Justice Healed (13 page)

"Sorry, honey.  I got carried away.  I put one on the vanity.  Give me thirty seconds."

He didn't need all thirty.  Within twenty-five he'd lifted her back up and impaled himself in one hard thrust.  She clung to his strong shoulders, her head buried in his chest as he pounded her into the decorative tile.  Every stroke ran across her G-s
pot and stimulated her clit until she couldn't take it anymore.  He fucked her like a metronome, hot, fast, and steady.  She could feel her body starting to fly apart, twisting in the maelstrom of sensations.

Between the spray of the water, his hands, his mouth, and his pounding dick
, she was lost to the pleasure.  The sounds of their lovemaking echoed off the walls and only served to inflame them further.  When her body shattered, she cried out at the intensity.  The pleasure twisted her inside and out.  She barely registered Tanner's own growl of completion, but she felt his hot seed fill the condom.

He kissed her tenderly as they caught their breath.  He lowered her legs until her feet touched the
floor of the tub, but held her until she could stand on her own.  She was blown away by the power of what they created together.  They were exponentially more as a couple than she'd ever imagined. 

She looked up into his eyes.  "I think I'm going to want to do that.  A lot."

Tanner's smile widened.  "Maddie, I'm your man." 

That
was what she was hoping for.

"
Tanner Marks."  Tanner gave Madison an apologetic smile as he answered his phone.  "Give me a minute, Maddie." 

She nodded, engrossed in a book, and he walked to the far side of the airport waiting area.  Their plane was on time and should start to board in a few minutes.  It was just him and Madison this time.   Jim, Karen, Dan, and Sherry were taking a flight about an hour from now with another airline.  It was all they'd been able to book at the last minute.

"It's Agent Jason Anderson.  Am I interrupting?  I could call back later."  Tanner could hear clinking dishes in the background.  It sounded like Jason was calling from a restaurant or maybe his own kitchen.

"No, it's fine.  I'm at the airport waiting for a flight back to Montana."

"Vacation?"  Jason sounded surprised.  "Shit, I'm interrupting your time off."

"No, it's not like that.  My girlfriend's best friend got married in Vegas last night.  Madison was the maid of honor.  It's okay.  Talk to me.  What have you found out?"

Jason wouldn't be calling him on a Sunday morning if something wasn't up. Tanner knew deep down that Fenton was dirty.  He hoped Jason would be able to tell him just how bad it was.

Jason sighed.  "It's not good news.  Your friend was right.  Fenton Jacks doesn't exist.  Thomas Lydell does, and he's one bad motherfucker.  Deep into the Warner drug cartel.  He's climb
ed the ladder the old-fashioned way.  He killed everyone in his way." 

There was a silence on the other end giving Tanner a chance to wrap his mind around what he was being told.  He'd known Fenton was a criminal but to hear he was a murderer was still a shock.  His fucking kids spent time with this asshole.  Shit, Abby might be
Tanner’s ex-wife but it didn't mean he wanted any harm to come to her. 

"He's in Springwood to take over the route?"  Tanner was proud of how calm he sounded despite his churning gut.  He was already working out how he would get Fenton away from his family.  Fuck that, he wanted Fenton out of
his town.  Period. 

"He is.  You've done us a favor, Tanner.  We can zero in on him now and watch his every move."

"You're not going to arrest him?"  Tanner's voice got a little loud and several heads turned his way, including Madison's.  Her brows were knitted but he gave her a reassuring wave. 

"He's managed to weasel out of every charge until now.  We need to catch him in the act.  I know you're concerned about your wife--"

"Ex-wife," Tanner interrupted curtly.  "I'm concerned about my kids, too.  I don't want them around him or any of his friends.  I can't believe you don't have enough to pick this guy up right now."

Frustrated, Tanner paced the small area by the windows overlooking the tarmac.  His fucking taxes at work.  They knew this guy was a killer but they were going to let him wander around until he killed someone else.

"We'll have someone on him every minute of every day.  I’m asking you to keep this to yourself, Tanner.  And yes, I know that it sucks.  We take him out now, the head of the snake will only grow back meaner and more deadly.  They want that drug route and they'll do whatever it takes to get it.  We need to bust not just him but the entire organization.  We'll have a better chance of getting intel on the big boys.  Lydell isn't going to roll over on his boss but the men lower down just might.  They have less to lose."

