Web of Lies (2 page)

A call from the Clancys woke her a few hours later, and she hurriedly changed and went back to the hospital.  Happy to be able to find a parking spot close to the entrance, she hurried up to her father’s room and found the Clancys sitting by his bedside, Mary holding his hand.  They turned as she approached, their eyes full of sadness.

“What happened?” she asked, her heart in her throat.

Mary Clancy stood and drew her away from the bed.  “He’s taken a turn for the worse, my dear.  I am so sorry.  He hasn’t been conscious since we got here, but the nurse said we could sit with him anyway.”  She hugged Faith to her ample bosom and squeezed her in gentle comfort.

Faith took Mary’s place on the side of the bed, while her foster parents sat in the two chairs.  They all watched Grant Lee’s face for any sign he was regaining consciousness.  When he moaned a little, Faith leaned over him, but he settled back, his breathing even.  She supposed that was a good thing. 

After what seemed like hours, but was probably not more than maybe thirty minutes, the doctor came in and brought her up-to-date.  Yes, it was cancer.  No, there was nothing they could do.  He had weakened considerably since she left, and it was anybody’s guess how long before he passed.  It could be a few hours to six months; but, the doctor did not hold out much hope that he would last that long.

Faith wished she could cry.  Her heart was breaking, but she kept a stoic face, not letting her feelings show.  She thanked the doctor quietly and went back to sit with her father.  The Clancys offered to get her something from the cafeteria, but she declined.  They left her alone with him, promising to return in half an hour. 

When the door opened again ten minutes later, she opened her eyes wide.  She was shocked at the huge mountain of a man that stood in the doorway.  He had to stoop to fit though the doorway, and his massive shoulders filled most of its width. 

“I’m sorry. You have the wrong room,” she said stiffly, trying to hide her trepidation and annoyance.  She didn’t want any intrusions right now, even if they were accidental.

“I’m Jack Johnson,” the man said, advancing into the room.  “Grant’s my partner.”  He stuck out a hand, but Faith looked at him like he was the devil from hell, so he withdrew it.  Instead, he merely stood to let her get a good look at him.

He was the tallest man she had ever seen, and that was saying something.  He must be at least seven or eight inches taller than her six feet.  She felt dwarfed by him, but she still resisted the urge to stand up.  It would only make it clear that she was feeling intimidated by his size, and she didn’t want to give this stranger any advantages. 

“How do I know you are who you say you are?  And how did you know...?” She left the question unfinished.  She didn’t want to let on that she believed his story.  Instead, she watched him fish his wallet from the inside pocket of his leather jacket and hand her his driver’s license.  He also handed her a picture of himself and her father standing beside their motorcycles, wearing their club leathers and smiling broadly.  Next to this man, her father looked almost small, although Grant Lee was three inches taller than she was.

“Grant told me he was coming to see you, and he said he would call in a few days,” he explained, replacing his license and photo in the wallet.  “It’s been two weeks without a word, so I came looking for him.”

“How did you know he was here?” she asked, looking him square in the eyes.

“I didn’t.  I went to your place― Grant gave me your address, in case anything happened to him―and your neighbor told me where you were.”

Faith took a deep breath.  It didn’t help to lighten her heart, but she took another anyway.  Then, she turned back to her father.

“He’s dying,” she said into the quiet room.  “He has a tumor on his brain.  They can’t operate.  Plus, he was in some kind of accident because he has bruised ribs and concussion.” 

She didn’t know why she was talking so much or telling this man things she probably shouldn’t; but, it was as though someone had opened the tap of her emotions.  Suddenly, words were pouring out of her.  She told him how she hadn’t seen her father in six years, how he had given her a key, and how she wasn’t ready for him to die. 

Eventually, the well dried up, and she fell silent.  Her visitor had not said a word during the entire episode. He remained quiet, while she sat watching her father’s face with silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

The next sound she heard was the door again. She swiped her hand across her face and turned to see who was entering the room.  The Clancys walked in, looking inquiringly at the stranger.  He introduced himself to them, as it seemed Faith had been robbed of all will to do anything other than stare.  Mary came over and pulled her up and away from the bed.

