"Why?" Oliver's is a gentleman from his toes up.
"He's a heartless bastard."
My stomach lurches. That can't be right. The Oliver I knew was nice and honorable. It's been a few years, but surely he wouldn't have changed that much. "What are you talking about?"
"A plot on the edge of town had been earmarked for a new STEM school. But then he found out about it. The land's right next to Lake Michigan. A perfect place to build a new football stadium. He got his cronies together and threw so much money at the city council, they couldn't say no."
"What happened to the school?"
"They relocated it to the edge of the town. Much harder to get to. Some students depend on public transportation to travel to and from school. The first location was ideal, right on the main drag, bus lines running all the time. A lot of inner city kids can't afford the time or money to attend a school so far away."
"But wouldn't they be bused to school?"
"Yeah, but many have part time jobs in other sections of the city. If there is no public transportation from the school to the places where they work, chances are many will drop out. They need money more than they need school. It's a disaster in the making."
"Maybe he'll change his mind if you explain it to him."
"You think he doesn't know? That was one of the main arguments against the stadium, but his mind was made up, and there was no changing it."
I pat her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Mer."
"Yeah, me too." We walk out of the bedroom and head back to the living room where Oliver and Ty are talking football.
"Mar and I were talking. Mind if we go back to my apartment?"
Ty's brow wrinkles. "Why?"
"I was so upset yesterday, I may have missed a few things. And I'd like to clean up. As much as I can."
His brow clears up. "Whatever you want, MacKenna."
"Marigold is coming as well, you know, to help out."
"Of course," Ty says.
"I'll come too," Oliver says. "If you want my help, that is."
"The more the merrier," I say pinning on my brightest smile. "Let me go get my bag."
"I have bigger bags. Bring mine." Ty says.
"Okay."
With that long-legged gait of his, he heads down the hallway. Suddenly regretting giving in so easily, I run after him. I catch up with him in his bedroom. "You don't have to do this. You've already done enough."
"Don't be silly, MacKenna. It's only a couple of suitcases." He pulls me into him, kisses me and I melt. No wonder he doesn't kiss women. If he did, they'd puddle at his feet and he'd never get rid of them. He takes my hand and drags me toward his walk-in closet where he nabs a huge bag from its depth.
"That's too big. I can't handle it."
"I'll handle it, not you. Here." He hands me a much smaller bag. "You take this one, fill it up with your things." Just as I grasp the suitcase, he tweaks my chin and gives me that lopsided smile of his.
My breath shorts. Leaving him is going to be very hard.
When we return to the living room, Oliver and Mar spring apart. The look on both their faces tells me they weren't exactly saying goodbye. Guess I'm not the only one who's going to have a hard time letting go. But Miss love 'em and leave 'em is made of sterner stuff than me. More than likely, her attraction to Oliver will burn itself out in a very short time.
I don't know if mine will. What I do know is I need to put some distance between Ty and me. As I buckle the seat belt in his Cheyenne SUV, I pray I can packing up and the cleaning will be painless. I didn't make that many memories in that apartment, but the devastation cuts me to the quick.
Before we head out, I call the police to let them know we're coming back to the apartment. They'll need to tear down the tape so we can enter. But when we arrive, we find the landlord there, putting up a new door. Since there's no need to tear down the tape, we call the police to let them know they don't need to show up. Once the landlord's done installing the door, he hands me a new key.
"She's not staying here," Ty says. "The place is not safe."
The landlord shrugs. "Doesn't matter if it's safe or not. I installed a new door. That's all I'm required to do."
Ty bangs on the wood. "That door's as cheap as can be. What is it made out? Balsam? She's leaving. Capisce?"
"She has nine months left on her lease. If she refuses to pay rent, we'll sue."
Fists drawn, Ty advances on the landlord. "Why, you—"
"Ty, don't," I yell. Last thing we need is bloodshed.
The landlord at last gets a clue and takes off at a run.
"What the hell was that about?" Oliver says.
"The man's scum."
