike those battered-down women, you have an opportunity to do something about it. “

  Erin frowned but Sam reached for her hand, not letting her look away.

  “I know you don’t want your former husband’s money. I und
erstand why. Masterson was a despicable bastard and the money he made was tainted. He stole people’s priceless inventions and blackmailed them into silence. He was a contemptible man in every way. But for better or worse, he was a smart investor and made an extraordinary amount of money. Because you were still his wife when he was murdered, you are a very wealthy woman.”

  Erin jerked her hand loose.

  “You don’t understand, Sam. I refuse to have anything to do with Dylan Masterson’s money. And Nate agrees. At least he isn’t trying to pressure me into accepting it.”

  Sam’s expression was earnest.

  “I know that, Erin. But I disagree. Hear me out. That money could do more good than you can imagine. A friend of mine, a man I fought with in Afghanistan, is engaged to a terrific woman. Jake Gardner is almost as great a guy as Nate. His fiancé, Lexie Beloi, had the same kind of past that you and Annika did. Lexie was adopted by a Kung Fu grandmaster who trained her to become a nationally ranked Kung Fu fighter. She’s a phenomenon in her own right. Most important she’s started a Center for abused women to teach them self-defense and life skills. She calls her program Strong Women Survive. When she isn’t driving Jake crazy with dangerous escapades fighting the bastards in the Human Trafficking arena, Lexie is scrounging for money for her Center. I’d like to connect the two of you. You could be a lifesaver. Not only for Lexie’s program but for women in this area who are living the same hideous lives. You wanna screw with Dylan? With that bastard’s memory? Use the money for something he never would have, Erin.”

  Erin struggled to respond. How could she make Sam understand? Dylan was a repulsive man. He’d almost destroyed her. She’d spent three years facing daily physical and emotional abuse, then three years running from him. The thought of dealing with his fortune, knowing how he had made it sickened her. She’d wanted to ignore it, not acknowledge that he had any claim on her. But even from the dead, Dylan’s presence invaded her life. She tried desperately to keep the ugliness of her past with Dylan from intruding on her life with Nate. But she admitted that it did. It reared up in nightmares or in surprising glimpses from the past at the most unexpected times. Seeing Sam’s solemn expression kept her from immediately dismissing his idea. Sam thought he understood. But he didn’t. He couldn’t. Only someone who’d lived through the terror that she had could begin to understand. For a brief moment she allowed herself to consider Sam’s suggestion. Maybe it would help to face Dylan’s claim from the grave, grapple with it, wrestle it to the ground once and for all. Just as quickly she shoved the thought away.

  At that moment Dan nudged Sam.

  “Don’t look now but seems like someone else is interested in what Sarah has to say to Nate.”

  Erin looked up to see Jeb Stuart Jones heading toward the lobby following Nate. Frightened, she turned to Sam. He met her gaze and nodded.

  “No worries, Erin. I’m thinking I need some air. How about you, Dan?”

  “I agree. It’s getting stuffy in here. Definitely time to take a break.”

  Chapter 9

  Nate looked up to see Jeb striding toward them. He’d taken Sarah out to the back of the pub where they could talk in private. He’d done his best to console the frantic woman. He promised her that he would talk to Melanie about the dangers she was facing. In his gut, Nate knew Sarah was right to be concerned. Jeb was a mean bastard and like all misogynists, he hated everything about women except what he could get from them. Problem was he hated anyone impinging on his women more. Nate braced himself against the coming onslaught.

  Jeb’s expression was dark, dangerous. His anger was visible across the alleyway. Not surprisingly his voice was smooth, calm, devoid of the fury in his eyes. Which Nate knew made his words all the more ominous.

  “See you’re taking my advice, Nate. You decided blondes are better than the dark-haired bunk bunnies? You’re right about that part of it, bro. Smart. You got to watch out for the Jews. They’re sneaky bastards. Pop up when you least expect them. Only one problem, buddy. When I gave you that advice I assumed you’d have the courtesy to find your own blonde bitch. Even though Sarah is a dried up frigid bitch, she’s my frigid bitch. No poaching allowed, Nate.”

  Nate pushed Sarah behind him aching at the soft moan she uttered at Jeb’s hateful words. Damn, it was going to feel good when he finally leveled this despicable son of a bitch. But he’d have to wait. He gave an imperceptible nod to Sam and Dan standing in the doorway. He laughed to himself. They probably came to protect Jeb from Nate’s wrath as much as to protect Nate. His partners knew as well as he did that they had to bide their time. Jeb was too big a fish to capture prematurely. They needed time to line up their targets, put out the nets, choose the bait. This wasn’t just personal; they wanted Jeb and his operation. They needed to take him on their time, strategically. Nate comforted himself knowing when he finally set the hook in Jeb’s craw, the devil himself wouldn’t be able to cut him loose.

  He forced himself to speak calmly, keep his fury at bay, mimicking Jeb’s mock dispassion.

