by Aliyah Burke
“So, what’s that mean?” Jolene asked.
A wry smile. “It means he’s giving you a ride home.”
Jolene’s eyes widened. “I don’t want to put him out.”
“He does what he wants, Jolene. He wouldn’t let you walk home. It’s not in his DNA.”
She shoved her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts. “He’s not like a lot of men around here, is he?”
Staring over the railing down to where said man spoke to his visitor, Laciee shook her head. “He sure isn’t.” A sigh. “Let’s go.”
The man she’d not been introduced to waited with Judd, and she took another look at him. Handsome. He gave her a crooked grin, and she immediately saw even more sex appeal. Ruggedly put together, his nose appeared to have been broken a time or two.
He stepped forward, hand outstretched. “Name’s Cian O’Grady, ma’am.”
Can we say Irish name? She took his hand and shook it, his grip, strong and sure. “Laciee Dupree, nice to meet you. Sorry about earlier.”
“Nothing to apologize for. This her, Travers?”
“Yes.” Judd’s tone was hard.
She released Cian’s hand and found herself immediately up against Judd. “I need to get going.”
Judd released her and stood by Cian. “I’ll be back.”
“Do what you must,” Cian said.
Judd held the door for her and Jolene and soon they were heading to his truck. “You should stay with your friend.”
“Brother.”
She almost tripped. “What? He’s your brother?”
“Half brother. And he’ll be fine. Let’s take care of you.”
* * * *
Judd couldn’t even begin to explain the fury that coursed through his veins. Ever since he saw the sheriff’s vehicle heading up the drive, he’d had a bad feeling. Nothing readied him for what had been divulged, however.
He stole glances at Laciee while driving. She had engaged Jolene but now that the young woman had been dropped off, not a word. Sitting pressed against the door as she was, she seemed so small and lost. Her hands were clasped in her lap and her gaze straightforward. If not for the occasional tensing, he’d have thought her a statue.
Personally he had no clue on what to say, so he didn’t speak. She didn’t seem to mind. He slowed his truck and turned into the cemetery. From the corner of his eye, he watched her hands shake until she tightened them. He wasn’t sure where to go, so he just drove, knowing he’d see it when they arrived. There couldn’t be too many desecrated graves in the place.
Her gasp told him all he needed to know. Slowing his truck, he gazed out the window and felt new rage pulse within him. The description Bolton had given had been mild. He parked and hopped out. Laciee bounded out before he could get to her side and had reached the destruction before he did.
His heart wrenched as she dropped to her knees before it all, her wail like something from a movie, bone chilling and inhuman. He went to her side and reached for her shoulders. She jerked away, and he tried again. Same result.
He backed away and allowed her some time. It was the most he could do since he refused to leave her there alone. She rocked and keened while he gazed around. Whore. Bitch. Slut. And more had been spray painted on the pieces of headstone that lay about. “She’s a whore” had been sprayed upon the grave itself, the fluorescent orange flagrantly offensive to the eyes and sensibilities.
It tore him apart she wouldn’t accept his touch and offer of comfort, but at the same time, he knew she fought to be strong. It was a trait he admired. Every sense he had was alive and streaming out, ensuring she remained safe. Whoever had decided to do this was beyond unstable, in his mind, and he had no intentions of losing the woman before him. None.
The weight of his sidearm brought a small measure of reassurance, but personally he’d prefer something larger. Shifting his weight, he did another perusal of the area.
“Leave me, Judd,” she said, her voice small and quivery. “You have things to do which I’m sure don’t require you standing over me as if the trees are out to get me.”
“I’m not leaving you alone.”
She peered at him over her shoulder. “I don’t want you here.”
He paused. “You don’t want me here?”
Tears glinted in her gaze. “Please. Don’t make me do this with you watching me.”
He made his way to her side and crouched. The dried grass crunched beneath his knee, and he captured her chin in his hand. “Laciee,” he began. “I’m not leaving you. I will back away and give you some space, but darlin’, I’ll be damned if I let you be here by yourself. If whoever did this comes back, I’m not having you face them alone.”
