Pete smacked John’s hand away. He jumped up, giving them all a heart-stopping show of flesh. “Don’t touch her, man, and don’t talk to her like that.” Pete blocked her from John’s view.
John laughed. “Cover your fucking Johnson. Bad enough I know where it’s been.” Pete cursed, grabbed his sweats, and tugged them on. “Always her protector, guess we know what you were protecting.” John slammed his hand against Pete’s chest. The hit pushed Pete back a couple steps. “An easy piece of ass.”
“Enough, John.”
Pete pointed his finger at John. “Watch it. I love you like a brother, but I won’t hesitate to knock you on your ass.”
John and Pete locked gazes. “Fucking, try it, brother. I dare you.”
“Come on, John, please.” She stood wrapped in the blanket, yet felt exposed. “Will you stop and listen to me? I’m in love with him!”
John turned on her. He glared at her a second before returning his attention to Pete. “How about you, Pete? You hit by Cupid’s bow too?” When Pete didn’t respond right away, John raised his voice. “I’m asking you a damn question. Do. You. Love. Her!”
Pete closed his eyes and lowered his head. Shame seemed to weigh down his stance.
John’s frown deepened. “That’s what I thought.” His hands curled into fists. “He used you, sis, like he used every other naïve chick to cross his path.”
Her chest tightened. His silence strangled the life from her lungs like a thousand chains. “Pete?”
She stared at him, hoping, waiting for his declaration, but none came. He didn’t make a sound or lift his head. Hours ago, he’d given her pleasure, but now only sorrow filled her heart.
“Bastard!” Cara screamed.
With the quilt wrapped around her, she knocked Pete out of the way and scrambled for her clothes. “Cara, baby.” Pete reached for her.
She yanked her arm from his grip. “We have nothing more to say to each other, baby.”
Cara ran from the room. After dropping the quilt, she tugged on her pants and pulled her tee shirt over her head as she stumbled toward the front door, not caring if they were inside out or backward. She needed to get away.
She fled from the house out into a drenching shower.
By the time she jumped in her car, she was soaked, shivering from the cold, attacking her from the inside out. Wet keys slipped from her fingers. She struggled to grab them and get the car started. She twisted the ignition, so hard she was surprised it didn’t snap off, threw the car in gear, and left, spinning the wheels on the wet pavement.
She didn’t look back to see if Pete followed her. She didn’t care about the rain pelting her windshield or worry about rolls of thunder echoing behind her. No thunderstorm dared compete with the violent squall attacking her heart.
Even with all the pain centering her chest, she didn’t regret last night. Being with Pete, no matter how short-lived, was the best night of her life. The realization made her want to scream, because she wanted to despise him for his silence. Yet when she looked in her heart, she found deep sadness and an unending love for him.
Salty tears cascaded down her cheeks, pooling in the corners of her lips. She needed to escape. Run far away to another place, another time, where life and love made sense.
The cabin.
Stan had mentioned his parents’ cabin was at his disposal this weekend. She wondered if the offer still stood. She pulled off to the side of the road with a jolt, yanked her cell phone from the console, and called Stan.
“Come on…come on,” she mumbled as the call continued to ring with no answer.
“Hey, Cara. What’s doing, sunshine?” She wanted to reach through the phone and hug him.
Cara fought the tears. “Stan, I need your help.”
“Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not. I need to get away. Is the offer for the cabin still open?”
“Of course, I can pick you up tomorrow.”
“No…no…I can’t wait. I have to go today. Right now.”
“What did he do now? I know this is about Cross. It always is.”
“I can’t explain now. Please, can I go on ahead? You can meet me there tomorrow. Please, Stan.”
He sighed. “You can stop by and get the keys. I’ll give you directions when you get here.”
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
She ended the call and pulled back into traffic.
* * * *
John had Pete pressed up against the wall by his throat a second after Cara left. Pete fought back initially, not for himself, but because he needed to go after Cara. He needed to explain. John squeezed harder, before thrusting him away.
