Web of Lies (3 page)

He knew the routine because he had done the same thing for two members of the club before this.  He was more than able to help Faith make the transition to this new stage of her life.  Plus, it wasn’t as though she hadn’t been fatherless before; but, before today, there had always been a hope of his return.  That hope was gone now.  He would go with her to her father’s homestead and hope that when they got there, she could find closure.

CHAPTER THREE

Five weeks earlier--Faith

She should have known something was wrong the minute she stepped up to her front door.  There was a sweet smell in the hallway outside it, as though someone were inside eating pancakes.  However, she was so numb with grief that she assumed Mark or one of her other neighbors was having breakfast for dinner.  As soon as she cracked open the door, the state of the place made her reel backwards and fear clawed at her. 

What the holy hell had happened?
  She stood stunned for a whole minute before it occurred to her that there might still be someone inside.  Pulling the door closed again and backing away from it, she went to knock on Mark’s door.  She prayed that he was home but was well-aware that he probably wasn’t. 

When no one answered, she tamped down the feelings waiting to ambush her and pulled up the number Jack had saved on her phone.  She hit the call button, as she backed all the way to the end of the hallway.  His voice soothed her jangled nerves for some inexplicable reason. 

“What’s wrong, Faith?”  Apparently, her continued silence sent a red flare up in his mind.  She forced herself to speak.

“Someone’s been here,” she said.  A dry sob escaped, and she swallowed to keep any more from surfacing.  “They wrecked the place.”

Her hands were trembling so badly that she had to fight to keep hold of the phone.

“Where are you, Faith?  Did you go inside?”  Jack’s voice sounded very harsh.

“No, I’m down the hall.”

“Good.  Can you find somewhere safe until I get there?”

“I’ll wait in the bar across the street.”

“Call the cops, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.  Okay?”  When she didn’t answer, he added sharply, “Do you hear me?”

“Yes,” she whispered and cut the call. 

As she called the police, she wondered why she had called Jack first. She told the operator where she lived and what had happened.  The police dispatcher assured her that a squad car would be there shortly.  The dispatcher asked if she was okay, and she said
yes
and hung up.  Faith knew that she was lying – even if she were only lying to herself.  She was never going to be okay, ever again.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed since she placed her two phone calls, but it seemed as though Jack arrived at the same time as the police.  He took charge of everything.  When they finally left, with the address of the place she was heading for and her cell phone number, she wondered how she had ever managed without him. 

It’s ridiculous!  I’m a grown woman, and I’ve weathered hard times before.  I’ve always landed on my feet, and I haven’t needed anyone to help me.  I’ve always figured things out for myself.  Even the Clancys, who have been my only comfort for years, did nothing more than give me the will to get up and keep going when things went sour.  I don’t need this man, no matter what it might feel like to lean on him.  It’s best that I remember that, because sure as death and taxes, he’ll leave when his duty to my father is complete,
she thought.
 

Gathering herself, then, she turned to face him, as he stood in her wrecked apartment.  She said, “Well, thank you so much for everything.  I appreciate your help.  What I really need is for you to help me handle my father’s affairs, so I can leave for his homestead.”

She watched his face, as she made her I-don’t-like-needing-you-for-anything speech.  She noted the way his eyes narrowed, and his lips thinned. 
Okay, I’ve offended him.  Tough. I’m not going to back down or pretend I want anything more to do with him than I do.  I’m done being a charity case, or a poor thing needing the grown-ups’ help.  The only reason I’m letting him handle my father’s arrangements is that he knows what my father wanted, and he knows how to get it done quickly.   He is a means to an end.  Nothing more.

So why, when he stalked over to me, ignoring the smashed vase, and the cushions scattered everywhere, did my nerves flutter and my cheeks warm?  What the hell is that about?  He is so much taller than I am. I should feel threatened, not... oh… damn… not turned on!  What?
 

Faith backed away from him.  She figured that a safe distance was best when dealing with a pissed off man, especially when the man towered over her.  He stalked closer, invading her personal space, and said, “I’m not going anywhere, Faith. So, you’d best adjust your attitude.  I made a promise I intend to keep.”

His rich, dark voice was quiet as the grave.  She could hear the clock ticking on the wall by the kitchen door.  Truth be told, she could hear her heart beating. 
Who the hell does he think he is, getting in my face like that?  Does he think I’m scared of him?
 

She must have spoken aloud because he answered her. His voice was hard, and anger seemed to be an emotion he was made of, as he said,  “I’m Jack Johnson, Grant Lee’s friend for twenty years.  I don’t expect you to be scared of me, but I do expect you to show me you can do better than act like a scared teenager when her chain’s been yanked.  I know you’re hurting, believe me.  It’s no picnic for me, either, having to prepare my friend for his final resting place.  I know you don’t know me and don’t trust me.  That’s all well and good, but you don’t know the people you’re dealing with.  I do.  I will not allow anything to happen to you because you’re unhappy with the way things are.  I didn’t have much of a choice about being assigned as your babysitter; so, you don’t get a choice about being protected.  Capiche?”

He never once raised his voice. The fact that he had just told her off in a steady, low, cold-as-ice voice made heat rise inside her.  She immediately thought,
What the heck is wrong with me?  Nobody talks to me like that and gets away with it!  He isn’t my keeper!  Babysitter, indeed!  I’ll show him!
 

The anger blazed inside her, right alongside the overwhelming urge to pull his mouth down to hers and kiss him raw.  The idea made her shake where she stood.  To relieve her feelings, she hit him, hard.  She hit him over and over in the chest, the arms, anywhere her fists landed.  She didn’t even know she was crying again until he stopped her and pulled her back into the kitchen so he could wipe her tears with a paper towel.

