Hero of Mine (17 page)

“Oh, good, for a minute there, I thought you were going to leave me hanging.”

She laughed. “Nope, I love telling you. Almost as much as I like hearing it.”

“Same goes. Good night,” he said.

“Night.” She pressed the red button to end the call and stared off into space. She thought about Tyler's concern, that maybe she should report their visits to the cops so there was a record, but finally dismissed it. She'd told them both to stay away and was pretty sure they'd gotten the message.

T
YLER SLIPPED HIS
cell phone into his pocket and gave his friends a dark scowl. “You're a giant bag of sweaty ball sacks.”

“Oh, I think we embarrassed him in front of his girlfriend!” Martinez crowed.

“I think it's awesome to finally see you happy, man,” Blake said.

“I appreciate that.” Tyler pointed toward Blake, who was kicking back in his recliner. “See, he is a true friend.”

“Please, we've all earned the right to torment you . . . God knows you've given us enough shit.”

Sparks had a point, but Tyler wasn't going to admit that out loud.

Besides, he was distracted, thinking about the Ramirez family. They definitely had a steel set, showing up at Dani's place not once, but twice. He couldn't figure out what they hoped to gain, but Tyler wasn't sure they'd gotten the message.

“Hey, before we grab food, would you guys be up for taking a ride with me?”

“What are you thinking?” Blake asked.

“Dani's ex came back, but he's all strung out. He and his mother have shown up at her house asking to see Noah, and she told them if they want visitation, they need to go through proper channels. I just want to make sure they understand that means they stay the hell away from them.”

Sparks stood up before he even finished. “Hell, you had my back when Violet's sister was being stalked by that punk ex of hers. You know I'm down.”

“I've got your six,” Blake said.

They all turned to look at Martinez, who let out a string of curses. “Fine, but if we get arrested, Eve is going to kill me. Her father barely tolerates me as it is.”

A quick Google search later, they had the Ramirezes' address off of Arden. They all piled into Blake's Charger and followed the GPS until they parked in front of a rundown blue house. Tyler recognized Angel's piece of shit car in the drive and got out. He headed up the walk and rang the doorbell. When no chime sounded, he knocked loudly.

A woman inside shouted, “Get the door!” Tyler then heard the dead bolt turn.

Angel opened the door, looking and smelling as greasy as ever, and he stared out at him blankly. “What?”

“You don't remember me?” Tyler asked.

Angel seemed to be having trouble focusing on him and swayed a bit. Finally, his eyes narrowed. “You're Dani's dick boyfriend. What the fuck you doing at my house?”

“Yeah, funny how
you
don't like when people show up unannounced at your place.”

Angel spit at Tyler's feet and started to shut the door, but Tyler grabbed him by his grimy white T-shirt and yanked him outside.

“Listen up, asshole. You want to see your kid? Get yourself straight and get a lawyer. This is your last warning. You show up at her house, her work, her parents'—if you even bump into her at the store, I will call the cops and have your ass arrested for stalking. And I guarantee when they search your car and your house, they're gonna find your stash. Now, if you're actually interested in getting to know your kid, then man up. Don't send your mom over to do your dirty work.”

“I didn't, man, I swear, she did that all on her own. All I did was mention Dani and the kid, and she kept pestering me about it. Wants me to let her see him. I told her that Dani said not without a court order, but she won't let up.”

Tyler let him go. “So, you don't want anything to do with your son? This is all to make your mother happy?”

“What the fuck would I want a kid for? If Dani had just gotten the abortion like I told her to, my mom wouldn't be on my ass now.”

Just the idea that Dani might have listened to this piece of garbage made Tyler clench his fists.

“From now on, you're gonna keep your mom in check and leave Dani alone. Right?”

“Yeah, sure, whatever.”

“Angel, who is out there?” Mrs. Ramirez came to stand in the doorway, glaring out the door at him. “What are you doing with my son?”

“He was just telling me that both of you are going to leave Dani Hill and her son alone.”

Rage made the woman's face contort into a monstrous mask. “That little slut stole my grandchild from me!”

Tyler had to remind himself he couldn't hit a sixty-year-old woman. “Your son told Dani to get an abortion, and he doesn't want anything to do with his son.”

“He doesn't know what he wants. That girl tricked him. She doesn't deserve to raise my grandson!”

The old woman was screaming now, her eyes popping out of her head. People around them were turning on their porch lights and peeking out the door.

“Then I suggest you get a lawyer, ma'am. Because the next time, it will be the cops banging on your door.”

