Destiny Strikes (13 page)

CHAPTER 23

Fallon had imagined many things about why Travis wore shades, but never had she imagined that his eyes would be the deepest shade of violet she’d ever seen.

“You told me the reason you wore those stupid shades was because of an ailment. From where I’m sitting, buddy, I don’t see a damn thing wrong with them. Your eyes are gorgeous.”

Travis remained silent, even though she knew the other officer wanted him to explain. Dan picked up the glow wand he’d dropped. “Okay, Travis, it was good to see you, but I have to get this line moving again. We’re starting to get some upset drivers back there. I’ll see you at next roll call.”

Travis acted as if on autopilot, nodding. Dan stepped away from the truck and rotated the wand in a circular motion for them to proceed.

About a mile up the road, she saw a large Cathedral Church. “Is this your idea of date? Bringing me to church. You should have at least warned me first.” Fallon pushed down her skirt, hoping her idea of sexiness wouldn’t be put on display for a congregation. “Because, babe, I’m sure not dressed for that sort of party.”

Fallon hoped the comment would spark some kind of response to end the awkwardness. She’d been bad, but she’d always shown hallowed ground respect.

“Are you going to say anything?” she asked.

At the next turn, figured out why he’d brought her here and she punched him in the arm. Gushing at the sight of all the vintage cars and motorcycles lined up across an old baseball field behind the church, she could barely wait for him to turn off the engine.

With her hand resting on the doorknob, he chose to speak up.

“The church has done an amazing job fixing the place up. The surrounding ten acres used to be a popular recreational area. Years of neglect and overgrown with weeds, members of the church decided instead of renting venues, doing the Lord’s work could be done right in their own backyard sorta speak. Since then, they’ve held this fundraiser every year.”

“Oh wow, Travis.” Excitement coursing through her, Fallon left the vehicle, slamming the door behind her. Coming around his side, she cupped Travis’s face through his open window. “This is so great! I told you I loved fixing up cars, but bringing me to a classic car show, now that’s just awesome.”

Without waiting, she left, shocked by her tender act. One that hadn’t killed him. Twice now.

“See that guy over there in the red truck?” Fallon said to the beefcake collecting entrance fees. “I’m with him.”

Only one man could answer the questions she had, and he was strangely absent. She opened a telepathic link with her Guardian, in case he’d changed his mind about not talking to her. “Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me? Moreover, if Travis is what I’m thinking, that explains some things. But it doesn’t explain why I can be with him without the need to kill him or start bowing.”

Travis made another quick adjustment to his cock. The vast amount of flesh Fallon exposed before she closed the door had certainly raised more than his blood pressure. Making the sign of the cross on his chest, Travis repented for his lustful thoughts with a church right next-door. However, rounded ass cheeks peeking from beneath her skirt begged him to differ. She’d made it past the attendant, pointed in his direction, then disappeared.

A low growl emerged from his throat when he saw the person working the admittance booth. Seagrove’s local war hero. After four tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, his application to the State Trooper program was a shoe-in. High-ranking positions in the military guaranteed a leader in wartime a spot on the team. Travis had decided to turn down the job for the low-profile deputy post. The boyish, playboy smile lingered on the man’s face long after Fallon moved on. Travis walked over, while Casanova took a position behind the ticket booth.

“Hey, Travis, that beautiful lady said you were paying. I haven’t seen you seriously dating someone since you moved here, so this must be not be a date.” The man leaned in close as if they were friends, adding, “Can you do me a solid? Hook me up, Travis.”

Travis restrained the need to pull the man across the table and swell one eye shut. Instead, he said, “No, she isn’t available. She’s with me.”

Playboy raised an eyebrow while Travis paid for their tickets. Eyes wide and chin up, he searched the crowd for Fallon Then spied her admiring a ‘62 Ford Falcon, speaking with its owner. He’d intended to get her alone when he caught sight of Dennis. He waited until Fallon glanced in his direction. Travis gestured with a slight tilt of his head, indicating a group surrounding Dennis.

