Bad Boy Heroes Boxed Set

by Patricia Ryan

When she leaned over the math book, grazing his arm with her breast, his body responded with a great big boner. “So, how does knowing what they have in common help you figure out the circumference?” Lily asked.

  Ron forced the Venn diagram into focus. His pencil skittered across the paper, keeping time with his pulse. “See, if you figure cut this common section…” He made his brain function by concentrating on the math problem instead of the scooped neck of the little white T-shirt she wore.

  Ten minutes later, she was gazing up at him like he was Euclid himself. “You’re so smart, Ronny.”

  Ron shrugged. “I like math.” He nodded to the entrance to the cafeteria where his teacher stood guard and shot the breeze with Sammy. “Johnson’s pretty cool.”

  Lily agreed. “I’m in the low-level class, you know?” Her eyes had flecks of green in them, though they were mostly brown. “He never makes us feel stupid.”

  “You’re not—”

  A cloud came over them, blocking the light from the window. “Hey, Ronny baby. Whatcha doin’?” Loose slapped his tray down, his lunch consisting of two ice-cream sandwiches and a can of soda.

  “Helping with math,” Ron grumbled.

  “Hey, Lily White, you need help with anything else, I’m willin’.”

  Lily stiffened. Before she could respond, Maze dropped a brown paper bag on the table and straddled the bench. “Hi, guys.” He scanned the area. “I sure could use a cigarette to perk me up.” His bloodshot gaze dropped to Lily’s tight shirt. “Or somethin’ else.” He and Loose laughed crudely. “What ya doin’ after school, Lily White?”

  Ron opened his mouth to say something, but Lily stood and gave Maze a cold stare. “I’m busy, little boy. But if I wasn’t, it would so not be you I’d get it on with.” She stalked away.

  “That isn’t how you felt up at the lake last week,” he yelled after her.

  Her back to him, she threw him the finger over her shoulder.

  “She loves me,” he hooted, digging into his bag and stuffing Jelly Beans in his mouth.

  Ron watched Maze, faintly disgusted by his appearance, sick, big-time of his crudeness. “Why don’t you just leave her alone?”‘

  “What, and miss some of the greatest head I ever got in my life?”

  The image of pretty Lily on her knees before Maze made Ron’s stomach turn.

  “What’s a matter, Ronny boy, you got the hots for Lily White?”

  “Don’t call her that.”

  “Ow-ee.” Maze slapped the table with his hand. “You do. Hey man, it’s okay, I don’t mind sharin’.”

  “I didn’t know she was yours to share.”

  “You got that. If doin’ me means she’s mine, then she belongs to half the football team, too.”

  Though Ron had heard the rumors, and witnessed with his own eyes how Lily dressed and acted, he saw red at the comment. “Shut your fuckin’ mouth, Maze.”

  Maze started to rise. “Who the—”

  Loose vised Maze’s arm and pulled him back down. “Hey, Ronny boy, why you gettin’ humped about a chick? They all cunts, man!”

  Nobody spoke. The air crackled with adolescent challenge. Then in a silky smooth voice, Loose asked, “You ever ask your old lady ’bout that night at Crocodile’s?”

  “Why you son of a—” He was halfway out of his seat and over the table when a hand gripped his shoulder. He turned to see Sammy behind him, along with Mr. Johnson.

  “Everything okay here, guys?” Mr. Johnson asked easily. But his gaze was steely and had narrowed in on Loose and Maze.

  “None of your fuckin’ business,” Maze said loudly enough for the next table to ooh and ahh at the curse.

  Mr. Johnson shook his head. “Get your stuff, LaMont. You’re coming with me.”

  Maze picked up his brown bag and the leather jacket he’d dropped on the bench. “No, thanks, dickhead. I’m outta here.” He turned and, kicking a book bag out of his way, swaggered out of the cafeteria.

  Mr. Johnson looked at Ron. “I’m going to write up this referral now, but I’d like to talk to you before the end of lunch, Ron.”

  Ron said nothing. Instead he was snared by the look on Loose’s face. He expected venom directed at the teacher. But when it was focused on him, Ron felt a chill crawl up his spine.

