TATIANA: Book Three; The Trouble Sisters Saga

by Lee Taylor

  Walking hesitantly onto the deck, Tatiana decided if anything could change her compromised worldview, it just might be the way his eyes lit up when he saw her. And it didn’t hurt when he said, “Ah yes, except for your naked body, you’re wearing my favorite outfit. Except that I like it best when you’re barefoot and soaking wet.”

  Chapter 18

  Zane took the curves on the winding mountain trail in his snazzy Bentley convertible with ease. Accustomed to letting the potent beast free, accelerating from zero to sixty miles per hour in under four seconds, and occasionally aiming for its blistering top speed, he purposefully contained his powerful car when he entered the freeway. The last thing he wanted to do was shorten their drive to Sierra Vista. It was going to be difficult enough to take Tatiana home not knowing for sure when he would see her next. He faced the hard fact that he didn’t just want to see her, he wanted to have her in his arms. As challenging as their separation was sure to be, at the moment Zane admitted there was another reason to extend their drive time.

  Over the course of the last three days, he’d gotten more than a few glimpses into the heavily shielded core of this extraordinary woman. Her passionate response to his admittedly aggressive lovemaking had rocked him to his soul. The depth of her passion when she let her guard down was a gift he’d never forget and intended to mine every way he could. But as thrilled as he was with her response to him, it was hard to reconcile the woman he’d taken in amazingly erotic ways with the woman who’d hidden in the hotel ladies’ room for thirty minutes to avoid him. Likewise, her shy exterior that he’d approached carefully was in direct opposition to the laughing, openly provocative woman who had a bar full of randy men cheering her risqué dancing.

  These seeming incongruities underscored the more challenging aspects of their time together. Particularly the glimpses she’d given him of the devils she was wrestling with. To start with, there was her work. The more he thought about her speech and the challenging, frankly hideous world of domestic abuse she’d revealed, the more he realized how little he knew about her. How little he understood what had shaped this complicated, baffling woman that lived behind the shy exterior she presented to the world. That she was totally invested in her Sanctuary as she was in the women and children sheltered there was obvious. But now that he was beginning to see beneath her shy public persona, he wanted, hell, he needed to understand the roots of her fierce advocacy. Which brought him to the most unsettling aspect of this complicated woman he admitted he was falling in love with—that being her former husband.

  When he allowed himself to think about her unintended allusions to her ex-husband, it was clear that their marriage had been a troubled one. Ryker had said as much when Zane was probing for ways to get closer to the woman who’d intrigued him from the first time he saw her. Ryker had also told him that according to her father and sisters, at the root of what Ryker had labeled Tatiana’s “minefield” was Arnold Loomis. Zane recalled the troubled expression that had overtaken her face just when she’d begun to give in to what was clearly her love of dancing. It was as though she had remembered why she shouldn’t dance, particularly in the uninhibited way that she was. His suspicion that her sudden restraint involved her ex-husband’s likes or dislikes were slammed into place by her unintended remark about her provocative lingerie. The words that had slipped out of her mouth were shocking. Zane was grateful that he’d managed to brush aside the hideous accusation, insisting that Tatiana acknowledge how beautiful she was and how goddamned sexy. But, Jesus God, that asshole had actually told her that only sluts wore provocative lingerie? As startling as that was, the fact that she’d overcome his despicable warnings and not only bought sexy lingerie but had bared her beautiful mons brought Zane up short. Acknowledging the ugliness she’d faced and overcome, Zane conceded, among the many extraordinary things that Tatiana was, “complicated” might be the most prescient way to describe her.

  “Tell me, sweetheart, how did you become passionate, so informed about domestic abuse? Damn, you’re a literal font of knowledge. I’m sure that all those lawyers who think they’re so damned smart were overwhelmed by your expertise.”

  Tatiana shrugged. “It’s a riveting field, Zane. It’s hard not be passionate about the issue when you see the things that I do on a daily basis. But you of all people should understand. It’s not as though you don’t see challenging things in your work.”

  “Yes, of course I do. But I typically meet up with the dregs of the earth in the civilized confines of the courtroom, not in the visceral way you do every day of the week. It has to be emotionally difficult, Tatiana. How do you deal with it?”

  She was quiet for a long moment, then blew out an audible sigh and said softly, “By promising that I will do everything in my power to convince the women I work with that just because they were abused, they are not bad people.”

  Surprised by her answer, which was more revealing than she’d likely intended, he persisted. “Hmm, I’m surprised. Why would the women think that they are bad? Damn, it’s the fucking men abusing them who are the bastards.”

  “You are speaking like the men and women who haven’t been victims of domestic abuse, Zane. To those who haven’t faced it, it’s obvious that the abusers are to blame. But to the victims? All too often they blame themselves. They think that they must have done something to provoke him. Or why would someone who supposedly loves them hurt them?” She added with a hard sigh, “Which is what makes domestic abuse such a hard issue to confront. All too often the victim goes back or stays in the abusive relationship because she’s certain that if she just does something different, doesn’t provoke him, it won’t happen again.”

  “That’s tough. It has to be an extremely challenging field. Tell me, how did you get involved in it?”

