Protecting You (A McCord Family Novel Book 1) (6 page)

Zane still looked confused. "What will be good for us? What do you mean by bad shape?" Zane shook his head. "Forget I asked that last question, I don't care about her. I don't even want to talk about her. I told you never to mention her name in front of me. I haven't been that bad. It's just been a rough start to the summer."

Austin sighed. "You're in denial, it's not even funny. You better be on your best behavior or you'll answer to me. I've had enough of everything going on around here and I won't stand for it anymore. I brought Ava home with me. She's in the house resting."

Zane shot up from his chair so fast he knocked it over. "What the hell do you mean you brought her home? I don't want that woman anywhere near me, let alone in my home."

"Well, it's not up to you. I want her here, so she's staying. Stay out of her way and ignore the fact she is here, or help me," Austin said, not falling into the trap of yelling back.

Zane clenched his fists. "Help with what exactly? I'm not into helping her with anything. She took Jimmy from us."

"First of all, she didn't do anything but be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it wasn't her who had been attacked, it would've been somebody else. Second of all, the man who pulled the trigger took Jimmy from us, not Ava. And third of all, why don't you go look for yourself and see what I mean by helping me? It'll only take one look." Austin turned around and grabbed the door handle. He started to open it and then whipped around. "I mean it, Zane. Leave her alone if you can't be cordial. You're my brother and I love you, but I will deck you if I have to."

Austin didn't wait for a response and walked out.

***

Zane stood staring at the door. What had gotten into Austin? It occurred to him, he wasn't exactly sure, as they didn't talk much about anything anymore. The minute Jimmy died all the life inside him died as well. Austin had been partly right about him being a grouch. Lashing out was easier than dwelling on his guilt and regret with Jimmy.

Zane picked up his chair and sat back down. The anger still raged inside. He wasn't sure he could be cordial to Ava. And damn. Never was he threatened by one of his own brothers. Over a woman, no less. One he despised. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

He stared at his computer screen until he could calm down, and even then, he remained in his chair, afraid of what would happen when he walked inside the house.

Chapter 4

Zane sat outside on the porch swing, enjoying the night air and the calming sounds of the farm. The brisk wind bit into him, but not enough to go grab a jacket. His phone started ringing, drowning out the distant moos he heard coming from the pasture. He always found the night sounds peaceful, even in the light of day. They settled his emotions better than anything else.

"Hey, Jimmy," Zane answered.

"Hey, big brother, how's life?" Jimmy asked sincerely as if he missed the sound of his voice, even though it had been only a week since they last talked.

"Good. Busy. You know how it is. It might not be as bad if you were here," Zane replied, pushing his foot to make the swing continue its momentum.

Jimmy sighed. "Can't I call and talk without you reminding me why I should be there instead of here? Ava, a friend of mine—"

"I don't wanna hear about that friend of yours. She doesn't sound like a good influence, not with what I hear."

"And just what do you hear? Besides things from me, and maybe Austin, which is all good things. So she encourages me to speak out more. What's wrong with that?"

"Doesn't matter anyway. Just come home already. I miss you," Zane said with a slight pleading tone.

"I'm not coming home, Zane."

***

Zane stood outside Ava's door. Should he knock or just enter? He had finally decided to confront her and inquire why she was feeding his brother lies. There could be no other reasonable explanation why Austin wanted this woman here, unless she talked him into it. He wouldn't have her in this house. He just wouldn't.

Eleanor saw him come in, but he didn't stop to say anything to her. He hoped that she didn't go fetch Austin because he wanted to do this without interruption. He wasn’t looking forward to a potential fistfight with his brother. A very strong indication that could happen with him entering this room.

Damn it, this was his house. He shouldn't have to knock. Whipping open the door, he saw Ava sitting on the right side of the bed, close to the edge, staring at a picture in her hands. He couldn't see her face as her hair covered it, but her hair didn't seem right. It seemed dull, not vibrant and colorful the last time he burst into a room where she was.

He was still holding the door handle when Ava said vacantly, "I'm not hungry, Austin. Please, don't make me eat. I just want to be left alone."

"I'm not Austin. Why the hell aren't you hungry?"

Ava gradually stood up and turned toward the door, the shock written on her face. If Zane hadn’t been holding the door handle he probably would've fallen over. Nothing could've prepared him for the sight in front of his eyes. She wasn't the woman he remembered eight months ago. That woman had been beautiful with long golden-brown hair that shined brightly in the light. Her face had been lively with striking hazel eyes, and her smile—even as he yelled at her—she had smiled a gorgeous smile at him.

