Rico (The Rock Creek Six Book 3)

by Lori Handeland

  “You have something you wish to share with us?” Rico asked.

  “Nope.” The man turned to Sullivan. “Sheriff, I have to send a few wires and get some supplies. We’ll leave tomorrow. Could you lock her up until then?”

  Lily blinked. He meant to put her in jail?

  “She’s not guilty until a judge says she is. I’m not locking her up.” Sullivan walked out.

  Rico appeared as if he were holding back a laugh. Lily wished she could find humor in this situation. Although she’d sworn never to return to New Orleans, she was. Hell, she’d volunteered. But if R.W. was dead, what could it hurt?

  The detective looked nonplussed at Sullivan’s defection. “I guess you can’t get far. If you run off, I’ll just chase you again.”

  “I won’t run off.”

  “You did before.”

  “Did not. I came here to start a new life.”

  “But you went to some trouble to disappear, didn’t you? Changed your name. Used the boy as cover.”

  “I did not use Johnny. He came on his own, and he’s not going back. He stays here.”

  “Fine by me.” Russell contemplated Lily as if he weren’t quite sure what to make of her. “Leaving in the middle of Mardi Gras nearly worked.”

  “If it was such a good idea, how did you find me?”

  “Someone heard Ward arguing with a customer about a saloon the fellow had lost to you for three queens.”

  Lily couldn’t believe Scruffy Texas had gone whining to R.W. If someone hadn’t killed him, R.W. would have caught her before she left. If she didn’t know better, she’d think she’d killed the man, too.

  “Next morning,” Russell continued, “Ward is dead, and you’re gone. Things got easier once I found out about the boy. Would have taken me quite a while to trace all the women leaving New Orleans that day.”

  “How long before you’d have given up?”

  “I don’t quit. That’s why I’m the best, and that’s why Mrs. Ward hired me.”

  “Modest, too,” Jed mumbled, but he seemed intrigued.

  “Truth is truth.” Russell headed for the door. “You and I will leave at dawn.”

  “Wrong,” Rico said. “I am going, too.”

  “I don’t think so.” Rico planned to kill himself a Pinkerton detective. Lily wasn’t going to let him.

  “He can come if he likes,” Russell said. “I’d welcome the extra gun.”

  “Gun,” Jed barked. “That’s funny.”

  “I’d rather have you where I can see you, Salvatore.” Russell thumbed his hat and left.

  Reese and Jed followed. As soon as they were alone, Rico crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.

  Lily hadn’t realized how much she needed to be there until the familiar thunder of his heart beat against her cheek and the scent of him—crisp cotton and musky man—surrounded her. She hadn’t realized how deeply she feared he would hate her, that he would believe the lawman instead of the liar, until relief nearly staggered her. He held her no differently in this moment than any of the moments that had gone before.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “For what?” He kissed her hair.

  “My name isn’t Lily. And Johnny isn’t my brother. His name isn’t even Johnny.”

  “To me you are Lily. And I’m sure Johnny doesn’t care what you call him. He loves you as much as any brother could.” Rico released her, and for the first time in Lily’s life, she clung. “Here he comes now, querida, and I think he needs you more than I do. Chin up.” He kissed her eyebrow and turned her about. “Be that woman who kicked me in my ego. Be strong for the boy.”

  Johnny stood at the foot of the stairs; the fear on his face tore at her heart. She opened her arms, and he stumbled into them. “Everything will be all right, ange. I will keep you safe; I swear.”

  Carrie was right behind him. She gave Lily a look that was far too old for her face, then patted Johnny on the back, touched Lily’s hand, and launched herself into Rico’s arms.

  Over the heads of Johnny and Carrie, Rico’s and Lily’s eyes met. They had much to talk about, but not right now.

  Right now was for their children.

  Chapter 17

  Calming Johnny took a while. In his eyes lurked a depth of panic that disturbed her. He had never liked R.W. The man had possessed a mean streak a mile wide, and Johnny was easily hurt by harsh words. Whenever the boy had stuttered, R.W. had shouted, causing Johnny to retreat into silence. Only then had R.W. left him alone.

