Texas Girl Grit Read online

  Tana flipped the faucets off on the tub and moved across the room to the shower. Throwing the glass doors open, she motioned for Sean to place me on the large teakwood bench inside.

  “I’ll help her shower and stay with her. You check on Masen, okay?”

  “Sure, Baby. Stay with her and keep her as calm as possible,” he murmured. “Turn the heat up on the shower as much as you can stand. Get her warmed up,” he commanded, closing the shower door on us.

  “I’ve got this,” Tana said calmly. She adjusted the faucets until she was satisfied with the water temperature, then knelt in front of me, the water spraying us both. With a firm grasp on my upper arms, she gently shook me.

  “Kelly, let’s get clean, okay? I’m going to wash your hair” she said, taking my shampoo down from the shelf above my head. She squirted some in her palm, and began to gently work it through my hair. Leaning my head over closer to the nearest shower head, she cupped my hair in the back, washing the suds out.

  “Sweetie, can you stand?” she asked, rubbing my back.

  I nodded, pushing to my feet shakily. I no longer felt I had tunnel-vision, and the violent shaking had stopped. I felt weak, my limbs heavy.

  “Help me get this swimsuit off,” she commanded, taking control with a soft but firm voice. She tugged at the strings around the neck of my tankini and then pulled it down my body. Tugging at the tie on the hip of the bottoms, she let them drop to the shower floor. Once my soaps and body wash was organized and within reach, she then handed me my loofa.

  I began to scrub. As my thoughts drifted to the drama at the pool, I began to scrub harder, working the soap over my arms, legs and abdomen. The thoughts of the blood in the water touching my skin, swirling around me…

  “Kelly…Kelly, stop! You’re scrubbing yourself raw,” Tana called out, taking the rough sponge from my hands. “You’re clean now. It’s okay, let’s get you out,” she urged, pushing the shower door open and grabbing a towel. She wrapped me up in it, guiding me out of the shower, through the bathroom and into our bedroom. Before I knew it, she had one of Liam’s t-shirts pulled over my head and the covers drawn up over me.

  A swift knock at the door drew Tana’s attention away. Scott entered the room, carrying a fussy Masen. I immediately pushed up, snapping out of my daze further, my maternal instincts kicking in.

  “Bring him here,” I insisted. Scott looked to Tana, then back to me. “It’s okay, I’m okay now.”

  Scott moved to hand the baby down to me. As soon as I had my arms wrapped around him, he dropped his head to my shoulder, quieting immediately.

  “Do you want me to call Miranda?” Scott asked.

  “No, she’s with her family this weekend. I don’t want to bother her. I’m fine,” I assured him.

  “Jen and I can help with Masen,” Tana offered. “I’m going to step down to my own bathroom and clean up,” she said, moving toward the door. She was still in her swimsuit, wet from helping me shower.

  “Close those shutters,” Sean barked at Scott as he entered the room. I glanced behind Scott, curious about the vehemence in his voice. As Scott moved to obey, I caught a glimpse of one of the security detail outside on the deck around the hot tub with a policeman, moving to place something in large plastic bags.

  As I continued to hold Masen tightly I turned to Sean. “What was in the hot tub?”

  Scott finished closing all the blinds across the bedroom windows looking out over the backyard and deck. He turned and studied me, his eyes not revealing anything – even emotion – as usual.

  “Sean? I want to know,” I began.

  “Scott, did you get in touch with Liam?” Sean asked, avoiding my question as he sank down on the bed beside me.

  “No, I left him a voicemail. He’s probably out on the ranch somewhere, out of cell range. I expect him to call back soon.”

  “The police want to talk to you again, since you are head of Liam’s security team.”

  “Of course. Kelly, you can call me if you need me,” he murmured, striding across the room and down the hallway.

  “Sean?” I asked again. He leaned over and placed his arm around me, pulling me closer, hugging me and Masen.

  “I don’t want to upset you further, but I think you need to know. Someone butchered a couple of animals and threw them into your hot tub. They were pretty hacked up,” he added. “Looks like pigs.”

