Part 34 (1/2)

Everywhere he looked, American pride was in evidence-the Stars and Stripes rippled in the breeze, and most people wore red, white, and blue. Cain sported an old T-s.h.i.+rt with Uncle Sam on the front-a favorite he'd dug out of the Edwardses' boathouse. Good G.o.d, the clothes he and the boys had left behind made him cringe, but there were the odd gems among the bunch.

And then there was Dax. The Brit had decided to forego leather pants-thank G.o.d-at least for the morning, but was still decked out in his usual Union Jack garb. Even his kneesocks sported the British flag. Kneesocks, for Christ sakes.

There was a new intensity to Dax today. Turns out he was quite the footballer back home, and he'd stepped up and offered to play in the charity game. His game face was fierce, and Cain hoped the man knew today's game was for fun and that there'd be kids involved. That's all he needed. A wackjob Brit, taking out a line of ten-year-olds.

Cain scanned the crowd, looking for that familiar splash of crimson that made his heart jump. But so far he hadn't seen her. Nervous energy kicked in, and he shook out his limbs.

They would come. There was no way in h.e.l.l Maggie would let Michael miss the game.

”Cain, there you are!”

He turned and smiled as Raine pushed her way through a large group of spectators.

His smile soon faded when he realized Raine was alone.

”Where's Maggie?”

Raine shook her head. ”I don't know. I talked to her this morning, and she said she'd be at the parade, but I haven't seen her yet.” She reached into her purse. ”I'll try her cell again.”

”Don't bother. I tried five minutes ago, and it's not in service.”

Raine frowned. ”That doesn't make sense.”

That feeling in his gut-the one that said s.h.i.+t was about to hit-twisted hard, and Cain clamped his jaw tight. Something wasn't right.

Raine twirled in a circle, shading her eyes from the sun. ”She was so excited and happy this morning.”

Cain stopped Raine and hoped he didn't look like the lovesick fool that he felt inside. ”She was?”

A slow smile claimed her mouth, and Raine punched him lightly in the chest. ”Of course she was. She couldn't wait to see you.” Raine giggled and continued to scan the crowd. ”I'm not sure why, of course.”

Jake joined them at that point, breathing hard, his T-s.h.i.+rt drenched in sweat.

”d.a.m.n, you look like you jogged all the way from the lake.” Cain was worried about the soldier. Jake didn't say much these days and spent most of his time pus.h.i.+ng his body to the extreme.

”I did.”

”Are you crazy?” Raine frowned. ”That's dangerous in this heat.”

Jake shook out his limbs and grabbed Cain's water bottle. ”This is nothing, compared to the heat over there.” They both knew he was referring to Afghanistan.

”Well, you're not over there anymore, and these kinds of stunts will land you in the hospital.” Raine's hands were on her hips, and to say that she was angry would be an understatement. ”Did you hear what I said? You can't be pulling that kind of c.r.a.p. It's not fair to those of us who are worried about you.”

Jake took a long drink, wiped some excess water from his mouth, and glanced down at the pet.i.te brunette. His expression was hard, his eyes flat.

”I think you're confused on two fronts. A, I don't give a s.h.i.+t what you think, and B, I'm not Jesse, so don't lecture me.”

Cain grimaced and walked away, giving the two of them some privacy. He didn't like being a spectator to the private stuff going on between them.

Luke Jansen was a few feet away. He'd traded his paramedic uniform for football gear and was limbering up with stretches.

”Jansen!” Cain shouted.

Luke turned, though his smile faded when he spied Cain.

”Have you seen Maggie?” Cain strode toward him. ”She should have been here by now, but I can't find her, and her cell is off.”

Luke shrugged and anger riffled through Cain at the look of satisfaction that was etched into his face. ”Jansen, I know you want to bust my b.a.l.l.s, and trust me, you'll get your chance on the field, but right now I'm concerned about Maggie.”

”Concerned,” Luke answered drily.

”Yes. Concerned. It's not like Maggie to say she'll be here and then not show.” He'd always been the kind of man to listen to his gut, and right now this gut was saying things were wrong. Way wrong.

”Well, maybe you're not the most important thing on her agenda today.”

Cain gritted his teeth. d.a.m.n, but he'd like to punch Luke Jansen in the face and knock him on his a.s.s. ”Look, have you seen her or no?”

Luke shrugged, took his time before answering. ”I haven't seen her, but I think she's got company.”

”What makes you say that?”

”There was car in her driveway, behind your truck.”

Raine was at Cain's side now with Jake and Mac.

”An expensive, sporty thing. Had Georgia plates, so I'm a.s.suming family.”

”Oh G.o.d,” Raine whispered. ”She was so afraid after the pictures came out.”

Cain looked down into her pale face and his fear tripled. ”What the h.e.l.l is going on, Raine?”

”It's Michael's father, it has to be. She has no other family in Savannah except her father, and I don't think she's talked to him in years. Maggie's ex must have found them.”

Everything inside Cain stopped. h.e.l.l, his heart and lungs nearly exploded. It all made sense now. Why she'd pulled away from him and why she'd been so upset about the photos in Hollywood Scene. It hadn't just been about Cain and their personal s.h.i.+t. She'd been scared out of her tree.

Maybe for her life.

And he'd left her all alone.

”How can you be sure?” Jake looked at the both of them. ”Maybe Jansen's right. It could be family.”

”No.” Cain shook his head. ”No way. This game meant a lot to Michael. She wouldn't let him miss it. Even if she didn't want to see me, she wouldn't.” He exhaled. ”That's the kind of woman she is.

”Give me your keys,” Cain barked to Luke.

”What? Why the h.e.l.l would I-”

Cain's bared his teeth like an animal, and he was barely able to get his words out. His chest filled with a rage that was hard to contain. If anything happened to the woman he loved, he'd f.u.c.king kill her ex.

”I don't have wheels, and if what Raine said is true, Maggie and Michael are in danger. So give me your keys. I'm going to get them.”