  Chapter 20

  *

  ON HER WAY home from an evening dance class, Annie swung by the church. It was ten at night, and too late to be visiting anybody, but if Linc’s light was on, maybe she’d stop. Suzie was with the kids and had decided to sleep over with Faith. Belle Star was entitled to seek out Jesse James when she wanted a friend, wasn’t she?

  The garage was dark when Annie pulled into the parking lot. Either Linc wasn’t home, or…then she saw him at the door to the church. He was with a big man she recognized as the janitor.

  Exiting the car, she headed for them.

  “Henry, it’s all right. No real harm done.”

  The man frowned; his face and clothes were grimy with some kind of soot. When he saw Annie, he ducked his head, nodded to her and loped down the sidewalk.

  “Hi, kiddo.” Even Linc’s voice was tired.

  She surveyed him—he looked like he’d done a stint as a chimney sweep. The black film on the janitor covered Linc, too, and his clothes were hopelessly soiled. “What happened to you?”

  Weary, Linc sank against the door. It was cool out this late on an April night and he shivered a bit in his faded navy sweatshirt and jeans. “I had a little run-in with a couple of open bags of charcoal on an overhead shelf in a storage closet.”

  Annie looked after Henry. “What’d he do now?”

  Linc snorted. “He knocked them over when we were looking for some cleaning supplies. They must have been old. When they hit me, and the floor, they practically disintegrated. You wouldn’t believe the mess.” He grinned. “Henry gives new meaning to the word irony.”

  “Are you gonna fire him?”

  He straightened. “Now, why would I do that?”

  “You’re a nice guy, you know that?”

  “You wouldn’t say that if you could have heard me swearing at the charcoal.”

  “God won’t care.”

  “No, I don’t think He would.” Linc took her hand. “Come on in.” They made the short trek to his office. “Did you come right from the studio?”

  “Uh-huh.” She followed him into the room. “I wanted to tell you something, but I can come back when you’re not so tired.”

  “As my grandfather used to say, you’ll have to wait for the cows to come home for that to happen.”

  “Joe would know where that saying comes from.”

  Linc sank onto the couch and patted the seat next to him. “Sit.”

  She sat, smoothing down the oversize multicolored sweater she wore with leggings.

  “Is that what this is all about? Joe?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Tell me.”

  Glancing around the room, she remembered Joe’s first meeting here with them all, and how stilted it had been. How afraid she’d been. “Things have been going well with the kids and Joe.”

  “And what about you?”

  “I’ve seen Sara a few times.” She sighed. “I let Joe coach Matt’s Little League team.”

  “I know. I think it’s good for them both. Joe loves it.”

  “You see him a lot, don’t you?”

  “He was a good friend all those years ago.” Linc scowled. “Which was why it killed me when I found out what he’d been doing to you. I didn’t have a clue.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. I got good at hiding it.” She rubbed her arms. “Bruises and all.”

  “He’s changed, Annie.”

  She nodded. “That’s why I’m here. I’ve decided you don’t need to chaperone his visits anymore.”

  “What brought this on?”

  “Mostly how he’s been with Matt, alone.” She stared off into space picturing Joe braiding Faith’s hair. She wondered where he’d
learned to do that, then thought of Taylor Cummings’s long dark mane. “But he’s gentle with Faith, too. He treats her like spun glass.”

  “Funny, that’s how I always thought he treated you.”

  “He did. Before he got abusive. Even then, he was so tender in between…bouts. So nice. It’s crazy.”

  “That’s common, isn’t it, in abusive relationships?”

  “Yeah. At least it’s common for there to be long periods of repentance and peace. The gentleness, I’m not sure. I always thought that side was Joe’s true nature. The periods of violence were the aberration.” She shivered.

  “Maybe they were. I know he worked on a Jekyll and Hyde theory with his counselors.”

  “Does he talk about it?”

  “Yes. He says it keeps him healthy.”

  “Well, in any case, I think he’s healthy enough to see the kids alone.”

  “What about you?”

  “Me?”

  “You’ll have to be alone with him sometimes then.”

  “I know. But I’m not afraid. He won’t hurt me, like you and Sara say, if I don’t let him.” She watched Linc closely. “Thanks for helping with this. I don’t know how I would have gotten through his coming back to town without you.”

