Men of Mercy: The Complete Story

by Cross, Lindsay

  “We need to talk.” Ranger grabbed Amy’s hand and attempted to pull her away.

  “Let go of my wife.” Shane took a menacing step forward.

  “She's not yours anymore.” Ranger advanced.

  “Stop it!” Amy pushed her hands out, keeping herself bodily between them.

  Ranger’s composure slipped, his ability to separate his emotions from logic disappeared. He balled his hand into a fist, ready to attack his friend for touching her.

  Shane leaned forward, crowding her between them. His nostrils flared and his lips fell into a tight line. “Are you deaf?”

  “You can’t expect her to jump back into a relationship with you after you've been dead for so long.”

  “Newsflash asshole, I wasn't dead. So technically she’s still mine. She’s always been mine.”

  “Please, I can't take it if you fight, please stop.” Amy pleaded trying to keep them apart. Ranger glanced down, saw her distress, and backed off slightly.

  “I always knew you had the hots for her. Every time you came over you were sniffing around her. You couldn't wait to get in her pants.” Shane spewed his venom, spit flying from his lips.

  “You son of a bitch, I never touched her. I would never disrespect you or her like that.” Ranger knew he was shouting now but he couldn't stop.

  Shane sneered, “Yeah, you had enough respect to wait until I was gone before you fucked my wife.”

  Ranger threw a punch, landing a solid blow to Shane’s unguarded jaw. He flew backwards to land in a heap in front of the fireplace. Shane scrambled to his feet and Ranger shoved Amy behind him. “Stay behind me.”

  Amy tried to sidestep, but Ranger countered her move, keeping himself between her and Shane. She pounded on his back. “Stop it Ranger. Don’t do this. If you love me, you’ll stop.”

  Amy’s words were a bucket of ice water, freezing him in place. Ranger shook his head, clearing the red haze that had slid over his vision. The man standing before him was broken. His friend. His narrowed chest rising and falling with the force of his heavy breathing. Fists clenched at his sides.

  “You come into my house, screw my wife and have the nerve to punch me?”

  Ranger backed up a step, unease trickled down his spine. He herded Amy behind him as Shane advanced. “Amy, get out of here, now.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” She dodged his heels, not giving an inch.

  Shane threw a punch and Ranger took it, staggering back a step, unable to defend himself without risking hurting her.

  “Amy, for the love of God, get out of here.”

  Ranger lifted his fists in front of his face, elbows down, shielding his body. He felt her move back, chanced a quick look over his shoulder to see her edge to the side. Not out of the room, but out of the way.

  Ranger refocused on his friend. “Shane, stop. I don’t want to fight you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  Shane kicked the coffee table over out of the way and advanced, as if he hadn’t heard a word Ranger had said. The man advancing on him wasn’t his best friend. He was hard. Wild. Unpredictable.

  “Brother, listen...”

  Shane leapt forward, threw a punch. Ranger ducked down and came up with an upper cut to Shane’s stomach. He doubled over at the waist and then fell to his knees, gasping for air. Ranger quickly stepped back, keeping on his toes, fists up. Ready for the next attack.

  Amy ran past him, her dark red hair flying behind her and knelt on the ground next to Shane. She touched his shoulder and looked up at Ranger, her face flushed. “Please stop this now.”

  Tears continued to stream down her face and Ranger lowered his fists, remorse settled heavy on his shoulders. He wanted to defend himself, tell her he tried not to fight. He had more control than this. He was acting like a lovesick, horny teenager, fighting with his best friend over a girl.

  But not just any girl, Amy was his girl. They were meant to be together. He knew that with the certainty the sun would rise in the morning. He also knew with a certainty he couldn’t go on living without her.

  “Get out.” Shane rose on his knees, his voice harsh with finality.

  Ranger lifted his chin and looked at Amy. He’d made her a promise. He wouldn’t leave her unless she asked him to go.

  Her gaze wavered with indecision. “Ranger.” She took a breath. “Maybe you should go.”

  It was as if a 50-caliber bullet lodged in his chest. He took an involuntary step back.