"Only their life," retorted Tanner.  He didn't like that Jason Anderson was making sense.  He wanted to fly back to Springwood and run this guy out of town on a rail.  Straight to the nearest state prison or federal lock up.

"If they're selling or running drugs, their life isn't worth much anyway.  One step out of line and the big guys will take them out without a second thought.  They're disposable and easily replaced."

Tanner's grip tightened on the phone and he wished his fingers were wrapped around Fenton's neck.  "You're asking me to stand by while a killer hangs around my family, my town."

"I know."  Jason's voice was low.  "Please just give me some time to watch him.  If we arrest him, we have to make the charges stick this time.  This is our best chance.  You're our best chance, Tanner.  Listen, I trust your judgment.  If there are people you need to tell, well shit, I won’t be happy about it, but I understand.  If you feel like your family or town is in imminent danger, then you need to do what you need to do.  All I’m asking for is that you give me some space to do this investigation, and that if you do tell someone, it’s someone you trust.  Can you do that for me?"

Fuck.  Fuck.  Fuck.  Fuck.

"If one thing…" Tanner snarled.  "If one thing happens to my family I'll hold you personally responsible.  I swear to God, Jason, there won't be a rock big enough to hide under.  Do I make myself clear?"

Tanner jumped when he felt a hand on his back.  Whirling around, he looked directly into the troubled gaze of Madison.  He took a deep breath, trying to calm the hell down. 

"You're clear.  I promise we'll have a couple of people on him twenty-four seven."

Tanner held the phone away from his ear.  "Are you okay?" asked Madison.  "You look upset."

"I am upset, but I'll be fine."  He opened his mouth to explain but the airline came over the loudspeaker announcing the flight.  "We need to board."  He put the phone back to his ear.  "Jason, I need to go.  I'll call you."

He pressed the End button not wanting to continue the discussion.  He was pissed off and frustrated.  He shoved the phone in his pocket and hoisted his carry on further up his shoulder.
  Jason had given him leeway to talk about Jacks, but Tanner wanted the asshole arrested right now.

Madison put her hand on his arm.  "You were scaring me a little bit there for a minute.  You looked so angry.  What's wrong?"

He realized he couldn't tell her the truth, at least at this moment, and he didn't like that one little bit.  Tanner wasn't a fan of keeping secrets, especially with someone he was supposed to be in a relationship with. 

"Let's just call it bad news.  Are you ready to board?"

She nodded, but her expression was shrewd.  She knew he wasn't telling her something.  He put his hand under her elbow and led her to where they were lining up to board. 

"I had fun this weekend.  Thank you for going."  She gave him a big smile that made his heart lurch in his chest.

"Did you think I'd let you go to Vegas without me?  No way.  I had a good time.  A very good time."  In fact, he couldn't remember having a better time in his life before this.  He enjoyed Madison's company, both in and out of bed.  "I'd like you to meet my kids."

He'd just blurted it out and now they were making their way through the aircraft to their seats.  Madison didn't answer and he was beginning to think he'd blown it.  They settled down
, buckled their seat belts, and she put her hand on his.  "I'd like to meet your kids very much."

He relaxed under her touch.  "I'll call Emily and Chris."  He shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable.  Her opinion of him was now very important.  "I have a granddaughter.  Does that bug you?"

"No."  She shook her head.  "I knew that before we got involved."

"I'm older than you.  I'll be forty-five on Friday."

Her face lit up.  "A birthday.  We'll have to do something special."

He lifted her fingers and kissed the knuckles.  "Focus, honey.  I just told you I'm going to be forty-five.  That's not dog years."

She giggled.  "I heard you.  I just don't care.  Your age is just a number.  Are you upset that I'm thirty?"

"Men are never upset about a beautiful young woman." 

"Well, I'm not upset about a handsome older man.  Relax, Tanner.  It's all good.  Don't look for problems where there aren't any."

Maybe he was looking for issues.  Things with Madison were great and that scared him.  He'd rarely had anything in his life go smoothly.

"I just want you to be happy, that's all."

"I am happy."  She closed her eyes as the engines started to rev underneath them.  "Now hold my hand while we take off.  I get nervous."

He clasped her hand, rubbing her wrist with his thumb.  He'd set up dinner for them with Emily and Chris.  His son might not even show up, but Emily certainly would.  He could see Madison and Emily getting along well. 

