Chain of Command

by HelenKay Dimon

  He nodded in the direction of her far right. Her gaze followed his and landed on Jessie. She stood frozen in the grass, staring at the house with a blank expression on her face and Kat’s arm around her shoulders.

  “Damn it.” Hailey had seen the look before, like on the night of the infamous breakup when Jessie’d shown up and asked to stay over. Fear and confusion mixed with a touch of anger.

  “Stay here,” Sawyer said as he motioned for the other men to get out of the truck. “We’ll check it out. The police need to come.”

  “It was Pete.” She knew it as sure as she knew Jessie couldn’t stay here.

  “Check around the back then we’ll go inside,” Sawyer called out to Marcus then turned back to her. “I’m guessing Pete, too, but we do this the right way.”

  His tone broke through her budding vengeance plans. “Why are you lecturing me?”

  She was not in the mood. Pushed too far she’d start saying things she regretted and she didn’t want to end up there.

  “Because you’re upset and we need to handle this without emotion.”

  Only a man would say something like that. She had no idea how anyone could look at destruction and not get all fired up and ready to go slash tires. “Not possible.”

  He pulled her aside and stepped between her and the house. “It is if we hope to find some evidence that pins this on Pete.”

  “And if we don’t? Because we won’t.” She knew that to be true as well.

  Pete was a smarmy, controlling, borderline abusive asshole. Like a lot of people of that type, he played the game and hid most of the awful parts in public. People liked him. Saw him as a good guy with a stellar career in front of him.

  He had military buddies and they’d provide an alibi or an excuse. No way would he take responsibility or leave a clue behind. She wished he was that incompetent or that Jessie was that lucky but nothing about their history together suggested either option was true.

  “Maybe the place is clean. If so I’ll handle it. We’re all done dealing with Pete,” Sawyer said.

  She tore her gaze away from the overturned flowerpot near the front door and looked at him. “Meaning?”

  “I’m tired of being civilized when it comes to him.” Sawyer’s frown deepened. “And I don’t want to see that look of panic on Jessie’s face ever again.”

  As if she needed one more reason to fall for the guy, yet now Hailey had one. “Are you going to give me the specifics of this anti-Pete plan?”

  One of Sawyer’s eyebrows lifted. “I’ll let you know when it’s okay to come inside.”

  Yeah, that’s what she thought. No details.

  Then he headed for the door. He didn’t have a weapon on him, at least not one that Hailey knew about or could see, but he looked ready to pounce. They all did. The three men circled the house then moved in.

  When they disappeared inside she stepped closer to Jessie. “You can come back to my house and we’ll—”

  “No.”

  Hailey didn’t really mean it as a suggestion or a question. “Jessie, come on.”

  “He’s trying to scare me.”

  Hailey glanced at Kat who just shrugged. Hailey understood wanting to be independent and not live in fear. She put up a fence and wielded a bat to try to achieve a balance in her own life. But no one had ripped the inside of her house apart. If that had happened she’d be in a hotel right now and might never come out again.

  Instead of putting on some show of confidence, she went with what was in her heart. “Well, he’s scaring the hell out of me.”

  Jessie shook her head. Her expression hadn’t changed. She still looked blank and too pale. “I get that and feel the same way, but I’m not running.”

  She’d tried logic and that didn’t work, so Hailey went to dead honesty. “Look, I admire the spunk but this guy is capable of hurting you. Physically hurting you.”

  Jessie’s expression finally changed. That touch of anger showed up. “I won’t let that happen.”

  Finally. Hailey thought she had a shot at talking Jessie into a course of action that would keep her protected. “Neither will I, which is why I’m saying you’re coming home with me.”

  “I agree.” Kat squeezed Jessie tighter to her side. “I know you were excited to return to a normal life in your own house, but you have to be smart.”

  “Oh, don’t be fooled. At least one of those men is sleeping on my couch and Kat and Barkley will be here, too.” Color returned to Jessie’s cheeks as she snorted. “I’m not freaking stupid.”