The woman that stood before him now looked lifeless, her eyes blank and sorrowful. No life shined back. Her face was tear-stained, streaks still marring her pale skin. Gauntly. Nothing but pure bones. He was afraid to breathe, fearful that she would fall over. She looked as if she hadn't eaten in weeks and she stood in front of him saying she wasn't hungry. How could she not be hungry?

He walked in here prepared for a fight with the vibrant woman he met before, now deflated, as he stared at the horror in front of him. He couldn't fight this. She didn't even look like she wanted to fight him. She looked ready to flee the room.

"You didn't answer my question. Why aren’t you hungry?"

"I'm just not," Ava replied softly as she set the picture on the bed.

He glanced at the picture frame and stepped further into the room to see it. Bristled with a clear blue sky and crystal-edged water, sat three young and carefree teenagers—him, Austin, and Jimmy. Jimmy was holding a fish and had the biggest smile on his face. Their arms interlocked together, pride on their faces at Jimmy's catch of the day.

"Biggest fish he ever caught. He was never very good at fishing. He usually only tagged along to be with me and Austin. He was so proud of himself that day. It had weighed about twenty pounds. Never caught anything close to that ever again," Zane said, surprised those words slipped from his mouth. That he even shared that momentous day.

Ava looked surprised as well. "I never fish. I don't even know what kind of fish it is. I like the picture, though. You three look so happy."

"It's a northern. We were happy that day," Zane said, as he stared at the picture and then looked at her with a hard glare. "Why are you here?"

Ava glanced away and remained silent.

"Answer me, damn it." He had the urge to grab her face so she would look at him. Last time they met, he was able to get right into her face and she never faltered once in staring him back down.

"Because Austin made me come. I don't want to be here anymore than you want me here. I'm thinking my other choice is actually looking better than this one."

"What other choice did you have? I wasn't told anything. I was just literally told you were here in my house."

"It was either this, or an in-patient treatment center to make me better," Ava said, daring a look into his eyes.

Zane was a little surprised by that answer. "Why? What's wrong with you? Besides the fact you're not eating and look like shit."

Ava gave a small laugh. "Leave it to you to say it straight."

"Well, it's true. And—"

"I didn't answer your question, right?"

Zane almost smiled, but stopped himself. "Yeah, that's right."

"Nothing's wrong with me, at least not to me. I just want to be left alone, but apparently, Austin and my father think I need help. I can see my father helping, but I'm confused why Austin even cares."

"Why wouldn't he care? You were friendly with him when Jimmy was around," Zane said, knowing Austin had been concerned for her well-being from the start.

"I killed your brother, so why would he be friendly now? Why would he care about me?" Ava sighed. "I just want to be left alone. I can't stay here." She grabbed her suitcase still packed by the bed and started for the door.

Zane stepped in front of her and grabbed her arm. His stomach lurched at the feel of her tiny arm. Nothing but skin and bone. "You killed him, huh? I was told the only thing that killed my brother was the man who pulled the trigger."

"You don’t blame me? You don't think I killed him?" she asked, staring him in the eye, as a lonely bleakness poured out.

Zane clenched his teeth, hating the fact she asked him that because she knew the answer, yet hearing her say the words suddenly didn't feel right.

"No answer to my question. Or is it because I already know the answer, so why are we even talking here. Please, let me go so I can leave."

"You can't leave. Austin wants you here, so it doesn’t matter what I want. He told me to be cordial and I'll try my hardest. Not for you, but for him. I don't care anything about you." He still held her arm, hating the feel of it in his hands, yet the urge to let go, not there. Even as bone thin as she was, her skin felt like silk, and he oddly enjoyed his hand on her.

"I want to leave and you can't make me stay. Let me go," Ava demanded.

Finally, a little more force coming out of her mouth. This was much better. He'd rather deal with an angry Ava than a lifeless one. Without thinking, he grabbed the suitcase from her hand and threw it across the room where it hit the dresser. He let go of her arm and quickly swooped her into his arms gently, as if she were made of glass.

The sickness that filled his gut grew larger as he stalked over to the bed. He tried to hide the cringe at how truly light she was. Barely lighter than a feather.

He laid her on the bed and shoved at the blanket until he managed to throw it over the top of her. The entire time Ava stared at him with shock on her face. Utterly speechless.

