by Lee Taylor
When Jesse gasped, Shaunda put her arm around her.
“Uh, uh, girl. Don’t worry. Wolf stepped in. He said that it might embarrass your son since he was new on the team if she did her article on Dr. Chambers. He added that since Trey was the only white kid on the team, it’d be smart her for to interview me or one of the other boy’s mothers who have been working with him for a couple of years to get this program off the ground.”
Shaunda’s bright eyes sparkled with wicked glee.
“That girl took one look at me and flounced off. I guess she decided she didn’t want to do a story after all!”
They were all laughing when Dameon came up.
Shaunda sidled up to him and hugged him.
“I was just telling Jesse and her dad what you did. That was really nice of you, Wolf. Thank you.”
Dameon grinned down at her. “Ha! It was fun for me to re-direct her. Did you give her a good story?”
Shaunda gave a self-satisfied smirk. “No, I think I was a little too dark for her, but her editor did come over to interview me and DaShon.” She poked Dameon playfully in the chest. “I’m thinking you put him up to that, didn’t you, Wolf?”
Not taking credit for what obviously happened, Dameon leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. “You are exactly the right color for me, Shaunda. And after everything you and that irascible husband of yours have done to help me get this team together, you and DaShon belong in the spotlight.”
Dameon turned to Sean and extended his hand. “We didn’t formally meet. You are Sergeant Major O’Donnell?” Sean nodded and took his hand. Dameon continued, “It’s an honor, Sir. I’m Dameon Macarios. I’m pleased to be a friend of your daughter’s and coaching your grandson.”
A dark cloud spread over Sean’s face, chasing away the good humor. Suspicion reigned in its place. Sean’s voice was suddenly brusque.
“Macarios? You the Police Chief?” he asked coolly.
“Yes, I am.”
Openly glowering now, Sean withdrew his hand and stepped back.
Jesse touched his arm to hold him back. “Dad… please….”
Sean pushed her arm away and glared up at Dameon. “I’d like to talk with you. I was hoping I’d meet you. I’d planned to look you up.”
Dameon’s expression was as smooth as his response.
“By all means. I would like to have that conversation.”
Several more excited parents approached and dragged Dameon away for photographs with their families.
Sean grabbed Jesse’s arm, his eyes flashing with anger. “What the hell? He’s coming over to your house? That son of a bitch police chief?”
Jesse tugged at his arm, sequestering him to the side away from the others.
“Dad, please. We’ve resolved all that.”
“Like hell we have. You get arrested by that asshole? You get a felony charge on your sheet?”
“No. no. Dad. Really. Dameon—”
Her father glared at her. “Dameon? You call him by his first name? What the hell is going on, girl?”
“It’s okay, Dad. Dameon made certain to clear my record.”
“He sure as hell better have,” Sean snapped, his eyes flashing. “You know what? I’m glad he’s coming to your house. I damn well do want to talk to him. You listen to me, girl. You make yourself scarce. Give me a chance to talk to him. Man to man.”
Seeing that the fiery Irishman’s temper was in full bloom and knowing that Dameon could take care of himself, Jesse gave an exasperated shrug. “Fine. Do what you need to do. We were going to order-in pizza and celebrate what we hoped would be a big win.”
Sean’s jaw tightened further.
“Good. Like I said, you do some cooking or something in the kitchen, I want to have a private conversation with that egotistical hotshot.”
Seeing her father’s scorn, Jesse shook her head. Just minutes ago he’d been praising Dameon as though he were the second coming of Christ. She gave a silent snort. “Men!”
Chapter 21
Dameon followed Jesse’s father into the kitchen and stood back, waiting in the doorway. Sean grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and turned to face him. His wiry body was simmering with antagonistic heat. If the guy hadn’t been so angry, Dameon might have laughed. He’d seen those flashing eyes and that angry scowl before. Jesse had turned that same fierceness on him more than once.