  “I'm not leaving here alone.” Shane might have been a friend since childhood, but Ranger knew somewhere down deep inside that something fundamental inside him had changed.

  Amy rose and tucked her hair behind her ears, her eyes still moist from crying. She walked toward him, and he reached for her. Rubbing a thumb over her soft cheek. “I can't leave you. Not until I know you’re safe.”

  Amy grabbed his hand and kissed his palm. He felt it all the way to his heart.

  “We will sort this out.” She glanced over her shoulder as Shane got to his feet. “But I think it would be better if you left. At least until everyone calms down some.”

  “I won't fight anymore, I promise, but I can't leave you here with him.” Not when his eyes were edged with madness.

  As if summoned from hell, Shane spoke from behind her, “I’m her husband. This is our house. The only one who doesn’t belong here is you.”

  Ranger kept his gaze locked on Amy, hoping she would say something different. Pleading with his eyes. She bit her plump lower lip and took a small step back.

  “Amy, he started cheating on you before the deployment. He betrayed you. Betrayed us both.” The affair with Ranger’s sister was a blow not likely to ease anytime soon. Regardless of that fact, he had to make Amy see. Had to make her realize her husband wasn’t the man either of them thought.

  “Ranger…”

  Shane placed his hand on Amy’s shoulder.

  He had to try one more time. “Please Amy, you don't know this man anymore. Come with me.”

  “I promise I will call you in a little while. Please try to understand. Just give us some time to talk.”

  The pain was too much. The .50 cal in his chest exploded. His body went numb. He remained standing, but he was empty. Dead.

  “You heard her, she asked you to leave,” Shane said.

  “If you hurt her you son of a bitch, I'll put you right back in the hole you crawled out of. Only this time, you won't come back from the dead.”

  Chapter 33

  Amy watched Ranger walk to the door, trying to distance herself from her ground up emotions. She stood on the threshold of something momentous. A decision that could alter her. Alter the two men now in her life.

  Shane’s hand on her shoulder felt...heavy. Not right. What are you doing?

  Was she really going to stand there and watch the man she loved walk out of her life? Sacrifice her heart for a promise made to someone that had been dead to her for so long? Someone who had clearly not honored their marriage vows?

  Shane had not only disappeared, he’d screwed her. And he’d screwed Ranger.

  Shane’s grip tightened and she flinched. She’d asked the wrong man to leave. Ranger grabbed the door handle. No.

  Amy tore from her husband and ran after Ranger, ready to scream out his name. He yanked the front door open and turned back for one last look. His face glazed with pain. Her heart broke straight down the middle. She was the reason for his pain. And she was wrong. “Ranger-”

  A bright light flashed. Then another. And other. “Get in there girl, I told you. Told you she was a slut. We're going to get this on the news.”

  Ranger slammed to a stop and Amy rammed into his back. She peered around Ranger, knowing who stood there before she actually saw her. Mavis Carter stood beside her niece, the evil little witch Darla.

  A white van with the logo, Channel 11 News sat parked in her drive. Darla was an intern at the local news station. Obviously, she hoped to get the position of news anchor with this stunt. />
  “Get in there closer, girl. He doesn’t have a shirt on. They’ve obviously been cavorting in sin. You got your headline. Army spouse cheats on veteran with his friend. Think of the headlines it'll make.” Mavis practically salivated. Her whole countenance had turned from mean to maniacal. She lifted her chin, the double-roll beneath quivering from the movement. “See girl. I told you I'd make you regret this.”

  “Mavis, I warned you.” Ranger’s fists clenched. His muscles pulled tight. Amy wanted to comfort him and tell him she didn’t care. They could take all the pictures they wanted. She loved him. She loved Ranger.

  She didn’t care if the entire country knew.

  “You get that, Darla? He threatened me. I think that's a lawsuit right there”

  A vehicle turned down her drive. Amy recognized the truck and groaned. Cord Carter. Great the entire Carter family here to punish her. Cord parked and jumped out of his truck. He approached, his red hair and green eyes so much like Shane’s it was eerie. He had the look of pure menace etched on his features. But his gaze was not locked on Amy. It was locked on Mavis Carter.

