Sizzle (St. Martin Family Saga): Emergency Responders (14 page)

Augie looked to Clay and said, “So should I just tell you what I found out?” Clay nodded, then pulled out a chair for Eve.

“Eve, Clay failed to mention that you’re Canadian.”

Clay frowned at her. “You’re Canadian.”

She was embarrassed; she hadn’t even thought to mention it. Was it a big deal? Didn’t they like Canadians?

The two men had the exact same stance—legs shoulder-width apart and arms folded over their chests. The effect was intimidating. She looked up at them and said, “I am. Is that a bad thing?”

They glanced at one another and shook their heads.

Augie said, “No problem, just took a little more time to find this guy.” He scratched his neck with a long finger. “Uh, Eve?”

“Yes?” Oh God, was it that bad? Was he coming after her?

“Your six months will be up in three weeks. Are you aware of this?”

“What?” She shook her head. “No. I’m just going to stay here or I can get another stamp. I work on the Internet—it’s an international company. I’m not taking a job away from anybody. I don’t need citizenship, do I? I’ll just get that stamp.”

Augie shook his head. “I’m afraid you can only live here six months per calendar year. You might be able to stay indefinitely if you don’t get caught, but if you get pulled over or if anybody runs your information, you’ll be flagged.” He smiled gently. “It’s not such a terrible dilemma, but be aware of it.”

She nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. He shifted from one foot to the other and then back again. Clay said nothing.

“Your sister’s been worried. She’s glad you’re safe and wants to come be with you. She wants you to call her. I didn’t tell her anything, and I suggest you don’t call her because doing so may disclose your location.”

“You spoke to my sister?” Eve was confused.

Augie placed his palms on the table and leaned in to her. “I had to warn her.”

“Oh God. Why?”

She started crying, and Clay moved closer. He sat next to her and pulled her into his chest. Augie took the seat across from them.

“Have you been in contact with your sister? And I don’t mean just by telephone, but email, social media, anything?”

Through her tears she said, “I wasn’t able to contact her because no one could know I was leaving. I walked away not knowing when or if I’d ever see her or my mother again.” She blew her nose with the tissue Clay laid in her lap.

Augie pulled out a chair and sat, tipping it back on two legs. “It’s clear Renaud thinks you’re in contact with Mia.”

She inhaled raggedly. “Why? And how do you know?”

Clay turned to her and clasped his large warm hands around hers.

Augie cleared his throat. “He’s tailing her. We should probably try to get your sister.”

Eve was shaking now and couldn’t control her tears. “No, no, no. He’s going to hurt her. He used to use that against me, to make me do what he wanted. He used to…” She held a clean tissue to her lips and coughed into it. “Just to visit with her I had to pay big time before and after, doing odd chores I swear he made up just because he hated me.” She knew she was hysterical and not making sense. A pained sigh escaped her throat.

“I have to warn her.” She stood, but Clay grasped her hand in his.

“You can’t. Whatever happens, you can’t contact her. That’s what he wants. He’s waiting for you. Luring you.”

Eve pulled her hand free of Clay’s and paced. “She has no one to help her: I have to go back.”

She again headed to the door, but Clay was on his feet and blocking her way.

“I’m not letting you go back there.”

She tried to break out of his hold, but he wouldn’t release her. She couldn’t meet his eyes. She didn’t want to see the look on his face because if she did, she wouldn’t be able to leave. And she needed to leave.

Focusing on her shaking hands, she said, “Clay, let me go. I have to help Mia.”

“Eve, look at me.”

She refused. “No, let me go!
I’ve
done this. It’s not your responsibility. I’m not your responsibility.” She squared her shoulders and looked up toward his face, but avoided his eyes. Staring at his neck, she said, “Thank you for everything. You are a kind man. A good man. If things had been different and we’d met under different circumstances, I would have spent the rest of my life loving you. You deserve someone who will do that and more.” She pressed her palm to his cheek. “Clay St. Martin, you deserve someone who is available and all yours.” She rose on her tiptoes and kissed his other cheek. She turned to Augie. “Thank you for your help.”

*

Clay was rendered numb as Eve hurried away, clutching the dog. He and Augie sat in silence for several moments before Augie said, “So that’s it, then. You’re just gonna let her walk.”