And while Emily was here, Tanner could talk to her about staying in the city for awhile.  At least until Fenton was flushed out.  That left Abby and Chris, and Tanner had no ideas how to convince them to stay away from Fenton when the truth couldn't be told. 

He glanced at his watch, determination welling up inside him.  He'd do everything and anything to keep his family and town safe.  Now he just needed to figure out how to accomplish it.

* * * *

Madison shoved the clothes into the washer and poured in the detergent.  It was kind of sad to be home after the weekend in Las Vegas, but she was looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow.  Mondays were always a busy day.

"I made some hot chocolate.  Come and have a cup."  Her father stood at the doorway of the laundry room holding two large, steaming mugs and a big smile.  "I want to hear about the wedding and your trip.  It's been years since I was in Vegas."

She laughed and took one of the mugs from his hand and followed him into the kitchen.  Settling into one of the chairs at the table, she asked, "When were you in Vegas?  Did Mom go?"

Her father settled across from her, his hands wrapped around the mug.  "Your mother and I did go for vacation a few years after we were married.  You hadn't come along yet.  We had a marvelous time.  We saw a few shows and gambled a little.  Not much
.  Your mother was very cautious.  But still, we enjoyed ourselves."

"We saw Criss Angel after the wedding.  It was a good show."  Madison sipped the hot liquid and it almost burned her tongue, making her wince.  She blew on the surface to cool it down.  "The wedding was great.  I thought it might be cheesy, but it really wasn't.  I got choked up when they took their vows."

"Good weddings are like that."  Her father nodded his head.  "Dan and Sherry make a nice couple.  I'll have to send them a wedding gift." 

Her father's voice trailed off and his expression was troubled.  He was staring out the kitchen window as if his mind was captured elsewhere, lines grooved into his forehead.

"Dad, is everything okay?"

Her dad set the mug on the table.  "I need to tell you something and I'm not sure how you're going to react."

Alarm pierced her heart.  "You are sick aren't you?  I asked you this once but you said no."  She sat up straight in the chair ready to call the Mayo Clinic, but he waved away her concern.

"I'm not sick."  He sighed and reached across the table to pat her hand.  "Madison, I've met someone."

"Met someone?"  Her mind whirled the words around.  Her father appeared to be miserable, his mouth turned down and his eyes sad.  "That's great.  You don't seem too happy about it.  Is she...married?"  She dropped her voice to a whisper. 

His jaw dropped.  "No!  Gwen is not married.  I would never date a married woman."

"Then what's the prob—"

"She lives in Seattle."  Her father's words came out in a rush.  "She's a friend of your aunt.  Gwen is a wonderful woman.  She's also a widow.  Two children, both sons.  They're in college."

Madison couldn't remember her father ever going out on a date the entire time she'd been growing up.  He'd once said her mother was the love of his life.  She had to remind herself that her father was still young, not quite sixty.  He'd been alone a long time and deserved to find happiness again.

"I'm happy for you, Dad.  That's why you've been spending so much time there isn't it?"

"Yes.  I'm sorry I didn't tell you before now."  He was staring into his cup, which made her think there was more to this story. 

"You're in love aren't you
, and you think I'll be upset?"  She grabbed her father's hand.  "Dad, I'm happy for you, really.  You deserve this.  Will Gwen be moving here soon?  I can move out."

Madison didn't relish becoming a third wheel.  She was used to living on her own anyway.  If anything, it had been an adjustment moving back to her childhood home.

Red stained her father's cheeks.  "That's just it, honey.  Gwen isn't moving here.  I'm moving to Seattle."

She blinked.  "You're going to Seattle?"

He ran his hand down his face.  "Honey, I'm so sorry.  I convinced you to move back here to take over the practice when I retire, and now I feel like a heel.  I had no idea I'd be moving when we started talking about this."

She didn't doubt his word.  They'd been discussing this for almost a year.  "It's okay, Dad."

She rubbed her temples, her head starting to pound.  She'd left Chicago to come home to Montana and now her only family was planning to leave. 

Greg Shay looked like he rather be any place but sitting at the kitchen table with her at the moment.  Madison loved her dad and she needed to let him off the hook. 

"I understand if you're angry, sweetheart."  Her father jumped up from the table and began to pace.  "I begged you to come home and now you probably feel like I'm abandoning you."