12-Alarm Cowboys (138 page)

There was silence for a few heartbeats before she finally answered, “Yes.”

A knot formed in Titan’s throat. His hands shook as he squatted by her. “Why?” The simple question was all he could manage to mutter as he began to gently wipe her face. How many times had he imagined touching her this way? But he never dreamed it would be under these circumstances.

“Why did he do it or why did I allow him to get away with it?” Both were legitimate questions. Makenna closed her eyes. Titan was too close, too overpowering, too amazing for her to be able to concentrate on an answer and look at him at the same time.

“Yea, why?” Titan murmured as he wiped the blood from her lip with a tender touch. God, he wanted to kiss her so much. But he couldn’t, not until he figured out what the hell was going on and why she had chosen to run to him.

As he pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear so he could see her more clearly, she instinctively turned her face so she could nestle against his palm like a kitten wanting to be petted. “Damien is a bully. He hits to make himself feel good, feel powerful.” She hissed when he put ointment on her lip.

“How long has he been abusing you?” Titan just came right out and said what he was thinking, no use beating around the bush now.

“From the beginning,” she whispered. “I hate him.”

Fuck! Titan bowed his head, every muscle in his body tightening. “Then why are you still there? Why didn’t you tell me about this a long time ago? You must’ve…” He stopped mid-sentence, needing to calm down.

Makenna searched his face, trying to determine what she could say. “He threatened to hurt me and other people if I left or if I told. He killed our dog in front of me to prove it to me.” She licked her lip where it burned. Taking a deep breath, she added, “When he started hitting me this time, I didn’t think he was going to stop.”

Titan froze. He thought he was prepared to hear what she had to say. To think she was abused was horrible, almost unbearable. This had been happening under his nose to someone he had deep feelings for. He was sworn to protect, to save—and he’d failed to protect the one person he cherished the most. This was something he could barely process. “Where is he?”

Makenna wiped tears from her eyes. “I don’t know. He left. He told me to clean myself up before he got back.”

Standing, he gave her one more look. “I’m going to lock the door, you stay here. You’re safe.” Bending, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be back.”

“Titan, what are you doing?” Makenna tried to sit up.

“Doing something I should’ve done a long time ago.”

“No! I need to explain.” Makenna pleaded with him. He stopped in his tracks, the sheer agony in her voice taking him by surprise. “He’s much more dangerous than you think he is. Damien set fire to Allie’s house, I know he did. When I went to the hospital to check on her, after I heard the commotion on the scanner, he showed up right after I got there. He knew I’d go. I was able to see her, but he stood by us the entire time so we were never alone. She told us what she could remember. She’d been downstairs when she smelled smoke and when she went upstairs to check, she found just her curtains in flames.” Makenna looked Titan straight in the eye. “The curtains on all three separate windows were on fire. Allie said she tried to put them out, but she couldn’t. The smoke got to be too much. As she was talking to me, Damien was staring at me with this evil smirk on his face. He did it. He warned me he would punish those I cared about if I didn’t obey him explicitly.”

Titan stared at her in pure shock. “You think Wade started the fire?”

“Yes, I do.”

“What did you do that deserved punishment?” He was frowning, trying to comprehend.

Makenna covered her face with her hands, she was so ashamed. “He warned me if I told anyone about the abuse, or anything about him that he’d punish me and anyone who tried to help me. He threatened people I care about. Damien figured out it was you who came to the house the other night, when you broke down the door. The hospital called to make sure you delivered my phone. He’ll be after you next.”

“I’d like to see the asshole try!”

Makenna knew he probably thought she was crazy. She dashed tears from her eyes, then sat up. “I just wanted to let you know, to warn you so you’ll be on the look-out. I need to get back over there before he realizes I’m gone.”

“There’s no fuckin’ way in hell you’re going back over there.” Rage filled him. “You just wait here. I’ll lock the door behind me.”

“Titan!”

He could hear her calling his name as he left the house, but Titan couldn’t put this off a moment longer. Yanking his truck door open, he jumped in, cranked the engine and gunned it out of the yard. He hadn’t gotten to the end of the driveway near the barn before he saw Wade stalking through the field, coming out of the shadows like some menacing beast. He’d followed the same path across the pasture as Makenna.

Slamming on his breaks, Titan got out to meet him. “Looking for somebody, asshole?” Every muscle in his body was tensed. He was ready to attack.

“Yea, I’m looking for my wife.” Wade kept coming toward him like a charging bull. “Is she here, you nosy bastard?” When Titan didn’t answer, he kept yelling. “My wife is nothing to you!”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I won’t insult her by call her your wife, but Makenna is everything to me.” Titan lunged at him. The idiot didn’t even know what hit him. Wade wasn’t a small man, but he was no match for Titan Sloan. Grabbing him by his collar, he picked the Captain up and slammed him into the side of the barn. “How does it feel, motherfucker? To have someone bigger shake you like a ragdoll? You’re just a wife-beating piece of trash.”

“Get off me!” Damien tried to fight back. “None of this was any of your business. I’ll make you regret the day you interfered!”

