Here Comes Trouble (Trouble, Tennessee 0.50)

Draegan turned to the glass and shook his head, apparently aware of how desperately his brother wanted in that room. Given Allister’s body language, it was a miracle he’d remained on this side of the glass.

“You keep looking at the window.” Ellie walked right up to the glass of deception. She waved her hand in front of it. “Who’s in there? Allister? Is that you?”

“Ellie, come here and sit down.”

“Don’t tell me to sit down.” She turned on Draegan then and the way she charged him was like an unexpected tornado touchdown in the middle of night. She looked like she didn’t have a direct aim but she knew where she was headed all the same. Her eyes were wild and crazy. Her hair lightly bounced against her shoulders as she shook her finger at him. “You have no idea what your brother put me through. No idea whatsoever.

“And you can’t possibly predict what Denny will do. He’s dangerous. More importantly, he’s insane.”

“How is any of this my brother’s fault?”

Allister cocked his head and listened. His pained expression, particularly the sorrowful frown and empty eyes, reminded Ryan of a two-year old conversation, a temper tantrum well defined by a now hardened man’s rage, his heartache.

Ryan swallowed once, remembering that sickening feeling he’d known so long ago. The night he’d found Allister curled up on the ground, bawling like a baby, and drunk as a skunk was an evening Ryan would never forget.

It was the first night of the rest of a very different man’s life, one who had been nearly sinister in tone when he’d sworn to watch for an opening, a small window of opportunity. Allister had sworn if he had one chance, only one, he would take Ellie’s lying, cheating manipulative future husband to his pitiful knees.

Ryan had stayed with Allister that particular wintry evening, assuring him one day they’d win her back. One day Ellie would realize she’d made a mistake and then she’d find her way home.

When he’d finally sobered up four days later, it was too late. She’d tied the knot and no one had been able to stop her. The one person who might have been able to talk some sense into her had stayed drunk. Once he realized what he’d done, he’d screamed into the night in fits of agony. “She married him, Ryan! Damn it to hell! She married that two-timing bastard!”

Ryan hadn’t wanted anyone to hear him so he, Harley, and Derek had helped Allister inside. As soon as they’d entered Allister’s home, he’d punched the wall, hit a stud, and broke several fingers. The pain in his hand apparently hadn’t held a candle to the agony in his heart. It hadn’t fazed him. Instead, his fury and deep-rooted sadness had lingered on and on and on.

For the past two years, he’d nurtured his anger, fed it, and now in one snap of the fingers, he was a changed man. He even looked different.

Ryan sensed Allister’s hard gaze leveled on him then but rather than return the stare, he focused on Ellie, the reason they were there. The only reason Harley had dared to wake them up was because of what they’d witnessed so far. Ellie’s indecision could put her back on the streets before she agreed to at least stay and give Trouble a chance.

“I asked you a question, Ellie. Do you blame Allister for your decisions?”

Ellie retreated and backed away from Draegan about the time Ryan looked up again. “No, of course not.” She seemed sorry then. She dragged her fingers across her forehead and down the side of her face, wincing when she touched her swollen cheek. “I blame him because he didn’t stop me from marrying Denny. I blame all of them—Ryan, Derek, and even Bradley.”

“I don’t follow you,” Draegan said.

“What did she mean by even?” Bradley asked.

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“You aren’t exactly the aggressive type,” Derek told him.

“All Allister would’ve needed to do was show up at the chapel and say, ‘Don’t’ and I wouldn’t have married Denny.”

Stoic then, Allister never flinched. He seemed unmoved by her revelation, but Ryan knew better. Her confession then had cut deep and opened old festered wounds just oozing with infection, a disease for which there was certainly a name—devoted and unconditional love.

Ryan loved Ellie, but Allister? He’d spent his high school years waiting for Ellie. He’d spent his young adulthood waiting for Ellie. And after one glorious weekend with the woman of his dreams, Allister had spent the last two years of his life waiting for Ellie.

Draegan said, “Honey, I want to help you. Everyone here in Trouble will help you, but there are some rules here. You have to understand, we’re a community. Population is around a hundred and fifty and our goal is to see our community grow to over a thousand.

“Single men and women have come here. A couple of relationships have blossomed into unconventional but loving bonds. Some people have met their matches in several others. They’ve decided to set down roots in a community where they’re accepted.

“We even have our own post office, grocery store, and bank now. If you wanted to spend the rest of your life here, you could, but you’re not imprisoned. However, until your ex is no longer a threat to you, you have to agree to stay in Trouble. If you go outside these gates, you can’t leave without your security team, your escorts.”

“Define escorts.”

“Vixen,” Derek grumbled.

Draegan said, “The women who live here came through our gates seeking protection and they found it. We assign anywhere from four to seven men to each woman, typically based on the threat. I’ll recommend that you have seven men assigned to your care.” He turned to the window one final time. “But don’t be surprised if you’re only guarded by four.”

“Wait a minute,” she whispered in a barely audible voice. “You didn’t toss out a random number by chance.”