Cam was struggling to remain conscious. He had to. Or they’d all be lost. “For Tio’s sake, Summer, run.”
“I won’t leave you.” She could see Jobina’s agitation growing.
The woman brandished the gun and drew closer, until Summer could smell the stench of liquor and see the glint of madness in her eyes.
She stood up, desperate to keep this woman’s attention away from Cam. “Tell me something. If you knew Tio was in the car, why didn’t you try to save him?”
“Save him? Why would I save his sorry hide? He’s just like his old man.”
Stunned, Summer could only gasp at the hatred spewing from this woman. “But if you wanted him dead, why do you want him now?”
The woman pointed with her gun. “Hear that?”
In the distance they could hear the shrill call of sirens gradually growing louder.
“He’s my ticket out of here. And afterward, I’ll do what I should have done a long time ago. It’ll be my last parting gift to my good-for-nothing husband.”
“Don’t call him that.” Tio’s cry in defense of his father was like a knife in Summer’s heart.
She held on to him tightly, determined not to let him go with this madwoman. “You’d kill the boy just to spite his father? Why do you hate Alfonso so?”
Jobina’s eyes narrowed. “He never let me have any fun. All I ever heard was that I had to be better now that I had a kid. No drinking. No partying. If I’d known having a kid would change my life like that, I’d have never had him. I only did it so he’d marry me. But afterward he changed.” She gave a smug smile. “That’s why I set him up. My boyfriend Galt and I planned the whole thing. I sent Alfonso to the store that night. Galt did the rest.”
“You set up your own husband?”
The woman laughed. “Do you know what it’s like to be tied down with a kid and a man who’d rather collect garbage than have a good time? But even in prison, he wouldn’t get out of my way. He had his mama fight for custody so I wouldn’t have any money from the state. I hated him for that. Hated the old woman, too. So when Galt found out someone was sniffing around that old crime, he figured we could make it work in our favor by scaring the two of you off and maybe getting the kid in the bargain.” She glared at the boy. “I don’t want you, boy. I’ve never wanted you. But you were a meal ticket. Now I figure if I kill Alfonso’s kid, I take away his reason for living. That’ll teach him to mess with me.”
Summer tried to breathe. The hatred coming from this woman seemed to roll over her in bitter, stifling waves. “The police are almost here.” She knew it was a desperate plea, but she had no choice. “If you leave now, you might get away.”
“Not without the kid.”
“If you try to take Tio with you, you’ll have to kill me first.”
“You think I care about your miserable life?” Jobina gave an evil smile and took aim.
Shaking his head to clear his vision, Cam struggled to his knees. Pain rolled over him, threatening to take him down. He couldn’t let it. If he’d ever thought himself a fighter, this was his chance to prove it.
It was a slim chance, but it was all he had. He prayed Summer would keep up the distraction.
As if reading his mind Summer said, “Remember this. Once you kill me, the police will never give up the hunt for you. The choice is yours. You can run now or stick around to finish me off and risk being caught.”
Jobina’s finger closed around the trigger. “I’ll take my chances with the kid.”
Cam sprang up, closing the distance between them and pouncing on the woman at the same moment she squeezed the trigger. The impact had the gun slipping from her fingers, landing in the grass a short distance away. Though she was drunk and dazed, Jobina fought like a caged tiger, her fingernails raking his face and teeth sinking into his arm.
Tio scrambled around them and snatched up the pistol. His eyes were hot and dry, his voice firm. “Stop now.” He couldn’t call her by name. Wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. “You stop or I swear I’ll use this.”
“No!” Summer stepped in front of him, determined to shield him from doing something he would regret for a lifetime. She held out her hand. Though it was trembling violently, she took a step closer. “Tio, give me the gun.”
“You heard her. She put my father in prison. She wants to kill all of us.”
“And she’ll pay for that. But this isn’t the way. Killing is never the way to even a score.” Summer’s heart was thundering so frantically, she was afraid it would leap right out of her chest. “Give me the gun, Tio. Now.”
For the space of a heartbeat the boy seemed about to refuse. His head turned from side to side in denial.
“Think about all the things your father has suffered because of a gun, Tio. All the years he’s missed with you and your grandmother. Don’t let the same thing happen to you.”
The boy went very still, remembering all the things his father had told him about the evils of guns. He took in a long, deep breath, then placed the gun in Summer’s hand.
Summer looked at it with disgust before tossing as far as she could. Then, hearing Cam’s grunt of pain, she hurried over to take hold of Jobina’s hair, yanking her away from Cam with such force, the woman let out a cry of pain.
Jobina turned on her with all the fury of a tornado, kicking, biting, scratching. In defense, Summer did something she’d have never thought possible. Closing her hand into a fist, she brought it against Jobina’s jaw with such force, the woman dropped like a stone.
Summer turned to Cam, who sank to his knees in the grass.