Sean O’Donnell was an imposing man. Not much taller than Jesse, he was sinewy. Lean muscle covered his slim frame. An impressive physique for a guy who had to be in his fifties. A shock of bright red hair liberally sprinkled with gray was cut military short. He stood arrow straight, his jaw was granite hard. This was a guy who met you head on and didn’t back off. Dameon could imagine how many raw recruits this fiery Irishman had sent to their barracks in tears.
Dameon knew you never show fear to these lifelong warriors. Respect, yes. Fear, uneasiness? Never. They lived to intimidate. He glanced pointedly at Sean’s beer and raised an eyebrow.
Sean’s anger couldn’t squash his ingrained Irish hospitality.
“You want one?”
“Thank you, yes. Shall we go outside? I think Jesse plans to have us eat on the patio by the fireplace.”
Sean sneered. “I see you’ve made yourself at home here.”
Dameon merely nodded and led the way. He lit the gas fireplace then motioned to the chairs in front of the fire. He was polite, courteous, but made the point that, yes, he’d been here before and, no, that Sean didn’t intimidate him.
Sean sat down, his back ramrod straight. He slapped his bottle down on the end table with a resounding smack and faced Dameon head on.
“Look, I’m not one to pussyfoot around. Listen up. My daughter has had a hell of a time with men. Men who think that just because she is a beautiful woman that they can trample all over her. I want to tell you, I don’t appreciate it. Not one damn bit!”
Dameon nodded his head in agreement and sunk into the chair across from the fiery Irishman. He took a long pull on his beer.
“I can understand that, Sergeant. I wouldn’t either. I have a daughter. Zoey just turned 9 going on 25. I’d be all over any guy that I thought had hurt her. I’d make him pay, hard.”
Sean’s expression lightened momentarily then he reared up.
“You know what I’m angry about. Do you want to explain yourself?”
Dameon raised a hand. “Yes, I do. If you give me an opportunity I’d like to tell you what happened.”
Sean jerked his beer bottle at him, a grudging consent.
Dameon leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees. He opened by conceding Sean’s point.
“I did exactly what you thought that I did. I misjudged her. She was gorgeous. I’d never met her and I made a move on her. She gave me the brushoff and insulted my fragile male ego. I acted like an asshole, miffed that a beautiful woman dismissed me. I allowed my damaged pride to affect my judgment. I concluded that she was something that she wasn’t.”
He allowed a slight smile to cross his face. “In my defense, I’m not entirely at fault for my misjudgment. She was new in town, beautiful, in an extraordinary dress. And was with a member of the ruling drug cartel in this city.” Seeing Sean’s brows shoot up in surprise, Dameon pressed the point. “Jesse and I still have issues about that, but he’s her client. What can I say…?
“To continue. Three armed men barged into a crowd of a hundred people. Jesse pulled a gun. Shots were fired, one of them was hers. One man was killed, the others injured. I gave orders that no one was to leave. Jesse ignored my orders and left. I hadn’t formally met her. I didn’t know her identity, didn’t know who she was. I naturally but mistakenly assumed she was part of the cartel. I ordered my men to bring her back. She resisted arrest and I instructed my lieutenant to book her. When he asked me on what charge, it was damned obvious to me. I had him book her on suspicion of possession.”
Sean was clearly astonished.
“Sh
e pulled a gun? Left the scene of a shooting? Resisted arrest?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Fuck.”
“Hmm. Jesse didn’t tell you that part of it?”
“She sure as hell didn’t!” Sean shook his head then a grin replaced his fearsome frown and his eyes sparkled. “Damn. She is some woman, isn’t she?”
Dameon smiled and nodded in agreement. “Yes sir. She certainly is. I’ve been apologizing for my mistake since. I think I’ve almost got her to point where she’s about to forgive me.”
Sean was quiet then stuck out his hand. “Guess I owe you an apology.”
Dameon shrugged and shook the older man’s hand. “No problem. In that you were told only some of the pertinent details, I can understand why you were angry.”
They settled back in their chairs. Dameon let the silence hover. He saw the struggle on the Irishman’s face. This was a guy unaccustomed to sharing his feelings or talking about personal issues. Dameon gave him the courtesy of silence. He wasn’t surprised when Sean began interrogating him.
“You ex-military?”