  “It’ll be all right,” Lily murmured, and rubbed the length of his back. He’d grown since they’d come here. A big boy, he would become a very large man. “I won’t let anyone take you back there. I promise.” She put her mouth by his ear. “But you must stay quiet now. Any more lies and no one will believe anything we say anymore.”

  Johnny nodded, but the shadow in his eyes remained.

  Calming Carrie took even longer. She did not want to be separated from Rico, and she let everyone know it loud and clear. But no matter how hard Carrie begged, no matter what she threatened, Rico refused to let her go to New Orleans. In the end, Johnny separated himself from Lily with a quick hug, took Carrie’s hand, and led her to school in mid-tirade.

  Russell returned, and the way he hovered made Lily more nervous than the first time she’d performed in front of a crowd of a hundred. His lawman’s gaze pressed on her with the weight of a roomful of critics.

  News spread that a Pinkerton detective was taking Lily away. Gawkers arrived, and business became brisk. Lily ended up serving while both Rico and Yvonne worked the bar.

  Eden and Mary ran in, pledged eternal friendship, and insisted they would watch the children. Lily couldn’t get over it. She’d thought everyone would convict her on the say-so of a stranger. Once again, she’d underestimated Mary and Eden.

  When Carrie came home and heard she was staying with Mary, she threw a huge French cursing fit in the middle of the saloon.

  “You taught her that?” Rico raised his voice to be heard above the din. “Nice job.”

  “Doesn’t she sound so much more refined than when she walked around saying ‘damn’ all the time?”

  “Not really,” Rico muttered.

  “If you quiet down,” Yvonne snapped, “you can stay with me. And the piano lover, too.”

  Carrie threw her arms around Yvonne’s waist. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

  Yvonne stared in surprise at the child attached to her. “Stop dribbling on me and help Johnny with his homework.”

  “’Kay!” Carrie skipped off, dragging Johnny along behind her.

  “Are you sure, Yvonne?” Rico asked.

  Yvonne didn’t look sure, but she nodded. “She was just settling in. Why drag her back where she doesn’t want to go? Besides, Johnny is going to need the piano to play funeral dirges until you come home or life just won’t be the same.”

  Lily put her hand on Yvonne’s shoulder. “I appreciate what you’re doing. It’ll help to know they’re safe with you.”

  “Just get your butt back here and don’t leave me alone with that hellion too long.” Yvonne stalked into the stockroom.

  The woman tried so hard to be tough, but she couldn’t quite pull it off. In the beginning, she’d avoided the children, but they seemed to have grown on her. Both Carrie and Johnny had a way of slipping beneath any wall a person might erect against their charm and worming their way directly into the heart.

  “I’ll miss her,” Lily murmured.

  Rico put his arm around Lily’s shoulders, then tugged her close so she could lean against him. “You’ll be back.”

  “What are you two whispering about?”

  Rico scowled at Russell, who had crept up on them. “How deep your shallow grave is going to be.”

  Russell laughed, unconcerned. “Be ready to leave at dawn.” The cocky bastard left whistling.

  For the first time since Cash had ridden out of town, Lily wished he hadn’t. Russell
would have annoyed Cash plenty.

  * * *

  The rest of the night passed in a whirl of drinks, cards, smoke, and people. Kate and Laurel rushed in. They prattled their sympathy at Lily until she began to look drawn and pale. Rico set them to work.

  When they closed at last, Lily appeared so tired, Rico considered carrying her up the stairs, but he didn’t think he’d be able to manage it. Instead, they helped each other. It was becoming a habit.

  Rico paused outside Lily’s room. “You should sleep in your own bed tonight. Get some rest.”

  Lily shook her head and led him into his room, then closed and locked the door. “I want to sleep with you. All night. I need to wake up in the morning with you in my arms and see your face as soon as I open my eyes.”

