Houston
The elevator doors opened with a soft ping when a man with light brown hair walked out of the elevator then headed down the hallway. The man was wearing a gray suit jacket and pants, a black leather belt, a white shirt unbuttoned at the top and black leather boots. He stopped in front of the door to his office when he opened the door and he headed inside the outer office.
"Morning," Sam Warren said as his secretary looked at him and her green eyes widened.
"Good morning, Sir," she said and he arched an eyebrow.
"Is my morning coffee in my office?"
"It's on your desk, Sir."
H smiled at the fearful look in her eyes as he walked to the door to his office, opened the door and he walked in the office. He headed for the large oak desk sitting in front of the large windows and he sat down on the high back chair. He picked up the white coffee mug as he sipped on the coffee then he placed the coffee mug on the desk. He powered up his computer when he looked at the screen and he checked his emails. One of the emails caught his attention as he opened the email and he looked at the photographs.
"That bitch," he growled and sat back on the high back chair. He looked at the screen then steepled his fingers together and smiled. "Guess I have to pay her a visit."
Three days later – the Golden Cactus Ranch
Connor, Murphy, Peter, Mark and Chandler held onto the reins while they rode the horses and steered the cows into the paddock. Connor arched the white straw cowboy hat back as he watched the last of the cows go into the paddock then he closed and locked the gate.
"That's th'last of 'em," Connor said.
"Guess we better head home." Murphy said.
They lightly nudged the sides of the horses as they headed down the path and Connor led the way. Peter and Chandler moved their horses closer when Connor gave them a mischievous grin and the boys nodded.
"Yah!" Connor said, nudging the horse's side and the horse starting running down the path. Chandler and Peter made their horses chase after Connor's horse and Murphy sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Wanna go after them?" Mark asked.
"Nope," Murphy said with a shake of his head.
They let the horses walk at their own pace as Murphy arched the black cowboy hat back and Mark glanced at him.
"How's yer art project comin' along?" Murphy asked.
"It's almost done," Mark said, arching back the brown cowboy hat. "Still can't believe they asked me to represent my art class."
"I can. You're good."
He wasn't sure, but Mark looked a little embarrassed and Murphy smiled.
"I was asked t'represent my art class when I was in school."
"You were?" Mark asked and Murphy nodded.
"I was…fourteen? I had done this landscape paintin'. Works weeks on it."
"Did you win a ribbon?"
"I would have if Connor hadn't spilt juice all over it."
"Why did he do that?"
"He accidentally knocked over th'glass. Didn't stop me from poundin' him. Once my ma got me off of him, we went t'school. I had t'tell my teacher what happened. He wasn't too mad. Me? I didn't speak to or do anythin' with Connor for a month. He even had t'sleep on th'couch 'cause I didn't want him in our room."
"Bet he felt really guilty."
"Oh yeah."
"How did he make it up to you?"
"He…," Murphy said then paused as the memory of what happened moved through his head and he snorted a laugh. "He let me paint him."
"You painted his portrait?"
"No… I painted him! Fer a whole day, he was bright green from head t'toe."
Mark thought for a few seconds when he broke out laughing and Murphy smiled.
The farmhouse
"Shit!" Lisa said, pushing the button on her cellphone and she placed the cellphone on the counter.
"What's wrong?" Darcy asked after she took a drink of ice tea.
"I just got a call from Lou."
"What happened?" Annie said, looking up from the paperwork she was working on.
"One of his deputies reported in. He saw the cherry red convertible," Lisa said.
"You mean his convertible?" Darcy asked.
"Yeah."
"Damn. What the hell is he doing here?" Annie asked.
"I don't know."
Lisa picked up the cellphone when she started pushing the buttons and Darcy frowned.
"Who are you calling?" Darcy asked.
"I'm calling Doctor Morales "
"Why?" Annie asked.
"Remember the last time he was here?!"
"Yeah."
"I need to give her a head's up just in case."
Lisa pushed the call button while she held the cellphone up to her right ear and she looked toward the window.
The stable
Connor slowed the horse so Chandler and Peter's horses could catch up and they rode the horses into the stable. Connor made the horse stop when he slid out of the saddle and he patted the horse's neck. He helped the boys off their horses then they led the horses into the stalls.
"That was cool," Chandler said.
