Keeping Her Safe

by Sherry Lewis

  “I’ll get it in a minute. First things first.” He kissed her again, longer and more passionately this time. When he pulled away, his eyes seemed to bore into her, as if he could see through to her soul. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine.” She leaned against his legs and smiled. “More than fine.”

  “Are you still planning to ask Larry to leave?”

  The intimacy of the contact left DJ flushed and breathless, but she managed to speak and hoped she sounded halfway normal. “Yes. I have to. You’ve seen how he treats Marissa. I can’t let that continue.”

  “No, you can’t.”

  “He’s upset everyone at the store. I’ll lose my staff if he stays.”

  Adam nodded slowly, but he searched her face. “What about you? How do you feel about him leaving?”

  She sighed softly. “I’m fine. I thought about it all night, and I realized I’d. built up a fantasy father in my mind. I can’t let everyone around me suffer because of a dream.”

  He nodded and squeezed her shoulders. “Have you been thinking about what your sister said?” The intensity of his gaze and the gentleness of his touch made her shiver with anticipation.

  “Among other things.”

  Adam didn’t speak for a long time. He watched Marissa scamper across the grass in front of the dog and his expression softened.

  DJ studied his profile, the set of his jaw, and her heart lurched in her chest. When he turned to her again, she lost herself in his eyes. He pulled her into his orbit and robbed her of the energy and the will to resist.

  Sighing softly, she surrendered to the moment. She wanted to forget the past and concentrate on the future. And she wanted that future with Adam.

  To her surprise, his hands stilled and his features sobered. “DJ, we need to talk.”

  He looked so serious, her heart slowed and dread took the place of anticipation. She sat up and turned to face him. “All right.”

  “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “All right,” she said again. “What is it?”

  He looked away and swallowed. She watched his throat work, his mouth tighten and his eyes dull. “When I came here, I didn’t have any idea what you were like. I—”

  When he broke off and looked away, her throat clenched with fear. She’d grown used to having him here—to the feel of his arms around her, the taste of his lips on hers, the insistent brush of his whiskerstubbled chin on her cheek. But what if he didn’t feel the same way? What if he wanted to leave?

  As if he could read her mind, he pulled his hands from her shoulders. He shielded his eyes and stared at something behind her. “Is this someone you know?”

  Frustrated by the interruption, DJ turned just as Laura’s blue Chevrolet pulled into the driveway. “It’s my sister.”

  “She looks upset.”

  She did, but at this moment, DJ didn’t care. She wanted to know what Adam had been about to say.

  He pushed to his feet and held out a hand to her. “Let’s see what she wants.”

  Biting back a sigh, DJ let him pull her to her feet and started down the steps as Laura slid out of the car.

  Her eyes looked dark and angry, her shoulders tense, her jaw set and ready for an argument. She slammed the car door behind her and took Adam’s measure quickly. “Who’s this? Mom’s friend?”

  A little embarrassed by Laura’s uncharacteristic rudeness, DJ nodded. “Adam McAllister—my sister, Laura Oliver.”

  Laura’s eyes tilted down at the corners, and her mouth thinned. “Did you tell him?”

  “Yes, I told him what you said about Larry.” DJ had seen Laura in this mood before. She didn’t like it. “He knows as much as I do.”

  Laura glanced at him again. “Good. You can help me talk some sense into her.” She turned back to DJ with a tight frown. “I’ve been thinking about our conversation all night, and I’m not going to sit back with my mouth shut while you make the biggest mistake of your life.”

  “I’ve already—” she began.

  But Laura waved a hand and interrupted. “You don’t know what kind of man Larry he is. Trust me—you don’t want him anywhere around.”

  Her attitude grated on DJ’s already sensitive nerves. She laughed harshly. “Trust you? You’ve been lying to me my entire life, and now you expect me to trust you?”

  Laura leaned close to DJ and spoke through gritted teeth. “Larry Galloway is a horrible, angry, violent man. He’s vicious and hateful, and he’ll do anything to get what he wants.”