  The neediness in Lily’s voice, on her face, disturbed Rico. Lily had never needed anyone, least of all him, and while he didn’t mind being needed, he didn’t want her frightened, either.

  “I can think of nothing better than waking up to the dawn and you. Let’s get to bed. The trail will be long and tiring for both of us.”

  “Why are you going, Rico?”

  “To protect you.”

  “From what? The truth?”

  He cupped her cheek. “Do you think the truth will set you free, Lilita?”

  “Of course.”

  “Sometimes things do not happen that way. Sometimes the wrong person dies no matter their innocence.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying I do not trust anyone with your life but me.”

  “Neither do I,” she whispered, and put her hand up to capture his against her face.

  Doubt flickered. Maybe Lily shouldn’t trust him so completely. But that she did made him feel strong and whole and alive. He should tell her the truth, but then she just might hate him.

  “I want to talk to you about R.W.,” she said.

  “He doesn’t matter.”

  Lily drew him over to sit on the bed. “He does, since it’s because of him we have to leave Rock Creek. I told you I’d had men to survive. He was one of them. Well, there were really only two. The first lost me in a card game to R.W. about seven years ago.”

  “Someone bet you on the turn of a card?”

  She shrugged. “Life was better with R.W. More secure, at any rate. But even though he made me successful, I still wanted out. I didn’t like being reminded every day where I came from and what I owed him. I was supposed to give him everything I won when I dealt poker. I kept Three Queens. I guess that means I did steal the place.”

  “In my book, whatever a person wins at cards is theirs.”

  “I like your book.” She squeezed his hand. “I ran because I knew he’d never let me go. But I didn’t kill him.”

  “I don’t care if you did.”

  “What?”

  “If you killed him, you had a very good reason. I’ve done far worse things in my life than you could ever dream of.”

  “I doubt that.”

  Though he’d sworn never to tell another living soul, Rico couldn’t let Lily continue to believe he was worth trusting. He would protect her with his life, but she had to understand that sometimes even that wasn’t enough.

  “I had a sister once,” he blurted. “The last time I saw Anna, she was the same age as Carrie the first day I met her. Anna used to look at me exactly as Carrie does now.”

  “As if the sun and the moon set on you and nothing you do could ever be wrong enough for her?”

  “Si. But Anna learned differently. I hope to God Carrie never does.”

  “You don’t have to tell me this, Rico. I know you. Nothing you’ve ever done can change who you are to me now. Nothing you’ve ever done will make Carrie not love you.”

  He yanked her close. “I killed my sister!”

  “You did not,” she scoffed, complete disbelief in her eyes.

  Rico jumped to his feet. “Why do you always defend me?”

  “Because you won’t.”

  “I am not worth your protection.”

  “And I’m not worth yours.”

  “That is a matter of opinion.”

  She smiled serenely as she began to unbutton her dress.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting ready for bed.”

  “You don’t want to sleep with a man like me.”

  Her hands dropped into her lap. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what happened. Then I’ll let you know what I want.” She patted the bed.

  Rico was too agitated to sit. Now that he’d started to remember, everything came rushing back. “Anna was six, and I was fourteen. Our madre died when Anna was born. Our father had little use for either one of us. He thought me a worthless son. I did not care for cattle. I paid little attention to my studies. The more he called me worthless, the harder I tried to live up to his opinion.”

  “His opinion was as worthless as he said you were.”

  She wouldn’t give up. But Rico wasn’t through with the story yet. “I was worthless and Anna but a girl. We had only each other. She followed me like a puppy. I loved her. But one day I wanted to be alone. I’d had enough of my little sister, so I snuck off and left Anna behind. I crossed our river, and I spent the day far off, where I was not supposed to go, practicing with my knives. When I returned to the water, I heard wailing and shouting from the other side. Anna had tried to follow me, and she drowned.”

  Rico could still see her little body on the opposite bank, still see his father’s anguished face, and hear him shout, Where is her worthless brother? I want him to see what he has done.