"Yeah," Peter agreed.
"Thought you were gonna beat me there fer a second," Connor said, pointing his right index finger at Peter. Smiling, Peter nodded as they led the horses to the stalls then started grooming the horses.
A few minutes later, Murphy and Mark arrived and they got off the horses. They led the horses to the stalls as they started grooming the horses and Connor walked to the doorway to the stall where Murphy was grooming his horse.
"Why didn't you race?" Connor asked.
"Didn't feel like it," Murphy said.
Nodding, Connor walked away as he, Peter and Chandler headed out of the stable and they headed for the farmhouse. The loud sound of an engine rumbling filled the air as the cherry red convertible moved up the driveway and Connor frowned.
"Looks like we're gettin' company," Connor said.
The cherry red convertible came to a stop and Connor looked at the man behind the steering wheel. Getting out of the car, Sam Warren closed the door and he removed his sunglasses. Something about Sam caused red flags to appear in Connor's mind and Connor titled his head to one side. He noticed Sam was as tall as he was and had a lean, muscular build. He was dressed in jeans, black leather boots, a black leather belt and a white shirt and his hair was brushed back on his head. Connor saw the way Chandler and Peter were staring at Sam and Connor folded his arms over his chest.
"You know who that is?" Connor whispered.
"He's our dad," Chandler whispered.
"Why aren't you glad t'see him?"
"Sam!" stopped the boys from saying anything while the screen door slammed open and Lisa headed down the stairs.
"There's my girl!" Sam said with a sly smile.
"I haven't been your anything for the last three years," she said after she stood in front of him. Sam gave her a blank look as she crossed her arms under her breasts and she snorted a breath of air. "What are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd stop by and see my sons."
"Think they want to see you after last time?"
"Hey. Let's not bring that up."
"It took four months for them to recover."
"That's what you get from coddling them all the time."
A red light flashed in front of Lisa's eyes. She flexed her fingers in and out until she saw Connor, Chandler and Peter and Sam turned to see what she looking at.
"Who the hell is that?" Sam asked, pointing at Connor.
"That's Annie's brother," Lisa said.
"What's his name?"
"That's none of your damn business," she said as she pointed to Connor to take the boys in the farmhouse. Sam watched Connor, Chandler and Peter heading toward them as Chandler lowered his head and Peter moved to stand closer to Connor.
"Not going to say hello?" Sam asked.
"Hello, Sir," Chandler said in a soft voice.
"Hello," Peter barely whispered.
Connor, Chandler and Peter walked to the stairs, went up the stairs as Connor opened the screen door then the front door and they went inside. He watched the boys run up the stairs as he placed his hands on the top of the railing and he frowned after hearing a door slam.
"Guess Sam's here," made him look at Annie and she walked closer.
"Chandler said he's their dad," Connor said, looking up at the top of the stairs.
"If you wanna call him that."
Hearing the screen door open caused Connor to turn around and Lisa walked inside. Sam was behind her and he locked eyes with Connor. Connor saw the suitcases in Sam's hands and Annie gave Sam a disgusted look.
"Hey, Sam," Annie said.
Sam glanced at her as he walked to the stairs and Connor moved out of the way.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lisa asked.
"I'm going upstairs and unpack," Sam said.
"Sorry. Don't have the room."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"He's staying in the guest room," Annie said, nodding her head to Connor.
"Then I use the other guest room."
"Nope. My other brother is in that room."
"Your other brother?"
"Him," Annie said while Murphy and Mark walked in the room and the screen door closed behind Murphy. Murphy felt a cold chill moving through him as he scanned Sam with his eyes and Mark moved to stand behind Murphy.
"Who are you?" Murphy asked, dropping his accent.
"This is Sam. My ex-husband," Lisa explained.
"Only on paper, Sweetie," Sam said as he walked closer and he held out his left hand. "Pleased to meet you."
Murphy looked at Sam's hand when he nudged Mark toward the stairs and Mark ran upstairs.
"Not very friendly, are you?" Sam asked, moving his hand back.
"Sam…," Lisa warned.
"Look. Whose room am I going to sleep in? I didn't come all this way to sleep on the couch."
"I didn't say you were staying."
"Do you want me to call my lawyer?"
"Hold on," Connor said as he used the surfer accent. "If it's going to be that much of a hassle then I'll sleep on the couch."