  Relief whooshed through Hailey. This side of Jessie she could handle. Not broken down or defeated. She’d been through so much and seeing her stand up while still being careful made Hailey so proud of her. “That’s my girl.”

  In long determined strides, Sawyer stepped out of the doorway and down the three steps to where the women stood. “It’s clear and the police are on the way, but it is a mess in there.”

  Hailey’s mind went to every television crime show and hard-core thriller she’d ever seen. “Define mess.”

  He frowned at her. “I don’t understand the comment.”

  “We talking shredded clothing, overturned lamps or gross stuff?” And Pete would do something nasty. Go to the bathroom on Jessie’s possessions...or worse.

  Kat joined Sawyer in staring. “What?”

  Clearly no one else watched thrillers. Lucky her. She got to be the one to explain. Hailey still spared the details because, really, who needed those.

  “I’m saying I don’t think Jessie should have to deal with any weird or creepy things Pete left behind.” Hailey talked slowly, enunciated each word and hoping a light bulb would click on in Sawyer’s head.

  “Okay, I get it.” Sawyer held up a hand. “And, for the record, we don’t know it was Pete.”

  She admired the whole fairness thing but now wasn’t the time. “Yeah, whatever. You’re not his defense attorney, so you can stop with that.”

  He pretended to cough. “Bossy.”

  That didn’t offend her and by his half smile she guessed it didn’t turn him off. “That’s right.”

  “This looks like an angry goodbye thing,” he explained, mostly keeping his attention on Jessie as he laid out the facts in a calm tone. “Smashed dishes and glass, ripped curtains, clothes everywhere. Nothing creepy, though I think having your house turned inside out qualifies as that on some level.”

  “Any sign of Pete?” Jessie stopped gnawing on her bottom lip long enough to ask the question.

  “Nothing obvious.”

  Which brought Hailey to her biggest concern. “So, let’s say the police come and they don’t find anything.”

  Jessie sighed. “Which will happen.”

  “Right.” Sawyer’s gaze traveled over all three women. “Then I’ll take over.”

  “You?” Kat asked.

  “I’ll call Will and—”

  “Wait.” Jessie shook her head. “Who’s Will?”

  “His friend who’s still in the navy.” Hailey already felt better. Sawyer alone qualified as lethal. Put him together with his military friends and Pete would be stupid not to run.

  “Will is a SEAL,” Sawyer said. “He’s a guy people listen to. He can make someone listen about the need to rein in Pete.”

  For the first time since landing at her house, Jessie smiled and aimed it right at Sawyer. “I like your friends and your friends’ friends.”

  He laughed. “I have good taste.”

  “And that extends to women,” Kat said.

  Sawyer winked. “It sure does.”

  They didn’t make it back to his house until almost three in the morning. They lived through the questions and the forensics and the clean-up aftermath. Sawyer vowed he would be happy never to see a trash bag or mop again.

  At least Jessie had some closure. Marcus saw to that. He found Will, who pulled whatever strings he had, and those seemed to be impressive strings, because they “convinced” Pete to back down.

/>   The guy had been smart enough to set up an alibi and not admit to anything, but whatever Will and the other people in that room had said must have worked. Marcus came back insisting Jessie would be left alone. But Kat, Barkley and Jason stayed overnight just in case.

  “I’d take a bath but I’d probably slip under the water and drown.” Hailey plopped down on the barstool at Sawyer’s kitchen counter.

  “And I’m not sure I have the strength to fish you out.” Sawyer balanced the heel of his hand against the edge of the counter.

  She lowered her head until her cheek rested against the cool stone. “Says the big, tough marine.”

  “Don’t kid yourself. I could fall asleep standing here.” He’d been trained to do just that. Go days on almost no sleep and nap while still being coherent enough to shift and fire a gun if needed.

  She lifted her head and upper body. Put her elbows on the counter. “You were amazing today.”