“How long? How long you been tagging her?”
“Last night was—”
John interrupted. “I let you stay in my house. Eat my food. I asked for nothing. How do you repay me? You turn my sister into one of your whores.”
He may have deserved the rant, but Cara sure as hell didn’t. “Watch it. You got a right to be pissed at me, but not her. You won’t disrespect her.”
John paced. “I don’t get this. She’s seeing Morrison. How did she end up here? There? With you.” John cringed as if he just tasted something disgusting.
“Like I said, it just happened. She came over to talk and we…” Pete rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ve been fighting this for years, man. I tried to stay away from her. Shit, I tried, but…I care about her.” For a second, John appeared to relax. The moment didn’t last.
“You care about her?” His voice grew louder. “This is how you treat a woman you care about, fucking her on the floor? My sister was a virgin, Pete. Did you know what you were stealing from her when you spread her out on the carpet? Another innocent to add to the list like the old days, I guess.”
Pete’s anger hit the limit. “You want to know why I was with Cara?” He spun on John. “For the first time in years, I felt alive. She breathes life into me. Makes me want to fly, but at the same time, she brings me to my damn knees. With her, the buzz in my head, all the pain, and the agonizing ache right here,” he said, pounding his fist above his heart, “doesn’t exist. You want to know if I love her? My life is nothing without her. I fell in love with her fifteen years ago, man. I have loved her every day since, and I will love her until the day I die. I’ve been a fucking coward. I held back, not wanting to disrespect you or Pop, figuring she was better off without me. Instead, I hurt her. I’ve lost so much. I can’t lose her, John. You can either accept her and me together or move the fuck out of the way, because I’m not giving her up for anyone.” He swiped his shirt from the floor.
John ogled him. For a second, Pete thought he spotted the corner of John’s lip start to lift, before it fell flat once again. “You love my sister? You fucking love her. So you’ve been lying to me for fifteen years.”
“No…I’ve been lying to myself, forcing myself to believe I can live without her. After last night, I’m through pretending. I won’t give her up.”
John shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell her that before she ran out of here? She was pretty mad when she left.”
“I wasn’t ready to burst out with the big L word, bro. Not in front of you, at least. I know I messed up…again.”
“She’s one stubborn woman. You’re gonna have to beg for forgiveness.”
Pete lifted his chin. “So are you.” He watched John for a second.
“Yeah, but I’m her brother. She expects me to act like an asshole.” John’s body relaxed. So did Pete’s. “I guess she could do worse than a beat-up jarhead like you.”
Pete flashed a toothy grin. “I doubt it, but no one will ever love her more. I promise you that.”
John patted Pete’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go grovel. Something tells me you’ll need knee pads before she’s through with you.”
“Knee pads? I’m going to need a damn cup. She’ll be hitting way below the belt.”
They both winc
ed before heading down the hall.
* * * *
John drove Pete over to his father’s house. Her dad was the first person they figured she would run to. Pop sat out on the porch with a book in his hand. He set the novel aside on the glass top wicker table when he spotted them coming up the walkway.
“Surprised to see you boys here.”
“Hey, Pop. Have you seen, Cara?”
Pop shook his head. “Nope, I haven’t seen her since yesterday afternoon. Maybe she’s with her friend. What’s his name? Stew or Steve.”
John frowned. “Stan.”
The thought of her seeking comfort from Morrison made Pete’s stomach twist. She was vulnerable and he didn’t put it past the player to use her pain to his advantage. Although, Stan’s confession the other day about his feelings for her had sounded sincere; maybe he wouldn’t take advantage of her.
Did Pete want to take that chance? Hell no!
“Do you think Morrison is staying at his parents’ house?” Pete asked John.
“I’ll make a quick call to this guy I know at the precinct. He owes me a favor. He might be able look up Stan’s parents’ address.” John pulled his cell phone from his jacket. “They lived over by Orchard Drive, I think.”
His father held up his hand. “Hold on there. What’s this all about, boys?”