"There are ways of dealing with this situation, Ty, that don't involve violence."
Ty smiles as he flexes his wrists. "Yeah, but it wouldn't be as much fun."
Oliver's only response is an arch of his brow.
"Come on. Let's get inside. We have a lot of work to do." I thought I could get out from under the lease, seeing how my apartment had been broken into. But something tells me the landlord has the law on his side. He's fixed the door, and that's all he's required to do. Which means I'm stuck paying rent for a place I can't live in. "Maybe I should stay."
"What?" Ty's head swivels toward me. "The hell you will."
What was I thinking? I can't stay. I wouldn't get an hour's sleep in this place. "You're right."
"I can have someone look into it, MacKenna and see if you can break the lease."
With hope blooming in my chest, I glance up at him. "Okay. I appreciate it."
"No problem."
Without saying another word, I head into the apartment to reassess the damage. It's even worse than I remember from last night. Not only have my things been stolen or damaged, but great big holes have been carved into the walls. BITCH has been spray painted in bright red letters on my bedroom wall.
"This is personal," Oliver says.
With a great big lump in my throat, all I can do is nod.
"Who would do something like this?"
"I don't know." Tears roll down my face, and Mar hugs me to her.
"It's going to be okay. MacKenna," she says, patting my shoulder. "You'll see."
"Yeah." I don't know how. I don't have the money to replace the damaged things. I've worked so hard to get to this point. A job I love. An apartment close to everything. Maybe it was not the best, but the location suited me. But now? I don't know. I just don't know.
Marigold fetches the broom from the closet and starts sweeping. Ty and Oliver walk through the space straightening furniture. They work well together, silently and efficiently, while I either nod for something to be tossed into the heavy duty trash bags we picked up on the way or ask for something to be put aside.
After two hours of cleaning, the guys go out for pizza and beer. While Ty's gone, I finish packing up what's wearable or usable to take back with me.
That's when I notice a framed photo is missing. "Oh, God." I wrap my arms around my waist trying not to succumb to the pain.
"What?" Mar asks.
"Jeanie's picture. It's gone. I know who broke in." My teeth are chattering so much, I can hardly get the words out.
"It was him, wasn't it?" Mar asks.
Him. Tommy Hawkins. The man who kidnapped and raped my sister.
It'd been a fine summer day with not a cloud in the sky. While Jeanie groomed her horse below, I'd climbed to the barn loft to play with the new litter of kittens our barn cat had delivered. He'd covered her mouth to keep her from screaming while he violated her. Too afraid of what he'd do to me, I'd cowered in the loft, not making a sound while he abused my sister. I'd been eight at the time.
It took the police a month to find her. That monster had caged her like an animal. He'd beat her up so badly, they couldn't set her legs straight. She'll walk with a limp the rest of her life. But the worst damage had been to her mind. Jeanie had checked out and never checked back in. My parents had prayed and praye
d for her recovery. But it was not to be. Upon the advice of her doctors, they'd placed her in an institution where she spends her days coloring and singing songs from fifteen years ago. She's safe and cared for, but she'll never be the same outgoing, happy sister I once knew.
"I think so."
Not surprising he's coming after me. I testified at his trial. It had been my testimony that had put him behind bars. My father had asked our neighbors not to discuss what happened to Jeanie. Our community honored his wishes. After a year, they put away all her pictures, and never mentioned her name again. They erased her from their memories like she never existed. But I never forgot.
"I'm so sorry, MacKenna. But wasn't Tommy Hawkins in jail?"
"He was sentenced to twenty years. But he was paroled a few months ago. He must have tracked me down." When my parents were notified he'd been released from jail, they called in a panic. I calmed them down as best I could. They hadn't told anyone where I'd gone to school. I'd legally changed my last name to Perkins. So there was no way he could find me, and yet somehow he has. A sudden thought occurs to me. "You can't tell Ty. Or Oliver."
"I won't. But you have to tell the police."