Her chin quivered, and he knew she was close to a breakdown. “Do…do you know Samantha Kane?”
“Finn? Yes.”
The first tears spilled over. “Call her.”
Frustrated, he shoved to his feet and pulled out his phone. It didn’t take him long to put in his call. He wanted to be the one she turned to, not someone else. But he wouldn’t deny her this.
“Hello?”
“Finn?”
“Yes. Is that you, Judd?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He slanted his gaze askew to see Laciee rocking, a small keening leaving her throat. “Laciee Dupree could do with seein’ you.”
A door slammed, shutting out the background noise he’d been hearing. “What’s wrong?”
“We’re here at the cemetery, and her grandmother’s grave has been desecrated.”
Low cursing filled the line. “I’ll be right there.” She ended the call.
Shoving his phone in his pocket, he turned back to find Laciee had risen to her feet. As she had done in the hotel, one arm snaked along her midsection and her other played with the collar of her shirt.
“She’s on her way.”
Her gaze never left the grave. “Thank you.”
That was the last thing spoken between them until the rumble of a diesel had him turning to see a dusty silver dually eating up the distance. It had barely parked when Finn jumped out, ran around the front, and hastened to Laciee’s side. She didn’t say a word, just reached out, and gathered the woman in her arms. Sobs rent the air, and the women sank to the ground.
“Give them some privacy.”
Judd glanced to his right and found himself staring into a pair of cobalt blue eyes. Dustin Kane. Flicking his gaze from Dustin to the women and back again he strolled back a bit to rest against the hood of his truck.
“Not going farther than this.”
“They know who did this?”
The anger in the man’s voice made him like Dustin even more.
“Sheriff says he hasn’t any clue.”
Dustin snorted derisively. “Of course not.”
“I’m going to kill the fucker when I get my hands on him.”
“Call me if you want some help.” Dustin leaned against the grill and crossed his arms. “They were friends in school. Lost touch when Laciee bolted and yet when Samantha and I got married, Laciee was one of the first ones she thought of to be here for the wedding.”
“She didn’t come.”
He shook his head. “As close as they are, for some reason Laciee wasn’t ready.”
The women were speaking to each other before they began ripping up the ground that had the vile words on it.
“But she came for Karis?”
“Apparently.”
“Dustin!” Finn called. “Go get us some fresh dirt so we can cover this properly.”
“Come on,” Dustin said after he acknowledged his wife’s order.
“Not leaving her.”
“Samantha is with her. They’ll be fine. It won’t take us long.”
He paused and looked at the women. Finn met his gaze, and she gave him a sharp nod before returning her attention to the work ahead of them. He walked with Dustin to the silver truck and jumped in the passenger side. Moments later they were flying down the road.
“Did you interact with Laciee much in school?” Judd asked.
“No, she and Samantha were two years behind me.” He pulled them into a landscaping place and backed the truck up to a pile of black dirt. “Knew of her, but rarely talked to her.”
Lord, the fury washed over him with such perspicuity he wanted to smash something. Break someone. Hurt. Maim. Kill. Judd took several deep breaths as he got out and hefted a shovel and began tossing dirt in the back.
“Can I help you gentlemen?”
Judd turned to find Miles Hotner walking up. “We’re buying some dirt. Send me a bill.”
“A truckload? Sure thing, Mr. Travers. Might I inquire what it’s for?”
“Fixing a grave which was defiled.”
The man paled and shifted his feet. “I’m so…sorry, Mr. Travers. I forgot this pile was already spoken for. I can’t sell it to yo—”
Judd had the man up against the side of the truck, arm slanted across the man’s throat. Eyes narrowed, he bent down. “You can get money for it, or I’ll take it and you lose money, but I’ll be damned if I let that grave stay looking like that.”
Dustin clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Let him go.”
