Her Dominant SEAL(8)

“Were they arrested?”

“Nope, they left before the sheriff got there. Two of the three men they were fighting with ended up in the hospital.”

Evie came into the kitchen. “Who ended up in the hospital?”

“Just some locals hanging out at Lucille’s. Looks like they could be friends of your dad.”

Evie scowled. “So, you came over to warn us? Why are you packing?”

Larry’s concealed weapon wasn’t all that concealed. But Drake appreciated the fact he had a gun if he was a good guy.

“Thank you for coming over so quickly. But this shit could get dangerous.” Drake said. “You could be putting yourself in harm’s way. Why are you so willing to help us?”

“He’s a good guy, Drake. Back off. He’s my friend. I trust him.” Evie was mad.

Larry held up his hands. “I told you my nephew was Parker Evans.”

“Yes,” Drake agreed slowly. “A redhead, always smiled. Sure, I remember him. We played football together.”

“That was him.”

“Was?”

“He died in Afghanistan. IED.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Drake shook his head in sympathy.

“Do you remember, he was a year behind you? He sure as hell looked up to you, and you stayed after practice to give him pointers.”

Drake smiled. “He was a good kid. He had a lot of potential, he just needed a little extra attention.”

“And you were the one who gave it to him. It made all the difference in the world. You know, he never believed that trumped up charge. As a matter of fact, he and some of the others in town did some digging and realized just what a raw deal you got.”

Drake didn’t know what to say. Having his mom against him had made him question whether anybody would be on his side.

“Anyway, I’ve been thinking about a safe place for you and yours to stay while you’re in town. I worry about this place being safe, especially with your daddy out of prison. I want to loan you a chalet I rent to some of my more private clients.”

“Drake and Piper can stay there, maybe Trenda and her daughter, but I don’t need to,” Evie spoke up.

Both men glared at her.

“If you’re caught in the cross-fire, you’ll duck and cover like the rest of us. Got it?” Drake stared his sister down.

“No, I don’t ‘got it.' Go practice your SEAL voodoo on someone else.”

“You’re a SEAL?” Larry asked.

“Yeah, he’s a big bad SEAL, and he thinks he gets to tell me what to do. Well, I’m a grown woman and I’ve been living my life just fine without you dictating to me, so you’re not going to start now.” Evie shoved her hands on her hips and stared up at both men, daring them to disagree.

“Eva, it’s the Carmendy Chalet. You know the place but hardly anyone else does.” Larry turned to Drake. “It’s huge, I really think all of you need to stay there, including Eva.” He turned back to Evie and pointed at her. “I know you’re stubborn as hell, but your father is a few bricks shy of a load and meaner than a snake.”

Drake gave a dry laugh. “That about sums him up.” He put his hand on Evie’s shoulder. “We haven’t seen him since he’s gotten out of prison, but you know he’s probably only gotten worse.”

She gave a heavy sigh and nodded.

“Okay, it’s a done deal,” Larry said. “I’m going to drive her and Piper up there.”

“Larry, I don’t know how long this is going to take. Seriously, can you afford to not rent this place out?” Drake questioned one last time.

“This is for Parker. I don’t give a shit if you take the place for the rest of the ski season.”

Drake was dumbfounded. Here he was, coming home to find his youngest sister without a decent winter coat and on the run from her father, but he was being offered a ski chalet, for the rich and famous, to hide out in. It was amazing.

“Well?”

“Thank you.” Drake stuck out his hand, and Larry shook it.

“Now, I’m going to stay with the women until you get back. I’ll make sure nobody can get to them.”

Eva threw up her hands in disgust. “There is too much fucking testosterone in here.” She stormed back to sit next to Piper.

“Larry, I’m in your debt.”

“No, you’re not. We’re not keeping score, but if we were, we might finally be getting close to even. ” The man clapped him on the back. “Now go do what you need to do.”

***

His old house didn’t look anything like it once had. It should have been painted at least five years ago, if not longer. The roof on the carport was drooping, besides having a hole in one corner. Drake didn’t think the yard was ever going to come back to life even in the spring, considering the fact that it was now mostly patches of dirt.