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Dan began to argue, but fell silent when he realized that, in their minds, Phoebe had become their teammate today.
Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of Reed's brick and stone two-story house. Dan was relieved to see that the lights were on. Reed was home, so this wouldn't have to be postponed.
As they walked up the drive, he slipped his gloves into his pocket and regarded the men who had come with him. "Reed's mine. I don't want anybody else to touch him."
Bobby Tom nodded. "Just make sure there aren't any leftovers."
Reed answered the door himself. When he saw Dan, he looked puzzled, and then his eyes widened in alarm as he observed the platoon standing behind him. He immediately tried to slam the door, but he wasn't quick enough, and Dan drove his shoulder into it, sending him flying.
The men crashed into the hallway. Reed scrambled back against the archway that led to the living room. Dan could smell his fear.
"What do you want? Get out of here!"
Dan moved forward. "I think you know what I want. If you're a religious man, I suggest you start praying."
"I don't know what you're talking about! She lied to you about me, didn't she? She told you some kind of lie."
Dan took his first swing, a hard jab to the jaw, and Reed flew back against the couch. He gave a howl of pain and scrambled to his feet, panting with fear.
"You get out of here, Calebow. I'm going to call the police. I'm going to—"
Webster calmly ripped the phone from the wall. "Too bad, Chandler. Phone's not working."
"If you touch me, I'll have you arrested!"
"Now how you gonna do that?" Bobby Tom stuck a toothpick in the corner of his mouth. "Right now the coach is having a drink with all four of us at my apartment. Anybody says different's a liar. Isn't that right?"
"That's right, Bobby Tom." Darnell wiped his shoe on one of the white damask chairs.
"You guys are crazy! You're fucking maniacs."
"We're not maniacs," Dan said. "We just don't think a slimeball like you. should get away with rape."
"Is that what she told you? I didn't rape her! She's lying. She wanted it. She—"
Dan's next blow destroyed Reed's nose. He began to whimper and tried to push it back into place as blood poured down his face. "It wasn't my fault," he sobbed. "I was drunk. I didn't mean anything."
Dan dropped his parka on the back of the couch. "When I'm done with you tonight, you're gonna be hurt real bad."
Reed tried to scramble to, his feet. "No! Stay away! Don't hurt me!"
Dan advanced on him. "You're gonna be hurt, but unless-I miscalculate, you'll still be alive. If you want to keep it that way, don't ever come close to Phoebe again. If you threaten her in any way, you'd better be prepared to live the rest of your life in a wheelchair."
"No!"
It was the last word Reed uttered before Dan' took him apart.
Phoebe didn't arrive at the victory party until nine o'clock. Her ordeal, combined with the lengthy press conference, had exhausted her. When she'd finally gotten home, Molly had clucked over her like a mother hen and insisted that she lie down. She'd been so exhausted that she'd immediately fallen asleep.
Several hours later, when she awakened, she was refreshed and eager to see Dan. She'd showered and chatted with Molly as she'd dressed. Her sister had been shaken by the events of the afternoon, but recovered her spirits when Phoebe suggested a last-minute slumber party. Peg consented to chaperone, and by the time Phoebe left, the girls were arriving.
The restaurant Ron had rented for the night had a cozy, rustic interior, complete with brick floor and copper pots hanging from open beams. As she entered, her hair was still a bit damp from her shower and it curled around her head. The temperature had been steadily dropping all evening, and she was wearing a loosely fitting fuchsia sweater over a matching skirt in soft, flowing wool. With the exception of a center slit that climbed to a point just above her knees, it was conservative attire, but it felt right with her curly hair and silver doorknocker earrings.
She had just checked her coat when she heard a group entering the restaurant behind her. She turned to see Dan walking in, along with Jim, Darnell, Webster, and Bobby Tom. Everything inside her grew soft and warm at the sight of him.
"I thought I'd be the last one here." Her voice sounded breathless.
His expression was so tender she could feel her chest swell. "We had a hard time getting away."