They watched him head for the stairs as he went upstairs and Connor walked down the hallway. He walked in his bedroom when he went to sit on the bed and he stretched out on the mattress.
"See you met Sam," made him glance at the doorway while Devil went in the room, headed for the bed, jumped up on the mattress then settled down next to Connor.
"Yeah," Connor said, scratching the top of the gray wolf's head.
"I remember the first time I met him. He acted like he owned the place."
"Why didn't Lisa do summat t'stop him?"
"Guess love's blind sometimes."
"What does he do fer a livin'?"
"Never figured that out."
"You used t'be a cop. Why didn't you do a check on him?"
"I didn't want to cause trouble."
Connor looked at the ceiling for a few seconds when he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"I take it wasn't a happy marriage," Connor said.
"That's putting it mildly," Diego said with a sigh. He heard footsteps when he saw Sam walking down the hallway then he looked at Connor. "Get your shit. We'll talk about it later."
Nodding, Connor went to pack his things in his backpack then he walked by Sam when Sam entered the room.
"What the hell is that thing doing on the bed? Shouldn't it be in its cage or its head mounted on someone's wall?" Sam asked and Devil got off the bed. Sam nearly backed into the wall as the gray wolf walked by him and he watched Diego, Devil and Connor leave the room. They headed down the hallway as Connor looked at the closed door to the boys' bedroom and he frowned.
"Why is he so scared of Devil?" Connor asked.
"He's scared of dogs. That, and Devil growled at him when he was a puppy. Jerk peed his pants," Diego said and Connor softly laughed.
"What did he do t'Chandler an' Peter?"
"He treated them like shit. Nothing they could do was good enough. The boys you see now aren't the same ones from three years ago."
"Shit."
He walked down the hallway when he placed the backpack on the floor then he knocked on the door. He waited until the door opened and Peter looked at him. He then saw the backpack and his eyes widened.
"You're leaving!?" Peter asked.
'Who's leaving?!" Chandler asked.
"Mister Connor!"
"Hold on," Connor said while he held up his hands then he walked in the room. "I am not goin' anywhere."
"But your backpack…"
"Th'reason it's packed is because yer dad needs somewhere t'sleep. I gave him my room."
"That's not fair," Chandler said.
"You're right. It's not."
"Where are you gonna sleep?" Mark asked.
"I guess I'll be sleepin' on th'couch in th'family room."
Connor didn't like the sad look in their eyes as he knelt down on his haunches and placed his hands on their shoulders.
"Remember what I told you about bullies?" he asked.
"Yeah," Chandler said and Peter nodded.
"Then jus' think of him as a bully."
"He'll get angry if we disrespect him," Peter said.
"Does he get physical with you?"
They nodded. Even Mark nodded his head.
Anger moved through him as Connor stood and he picked up the backpack then he left the room. Murphy quickly came up the stairs after he felt his brother's distress and Murphy headed for Connor.
"What's goin' on?" Murphy asked.
"Let's go downstairs an' I'll tell you," Connor said.
Diego followed them as they headed for the stairs, went downstairs and Connor saw the angry looked on Lisa's face.
"You're leaving?" Lisa asked while looking at the backpack.
"Gonna sleep on th'couch in th'family room," Connor said and she nodded.
Diego and Murphy followed Connor down the hallway when they walked in the family room and Connor went to check the small bathroom.
"Guess I'll have t'use yer shower," Connor said as he looked at Murphy.
"Still think Lisa should toss that asshole out on his ass," Murphy said as he flopped down on the couch.
"Annie and Darcy told her the same thing," Diego said.
"Did he ever get physical with Lisa?" Connor asked, placing the backpack near the recliner.
"No. But they did have some really loud arguments."
"Chandler an' Peter said he got physical with them if they were disrespectful t'him. Looks like he got physical with Mark, too."
"That's the first time I've heard that."
"Which means neither Lisa or Darcy know."
"No. We knew," Lisa said as she walked in the room with some bedding, a sheet and a pillow in her arms. "It's one of the reasons we got divorced and why I got custody of the boys."
"Why didn't you call Lou after you found out?" Diego asked.
"Sam threatened to kill me if I did."
"Why is this asshole not in jail?" Murphy grumbled.