  “Dammit, Mavis, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” Cord bit out and then turned to Amy, his expression softened. “I overheard Rand talking to his brother about what she planned. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. But don't worry I'll take care of this.”

  A few shades of relief washed over Amy, but her reality stonewalled it. There was a much bigger shock waiting. Like life changer shock.

  Then she felt him. Shane stood right behind her. She closed her eyes, heavy with dread.

  “Mother?”

  Mavis froze. Her eyes bulged and the blood drained from her face. For once Mavis was speechless.

  “Jesus, Steve get your ass over here. Get the camera rolling.” An overweight man lugged a huge camera from the van and came running. Darla pulled a microphone from her purse and shoved it in their faces. “Shane Carter, back from the dead. An honored veteran, purple heart recipient, thought dead for this past year. Where have you been Shane? How did you get home?”

  Mavis’s entire body wobbled. She took a hesitant step forward, but the now eager Darla blocked her path. “The world wants to know where you’ve been. Was this all some sort of hoax to garner sympathy?”

  Amy gasped. “How dare you?”

  Ranger took a menacing step and snatched the mic from her hand. He pulled back and threw it across the yard. “Leech.”

  “Shane? Is it really you?” Mavis’s whisper thin voice broke through the chaos. She moved forward and again Darla blocked her path.

  The next sound they heard was Darla’s squeal. Mavis grabbed a handful of the girl’s bun and yanked her backward, shoving her to the ground. A now red-faced Mavis turned her attention back to her son. She moved forward as if in a trance and Amy side stepped, bumping into Ranger. They were all crowded on her small front porch, except for Darla who now lay on the ground.

  Shane stiffened as Mavis reached a hand towards him. “Is it really you?”

  Shane grabbed her wrist and twisted “What are you doing here?”

  “Honey, I...”

  “You were trying to shame my wife on TV? How do you think that makes me look?”

  “But, but, you saw. She’s a whore. She doesn’t deserve you or your name. I've been trying to tell you that all along.”

  “My wife. My name. Mine. You do this and you ruin MY name.” Shane’s grip tightened and Mavis cried out.

  “Honey, please. I’m your mother. You’re hurting me.”

  Shane bared his teeth, lips pulled back. “Get off my property.”

  “But, I love you. I was trying to show everyone who she really is. A slut.” Even frantic and in pain, Mavis managed to land another blow.

  Amy tried to back away from them, but bumped into Ranger. He put his hand on her arm and steadied her. “Do you want me to take care of her?”

  Shane’s attention ripped to Ranger. “This is my property. My wife. My fucking mother. I will take care of it.”

  Mavis managed a smug look just before Shane flung her backwards to land on top of a still stunned Darla. Amy stared at her husband in shock. She’d never seen him this violent.

  Cord stood right behind the two women on the ground, arms crossed, watching the drama. He looked relaxed enough, but Amy got the feeling he was ready to spring if necessary.

  “You have shamed me. Get out of here. Now.” Shane strode to the edge of the porch, glaring down at the two women.

  Darla pushed and pushed, but couldn’t budge Mavis. Amy didn’t make a move to help. She wanted both of them to suffer. And she couldn’t manage to tear herself from Ranger’s touch. He’d begun caressing her arm with his thumb, rubbing soothing strokes. She wanted to close her eyes and let the rest of the world disappear. Just she and Ranger. Just them. Alone.

  She’d fought her feelings long and hard. Now that she’d let them out, she knew she would never be able to put them back in. She needed Ranger.

  She loved him.

  And she would find a way.

  Cord grabbed the women, lifting each of them up by the arm. “I’ll take out the trash.”

  Amy offered him a small smile, glad for his presence. Steve, the cameraman, snapped a few more shots and scrambled after them. Darla hopped into the driver side of her news van and Mavis in the passenger seat. Cord shut the door on her. She stared out the window, her gaze filled with longing.

  Shane ignored his mother and faced Amy and Ranger. “You can say goodbye. I’ll wait inside. But Amy, I won’t wait long.”

  Shane didn’t give her a chance to respond. He strode in through the front door and shut it behind him.