  I instinctively covered my mouth with my free hand. Bile burned the back of my throat, and I struggled to keep it down. I shut my eyes, thinking at least it was animal blood and not human. For a moment, I feared they’d found a body in the spa.

  “Who would do that?” I couldn’t even comprehend someone doing that, or why. “How did they even get in,” I began. My heart pounded at the thought. How could anyone have gotten into our backyard area without someone seeing them?

  “We don’t know. The extra security guys stationed outside are frustrated and angry right now. No one saw anything. It’s like the pigs just appeared.”

  I remembered the security cameras Liam had installed around the property. “What about the security footage?”

  Sean stroked my arm soothingly. “I’m sure that’s what the police wanted to talk to Scott about. They’re probably checking it now.”

  We sat in silence for a few minutes. Masen had fallen asleep on my shoulder, and I swayed gently as I rubbed his back in little circles. Jen appeared, freshly showered, her hair piled on her head, dressed in worn jeans and a faded t-shirt. She moved around my bed silently and sank down on the other side of me.

  “You okay?” She asked, taking my free hand.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I was a bit shaken-up,” I replied, taking a deep breath and sighing.

  “Kel, it was more than a bit. I was shaken. Tana was shaken. You…you seemed to have a bit of a panic attack or flashback,” she said, her eyes darting to Sean.

  “Do you want me to leave to let you talk in private?” Sean asked.

  I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I did…I kind of,” I began.

  “It’s okay, Kel. You need to talk about it,” Jen urged, her counselor voice kicking in.

  “I kept seeing my mother in the bathtub…in our apartment. All the blood in the pool, thinking about something dead in the water…brought the memories back. Memories of the water pouring over the top of the tub, my mother’s body floating in it,” I whispered.

  “I’m sorry, Kelly. I had no idea,” Sean murmured, leaning over to kiss me on top of the head.

  “Hey, sweetie. How are you doing?” Tana asked as she entered. She looked relaxed and clean, having donned a cute pair of yoga pants and lose flowing tank. She had her hair pulled up in a high ponytail.

  “Come here, beautiful,” Sean called, opening his arms to her. She sank down into his lap and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek.

  “I’m good, now. Y’all don’t have to hover.”

  “Not hovering. Just going to have an old-fashioned slumber party tonight. Think this bed will hold us all?” Jen asked, patting the mattress as she rolled on her side, down to the foot of the bed where she propped her head on an elbow.

  “You don’t have to stay here after what’s happened. Y’all can go home if you want,” I said, feeling guilty about the weekend being ruined.

  “If it’s okay, I think we’ll hang here with you. We still have tonight and tomorrow till our weekend is over,” Jen replied.

  “Yeah, I don’t think I want to go home to our apartment alone, anyway. I’m still a bit spooked,” Tana added, looking back at Sean.

  He kissed her nose. “I wouldn’t let you go home alone, Baby. But I have no problem camping out here for the night. No place I’d rather be. You’ll all be safe here together. No one’s getting through again.”

  “Don’t you have practice,” Tana argued.

  “This morning. I came straight here when we got through. I was going to surprise you and join you for your swim…then we all got surprised.”

  “You can s
ay that again,” I murmured.

  “Let me have Masen, sweetie. I’ll go put him in his crib,” Tana offered, moving to take him from me. “I’ll turn his monitor on.”

  I let her take him. Sean stood behind her, and then followed her out into the hallway.

  Scott returned, his eyes on Jen as he came back into the room.

  “The police are doing a sweep, treating it as a crime scene since this is high profile.”

  “Liam wouldn’t want this publicized,” I began.

  “There’s already been a news crew here. Call like that goes in, they know the address. They’re bloodhounds. But I told the lieutenant in charge if asked, to say there’d been some vandalism, nothing more. I’ve already talked to Liam’s campaign manager, he’ll say the same.”

  I sighed, and lay back into the pillows. “Thanks, Scott.”

  “No problem. You good?” he asked, his eyes shifting back to Jen.

  “Yeah. We’re all going to hang here tonight.”

