Her Dominant SEAL(11)
His mother paled. “Please, Norville, I told you, I’ve been faithful the entire time.”
Norville stood up and reached out his hand. “A lusty woman like you? You needed it, you couldn’t have been faithful.”
“I was, I swear.”
He grabbed her forearm, twisting, forcing her to kneel in front of him. “Now swear to me. Swear that you were faithful.”
“I swear it. I love you, Norville. I’ve loved you since high school, there’s never been anybody else.”
He smiled. “Oh, darlin’.” He helped her back up. “I love you, too.”
“I love you too.” Mascara ran down her face. “Let’s go upstairs.
He bent down and gave her a kiss. “Let’s.”
Drake watched as they walked out of the kitchen.
Chapter Three
Drake needed a minute and some Clorox to clear his head, so he double timed it back to his car. Before he took a time out, he needed to make sure Piper was safe. He pulled out his phone. He saw a couple of messages from San Diego that he’d take care of soon. First, he needed to talk to Evie.
“Avery,” she answered.
“That’s my line.” He smiled.
“I knew it was you. I decided to fuck with you.” He winced. Did she have to talk like a truck driver?
“Evie, this is important. Where’s Piper? Where’s Larry?”
“I’ve stepped into the bedroom. I’m alone. What’s up?”
“How secure is that place?”
“The whole property is fenced in with an electric fence, and you have to get in with a keypad. Lots of executives and celebrities stay here.”
Drake blew out a sigh of relief.
“How do I get there?”
“Are you in Jasper Creek proper?”
“Yeah.”
“At Mom and Dad’s?”
“Yeah.”
“Dammit, Drake, do you know how much I worry about you? I don’t care if you are a big bad SEAL.”
“I’m fine.”
“Bullshit. Everybody’s out to get you.” She said something that he couldn’t make out. “I just,” her voice broke. “I just couldn’t handle it if something else bad happened to you. The first time almost killed me.”
“Ah, Evie. Honey. I’m fine. Honest.
He heard her swallow. “Fine. You’re fine. Sorry I bothered to care.”
“Hey, wait a moment. Not so fast, Sissy.”
“What?”
Drake thought he heard a tremor in her voice. He should have known underneath that tough exterior was still the heart of the sister who had read every single Nancy Drew and wanted to be Lois Lane.
“Thanks for caring.”
“Who are you kidding, like I care.”
“Your problem is you care too much.”
“Enough with the mushy stuff. Here’s the directions. Are you ready Super Soldier? Go to Hwy 321 towards Route Eight. Head towards Ledlow Hill, then you’re going to see a sign that says Dwight Road on your right. Ignore the No Trespassing sign and go until it dead ends at the gate. That’s the Carmendy Chalet. Just press the intercom. One of us will buzz you in.”
“Just like that? How do you know I’m me?”
“Mellow. There’s a camera.”
Drake was put at ease. It didn’t sound like the easiest place in the world to get to. He still needed to do a little bit of thinking before he went there. There was something that his father said that was nagging at him. And he needed to check in with Mason.
It was midnight on a Wednesday night, it should be clear of kids, but he still drove slowly towards the water tower. After all, in his day, it had been the place to make out. He drove his car back behind the blackberry bushes. From that vantage point, he could see anybody who drove up, even if they had their lights off. He rolled down all the windows in the car just to be on the safe side.
God, just seeing Norville and Wanda’s faces had churned up so many memories. If he didn’t have the Laughton feature’s as well as Norville’s build, there was no way he would have thought he came from them. Well maybe from his mom. He still held out hope that she had just been led astray by her husband, but that was getting tougher and tougher to believe. Drake gave a grim smile when he thought of Granny Laughton and how disgusted she was with her daughter.
“It’s a damn shame when your own child gets led around by her hoo-haw instead of using the brain the good Lord gave her.”
Drake remembered almost choking on his lemonade and sugar cookie when his Granny had said that to him.
She had been crippled with arthritis and damn near blind when he had been accused of aggravated assault. He had sworn his sisters to secrecy, so they hadn’t told her when he had been remanded into custody. If they had told her, she would have put her little house and all that worthless land, up for bond and probably called the Governor on his behalf. Actually, what had really worried Drake, was if she had heard how badly he had been beaten, it might have killed her.