  Ranger yanked her into his arms and she went to him, needing to feel him surrounding her. Amy buried her nose in his chest and inhaled deep and long, trying to memorize his scent. How his hard muscles felt beneath her cheek. So strong. Her support. Her love.

  “I love you, Amy. Come with me. We can sort this out together.” Ranger’s fingers combed through her hair. She wanted to go with him so bad. More than anything. But Amy knew, if she wanted any hope of harmony with Shane in the future, she couldn’t leave now. Shane would never forgive her, despite his own infidelity. He was Chloe’s father. He had a right to know about her and be a part of her life. Even if they were divorced, Amy needed to maintain a peaceful relationship with Shane.

  “I love you, too.” Amy buried her face against him. He had to go. Please don’t leave.

  “Come with me. Please.” Ranger’s voice was ragged. And it was her fault. Can’t help it.

  She took a breath and stepped back. Ranger followed, holding her. “I can’t. Not until I tell Shane about Chloe. He has a right to know.”

  “You can. Give him some time to assimilate. Think of how much shock he has to be in. We can all sit down and work it out later. Together.” Ranger cupped her face between his hands.

  Tears pricked her eyes. Ranger’s sincerity tugging forth her emotions with the ease of a small southern breeze. “I can’t leave him like this. Not now. You saw him.” Shane had appeared...broken. And she was still technically his wife.

  “Yes, I saw him. He’s not the same man he used to be. I don’t want to, but I’m getting this bad feeling about him.”

  She did too. “I have to talk to him. He doesn’t even know he’s a father. He doesn’t deserve to hear about Chloe from someone else.”

  Ranger clenched his teeth, his jaw ticking and she could literally feel the tension rolling off him. But his hands remained gentle on her face. “Do you think it’s a good idea to tell him about her right now? If he’s been held prisoner for all this time and tortured, that might push him over the edge.”

  Amy shook her head. Shane might never forgive her for Ranger, but he would love his daughter. He would. She knew it. “Or it may be what pulls him back home.”

  Ranger closed his eyes and she couldn’t help but reach up and caress him. Trace his blond brows, skim his cheeks and squ
are jaw. This man was hers. But she had to take care of her husband and family first. “Ranger, I’m not asking you to leave forever. I am asking you to leave for now. Give us some time.”

  His eyes opened and Amy’s stomach clenched at the hardness there. A hardness that had never been there before today. His hands dropped from her and her heart followed them down. “I can’t ask you to choose between us.”

  He stepped back. She followed. “I’m not choosing. I’ve made my choice. I chose you.”

  “Amy.” Shane spoke from the door, his tone not asking. Amy looked back.

  She was between her husband and her lover. The magic carpet ride to happily ever after slid from beneath her feet. “Just a minute.”

  Amy turned back to Ranger, intending to finish her sentence, but he wasn’t looking at her any more. He was staring at Shane, or through him. She couldn’t tell. All she could see was his misery.

  “You’ve had long enough,” Shane said.

  “Ranger, I love you.”

  “You damn well better call me in one hour. If I don’t hear from you, I’m coming back and I’m taking you with me. Whether you want to go or not.”

  Chapter 34

  Amy stared at the door in shock, not knowing what to do. What to say. Unsure of herself without Ranger by her side. Alone with her husband. Shouldn’t she be elated?

  She wrapped her arms around her middle and turned back to Shane. He looked terrible. His cheeks carved in sharply beneath his cheekbones, leaving his face gaunt. Almost skeletal. Dark purple shadows smudged beneath sunken eyes. His normally clean-cut hair and smooth face a menagerie of long uneven hanks.

  The house suddenly felt cavernous and empty.

  Shane was home. After all this time of wondering and worrying about him. The self-condemnation over their fight and his death. She’d moved past her guilt and allowed herself to love, really love, and like a scythe Shane appeared from the grave, severing her tender new feelings.

  She should be happy, crying tears of joy after his return, but all she felt was a malignant knot of despair. Amy forced her mind from those thoughts, knowing she needed time to sort it all out. Think about him. About Chloe. Oh Christ, if he’d been shocked about Ranger, she was about to blow his freaking shoes off.