Deceptive Defender

By Sue Darnell

Emily Dalton is a newly divorced young mother, struggling to make a living as a Realtor in a rotten economy. Despite the hardships, she is grateful to be free from her abusive ex-husband, Jack Dalton. Just as she's beginning to relax, Jack launches a campaign to prove Emily an unfit mother and take their little girl away from Emily.

Enter Brian McCain, a charming, handsome young man who could be the answer to all of Emily's problems. He seems to appear out of nowhere, and she soon learns he is an undercover cop.

Over the next few weeks, Brian pursues Emily relentlessly. But he's always a protective gentleman. He tells her plenty of details about his work and his personal life. Emily finds herself drawn to this mysterious man.

But would an undercover cop give out that much information? As she struggles with uneasy feelings, Jack continues to torment her with threats, pushing her toward the safety of Brian's arms. Best of all, Brian defends her against Jack's attacks. Sweet revenge.

As Emily allows herself to be pulled more and more into Brian's life, she soon learns that God has been the one defending and protecting her all along.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449739614

Sue Darnell

Sue Darnell is the author of hundreds of nonfiction articles, published online and in traditional print. Her affiliations include Christian Writers Guild, Long Ridge Writers Group, and Writers Research Group. Her fascination with personality profiles and her experiences as a licensed Realtor influenced Deceptive Defender. Sue lives in metro Atlanta.

Book preview

Chapter One

Emily Dalton knew that her ex-husband, Jack, was a lying, cheating, wife-abusing drunk who could hold himself together only during his work day. This characteristic had never ceased to amaze her. How he could drive to Atlanta and work all day selling cars at a major dealership without a hint of his previous night’s drinking binges had been a mystery to her for the past five years.

But today, Emily realized that the lengths to which his cruelty could take him were more than mystifying. They were stunning. The heat of late summer in West Valley, Georgia, was nothing compared to the red-hot anger that boiled inside her. Yet, the strangling fear that Emily never wanted to admit to herself or to anyone else was lurking just under the anger—and it was anyone’s guess which one would win out this time. Anger and fear. Fear and anger. They were two monsters that had held Emily captive since the first night of her honeymoon. That night, she’d been angry with herself for going through with the wedding in the first place. Later, fear had crept into the very depths of her soul as she had watched her new husband down one beer after another, growing more and more belligerent and foul-mouthed with every pop of the can. By the time his twelve-pack of beer was gone, Emily’s knight in shining armor had shown his true colors—colors she had chosen to ignore during their two years of dating.

After all, Jack was always sorry later. He would make up for his ugly outbursts with what seemed like reasonable excuses at the time. Although he was five years older than Emily, he still lived with his parents. He told many stories of how they treated him unfairly, took his money and managed his checkbook, treated him like a child, and wouldn’t let him bring his beer home. Being disrespected by his parents, he often told her, set his nerves on edge and caused him to lose control.

You understand, don’t you, Emily? he would say as his gray eyes looked deep into her blue ones. She always forgave his outbursts.

Emily and Jack had only been married a month and a half when Emily discovered she was pregnant. During that six-week period, Emily had already seen enough of the real Jack Dalton to know that she had made a terrible mistake marrying him. But now, the entire situation had changed. There was to be a baby, and Emily felt trapped and frightened beyond belief at the prospects for her future.

Jack had been ecstatic with the news and strutted around like a proud peacock, telling anyone he could get to listen, It’s a boy. I know it’s a boy.

Cassandra Jane Dalton was born on a cloudy and cold winter day, but she quickly became the light and the warmth of her mother’s life. Emily knew there would be fights, of course, starting with the fight over the child’s name. She stood her ground. Jack had had no ideas about a name for the baby, but he also didn’t want Emily to have the satisfaction of naming their baby. He had grudgingly given in at last, reasoning with himself that he might not have gotten his boy but he had gotten a noose around his wife’s neck. Now that they had a child together, she would never think of leaving him.

For a while, Emily bought into Jack’s lies and mind games. He frequently reminded her that she had gained weight during her pregnancy, and now, no other man would want her. He told her that she was stupid to think that she could ever make a go of a real estate career, that she needed to get a real job. Every time he went into one of his rages, he made it clear to her that he knew she wouldn’t leave him. How would she be able to support herself and a three-year-old? There’s no way you could ever raise a child by yourself, he’d say, looking at her with his leering grin and cold eyes.