“What other options do I have?” He swiveled toward Augie. “You heard what she said. She’s actually still married to the guy. And she has to go to her sister.” He rested his elbows on the table and scrubbed his face with his hands.

“I gotta say if she were a girl I was in love with, I wouldn’t let her walk away, no matter the circumstances. You’d have to chain me to a cement block and throw me in the Gulf before I’d let her get anywhere near some lowlife intending to hurt her.”

“What the fuck, Augie? Kicking me when I’m down?” His hands went to his hair and rubbed hard.

Augie leaned against the table next to him. “Hey, you’re like a brother to me; I want to see you happy. After seeing you with Eve”—he shook his head—“you’re different. It’s her. You love this girl.”

“Thanks for close-captioning my heartache.”

“So… You wanna hear my plan?”

Clay came to full attention and narrowed his eyes on his friend. “I swear, Augie, if you don’t start talking, I’ll punch you in your weak gut just like when we were teens.”

Augie held his hands up. “Easy there, big fella.” He pressed his finger into his chest. “
I’ll
go get the sister. You stay here and keep Eve safe until I return and see that she fills out these papers.”

He handed Clay a folder.

“Divorce forms. I looked into it. If it’s uncontested—and she states that her spouse was mentally or physically cruel, making it unbearable to live with him—the divorce will be granted, no courts, end of story.”

Clay studied the forms. “Augie, you’d go all the way to Canada?”

Augie smiled. “What part of
you are a brother to me
did you not understand? I know, you’ve got brothers to spare, but I don’t. None that I’d give a nickel for anyway. You’re it, man.” He rattled the papers in Clay’s hands. “I’ll send you an address and you’ll overnight me the forms. I’ll see that he signs, uncontested, of course.”

“What if he won’t sign? From what Eve told me, he’s dangerous.”

Augie nodded. “I’ve researched him. He’s not nice, and I have a feeling she won’t be free unless he’s gone.”

They shared an intense look. The room was so quiet, Clay could hear his own breathing.

Augie clasped his shoulder, but Clay went in for a bear hug.

“Be careful—you’re my best friend. I need you.”

“Dude, don’t be a pussy.”

Augie’s rough voice matched Clay’s shaky emotions. Augie punched him in the shoulder, and Clay pulled away with a laugh.

“Go get her, before she leaves. I’ll be in touch.” Augie slapped a phone against Clay’s chest. “Burner. For emergency contact only.”

*

Clay ran into the house, and the dog met him at the door. They found Eve at the computer, searching for a flight to Montreal. She swiveled to him, her large gray eyes full of moisture. She whispered, “Clay” and reached out to wrap her arms around his legs. “I never thought I’d want or would ever find what I have with you. I love you, and I would give anything to have met you first. Give anything to be free and to be all yours. But as long as he breathes, I’ll never be free.”

He squatted in front of her and took her face into his hands. Evidently she thought she was still in Canada, but this was Louisiana and he had no doubts in Augie’s abilities to finalize negotiations with the bastard she was married to.

“Baby, Augie’s gone to bring your sister here. He’ll keep her safe and he won’t be leaving Canada until Renaud signs, uncontested, your divorce papers. You’ll be safe here with me, and I don’t plan on being away from you for one second.”

“He will never sign. Not for Augie, not for anyone.”

“Listen to me because I’m only going to say this once and then we’re going to go on living our lives. If he won’t sign, then his life will be in jeopardy. He’ll be thanking God for a quick death because had I been the one going after him, he would suffer slowly.”

Her tears dried, and her luminous eyes probed him for several seconds. “You can’t let him do it.” Her voice was a rasped whisper. “Augie could be hurt. Or worse.” She pulled a hand free and wiped her eyes with shaking fingers, saying, “I could never forgive myself if something happened to the people you love because of me.”

He kissed her. “You’re the people I love, and don’t worry about Augie. He was special ops in the marines. Spent time in Afghanistan. He was sent in to extract a group of civilians. The marines contacted his family when he missed his exit window and they had no idea where he was—thought he’d died out in that desert—but truth be told, he’d killed the enemy and waited for extraction while tending to the wounds and needs of twenty-three civilian females. Don’t worry about Augie.”