“Yes. Active for twelve years. Retired eight years ago.”
“What branch?”
A grin tugged at the corner of Dameon’s mouth. “Is there more than one? Army, of course.”
Sean gave an appreciative snort. “Rank?”
“Bird Colonel when I left.”
“Why do they call you Wolf?”
He shrugged. “A mission. Became my code name. I wore a Ranger badge for ten of the twelve years I was in.”
Sean nodded again. “Not surprised. I figured you for special ops. Guess my radar is sound at least on that. It gets skewed when my daughter is involved.”
Dameon smiled. “That isn’t surprising. We all have blind spots when it comes to daughters—and special women. That’s how it should be.”
Sean shot him a questioning glance and sat back in his chair. Dameon didn’t know the Sergeant well enough to be sure, but the harsh lines around his eyes and mouth had softened. Dameon prepared himself for the questions that were sure to come. He welcomed them and hoped that he might get answers to some of his in return.
“Speaking of my daughter. You and she have a lot in common.”
“Do we? She doesn’t talk about the Army much. Actually she doesn’t like to talk about her past at all.”
A shadow crossed Sean’s face. It was much like the ones Dameon had seen on Jesse’s face when he asked about her past. He decided to push the Irishman. He figured the worst he could get was the ‘none of your business’ brush off Jesse gave him.
“I’m curious. Where is Jesse’s mother?”
Sean quirked an incredulous brow, then his eyes darkened with pain.
“Jesse didn’t tell you? Damn.” He shook his head and glanced down. When he spoke, it was with a decided effort. “I guess I’m not surprised. My wife, Margaret? She died in childbirth. Giving birth to Jesse. Margaret was only eighteen years old. And hell, I was all of nineteen. We were in the Philippines. Didn’t get to the hospital in time to stop her bleeding.”
Dameon was shocked. How could Jesse have omitted that critical fact in her story? God, it explained a lot. And made some of Sean’s actions more understandable.
He looked up to see Sean staring at him. Sean glanced at the empty doorway then leaned forward and lowered his voice.
“Did Jesse tell you why she left the Army?”
“No, she hasn’t, as a matter of fact.”
Sean took a hard pull on his beer. Deep crevices striped his forehead. “I hope someday she’ll tell you. Would be good for her if she could start talking about it. Guess she’s not at the point yet. It’s a load of crap and makes my blood boil. But I’ll tell you, there isn’t a man on her squad who didn’t look up to her. She’s a born leader. She’s got more decorations than I do and I’ve been in for thirty-five years.”
Being the master interrogator that he was, Dameon knew the value of silence. When he was quiet, Sean continued unloading burdens he likely didn’t share easily.
“Jesse’s secretive. She doesn’t talk much, she never did. We didn’t stay in one place long enough for her to make friends. Hell, look at this place. It looks like the places we had when she was a kid. Tonight, the boys have to sleep in sleeping bags so I can have Trey’s bed.”
Dameon looked around in surprise. He’d seen the sparsely furnished rooms but thought that Jesse’s furniture hadn’t arrived. “I assumed that she was waiting for her moving van, that it got held up in overseas transit.”
A rueful grimace jerked at Sean’s mouth. “No, no. This is how we lived when she was a kid. I figured there wasn’t sense in buying much. We’d just have to pack it up when we moved again.” He hunched his shoulders defensively. “I admit it. I wasn’t a good father. I was gone way too much. I wasn’t there for her like I needed to be. She pretty much had to grow up on her own. She doesn’t trust a lot of people.” His expression darkened further. “A lot of people gave her reason not to.”
Dameon heard the appeal in the older man’s voice and responded to it.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Sir. I doubt this surprises you, Sergeant, but I like your daughter—a lot. In fact I like her more than a lot.” He gave a disgruntled sigh. “But, I’m having a hard time getting her to like me in return.”
Sean shot him a disbelieving stare.
“Huh? That not the way I see her lookin’ at you, son.”
“Hmm, that’s encouraging. How do you feel about that, Sir?”
