Wild Card (5 page)

"I can't do that, Rory."

He turned furiously, his eyes blazing as he sneered back at Nathan. "Granddad cries when he

talks about you. When he sees Sabella struggling with that fucking garage. Trying to survive.

He tried to help her and that son of a bitch father of yours took damned near everything he had.

And here you are." He flipped his hand back to Nathan, fury filling his face. "The big tough

warrior the old man had such pride in. Six years, Nathan. Six years and where the hell have you

been?"

Noah lashed out, pushing him back in the chair as he glared back at him. "Watch it, boy," he bit out, "Keep pushing and you'll get more than you want."

"I got more than I wanted when I felt you watching the place this afternoon," he snarled, anger pushing past fear.

"I'm back, that's all that matters." Noah rubbed his hand over his short beard. "This isn't as simple as why I didn't come back. It's not even as simple as having the option to come back for

a damned long time. I'm here now, and I need information."

"That's what they make computers for." Rory was three seconds from attacking him again and

Noah knew it. The boy had that damned Irish pride and temper.

"Listen to me, you little shit!" He moved over him vengefully. "Look at my face. My body. Do you think this shit happened because I wanted to be someone else? Because I wanted my life

fucked up the ass and back? Look, Rory. Look at the scars. You want to see my back? How

about my legs? You want to see the hole they cut in my foot? Will that help?"

He jerked back, furious, enraged. So much for control. He hadn't let his control snap in more

than five years.

He inhaled roughly. He wasn't going to let it snap now, not any further than it had already.

He turned back to his brother and pushed back the emotion. The horror in his brother's eyes

wasn't what he'd wanted to see.

"Belle's not the same without you," Rory whispered. "She's sad all the time. All she does is work. All she does is close herself off. She's not even the same girl anymore. Any more than

you're the same man."

Noah clenched his jaw, his fists. He couldn't talk about Sabella. Not now. Not yet.

"Tell me about the Black Collar Militia."

Rory blinked. "BC?" He snorted. "I stay outta that shit. I remember the whipping you gave me before you left, okay?"

"I didn't ask if you were still stupid," he growled. "Tell me what you've heard."

Rory licked his lips and looked away for a second. "Two of Belle's mechanics are BC. Low

level mostly. No one knows what's high level. The little twits like to brag sometimes. Mostly

they run errands, crap like that."

Noah straddled the chair again. "When did they start working for Sabella?"

Rory narrowed his eyes at him. "You always called her Bella, Nate."

"Rory, don't piss me off again." He sighed. "Answer my questions. And you call me by that

name again and I'll bust your head. My name is Noah Blake."

Rory flinched before tensing and shaking his head.

"Hell." He breathed out roughly. "A year or so ago maybe. All the guys working for you left that first year. Belle was in bad shape for a long time. When she finally came out of it, she was

on the verge of losing the house and the garage. I couldn't keep it running." His expression

twisted painfully as he stared back at Noah. "I tried," he whispered. "But I couldn't keep it going." He shrugged. "And Belle, she's a hell of a mechanic, but she doesn't have good people

skills, ya know? Getting things back up and running has taken all our time."

Sabella, a mechanic? Noah held back his total disbelief. That one he would have to see to

believe. And no people skills? Who had kidnapped his wife and replaced her?

"Just tell me about the militia," Noah growled.

Rory pushed his fingers through his hair. "I simply don't know much." He shook his head. "I'm pretty sure Mike Conrad associates with them. I know he's hot for the garage since news came

you were dead. He's made Belle an offer a few times, but she refuses to sell. Sometimes Mike

gets a little drunk, and when he does, he'll run his mouth, but he hasn't spouted off about

anything dangerous yet. Sheriff is a badass, he could be in it, but with him who the hell knows.

There's rumors the BC are involved in some of those deaths in the National Park, but, like I

said, rumors. Hell, Noah, I've been so damned busy just trying to keep the wolves away from

Belle that I don't have time for that crap."

Noah nodded. He hadn't expected Rory to know a lot.

"You're giving me a job at the garage. You hired me tonight. You met me last month when you

were at that bar in Odessa."

Rory gave him a surprised look. "You know about the bar?"

"And the barmaid," Noah grunted. "I showed up this afternoon, found you heading back here

and stopped. We chatted. You offered me a job."

Rory stared back at him confusion. "And Belle?"

"Won't know who I am," he told Rory quietly. "And if you tell her, Rory, if you even hint it to her, you'll disappear until all this is over, you understand me?"

He stared back at his brother. There was no anger now, no emotion. The ice was falling back

into place.

"But Bella's your wife," Rory whispered painfully. "You almost stayed away too long, man."

"I'll take care of Sabella, my way." He rose from the chair, staring down at Rory with hard

eyes. "Do you understand me, Rory? My way."

Rory nodded hesitantly.

"Stay here tomorrow. Sleep off that drunk you're going to tie on tonight. Don't show up until

you can get a handle on this."

Rory grunted. "Then I guess I'll see you next lifetime."

Noah stared back at him silently for long moments.

"Fine. Day or two." His brother shrugged.

"And you don't tell Grandpop either,"' Noah warned him.

Rory shrugged. "I won't tell, doesn't mean he won't know. You know Granddad."

Unfortunately he did. Riordan Malone always seemed to just know things. It had been creepy

as hell when he was a kid, comforting as he grew older. And now, now it was just worrisome.

"Why Noah?" Rory asked the question Noah couldn't answer. " Why the name, and why are

you back here for the BC and not your family?"

Bitterness filled his brother's voice, his expression, and Nathan was damned if he could blame

him.

"I'm back because the BC threatens my family," he stated, his grating voice harsher, darker

than it should have been. "As for the name." His lips quirked. "It's Irish. Now keep your eyes and ears open. I'll tell you more as I can."

