Banished (A Retribution Novel) (7 page)

“Violet,” she said, appreciating the woman’s
kindness and warm manner.

“Nice to meet you, Violet. I’ll be right back with
your beer.”

Flo’s wide hips swung as she waddled away, and
Violet smiled as she relaxed into her seat. Good people. Good food. What more
could she ask?

A round of male cheers filled the space, and she
turned to the group of guys who watched the overhead television and celebrated
a touchdown. Sadness pierced her as a memory sprung to life. Her dad used to
like to watch college football, too.

Flo returned with a frothy golden beer and a
basket of beer-battered onion rings. Violet glanced at the waitress’s face in
question.

“On the house.” She smiled. “I brought ranch
dressing to dip or there’s ketchup on the table, but if you really want a
treat, try the garlic aioli dip in this container.”

Violet lifted one of the crispy rings and dipped
it in the sauce. A medley of flavors melted on her tongue, enhancing the taste
of the onion rings.

“Oh my goodness.” She held a hand in front of her
mouth as she spoke around her food. “This is
so
good.”

Flo grinned. “A house specialty. I also recommend
the halibut fish and chips.”

“Done. If they’re half as good as these, I’ll be
in heaven.”

“Smart girl.” The smile lines in her cheeks
deepened. “I’ll put your order in, but then I’m going to take a break and get
off my feet for a bit. Tanna will bring your food out when it’s ready.”

A craving for company nudged her. “If you don’t
have anything particular in mind, maybe you could take your break out here,
with me? I hate to eat alone, and I was hoping to visit with some of the locals.”
To find out if there were any computer specialists in town who were capable of
breaking a password, but she needed to get to know someone before she sprang
that question.

Her smile warmed considerably. “Well, aren’t you
sweet? I’d love to darlin’. Let me grab my iced tea, and I’ll be right back.”

She returned a few minutes later with an icy glass
full of brown tea and slipped onto the seat opposite Violet. “I’m getting too
old for this business. Normally, I spend most of my time in the kitchen, but
we’re down a waitress, and I need to keep my customers happy.”

“Have you been doing this long?”

“About forty years. The place used to belong to
another couple, and I started working here as a teenager. For years, they
talked about selling when they got a little older, so I saved my money. When
the time came, me and my husband bought them out. It’s been a good life. I like
living by the ocean, but I’m getting tired.”

“Does your husband work here, too?” Hopefully, she
had someone to help her.

“Husband died a few years back.” She took a drink
of her tea.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure that must have been hard. My
father passed away recently, too.”

Flo shook her head. “Yeah, death is a bitch. It
forces us all to rethink our lives and adjust our way of living, doesn’t it?”

“It does.” It had certainly done that for her.
“What about children?”

A twinkle appeared in her eye. “The good Lord
blessed me with one son, a man I admire more than anything. I’d reached the point
in my life where I didn’t think I’d have any kids, but God had other plans.”
She glanced toward the group of men engrossed in the football game. “I expect
he’ll show up sometime soon since most of his buddies are here already.”

Violet turned to the group of good-looking men.
“Sounds like they’re enjoying the game.”

“Oh, yeah,” Flo said as Tanna brought her fish and
chips and a smaller plate of the same for Flo. “Thanks, darlin’.”

“Wow,” Violet said as she looked over the golden
battered fish. “This smells amazing.”

“Wait until you taste it.”

She’d barely taken her second bite when Flo stood.
“There’s my boy now.”

Violet turned her gaze toward the front door, the
two bites of fish dropping to the bottom of her stomach like rocks in the ocean.

Ryan strode toward them, a black t-shirt outlining
the muscles in his arms and chest. Violet’s pulse spiked, sending an excited
current of attraction through her. Flo was his mother? No wonder he’d
recommended her restaurant.

Why, oh why, had she come here?

She forced her shoulders to relax in an effort to
calm her heartbeat. She didn’t want to like him. He was a convicted felon and
possibly as dangerous as her brother.

Still, she couldn’t help but admire his strong
body and sexy swagger.

She lifted her beer and drank, wondering what he’d
say about her still wearing his hoodie.