I guess I showed him on that score. Making the Top-Producer Club in real estate during my first year out wasn’t half bad, not to mention becoming a broker after only three years. Emily’s anger over Jack’s most recent threat was tempered by the knowledge that she could make it on her own. Jack was completely taken by surprise when she told him she wanted a divorce—and now he was threatening to take Cassie from her. He had made those kinds of threats before, but this morning had been different. There was an evil malice in his voice that Emily was all too familiar with. It was the tone of voice he had used just before flying into one of his rages and hitting her or kicking her. Of course, each time, he did it with the calculating control he uncannily possessed. He could leave marks and bruises in places where they were always covered by clothing, never noticeable to the public eye.

Emily had endured this treatment for years, hoping against hope that Jack would change and they could make a happy home for their precious daughter. Besides, Emily had worked hard to keep the truth of her hellish marriage a secret. It was embarrassing and humiliating to admit what had really been going on behind closed doors all these years. And who would believe her, anyway? Jack could be incredibly charming when it was to his advantage. At church, people thought he was a kind, caring husband who adored his wife and child. No one ever suspected that there were two different sides to Jack Dalton.

The charming side was definitely not showing as she answered her phone that morning.

What do you want, Jack? I’m getting ready to leave the house. I’ve got to go show a property. Emily quickly decided to dispense with formalities. She didn’t have time to mess with Jack Dalton today.

"I’m warning you, Emily. You may have won in divorce court, but it’s not over. It’ll never be over. I will have Cassie all to myself one day. You’ll never know who’s watching you or how I’ll win, but I will win. She is mine, and whatever I have to do, I’ll do it. I’ll prove you to be an unfit mother if it’s the last thing I ever do. But if that doesn’t work, I’ll go to the next play. Game on."

"Game on?" Emily’s voice was incredulous. This is all a game to you, isn’t it, Jack? From the time we started dating to this very day, it’s all been a game with you. A game to see if you can win the prize, get what you want, and fool everyone in the process. You got visitation rights. You should thank God that I let you have that much.

"I’m paying for my visitation rights. Jack spat the words out like splinters. You’re getting your child support."

Only because I’m having it taken directly out of your paycheck, Jack. I would never see a penny if I hadn’t set it up that way. Thank God for garnishment and direct deposit.

Emily listened to his labored breathing for a few seconds. She could picture the look on his face. His silence was as threatening as his rampant, raging words. Although she was used to the whole routine, it still had the power to shake her—and he knew it. She fought for self-control and willed herself to stop trembling as she waited for his next words.

Finally, "Watch yourself, Emily. That’s all I’ve got to say. Watch yourself."

She heard the click as he hung up his phone. Shaking, she put down the phone and sank to the couch in her living room. Despite her resolve to never let Jack get to her again, tears splashed onto her hands as she clasped them in her lap, fighting for control.

Oh, Jesus, please help me. I know this mess is my fault. I put myself in this situation by marrying a man You were warning me about. I ignored the red flags. I ignored my parents’ concerns. But now little Cassie is here, Lord. Please help me protect and take care of my daughter.

Emily stood up and went to dry her tears and freshen her makeup. Looking in the bathroom mirror, she said to herself out loud, Okay, Emily. That’s enough of your pity party. Time to get out there and face the world. You’ve got houses to sell, money to make, and a daughter to raise. Let’s get on with it.

She was glad that she had already taken Cassie to day care. Emily was not a morning person, so she often got Cassie ready for the day, drove her the short distance from their subdivision to their church’s day-care center, and then drove back home to do her hair and makeup, readying herself for her day’s work. If she had to go to the office or she had meetings, she would already be dressed for business. If she had a day in which she could work from home, she’d stay in the jeans or sweats she’d worn on the drive to day care.

Today was going to be a property-showing day. Emily straightened her black slacks and stepped back into the black sandal pumps she had kicked off while talking to Jack on the phone.

Emily North Dalton walked out the front door of her three-bedroom, two-bath home with the same determination that had kept her in that home in spite of the economic conditions. She was going out to do the work she felt God had called her to, and she was grateful to Him for sustaining her in her profession and giving her the capacity to enjoy her work, no matter what else was going on in her life.