“Well, son, I’ll tell you. I was shocked when I heard what happened with Trey. Fact is, that’s why I came. I wanted to be sure my grandson was okay. Seeing him, and knowing what you are doing to help him, I appreciate the hell out of you.”
He grimaced. “I don’t have to tell you I was about ready to ‘drop’ you when I realized you were the police chief that arrested Jesse. But now that we’ve talked, and hell, seeing my daughter smiling for the first time in two years, I appreciate you even more.”
The rough man swiped at his eyes, obviously embarrassed at showing his emotions. He quickly turned to more comfortable topics.
“Tell me about your service. You aren’t by any chance the guy they call the Wolfman?”
Before Dameon could answer, Trey and DaShon rushed in carrying a stack of steaming pizza boxes. Jesse followed with plates and silverware. For the next half hour, Dameon and the boys, with Sean and Jesse chipping in, relived every play of the game. They cheered at their successes and groaned at their mistakes. In the process, they consumed four large pizzas and a tray of vegetables.
“I hate to pull rank, fellows. But you two need to get some rest. We’re going to be getting up early tomorrow morning.”
Dameon explained to Sean. “Don’t know if you heard, but we’ve got a big game tomorrow night. If we win we go to LA representing our region at the Aspire Tournament. But first we have to beat the Wildcats, the team that’s ruled Albuquerque and this region for four years. We almost beat ’em last year. Lost in a heartbreaker.”
He pointed to DaShon and Trey. “DaShon is the number one player in our division, actually in the entire region. That’s why the Wildcats will be gunning for him. But we’re ready for them. DaShon, Trey and I have been practicing a play that works exceptionally well with Trey. Trey is fast and smart. He’s strategic, thinks like a coach. He can change directions quickly when he needs to. Trey is our stealth weapon. The Wildcats don’t know him. All they’ll see is a young white kid. They’ll underestimate him and zero in on DaShon. All Trey has to do is fake them out a couple of times, make a few key shots and take their attention off DaShon. Then our big guy can go in and do his magic.”
Sean whistled in admiration. He glared at the two young boys.
“You men, you understand how lucky you are, don’t you? This man, your coach, is one of a kind. You listen to him and do him proud. You hear me?”
Trey’s and DaShon’s “Yes, Sir’s” echoed as they backed away from the fierce
Sergeant’s stare.
After the boys went upstairs, Sean crooked a finger at Jesse and held up his empty beer can.
“You holding out on me, girl? When are you going to bring out the good stuff?”
Jesse laughed and headed toward the liquor cabinet. “I wanted to make you beg, Dad.”
She put a bottle of Wild Turkey and three glasses on the table in front of him.
“Now that’s more like it, girl.”
Jesse laughed and looked to Dameon.
He nodded. “You know you don’t have to ask, Jesse. That’s the finest whisky I’ve had. I applaud your taste, Sean.”
Jesse handed her father a glass and sunk to the floor next to his chair, leaning against his knee.
Sean rubbed her shoulder and bent down to kiss the top of her head.
“I missed you, girl.”
Dameon saw the moisture clouding Sean’s eyes.
Jesse snuggled up next to her father. “I missed you too, Dad. It’s been bad, hard. But I’m glad you could come and see how well Trey is doing now.”
“I also came to check up on you, daughter of mine.”
She gazed up at him and shook her head. “Dad, I keep telling you. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Sean met Dameon’s eyes over Jesse’s head. “I’m hoping that is true, milish.”
Jesse stood up and leaned over the back of his chair, draping her arms around her father’s shoulders. She kissed his cheek and patted his head.
“Remember, Dad, I can take care of myself.”
Sean groaned. “Hell, daughter, you’ve been telling me that since you were eight years old. And damned if it wasn’t true.”
Dameon might have been envious of the affection between them, but instead he was gratified. He realized that Sean and Trey were likely Jesse’s only close relationships. The only people she let down her guard with. He thought with a start, except for him. The memory of her angry outbursts and poignant breakdowns, coupled with her wanton response to his erotic overtures confirmed that he was more inside her inner circle than either he or Jesse had acknowledged. The thought filled him with joy and ratcheted up his desire for her tenfold.
