Carlyle. Again, Charlie strained to see around Dalton’s shoulder, curious about the man Harry wanted so badly. After being kidnapped and harassed, she owed Carlyle much, and now with him threatening her father her rage grew.
She ducked under Dalton’s arm, but before she could take two steps Harry was there. In a flash, he was around the parked car, jerking Carlyle’s hand up so the gun fired in the air with a loud crack of sound, and wrapping one long muscled arm around his throat, squeezing tight enough to make Carlyle’s eyes bug. Sirens whined in the distance.
Ralph and Floyd started to back up, but they were quickly subdued by the older folk. Floyd screeched like a wet hen when his arm was twisted high, and Moses, with a look of disgust, muttered, “Sissy.”
Pops stepped forward and wagged a fist. “Shoot ’em!”
Harry’s gaze met Charlie’s, and he smiled. “He’s as bloodthirsty as you are, brat.”
Carlyle lurched, trying to break free, and without a single hesitation, Harry punched him the jaw. The man went down like a lead balloon. Very slowly, Charlie applauded.
The police showed up in two patrol cars and a plain sedan. The detective in charge appeared to know Harry. With the men subdued in cuffs, the trunk of Carlyle’s car was opened and Charlie glimpsed a variety of weapons, rifles and guns and ammunition. There were so many of them, it looked like an arsenal.
One of the officers whistled low.
“They’re dealing in illegal and stolen weaponry.” Charlie noticed Harry didn’t mention the embezzlement, keeping to his promise not to involve the older proprietors. “I can give you an address of an abandoned warehouse where you’ll find more of the same, as well as evidence of other illegal activities.”
The detective clapped Harry on the shoulder and they spoke quietly for a few minutes. The officers were questioning everyone and to Charlie’s surprise, the seniors loved it. They fairly crowed in their excitement. Charlie used the moment to go to Dalton.
“Where’s my sister?”
He was still catching his breath, but he looked relieved. “Inside. My assistant is practically sitting on her. She wanted to rush out with me, but seeing you threatened was more than enough.” He touched her face and his hand trembled. Charlie took his arm and hustled him to a shop stoop to sit. Even as he did her bidding, he asked, “Are you okay?”
She smiled. At the same time big tears welled in her eyes. “That was my question to you.”
“Now that you’re safe, I’m fine. But I don’t mind telling you, seeing that bastard put his hands on you nearly stopped my—”
“Your heart?” She knelt down in front of him and took his hands. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“You know?”
“That you had a heart attack? Yes. Harry finally came clean.”
Dalton sighed heavily. “It wasn’t your fault, you know. Your letter didn’t distress me. It thrilled me and made me so proud I wanted to dance up and down the street.”
“It was a hateful letter.”
“It was a letter filled with guts and courage and pride. I knew the moment I read it you were an incredible young woman. I was right.”
The tears trickled down her cheeks and she impatiently swiped them away. “That was a dirty trick you played on me, having Harry lie about everything. But under the circumstances I suppose I understand.”
“Do you? I couldn’t take the chance you’d shut me out. I’d waited too long to get my girls back.” His own eyes teared up, breaking Charlie’s heart. “I’m so sorry I hurt you earlier today.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“That’s not what Harry said. I’ve known him since he was a boy, back when his father and I were friends. We’ve always been as close as two men can be, and that’s the first time he ever raised hell with me.”
Once again, her temper rose. “Harry yelled at you?”
Scoffing, Dalton shook his head. “Harry never yells. He just gets glib and lectures. He told me what a wonderful woman you were, and he insisted there wasn’t a single thing about you that needed to be changed.”
Charlie was absorbing that when a voice from behind her said, “What I didn’t tell you is that I love her.”
She jerked around so fast, she landed on her rump. Since that particular part of her anatomy was already sore from the skirmish, she scowled at Harry. He didn’t give her a chance to grumble, reaching down and grabbing her under her arms, then lifting her completely off her feet until she was eye level, dangling in the air.
Charlie gulped, eyeing Harry cautiously. His shirt was untucked and only half-buttoned, and he had on shoes but no socks. He’d obviously dressed in a rush.
Shaking her slightly, he shouted, “You scared the hell out of me, taking off like that!”
Charlie glanced over at Dalton, who sat there grinning, and she said, “I thought he never yelled.”
Dalton shrugged.
Harry shook her again, making her feet swing. “In the normal course of things, when not unduly provoked, I don’t yell! But you have a way of pushing me on everything.”
Despite her ignominious position, she lifted her chin. “Good. Because you push me, too.”
That vexed him for a moment, and he growled, “Damn right! And I’m going to continue to do so. I love you, damn it. Doesn’t that matter at all?”
Pops leaned in to say, “It should matter.”
Moses nodded. “Always used to matter in the good ole days.” The rest of the seniors offered mumbled agreements.
An elderly woman with gray hair escaping her bun patted Charlie on the arm. “You should listen to him, honey. Harry’s a good man, and he packs one helluva punch.”
They all nodded, even the officers. Moses stepped forward and he looked sheepish. “Harry convinced us we couldn’t handle those punks on our own. We should have trusted the cops. Even outnumberin’ ’em two to one, they almost got away from us.”
Harry, still holding Charlie off the ground as if her weight were totally negligible, said to the hovering group, “I couldn’t have done it without your assistance.”
Charlie frowned. “It was a plan?”
“A very sound plan. I knew Carlyle would be with Ralph and Floyd today, and I knew they’d have the guns.”
Charlie gasped. “This is the news you refused to share with me! I suspected something was going on, but you wouldn’t tell me a damn thing, and you kept sneaking off without me—”
“Which wasn’t easy, I’ll have you know. You’re too nosy for your own good.”
Dalton blustered. “Charlie was involved in that?”
Harry didn’t answer, however his eyes glittered. “After picking up the money, they were going to make a deal—and the police would be ready.” He glared at Dalton. “Things would have gone as planned if people didn’t throw wrenches into the works, skipping dinner and coming here first.”
“I had no idea!” He frowned at Harry, then shrugged. “I needed a reservation, so we were going back in an hour.”
“And,” Harry added, drawing Charlie so close she could see the fiery specks in his light brown eyes, “if stubborn women would only listen when given a heartfelt declaration of love.”