Angels In Red

by Laudan, Adelle

  Jenna frowned. She thought he’d be excited to see the end in sight. It was like he wasn’t remotely happy about it.

  “Aw, shit,” he growled. “The dogs are going nuts out there. I hate to cut this short…”

  The dogs’ frenzied barking came over the line loud and clear. “It’s okay, I can hear them. What do you think got them all riled up?”

  “There have been a couple of pesky raccoons hanging around the past few days. I bet it’s them.”

  “I guess you better go see.” She tried to hide her disappointment, but she was actually on the verge of tears.

  “I’m so sorry, Jenna. Do you want me to call you back after I’ve seen to them?”

  “Don’t worry, it’s getting late. Now that you have a phone, you can call anytime. Why not call me in the morning?”

  “I can think of no better way to start my day.”

  The noise level increased tenfold. “I love you, Jack. You better get out there.”

  “I love you, too. I’ll see you in my dreams, baby.”

  She stared at the phone after he hung up.

  Were things a little weird between us? Or is my insecurity working overtime?

  Suddenly, she felt exhausted.

  Maybe I’m just over-tired. That must be it.

  Tired or not, now more than ever, she was committed to wrapping things up quickly.

  I need to be home to rekindle the fire between us...my being away is so unfair to him.

  Charles threaded his fingers through Twyla’s. “Do you mind if I don’t take you straight home? There’s something I want to show you.”

  “Yes, but don’t forget, I have work early in morning.” She smiled sweetly.

  “You know, you wouldn’t have to if you stayed up all night.” He wiggled his brows.

  She feigned interest out the window, but he caught the lift of her lips, and it made his heart swell. He squeezed her hand.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We’re almost there.” He turned the corner where the road yawned to the lakefront. A full moon illuminated the rippling water. Once he parked the car and shut the engine down, only night sounds could be heard.

  “Questo è bello.”

  “Come on, let’s take a closer look.” He hoped his voice didn’t belie the trembling going on inside of him.

  He helped her out of the car, and they walked hand in hand along the beach. He stopped to take off his shoes and socks. “I love the sand between my toes.”

  “I think me, too.” She giggled and slipped out of her own shoes.

  Ahead, a large formation of boulder-size rocks jutted out to the water, and he guided her to climb to the top, where they sat staring out at the vast expanse.

  “I like to come here at night to think.”

  Twyla nuzzled closer to him. “I can see why. Molto bella.”

  “Molto bella, what does that mean?

  “It means very beautiful.”

  Charles tipped her chin up with a finger and gazed into her eyes. “It’s not the only thing that takes my breath away.” He heard the hitch in her breath. “I know we haven’t known each other very long, but it’s only fair to tell you that I am falling madly in love with you.”

  Twyla’s eyes filled with moisture and her lower lip trembled. “Yes, me, too.”

  He wiped his brow dramatically, his heart beating the path of a racehorse. “Phew! I was hoping you’d say that.” His shaky hand dipped into his jacket pocket and he pulled out a small ring box.

  Twyla’s jaw dropped, and she searched his eyes for understanding.

  “I’m not asking you to marry me today...unless, of course, that’s what you want.” He winked playfully. “But will you wear this ring, Twyla? I want every man who crosses your path to know you’re mine.”

  She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “So, do you want to marry me, or does this mean I am your girl?”

  He found her light-hearted teasing sexy as hell.

  Charles opened the box to reveal a stunning solitaire. The moon’s rays cast prisms off the exquisite diamond. “I am asking you to marry me.”

  Her fingertips gently feathered the diamond. “Molto bella.”

  “Is that a yes?” It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep hold of his faculties.

  Twyla shifted so she could clasp her hands behind his neck and gaze up at him. “Ci.”

  Charles laughed and pulled her to sit on his lap, where he proceeded to slip the ring on her finger. A perfect fit.

  “I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you. How do you say it in Italian?”