Judd ignored him. “Who told you not to sell it if that’s what it was for?”
“Travers, let him go.”
“Not until the little bastard answers me.”
“Problem, hoss, is he can’t breathe enough to answer you.”
Judd pressed harder, not caring a single bit.
Chapter Twelve
Laciee stood with Finn and stared at the grave. The sun had begun to set low in the sky, offering a soft golden glow to caress the newly cleaned headstone. All the graffiti had been scrubbed off, new dirt placed over the grave, and flowers replaced. Without looking behind her, she knew Judd stood there, watching. Waiting.
He and Dustin had been with them all day, none of them pushing her along. Not even Finn. Her friend just rolled up her sleeves and jumped in to assist her. The weight of her loneliness hit her hard, and she bit down on her lower lip to keep from crying out.
“Are you going to tell her?” Finn questioned in a soft voice as Laciee lifted her gaze.
There wasn’t a need to ask her to specify who she meant by that. “I suppose I should, not that it would matter a hill of beans to Lola.”
“It’s her mother.”
Laciee shoved her hands in her pants, mostly to keep from wrapping them around herself and sinking to the ground, allowing the overwhelming sorrow to win. “I suppose I should.”
“Want me to go with you?”
Laciee blinked away the tears lingering at the corner of her eyes. “You sure you wouldn’t mind? Or you don’t have anything else more important to do?”
Finn walked to stand right before her. “Laciee, you’re my friend. We may have been distant these past few years, but there is nothing more important to me than being there for my friends. We both know I don’t have a lot of them in this place but I’ve always thought of you as one. You want me there with you and I’ll be there. We can take my truck, and Dustin can ride with Judd.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was so low even she almost didn’t recognize it.
Finn stepped close and wrapped her arms around her. “You’ll get through this, you know you’re not alone.”
“There’s nothing more I can do here, may as well get it over with.”
“Let’s go.”
Together they turned. Laciee saw Judd staring at her, his eyes unblinking and full of concern and anger on her behalf. He and Dustin had done the dirt. She’d begun to argue it with him, but he’d silenced that with a single look. She gave Finn’s hand a brief squeeze before stepping out to meet Judd.
He gathered her close, his scent piercing her pores and bringing comfort with it. His large hands settled along her back, bringing her as close as she could be.
“Ready to go?”
“I have to go with Finn for one more stop.”
His body went rigid, but he didn’t argue. “Dustin and I will be right behind you.”
“I know.” She held him tight then stepped back, her hands remaining on his strong forearms. “Thank you.”
He captured her chin between his thumb and his index finger. “Would that I could make all this vanish for you, Laciee. You deserve so much more than this.” His mouth grazed hers with a tenderness that one might not expect while looking at the rugged cowboy.
She blinked away more tears before walking to where Finn stood beside her truck. Pausing by Dustin, she canted her head to the side and opened her mouth. Dustin shook his head and hugged her. “Don’t you dare thank me, Laciee Dupree.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she managed to say, wrapping her arms around him as well. The exchange was brief, and soon she climbed up into Finn’s truck.
“I’m glad to see you again, Laciee, and it sucks that this was the circumstance which brought us back together.” The woman started the big diesel and shifted into gear.
“I’ve missed you too, Finn.”
Chatter was deliberately kept light, and the nearer they came to Lola’s, the quieter the interior became. Finn parked by the sidewalk and put the truck in neutral, allowing it to idle. “I’m coming with you, don’t tell me no because I’ll just ignore it.”
“My legs don’t want to work,” she admitted.
Finn gave her a squeeze before opening her door. Laciee did the same on her side, noticing Judd’s truck parked behind them as she climbed down. He sat there behind the wheel, hat low on his head, but she had no doubt his gaze was on her. She gave a grin despite it being fake then closed the door to turn and head up the walk.