"He has good lawyers," she said, placing the bedding, sheet and pillow on the coffee table.
Connor and Murphy locked eyes as they had a silent conversation and Lisa sighed, crossed her arms under her breasts then shook her head.
"No."
"No what?" Connor asked.
"As much as I would like you two to give him a taste of some Saintly justice. It would only make things worse."
Murphy sat up as they watched her leave the room then they looked at each other.
Later that night, Sam walked in the kitchen as he headed for the table then he noticed there wasn't anywhere for him to sit.
"Move," he said to Connor.
"Sorry. That's his seat," Lisa said as she placed the salad bowl on the table.
"If he doesn't move, I'm calling my lawyer."
"And tell him what? Someone's sitting in your seat?" Darcy asked.
"Stay out of this!"
Connor lightly grabbed onto Murphy's left wrist to stop him from getting up when Connor stood and he headed for the kitchen island. He moved the stool back as he sat down and Sam went to sit next to Murphy. Standing up, Murphy headed for the kitchen island, moved the stool back and he sat down next to Connor.
Lisa picked up the plates, silverware, napkins and glasses when she walked to the kitchen island and he placed the plates, silverware, napkins and glasses down in front of Connor and Murphy.
"What about me?!" Sam demanded.
"You know where everything is. Go get them yourself," Lisa said, walking to the stove.
Growling, Sam stood as he headed for the cabinets then he stopped when he saw Devil eating from the metal bowl.
"What the hell is that thing doing in here? It should be outside!" Sam growled.
"Make him," Diego said with a small grin.
Slowly backing up, Sam headed for the cabinets when he removed a plate and glass from the cabinets, removed some silverware from the drawer and picked up a napkin. He headed for the table when Ebony hopped onto the chair he was sitting on and he frowned.
"Get this flea bag off my chair or I'll have it destroyed!" Sam said.
Nichole broke out in tears as Murphy got up, walked to the chair and picked up the cat. Darcy had gone to pick up Nichole as she held her daughter in her arms and Sam saw the hate in Murphy's eyes.
"Tell her you're sorry," Murphy said, dropping his accent.
"Who are you talking about?" Sam asked.
"Nichole. Tell her you're sorry."
"The hell, I will," Sam said sitting down.
Connor felt the rage moving through his twin as Murphy headed for Darcy and Murphy looked at Nichole.
"Hey," Murphy said with a sad smile. "No one's going to hurt Ebony."
"He's right," Darcy assured her.
"He's mean!" Nichole said, glaring at Sam.
Sam opened his mouth to say something when he saw the hard look Lisa was giving him and he sank slightly in the chair.
Darcy went to sit down as she held Nichole on her lap and Lisa served dinner.
Walking to the kitchen island, Lisa smiled at Ebony lying on the kitchen island counter as Murphy scratched the cat's ears and Murphy gave her a shy grin. She served them dinner then she went to sit down, looked at Connor and she cleared her throat.
"Connor? Will you say grace, please?" Lisa asked.
"Grace?! What is this?! Church?!" Sam asked, snorting a breath of air.
"We say grace every night," Annie said.
"I think it's Chandler's turn," Connor said, looking at Chandler.
"This ought to be good," Sam said with a grin.
Chandler gave Connor a pleading look as Connor nodded his head and Chandler sighed. Sam watched them close their eyes as he sat back in the chair and Chandler said grace. Opening their eyes when he was done, they started eating and Sam glared at Connor. Sam picked up the fork when he started eating then he spit the food onto the plate.
"What the hell is this shit?!" Sam demanded.
"If you don't like the food, you can always go to a hotel," Annie said.
"Shut up!"
"That's it!" Murphy said as he slammed the napkin on the counter then he stood up.
"Sit down, Murphy," Annie said as she locked eyes with Sam.
"You got something you want to say to me?" Sam asked.
"I have a lot of things I want to say to you. But I don't use that kind of language around kids."
Sam dropped the knife on the plate when he started to stand up then he sat back down after the hard look Diego gave him. Sighing, Sam picked up the fork when he started eating and Connor saw how frustrated Lisa looked. Murphy lightly nudged him as Connor nodded and they started eating.
Later that night, the house was dark as Connor slept then his eyes opened and he listened to the darkness. He heard footsteps coming in the room when someone sat on the recliner then the soft click of the foot rest clicking into place filled the air.
