A Hero to Rescue Me (Hero's Crossing) by Marteeka Karland Read Free Book Online

bought for Abigail! I can’t–”
    “Nonsense.” Vivian helped Abigail gather her cache of souvenirs, the two of them managing to carry most of it without help. What they couldn’t carry, Leland helped with, leaving the other men with their hands free in case of trouble. “You’ll stay with us. I won’t have it any other way. Chase will be with you and Abigail, and none of you will have to look over your shoulder.”
    Melanie had to admit, none of them was taking this lightly. They obviously considered Dan a threat. Most men would pat her on the head, tell her how sorry they were, tell her they’d get him for this. Not this family. They were in full protection mode. Taking care of the problem, instead of just talking about it.
    Yes. Way over her head...

Chapter Eight
     
    The damage to Melanie’s car was more than he wanted her to see. Chase was definitely glad they’d sent the women home with Mike before Rick had taken him and their father to Melanie’s car. Not only had the tires been slashed, but the windows had been broken, the headlights smashed, and obscenities and racial slurs not fit for the eyes of women painted with bright red paint all over the vehicle. There was no way the car wouldn’t be totaled by her insurance company. And if it wasn’t, there was no way to fix that kind of damage and be comfortable in that car ever again.
    Not that it had mattered. His father had taken one look at her car, emptied it out of everything, and called a tow truck to have it hauled off to the junkyard, all the while making arrangements to get Melanie a new car. In all his years, Chase had never seen his father so angry. He almost felt sorry for Dan if Leland Carver ever got hold of him.
    With a hard look at Chase, his father had said, “You make sure Melanie never finds out about this.”
    “Dad, you know I can’t lie to her.”
    “Then don’t lie!” his father snapped. “Just tell her the car was too damaged to do anything with. Tell her I took care of it. That’s the truth. She doesn’t need to know the why of it.”
    “She’s stronger than you give her credit for, Dad.”
    “I know that, dammit.” No, his father had never been this angry that he could remember. Even the time he’d been caught with his friends drinking behind the house hadn’t compared to this. Chase had not only been drinking, but drinking heavily. Just out of high school, thinking he was a man, he’d gotten so drunk his mother had sat up with him all night, holding his head while he puked over and over. She’d cried. His father...hadn’t. Even that memory didn’t compare to this. “Just do what I tell you or they’ll be hell to pay. Do you hear me, boy?”
    Definitely pissed. Only one thing to say to that.
    “Yes sir. Heard and understood.”
    With a sharp nod, his father had gone to Chase’s car, climbed in the passenger side, and sat staring straight ahead.
    “Dad’s in a snit,” Chase said to Rick.
    “Well, what did you expect? Melanie and Abigail same as saved your life, surely as if they’d pulled you from a burning building. He and Mom think of her as a daughter. Do you have any idea how protective Dad would have been over a daughter? Think about how he is with Mom and magnify it by a hundred.” Rick shook his head, scrubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “My suggestion is for you to marry that girl good and proper. You do the things to her you’re obviously wanting to do to that woman before you’re properly married, and you won’t have to worry about Mom killing you.” Mom will be the least of your worries if you take advantage of Melanie.
    “Is it that obvious?” Chase felt his cheeks heating, an anomaly in itself. With each other, his brothers always bragged about their conquests. Not this time, though. Melanie was...special.
    Rick gave him a ‘ you’ve-got-to-be-kidding’ look before paying the tow truck driver and walking back to the car. With a sigh, Chase followed him. His brother had