Ryan was halfway to Flo with a smile on his face
before he noticed her. Violet caught the slight halt in his step before he
continued forward, glancing between her and his mother. He was obviously as
surprised to see her as she was to see him.

“Ryan, honey.” Flo opened her arms, and he caught
her in a tight embrace.

“Hi, mama.” He kissed her on the cheek before he
let her go.

“I was hoping I’d see you today. It’s been almost
a week. I was worried something was wrong.”

Ryan flicked his gaze between the two of them, an
unreadable look in his eye. “Sorry. I had some things I had to do.”

Flo studied him for a moment as though they
carried on an unspoken conversation, and then she turned toward the table.
“This is my new friend. I’m sorry, Violet. I didn’t catch how long you’re
staying in town.”

Ryan pinned her with a direct gaze.

“I’m not certain. A week at least.” Her pulse
pounded against her throat, giving away her nervousness.

“A week,” Flo said. “Maybe we can convince you to
stay longer. This is my son, Ryan.”

She stared into his cool eyes, a shiver rippling
through her veins. “Hello, Ryan. It’s nice to meet you.”

He dipped his head. “You, too, ma’am. Be careful
if you head out to the ocean. The tides can be unpredictable.” He deliberately
eyed his hoodie before he met her gaze again.

She worked to keep her expression even. “Thank
you. I will.”

He dismissed her with a blink of his eyes and
turned to his mother. “I’m meeting with the guys, but I’ll catch you at your
house afterward.”

“Sounds good, sugar. I’ll talk to you then. I’m
taking home the extra apple pie, so you make sure you come around.”

He smiled at his mom, and she wondered if she’d
judged him unfairly. “I wouldn’t miss it.” He didn’t glance her way again as he
made his way to the table of rowdy guys. The moment he sat down though, the
conversation seemed to flip from the game to something more serious.

She hoped it wasn’t something illegal.

“You two seem really close,” she said to Flo, as
she flicked a glance at Ryan and found him watching her. He looked away.

“He’s the best kid I know, and he has a strong
spirit. He’s had more than his share of heartbreak, and I’m damn grateful it
hasn’t ruined the good person inside. It doesn’t matter what I need, he’s
always there for me.”

She could see that side of him. The man Flo
described was the one who’d rescued her from the ocean. “You’re a lucky woman,
then. Not all sons turn out like him.”

“Sounds like you have firsthand knowledge.” She
shoved the last piece of fish in her mouth.

“My brother turned out to be a disappointment.” To
say the least. “I think he’s gotten involved in something illegal, but I don’t
know how to prove it.”

“What if you talk to him about it? Maybe if you
offered to help?”

“It’s gone too far past that.” She met Flo’s
searching gaze. “I think he’s capable of hurting people to get what he wants,
and I don’t know what to do.”

Flo lifted her penciled-in eyebrows. “Oh, well,
that’s a different story.”

She searched Violet’s eyes, and Violet hoped she
hadn’t given away too much. “You should probably go to the authorities then. If
you know what he’s capable of and you don’t do anything about it, then it makes
you as guilty as him.”

If only it were that easy. “That’s the problem
though. I think some of the cops are as crooked as he is. I don’t know who to
trust.”

Flo narrowed her gaze. “Where did you say you’re
from?”

She’d said too much, but it was too late to stop
now. “Denver. Colorado.”

“Hmm…that’s too bad. Ryan has a friend who works
for the Portland Police Department, but Denver’s too far away for him to have
any friends there, I’d think. Still, you could talk to him. He’s over there
with Ryan.”

“No.” She put up a hand when Flo made to stand.
The last thing she wanted was to get Ryan involved in her business. “I’m not
sure that would help. Honestly, I just needed some sage advice. I’m sure
there’s someone on the Denver force I can trust. Maybe I should make a few
phone calls to my friends, instead. They could probably look into things for
me.”

The older woman nodded slowly, but her smile
didn’t return. “Okay, then. I guess that’s as good of an idea as any. But I
wouldn’t sit on it. If he’s truly a violent man, you need to act before someone
gets hurt.”

It was already too late for that, but Flo was
right. If Kenneth would hurt his own sister, what would he do to anyone who
stood in his way? “I’ll make some calls as soon as I get back to my hotel room.
I promise.”