"It's jus' me," Murphy whispered.
"What are you doin' down here?" Connor whispered.
"Th'asshole's snorin'. Never thought I'd hear someone who's louder than you other than Da."
Connor softly laughed when he closed his eyes and the room became quiet again. Connor's eyes opened when he heard smaller footsteps coming in the room and he heard hushing sounds.
"What are you doin' here?" Connor asked.
"We didn't want you to sleep down here by yourself," Chandler said.
"He's not by himself," Murphy said.
"Go back upstairs." Connor said.
"But we wanna stay down here," Peter said.
"Yeah," Mark said.
"We brought our sleeping bags," Chandler said.
"Fine," Connor said with a sigh.
He listened to them placing the sleeping bags on the floor, getting into the sleeping bags and Connor closed his eyes. The room became quiet when he opened his eyes and he heard little footsteps entering the room.
"Mister Murphy's sitting in the recliner," Connor said.
Murphy could just see Nichole walking closer as he used the lever to lower the foot rest and Nichole climbed onto his lap. She settled against him as he used the lever to raise the foot rest and she closed her eyes, placing her thumb in her mouth. Murphy glanced over at Connor and could just see him smiling.
"Night, Connor," Murphy whispered.
"Night, Murphy," Connor whispered and they closed their eyes.
Upstairs, Annie snuggled close to Diego as his deep breathing filled her right ear and he moved his fingers up and down her left upper arm.
"I can't believe Lisa let him stay," Annie said.
"Neither can I," Diego said.
The room became quiet while she listened to his breathing and the soft thrumming of his heartbeat.
"Connor asked me why I didn't do a check on Sam after we met," he said.
"I wondered the same thing."
"You have to remember. I had just quit the FBI and I didn't want to cause any trouble with Lisa."
"What about now?"
"I think I'm going to have to call in a few markers. Someone like him could be a threat. Not to just Lisa and the boys, but to Connor and Murphy."
"In what way?"
"When Lou got a little suspicious of them, I was able to use him being involved with Daisy to shut him up. With Sam? It won't be that easy. He could have his lawyers or someone else look into their past and…"
"And he'd use them being the Saints and escaped convicts to get custody of the boys."
"He could also take over the ranch after you, Lisa and Darcy are arrested for harboring federal fugitives."
"Then I guess Murphy, Connor and I have to do what Ma said. She told us we were to run like hell if things got rough."
"Makes sense."
"Problem is I don't think Murphy or Connor want to run."
"I got the feeling they want to stay and make sure Sam doesn't do anything."
"It's not just that. I think they like Lisa and Darcy. And the kids."
"Then maybe it's better that all of you stay here."
"Yeah. Besides, I'm sure Lisa…"
A sudden scream filled the air as Annie sat up and she moved the bedding back.
"That sounds like Lisa!" she said, getting out of bed.
Diego moved the bedding back as he got out of bed and Devil ran to the door. Diego moved the gray wolf out of the way as they headed out of the room and Darcy ran out of her bedroom.
"Was that Lisa?!" Darcy asked.
A loud thud filled the air as they headed down the hallway and Annie stopped when she heard footsteps running up the stairs. Murphy and Connor appeared in the hallway as they breathed hard through their noses and Annie pointed down the hallway. They headed down the hallway when Darcy realized Nichole wasn't crying nor did she see the boys standing in the doorway to their room and she frowned.
"Where are the kids?" Darcy asked.
"They're downstairs," Connor said.
"They didn't want Connor t'sleep by himself," Murphy said.
"Neither did you," Annie teased and he flipped her off.
Diego saw the door to Lisa's bedroom was open as he held his hand up to stop them then he looked in the room.
"Shit," he whispered after he saw Lisa sitting up on the bed and Sam was lying on the floor.
"Asshole got in bed with me!" Lisa said and Darcy and Annie ran to the bed. Annie crawled on the bed as she held Lisa and Diego went to examine Sam.
"He's alive," Diego said.
"I don't care! I want him gone!"
"Let us handle it," Connor said and he and Murphy walked to Diego and Sam. They helped Diego pick Sam up off the floor when they left the room and they headed down the hallway. Annie held onto Lisa as Lisa started shaking and hot, angry tears rolled down Lisa's cheeks.