“Why would he do this for me?”

“Because he’s my friend.”

Her brow furrowed. “Friends pick up your mail and feed your dog while you’re gone. They don’t do this.”

“They do in the South.” He stroked her jaw. “Besides, he’s my best friend. He’s family. We’d do anything for each other.” He took her hands in his. “He left a burner phone that we’ll use to keep in contact and stay updated.”

“What’s a burner phone?”

“It’s a disposable cellphone. The number is anonymous.” He stood and took the folder from the bed where he’d tossed it. “You need to fill out this paperwork to file for a divorce and you’ll need to state that you were physically abused.”

She gasped, and he squatted in front of her again. “Hey, I’ll be right here. I’ll help you through it.”

She lunged forward and threw her arms around his neck, wrapping tight. The dog barked next to them.

Her breath was hot in his ear before she said, “I’ll need you. I’ll always need you. Say you won’t let go. Please tell me you’ll keep me safe.”

She curled herself into him as if she were trying to climb inside his chest. He tried to pull her down so he could look at her, but she had a death grip on him. “I’m here, Eve. I won’t let go.”

She inhaled a ragged breath. “I don’t know why you would do this for me, but maybe you are a guardian angel sent from heaven. I wish I could do something for you.”

She was alternating crying and breathing and talking, stroking his cheek and petting the dog.

“Hey, I’m doing this because I love you.”

She was frantic and not listening to him.

“I have money, did you know that? I make about three thousand dollars per week from a blog I own. Do you need money?”

He stood with her in his arms and laid her on the bed, going down with her. With his back against the headboard, she was forced to look into his eyes. He held her chin still until she stopped moving.

“You aren’t listening to me: I love you. That’s all you need to know. Having you around made me realize how lonely I’d been. Your constant energy brings life, brings light and… and a lightness. You never sit still, you’re always moving, always got your hands in something. Sometimes I just sit back and watch you, and I can’t wait to see what you’ll get into next. Chickens, pies, dogs, seamstress, blogger—I never know what your next hand will be. You’re very successful, aren’t you? Everything you touch is perfection.”

His hands slid across her cheeks and into her hair as he lifted his head to take her lips. He swore she tasted like strawberry fucking shortcake.

Her warm, soft lips explored him as her tongue swiped at his, and she reached down and fondled his crotch. Then she abruptly pulled away and said, “I’m sorry,” as she cupped her hands to her mouth.

He took her hand and placed it back on his cock. “Don’t ever be sorry. Tell me what you want to do.”

“I want to taste you.”

Her moist breath against his lips was torture.

“You like sucking me?”

She nodded shyly.

“Why?”

She shrugged. “I like the noises you make when I do it.”

His brow furrowed. “I make noises?”

“Yeah, you do. Lots. It makes me feel… desired.”

“You are desired and much more.”

If she was about to give him head, he wanted her naked. He tugged at her shirt and then removed her bra to release her beautiful tits right in front of his face. He groaned and was in heaven as he placed both hands on her outer curves and his face between them. He lightly licked and sucked at her breastbone before turning to take a nipple into his mouth. He gently sucked, then pulled back, needing to use his teeth. When he bit down on her erect nipple, her eyes turned liquid, and he soothed her tit with the flat of his tongue.

He was moving in for another nibble when a whine from the side of the bed had them both leaning over.

The dog lay on the carpet, head on his crossed paws, staring up at the bed.

“I don’t want him jumping my ass when we get going up here,” Clay said. “Any suggestions?”

She chewed on her finger, making him want to forget the damned dog.

“Bathroom? He won’t be able to get out.”

Clay rolled off the bed, scooped up the dog, ran him across to the bathroom, and locked him inside. When he turned from the door, a sock hit him in the face. He raised one brow as he held it up.

“He needs something to chew on. One dead sock is better than holes in the tile or scratches on the door.”

He turned, opened the door, dropped the sock inside, and closed the door.

Once again he turned toward Eve.

“Is that all?”

“Hmm…” She stood in the middle of the bed and dropped her shorts. Kicked them off the bed. “Maybe…” She drew a slow finger down her chest, curving back and forth, passing over and under her nipples.