  That compliment came out of nowhere. Not that he planned on ignoring it. “I think I’m waking up now.”

  “Yeah, well. Don’t think you’re getting sex.” Her voice sounded all husky and hot as she said it.

  That didn’t seem fair but he might be able to change her mind if he wrapped an arm around her and let a hand go wandering. “I’m pretty sure amazing guys get sex. Like, wildly amazing fucking. I’m sure I’ve read that somewhere.”

  “In the morning.”

  “That’s, like, three hours from now.” He glanced at the clock over the stove to verify the late hour...or maybe it was the early hour. “That works for me, so I won’t beg now.”

  “But I love when you do.”

  This woman just kept tempting him. “I vote for a quick shower then fall into bed.”

  “Best idea ever.”

  “I’m a problem solver.” He opened the nearest cabinet to grab a cup for water and something fell out. Spun on the counter and landed.

  Hailey grabbed the eyeglasses before Sawyer could. He cursed Jason as he recognized what she held.

  She turned them around in her hand. “What are these?”

  This was the last thing Sawyer wanted to talk about tonight. Well, last after Pete. Sawyer was done with that guy. “BCGs.”

  “They look like regular glasses. A bit bulky and far too big for you or Jason.”

  “They are standard issue glasses from boot camp, affectionately known as Birth Control Glasses.” The ugliest glasses ever made. They served as a great equalizer. Sturdy but perfect to reinforce the group mentality because no guy could possibly get laid while wearing them, which was the point.

  “Wow.” She put them on and they swallowed her face. “Wait, you wear glasses?”

  “I used to. Had surgery.” Not because the glasses were ugly but because he needed the best vision possible for his job. Getting rid of the glasses was just a bonus. “What sucks is recruits no longer have to wear these. They have better frames now. I think they even get to choose.”

  She took them off and folded in the sides. “But you kept these?”

  “I put them in a drawer as a reminder of the old days but Jason finds them now and then and drags them out just to torture me.” The dumbass.

  “Any chance you have a photograph of you wearing these back then? Full uniform and everything?” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.

  How in the hell was he supposed to withstand that much adorableness when she aimed it straight at him? He didn’t even try. “On the desk.”

  “Ha!” She jumped off the stool, suddenly looking wide awake, and walked into the family room to the part of the house that served as his makeshift office. “I bet you look hot and...” She shifted papers around then picked one up. She held it up to him. “What’s this?”

  He couldn’t see it from across the room, so he went to her. “What?”

  She pointed to a line on what looked like a letter. “Greenway Range.”

  Then it hit him. The sheriff’s warning letter. Marcus forgot to mention he printed the fucking thing out.

  Sawyer’s stomach dropped. He could not be this unlucky.

  He wanted to reverse time or call her back to the kitchen for a replay. Hell, something other than have this conversation now when all he wanted was his bed with her in it. “That’s the name of our proposed gun range.”

  She scanned the letter. “The one you need to finalize or risk losing the permitting, or whatever you have already.”

  “I haven’t read the letter.”

  She shot him a look that said she didn’t believe him. “I’ll quote parts of it for you. Here’s the interesting section that jumped out at me. ‘Whatever you’re doing to win Ms. Thorne over needs to be accelerated.’” She glared at him. “So, Sawyer, what are you doing to win me over?”

  That language sounded so much worse than it was. If he gave her a second she could twist it and blow it up and make it into something awful, and he had no intention of doing that. “Nothing except talking to you about it.”

  “But you aren’t.” She lowered the letter without easing her tight grip on it. “We’re having sex and having dinner, but not talking business.”

  She jumped to the conclusion faster than he thought possible. Despite his actions and how careful he’d been, she drove right to the answer that looked the worst for him. “Don’t do that.”

  “What?”

  He could see the mix of anger and doubt wash over her. Amusement fled and her muscles stiffened. Even her voice grew harsh.

  The change pissed him off. “Don’t act like I am using you.”