John cast Pete a sideways glance. Pete shut his eyes tight. He wiped a hand over his face and when he opened them, John was gone.
“Pop, I…” How the hell was he going to look this man in the eye after he took his daughter’s virginity? He thought insurgents were terrifying. This man had them beat.
“Seems serious, son, might as well have a seat.” Pop motioned toward the open seat across from him. Pete sat with his head down. He clasped his hands together, hanging them off his knees. His gaze flashed up a few times. “Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, spit it out. I ain’t got all day.”
“I’m…wow. This is harder than I thought.” He took a deep breath and ripped the confession from his lips like ripping a bandage from his skin. “I’m in love with Cara.” Pop’s face held no expression. The man was a blank slate. He must excel at poker. Pete continued, “I would like to have your blessing, Pop, but I won’t give her up either way. I know I messed up, and I’m sure it won’t be the last time either. But I plan on making it up to her for as long as she’ll let me.”
“Hmm…you tell her how you feel?”
“That’s where I messed up, Pop.”
All of a sudden, the old man chuckled. “I wondered when you’d figure it out. I’ve never met two stubborn souls more perfect for each other than you and my Cara.” He shook his head. “Of course you got my blessing, son. I doubt there’s a better man out there for her than you. You’ve cared about my girl for as long as I can remember.”
“You can be sure no one will love her more.”
“No need telling me. She’s the one you’re going to need to convince.”
Chapter 14
“Cara, you’re sure you want to go out in this?” Stan glanced at the ominous, dark clouds thundering above their heads. “It isn’t letting up.”
“Stan, if I don’t get away from this place, I’m going to lose my mind.”
“All right.” He dangled the keys in front of her. “You be careful. The roads can get bad up there. Take it slow.”
She rolled her eyes. “I will. I’m an excellent driver.”
He dropped the keys in her hand. “I’ll be up there as soon as I get this paperwork done.”
“Okay, thanks so much for this, Stan.” She kissed his cheek. “Thanks for everything.”
The drive would take about two hours, maybe three with the storm getting worse, a perfect chance to relax her mind. Rain pelted the windshield as she pulled away from the curb.
* * * *
After contacting John’s friend and some investigation, Pete and John had an address for Stan. They pulled up in front of the immaculate, two-story Victorian home to find Stan sitting on the wrap-around porch with his cell phone attached to his ear. Pete wasted no time with pleasantries. He jumped out of the truck into the pouring rain, marched right up to Stan, and grabbed him by the throat. The unexpected attack sent Stan’s phone, sailing out into the downpour. It slid against the grass right into a puddle.
“Where is she?” Pete pushed Stan against the wall.
A hand closed on his shoulder. “Pete, let him go. This isn’t the way.”
“You ruined my damn phone,” Stan growled.
Pete released him. “Be glad that’s all I ruin.”
An older woman with thick glasses stuck her head out the screen door, concern and a flicker of fear in her expression. “Is everything all right, Stanley?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” Stan straightened his tee shirt. “They were both leaving. Weren’t you?” Reluctantly, Stan’s mother went back inside.
John’s hand tightened on Pete’s shoulder before it fell away. “We’ll find her.”
Pete turned his back on them. This wasn’t Stan’s fault. The blame was his.
“I’m not telling you guys anything. I’m done letting you hurt her, Cross.”
“Stan, she’s my sister and I’m worried about her. Please, tell me where she is.”
Stan looked back and forth between John and Pete. He frowned. “This goes against my better judgment, and I’m breaking my promise to her, but I’m worried about her too. I didn’t like her going out in this, but she refused to listen to me. I was just trying to call her when your man went all psycho on me.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s headed up to my parents’ cabin on Mystic Lake.”
John’s eyes opened wide. “What?” The crack in his voice made Pete cringe. “You let her go up there? Didn’t you see the damn weather report? There are flashflood warnings in nine counties, including Mystic.”
“No, I never watch the news.” Fear entered Stan’s gaze. “I should never have given her the keys.”