  “Oh?” DJ snapped. “What do you think he wants?”

  “He wants Mom!” Laura nearly shouted. “He’s always wanted Mom. He’s never forgiven her for leaving him, and if he’s here now, it’s because he thinks he can get to her through you.”

  “He’s never said anything about Mom,” DJ argued.

  “He’s not stupid. If he lets you know how much he hates her, you’ll keep your guard up against him.”

  “Why does he hate her? What happened between them?” DJ demanded for what felt like the hundredth time in two weeks.

  “Maybe you ought to tell us what you know about their divorce,” Adam suggested. And when Laura acted as if she didn’t want to answer, he added, “The more we know, the better chance we’ll have to protect DJ and Marissa.”

  Laura eyed him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Larry’s a very controlling person. I’m sure you’ve already figured that out. Mom realized almost immediately after DJ was born that he wouldn’t be able to control her the way he did us. She has a different personality.” She turned to DJ and tried to force a laugh. “You’re too stubborn for your own good. You always have been.”

  Adam’s eyes met DJ’s and his lips curved into a ghost of a smile that took away some of the sting of Laura’s words.

  “Mom knew he’d lose control with you the first time you told him ‘No’ or disobeyed him,” Laura said. “And she knew he’d be harder on you than he was on anyone else, because he thought you were his perfect little princess—his only child. He hated me for not being his.” Her voice caught, and she dashed a tear away impatiently.

  Laura’s version of the story left DJ confused. Larry had never talked about Laura as if he hated her, but then, she didn’t trust him to tell her the truth—not anymore.

  “I was only five when Mom met him,” Laura said. “She wasn’t like she is now. She was quieter. Shy. Unsure of herself. You don’t remember Grandpa, but he used to treat her horribly. Even I used to get angry with him for the way he talked to her. And my dad wasn’t any better. I still remember the horrible fights they had and the things he said to her. Anyway, I guess she was so used to being treated like dirt by the men in her life, Larry had an open door to walk through. Only with Larry, things grew worse—much worse.”

  “Did she know he was like that when she met him?” Adam asked.

  Laura shook her head and leaned against the porch rail. “No. She thought he was so nice at first. But then, men like Larry usually act that way. I didn’t like him, though. I guess kids have a better sense for people than adults do.”

  DJ glanced at Marissa and thought back over all the times Marissa had shown her dislike of Larry. With a sinking heart, she realized how many times she’d ignored Marissa’s reaction or excused it as something else.

  “Anyway, I resented Mom for a long time,” Laura admitted. “He was mean, and I hated her for staying with him. And then, when you came along—” She broke off and looked at the trees across the street. “Even though she wasn’t able to leave for me, she finally left for you.”

  DJ let out a breath she hadn’t been aware of holding. “If you were that angry, why did you keep her secret? Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

  “Because if you’d known who Larry was—if you’d even known he existed—you’d have tried to find him. If you had, he would have manipulated you into staying with him, and that would have broken Mom’s heart. Besides, you’re my little sister. I couldn’t let
him do to you what he did to me.”

  “What did he do to you?” DJ asked.

  Laura’s lips thinned and her eyes clouded. “Just what I told you. He controlled everything. He had to have everything his way. And when things didn’t go the way he wanted, he ‘punished’ us. But Larry doesn’t think he’s ever been at fault for anything—even the crimes that got him sent to prison. I’ll bet he even told you the divorce was Mom’s fault and that Mom’s a terrible bitch for leaving him.”

  DJ could feel Adam’s eyes on her, but she couldn’t say anything. Laura’s words struck too close to home.

  “That’s what he did, isn’t it?” Laura demanded. “He blamed Mom.”

  DJ’s throat constricted, but she managed a weak nod.

  “I shouldn’t be surprised,” Laura said with a brittle laugh. “He’ll always find some way to make himself look good. That’s what worries me about him being here with you.”

  “If it makes you feel any better,” DJ said, “I’ve already decided to ask Larry to leave.”

