A Need to Protect

by Diane Benefiel

  Stars twinkled in the sky and Emma shivered. Too much bare skin in the evening chill. Her friends had insisted she wear a snug, sparkly top in hot pink to complement the black miniskirt. The loose neck dipped low in the front and left her arms bare. Apparently a jacket would mess up the look so she’d been told to leave hers in Maddy’s car.

  A neon sign in the window spelled out Hangman’s Best Lager and judging by the number of cars and trucks in the parking lot this was a popular hangout. Maddy tugged down her own skirt and sent an encouraging smile over her shoulder before pulling open the heavy wooden door. They were greeted with a blast of heavy bass and the sound of cheering. Emma followed with some trepidation as Maddy and Dory walked in ahead of her. A band played a country rock number at full volume in front of a small dance floor where couples stepped to the beat. At the opposite end of the room a huge flat-screen TV showed a baseball game in progress with an enthusiastic crowd seated in front of it. A long bar lined with stools separated the two sections.

  “Let’s get that one over there.” Maddy waved to an empty table close to the bar about mid-distance between the band and the TV. Emma nodded. It was one of the few available and hopefully they’d be able to talk without having to use sign language.

  When the waitress arrived Maddy ordered potato skins and mozzarella sticks. Emma was surprised to note her friends, like her, ordered soft drinks. At her question, Dory shrugged. She had left her long black hair loose and pushed it behind her shoulder. “I have a little boy. I don’t want to be one of those moms who comes home tipsy. So I don’t drink.”

  Maddy nodded. “I will occasionally, but it’s early. I’ll order a margarita later if I feel like it.”

  They chatted, listening to the music and people watching until the waitress delivered their order. Emma noticed several men around the room looked their way more than once. Well, we look damn good, Emma thought.

  Dory leaned forward in her seat, dark eyes intent. “Okay. Before we get Emma to tell all, I have an announcement to make.” She picked up her glass of ginger ale. “This week I officially filed for divorce and my soon-to-be-ex has been served the papers. I’m one step closer to being a single mom.”

  Maddy lifted her glass. “Hard, but absolutely the right thing to do. To no more loser husbands.” Emma raised hers, and all three clinked glasses.

  “Yep. Hopefully in six months I’ll be single again and I’m so looking forward to it.” Dory distributed the appetizers onto little plates, setting the bowl of chipotle ranch dip in the middle of the table before turning to Emma. “Okay, that’s my news. Now you.” She wagged her finger. “It’s time to spill it. You need to tell us what’s going on.”

  Having decided she would take the chance and confide in her friends, Emma began talking. This time the story came out more easily. Instead of reliving the experience as she had with Brad, nibbling on a potato skin she found she was able to tell her story without her stomach knotting with anxiety.

  When she finished she heaved a deep sigh. She felt better; the past few days had been more therapeutic than seeing a shrink.

  “So that’s where you went?” Maddy asked. “You drove to the prison in Vacaville for this bastard’s parole hearing?”

  “Yeah. Rob met me there. He’s always had my back, from the very beginning. It turns out Rob already had suspicions about Spelling and had been keeping an eye on him. They ended up charging him with rape and assault on two other girls in addition to the charges related to me. He would find girls, usually teen prostitutes, and would beat and rape them.”

  “How badly were you hurt?” The question came from Dory and made Emma wonder how many times Rodrigo had hurt her.

  She shrugged. “I was beat up pretty badly but Rob stopped him from raping me. Spelling broke my collarbone; I had a concussion. But the physical wounds healed. Mentally, I was messed up. I still am.”

  Maddy let out a heartfelt sigh. “Wow. No wonder you’ve been skittish around Brad.” She let out a laugh. “How ironic. My cop brother falls for someone who has reason to fear cops.”

  Dory frowned. “But with Rob Hernandez, you also had an example of a really good cop.”

  “I know,” Emma replied. “It’s not rational.” She lowered her gaze to where she’d been fiddling with a napkin. “I just about freaked that first night when Brad thought I was a trespasser. All I could think was he was the police and he would hurt me.”