Rory gave him a mocking sneer. "Fuck you, man. You know, you're right. Belle doesn't need to

know who you are. She has a second chance now; maybe this time, she'll get a man that will

stay home a while."

Noah froze, he didn't even blink. "Meaning?"

"You should have checked things out a little before you came back and accused me of touching

what's yours. It's not me you have to worry about,
Noah
. Try worrying about your good friend

Duncan Sykes. She's been seeing him since his divorce a year ago." Rory's smile was mocking.

"If I were a betting man, I'd bet she'll be letting him drive your truck soon."

Noah pushed back the demon rising inside him. Long of fang, sharp of claw, it tore at his brain,

threatened his control, his ability to think.

Duncan Sykes.

No. It hadn't happened. Bella hadn't been with another man. No other man had touched her. No

other man would dare. Because he would kill him. And he would have known.

Noah slipped back into the night as silently as he had come in. He made his way back around

the house, moving quickly, staying in the shadows until he reached the canyon where he'd left

the Harley, more than a mile away.

He was aware of Rory trying to track him, but the kid wasn't experienced enough. He'd lost

sight of Nathan seconds after he left.

But there were other eyes, old eyes, tear-filled eyes, that watched every stride he took with

pride, love, and fierce exultant joy.

Dawn wasn't far way, but rather than returning to the command center to catch a few hours'

sleep and report to Jordan, Noah pointed the Harley home instead.

He couldn't get it out of his head. Sabella was seeing someone? Was she sleeping with his old

friend Duncan Sykes? He had to know. He had to see her for himself, feel her, know she

belonged to him even though he knew he couldn't have her.

Six years. He couldn't be reborn. Nathan Malone was dead in more than just name. The man he

had been was dead. The man Sabella had loved was dead. Had she found someone to replace

him?

He couldn't consider it. Over six years without her touch, without the soft scent of her. He

couldn't take another woman. He couldn't bear the thought of it. His vows held him. Sabella's

soul held him. He couldn't have her, but he couldn't have anyone else either. Could he bear to

know she was in another man's arms?

He turned down an old back road and pulled the Harley into a shelter of trees, turned the

ignition key, and swung off. He began the short hike that would take him to the back of the

house. The two-story brick house sat at the edge of town. There were no neighbors close

enough to see him if he came in on the lower edge of the property. He just wanted to stay a

minute, he told himself as he moved through the predawn light, keeping to the shelter of trees

that bordered the backyard.

He had nearly stepped into the yard before he stopped. Came to a hard, freezing stop and just

stared at the vision that stepped out on the back porch.

His reaction was like a fist to the gut, threatening to double him up. It was the immediate,

violent erection in his jeans. It was his heart rate increasing, the blood rushing through his veins

hard and fast. His breathing felt restricted, locked in his throat. His fingers curled against his

palms, forming fists so tight the bones ached.

He stared at the woman, the man's long white shirt falling past her thighs, gaping open to reveal

the white tank top and boyshort panties she wore beneath. She lifted a cup of coffee, the steam

curling against her face as dawn edged in, lighting the yard, the porch, and the woman with

gold and violet rays.

"Sabella." He whispered her name.

Rory had noticed his slip. He had always called her Bella, unless he wanted her. Unless the

need to be buried inside the velvet-soft, rich warmth of her body had been overwhelming. And

it had never been as overwhelming as it was now.

He imagined he could smell her scent in the air, a blend of honeysuckle and feminine warmth.

Against his palm he imagined he felt the heat of her flesh, silken and giving, lifting to him, her

lips whispering his name.

He remembered several times, many in fact, that he had taken her on that back porch. He'd

lifted her astride him as he sat on that swing. He'd bent her over the railing and buried into her

from behind.

Agony pierced his chest and bit into his soul like an animal's fangs. And that was how he

wanted to bite her. He wanted to grip her neck between his teeth and hold her in place like an

animal. He wanted to pound inside her and hear her scream for more.

But her screams would be far different than when she cried for more, he thought. The man he

was now, the dark hungers that filled him, would terrify her.

But still, he watched her. Watched as she enjoyed that first cup of coffee. The almost sensual

pleasure in her face as the heated liquid passed her lips, and he let himself remember when that

sensuality had once flowed over him as well.

He remembered her laughter and her smile. He remembered touching her, holding her, and he

had to restrain the need to remember sharing dreams with her. Once, they had had such dreams.

Simple dreams. A dog and a kid. Maybe a pool in the backyard.

And now here he was, hidden from view, watching as his wife's too somber face lifted to the

dawn, and he swore he felt her whisper his name.

A few more hours, he thought. He would check in with Jordan, shower, and change clothes

before heading to the garage.

When he had first gone back to Texas with the other members of the Elite Operational Unit he

had joined, Noah had told himself he would do the job and leave. That simple. As he stood

staring at his wife, he had a feeling it wasn't going to be that simple at all.

Today, he would step back into her life as another man. A man whose hungers were so dark,

ran so deep, that sometimes they made him pause. A renegade. A . He would come to her, not

as Nathan Malone, but as Noah Blake. And he would come into her life as nothing she could

ever imagine.

"Hey. Belle, Mike Conrad just called about his car and that damned motor hasn't come in yet.

He's on his way here and he sounds drunk again. There's some badass waiting in your office for

Rory, who called in drank this morning, and you're making me crazy having to talk to your

legs. Get the hell out from under that car."

This wasn't good. Her receptionist/gopher was sounding less than pleased and more irritated

and harried than first thing in the morning should be calling for. She stared up at the innards of

the vehicle she was working on: grease and grime and years of neglect met her inspection. It

almost reminded her of her own life, she thought with a grimace.

"Answer me sometime today, Belle." Toby was sounding more harried by the minute. "Look,