She hurled some colorful Spanish words at his back as he walked away, and he could hear Angel trying to calm her down. As he climbed into the car with the guys, Tyler said, “Hey, Martinez, what did she just say to me?”

“You do not want to know, my friend.”

Tyler figured he was probably right, but a nagging concern followed him around the whole night. The woman had come off as a little unhinged, and Tyler was more resolved than ever to get Dani to go down to the police station. He wanted a record of them harassing her, so if things escalated, the cops had the whole story.

“Why so serious?” Blake asked, lining up his pool shot.

Tyler laughed, shaking off his unease. “Nothing, just thinking about how long it will take to kick your ass.”

“You're a funny guy.”

“So, now that you two are at the ‘I love you' stage, what's next?” Sparks asked.

“Next? There's a next? I thought we'd just stay here in this stage for a while. Give me time to adjust to all this relationship shit.”

“That's fucking romantic,” Martinez said. “Don't let her hear you call it ‘relationship shit.' First tip, women don't like that.”

“Fine, but I just want to savor this.”

“Savor away, no one's stopping you,” Blake said.

Tyler lined up another shot, shaking his head when he missed it. “Damn it!”

“Woo, looks like Best lost all those mad skills.”

Tyler's phone chimed with a new message. He pulled it out of his pocket and clicked on the text folder.

Wanna come over?

He didn't recognize the number, and it wasn't assigned to anyone in his phone.
Who is this?

Cammie. We hooked up a couple months ago? Maybe this will help jog your memory.

His phone dinged again, and a pair of large breasts popped up on his cell phone screen.

“Who are you texting?” Martinez asked.

“No one, some girl I hooked up with texted me, and I'm telling her I'm not interested.”

His fingers flew over the pad.
Sorry, I've got a girlfriend.

“There we go. Used the
g
word. Shut it down.”

His phone beeped, and the guys crowded close, trying to peek over his shoulder.

She doesn't have to know.

“Shit, did she send you a titty pic?” Blake asked.

“Fuck off.”

No thanks, lose this number.

Tyler deleted the thread and, after placing his phone back in his pocket, picked up his cue. “Well, are we gonna play some pool or sit around gossiping like a bunch of chicks?”

A
ROUND NOON
S
UNDAY
, Dani sat in a booth at IHOP with her mother and Noah. Her mom had asked her to lunch after church, since her dad was sick and hadn't attended.

“What's wrong with Dad?” Dani asked.

“Football-itis,” her mom grumbled.

“Yeah, I heard that's going around.”

“Enough about your father's obsession. I want to know about this man you're seeing. You've hardly said a word about him since I dropped Noah off two weeks ago. Are you still seeing him?”

“Yes, I'm still seeing him.”

When she didn't offer anything more, her mother waved her hand. “Well, you're going to have to give me more than that! He's in the military, right? Have you met his parents?”

“Yes, he took Noah and me to the San Francisco Zoo last Saturday. Afterward, we went to his parents' home in South San Francisco for his dad's birthday.”

“Well, that's nice.” Her tone said the exact opposite. “And why haven't you brought him by so we can get to know him better?”

“Because I want to continue dating him?” she joked.

Her mom sniffed. “I see. You think we'll embarrass you.”

“No, although, yes, I know you will, but that isn't it. We're just taking things as they come, and I haven't been ready yet.”

“Have you slept with him yet?”

Dani choked on her water, wheezing as her gaze shot to Noah. “Mom!”

“What, he doesn't even know what that means.”

“But it's none of your business.”

“I'm going to interpret that as a yes.”

“You can interpret that any way you want, but I am still not answering that question.”

“Well, I want you to bring him to Thanksgiving,” her mom said as their food arrived.

Noah tried reaching for his pancakes, but she got there first and began cutting them up into bite-size pieces. “Come on, Mom, he probably has plans to go to his parents' or something.”

“Well, the least you can do is ask, Danielle. Sometimes I don't know why you make things so much more complicated than they need to be.”

“Fine, I'll ask him.”

“Call him now.”

Dani slid the plate of pancakes in front of Noah and scoffed. “I'm not calling him in the middle of a crowded restaurant with my mom listening in.”

“Thanksgiving is on Thursday, and I need to know how many people to plan for.”

Giving up on actually getting to eat her own stack of pancakes, Dani climbed out of the booth. “I'm going outside to call him.” When her mom started to protest, Dani held her hand up. “One argument from you, and I will sit back down and never let you get your claws into him.”