  “You have?” Laura’s eyes lit up with hope, and she managed the first genuine smile of the morning. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that. But he won’t go quietly, I can promise you that.”

  “I’ll be here,” Adam said. “She won’t have to tell him alone.”

  “He’ll be angry,” Laura warned. “And that’s really why I came. I think you should let me take Marissa home with me so she’s not anywhere near when he blows up.”

  “You think he’d hurt her?” DJ asked.

  “He’d do whatever he thought would get him what he wants,” Laura said. “He might even take her, just like he took you from Mom. He obviously knows how much you love her. She’s your weakest spot, and that’s where he’ll hit you.”

  An image—a dim memory—suddenly flashed through DJ’s mind. It disappeared before she could identify it, but it left her cold and almost frightened. “What do you mean, he ‘took’ me?”

  Even Adam looked stunned. “Tell me about it.” His voice sounded gruff. Harsh.

  Laura considered for a moment, then nodded. She dragged in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “When Mom filed for divorce, the judge granted her temporary custody. Larry was allowed visitation twice a month, but only in the presence of a court-approved supervisor.”

  “Supervised visitation?” Adam asked. “Why?”

  Laura’s gaze faltered a little. “Because he took DJ away from Mom when they separated, and he made some threats….”

  DJ took a step closer to Laura. “What are you talking about?”

  “It was all such an ugly mess. They were supposed to settle on a supervisor, but they couldn’t ever agree, so Larry never saw you. But that was his choice—it wasn’t Mom’s fault.”

  Adam leaned forward, obviously fascinated by the story, and DJ wondered for half a second whether it was concern for her or the scent of a story that held his attention. She forced herself not to worry and to focus on Laura’s face.

  “He never paid child support,” Laura said. “He said he wasn’t about to pay for some kid he never saw.” Laura’s voice changed, almost as if she were mimicking Larry’s own words. “He thought holding out on the money would bring Mom running back, but he didn’t know the new Mom. No matter what he said, no matter how many times he threatened her, she didn’t give in. Anyway, the divorce dragged on for a long time, and Larry tried everything to get Mom to come back, but you know Mom—once she makes up her mind, nothing changes it. In the end, he offered to forfeit his parental rights, and Mom took him up on the offer without hesitation.”

  DJ’s head reeled. It was all too much to take in. “The court just let him give me up?”

  Laura nodded. “Yes. It isn’t common, but because of the kind of man he is and the things he’d done during the divorce, the judge thought it would be best for you. Larry had a record even then, and Mom finally revealed the things he’d put us through. He denied everything, of course, but the judge believed Mom and terminated Larry’s paternal rights. Legally, he’s not your father anymore.”

  For an instant DJ wondered if she’d heard right. Her own divorce had made her familiar with custody issues. If the court had allowed Larry to give her up, the judge must have believed he was a dangerous man.

  She tried to block out Laura’s voice, but she heard every word. She took a step backward to escape, but she ran into the solid wall of Adam’s chest. She tried to rub the pain from her forehead with trembling fingers. For the first time, she was horribly afraid.

  Adam stood behind DJ, wishing he could say or do something that would help. But everything he thought of would have sounded weak and useless. And she was wound so tight, she’d probably jump out of her skin if he touched her.

  Laura closed the distance between them and pulled her sister into an embrace. DJ responded like a rag doll—limp, unseeing. But before he could make a move toward her, Marissa cried out, almost as if she’d been hurt.

  Torn between them, Adam hesitated for only a second. DJ had Laura; she didn’t need him right now. Jogging down the steps, he scanned the yard, but before he could locate Marissa, he heard Laura’s shocked voice.

  “Oh, my God! I don’t believe this.” She sounded strange. Frightened.

  Adam’s heart twisted in his chest as images of an injured Marissa filled his imagination. He followed Laura’s gaze and looked past the girl cowering beside a tree near the road to Larry Galloway standing a few feet behind Laura’s car.