Helping him to his feet, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Oh, my darling. You’re bleeding. Hold on to me.”
“I’d…like that.” He staggered slightly as he watched half a dozen police cars come to a screeching halt.
Within seconds uniformed men were swarming over the area.
Chris Banning hurried over, followed by an emergency medical team. As they lay Cam on a stretcher and began to probe his wound, Summer and Tio clung together, watching with matching looks of concern.
“Is he going to be all right?” Summer thought her heart would surely stop.
The medic looked up with a nod. “First bullet went clean through the fleshy part of his arm. Second one seems to have missed the vitals. Going to hurt like hell, but he’ll be up and moving in no time.”
At that, Summer burst into tears.
“Hey, now.” Cam reached up, trying vainly to offer some comfort.
But now that the dam had burst, Summer was beyond soothing. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she wiped at them with the backs of her hands. “Oh, Cam. I was so afraid you were going to die.”
As she fell into his arms he gave her one of those cocky, heart-stopping smiles. “Not a chance.”
“How could you be so sure?”
Over her head he winked at Tio. “You really ought to meet the Lassiters, boy. You’re not the only one with a hard-as-nails dad who’ll fight for you. Mine’s got the strength of the angels on his side.”
For the first time that he could remember, Cam saw Tio Johnson smile.
He could feel himself drifting, and knew it was only a matter of minutes before he’d lose consciousness. It seemed to him there were so many things he wanted to say to Summer.
But as police officers swarmed over the area, bagging the handgun for evidence and carrying the limp form of Jobina toward a squad car, all he managed to mutter was, “You know something, O’Connor? You pack a hell of a punch.”
Epilogue
Chris Banning pulled the squad car up the driveway of the big, sprawling house and turned with a grin to Summer and Cam, seated in the back seat.
“Brace yourselves. Here comes the welcoming committee.”
Cam frowned as his entire family began spilling out the front door like a swarm of locusts. “What’re they all doing home?”
“I phoned ahead.”
“Figures.” With his arm and chest heavily
bandaged, Cam stepped out of the car and caught Summer’s hand.
“Cameron.” Kate led the charge, stopping just short of hugging him to death. “Chris said you’d been shot.”
“Just a flesh wound.” Cam embraced her and awkwardly patted her back. “The doctor said I’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Micah and Pru gathered around.
“Been a few years since you got down and dirty, bro.” Micah clapped him on the back.
Cam grinned. “Yeah. Played hell on my custom-made suit.”
Donovan had Taylor on his shoulders, his arm around Andi. She, in turn, had her arm around Cory, holding on tightly.
Donovan gave his brother a high five. “Fighting’s like riding a bike. You never forget.”
“So I’ve discovered.” Imitating his older brothers, Cam put his good arm around Summer and drew her close. “You should’ve seen Goody Two-shoes here. She had her first lesson in street fighting.”
Donovan glanced at Chris. “According to our brother-in-law, you’re the real hero of the day, Summer.”
Embarrassed, she shook her head. “You’re wrong. Cam was the one who saved us all. You should have seen him. He was so cool and calm. If it hadn’t been for him…” Her words trailed off as Kieran Lassiter headed toward them.
“So, boyo.” Kieran caught his grandson in a fierce bear hug, which had Cam wincing. “You played it smart.”
“Yeah. Just like you taught me, Pop.”
The old man turned, still holding onto his grandson. “And the lass?”
“With a few lessons, I think she’s got the makings of a good brawler.”
“I’m proud of you, lass. Proud of both of you. Come on. Let’s take this inside.” He led them up the stairs just as Bren poked her head out the door.
“Hurry up. Cam, you’ve made the six o’clock news.”
The family gathered around the television, watching as Alfonso’s face appeared on the screen. The story unfolded, with the announcement that his wife had confessed her part in a scheme to make her innocent husband pay for the crime committed by her lover. A reporter was shown standing with a beaming Tio and his weeping grandmother as they spoke by phone with Alfonso in prison, where the warden had expressed his confidence that prisoner Alfonso Johnson would soon be a free man. Thanks, he added, to Cameron Lassiter, a brilliant young lawyer who was making a name for himself by working to free innocent prisoners.
The reporter went on to proclaim that the same lawyer, in the employ of Stern Hayes Wheatley, had just won the largest settlement in history for their client Lou Carlson in his suit against the McGonnagle Corporation. McGonnagle, fearing Cameron Lassiter’s reputation, had relented and agreed to the settlement.
The great room exploded with cheers and shouting.
Minutes later the entire family retired to the kitchen. While Micah popped the cork on a bottle of champagne, and Bren passed around tulip glasses, they fell into the familiar routine of preparing an evening meal.
Summer stood to one side watching. Everyone, it seemed, knew, without being told, exactly what needed to be sliced, stirred, arranged.
Cam walked over to hand her a glass of champagne. Seeing the pensive look in her eyes, he tipped her chin. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shrugged. “Your family looks so…together.”