“You're not very nice to your mother,” she said.

“I'm too nice to you, which is why I allow you to still boss me around.”

Dani escaped before her mom could respond and walked outside, standing on the sidewalk as she dug her phone out of her purse. She scrolled through, wishing she hadn't been such a pushover as she pressed the little green phone next to Tyler's name.

When he picked up, the smile in his voice was obvious.

“Hey, beautiful, I was just thinking of you.”

God, would the sappy things he said always make her grin like an idiot?

“Hi, funny, I was thinking of you, too. And so was my mom.”

“Um, that's a little weird,” he said.

“Well, we were having lunch, and she started asking about you and whether we are serious or not, and well, one thing led to another, and she . . . She wants you to come to our house for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Huh, a family holiday? Turkey? Mashed potatoes? Awkwardly watching football with your dad?”

“That's the one. I told her you probably had plans with your family, so I completely understand if you can't—”

“Actually, I was going to say yes, unless you don't want me to come.”

Stuttering with surprise, she said, “No, that's great. I just . . . I . . . great!”

“Say it one more time, and I'll really believe you,” he said.

“Shut your face.” Listening to his deep chuckle for a few seconds, she finally added, “Okay, well I better get back inside and tell Mom. She's going to be over the moon that she can interrogate you all she wants.”

“Looking forward to it.”

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you, too.”

A
S SOON AS
he got back to work, Tyler had called Virginia into his office, armed with options for Jeremiah once he left Alpha Dog. The only thing to do now was get Jeremiah's mother to understand where her son was coming from.

Someone knocked on his door.

“Come in.”

Sparks led Virginia inside and came around to stand at the side of Tyler's desk.

“Please have a seat, Mrs. Walton.”

She did, her wide face a mask of suspicion. “Why am I here? I thought that my son had already decided to finish his sentence here.”

“He has, ma'am, but we wanted to talk to you, to prepare you for some of the concerns Jeremiah has expressed to me,” Tyler said.

“I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You assaulted my husband.”

“And I'm very sorry about that, Mrs. Walton. It was an emotional moment for me, with Jeremiah being shot, and I lost my temper. But that doesn't change the fact that Jeremiah doesn't want to come home to you. He is terrified of your husband—and for you.”

Virginia winced. “Things are going to be different this time. Neil promised.”

“Mrs. Walton,” Sparks said, “Neil has said that several times, and Jeremiah doesn't believe or trust him. He is such a good kid; you have raised an amazingly brave, kind young man.”

“But it's our job to make sure that when Jeremiah leaves Alpha Dog, he doesn't backslide,” Tyler said firmly. He was definitely playing bad cop today. “Which is why I'm going to recommend a temporary placement for Jeremiah until he feels comfortable moving back into your home.”

Virginia's face turned molten red. “You're trying to steal my son from me!”

“Not at all, Mrs. Walton. It was actually Jeremiah who voiced the concerns and requested more information on other options for him after he leaves the program,” Sparks said.

“He wanted to look into emancipation, but I didn't think a fourteen-year-old should be on his own,” Tyler said.

“No, he belongs with his mother,” she snapped.

“Not if his mother continues to make him live in a dangerous and toxic environment,” Tyler said.

“Okay, this is getting out of hand,” Sparks said. “Tyler, why don't you go ahead and take off for the day? I'd like to speak to Mrs. Walton alone.”

Tyler left the building and drove to Sutter Memorial to talk to Jeremiah, his folder of information on the seat beside him. He'd called a couple he'd known forever, both of them veterinarians, whose children were all grown. One of Alpha Dog's other program graduates, Liam, was staying with them as a foster placement, and when he'd talked to them about Jeremiah's situation, they'd been the ones to offer their home to him.

Tyler took his hospital visitor pass and headed up to Jeremiah's room. As he came off the elevator and rounded the hallway, he heard shouting. Taking off at a jog, he reached Jeremiah's room in time to watch Neil shove a nurse who was standing between him and a bedridden Jeremiah.

“You little fuck, you're going to stop upsetting your mother with this whiny crybaby crap and come home. No more trouble or talk of me hurting you. You're just a selfish little shit—”

“That's enough, Neil,” Tyler said, stepping into the room. He didn't trust himself to touch Neil, not when he was already clenching his fists at the guy's bravado. Coming in here and yelling like an idiot . . . He'd be lucky if the nurse didn't accuse him of assault.

Neil paled as he recognized Tyler but tried to bluster. “You don't tell me what to do with my family.”