Pete thought he’d left the role as solider behind him, but the second he heard his woman was in danger, a switch flicked on, and he stepped into combat mode, ready, alert, and willing to sacrifice anything and everything to bring her back.
“How long ago did she leave?” Pete’s tone remained level and calm, though his heart thrashed against his chest.
“I gave her the keys and directions about forty minutes ago.”
“Doesn’t she have GPS?” asked John
Stan shook his head. “I was going to give her mine, but she refused. Her car blows fuses whenever she plugs anything in the cigarette lighter and the battery was dead.”
After this mess, he was doing whatever it took to buy her a dependable car and a GPS. “Give me the exact directions you gave her. I’m gonna follow her steps.” After Stan jotted down the directions, Pete nodded and headed toward the door.
John grabbed his shoulder. “Where the hell are you going?”
“I’m going after her.”
“You can’t go out in this mess, not by yourself and not in my little pick-up. We’ll stop by the station, and I’ll borrow one of the bigger trucks we got there. They have a tow kit and enough power to get us through whatever we run into.”
“Hey, I’m coming with you guys.” Stan looked at John and then stared at Pete.
Pete nodded. “We got no time to argue. Get in, Morrison.”
* * * *
Cara coasted Old Yellow at thirty miles an hour up the interstate. Rain and hail beat against the windshield, making visibility near zero. Headlights reflected off the torrential sheets, blinding her as they passed. Strong gusts of wind pushed her car around the road like a Tonka toy commanded by a petulant child. She considered getting a room at a roadside motel, but the cabin wasn’t much farther. Besides, she’d rather soak in a hot tub by a roaring fire than take a lukewarm shower in a dingy motel bathroom.
An ominous crack of thunder echoed across the valley. Streaks of thick lightning ignited the sky, rocketing to the
ground. She jumped in her seat with each flash. An explosion rocked the asphalt beneath the car moments before a large shadow sailed past the windshield. The tree came in to view, giving Cara a split second to react. The thick trunk slammed into the ground. Branches and leaves scattered like shrapnel.
Cara jerked the wheel to the right. Her front tires left the road first, followed by the rear as her car sailed through the air, plunged down a steep ravine, and crashed into a severed tree trunk twenty feet down. The impact threw her body forward. Stopped by the lap belt secured to her waist, she didn’t hit the windshield, but her head cracked against the steering column. Pain exploded across her skull, forcing a shrill cry to shoot from her lips. The engine broke through the firewall, pinning her foot.
Her blaring horn helped her to remain conscious, but her will grew weaker and her vision blurry. A warm, coppery stream saturated her cheek, seeping between her lips as the stench of antifreeze burned her nostrils. She lifted her head to find a raging river crashing against her crumpled bumper. The last image to flash in her mind before her eyes rolled back into her head was the memory of Pete’s touch and then the sting of his rejection.
* * * *
After picking up a Chevy Tahoe from the precinct, Pete, John, and Stan raced up the interstate with the lights flashing and siren screaming. They drove for almost an hour with still no sign of Cara.
Rain pummeled every steel inch like thousands of tiny unrelenting mallets. Wind gusts topped sixty miles an hour with no signs of surrender. Bright white bolts of light streaked across the black sky. The flashes, touching the passing landscape, exposed sections of the raging river that ran alongside them.
Jesus Christ, she must be terrified and pissed as hell to venture out in this crap.
John was on the radio with the station. Evacuations of the all low-lying areas continued, including Mystic Lake. Pete despised sitting helpless in this car, not knowing where Cara was or if she needed him. He tried to call her cell again. It went right to voicemail. He started to pray, not caring he pleaded to a God he’d denounced a long time ago. He needed to cling to some sort of hope. Something needed to appease the bad sensation settling in the pit of his stomach. Nothing he had experienced would prepare him for the utter despair he’d suffer if he lost her. Oh, she could hate him. Push him away. Hell, she could move a thousand miles away and start a new life. As long as she was happy, healthy, and strong, he would survive.
Cross My Heart Page 18