As she drove to meet her clients, Emily’s mind uncharacteristically wandered from her business day. Usually, once her workday started, her mind was like a laser, trained on business. Today, however, Jack’s call had her asking herself again why she had ever been attracted to him in the first place.

She had married for all the wrong reasons anyway, she reminded herself. Emily could see Jack in her mind’s eye now, leaning against his bright red Corvette. She was seventeen and he was twenty-two when they first started dating. He had seemed like such a cool guy. He made good money selling cars in Atlanta, and he drove that awesome Corvette. Emily now realized that she’d been more attracted to her dream car than to Jack Dalton himself. And besides the car and the money, he had made it clear that he was looking for a future wife.

Emily had been looking forward to being on her own in the world; if marrying a guy like Jack would speed her on her way to her independence day, then so be it. He had to be a good catch since he and his family attended the same church as she and her family. Besides, in the small town of West Valley, there weren’t that many choices to begin with.

She had also felt sorry for Jack. He was recovering from a broken engagement. Although he mentioned his broken heart frequently, it had never occurred to Emily to ask details of what had happened or who had called off the engagement.

That might have been something to look into, Emily had told her mom wryly, just the other day.

But Emily hadn’t been the only one fooled in the beginning. Her parents had voiced no objections to her dating Jack, since they knew his family from church. And to make things even better, Jack knew Reed, her older sister Kate’s husband. Jack and Reed had grown up in the same neighborhood and graduated from the same high school. It was a perfect opportunity for the couples to double-date. Emily made it clear from the beginning that Jack would have to be friends with Reed. The sisters were close, and nothing and no one would ever come between them. That’s just the way the North family was: tight-knit and solid as a rock. Emily and her five siblings were all best friends.

Dating Jack had been fun for the most part. Jack’s temper would flare every now and then, usually over small things that didn’t amount to a hill of beans, as her grandmother would say. He would blow up, yell and sling some expletives, and then it would be over. Except, of course, for the pouting that would follow. He was possessive, too. But Emily found that rather flattering—to a point.

One day, during their first year of dating, she’d gone to open a Chick-fil-A booth at the community park during a spring festival. She had been working at Chick-fil-A since she was fifteen, and she enjoyed the job. Chick-fil-A work had become a North family tradition for their teenagers. It was a solid company, based on Biblical values, and employees never had to work on Sundays. Emily’s supervisor had asked her to take the food and supplies for the festival booth over to the park, telling her that he would meet her there later. Emily was surprised when Jack got angry about her going to the park to set up on her own.

Why do you have to go over there by yourself? Why can’t they send one of the guys? Jack’s gray eyes had looked hard and cold, and his mouth had twitched at the corners. Emily had begun to regret stopping by to see him at his house on her way to the park. She hadn’t expected this reaction.

There’s no one else working right now that has enough experience, Jack. I don’t mind doing this. It’s broad daylight, and the park is in a safe place. Why would I not go? It’s perfectly safe, and I know what I’m doing. I’ve been working at Chick-fil-A for two years, and they trust me. Besides, they wouldn’t send me to do something that wasn’t safe. Emily couldn’t help but feel touched that he was concerned about her safety. But she had no intentions of letting his concerns keep her from doing her job.

Jack had turned away from her good-bye kiss. He told her to go on and do whatever she wanted to do. He slammed the door behind her as she left.

Emily had left him that day feeling confused and uneasy. Why in the world did he get so worked up about her going to the park to sell chicken sandwiches? She tried to convince herself that it was just his worry over her safety. He wanted to protect her from danger and defend her from being taken advantage of as a female employee. Yes. That was it. He was looking out for her best interests.

Emily had gone on to the park that day, set up the booth, and focused on her job responsibilities. As she had set up the cash box, she told herself that that was probably another reason Jack was so upset. She’d be handling money and someone might try to rob her. Yes, of course. Jack was really worried about what could happen to her.

Her cell phone had rung a while later, and, when she answered, it was Jack. His voice was shaking, and he sounded remorseful. I’m sorry, Emily. I shouldn’t have gotten so mad. It’s just that you’re so beautiful, and there will be a lot of guys there. I don’t want other guys looking at you and hitting on you.