“I'm not your family,” Jeremiah said loudly.

Neil started toward the bed, but Tyler was quicker. Grabbing Neil by the back of his shirt collar, he dragged him around to face him, getting the full force of bitter beer and bong breath in his face.

“Security is going to be up here any minute, and when they walk through that door, I'm going to tell them you assaulted this nurse. Then the cops will be called, and you'll have another arrest and pending charge on your record. Plus, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you drove here, and by the smell of you, I think you're going to find a nice little DUI tacked on.”

Neil twisted out of his grasp, and Tyler let go of him. Neil's face was contorted with rage, his skin an ugly shade of violet.

“You think you're such a hero, but I've got you figured out. You're one of those boy-loving pedo—”

Self-control could only take him so far. Putting all his weight behind the right hook, he wasn't surprised when Neil crashed to the ground. His mouth hung open, and his eyes were closed, and for a second, Tyler thought he might have hit him harder than he meant to.

Security walked through the door just as Neil started snoring.

“What happened here?” asked the security guard with the shiny cue ball for a head.

“He passed out,” the nurse said swiftly.

“Yeah, he was drunk and raving and then he just fell over,” Jeremiah added.

Tyler was going to come clean, but with the little dark-haired nurse grinning at Jeremiah conspiratorially, who was he to disagree?

The security guards lifted Neil up and carried him out, Cue Ball commenting that he stunk while Tyler shook his head.

“He's gonna wake up and start yelling about me assaulting him.”

“Please, no one will believe that idiot, nor would they blame you,” the nurse said. “Besides, it was a good thing you came in, 'cause I was just about to sing for him.”

“Huh?” Tyler and Jeremiah said at once.

“Solar plexus, instep, nose, groin. Damn, haven't you ever seen
Miss Congeniality
?”

“No,” they said together.

The nurse muttered something about men and left the room. “So, I stopped by to tell you that Sergeant Sparks is in a meeting with your mom, discussing other options for you after you're released from the hospital.”

“What kind of things?” Jeremiah asked.

“Well, for starters, if you really aren't ready to leave Alpha Dog, you can stay and finish the remainder of your sentence. We'd be happy to have you.”

“And after?” Jeremiah asked.

“Well, you could still go home with your mom and stepdad—”

“I'd rather live on the street than go back there.” Jeremiah's pointed chin jutted out stubbornly, as if he was afraid Tyler would make him go back.

“Relax, no need for it to come to that. If you're open to it, there's a couple I know who are really good people. They're both veterinarians and have a small ranch just outside of Folsom. Their kids are grown, and they're fostering another boy from the program but offered you their third bedroom, if you want it. Sparks is discussing them taking over temporary guardianship of you until you either turn eighteen or decide being with your mom would be safe for you again. It's up to you.”

Jeremiah sat thoughtfully playing with the hospital blanket. “Can I still see my mom, even if they're my guardians?”

“Absolutely, but we can get a restraining order against Neil. After the stunt he pulled today, I don't want him showing up when you're alone.”

“Even if I said yes, my mom is never going to go for it.”

“Which is why I think you should write a letter telling her everything you want and need and the future you see for yourself . . . and why that won't happen if you move back in with her and Neil.”

“Do you think that will really work?” Jeremiah asked.

“I don't know, but it's worth a shot.”

D
ANI
, T
YLER
,
AND
Noah stood outside her parents' home the next day, and Dani swallowed down the nervous bile rising up in her throat. She really wanted her parents to like Tyler, but considering her dad had never liked any of her boyfriends in the past, she wasn't holding out a lot of hope.

“Hey, it's gonna be okay,” Tyler said, squeezing her hand.

“I know. I'm good. I'm ready.” She caught his smile, which clearly said
sure you are
. “I am.”

“Okay then, I'm ringing the doorbell.”

The chimes erupted inside the house, and Dani took another breath. Thanksgiving with her parents. It wouldn't be so bad sitting around all day while her dad watched football and her mom asked Tyler if he liked every dish on the table.

“Okay, real fast, don't talk politics and who's your favorite football team?”

“The Raiders,” he said.

“Shit!”

Before she could tell him
not
to mention that to her dad, the door swung in, and her mom, dressed in a brown sweater with a giant beaded turkey on the front, said, “Finally! I told you that dinner would be ready by three!”

“Which is why we're here at one, Mom,” Dani said.