  He nodded as my cell rang on the nightstand. I picked it up to the flashing message “Liam calling.”

  “Hey,” I answered on the second ring. Jen could tell by my body language and soft voice that it was Liam, and she rose slowly and moved toward the door. Just as she pulled the door to, I saw Scott move to pull her close. Yeah, that ship had sailed.

  “Hellcat, how are you holding up?” Liam breathed on the other end, sounding as thought her was relieved to hear my voice.

  “I’m guessing you’ve heard.”

  “I just got off the phone with Sean. Baby, why didn’t you call me? I’m sorry I wasn’t there. You don’t need to handle this kind of stress alone.” I could tell he was pacing, probably running his hand through his hair.

  “We’ve been a bit busy. But Tana and Sean got me showered and settled, and Tana put Masen down for me. Everyone is going to stay the night with me. I’m fine. What about you?”

  “Um…what about me, Hellcat?”

  “I’m worried about you down there. Is everything going as it should? Any problems?”

  “No, Baby. We rode fence lines again today, talked to some border patrol officers. Other than hearing stories that scared the bejesus out of me, everything has been fine.”

  I let out a breath. “I can’t stop worrying until you’re back safe here with me.”

  “Well, I talked to Scott this morning and he should have filled you in. I’m pissed Sean called me before Scott has,” he continued, highly agitated.

  I couldn’t believe I was going to take up for Scott. He’d never been my favorite person. But I’d seen how busy he’d been with the police and trying to keep the situation from getting out of control.

  “Wait, don’t be mad at Scott, honey. He said he tried. He’s been busy, and with the police and extra security, the cleanup and all—he’s had his hands full. He just came back in here to check on me after seeing after everything outside.”

  I heard him sigh. “You’re right. I’m only angry at the situation. First light, I’m on a plane home. We were scheduled to come home tomorrow night anyway.”

  “Okay. See you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah. I love you, Baby,” he whispered. I could picture him on the other end, his eyes shut as he said the words like a prayer. My heart clenched. He was my world.

  “Honey, you too. Bye.”

  And the tears formed. I’d cried more since I met Liam than I’d cried in my entire young life. I guess when you have something to lose after all, you’re more emotional at the thought of anything happening.

  * * *

  “Um, okay…” I heard from the doorway. I opened my eyes to find Liam looking around the room, bags under his arm and in hand on one side, his other hand loosening his tie, jacket draped over his shoulder. He was taking in the scene in front of him. As my own eyes scanned the room, I realized it did look pretty funny. Tana was beside me in the bed, Sean tucked on her other side, spooning her. Masen was on the pillow with me, snoring his little baby snores. Jen was on a pallet in the floor, Scott close to her with one arm tucked around her waist. We’d all crashed after a late night of Yahtzee in the middle of our bed, followed by a movie marathon on the television.

  “Impromptu slumber party, after all the excitement yesterday,” I said, yawning. Liam chuckled, dropped his bags to the floor and made his way toward me.

  “Yeah. Looks like I missed all the fun,” he murmured, leaning over to kiss me. I kissed him back, and he deepened the kiss, letting me know how much he’d missed me. Masen stirred beside me, his eyes popping open and immediately recognizing Liam.

  “Dada,” he gurgled, pushing up and launching himself toward Liam. Liam caught him, then tossed him in the air and cradled him to his chest. “Hey, big guy. Missed you too. You take care of your mama?”

  “Mama,” Masen said, bouncing in Liam’s arms.

  “Hey dude, quiet…some people are trying to sleep,” Sean mumbled, pushing up beside Tana.

  “Yeah, in my bed. What’s up with that, Bro?” Liam barked playfully.

  “You’re just jealous. Bet it’s been a while for you, since you’ve had two beautiful women in bed with you at once,” Sean teased.

  I, however, bristled. Two women at once? What the hell? He’d better not ever have had two women in bed with him at once.

  My expression must have betrayed my inner thoughts. Liam laughed nervously. “You’re remembering your past, buddy, not mine. Mine was all hype, dude.” Liam covered, his eyes cutting to me.