“You need to get some fresh air now, dear.  I’ll sit with him until you come back.”  She spoke in the kind of voice she used to use when Faith had been a teenager hell-bent on getting her own way.  “There’s a park on the side by the parking lot where you can wander about for a bit.”  She gave Faith a gentle push.  “Go on now.”  She turned to the stranger and implored, “Please, keep her company for me.”

Faith watched him nod, as if he had no choice in the matter.  She let him lead her out to the park and walked beside him until he came to a fountain.  There, he urged her gently onto a stone bench and sat beside her, still without saying a word. 

In the small part of her brain that was not already preparing itself to grieve, she wondered how he could be so silent and, yet, seem so comforting.  In her experience, silence meant withdrawal or lack of interest.  Somehow, she recognized the concern in his silence. 

Concern, and maybe something more.  He wasn’t a boy, this giant beside her.  He was more man than she had ever had anything to do with, aside from her father.  She guessed his age to be close to forty or so, though he didn’t seem like a man approaching middle age to her.  His gait and bearing were that of a man in his twenties, primed for action.  His body was lithe, despite its size.  Although his hair was cut in a buzz cut, like a man in the military, there was not a single strand of gray to be seen. 

He sported a goatee without the accompanying mustache.  What saved it from being just scruff, and made it even sexier, was the fact that he obviously kept it neatly trimmed.  She liked the line of hair down the center that then fanned out into a curve around the point of his chin.  His cheeks seemed to be permanently dimpled, even when he was not smiling.  The dimples were even there now, as she eyed him surreptitiously.

He must have felt the weight of her attention on him because he turned to look at her. The impact of his hazel gaze slammed into her, like fists to her gut.  She inhaled sharply and looked away...

CHAPTER TWO

Five weeks earlier--Jack

Grant’s daughter was gorgeous.  He couldn’t remember Grant ever talking about how Faith looked, just how much he loved her for who she was... smart, funny, feisty, tough as nails.  It was clear to him, just from this hour of interaction, that she was all that.  And gorgeous. 

He was floored by how beautiful she was with her full body, wide hips, and luscious ass.  He loved the way she filled out her jeans, the way her lips quirked when she was thinking about whether or not she should trust him, and the way she frowned when she was uncertain. 

Even now, as she avoided his gaze, she was beautiful in her innocence.  He had never met anyone quite like her in all his life, and he wasn’t sure Grant should have entrusted her care to him.

He was a tough man, so why he was thinking about a woman he had just met and had no intentions of becoming involved with escaped him.  She was just his friend’s daughter, and he would need to protect her until she found whatever it was that Grant wanted her to find.  She was not a prospective lover, mate, or anything like that. 

She’s just a friend’s daughter
, he reminded himself sternly, even as his eyes took in the curve of her lips.  He couldn’t help but watch the way she licked them nervously, as though she knew he was watching her.

Time to end this train of thought
, Jack decided,
before it gets out of hand
. 

“So, has Grant given you the key, yet?”  When she turned her startled eyes to his face, he added, “That’s why he came here.  He wanted you to have it, and he wanted me to go with you to find what it opens.”

“Do you know what it opens?” she asked, instead of answering his question directly.  When he shook his head, she said, “He hasn’t said anything except that it was the last important thing he had to give me.  And his bike.  It doesn’t look like the key to his bike, though.  Does he have another bike?”

Jack shook his head again, wishing suddenly that he could answer all her questions and take away the pain that her father’s impending death was obviously causing her.  She was stirring up a mess of unusual emotions in his gut, and he didn’t like it.  She was too young for him and too untried.  He preferred his women seasoned, ready, and able to let go when things ran their course.   So, this fixation on her was not only out of character, but it was also out of the question for him. 

“Yes, he has one more.  He sold the other two last year.”

He watched her shake her head in disbelief.  “Why would anyone need more than one bike?” she asked, as though there was some logic that was escaping her.  “You can only ride one at a time!”

Jack chuckled at her comment.  He supposed it made sense because she knew nothing of her father’s affairs, but it wasn’t his business to tell her.  He just had to get her across the country to find the answers that the key held for her. 

