Fire Rising

CHAPTER THREE

Sammi stared at the tray across her lap and tried to ignore her sister’s determined glare. Sammi awoke feeling rested and without her body aching as it had for the past month.

That’s when Jane explained she had fallen unconscious at the kitchen table. They had brought her upstairs and found the wound. Apparently she had someone named Tristan to thank for removing the bullet.

It wasn’t like she had left it in on purpose. She hadn’t even known it was a bullet. She’d thought it had been something from the blast.

They had blown up her pub. They had killed Daniel. And they had tried to kill her.

She didn’t feel the need to push these bad men to see how far they would go, because she knew firsthand how malicious and cruel they were. That kind of fear, that kind of terror was now a part of her. Everything she looked at was a potential threat, as was everyone.

It had changed her, and not for the better.

“Sammi, please,” Jane begged.

Jane had been pressing her for answers for the past thirty minutes. Maybe Sammi should have pretended not to feel well. It might have put Jane off for a little while. Enough so that she could leave Dreagan while they slept.

“I know you mean well, and that you want to help. Please trust me when I say it’s better if you don’t know,” Sammi finally said as she stirred the sugar in her tea.

Jane shook her head, her short auburn hair swaying against her cheeks. “Screw that,” she said, her American accent taking on a hard note. “I’m your sister. I can help.”

“Half-sister,” Sammi corrected and then immediately regretted it when she saw the hurt look in Jane’s eyes.

“Half, whole. It doesn’t matter. We’re family. You came here for help.”

Sammi let the hot tea slide down her throat. Her mother had always said tea could help anything. How Sammi wished that were true. Nothing could help her now. It was only a matter of time before the Mob caught up with her.

If she hadn’t been wounded, if she had been rested, the last place she would have brought her troubles was to Jane’s door. She’d put her sister and everyone at Dreagan in the path of a madman who had no problems killing anyone who got in his way.

“I shouldn’t have come,” Sammi said as she set her cup down.

Jane tucked her hair behind an ear. “But you did. You knew you would be safe here.”

It was on the tip of Sammi’s tongue to tell Jane everything. She was so tired of carrying such a burden alone, but if Jane and the others knew, it would only put them in danger. No matter how tired Sammi was, she couldn’t do that to them.

Jane had been so kind and giving, even when Sammi had tried to keep her distance. Jane hadn’t given up though. She had taken her time and slowly gotten to know Sammi with phone calls, e-mails, texts, and even visits to the pub.

There was kindness and acceptance in Jane’s amber eyes and it took everything Sammi had to keep her secret buried deep. She had come to Dreagan because she knew Jane would help. It had been selfish and stupid, and Sammi bemoaned her weakness.

She had just been so tired of being alone, of dealing with everything alone.

However, she knew Jane well enough to know she was like a dog with a bone. Jane wouldn’t let it go until she got some kind of explanation. So, Sammi decided to give her one.

“There was an accident at the pub. I was hurt, and I thought I could take care of it myself,” she said with a shrug. “It was stupid not to get it seen to properly. I’m much better now, so I’ll return to the pub this afternoon.”

“That might be difficult,” came a deep, sexy voice from the doorway.

Sammi’s head swung around to the doorway to see Banan and another man. Her stomach plummeted to her feet, because Sammi had been sure those shrewd, intoxicating, dark, velvet brown eyes had been nothing more than a dream.

But as she found herself sinking, falling, drowning into them, Sammi was elated to discover the eyes—and the man—hadn’t been a figment of her imagination.

She drank in the very masculine, very virile man before her. Without knowing anything about him, she instinctively knew he was dangerous and seductive, wild and alluring.

Even as she silently cautioned herself, she was inexplicably drawn to him. The attraction was immediate and alarming. At the same time it was captivating and enticing.

She wanted to run her fingers through his light brown hair streaked with gold that hung thick and glossy just past his shoulders. Brows the same pale brown slashed over his eyes. He was clean-shaven, giving notice to his strong jaw and chin.

He wore a shirt that molded to his broad shoulders. His arms were crossed, causing his muscles to bulge against skin kissed by the sun.

Her eyes drifted lower to his jeans hanging low on his narrow hips and encasing his long legs close enough she could sense they were as corded with muscle as the rest of him.

He was a walking fantasy. In all her life, Sammi had never seen anyone as drop-dead gorgeous as the man staring at her now. She had wanted to know him when her fever-induced mind had thought he was a dream, but now … now she knew to get close to him, to know him might put the heart she had guarded so well into peril.

“Sammi?”

She jerked at Banan’s voice but couldn’t pull her gaze away from his companion. For long seconds his dark eyes held hers until she looked away. Only to find Jane watching her peculiarly.

“What?” she asked Jane.

Banan walked into the room and came to stand beside Jane’s chair. “Did you no’ hear Tristan?”