"Yes. They need to know. I'll call the detective tomorrow. Tell him what I suspect." During his sentencing, Tommy Hawkins had promised he'd get even with me if it was the last thing he did. And seemingly, he is.
"It will be okay, MacKenna. You'll see. Once we get you settled at my place, things will look better."
I shake my head. That's not happening. Not any more. "Mar, I can't. If I move in with you, then I'll place you in danger, and I can't have that."
"But where will you go?"
"There's only one choice, isn't there?"
"You mean—"
"Until the police catch that monster, it means I'll be living with Ty."
Chapter 17
Ty
"YOU'RE NOT DRIVING YOUR CAR TO MY PLACE. Or anywhere else for that matter." No way is she going out in that clunker of hers.
A mulish look rolls over her face. "Why not?"
"The front driver's door jams. The engine knocks when you switch on the ignition. You're not driving that thing. I'll get you another set of wheels. Something you can rely on not to leave you stranded by the side of the road."
Eyes flashing, she jams her right hand into her hip. "No. You're not, Ty. My car might need some work, but it hasn't failed me yet."
"Until it does." I square off against her, determined to get my way. She's not winning this argument if I have anything to say about it. "Your job takes you all over Chicago, doesn't it? What if it breaks down in a crappy neighborhood? What would you do then?"
"Call for a tow truck like any other normal human being."
"And while you wait, you could be robbed or worse."
For a second, apprehension flickers in her eyes. Maybe I'm getting through to her. "I'll get you something you can depend on."
Her mouth twists with distaste. "You're not getting a car for me, Ty, and that's final."
She's challenging me? How far does she think her slender five seven will go against my muscled six five height? Stepping into her private space, I hulk over her. "Like hell I'm not."
"Actually, I may have a solution." Oliver's smooth, elegant voice cuts through the strained atmosphere.
It takes her a couple of seconds to react to his words. But then she tears her death match glare from me and turns toward him. "Do you?"
"Yes. The Outlaws have a fleet of leased cars for players who occasionally find themselves without transportation. Most of the automobiles sit around, hardly ever used."
Her shoulders relax as the tension drains out of her. "That's very nice, Oliver, but I can't afford the lease."
"You wouldn't be paying for it. I'm already doing so. It's a business expense, a tax deduction."
"Oh." She thinks about it for a moment or two. "Are you sure it wouldn't be an imposition?"
"No. You'd be doing me a favor. I can have someone deliver the car and the key tonight to Ty's house."
She bites down on her bottom lip as she considers his offer. Finally, a smile wavers across her lips. "Okay. I guess that would work. Thank you, Oliver." She hugs him and kisses him on the cheek.
A low and nasty growl crawls out from deep inside of me.
Marigold grabs MacKenna's arm and tugs her toward the bedroom. "Let's get back to packing, shall we?"
After a worried glance in my direction, MacKenna doesn't resist, but goes along with her friend.
I'm left alone with Oliver Lyons. Much as I want to, I can't tear him limb from limb. He's my boss and the owner of the Outlaws. And I doubt MacKenna would appreciate my breaking his bones.
Not the least fazed by my caveman behavior, he quirks a brow and grabs another cold brew from the six pack we brought.
I do the same, tearing off the cap and gulping down half the beer while he calmly sips his. I get why MacKenna would accept an offer from him and not me. He's all smooth, sophisticated edges, and I'm a rough football player. Why would she choose me over him?
And then there's the fact he seems more sexually aware of MacKenna's friend than MacKenna herself. So maybe she was telling the truth about him. Maybe they're only friends after all. Yeah, and monkeys fly out of my butt. Before I do something I may regret, I need to find out how he feels about her. "How long have you known MacKenna?"
"About six years. My cousin's family owned the farm next to hers. I visited the summer before I went off to college."
"Why?"
"They were looking to sell the farm. My offered to buy it if farming appealed to me."
"And what did you decide?"
"The farm was a prosperous enterprise, but it demanded total commitment. Whoever owned it had to love working the land. I didn't. So we passed on it."