Keeping pace with her, step by step, was Finn. The women were silent and Laciee had to wipe her hands off on the dirt-stained jeans she wore a few times before she could will enough iron into her arm to reach up and press the bell. This is why I stayed in New York. I didn’t have to do this. Never had to allow others to see this part of my past. Yes, Finn and Dustin knew about her mother, but Judd hadn’t. Until now. And whatever sluttish clothes she would be clad in would be his first impression.
The door opened and she stared at the woman who’d given birth to her. The welcoming smile faded away in seconds as recognition set in. “Twice in one visit,” she sneered. “To what do I owe this honor? You show up at my door, filthy and with someone in tow.”
“The only reason I’m here is to let you know, since I’m not sure if you’re still fucking the sheriff or not, is that Lavina’s grave was vandalized today.”
Had she not been staring so close, she would have missed it. The shock existed, widening those drug-addled eyes briefly before loathing filled them. “So someone took exception to the old bitch and ruined it. Who cares? Are you expecting me to pay for repairs?”
Fury laced every cell of her being. She fisted her hands and forced herself to take deep breaths. “I expect nothing from you. Never have. I came to let you know what happened. I took care of it.”
“Of course you did. Big city girl with all the money you can’t give to your mother but you spend on a dead woman.”
“I’m trying really hard not to sink to your level, but if you keep speaking of her with such disrespect, I’ll drop to your level so fast it will make your head spin. And once I drop there,” she lowered her voice, stepping closer. “I don’t fix what I ruin.”
“Always thought you were so special.”
“Better that than to be the whore you are.”
Her mother narrowed her gaze and stepped forward. Laciee didn’t hesitate, just met her halfway. “Do it,” she begged. “I want you to lay a hand on me. Because when you do I’m going to drag you out of this shithole and beat the fuck out of you.”
“Such a vulgar mouth.”
“Coming from the town whore, there’s a scathing remark.”
She shook with the extent of her fury as the undeniable truth hit her of how unmoved her mother was about anything other tha
n what may pertain to her. For all these years she just assumed it was a cover, partially to keep the pain from what she did at bay. Now she realized that wasn’t it at all. Her mother was just a self-centered, callous bitch.
Laciee drew her arm back only to pause at the feel of a touch on her wrist. It wasn’t Finn, for she stood at her left and this was on her right hand. She turned her head slightly and saw Judd standing there, his face a cold mask of anger, flints of diamond lingering in his eyes.
“You will regret it,” he remarked slowly in his typical unhurried way.
“I really don’t believe I will,” she said.
She tugged on her wrist, yet he didn’t release her. Instead he lowered her arm between them and rubbed his thumb over the pulse.
“Looks like you’re following in your mom’s footsteps. He looks like he’d be a great fuck.”
Judd merely tightened his grip on her slightly, and she found some strength to keep her mouth shut about her mother’s latest comment. Well, right up until her mother moved aside her robe and showed off her boobs to Judd.
“If you want to take a ride with someone who knows what they’re doing, look me up.”
“You bitch!” she seethed, lunging for Lola.
Judd stopped her and turned Laciee so they were face to face. He cupped her cheek and held her gaze. “Don’t lower yourself to the slop where she lives. You’re better than she’ll ever be.”
Beside him, Finn nodded. “He’s right, Laciee. Don’t let her drag you down to her level. Me, I’m already there.”
Finn cold cocked Lola Dupree and sent her falling back into the dilapidated house. Judd grabbed Laciee in one arm and took Finn in the other until Dustin made his way to them and took hold of his wife.
“Samantha,” he began.
“I don’t want to hear it, Dustin. Lola deserved it for how she was acting and talking. Laciee shouldn’t have done it, but we both know I was right to.”
Laciee hugged her. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. And call me, you’re here for a bit yet, we need to do some things together.”
“Yes.”
Judd carried Laciee back to his truck where he placed her inside then shut the door on her. Through the windshield she watched her mother crawl further inside her dark home. There were no sympathetic feelings for her. The woman had brought it on herself. Laciee turned away and focused on the cowboy who stepped into the cab of his big truck.