"You're staying. Austin wants you here. Don't eat. See if I care. Sleep and hide in this room all you want, but you'll stay because he wants you to. It sure in the hell won't be because of something I said that you leave." Zane glared at her and then walked out of the room, slamming the door on his way out.

***

Ava sat at the large rectangular dining room table, pushing her food around. She sat next to Austin, while Zane was across the way from her, Eleanor right next to him. She could feel his eyes on her, but she was too afraid to look up.

His anger earlier had scorched her bones. She decided she liked Austin's anger better. That she could handle. She wasn’t quite sure she could handle Zane's. She knew before she came she probably wouldn't survive his anger. Lingering in the back of her mind, she secretly hoped he would take her pain away by throwing all his anger at her—do something to her. Just take it all away.

The air of fright and confusion by his earlier actions still lingered within her trembling body. She didn't fear he would physically harm her. She believed Austin when he said Zane would never touch a hair on her head. When she thought back, she hadn't felt a forceful touch once from him—from grabbing her arm to scooping her into his embrace. Gentleness had cradled her, even as she felt the flow of anger run through his veins.

He had frightened her in an emotional way. Her body had responded when he touched her arm and exploded into quivering pleasure when he picked her up. The surprising reaction, the new feeling of butterflies in her stomach, startled her. She hadn’t felt her body tingle from a man's touch in a long time. The rarity of the rushing jolt through her body made her wonder why she avoided feeling the glorious sensation. Then she remembered because she had worked more than dated.

Shock had overtaken her thoughts that it had to come from Zane. The last man she ever expected to feel that way about. Thinking such thoughts equaled disaster, including the pleasure spreading vigorously from her head right down to the tip of her toes as she remembered the way it felt to be in his arms. Not only was it wrong from the hateful passion she felt, but for the simple reality. He was Jimmy's brother. It just didn’t seem right.

***

"You work too much, Ava. Let's go to O'Hares and find a good man for you," Jimmy said, grinning, as they walked out of the precinct together.

Ava slapped his arm playfully. "I don't need a man and anything we find at O'Hares will probably be a cop. You know that's where most of us hang out. I refuse to date a cop. It's against the rules."

"It is?" he asked surprised.

"It's one of my rules, Jimmy. I made it for myself when I was a teenager. I can be around them, be friends with them, but I could never date one. Let alone marry one. It's just not happening."

"So, that means I have no chance." Jimmy grinned at her, a hand over his heart as if he was in serious pain.

Ava laughed. "I didn't know you were interested." Ava looped her arm through his. "Seriously, though, you're the brother I never had. I think that's the closest I'll get to another man right now. I'm not into dating. Work keeps me busy."

"I know, I was kidding. You're my annoying little sister I never had. I see a good match for you with someone I know. Wanna know who?" Jimmy asked with a sly grin.

"No. Keep it to yourself and quit with the matchmaking. Hey, have you seen Tiffany lately?" Ava asked devilishly.

"Point taken. Conversation's over." Jimmy laughed as they continued to O'Hares anyway.

***

She continued to push her food around the plate as her thoughts strayed back to the man across from her. He probably had no idea the shock he'd seen on her face was more from the pleasure of his touch than him picking her up. After he slammed the door shut, she laid in bed trying to figure out what just happened. It happened so quickly. The whole incident made her want to flee even more because now she worried about Zane touching her again. Igniting a fire through her body that she didn't want to feel from him. It just couldn't happen again. She shouldn't feel anything with Jimmy gone.

Austin had come for her thirty minutes after Zane's disturbing visit. She still had been lying in the bed when he knocked on the door. He had asked her what happened as Eleanor told him she heard some shouting and door-slamming going on. Just like the time Jimmy asked her what his brother said to her and she refused to divulge that information, she did the same to Austin. She could tell it bothered him, but he let it go. Why did she keep protecting Zane from his brothers with the cruel words he spoke to her? Or was she trying to protect them from Zane? Not the other way around.

"These are some good pork chops, Eleanor. You always outdo yourself." Austin grinned deviously.

"Oh, stop you. You're just saying that because of our company," Eleanor said with a smile, enjoying the compliment.

"Not true. I always enjoy your meals and you know it. How do you like it, Ava?" Austin asked as he looked at her, touching her arm gently.

Ava looked at him with blank eyes as she pushed her fork, moving the food to another position on the plate.

***

"Just eat it already. You can't move here and not come to Coney Island to have a Nathan's Famous Hot Dog. It's blasphemous," Ava exclaimed as she handed the hot dog to Jimmy.