Faith felt breathless.  She was unraveling before a stranger.  This was the second time in twenty-four hours that she was offloading tears and snot on a man she didn’t want to need.  However, she never backed down from a confrontation, and she wasn’t about to start now.

“I’m sorry for hitting you.  I truly don’t believe violence answers anything.  But I won’t let you tell me what to do, or treat me like a moron.  I’m a grown woman, and I’ve been taking care of myself for the last three years without help from anyone, thank you very much!”

He didn’t respond but merely looked at her.  His stare was curiously unnerving.  She felt as though he were stripping her naked and seeing the uncertainty inside, the fear, the total sense of loss that was ravaging her― and the lust that she was ruthlessly subduing.  She needed to refocus his attention away from her.

“When will the final ceremony be held?” she asked.

“Two days from now.  Sorry,” he held up his hands, “that was the earliest I could get.  I’ve told the guys in his old club, and a few of them will be there, the ones who live on this coast.  They want to say their goodbyes.  He was a good man and a great friend.”

“Okay.  I’ll have to get things sorted at my job.  Where is it to be held?  And may I see him before...before it’s over?”
  What a wuss!  I can’t even say the word “cremation” without gagging.
 

Jack didn’t seem to notice, thankfully.  She suspected it was more likely that he was being kind to her and not mentioning that he knew she was a bit weirded out by the concept.

“I’m sure that can be arranged.”  He looked around him and said, “Well, let’s get cracking on cleaning things up.  No sense in leaving a mess, especially if you’re going to be coming back here when this is all over.”

Although she was pretty sure she was never going to live here again and had already decided to break her lease, Faith said nothing.  She set about tidying up the place.  Jack did not speak, except to ask where things went.  He left her bedroom and bathroom to her and worked in the kitchen and living room. 

It was late by the time they were done. Although he wanted to invite her to crash with him, he knew the suggestion would not be welcome.  Instead, he asked where she was going to spend the night.  She told him she’d stay with the Clancys.  She had called them on her way back to the apartment from the hospital earlier. 

“I’ll take you to your car and follow you there.”  Faith noticed that it was a statement and not a question. Although she longed to tell him where he could shove his bossiness, she bit her tongue because she knew he was restraining himself as much as an alpha male like him could. 

She packed the things she would need for a cross-country trip with her.  The thought that her father would not be with her made her chest ache. She wondered how she had managed to hide from herself how much she had missed him all these years.

Sitting beside him in his truck, Faith looked back at Jack’s monster bike in the truck’s bed. The thought of getting on the pillion behind him sent a thrill through her, despite her breaking heart.  She had loved riding with her dad.  The freedom she felt was immense.  The wind in her hair, ruffling her cheeks had made her want to shout with the joy of being alive. 

She remembered those times fondly, as she sat beside the man from whom she was struggling to remain aloof.  Having to ride in the cab of his truck with him was difficult enough, but she would be damned if she would get any more up-close-and-personal with him.  Bad enough he was doing a number on her anyway, and she didn’t want to add to her troubles.  So, she was grateful when they turned off into the parking lot, and she got into her little car. 

At the Clancy’s home, he waited until she was indoors before driving off. The sound of his truck’s engine breached the stillness of the night and echoed inside her, leaving her feeling hollow. 
No, this isn’t sadness that he’s gone that I’m feeling.  It’s all about my father’s death and my feelings of abandonment resurfacing,
she thought. 

She knew, logically, that death was not the same as abandonment.  However, her heart couldn’t seem to recognize that fact.  It hurt just as badly now as it did when Grant had left six years ago.

She rubbed her chest absently, as if to soothe the ache.  She was glad Mary didn’t stay up to comfort her.  She was all talked out for the moment and, honestly, didn’t know when she would be ready to talk about her feelings with someone else.  She thought she wouldn’t sleep; but, apparently, she passed out from exhaustion that was beyond physical. 

When she resurfaced, it was past noon. Downstairs, she found Mary in the kitchen, feeding Jack.  Despite herself, she smiled.  Trust Mary to find someone else to look after.

“Hi,” she said, as she walked over to pour herself some coffee.  “Sorry I’m late.”

Mary tut-tutted and asked what she wanted to eat.  At Faith’s indifferent shrug, she hustled around and brought her a plate with eggs over-easy, bacon, buttered toast with orange marmalade on the side, and orange juice.  Her favorite breakfast... at lunch time.  She smiled again, but this time with tears in her eyes.

Faith said, “Thanks.” Yet, it was hoarse, as she struggled to keep the tears from spilling over.  She cleared her throat and said, in an effort to return things normal, “I have to go in to work today for a couple of hours.  I’ll be back for dinner.”

Jack, mercifully, said nothing, making her antennae quiver.  She thought,
Does that mean he is leaving me alone until after the funeral?  That is what I want, right?  So why the disappointment that he neither questioned me nor ordered me to do things differently?
 

Shaking her head at herself internally, she ate what was on the plate before her.  She was actually shocked that she could eat at all.  Finally, she retrieved her wallet and headed out.

John, her boss, was surprised to see her and asked her why she wasn’t with her dad.  She realized she hadn’t told him; so, to her great horror and embarrassment, she broke down and bawled like a baby.  Her boss hugged her in response.  It was the first time he had ever touched her in all the years they had worked together, aside from the first handshake when he interviewed her.  He was strong, despite his wiry appearance, and it felt good to know he had her back.  However, she couldn’t help but compare his hug to Jack’s.  She knew, as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose, that she would always prefer Jack’s hug.  The notion sucked, especially since she wanted as little to do with Jack as possible.