  She drew in a long breath. Kept staring at him, as if assessing and reliving every minute they’d been together and finding him lacking. “Aren’t you?”

  “That is not fucking fair.” He struggled to keep his voice even but the heat rose inside him.

  “Then just tell me what it is you’re doing to ‘accelerate’ like the sheriff suggests?”

  Sawyer couldn’t think of one thing he’d done to deserve this interrogation. His temper kept ticking up and he fought to bring it back down. “I told you. Nothing.”

  “This is your livelihood. Your dream, right?” She shook the paper at him. “You have this plan and your friends are involved but you’re saying that you’re just, what, sitting with your fingers crossed hoping I’ll come around?”

  Motherfucker. “Yes.”

  “I don’t believe you.” She held out the letter.

  He took it without looking at it. Why bother since she’d already decided what it said about the property and about him. Never mind the truth that he had walked the line. He stuck to the rules and kept their time together as separate from the business they needed to do as much as possible. He’d stalled and even waited on pitching the idea to her for fear he’d scare her off.

  He’d done everything to keep from having this moment happen yet he stood there and waited for the roof to fall in and crush him. The fight had already sucked the energy and life out of this room. Gone was the exhaustion dragging at his limbs. Frustration, mixed with a heavy dose of indignation drove him now.

  “I have never lied to you.” He’d put off telling her everything about Rob’s death but that had nothing to do with what had her riled now.

  “You understand why I’m skeptical...yes?” She pointed at the letter in his hand. “That suggests a pretty pointed attempt by you to win your way.”

  “You’re wrong and you know it.” He would not accept that charge. He shifted his weight. Anything to try to ease the anxiety slamming into his gut, but moving didn’t help. “I have done this exactly the way you asked. I’ve separated out the business from the personal and not bothered you. I’ve been there for you and your friends.”

  “And if I don’t agree you can use the property? Then what happens?” she asked as if nothing he said mattered.

  “Then we’ll look for other property.” It was that simple. Hell, he should have listened to Marcus and started doing that anyway.

  “But you’re not checking out o
ther options now.” She wrung her hands together. “You don’t have a fallback. You are depending on me to do what you want.”

  He refused to answer that one. “Have I asked anything of you?”

  “No and I’m wondering why.”

  “God damn it, Hailey. A man can’t win with you.” He stepped back. He had to. When the bit of distance didn’t help stem the anger pounding his brain, he wiped a hand through his hair and fought for patience.

  He tried to imagine being in her position and finding that letter. The same one he hadn’t bothered to hide, which he’d think would mean something to her, but no.

  “Right.” She walked around the couch, stumbling a little as she went.

  “What are you doing?”

  She grabbed her keys off the table close to the front door and they jangled in her hand. “Going home.”

  He lost it. His control vanished. “What the fuck? I don’t understand what I did wrong.”

  She spun around to face him again. “You’re hoping the sex wins me over.”

  “I’m hoping you’ll do what Rob wanted. Is that so strange?” The words carried a slap but it was too late to call them back.

  “According to you. That deal is in a note somewhere. One you conveniently lost.”

  She pushed and pushed. Never let up. Kept dancing around the idea of him being a liar, which he’d never been accused of in his life. She rarely gave an inch and didn’t budge now.

  But he would not take the bait. Showing her the bloody pieces of paper wouldn’t prove his case. They would hurt her and despite the rage coursing through him, he refused to do that.

  The joke was on him that the characteristic he found so appealing was now biting him in the ass. “Yeah, Hailey. I guess you’ll have to trust me on that one.”

  “I’ll leave you alone to read your letter.” She delivered the great exit line and headed for the door.

  He could not let the night end there. “Stop.”

  Her jaw dropped and her body language suggested she would happily go another round with him if that’s what he wanted. “Excuse me?”

  The last thing he needed was a protracted fight. “At least promise me you’ll go to Jessie’s house for the night and text me once you get there.”