  She looked into his eyes. “Ti amo.”

  All thoughts of making it an early night tossed to the wayside as he drew her into his arms.

  I’m not sure what I did to deserve a woman like this, but I can’t chance losing her.

  He gazed down into her glistening eyes. “Ti amo.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Sitting outside Doctor Gilmore’s office, Jenna whispered into her cell phone as loud as she dared, “Do you really think calling me while I’m here is such a good idea?”

  “I thought you’d want to know, Daniel called Twyla to his office,” Buffy replied in equally hushed tones.

  “Any idea what it’s all about?” She glanced up and down the hall.

  “I don’t know, but she’s been gone...”

  “Buffy? Are you there?”

  “I should have known.”

  Jenna’s mouth went dry. “Daniel?”

  “Busted.”

  The phone disconnected. “Oh shit.”

  Footsteps suddenly ran across the tile floor, and Twyla turned the corner and hurried outside. Mere seconds passed before Buffy followed, her face red like she’d been crying.

  Daniel rounded the corner to face her, his eyes ablaze with anger.

  “What is going on here? Why are Twyla and Buffy so upset?” She looked past him. Should I run out and see if they’re okay?

  “I’d like to see you in my office,” he snarled.

  “I-I’m waiting to see the doctor and Angel.” An uncomfortable mixture of fear and anger consumed her.

  “I strongly advise you to do as I ask. That is, if you ever want to see your sister again,” he hissed.

  His threat challenged her own anger and she stood. “I only have a few minutes.”

  He nodded and stormed to his office.

  How dare you threaten me.

  A little voice in the back of her head told her not to go, even as she stomped down the hall and threw his door open; she left it slightly ajar. “First off, I want to know what you said to Buffy and Twyla.”

  Daniel sat at the edge of his desk, shaking his head. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out about your team of spies? Nothing goes on around here I don’t know about.” He glared at her. “And I mean nothing. Got it?” He narrowed his steely gaze on her. “Now, would you mind telling me just what the hell you’re trying to do?”

  “I know there’s more to you than the phony smiles and practiced lines. I’m not leaving my sister here without finding out exactly what kind of man you really are.”

  “I’ve been running this ranch for almost twenty years. Do you seriously believe I’ve had something sinister going on for that long without raising suspicion?”

  “You seem to forget, I’ve been at the brunt end of a less than admirable side of you. If you’ve so much as thought about my sister inappropriately, I swear I’ll see you behind bars.”

  Jenna spun on her heel, so angry she needed to put some distance between him and her, before things escalated any further.

  A slight breeze whispered across her skin and a jolt of white lightening pierced her upper arm.

  As if in slow motion, she fell into a black abyss of nothingness.

  As the town came into view, Jack turned on his headlights and stroked his freshly shaven jaw. He’d been surprised to see the ATV approach the cabin with a stranger riding it, and even
more surprised by the cryptic message Jenna had couriered to him.

  Meet me in the middle. You won’t regret it. Love Jenna

  The note gave an address and directions to a motel in a small border town. He shivered in anticipation, and shifted in his seat to contain his growing desire, picturing Jenna in sexy lingerie, lying on a bed in wait of him.

  He laughed at the deep, guttural groan that escaped his lips. “Me caveman.”

  Like a beacon in the night, the flashing lights of the Starlight Motel urged him forward. Once he parked and popped a breath mint in his mouth, he stopped at the main desk where he was given a key to Unit Seven, as promised.

  From this day forward, the number seven will be my lucky number.

  His key slid in the lock easily, and he creaked open the door. “What the…”

  Two bodies were in the bed, but the room was too dark to discern if one was Jenna or not. He ran his hand along the wall next to the door until he found the light switch and flicked it on, bathing the room with light.

  The man lying next to Jenna bolted upright and reached for his pants on the floor beside the bed. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Even though her face was covered, red hair fanned out over the other pillow. Jenna.