  “But you didn’t freak,” Dory pointed out.

  Emma looked up. “No, I kept a lid on it. Thank God. Then I kept running into him in town and he made me nervous. But Brad, just by being Brad, helped me get past it. At least now I don’t want to run raving like a lunatic every time I see a black-and-white.”

  “That’s really good since I think Brad’s crazy about you. More than I’ve ever seen him with any woman.” Maddy looked at Emma, blue eyes serious.

  “But don’t you see I can’t be with him?”

  “Why not? You two are so hot together I’m surprised there aren’t little sparks going off over your heads whenever you get within five feet of each other,” Dory argued.

  “Sparks, nothing,” Emma said. “God, when I’m with him I feel like exploding, he winds me up so much. But it’s not just about me; I have to do what’s right for Brad.”

  “Wait a minute,” Maddy demanded. “Let me get this straight. You have feelings for my brother. Yes?”

  “Definitely yes,” she responded.

  “And he’s got feelings for you?”

  Emma took a gulp of Diet Pepsi and let out a deep breath. “He said he loved me.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet.” Dory sighed.

  Maddy frowned. “So why can’t you be together? You’re crazy if you reject him.”

  “I’m not rejecting him! Don’t you see, I’m protecting him!”

  “No, I don’t get it and believe me, neither would Brad. And he won’t thank you for it.” Maddy looked at Dory and got a nod in agreement.

  “Look,” she explained. “I grew up in motels, some of which rented rooms by the hour. My mother was a drug addict. There were times when we were homeless. I was arrested for vandalism twice when I was fourteen. It’s obvious.”

  Dory frowned. “Maybe I’m dense but I don’t see what’s so obvious. That’s what you came from, Emma, not what you are.”

  Maddy studied her so closely Emma felt like a bug under Adrian’s magnifying glass. “So if I have this straight, if you’d come from the Loss, or some middle-class suburb, you’d be acceptable for my brother.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You have to know how stupid that is. There are drug addicts in suburbia. And there are some really weird people here in Hangman’s Loss.” She gave Emma a hard look. “You sell yourself short if you believe you’re somehow less because of your childhood. And you’re selling Brad short by having so little faith in him. Besides, he should have some say in the decision.”

  “I just don’t want to mess up his life. He should find a pretty girl-next-door type who would adore him.”

  “Sounds boring to me,” Maddy muttered as she munched on a cheese stick.

  “Uh-oh, here comes trouble.”

  Emma followed Dory’s gaze to see Brad enter the pub, Logan with him. Her heart kicked into overdrive. “I need a minute before I face him. I’m going to the bathroom.” She stood, gained her balance on the too-tall heels, and moved quickly toward the back of the room.

  Brad scanned the noisy bar, then did a double take. Holy crap. He’d known she had long legs, but up to her ears? He watched Emma wade through the crowd at the back of the bar. She gave a little tug on her skirt but it hiked right back up, showcasing her tight little butt. Christ, the woman drove him to distraction. That other eyes, male eyes, followed her retreat only pissed him off.

  “Hey, Gallagher. Quit drooling and tune in.” Logan accompanied the request with an elbow jab to the ribs.

  “I’m tuned.” But Brad didn’t turn toward his friend until Emma had disappea
red from view.

  “I don’t think your girlfriend wants to talk to you. And your sister sure as hell doesn’t want to see me.” He nodded toward the bar. “Let’s get some beer and watch the game.”

  They found a couple of vacant stools at the bar. Brad made sure that while they had a good view of the TV he could still keep an eye on the women at the table. He sipped his beer and watched the action on the screen. “If the Giants keep bumbling fly balls like that, they might as well hand the Dodgers the division.”

  Logan grunted his agreement. Brad noticed the city councilman, Van Horn, drinking with one of the developers at the end of the bar. He had his suspicions about Van Horn. He brought his attention to the game where the next batter fanned out.

  Logan nodded toward the back. “She sure looks good on those stilts.”