  She was quiet, and for a moment, Zane debated how much he wanted to push her. It was bad enough that this was what she dealt with twenty-four-seven. The least he could do was give her a little respite, but something was pushing him, convincing him that until he understood her devils, it was going to be hard to free her angels. He thought she wasn’t going to answer him. Instead, she actually opened up.

  “I had a friend, someone who was closer to me than even my sisters. We were inseparable. She understood all my quirks and I thought I understood all of hers. She was the strongest person I knew. And the funniest. Then something happened. Soon it was as if I didn’t know her. She became guarded, turned away from me almost completely. I knew she was involved with a guy. I’d liked him well enough at first. But soon I decided I didn’t. Mostly because of what my friend was like with him.”

  When she stopped talking, Zane waited a minute and then asked, “He was abusing her?”

  “I . . . I didn’t know what it was then.” Tatiana shook her head and gnawed on her bottom lip. Zane was glad when she sighed, then continued. “I guess like most people at that time, I thought only weak women, insecure women, would allow anyone to abuse them. I learned that it was much more complicated than that. In fact, I learned my friend was a textbook case. She was a caretaker. A peacemaker. She was accustomed to making sure that everyone and everything was ‘okay.’ Even when it most definitely wasn’t.”

  When it was clear that she had finished talking, being the skilled interrogator that he was, Zane moved the conversation forward. “Was that—your relationship with your friend—what spurred you to study the field?”

  She blew out an audible breath. “Yes, in a crazy way I was fascinated. I decided if someone as strong as my friend could get tangled up in such a hideous relationship, I needed to understand how and why.” She looked over at him and said with a shrug, “So now after what seems like a lifetime later, I think I’ve come to grips with what my friend went through.” She added firmly, “I’m actually glad it happened. I hadn’t known what would be my life’s work. Now I know.”

  “That’s quite a story, Tatiana. I’m curious, how is your friend now?”

  “Good. Very good, as a mat
ter of fact.”

  “Did she get rid of the asshole?”

  “Yes, thank God, she did.”

  Knowing that she was unlikely to say more, Zane moved to another issue that had been nagging him. “I have a question about that story you told about Marcie’s friend in your address, the one who was likely being abused by her mother’s male friends. Was that one of the crises you were dealing with the day before the conference?”

  Tatiana didn’t hide her surprise at his question, then after apparently considering if she would answer, she reluctantly said, “As I indicated in my remarks, one of the more dispiriting components of domestic abuse is its effect on the children of the victim. And yes, that incident was one of the reasons I considered not attending the conference.” She sighed and shook her head. “I had to ask the girls’ mother, a deeply troubled young woman, to leave the Sanctuary. She became quite violent when she understood that I would not permit her children to go with her. It took everything my staff and I had, with the help of representatives from CPS, to eventually get her to leave.”

  “God, Tatiana. All that was happening and I was pressuring you with erotic threats? Damn sweetheart, I’m truly sorry.”

  “It’s okay, you couldn’t have known.”

  “No, but now that I have a better sense of what your life is like on a daily basis, I promise I’ll be more respectful of your concerns. Tell me, is that something that happens often? You have to dismiss a client because of her aggressive behavior?”

  “Frankly, it happens more often than you’d think and certainly more often than I wish it did. In addition to being abuse victims, many of our clients are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, as with Savannah, it’s a toxic mix and sometimes leads to violence.”

  “I presume when a client becomes violent and threatening like the one you had to dismiss, you call on your father or sister for help?”

  Tatiana shook her head. “No, actually, I don’t.”

  “Hmm, why not? Good God, if it took you, your staff, and the CPS folks to get her to leave, I would think that flashing a badge or two would help make the point that you won’t tolerate violence. Particularly if that badge came in the form of your righteous father or your tough-as-nails sister.”

  Tatiana shook her head and pressed her lips together in a firm line, underscoring her disagreement. “No, I’ve made it clear to my law enforcement family that I can handle whatever happens at the Sanctuary. Fortunately, they respect me enough not to interfere.”

  Not missing her insinuation that he was interfering and she didn’t appreciate it, Zane didn’t stifle his concern. He was beginning to see that her go-it-alone attitude was a staple of her complicated persona. Knowing he was risking her ire, he said carefully, “I’m confident your family respects your professional judgment, as do I. It’s just that violent people are also part of my daily regime, and I’ve learned it doesn’t hurt to occasionally call for help.”

  “Thank you, Zane. I’ll consider your advice if and when I think it is necessary. Now if you don’t mind, I’ll be back at the Sanctuary with all its challenges and opportunities soon enough. I’d rather focus on the fact that in about three minutes I will be picking up my children.” She added with an exaggerated sigh, “In addition, I’m going to have to put up with a thousand spoken and unspoken questions from my older sister about our rendezvous.” Glancing at the cars and trucks in Griffin and Tara’s driveway, she groaned. “Make that sisters—plural. And if that isn’t enough, my father apparently decided that he also wanted to be sure that you returned me to their loving arms safely, if not worse for wear.”