Flo did smile then. “Okay, darlin’. It looks like
the dinner crowd is starting, and I’m sure Tanna needs the help. I’d better get
back to work.”

“Okay, thanks, Flo. It was a real pleasure to meet
you.”

“I hope you’ll come in again to see us before you
leave town.”

“Absolutely. I’ll need to try everything on the menu
at least once. In fact, if you find yourself in a jam and need a spare pair of
hands, call me. I’m staying at the Seastar Inn, room twelve. I’ve never
waitressed before, but I’m sure I could get the hang of it.”

“Well, aren’t you sweet? Don’t be surprised if I
give you a ring sometime this week. Tanna’s off on Mondays and Tuesdays and my
other waitress can be a flake sometimes. She’s promised she’ll be here because
she knows we’re short-staffed, but I’m not holding my breath.”

Flo surprised her then by leaning over to give her
a hug. “I always say, you never know when God is going to leave you a gift on
your doorstep, and you are my gift today. I’ll see you soon.”

Violet sighed as Flo walked away. She moved her
gaze to Ryan and found him watching her again. This time, he didn’t look away.
So she did. She focused on the delicious food in front of her, unwilling to let
him ruin her dinner. She couldn’t afford to waste food, and it would be a sin
to let any of Flo’s creations go to waste.

After she finished, she downed the rest of her
beer and slipped a twenty inside the bill folder. She gave Ryan a quick nod as
she hurried past his table and stepped into the misty Seaside evening.

She’d barely taken half a dozen steps when he
caught her arm.

“You’re going to walk out without saying
anything?”

She turned to him, attraction and anxiety mingling
in her veins. She hated that she felt something toward him. “I’m sorry. What
would you like me to say?”

He widened his eyes in surprise. “Uh, how about
I’m sorry for sneaking out in the middle of the night, leaving me to wake up
and wonder what the hell happened to you. I think I deserved better than that.”

Guilt nipped her, and she glanced away before
meeting his penetrating gaze again. “I’m sorry.” She hadn’t meant to worry or
anger him. He’d been so kind to her.

“Would it have been so difficult to let me know
you were leaving?” He blew out a frustrated breath. “Did you walk all the way
back to your car?”

“I did.”

“Did you think that was safe?”

His question made her feel incompetent, and she’d
had quite enough of that in her lifetime between her brother and her father. “I’m
sorry I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want there to be any problems.”

“Problems? You make it sound like I would have
tried to stop you.”

She blinked but didn’t respond. She couldn’t tell
someone who’d saved her life that was exactly what she’d thought.

“Ah, hell.” He raked a hand over his hair. “I’m
guilty without cause. Again.”

Now she felt like an ass. She couldn’t tell him
she’d rifled through his stuff and discovered his past. “Look, Ryan. Last night
was a lot of fun, and I’ll never be able to repay you for helping me to shore,
but I don’t need any more trouble. I have enough of it in my life right now. I
need peace and time to think. I didn’t mean to upset you or insult you. It’s
just…” She lifted her hands and let them drop.

He studied her eyes and then took a step back.
“Fine. I shouldn’t have expected more. I didn’t really. My mama always taught
me to take care of the ladies, so I guess it’s my upbringing kicking in.”

The urge to close the distance between them was
strong, but she resisted. “I’m sorry, Ryan. You seem like a nice person, and
you found me when I was my most vulnerable. I hope I didn’t lead you to think
there was something more than there was.”

He looked up at the darkening sky and barked a
short laugh. “Hell,” he whispered and then met her gaze, the pained look sending
an arrow straight through her heart. “It’s all good, sweetheart. I thought
nothing. I expected nothing. Only concerned for your welfare. But look at you,
you’re nothing but fine, and I have some beer to drink, so have a nice evening,
ma’am.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

She stood and stared, compelled by his stride, all
grace and muscle. Her heart wrenched as she replayed the lost look in his eyes.
He was a wounded soldier, to be sure, but she wasn’t the person to help him fix
it.

She inhaled a solid breath and turned toward her
hotel. She had problems of her own and no concrete solutions.