  Brad shifted his gaze. “Yep.” Emma made her way back to the table and sat. He noticed her scanning the room until her gaze locked on his, then darted away. At the bar, two guys in college sweatshirts made an obvious show of watching her in that little excuse for a skirt. One of them pounded on his chest as if restarting his heart. It should have reassured him that she appeared oblivious to their interest. Should have, but didn’t.

  The women had their heads together and it seemed to him that even his sister was resolutely not looking at them. He said to Logan, “Did you tell Madison why you’re back in town?”

  “You know I can’t do that. Only you know what I’m really doing here.”

  Brad eyed Logan seriously. “You really did a number on her when you left. Don’t do it again.”

  Logan’s expression tightened. “I’m staying away from her, aren’t I? I know when this job is done, I’ll be out of here.”

  Brad pitched his voice low even though there was no one near enough to hear. “Let me know when it goes down; you’ll have backup from my team.”

  Logan nodded and spoke, also keeping his voice down. “I know you’ve got my back. Right now I’m the only Fed here and I’m moving very carefully.” Then he grinned, that lightning flash that had made the girls of Loss High giddy. “Looks like you’re not moving fast enough, pal.”

  “What do you mean? Shit.” Brad surged to his feet.

  Emma had moved to the bar, maybe for a refill, and one of the college boys decided it was time to make his play. The idiot probably thought he had smooth moves, the way he edged up to her, put a hand on her hip. He’d better keep his hands off, or he’d find himself facedown on the floor, Brad thought grimly.

  “Easy.”

  Brad ignored Logan’s warning and pushed back from the bar. He got to Emma in time to see the guy lean forward to whisper in her ear while his hand crept toward her butt. That Emma intercepted that hand with a firm grip didn’t even begin to check his anger.

  “You’ll want to take your hands off the lady.”

  Brad saw Emma jolt in surprise and release her grip while college boy turned with a sneer. “Go away. I saw her first.”

  “Both of you go away.” Emma tried to turn back to the table but the kid made another idiotic move, grabbing her arm.

  “Does stupidity run in your family, son?” Brad asked, an edge to his tone.

  Emma wrenched her arm free and shoved past both men.

  The young man was drunk enough to be brainless. “Hey, honey, don’t you wanna go party?”

  In a split second, Brad had him by the shirtfront and shoved up against the bar. College boy’s friend took a hasty step back. “She doesn’t want to party, dumb ass. And you’ll stay far, far away from her if you want to keep those fine, white teeth of yours straight.”

  “Dude! Take it easy.” Brad twisted the collar tight against his throat and had the young man babbling, eyes panicked. “Didn’t know I was poaching. Put a ring on her so a dude knows.”

  Brad took a steadying breath and loosened his grip.

  Logan walked lazily to the bar. “Did you tell this worthless bastard you’re a cop? Even these two idiots should be able to figure out that means they’re in deep shit.”

  Brad could see the bravado seep out of the men as their eyes tracked between him and Logan. “No. Sometimes hauling their asses to the police station is just too much damn work. Easier just to persuade them it’s in their best interest to back off.”

  Logan laughed. “Oh, you mean beat the crap out of them. Break a few bones.”

  Brad kept a straight face as Logan laid it on thick. “Now you know I’m a peace-loving man. I treat all citizens with dignity and respect.” He backed up a step so the kid could stand.

  “That never stopped you before, bro.”

  College boy had evidently heard enough and held up his hands, palms out. “Dude. Take it easy. I didn’t know she was taken.”

  “Yeah! How’s a guy supposed to know?” his friend added.

  Brad gave them both a hard look. “Regardless of who she is, you keep your hands off women you don’t know. Show some respect.”

  The two looked at each other, shrugged, then eased back to the bar, keeping a watchful eye on Brad.

  Brad looked around and found the women’s table abandoned. He glanced at the entrance and caught the swing of Dory’s long hair before the door shut. She must have trailed the other two out. Suddenly fed up, he followed Logan back to their seats at the bar. Emma was likely mad at him. He’d let her cool off then drop by to see her later. Ordering another beer, he settled in to watch the rest of the ballgame.