Grant had told him enough to know she would be getting that other bike, but he had also told him that everything else would fall into place once she found what he had left for her.  He wouldn’t tell her any of this for now.  She needed to deal with seeing her father again after all these years― Grant had told him it was six years― and with his death and all that went with that. 

“Are you ready to go back in, now?” he asked, hoping she was.  He needed to see Grant for himself, and, hopefully, he could talk to him again before anything happened.  His friendship with Faith’s father spanned twenty years, and they had learned to trust each other.  Grant was family to him, and he would do anything for him.

“Yes.  Thank you for walking with me.”  Faith’s voice was tremulous, and those odd protective feelings stirred in his gut again.  He let her walk ahead of him, so he could keep some kind of lid on things. Then, he discovered it was probably not the wisest move, as now he had a clear view of her long legs and shapely ass.  The swing of it, as she walked away, stirred his loins, too. 

Shit!  This is going to be my toughest job
,
he thought.
Being around her is doing a number on my libido and emotions.  I don’t know how to handle all this.

Back in the room, Jack stood by the door.  He stayed away from the people whom Faith clearly loved and away from his friend.  He felt like the outsider he was, but he was not bothered by it.  He had always been the outsider, and he preferred it that way.  There were no expectations of an outsider, and even though trust was hard won, it was always well-earned. 

The nurse and doctor came in to monitor Grant’s condition. As they were consulting each other, he opened his eyes.  Jack watched in fascination as Grant’s gaze wandered around until he found Faith and latched on to her.  Grant opened his mouth to call her; but, just then, the doctor turned and saw him.  A flurry of activity ensued; but, eventually, Faith was allowed to sit on the edge of the bed again and reach for her father’s hand.

“Dad?”  There was a wealth of meaning in the word. 

“I’m still here, baby girl. Still... here.”

Jack watched, as the tears flowed. A woman hugged Faith and soothed her.  When she was calm again, the couple said they had to leave but would be back in the morning.  Then, they asked Faith if she needed anything.

“No, I’m fine. Thanks!”  Hugs all round, and then they left.  Now, Jack was alone with her.  Grant was still awake, though Jack wasn’t sure how alert he was.  His next words answered that concern.

“Is that you, Jack?”  Grant’s eyes caught him and held.  Jack walked over, grabbing a chair and sitting in it next to the bed.

“Good to see you again, old man!”  His voice was gruff. 

“You take care of my baby girl, you hear?”  Grant coughed and grimaced at the pain.

“Just like I said I would,” Jack answered.

“I’m right here,” Faith said, her voice stiff.  “And I don’t need taking care of!”  The sharp retort amused Jack, but he kept his face serious.  The last thing he needed was to antagonize her; however, a secret part of him wondered what sex would be like with her when she was riled up.

“You do whatever he tells you,” her father replied, as though she hadn’t spoken.  His voice was weak, but he was determined to make his point.  “He won’t let anything happen to you.  I trust him.”

Jack watched her struggle not to argue, and his admiration for her went up a few more notches.  His cock stirred in his jeans, as he thought about how his hands were going to be full with her. He knew that he was going to enjoy the hell out of it, too.  He adjusted his ass on the seat to ease the growing constriction, wondering all the while what kind of sick pervert was turned on by a man’s daughter while that man lay dying in his hospital bed.

“You need to stop worrying about me and get well,” Faith said, ignoring Jack completely.  “And you need to tell me what happened.  And what this key is for.”  She held up the key that he had pressed into her palm before.

“I had a little accident,” Grant said and then paused to catch his breath.  “I’ll be fine in a few days.”

Even Jack could hear the insincerity in the last words.  Grant knew he was dying.  So did Jack.  He had been in hospital a few weeks before coming to find Faith and had been given the prognosis.  Jack knew that none of this was news to him.  However, it was why he had asked Jack to watch out for her and go with her across the country to his old homestead. 

“You’ll know what the key is for when you get to where it came from.”  Grant stopped again.  Speech was difficult for him, and he seemed to need to concentrate.  He turned his eyes to Jack, who was still sitting quietly, watching the father and daughter interact.  “Go with her to the homestead, Jack.  The answer…” he paused, as though he was out of breath and then rumbled on, “...everything is there.”