  “You can start by telling me what the hell you think you’re doing with my girl? Be very careful of your answer.” Jack snarled, clenching his fists.

  “Easy there, buddy.” The man stepped into his pants and pulled them up. “I didn’t see no wedding ring, and she sure as hell didn’t mention a boyfriend.”

  The whole deal seemed surreal. Jenna still slept, softly snoring. Her bare shoulders told of her nakedness.

  “Listen. I don’t want any trouble. I’m going to give you and your girl a little privacy.” The man quickly gathered the rest of his things and slipped past Jack. The door slammed shut behind him.

  Jenna moaned.

  “Jenna?” Jack spoke sternly. “Is this your idea of a joke? You need to wake up and start explaining. My God, if you wanted me out of your life, did you have to be so cruel about it?” With shaking hands, he braced himself against the wall, his mind reeling in disbelief.

  Her head lifted and fell back to the pillow. She shielded her eyes and blinked rapidly. Her gaze travelled to the now empty side of the bed, and she moaned again, turning her back to him and placing the pillow over her head as if to block out the light.

  His mounting anger fueled his path across the room to stand at the bedside, putting his hand on her shoulder and rocking her. “Wake up. I need some answers here. How could you do this to me?” He couldn’t stop his voice from cracking.

  She tossed the pillow behind her and squinted. “Jack?” Her voice was hoarse, and her breath reeked of stale booze. “What’s going on?” She looked around the room as she slowly sat upright, baring her naked breasts. “Where am I?” Her eyelids drooped like she was fighting to stay awake.

  “Perfect. You don’t know where you are? Do you at least know the guy you were sleeping with?” An excess of emotions exploded, like being sucker-punched in the gut.

  Jenna’s breath hitched, and her hand flew to her chest. Her head bowed, seemingly surprised to find herself naked, and she quickly pulled the sheet up to her chin. “Jack? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t even know how I got here.”

  He searched her eyes for a trace of truth, but all he saw was confusion, inevitably brought on by either a blackout or pathetic attempt to cover her ass.

  He shook his head, disgusted. “You know, I was actually excited to get your invite to a rendezvous.” He began pacing. “Is he the real reason you haven’t come home yet? I’m such an idiot, envisioning how beautiful tonight would be.” He choked on the threat of tears.

  “Jack, please...I’m telling you the truth. I don’t know how I got here, and I definitely have no clue as to what invitation I supposedly sent you. Where are w—”

  He held up a hand to halt the lies spewing from her mouth. “Enough! I can’t stand here and listen to anymore lies. I got a long drive ahead of me.” He stormed to the door, ignoring her pleas for him to stay.

  Jack stopped at the door and fisted the angry tears from his eyes. His heart shattered in a million pieces at his feet. “To think you actually got me to believe in love again.” He took the invitation from his inside pocket and blindly flung it toward the bed before opening the door. “Good bye, Jenna.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Jenna sprung out of bed and immediately fell to the floor, holding her head in her hands as she dropped to her knees. Oh my God, what is happening?

  Collapsed there, she wasn’t sure how much time had passed since the man she loved walked out of the room and her life. Her teeth chattered as cold seeped in, making her aware of being naked on the floor next to the bed.

  Why can’t I remember anything? Jack said I sent him an invitation? Her gaze travelled over the unkempt room, coming to rest on a tangle of sheets where he had woken her.

  Had another man really been in bed with me? Her stomach lurched, and she carefully stood, using the wall to stop the room from spinning. As quickly as she could move without falling, she made her way to the bathroom and fell next to the toilet, spewing every drop of anything that was in her stomach until only dry heaves ripped the lining of her throat.

  Jenna lay down on the linoleum floor, pressing her face to the cool tile until the threat of vomiting again passed. Never in her life had she felt this way. It was definitely not like any hangover she’d ever experienced.

  I have to get out of here. I have to find Jack.