  “I should have done more. Before.”

  “Oh, Linc. You take on too much. With me, Margo, Beth.” She indicated the office. “And the church.”

  He shrugged.

  “How’s it going with Margo?”

  “Shitty.”

  She smiled at his curse. “Want to talk about it? I missed dinner. We could get a pizza, have a few beers…”

  “I’d love to,” he said grinning at her. “I need—”

  A knock on the door stopped his response. Since he’d left it ajar, both he and Annie could see a figure standing there. He shot her a questioning look, got up and crossed to the entrance.

  “Rosa?” Linc said, blocking Annie’s view. “What are you—oh, Lord, Rosa, what happened?”

  Annie heard mumbling.

  Linc stepped aside. “Come in and sit.”

  The hunched-over figure crept into the office. Slender shoulders were covered in a faded black raincoat. A kerchief shielded Rosa DeMartino’s head. Annie knew her from church activities and had always liked the demure woman. But she sensed something in her…something familiar.

  When Rosa raised her head, Annie realized what it was. In an instant, she recognized the damage a man’s fist could do to a woman’s cheekbone. She’d seen it many times in her own mirror.

  *

  “OH, MY, I didn’t know you had company.” Rosa’s voice was warbled, and Linc noticed a small cut on her lip, too.

  “I—” He looked at Annie. “This is my friend, Annie Lang.” Whose face had gone stark white with the evidence before her. Lord knew what ghosts Rosa’s appearance conjured. “You know Annie from church, Rosa.”

  Rosa turned her head away, hiding the evidence of her husband’s abuse.

  Frozen, Annie just stared at Rosa’s back. Linc wasn’t sure what to do.

  Rosa shook her head. “Sorry to interrupt. I’ll be leaving.”

  Linc said, “You’ll do no such thing.”

  Finally Annie spoke. “Of course not.”

  Still Rosa wouldn’t face them. Linc watched Annie carefully, he didn’t want to set off any emotional land mines, but he had to help Rosa. Annie stared over at him. Her eyes went from shock, to understanding to anger.

  Linc went to Rosa. “Let me have your coat and scarf.”

  Rosa waited, deciding. Linc stood close but didn’t touch her. He’d learned that from Annie. At last, Rosa shrugged out of her coat, but she wouldn’t remove her scarf. Scant cover for the condition of her face. Then she sat down, keeping her head averted.

  Again, Linc looked at Annie, silently asking for understanding. Annie gave him a weak smile, then with a reassuring nod, she headed to the door. But she stopped when she got there and turned around. “Rosa, I’ll leave if it’s what you want me to do. But you know what? I think I should stay.”

  Rosa’s head came up slowly. “Why?” she asked Annie.

  Annie’s chin angled. She swallowed hard. “Because I’ve been through what’s happening to you. I understand where you’re coming from.”

  “ You?” the woman asked incredulously.

  Linc had to smile. Joe’s abuse was not common knowledge around town. Annie had made sure of it to protect her children. But he knew that Rosa’s shock came from the fact that Annie Lang was no cream puff. Everybody respected her for running her own business, raising two wonderful kids by herself, being on the Community Youth Council and other committees.

  Annie understood Rosa’s comment, too. Coming back into the room, Annie sat down beside her. “Yes, Rosa, me. My husband hit me for years before I kicked him out.” She reached over to grasp Rosa’s trembling hands. “Linc can help you, Rosa.” She raised strong, sure eyes to him. “And maybe I can, too.”

  *

  LIKE A TENDER lover, May came to Glen Oaks gently. At the first Little League baseball game of the season, Annie sat in the bleachers and let the still-warm six o’clock breeze stroke her cheek. The newly mowed grass wove its rich scent around her and a chorus of yellow daffodils peeked out from behind the dugout, where her son’s team sat listening to their coach give them last-minute instructions.

  “There’s Lisa, Mommy. Can I go play with her on the swings?” Faith was already scrambling down the bleachers.

  Annie’s first response was to tell her daughter that she wasn’t allowed to go unsupervised.