“You think so?” He glanced around, then leaned close to whisper, “You wouldn’t have thought that a few years ago. Micah and Pru would have been voted the couple least likely to get together. She’s the daughter of one of the richest men in the country, and Micah’s a working stiff. Then there’s Donovan and Andi. He’s a complete loner, and she and her kids were a package deal. Bren and Chris found themselves in a public debate on opposite sides of a police brutality issue.” He took the glass from her hands, set it on the table and stared into her eyes. “Then there’s you and me.”
“What about us?”
“Yeah. That’s what I’m wondering.” Seeing that the others had grown unusually quiet, he caught her hand. “Come on.”
As he started leading her across the room she pulled back. “Where are we going?”
“Away from big ears. My family has a history of eavesdropping.” While the others continued with their chores, he opened the back door and led her toward the basketball hoop. He stopped and balanced the basketball in his good hand.
She eyed it, then him. “Is this some sort of a family ritual?”
He grinned. “Yeah. Pop taught us to bring our frustrations to the hoop.”
“You’re frustrated?”
“Yeah. I’ve got some…issues to deal with.” Without looking at the hoop he tossed the ball one-handed behind him. It ringed the basket, then dropped through.
She blinked in surprise. “Lucky shot.”
“Yeah. What are the odds I can do it again?” He caught the ball on the first bounce.
“Not very good, I’d say.”
“Would you? Okay. Why don’t I try again? But first, how about a little bet, to make it interesting.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What’s the bet?”
“If I make it, you’ll agree to help me decorate my place.”
“You already have a decorator.”
“Had. I fired her and her firm.”
“Why?”
“I realized what was wrong with my house. It was perfect. Painted perfect colors. Filled with perfect furniture. But it wasn’t a home.” He balanced the ball in his hand, while studying her eyes. “It needs you, Summer. And so do I. If I make the basket, will you marry me?”
She started to laugh, then realized he was serious. “And if you don’t make it?”
He shrugged. “I’ll leave that up to you.”
She stared at him, then allowed a slow, easy smile to curve her lips. “You mean I can demand anything I want? Even if it’s something really horrible?”
He nodded. “You could even insist that I propose to you in front of my entire family.”
“That’s pretty horrible, all right.” She frowned. “Maybe I’m not interested in a proposal.”
“You’re a lousy liar. Besides, it doesn’t matter. I am. Deal?”
She smiled, then nodded.
He continued looking at her as he tossed the ball behind him. Drawing her close, he brushed his mouth over hers.
“Wait.” She pushed a little away. “I want to see who wins.”
As the ball dropped cleanly through the hoop, her laughter was warm and musical on the eve ning air. She wrapped her arms around his neck and offered her mouth. “How did you know you’d win?”
“I couldn’t lose. I’ve been practicing that shot since I was a kid. I always knew one day it would come in handy. Now you have to marry me.”
“As you knew I would, since I always honor my debts.”
He took the kiss deeper and murmured against her mouth, “I was counting on that.”
“You’re too smart for your own good.”
“That’s what Pop told me a long time ago.” He felt the warmth of her kiss sliding lazily through his veins. “Let’s get out of here and go back to my place.”
“It’s still a mess.”
“All right then. Your place.”
“Mmm.” She held on, loving the way she felt in his arms. “I could be persuaded.”
Just then they heard the sound of cheering and saw his entire family gathered in the big bay window, holding up their glasses of champagne in a toast. Minutes later they came streaming out the back door and down the steps to offer their congratulations to the happy couple.
As Cam and Summer were surrounded by laughing, cheering family, Kieran dropped an arm around his daughter-in-law’s shoulders and drew her a little aside. “It looks like we did it, Katie girl. We’re seeing the last of our chicks leave the nest.”
Despite the lump in her throat, Kate Lassiter was smiling. “She’s perfect for him, isn’t she?”
“That she is.” The old lion brushed a kiss over her cheek, tasti
ng the salt of her tears. “Almost as perfect as you were for my Riordan.”
She turned to him with shining eyes. “Maybe we’d better brace ourselves. Think you’re ready for the next generation of Lassiters?”
“More than ready.” He kissed the top of her head and studied the happy couple, surrounded by their laughing, chattering family. “You know something, Katie girl? Despite all the pain that brought us to this point in our lives, I wouldn’t have missed a minute of it.” His voice was a bit rough and scratchy, from the lump threatening to choke him. “Not a single minute of it.”
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0396-9
HIS FATHER’S SON
Copyright © 2002 by Ruth Ryan Langan
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§The Wildes of Wyoming
**The Sullivan Sisters
‡‡The Lassiter Law
†Texas Series
*The Highland Series
‡The Jewels of Texas
?The O’Neil Saga
††Sirens of the Sea
Table of Contents
Letter to Reader
Books by Ruth Langan
About the Author