  “Jeb, you’ve raised way too many issues for me to respond. It’s not worth the breath it would take to answer your loathsome assertions. I’ll just say this. Crawl back in your rat hole. Go hang out with your vermin buddies who think the way you do, and wouldn’t know a good woman from a garden slug. Thank God Sarah won’t have anything to do with you. She was ten times better than you years ago and now she isn’t in the same universe. The universe that Erin and Sarah and Sam’s woman and Connor’s wife inhabit doesn’t permit scum like you. You are so far beneath them, you’re akin to pigs rutting in their slop, thinking they’re gonna be welcome in the big house instead of being despised like the filthy animals they are.”

  Jeb’s face twisted with hate. His words were tight, clipped.

  “Sarah may not particularly like me, any better than I like her. But let’s be clear, Nate. I’m the one she came with tonight and I’m the one who’s gonna be taking her home. Home where it’s just the two of us. Us and our daughters. Where you’re not around to protect her or the girls. Nope. You’ll be nowhere near shouting distance, should they have the need to call on you.”

  “You’re wrong, Jeb. You’re going down, man. We both know that. But if you’re looking for a fast train to hell, just touch this woman or your daughters—either one of them. Hurt them in any way and you won’t know what hit you.”

  “You threatening me again, Nate?”

  “Just stating the facts, Jeb.”

  Nate turned and put his arm around Sarah. He tried to ignore the fear in her eyes, the strain on her face. His heart slammed against his chest knowing the despicable things Jeb had likely done to this once lovely woman. She cowered beside him twisting her hands together, her eyes cast at the ground, not willing to look at Jeb.

  Nate curved her close to him and spoke quietly.

  “Come on, Sarah. Come back inside with me. You can sit with us at our table. I’d like to introduce you to my fiancé.”

  He jerked his head at the two big cops in the doorway.

  “Dan, Sam, escort Jeb back inside, will you please? For some reason he thought he was invited to this meeting. Doesn’t understand that this is polite company, no vermin allowed.”

  Jeb threw a startled glance behind him seeing Sam and Dan for the first time. His eyes flashed dangerously but he straightened up and glared at the two men lounging in the doorway. Running his hands through his hair he spit on the ground at their feet then marched inside without looking back.

  Sarah was trembling so hard, Nate was concerned she might break apart.

  Her voice shook. “You don’t understand, Nate. You don’t know what he’s like. You shamed him. He’s a proud man, Nate and a dangerous one. I’m… I’m….”

  Nate spun her to face him. He held her slim shoulders in his big hands forcing her to look in his eyes.

  “Listen to me, Sarah. Jeb is a coward. Like all cowards he preys on people who are smaller, weaker than he is. That’s not who I
am, Sarah. Jeb knows me. He knows I have him in my sights. Do you understand? Do you? Do you know that I’m not going to let him hurt you?”

  Sarah gave a weary sigh.

  “I don’t care about me, Nate. He can’t hurt me more than he already has. It’s Melanie I’m worried about. She is so… so feisty. She talks back. She taunts him. She acts like she’s not afraid of him. I keep telling her that’s not the way to handle him. And, now, this boy…. Do you have any idea, Nate, what Jeb will do when he finds out? Do you?”

  Her voice sunk to a pitiful groan as she buried her face in her hands.

  “Sarah, I’ll talk to Melanie. I’ll tell her to be careful. She’s a smart girl. She knows who her father is.”

  “But Nate, she’s not afraid of him. And she needs to be.”

  Nate led Sarah through the lobby and back into the pub. He hated to give Jeb any credit but Sarah was right. At least until Nate could make his move, both Sarah and Melanie would be better off staying as far away from the bastard as they could. Melanie flaunting her relationship in Jeb’s face was like provoking a rabid dog. Flinging raw meat in its face. Nate needed to get to Melanie and get to her quick.

  ~~~

  Erin saw Nate crossing the bar with a beautiful blonde woman in tow. The woman was clinging to him as if he were her lifeline. Erin pushed back at the familiar twinge of jealousy she felt when Nate was with anyone but her. But something in the woman’s face stopped her. She could only describe it as naked fear. Sarah looked like a skittish mare, her eyes darting from side to side, her nose sniffing for danger. Erin’s incipient jealousy morphed into uncomfortable recognition. The look on the woman’s face was familiar. Erin’d seen it in the mirror too often not to know what it was. This was a terrified woman. She was hanging on to Nate because she couldn’t stand on her own.

  Erin glanced up and caught Annika’s gaze. Knowing that Annika saw what she did, she thanked God that she was where she was and her heart went out to the fragile woman.

  “Erin, I’d like you to meet Sarah Jones. Sarah and I went to high school together. Sarah is Melanie’s mom. Sarah, meet Erin McFadden. Erin is the gorgeous woman who has made me the happiest guy in the world. Erin has promised to marry me, a promise I’m gonna collect on just as soon as we get that cousin of mine back from overseas. You may remember, Luke and I made a boyhood pledge that if either one of us got married the other one would be his best man.”