  Zane laughed, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and gave it a little squeeze. “I agree with the ‘wear’ part of your assertion. However, I hope you agree that both of us are much better for wear than we have ever been. And, Tatiana, as I told you this morning, we aren’t done. Not by a long shot. In fact, our love affair has barely begun.”

  Pulling up behind Ryker’s truck, Zane jumped out of the car and was at Tatiana’s door in seconds. Helping her out of the car, he tugged her up next to him, then grasped her chin, insisting that she meet his gaze. “Before we go in and meet the inquisition, you need to agree.”

  She frowned and tried to pull away from him. He shook his head and tightened his hold on her chin. “Uh-uh, sweetheart. I need you to promise.”

  “Promise what, Zane?”

  “Promise me that you are as determined as I am that what we started in this last couple of weeks is only the beginning. The beginning of an exciting and very powerful love affair.”

  Tatiana sighed and then allowed a soft smile to cross her lips. “Fine. I promise. Now will you let me go?”

  He chuckled as he tugged her next to him and led her toward the house. “Sure, if letting you go means that I’ll not let more than three feet come between us as we face the firing squad. In addition, that you will not forget what it feels like to have me buried high inside your amazing pussy, a place where I’m craving to be again soon.”

  Stifling her shocked gasp, Tatiana actually laughed. “Good grief, Zane, Why not make sure I look even more flustered than I already am?”

  He grinned and pinched her butt. “Heck, sweetheart, I wouldn’t want your family to think that I’m a slacker.”

  Tatiana sniffed dismissively. “I don’t think there’s any danger of that, Mr. District Attorney.”

  He laughed. “Good. Now that we have that settled, shall we go in?”

  Chapter 19

  You’re a big man.”

  Zane looked down at the little girl who was studying him through narrowed eyes. Her pursed lips and hands planted on her hips confirmed that her assertion wasn’t necessarily a compliment. Determined to look as serious as she was, Zane did his best to squelch a grin. It wasn’t easy. He was more than familiar with the expression on the pint-sized, redheaded youngster’s face. He should be, he’d seen it often enough on her mother’s. He moved carefully toward her and crouched down in front of her, ensuring he was at her eye level.

  “You’re right, Miss Marcie. I am a big man. But when I get down here like this, I’m pretty much the same size as you are.”

  At her frowning nod, Zane smiled at her and took a chance. “Do you want to see a trick? See how I can make you bigger than me?”

  When she nodded uncertainly, he reached for her, scooped her up in his arms, and lifted her onto his shoulders. Her excited whoop as he rose to his feet confirmed that he’d read her right.

  He said triumphantly, “See, one of the advantages of being a big man is that when I put you on my shoulders like this, now you’re even bigger than me.” Glancing around the room at the amused gang of adults, he confirmed, “If I’m not mistaken, Miss Marcie, you are now the tallest person in the room.” Meeting Titus’s approving nod, Zane added, “Heck, you’re even taller than your impressive grandfather.”

  Crowing from her lofty perch, Marcie was merciless in claiming her victory over the rest of the wide-eyed children, who were staring up at her in envy. After he’d allowed Marcie to thoroughly lord it over her lesser playmates, Zane put her down and reached for Hunter, Griffin’s seven-year-old son. “How about it, Hunter? Do you think you’re too big for me to pick up?” At the boy’s uncertain glance at his grinning father, Zane laughed as he hoisted the surprised boy onto his shoulders. “See, Hunter, your dad isn’t the only tough guy around here. Something you should know: Seals as a whole are the toughest guys around.”

  Hunter’s surprised query from his lofty perch brought a chorus of laughter from the adults, particularly his use of the Delta Force acronym. “Seals are even tougher than D-boys?”

  “Well, let’s just say you wouldn’t want to make an enemy of either one of them.”

  As he swung the flushed boy back to the ground, apparently not willing to let the argument go, Hunter asked carefully, “What about sheriffs?”

  Zane laughed. “Ah, now that is a real competition.” Glancing over at Titus, wh
ose eyes were twinkling, Zane said as seriously as he could, “I tell you what, Hunter, I don’t know a single D-boy, or Seal for that matter, who would go in the ring with a sheriff, especially if his name was Sheriff Titus Theseus Trouble.”

  In the chorus of laughter following his politic conclusion, Zane approached Max, who was clinging to Brooke’s leg, his thumb stuck firmly in his mouth. Zane crouched in front of the uncertain three-year-old and said with a questioning frown, “Hmm, I dunno, Max. You look like a pretty big kid. Do you think I’m strong enough to pick you up?”

  When Max shrugged nervously and clung tighter to Brooke, Zane reached for him. “Let’s try it, Max. How about you pretend you are Batman and can fly up here onto my shoulders? Think you can do that, buddy?”

  At Max’s excited nod, Zane carefully swung him up onto his shoulders. Max’s delighted shriek confirmed that Zane had hit a bases-loaded home run.

  Watching Zane listen carefully to ten-year-old Brooke explain how Griffin had taught her to traverse the climbing wall and then demonstrate her skills to the clearly impressed district attorney, Tara nudged Tatiana. Speaking softly so the children didn’t overhear, she said, “Good grief, Tatiana, I knew the accomplished DA was a consummate lady killer, but who would have guessed he was also a Pied Piper?”