Emily remembered now, driving down the road toward her business appointment, her disappointment that day years ago when she had realized that Jack was jealous. Not worried about her personal safety at all. Just jealous and possessive, afraid of losing her. And in a strange, twisted way, defending his rights to her—although they were only dating. She had pushed those feelings down that day, not wanting to face the fact that maybe Jack Dalton wasn’t the Sir Galahad that she’d thought him to be.

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty, she told herself now. How many times had she heard her mom say that? They both knew from firsthand experience that no good comes from dwelling on the past and wishing you’d made different choices. Learn from your mistakes, Emily’s mom always said. Well, Emily had not done too good a job of that thus far. But she intended to correct her course.

Pulling into the driveway of the lovely brick home she was about to show her clients, Emily forced her mind back to the present. Time to work.

Stepping out of her car, she put Jack’s warnings out of her mind. Hi, I’m Emily, she said brightly as she shook hands with her new clients. Let’s see if this home might fit your needs. Smiling brightly, Emily unlocked the house and stepped aside to let the couple enter first. This was going to be a good day in spite of everything.

Chapter Two

Jack Dalton tossed his cell phone onto his bed and finished dressing for work. He’d gotten the day off to a good start with his phone call to Emily. He smiled at himself in the mirror. He always felt satisfied when he thought he had scared his ex-wife. Instilling fear had been one of his most effective tools, even when they had just been dating. Of course, during that time he scared her with vague innuendoes about what he might do to himself if he ever lost her. He laughed aloud, alone in his apartment, as he remembered more than one occasion when her frightened blue eyes told him that she really cared about what happened to him. He had used her compassionate spirit to his advantage.

Like that night in Buckhead when they were dating. They had been engaged for nearly a year by then, and the wedding was only a few weeks away. Kate and Reed, Emily’s sister and brother-in-law, had gone out with them to eat at one of the nicer restaurants. Reed was driving, of course. Reed had known Jack long enough to know that, before the evening ended, Jack would be in no condition to drive. Jack felt that that was a sign of a true friend: Let me do what I want, let’s have some drinks, and drive me around. Keep me out of major trouble.

It wasn’t Jack’s fault that Emily, Kate, and Reed all got into bad moods that night. What was their problem? Okay, so he’d hit on some other girl in the restaurant and ordered a few too many beers. Yeah, maybe he’d flirted with the waitress, too. So what? He was going to marry Emily in a few weeks. That should be enough for her. He was going to put a ring on her finger and put her name on his insurance policy at work. What more could a woman want? Yeah, they were being unreasonable that night. They made me mad. That’s why I got out of the car and started walking.

Jack collected his keys, loose change, and pocket knife from the dresser and stuffed them in his pockets. He smiled smugly as he remembered how Emily had stood up for him when Reed and Kate wanted to drive off and leave him on the sidewalk in Buckhead. He had walked along, tears pouring down his face, as Reed had driven slowly along beside him with Emily hanging out the window and begging him to get back in the car. Jack, you’re going to get yourself killed in all this traffic! Horns were blowing impatiently from vehicles behind Reed’s car, urging him to drive on. Yeah, that was awesome. I had traffic backed up for at least a mile that night. And he had played the game to the hilt.

It doesn’t matter if I get myself killed, Emily. Nobody cares about me anyway. Maybe I’ll just walk out in the traffic and do everybody a favor. Myself too. Make it quick and easy. I’m gone.

Jack had kept mumbling similar words over and over again—loud enough, of course, for the three in the car to be able to hear every word. Emily had been terrified. She had really thought he might walk into the traffic that night.

Stupid girl. As if he would ever really kill himself. He had played the suicide card more than once with his parents, especially during his teenage years. When they caught their only child with empty beer cans in his car or a taboo girl in his basement bedroom, they would try to exert some discipline. Well, at least his dad tried. His mom could only wring her hands and cry. His dad would try grounding him, but that never did any good. Jack’s suite in the basement gave him an ideal launching pad for his escapades. All he had to do was to slip out the side door or climb out the back window. They never heard him leave.

When his dad called him on the carpet for breaking curfew or disobeying any other rules, all Jack had to do was cry, act depressed, and talk about how his life was not worth living. That would always scare his dad into thinking that his son really might try suicide if he was put under too much pressure. So, George and Nadine Dalton, being the good Christian parents they were trying to be, felt it best to leave Jack alone. After all, he had