Fallon shrugged, turning back to the owner of the Ford. Travis frowned, not knowing how to feel about the easy dismissal. He’d catch up to her later.

“How’s it going?” he asked, approaching Dennis.

“Hey, Travis,” Dennis greeted, approval lacing his voice. “Where're the shades? I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you without them. Glad I don’t have girlfriend or I’d be jealous of an old man.”

Not sure how to take the offensive comment, Travis shrugged it off, observing the scene and adolescents gathered around Dennis. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and none of them exhibited signs of drug use. From all appearances, the crowd consisted of regular young adults, hanging out.

“I don’t have to wear them all the time,” Travis joked. “Dennis, I’d like a word, if you have a minute?”

Dennis tucked his hands into pant pockets excessively large for his thin frame, before stepping away from his companions, joining Travis. “Yeah, sure. What can I do you for?”

Travis waited until they were a few feet away, answering,

“Nothing really. I haven’t talked or seen you in a while, and wanted to catch up, if that’s okay.”

Dennis glanced over his shoulder at his friends and shrugged. “Okay.”

Travis herded Dennis across the field, more for the less-crowded portion, just in case the kid had anything useful to lend to his personal investigation.

“So, everything going well?” Travis pressed. “It must be, because it’s been a while since I’ve received a call to your house. Your mom and Andy are doing better, right?” Travis hated to bring it up, but needed to gauge Dennis’s reaction.

“They’re fine. They worked out their issues.”

Something about the way Dennis eyes darted left worried Travis. “That’s great. So, you mind telling what happened a while ago. I heard you were hanging with some fellow and made some changes in your life that worried your mother. Donna said he asked her about your birth father, but didn’t mention a name. Is there anything I can help with, maybe do a little research into it for you?”

Dennis’s focus turned away from Travis to a 2008 Honda Shadow. After a brief pause, he announced offhandedly, “Actually, he did me a solid my mom never did. He knew my father and wanted to catch me up on why he didn’t stick around. Said I can meet him, too. I just got to take care of a few things before I do. No biggie.”

“Did you talk to your mom about any of this?”

“Yeah, all she’d say is everything from back then was fuzzy, and it was a good thing he was outta her life.” 

“I also see you’ve made some new friends. How’re you doing?”

“Good.” Dennis shrugged. “It takes knowing who you are to open up doors, then everything else begins to fall in line.”

The rank smell of deception permeated Travis’s nostrils. “Glad to hear it.”

“Thanks. So who’s the hot babe you brought with you this evening?”

Travis prepared to ask what Dennis meant, when he noticed the teen’s gaze was fixed on Fallon as she moved over to another booth. The vibe the youth threw off triggered every protective instinct Travis had, making him want to wrap his fingers around the young man’s throat. If he let the growling animal off the tether, the kid would be dead in ten seconds.

Trying to shake the sensation, Travis said with a calm he didn’t feel, “Her name’s Ms. Strikes. She’s new in town and I brought her here to meet some of her neighbors.”

The longer the kid studied her, the greater the desire to end the young man’s life. Shaken by the thought, Travis tried to get one more question in before he lost control. “Hey, Dennis, have you noticed anything unusual around town lately, or any strangers approached you about joining a group or organization? Perhaps someone mentioned seeing or owning a large exotic bird with blue and black feathers?”

Dennis hesitated before saying, “No.”

Red flags blasted Travis’s bullshit meter.

Then he saw it. A light shift in Dennis’s eye color. Late-evening ray’s played havoc with Travis’s perception. Now, the normally navy gaze met Travis’s with the same shade of purple he’d found in many others of late. Travis blinked, and Dennis’s eyes were once again blue.

It could be Travis had imagined it. He’d only seen the color with Fallon, himself, and two dead women. What were the odds of the oddity popping up in one place? What did it all mean?