  Lily touched his arm. Rico stared at her, for a moment not realizing who she was or where he was. He’d been back in San Antonio. He’d been fourteen again, horrified at what his selfish irresponsibility had wrought.

  “Then what happened?” she whispered.

  “I left that very moment, and I never went back. I couldn’t stand to see Anna buried. I went east, joined the army, and you know the rest.”

  “What happened to Anna was an accident, Rico.”

  “An accident is unavoidable. Anna would still be alive if I’d watched over her as I was supposed to, as I’d promised. If I’d been less selfish, less childish—”

  “You were a child, and children are, for the most part, selfish.”

  Frustration ripped through Rico. Lily refused to hear what he was saying. “The last thing I said to her was ‘Go away and leave me alone.’ So she did. I’ve been alone ever since.”

  “You’re not alone anymore.”

  “Listen to me!” Rico shouted, but his voice shook. “I want to protect you. But I might fail. That’s what I do.”

  “You’ve never failed me.”

  “Yet.”

  Incredibly, she laughed and put her arms around him. “Come to bed, Rico. I know you won’t fail me there.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “I will be as soon as you touch me.”

  He’d told her his darkest secret, and she didn’t care. What had he ever done to deserve a single moment in her company? He touched her cheek, gently, reverently, and her laughing eyes sobered.

  “What’s the matter now?”

  “Russell said love is blind.” Hope flickered in her eyes, igniting the same within him. “He’s wrong.”

  The spark of hope died, but Lily put on a brave smile. “We always agreed that what we had between us wasn’t love.”

  “You said that. I never agreed.” Rico tried to find the words that would give her his heart and his soul. “Love isn’t blind, because I can see quite clearly how I feel, and I can see quite clearly why. You’re the strongest, most giving and trusting woman I’ve ever met, and I’d be a fool not to love you.”

  “You are a fool.”

  “I might be worthless and useless, but I’ve never been stupid. I know love when I see it. Love is you.”

  She pulled away, her movements odd and jerky. “You don’t have to tell me that. I’ve given you a
ll that I have.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Men use the word love to get what they want from women. I’ve seen it a thousand times before.”

  “Some men use the word because it’s true.”

  “Rico, do you know how many men have told me they loved me?”

  “I never told you.” He shook her once. “I never told anyone and meant it.”

  “Kiss me,” she begged. “Show me.”

  Lily wouldn’t believe the words. He couldn’t blame her. She’d spent a lifetime hearing the word love bandied about as a bribe or a joke. She needed him to show her; he could oblige.

  “Haria cualquier cosa para ti,” he whispered.

  Rico gentled his hands on Lily’s arms, rubbed them up and down, then leaned over to kiss her as she leaned in to kiss him. Their mouths met, matched, mated, and he finished unbuttoning her bodice, slipping his fingers inside, across the slope of her breast to her waist. He nibbled, tasted, tormented her until the fullness of her breast weighting the back of his hand rose and fell ever so much faster.

  Removing her dress, then her undergarments, he followed them to the ground, kneeling to remove her shoes and stockings, then putting his mouth to her belly, rubbing his cheek along the soft curve, tasting the spike of her hip and the dip that led him lower still. When her knees weakened, he tumbled her onto his bed. She reached for him, but he would not come.

  “I am showing you, Lilita. Leave me be.”

  He lost his clothes and worshiped every inch of her skin with his mouth, his hands, himself. He drove her up, coaxed her down, made her curse, then made her come. At the first harsh intake of breath that signaled her release, he sheathed himself within her, held himself still as her tremors made him shudder with a need to plunge and plunder, fought the end because he wanted this to be their beginning.

  What was between them he’d never known before, knew instinctively that he would never know again. He had lost count of the number of women he’d pleasured, but he would forever remember his last—his love.

  When he could no longer do anything but give in, he pulled her tightly against him and showed her in the way she’d asked him to that he loved her now and always would. As he pulsed deep inside her and she tightened around him, he understood why people would die for love. Sex was special. But sex with love...