Glancing down, I pick at the bottle label. "Did you spend time with MacKenna that summer?"
"Occasionally. My family insisted I pull my weight with farm chores, so I was pretty busy from dawn to dusk. But she and one of my girl cousins were good friends, so she tended to visit. And then there were socials and church activities."
I force a question from my lips. "Did you like her?"
"Yes, I did. She was beautiful. And true."
Another growl escapes me.
"Oh, for Pete's sake. Stop it with the growling. I never laid a hand on her."
I snort. "Yeah. Right." I take a long pull of the beer while trying to figure out where I can hide his body.
He clamps a hand on my shoulder. "Ty, you have nothing to worry about. She was sweet, but she was barely fourteen. And I was interested in, shall we say, a more mature woman. Someone who could teach a horny eighteen year old a thing or two."
I know about horny eighteen year olds. Used to be one myself. During my first year in college, I'd enjoyed a fling with a college professor. She'd taught me plenty about pleasuring women. "Oh."
"I asked her to the charity function because I wanted to catch up. Nothing else. And in case you haven't guessed, I'm more interested in that firebrand friend of hers than MacKenna."
Happy to have my intuition confirmed, I grin. Maybe I won't have to kill him after all. "Yeah, I noticed." I point my beer bottle at him. "By the way, since when do we have a fleet of cars for the players?"
Oliver laughs. "Since today. Is that car of hers as bad as you say?"
"Worse. She can't get the driver's door open, and the engine knocks. God knows why, but she likes that car. I'll have somebody take a look at it to see if it can be fixed. Let me know how much the lease costs, and I'll pay for it."
He dismisses my suggestion with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it. I'll handle it."
"No. You won't." I shoot him a no-nonsense glare.
For a couple of seconds, Oliver stares at me. "You know what? I don't get it."
"You don't get what?"
"You and MacKenna. What is she to you?"
I bristle at the question. First off, i
t's none of his business, and second, I don't know how to describe my relationship with MacKenna. All I know is I've never cared for a woman the way I care for her. But what it means? I have no clue. "Don't butt in, Oliver."
"I can't. I feel a certain sense of . . . responsibility over her."
I laugh. "Oliver, you walked away and left her with me at the charity party."
"That's not fair. MacKenna made her wishes crystal clear. She wanted to stay with you."
"Yeah, she did, didn't she?" She'd chosen to remain with the caveman rather than go with Mr. Sophistication. But then I'd dangled a pretty carrot in front of her—the interview. That's the only reason she'd come with me. Well, whatever the reason, she'd picked me, not Oliver. It's a start. "I can understand why you left. MacKenna's friend was making certain demands on you."
"Demands? Hell." He belts out a laugh. "She clamped on to my balls and told me she'd yank them off if I didn't follow her lead."
My groin twinges in sympathy. "Ouch."
"Right. I wasn't about to let her damage the family jewels. My family's counting on me to procreate."
"I thought you had an older brother. Wouldn't it be up to him as well?"
A shadow crosses over his eyes, and he looks away. "Yeah, but he's not . . . able."
"Oh, sorry about that man." I'd heard rumors about his older brother, nothing definite. But enough to tell me something's going on with him.
Whatever's bothering Oliver, he shakes it off. "Now. About MacKenna."
"Man. You're like a dog with a bone, you know that."
"Like I said. I feel a certain sense of responsibility. I know her family. She comes from really good stock. I'd hate to see her hurt."
"Last thing I want to do is hurt MacKenna."
"That's what you say now, but I don't see how you wont. You're taking MacKenna home, offering to get her a car. You're getting close. She might get attached to you. And let's face it. You're not the serious kind. Everybody knows you don't date the same woman twice. At some point, you'll part ways, and she might end up brokenhearted."
"She won't if I have anything to say about it." MacKenna's different from the women I usually date, way different. "I promise. I'll do my best with her."
Dirty Filthy Boy (A Bad Boy Sports Romance) (Chicago Outlaws Book 1) Page 12