Tristan. The name fit the man to perfection, just as his clothes did. Had he spoken? Oh, yes, he had. That’s what had drawn her attention. His amazing, captivating voice that made her stomach flutter with exhilaration.

But what had he said?

Then she remembered. Sammi idly turned her teacup around on the tray. She was being cornered in her lie, a lie she’d constructed to protect her sister.

“Sammi, please,” Jane urged. “Why would it be impossible for you to return to the pub?”

“I told you there was an accident.” Sammi prayed they left it at that and didn’t probe further.

Jane blew out a harsh breath. “What kind of accident? What happened?”

Finally, she looked at her sister. “Leave it, Jane.”

“You don’t trust me.” Jane’s words were said in a whisper, the hurt in them slamming into Sammi like fists.

Banan pulled Jane up and walked her to the door whispering something in her ear. After a minute she nodded and walked away. Banan then closed the door, leaving Sammi alone with him and Tristan.

By the look on Banan’s face when he turned back to her, Sammi knew the interrogation was about to begin.

“Don’t even try,” she said before he could open his mouth. “There’s nothing to tell other than what I’ve already said.”

“You’re no’ a verra good liar,” Banan said.

“I’m actually very good.” Why it offended her that he said she wasn’t, Sammi didn’t know. All she needed was a little more time to rest, and then she would be gone.

Tristan drew in a deep breath. “The pub is gone. There’s nothing left.”

As if she didn’t know that. She had been there. Felt the heat of the fire, suffered the impact of the blast.

Experienced the hate of it all.

When she didn’t reply, Banan briefly squeezed his eyes shut. “Your pub is gone. You were shot. That piece of shite you drove up in isna your car, Sammi. It doesna take a genius to figure out something is going on.”

Damn but she’d thought she could pull something over on them. It had been naïve and foolish to think they would believe her lies. They left her little choice though. “I’m not telling you anything to keep you all safe. It was wrong of me to come—”

“But you did,” Banan interrupted angrily.

Sammi deserved his ire, but she wasn’t going to give in. “I knew my wound was getting worse. I needed to rest, and I knew Jane would help.”

A muscle ticked dangerously along Banan’s jaw. “Aye. You’re her family.”

“Why no’ go to the hospital?” Tristan asked.

Sammi felt his dark gaze on her and shivered. His voice, just like his gaze, was electric, charged. Thrilling. She would definitely have to keep her distance from him.

“I couldn’t chance it,” she admitted.

Banan took the seat Jane had vacated and leaned his forearms upon his thighs. The frown he wore no longer held anger, but concern. “Who is after you, Sammi?”

“Bad people. Very bad people.” God, why had she let that slip? It wasn’t too much, at least, and as Banan had mentioned, an idiot could’ve figured that out. Still, she shouldn’t have told him.

Tristan walked to the foot of the bed and braced his hands on the iron footboard. “How long have you been running from them?”

They were asking such simple questions, but if she wasn’t careful, they would get it all out of her piece by piece. “A while.”

Banan exchanged a look with Tristan. “Vague answers again.”

“It took verra little to discover what happened to your pub,” Tristan said. “Why did you no’ want Jane to know that it was blown up and that your business partner is missing?”

Sammi squeezed her eyes shut. Poor Daniel. She’d known he was dead, but hearing it brought a fresh wave of pain. Even though Daniel had brought it on himself by being involved with such people.

“Where is Daniel?” Banan asked. “You doona seem the type of woman to blow up your own pub because your ex-lover pissed you off.”

Sammi’s eyes flew open as she glared at Banan. “Daniel was my friend and had a good head for business. He made me money.”

“Did you know he had spent some time in jail for petty crimes?” Tristan asked.

She glanced at him but couldn’t look in his eyes. “Not at first. Only once we realized we made better friends than lovers. He told me about his past, but he said he had changed.”

Banan sat back, causing the chair to creak. “Daniel lied, did he no’?”

“Yes.” And that’s all she would tell them. Let them dig into Daniel’s past or hers. She wasn’t going to say any more, and the first chance she got, she was leaving. The more distance she put between her and Jane, the better.

“You should eat,” Tristan said into the silence.

Sammi looked at the tray loaded with fruit, meats, bread, and fried eggs that were now cold. She had been famished when Jane brought in the food, but then the questions had begun.

“When was the last time you had a good meal?” Banan asked.

Sammi scrunched up her face and looked at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re skin and bones. No’ the way Jane and I last saw you.”

“Maybe I’m on a diet,” she said with a shrug, hoping he bought it and had forgotten how much she loved junk food.

Banan gave a loud snort, telling her he knew she lied.

“Fine,” she said. “It’s only been a day since my last meal.”

“You’ve been here three,” Tristan said.

No. That couldn’t be. The last time she had remained at one place for longer than two days, the Mob had come close to catching her. She had learned the hard way to stay on the move and talk to as few people as she could.