  In her present condition, it was impossible to do so on her own. She wanted to wake up and find it all to be a horrible nightmare; she needed help.

  Buffy.

  Tears returned to her eyes as she wobbled out of the bathroom. The phone sat on an end table, and as she keyed her friend’s number on the phone, she realized she had no idea where she was. Panic ensued as she tore the room apart looking for a clue. Finally, she found a business card where she should have looked first—in a drawer of the same table she’d found her phone.

  Buffy was relieved to hear from her at first, and then laid into her for scaring them all half to death.

  “Buffy?” she interrupted her friends’ tirade, her words nothing more than a ragged whisper. “Buffy, please....please just come and get me...” Her voice cracked as tears flowed freely down her face. She managed to give her the address on the card before she succumbed to full blown sobbing.

  “Jenna? I hate to ask this, but...were you raped?”

  She froze in place. Raped? “Oh God, please just get here.” She ended the call while Buffy still talked, and stumbled to the bathroom where she ripped open the tattered shower curtain. Once the water ran as hot as she could take it, she stepped under the stream, putting two hands flat against the wall for support.

  Raped?

  She teetered on the brink of hysteria as she frantically searched her mind for even a thread of memory. She turned her face upward and shouted her anger and fear. The water started to cool and she turned up the hot water.

  Get a grip, Jenna. If I had sex with a man, wouldn’t I feel it?

  Jenna slid down the shower wall, remembering the morning after the last times her and Jack made love. She’d clung to every glorious sensation for the next couple of days. Her fingers followed the curve of her lips, while her hand tentatively slipped between her legs. There was no sensation of being raw, or bruised.

  I can’t feel anything to validate being raped.

  Her gazed darted around the shower stall for soap. There was nothing, no soap, no shampoo...

  “Ahhhh!!”

  Her fingernails raked every inch of her body, trying to rid herself of the sense of violation that had all but consumed her until the water ran cold. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably as she stepped out of the shower. Her emotions, so fragile, had her almost sobbing with relief after finding a clean, folded towel. />
  As if in a daze, she patted her body dry and wrapped the cloth around her hair before venturing out in search of her clothes. Her stomach flip-flopped at the sight of the bed, and seeing one of her socks peeking out from under a bunched sheet. With two fingers she pulled it out.

  Jenna returned to the bathroom, and put the lid of the toilet down to sit on while she slowly dressed with shaking hands. She hadn’t looked in the mirror once since opening her eyes to this nightmare. The skin of her legs prickled from being scratched by her fingernails as she pulled on her jeans.

  After she’d taken a couple deep breaths and closing her eyes, she raised her face to the mirror. Oh God, please don’t let me see any marks left by the stranger in my bed. She was almost completely convinced there had been no sexual interaction. To find something now would definitely be her undoing.

  She squeezed her eyes tight one more time before opening. Her shoulders dipped in relief. Other than looking seriously hungover and a little red from being scrubbed, she saw nothing to validate the question of being raped.

  How long has it been since I phoned Buffy? It will probably take her an hour to get here.

  She straightened her stance and took a couple of steps toward the bathroom door. The mere thought of seeing that bed again sent her stomach churning, and a cold sweat broke out across her brow. Her head shook violently from side to side as she stepped backwards, to return to sit on the toilet and wait for her friend. She wrapped her arms around herself and started to rock.

  For as long as she lived, she’d never forget the expression on Jack’s face. He’d left the room a broken man, and apparently, it was all her fault.

  A knock came to the door.

  Her heart pounded beneath her hand. “Buffy? Is that you?”

  The door opened, and her best friend came inside, two extra-large coffees in hand. Her eyes grew big as she faced Jenna sitting on the toilet.

  “Why are you sitting in there?” Buffy set down the coffee and hurried to kneel at her feet. “Thank God you’re okay. We’ve all been worried sick about you. What’s going on here? You didn’t make much sense on the phone.”