  Emma seethed. Idiots. Men were all idiots, Bradley Gallagher included. She could have handled the kid, she was handling him, until the big bad cop muscled his way in.

  Maddy looked over at her as they made their way toward her car. “There was no way Brad could ignore that, you know.”

  Emma frowned. “I was taking care of it. I know how to make a guy back off.”

  “I’m sure you do. I’m just saying when a half-drunk jerk makes a crude pass at a woman, and Brad being Brad, he simply isn’t capable of letting it go. It’s just who he is.”

  Emma pondered that. “I know you’re right but that doesn’t make me less mad at him for interfering.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Where’s Dory?”

  Both women turned to look back toward the pub. “She was right behind us,” Maddy said, voice tinged with worry. They retraced their steps, looking down the lines of cars for a sign of their friend.

  “Let go!” The cry came from several rows over. Emma whirled toward Maddy. “Go get Brad. I’ll see if she’s in trouble.”

  She was off in a flash, running mostly on her toes in the impossible shoes. Luckily the lot was well lit. Emma neared the place where she’d heard Dory’s voice but couldn’t spot her. Then there was a muffled thud and the sound of a car door opening. She changed course, racing between pickups and SUVs until she saw the dome light of an extended-cab truck flash on.

  A large man grasped a struggling Dory in a tight hold, attempting to shove her into the vehicle. Emma charged toward them and saw Dory kick back against his shin. The sharp heel must have hurt because he grunted and then, with seeming calm, pulled her head back by the hair, raised a large fist, and clipped her jaw. Fury swelled inside her, fury so blinding she launched herself against him with all the anger and rage she’d pent up for fifteen years.

  Her momentum forced him to loosen his hold on Dory and fall back against the truck.

  “Emma, get away! He’ll kill you!”

  Emma ignored Dory’s panicked plea. But while she had anger carrying her, the big man outweighed her by over a hundred pounds. Her self-defense classes would only take her so far against the much-larger opponent. He pushed off against the truck and swung. She didn’t even feel the ham fist that skidded across her forehead. She rammed a knee into his groin, doubling him over. When he straightened, breath heaving, she aimed the heel of her hand at his nose. He ducked and wrapped both arms around her, using his weight to carry her down.

  Emma’s entire body felt the jarring shock. She hit the side of a car with her shoulde
r, then crashed down, head hitting the ground and gravel digging into her back. He fell on top of her, knocking the breath from her lungs. Before she could get her bearings, Dory latched on to him like a burr.

  “Leave her alone, Rodrigo!” At her frantic plea, he pushed up to his knees and tried to shake her off.

  Emma squirmed out from under him, struggling to rise to her feet. She’d somehow lost her shoes. She sucked in a deep breath and prepared to rejoin the battle to protect Dory. Before she could move, a strong arm encircled her waist.

  “Stay back.” Brad pushed Emma behind him, not even looking at her, his attention focused on Rodrigo and Dory.

  Emma’s vision finally cleared enough to take in the wider scene. Maddy stood behind Logan who gripped Dory’s shoulders to pull her off her soon-to-be ex-husband. Once free, he held her back to let Brad deal with Rodrigo.

  The big man, blood streaming from a cut above his left eye, turned on Brad, the snarl on his face ugly under the harsh lights. “C’mon, Gallagher. I’ve been wanting a piece of you since high school. Looks like I’m finally getting the chance to whip your ass.”

  “Go for it, you bastard. Or do you just beat up on women?”

  Emma watched in fascination as Brad rolled his shoulders, clenching his fists in anticipation. A crowd had gathered, and she wondered who broke it up when the police chief got in a fight.

  Rodrigo wasn’t waiting. Head lowered, he charged. He had size and weight on his side, but Brad used that to his advantage. He charged, and Brad pivoted, plowing a fist into Rodrigo’s gut.

  He tackled Brad, slamming him hard against the truck. Brad took an uppercut to the jaw before he shoved back the larger man and delivered quick jabs that bloodied Rodrigo’s nose.