Tyler held up the grocery sack in his other hand, a large bouquet of flowers poking out the top. “Hello, Mrs. Hill. I grabbed the crescent rolls you requested and a bottle of wine. I hope you like red.”

“Please call me Laura,” she said, reaching her arms out to Noah, who stood next to Dani, holding her other hand. “Wanna come see all the goodies Mapa is making?”

Noah launched himself into her arms, and the two sauntered off, leaving Dani and Tyler alone on the step.

Dani pulled him along behind her. “Later on, when you're gazing at the door longingly, looking for a means of escape, I want you to remember that you chose this.”

Tyler leaned over and kissed her sweetly. “Shut up, it will be fine. I swear, I'll make them love me.”

“Y
OU
'
RE
A
R
AIDERS
fan?” George Hill spat out, as if it was a dirty word. Tyler was a little surprised he didn't spit on the floor in disgust. They'd been sitting in the living room watching football while Dani and Laura were in the kitchen. Noah was sitting in the middle of the living room, playing with huge Legos.

So much for getting on her dad's good side.

“Yeah, I always have been. My dad's a 49ers fan.”

George grunted. “I like your dad already.”

Unlike Tyler, whose unpopular football team choice had just given him a big black check.

“Hey, what are you guys talking about in here?” Dani asked as she came in. Stopping alongside Tyler's chair, she set her hand on his shoulder and gave him an
are you okay?
look.

“We were just talking football. Apparently, your dad and I are mortal enemies on the field.”

“Can't believe you're dating a Raiders fan,” her dad grumbled, but Tyler was pretty sure his eyes twinkled. That was a good sign, right?

“Oh no, you actually told him that? I told you not to!” She shook his shoulder, and he could tell she was trying not to laugh. “Football is serious business in the Hill house.”

“Hey, I told him my dad likes the 49ers. I'm just the black sheep of the Best family.”

“Should have listened to your dad. He has some taste.”

“Okay, how about we not talk about football anymore and change the subject?” Dani suggested.

Tyler squeezed her hand and shot her a mischievous look. “So, George, are you a Democrat or a Republican?”

“Politics? Really? That's a better subject for you?” Dani asked.

“I'm an Independent,” George said.

“Okay, on that note, I'm going to go back to the kitchen,” Dani said.

Tyler turned around and watched her leave the room. She was wearing a pretty floral dress that hit her just below the knees and swished when she walked.

He loved that dress. The minute she'd put it on this morning, he'd been dreaming of the moment later tonight when he'd be under it, listening to the sounds of her screams . . .

“Hey, now I asked you a question. Stop looking at my daughter's ass and answer.”

Tyler chuckled, getting the feeling that George Hill enjoyed being obnoxious and making other people feel uncomfortable.

But if he thought he could get one over on Best, he didn't know who he was messing with.

D
ANI BREATHED A
sigh of relief as they left her parents, who had insisted on keeping Noah overnight.

“My parents loved you, even my dad. And even after you told him who your football team was.”

“Your dad has a low tolerance for bullshit, which I appreciate.”

“So, you never told me who the extra plate was for,” she said, indicating the foil-covered plate.

“The kid at the hospital, the one who risked his life for the rest of us? Well, I'm pretty sure his mom won't even visit him today, so I thought we'd drop it by on the way home, before the visiting hours are over.”

Dani's heart swelled with love for this kind, generous man. “Of course, I'd love to meet him.”

Tyler held onto her hand as they drove to Sutter Memorial and didn't release it, even as they entered Jeremiah's room at the hospital.

And found Jeremiah's bed surrounded by Blake and a handful of other teenaged boys. Dani glanced at Tyler, who seemed pretty surprised to see them.

“Hey, what are you all doing here?” Tyler asked.

“Having Thanksgiving with this kid,” Blake said.

“And you brought these troublemakers? I bet the nurses are thrilled,” Tyler said, setting the plate they brought down on the counter. “This is from us. We've even got a separate container of dessert for you.”

“Thanks, Sarge,” the boy in the bed—obviously Jeremiah—said.

Dani took a few steps forward, releasing her hand from Tyler's and holding it out to Jeremiah with a wide smile. “It's nice to meet you, Jeremiah. I've heard so much about you.”

“This is my girlfriend, Dani,” Tyler offered from behind her.

Jeremiah took her hand shyly. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for the food.”

“We already brought the goods, Sarge. Cook made us a whole meal to bring over and eat with Jeremiah, so he wouldn't be alone,” one of the other boys said to Tyler, and Dani could see the admiration on their faces.