“You know you can come to me anytime and talk about anything, right?”

Perplexity over Travis’s offer or something other creased Dennis’s brow. “Yeah, I know, but there’s nothing new to tell. Can I go now?”

“Sure.” Travis watched as Dennis strode away. Dennis wasn’t the same young man he’d been a month ago. Whatever had brought on the character change, Travis didn’t like it one bit.

CHAPTER 24

Fallon discerned Travis’s relationship with each resident of Seagrove was on a first-name basis. Handshakes, hearty hugs, and kisses on the cheek made his progress through the throng slow-going. Where most people hated cops or gave them a wide berth, townspeople purposely sought him out.

Curious about the connection Travis had with an elderly woman locking hands with him, Fallon, unashamed, eavesdropped. The 1955 Chevy Coupe, with a three-twenty-seven bow-tie engine was intriguing, but the motherly hug she wrapped Travis in consumed Fallon’s interest. Fallon felt foolish listening to other people’s conversations, but she remained intent on learning more about him she watched.

The woman, who had to be her late-seventies, clapped her hands together, resting them over her heart before leaning back to speak to him.

“You deserve that beautiful woman over there. The ticket attendant has been telling everybody how overprotective you were when he asked about her.”

Travis’s bashful glance in her direction, well, Fallon knew she wasn’t a woman who melted, but something about him made her wish she could.

“With eyes like yours,” the woman continued, “it’s strange you haven’t been snapped up before now. And yet, God has a purpose and a plan for everything.” She giggled like a schoolgirl. “I’m so happy to see you with someone, Travis.”

Fallon turned in time to see Travis’s cheeks darken more. The big goofy grin on his face made Fallon’s chest ache, more so when he embraced the elderly lady, saying. “Thank you, Donna. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you.”

By the time he’d reached her side, overhead lights cast the field in a dim glow which made the atmosphere almost intimate.

“I’m sorry that took so long.” He leaned in and skimmed the rim of her ear with his lips, tickling the tiny hairs there.

The jolt from his touch weakened her knees. Most importantly, it was the first time she’d ever been shocked by someone else.

“A lot of things have come up lately and maybe my mind’s not all there,” he told her, ducking his head, and shoving his hands into his back pockets. “I really didn’t think it would take so long. If you want to leave, I’ll take you home, and not blame you for being upset.”

“Let’s agree from here on out just enjoy the rest of the night without expectations,” she proposed.

Relief flooded his handsome face.

“Now that that’s settled, I want to show you something.” She let him follow her as she went over to a 60’s Buick Grand Sport.

When the owner realized Fallon knew her way around a motor, he gave Travis a wink, along with a wide, toothless grin.

“You got yourself a keeper here. Anyone interested in the old ways is all right in my book.” One long finger rose in emphasis. “Kids today have no interest in the things that kept us alive. Newer cars are just glass waiting to shatter.”

The old-timer looked down at his weathered, arthritic hands before continuing, “Kind of like we are. Name one newer model car that can be passed down to the grandkids without paying a fortune in parts to keep it running.”

Fallon agreed. “I sometimes find myself wishing for the old days. They may have been a little harder but they were definitely a lot simpler.”

The old-timer showed another of his wide smiles and slapped his thigh. “You were only a thought in your mom’s belly back then. What would you know, young lady?”

“More than even you know,” she whispered, thoughtful. Bending over, not making physical contact, she gave the man an air kiss on the cheek, bringing yet another smile to his face.

“If my wife were alive, she’d be jealous right about now,” he said. “You have a wonderful night, young lady, and thanks for listening to an old man.”

Fallon swallowed hard, her pulse racing. She wrapped her arms around her middle, taking deep droughts of air while she put space between Travis and herself.