  Adam battled an almost-irresistible urge to use his fists on Galloway. He wanted the jerk to know what he thought of his decision to abandon DJ and then waltz back into her life thirty years later. He wanted to defend Marissa by frightening Galloway. He wanted him to see how it felt to be defenseless and at someone else’s mercy. But he forced himself to remain in control.

  Once Galloway realized they’d seen him, he pasted on an unconvincing smile, swaggered toward the steps and tried to act as if nothing were out of the ordinary. “Good morning.”

  Nobody spoke.

  Galloway’s smile faded a little. “What’s going on?”

  Laura looked away. “What’s he doing here?” she demanded of DJ.

  “I don’t know—” DJ began, but she couldn’t say any more.

  “What’s going on?” Galloway asked again. “Havin’ a party?”

  DJ struggled to return the smile, but her effort came out as forced as Galloway’s. “Laura stopped by—”

  Larry’s expression shifted so suddenly, it caught even Adam by surprise. “Laura? No kidding?” He peered at her and tried to look friendly. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Laura didn’t even look at him, but her jaw tightened and her face grew red.

  “Well? What is it? What’s going on?” Galloway paused with his foot on the bottom step and his smile faded. “Oh. I get it. You’re talking about me, aren’t you?”

  DJ glanced uneasily at Laura, but Laura still refused to acknowledge Galloway.

  “Plotting against me?” Galloway asked with a stiff laugh.

  Adam didn’t like the look on Galloway’s face or the gleam in his eye. He positioned himself between Galloway and the women, but he forced himself to wait. He couldn’t take any action unless Galloway did something threatening, but he had no intention of leaving Laura and Marissa unguarded so close to him.

  Before he could completely block Galloway’s path, Laura pushed past him. “Get out of here before I call the police.”

  Galloway stepped back and held up both hands to ward off the attack. He looked supremely innocent “What’s the matter with you?”

  “I said, get out of here.”

  “Why? What did I do?” Galloway looked around as if he’d missed something.

  “It’s no use pretending,” Laura snapped. “I’m telling her the truth about what happened.”

  Galloway’s innocent expression changed to one of open hostility. “What truth?”

  “I was there, remember? I saw it
all.”

  He shook his head. “What did you see?”

  Laura’s nostrils flared and tears of anger glinted in her eyes. “I saw you beat my mother.”

  DJ gasped and stepped back. She clutched her stomach as if she were about to be sick, and Adam’s own stomach knotted in sympathetic pain.

  Galloway’s face paled, but he recovered quickly and leaned closer to Laura. “I didn’t beat your mother. I just dealt with her when she needed to be taught a lesson. She asked for what she got.”

  “I saw you slam her face into the radio.” Laura’s voice shook with rage. “I saw you kick her down the stairs. How the hell did she ask for that?”

  Larry sighed as if Laura tried his patience. “She talked back. I had to teach her—”

  DJ stared at him, obviously horrified by this latest revelation.

  “What about me?” Laura demanded. “What did I do to deserve getting thrown down the stairs?”

  “You didn’t learn, either,” Larry said. His voice rose to match Laura’s. “You were hardheaded like your mother. Women who don’t want to listen have to be taught”

  Sickened, Adam moved his hand to the back of his waistband and touched his side arm. He didn’t intend to unholster it—if he did, he’d probably kill Galloway. But it made him feel better knowing he had it there. He moved into Galloway’s path and straightened to his full height. “I think you’d better leave. DJ doesn’t want you here anymore.”

  Galloway’s gaze flicked from Adam to DJ. “What? You don’t want me here? Is he kidding?”

  DJ shook her head. “He’s right. You frighten Marissa, and you’ve offended almost everyone on my staff—”

  “I frighten Marissa?” Galloway touched his chest with both hands in a gesture of helpless innocence. “She’s my granddaughter. I love her. I love you, Devon. Just like I loved your mother and Laura.”

  Laura snorted. “Yeah. You loved us so much, you beat us.”

  Galloway held out both hands as if he wanted to pacify her. “I do love you—”

  “Love?” Laura pointed at DJ. “Then why did you give her up? Your money—your precious child support—was more important to you than she was.”