It was always the tingle at the back of her neck that alerted her she needed to move on. That tingle was back, something she hadn’t expected while at Dreagan.

Then again, she hadn’t intended to stay but one night. What had she done? What had she brought to Jane?

The dread, the anxiety was like acid churning in her stomach, making her sick.

“Sammi?” Banan said as he jumped up and came to stand beside her, his hand on her arm. “What is it?”

“I have to go,” she said and tried to lift the tray off her. Her shoulder twinged, the stitches pulling at her effort.

Tristan was immediately at her other side. “Easy,” he said and took the tray. “You’ll bust the stitches.”

Even with the tray gone, she couldn’t leave the bed because Banan kept ahold of her arm. Then Tristan was back, boxing her in.

“You don’t understand,” she cried. “If they come, they’ll destroy it as they’ve destroyed my life!”

She was panting from the exertion, sweat dotting her skin. Something warm and wet ran down her arm, but she was too upset to worry about it.

Sammi shoved the covers aside and swung her legs over the side, barely noting that she was in a Victoria’s Secret cotton T-shirt gown that must belong to Jane.

Tristan’s hands came down on her shoulders and held her steady as he knelt beside the bed. “You’re bleeding.”

“I have to leave.”

“Why?”

Sammi shook her head. It was as if her thoughts were muddled, as if sleep once more weighed her down. “They’ll come for me. They always come for me.”

“Who?” he persisted.

Sammi’s already weak body was fast losing what little energy she had. Tears stung her eyes as frustration filled her. She was so tired, and they kept asking questions. She couldn’t remember what she had told them and what she hadn’t. The burden of it all pressed down on her, sinking her further and further into a place she knew she’d never come back from.

She shoved him aside and got to her feet. He was standing before her once more, blocking her way and forcing her to look at him. His hands were large and held her carefully but securely in front of him.

He watched her cautiously, as if studying her. In his eyes she saw truth and understanding. If anyone could help her, it just might be Tristan.

If she dared to tell him.

He smoothed a lock of hair away from her face, his large hand gentle and reassuring. It would be so good to let someone else carry her burdens for a while. She was just so … tired.

“Sammi, who is after you?” he urged, his voice going deeper, smoother.

It was almost as if his voice was inside her head. “I don’t know who they are exactly.”

He gave a nod, a slight lift to the corner of his lips. “Tell me what you do know. Let me help.”

She shook her head. Sammi didn’t know how she kept from telling him everything. In her mind she recounted the entire incident.

It was a relief actually. To share her burden within her mind helped more than she had realized. She should have done it sooner.

“It’s all right.” Tristan’s thumbs were slowly rubbing her arms in circles. It was such a small movement, but it was comforting. His touch soothed her, calmed her.

Reassured her.

How could she fight something that felt so good? Her dream man was touching her, talking to her in his sexy voice. If only she was brave enough to tell them all she knew. If only she had the strength to stay on her feet for more than two seconds.

She didn’t resist when he pushed her back onto the bed. His hands were quick and concise as he pulled up her sleeve and wiped away the blood before replacing the bandage.

Then she was once more beneath the covers. As soon as she was able, she would leave, she told herself as her eyes grew heavy. It was the only option left to her.

“I doona think she even knows she told you,” Banan said.

Tristan gazed at Sammi. The panic and fear he had seen in her eyes left him cold. “Nay, she didna.”

“How did you do it?”

He had no idea. Something inside him urged him to push Sammi, but even as he did it, he could feel his magic probe into her mind. Now he knew the magic he had as a Dragon King—he could make people tell him whatever he wanted.

Sammi wouldn’t appreciate it. If she ever found out.

Tristan shrugged. “It just happened.”

“Ah,” Banan said with a nod of understanding.

Tristan rubbed a strand of her hair between his fingers. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her. He wanted to shelter her from the people who dared to go after her.

He looked up to find Banan watching him. Tristan released Sammi’s hair but didn’t step away from the bed.

“Sammi is Jane’s sister,” Banan said. “Doona trifle with her.”

“In other words, stay away?”

Banan walked around the bed to stand beside him. “I’m just asking that you no’ mess with her if you need to ease your cock. Find another woman for that.”

Tristan made himself look away from her and into Banan’s face as he calmly changed the subject. “Our initial check showed she hasna used her credit cards, mobile, or accessed her bank in a month.”

“The pub was destroyed a month ago. That means she’s been out there on her own this entire time.”

“What has she been living off of?”

“By how skinny she is, I’m betting she missed quite a few meals.” The longer Tristan thought of all Sammi had told him, the angrier he got. “I’d like to meet the assholes who blew up her pub and shot at her.”

“Me as well. Want to help me look for them?” Banan asked with a cheeky grin.

“I’d like nothing better. Then I’ll show them they should pick on someone their own size.”

“And if it’s Ulrik?”

“We’ll put him in his place once and for all.”