  “Let her go,” Suzie coaxed from behind. As a close friend as well as a sister-in-law, she knew Annie’s tendency to be overprotective of the kids. Suzie and Grace had turned out for this big family event, too, though to be fair, they regularly attended Matt’s games. Annie and Grace had a tentative truce, effective if they didn’t talk about Joe.

  “Okay,” Annie called out to Faith. “But stay in the play area where I can see you.”

  Lisa, who’d appeared at the fence with her mother, was a new friend of Faith’s, and new to Annie’s dance studio. She’d joined because of her mother, Rosa DeMartino, who’d quickly become a part of Annie’s life in the last two weeks. As Rosa waved to Annie, and threaded her way up the bleachers to sit with her, Annie gave her a warm, if somewhat forced smile. She was very worried about the woman.

  It’s the first time he hit me. He won’t do it again.

  I thought that too, Rosa.

  Then, of course, a week later Annie spotted the bruise on Rosa’s waist when she’d lifted Lisa up and her shirt had pulled past her slacks.

  They hit where it can’t be seen. It happened to me more times than I can count. You need help, Rosa.

  Bleak eyes had agreed, and Rosa had made an appointment at Social Services for the following afternoon.

  “Any action yet?” Rosa asked, glancing toward the field. Unbeknownst to them both, their sons had been assigned to the same Little League team this year.

  “None. The coach is talking to the guys.”

  “Tommy hasn’t stopped talking about Coach Murphy. He loves him.” Though Rosa was a plain woman, wearing basic tan pants and a plaid blouse, she had beautiful blue eyes which stared wistfully out at the diamond. “I wish his fath…” She let the thought trail off, but Annie knew she was wishing Sam was more like Joe. The irony was striking. Annie had only found out today that Tommy was on Joe’s team. She hadn’t the wits or the time necessary to tell Rosa who Joe was, necessary because once she realized Joe was Matt’s father, Rosa would make her own connection between the beloved coach and the abusive ex-husband.

  “Annie, you okay?”

  “Sure.”

  Rosa ducked her head. “I shouldn’t speak out of turn like that.”

  “Oh, Rosa, you’ve got to say what’s on your mind.”

  Glancing around like a gunrunner making a drop, Rosa nodded. “But we shouldn’t talk about it here.”
<
br />   “You’re right. Want to come over to my house after the game?”

  “Maybe. Sam’s working tonight.”

  Annie squeezed Rosa’s hand gently and turned her eyes to the diamond. She’d avoided looking at her ex-husband all night. Watching him now, standing off to the side of the boys, Annie admitted that the sight of him in the Good Father role often disconcerted her. She also admitted he physically attracted her, too, especially when he looked so wholesome and healthy. His green T-shirt stretched across his chest and tucked into navy shorts that accented the corded muscles of his legs. She’d seen him running in town and guessed it was part of his rehab program to stay fit and sober.

  Play began.

  “Matt’s lead-off batter,” Grace announced from behind.

  Joe had told them that Matt was the best on the team. Annie watched her son stride to the plate, dig in his cleats, hit the base with his bat and glance over to the dugout. Joe cupped his hands and yelled something to the boy that made him smile.

  Matt connected on the first pitch. Annie watched it soar—over the pitcher’s head, past the second baseman, way out into center field. Then she bolted up with the rest of the crowd.

  “Oh, my God, it went over the fence!” Suzie screamed.

  Bouncing up and down, Annie watched Matt’s graceful trek around the bases. She didn’t think she’d ever seen a wider grin on his young face.

  Dad’s really helped with our hitting. He changed my stance, and I can get a lot more power behind it.

  When her son reached home plate, his team converged on him. A little taller than most, he looked over their heads for his father, who stood off to the side, beaming. As Matt came toward the dugout, Joe approached him. Without censoring his response, Joe grasped his son in a heartfelt bear hug. Matt returned it.

  Amid the comments like, “Hey, Annie did you see that?” and “Wow, another Mark McGwire,” from other parents, Annie battled back tears. Nothing had happened as she’d planned since Joe had come back to town two months before. It was hard keeping up with the emotional whirlwind he’d brought with him. First, the horror. Then doubt. Then he seemed to be…good for the kids. Her conflicting feelings warred heatedly inside her.

  Stop it, and just enjoy the game.