  “Whatever,” Sean retorted. Then he leaned over to kiss Tana on her temple. “Hey, babe…wake up. I’ll buy you breakfast,” he said, shaking her gently.

  “Go away, it’s still nighttime,” she mumbled, swatting him away.

  “Nope, Ten-thirty…AM,” Liam stated, pulling the blinds wide. The light bathed the room, waking Scott and Jen.

  Liam’s brows rose comically at the sight of Scott and Jen together, tangled in her blankets, rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

  “Lots to tell you,” I chirped, pushing up in the bed.

  “Got that, babe,” he answered,

  Sean pulled Tana up and slapped her behind, hurrying her down the hallway. Scott pulled Jen behind him, stopping beside Liam, seeming to want to say something. He closed his mouth, ducked his head, and pulled a grinning Jen behind him.

  Chapter Eleven

  S

  cott’s and Liam’s voices carried through the house, Liam’s tone angry.

  “My job is to protect not only you, but her. This is twice a message has been sent. It’s always while you are away. She’s in danger, and no matter how many men we have stationed at the house, they always get through undetected.” Scott’s voice reasoning, much calmer than Liam’s.

  “That doesn’t mean she’ll be safer somewhere else!” Liam yelled.

  “What’s going on?” I asked as both men turned at my voice.

  Liam moved to me, immediately taking me in his arms and placing a kiss on my temple. “It’s nothing, Baby. We were talking about security.”

  “Has something else happened?” I looked back and forth at them. Scott immediately looked apologetically at Liam. Liam dropped his arms and turned to the windows, his shoulders slumped as if in defeat.

  “We found a note in the garage, on your car,” Scott said quietly.

  “Scott!” Liam shouted, turning back to Scott. “She doesn’t need to hear this right now.”

  “Hear what?” I insisted, turning to Scott. He moved toward me, all the time watching Liam.

  “She deserves to know. And we’re not protecting her by not telling her,” he stated. He turned fully to me, as Liam growled out his frustration. “There was a note attached to your car this morning, warning there will be blood and harm to your family if he doesn’t back down on the border issue.”

  “What exactly did it say? And why my car?” I asked, turning to Liam. He moved toward me, pulling me into his arms as he kissed my forehead.

  “You don’t need to worry abou
t this, Baby. We have security covered. Scott and I have a difference of opinion as to how to ad things to maximize our safety.”

  Tipping my head back, I considered what he’d said for a moment. “How did someone even get into the garage to leave a note?”

  Liam’s expression hardened, his jaw tense. “That’s a good question. For some reason, we’ve had problems with security cameras. We have three men outside all the time, but it’s a big place, Baby. We’re putting a couple more men on.” Then he turned to Scott and growled, “And I want all of the equipment rechecked and updated if necessary. Any more foul-ups with security footage, and I’ll fire everyone involved and start over with a new team, including you. No more fuck-ups.”

  I tensed, my stomach dropping. I’d never heard Liam so angry, and I’d never heard him threaten Scott before. I watched Scott’s expression turn from one of apprehension to indignation.

  “There won’t be any more incidents, not here. The place will be Fort Knox, and I will see to Kelly personally.”

  His eyes were dead, as always. One nod of his chin and he left the room. Returning my attention to Liam, I placed my hands on his chest.

  “I think you were a bit harsh with Scott,” I began. With a raise of his brow, he reminded me I, too, had been critical of Scott in the past.

  “I know, but I think he’s worked hard to keep us safe. I’ve always thought he was cold and distant, and I’ve been a bit judgmental. I think he’s reserved because he doesn’t know where he fits in.”

  Liam’s expression softened. He reached for me, cupping my jaw with his hand as he touched his lips to mine. He was letting me know he appreciated me considering Scott’s feelings.

  I continued, “He’s a friend from your past, and though he works for you and your dad, he’s found himself thrown into social situations with us now. Sean is around more, and the three of you were friends before he worked for you. And now, apparently, he’s going to be dating Jen. It makes it awkward for him, being a bodyguard of sorts to us, while at the same time hanging with us socially.”