His raised his other hand, and Jack reached over and held it, wishing he could give his friend some of his strength.  He felt Grant’s tiny squeeze and looked into eyes that were once again brimming with tears.

“Don’t you worry, my friend.  We’ll find it, and Faith will be safe.”  Jack pushed confidence into his voice, wishing he knew how to set Grant’s mind at ease.  They had been through a lot together, and Grant had made enemies of people who thought he should toe a line he never had.  Jack knew they were out there, waiting.  When Grant died, they might try to take what belonged to Faith away from her, and he knew it was up to him to see that that did not happen.  Whatever Grant had done in the past, he had been straight for years, and nothing he had now was tainted.  Jack would not let those heavies mess up the end of his friend’s life.

Grant’s grip slackened on his hand, and he pulled away.  Jack stood and went to the window to give Faith a bit of privacy.  He had a feeling things were about to go south much quicker than she was prepared for.  He knew that he would need his wits about him to find ways to help her that would not insult her or offend her independent spirit.

Faith did not leave the hospital that night, and the next day passed in very much the same way, except that Jack spent some time getting himself ready for the inevitable ride across the country.  Faith had told him she knew her dad’s old crew lived around the homestead, and she wanted to ask them for help.  He agreed that they would definitely be a good resource. 

When he asked how early a flight she wanted, she flat out refused to fly.  She’d argued that she wasn’t ready to face his old club friends yet, and she explained that she needed time to get used to the new reality.  A flight would get her there too soon for that to happen.  She said that she would drive, so he would need to follow her in his truck. 

When he argued that the long drive was a long one, she said it was her choice, and if he preferred, he could fly out and wait for her.  He knew that she had backed him into a corner, and it both irked and amused him.  He had wanted to grab her and kiss the smirk off her face when he had capitulated, but he managed to back away from the temptation of those rosy lips.

Tonight, he was going to urge her to go home for some real sleep and then return tomorrow.  He walked up to the door and was surprised to see a bright light shining through the crack where it had not been completely closed.  He pushed it in and found a flurry of movement over Grant’s bed.  His heart sank.  He knew what that meant, and when his eyes searched the space, he found Faith sitting on the side, frozen in shock, silent tears streaming down her face. 

He walked in, and when the doctor attempted to send him packing, she spoke in a tight voice.  “Please... he... he’s with me.”  She stood up, shakily, and Jack went to her immediately, pulling her into his arms when she would surely have collapsed. 

He felt her body quaking, as she sobbed into his chest, soaking his shirt.  He let her cry until she was exhausted, and then he pushed her gently back into the chair and went to fetch tissues for her to clean up.  Her
thank you
was wet and wobbly, and when the doctors came over to confirm what he had suspected, her face crumpled again.  The doctor’s voice was kind, and though Jack suspected she didn’t hear half of what he said, she nodded stoically and then rose to leave. 

Looking at him with what was almost panic in her eyes, she said, “I don’t know what...”

“Don’t worry.  I’ll take care of everything.  I know what he wanted done.”  He pushed a stray tear off her cheek with his thumb and felt something shift in his chest.  It was as inexplicable as the feelings earlier.  He forced himself to remember that she was Grant’s daughter, and a stranger, and off limits. 

Jack figured that it was best to get busy with final arrangements for Grant and get Faith sorted.  If he was busy, then he wouldn’t have time to dwell on what he was feeling, what it meant, and why he was having such feelings. Even now, as he walked her to the door, he felt a warmth spreading in his chest that made him wonder if he was coming down with something. 
That must be it.  Being in a hospital can’t be good for you on a long term basis, unless you are sick
, he thought.

He promised to call her, as soon as he knew when the body would be released to her.  He told her that they could talk about what Grant had wanted at that time.  He asked her if she had driven. When she said that she had, he told her to take a cab and get the car later.  He pushed some money into her hand and walked with her to the guest phone, so she could call for one.  He walked her to it and made sure she was situated, then he went back up to deal with her father.