A surprising caress against the exposed skin of her lower back had trigged untold pleasure and an indescribable power piggybacked the sensation nearly bringing her to her knees. The weird incident ended an instant after someone bumped him, breaking the physical connection. She gritted her teeth in efforts not to do anything stupid. Tiring but essential, throughout the evening she’d avoided accidental contact. The leather jacket, which she’d grabbed at the last minute before she’d left the house, had helped, but if she wasn’t mistaken, something about the almost calculated contact didn’t seem so accidental.

“Are you all right?” Travis asked. Assessing the outcome as if his life depended on it.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

His thinned lips suggested it wasn’t what he’d wanted to hear. She had her ideas about his origins. What was he hoping to learn? Shaking off the experience until she could get him alone, she righted herself and started walking again.

“Have you noticed an unusual number of young people here tonight?” Tavis asked. “I’ve been to dozens of these events, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many. If this were a biker's event, with plenty of naked chicks and alcohol, I could understand. Not a typical Saturday evening?”

Fallon turned to follow the direction of whatever had captivated his attention. She watched five more people join the kid Travis had spoken to earlier. What disturbed her the most about the young man were his eyes, and unconcealed lust she could see even from a distance.

“Yeah, you’re right. Unfortunately, after what happened last night, I need to take advantage of this opportunity. If you’ll excuse me, there is a little official business that needs attending. Will you be all right until I return? I hate to keep doing this to you.”

She agreed. After what a single touch from Travis aroused, she could use the time to think. “Sure, I’ll be fine. You go take care of whatever you need to. I’m at a great auto show on a lovely evening. What could be better?"

Fallon’s gaze lingered on Travis’s ass as he went over to a young man sporting a black eye and arm cast. A damn shame nothing between them would last beyond tonight. Thinking along those lines, Travis’s potential to be the perfect man for someone other than her proved depressing.

A cool breeze brought with it a scent Fallon hoped wouldn’t become a problem. Scanning the dark sky, Fallon noticed stars weren’t visible and new moon glow barely broke through thick gray clouds. Considering everything that happened since she dropped off her car, she’d forgotten to check weather reports. If a storm cropped up, it was crucial she be as far away as possible from this many people.

All around her people milled about, and she couldn’t help but appreciate that even though this was a church function, the organizers weren’t trying to push religion down anyone’s throat. They simply raised funds with booths containing food items, homemade wares, and a few crafts.

She’d even purchased a few baubles to adorn her vehicles. Searching Travis out from within another crowd, her shoulders sagged in defeat. Every second with Travis reiterated what she would never enjoy. What she could get from him was information. Then maybe, she could be done with this façade of normalcy.

She headed over to the bleachers, located within shouting distance of Travis. He’d also know where to find her when he finished his official business.

Lost in thought, Fallon neither heard nor saw the young man sit down beside her until he spoke. “Hi, my name’s Dennis. I saw you with Travis and wanted to come meet you.”

She wanted to ignore the young man, her out-of-control emotions as dangerous as the weather changing above her.

Propping elbows on her knees and clasping her hands in front, she continued to look Travis’s way. When she finally turned to acknowledge Dennis, the oddly unblemished and glowing face of the person staring at her carried a monumental secret. Invisible to the naked eye, scrolling artwork created a tattoo effect from the young man’s temple over his cheeks before disappearing into the collar of his shirt. Why hadn’t she noticed it earlier?

The etch work was a calling card Rafael had left behind more times than not and when anyone was fortunate to talk to him, he wouldn’t explain why. Each mongrel they located with the beautiful swirling design, the question was raised, Was Rafael helping them or not? Because strangely enough, the Sortaneph bearing the mark turned out to be the worst of the worst that went unchecked by the Guardian. Rafael’s time with the boy was recent. Why not learn about her brother’s influences and purpose. Despite the youthful, handsome face, Dennis still made Fallon’s skin crawl.

“Yes, I’m with Travis. I think he figured out my obsession with classic cars and here I am.”

“So why are you sitting here by yourself if this is a date?”

“Is that really any of your business?”

Though his actions offended her, she needed Dennis too much to bother teaching him some manners.