Titan held him about a foot off the ground with one hand, collaring him around the throat. He drew back his fist, but before he hit Wade’s ugly face, he wanted him to know exactly why. “I’m here to fight for a beautiful woman who can’t fight for herself. If you want to beat up on someone, you bastard, beat up on me.” He let his fist fly. “If you can…”

During the next few moments, Titan fought Damien Wade. The man was furious, his adrenaline was running high. If he could have, Titan knew Wade would’ve killed him. To think this freak’s strength had been pitted against Makenna’s small body infuriated Titan. To put it succinctly, before he was through, Titan beat the shit out of Captain Wade.

When he was finished, he pulled out his cell and called the cops. “I need to report a crime.”

*

Makenna was worried
about Titan. She stood at the window and stared out into the dark night. Titan had gone to confront Damien. She knew that with every ounce of her being. And she was scared to death. Damien would be no match for Titan, of course. The only problem was that Damien didn’t fight fair. If the demonic bastard she was married to hurt Titan, she would never forgive herself. She felt in the pockets of her jeans, but she didn’t have her phone with her. Looking around, she searched for a landline to call Titan when she heard the roar of an engine. Returning to the window, she was relieved to see him striding up to the door. His shirt was ripped. Throwing the door open, she couldn’t hold back the question, “Titan, did he hurt you?”

“Not a chance.” Titan gathered her close. “I ran into him coming up the drive here. You’re right, the man is seriously deranged.” Glancing down at her bare feet, he said, “Put your shoes on, you’re going to go down to the Sheriff’s office and give a statement. They just picked Damien up and hauled him off to jail.”

“What?” Her heart leapt into her throat.

“You’re pressing charges.” He wasn’t asking. “It’s time this idiot paid for his crimes.”

“Oh, God.” Makenna swayed on her feet and Titan caught her by the arms, steadying her. “He’ll kill me for this.”

“No, he won’t.” Titan seemed very sure of what he was saying. “To get to you, he’s going to have to go through me. And that will never happen. I promise.”

Makenna put on her shoes, then let him lead her out. “Will they believe me?”

“There’ll have to be an investigation, but the way he treated you…” Titan set her in the passenger seat of his truck, buckling her safely inside. “A man who would hurt a woman, especially one like you, would do anything.”

Makenna found herself shaking. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She was thinking out loud. For so long she’d been dependent on Damien for everything.

Like he had the right, Titan trailed his fingers lightly down her arm. He was touching her, even if it was in the most innocent way possible. “Don’t worry about anything. Okay? I’ll take care of you. Keeping you safe is the most important thing.”

Makenna looked up into his face. This might not be the time, but she needed to know. “What did you mean at the hospital when you said ‘this wasn’t going to work’? Did I offend you by coming to check on you?”

“God no,” Titan blurted out. “Not at all. I was trying to tell you that being around you and…not being able to touch you or tell you how I feel is…impossible.” She was gazing up at him with such expectation that he couldn’t resist. “Maybe I shouldn’t…if you don’t want me to do this, stop me now.” All the while he was speaking, his eyes were darting between her gaze to her full vulnerable mouth. When she did nothing to deter him, he uttered a slightly muffled curse, lowering his head until his mouth grazed hers—soft, not demanding.

Makenna’s sole experience with the opposite sex was Damien. So, her whole body went rigid as Titan’s lips touched hers. Her body didn’t know what to expect. She’d wanted this man for so long. But Titan was big and powerful, and she’d never known gentleness from a man. Part of her wanted to flee and part of her wanted to cling to him. With every bit of strength she had, Makenna forced herself to wait, to give herself a chance to experience what she’d been missing with the one man she wanted it from the most.

Titan nuzzled and kissed her ripe generous mouth. Mindful of Makenna’s injury, he took his time, moving his strong hands to cup her face tenderly, finally giving himself free rein to do something he’d been dreaming of doing for years. When she shifted in his arms, he thought she was about to move away. Instead, she demanded more, placing a hand around his neck, melting against him with a sigh as her own mouth explored his.

Makenna’s spirit soared. She craved this man so much she ached with the wanting. Taking the risk, she’d opened herself to him and been rewarded with the ardent attention of someone who wanted to give her pleasure not pain. When she moaned into his mouth, he deepened the kiss and she felt like she was being consumed. It had been so long since she’d been kissed, but this was well worth waiting for.

Too soon it was over. Titan pulled back, breathing hard and Makenna let him go. He looked…confused. She felt self-conscious. “I guess we should go.”

As if coming out of a trance, he shook his head. “Yea, but I want to resume this…conversation when we’re finished.” Titan went around to his side of the truck and got in. Once he’d shut the door, he cranked the engine. “Don’t worry. This thing with Damien ends here. Tonight.”

Makenna placed her trust in him. So long she’d lived fearing the next time she’d piss Damien off. The idea that his reign of terror over her might come to an end was heady. “I’m ready.” If Titan was with her, nothing was impossible.

*

Chaos was the
best term for what the rest of the evening held. Titan escorted Makenna down to the Sheriff’s office and stayed with her while she told her story. Sheriff Deric Connor was a newcomer, so he listened patiently unlike some members of his department who looked at her with suspicion, apparently doubting that Damien could do such a thing.

Makenna was taken to a private room where a female deputy took her statement. “Were you raped?” she asked gently.

“No.” Not this time, she wanted to add. Makenna looked to the side, knowing this was necessary but hating every minute of it. The woman took photograph after photograph, especially of her cheek. When one of the images was enlarged, there was even a clear outline of Damien’s college ring. “Is all of this necessary?” she asked, anxious to leave.