Jamie had sort of seen it coming. She couldn’t blame her, either. It wasn't just the idea of marrying a complete stranger, something that Jamie herself had done. It was more the idea that the Syndicate was breathing down her neck as well. It had to be a scary experience for Jessica, given how young she was.
“That is understandable.”
“But I mean, I know that my family got some money from William. I don't have the money to pay you back, not yet, but I will figure out a way to give it all back.”
Jamie just shook her head. She was quickly reminded of the dirty dealings of William. He had worked for her, procuring women that she thought were in the market for a marriage, only to find out that they were actually being forced into it, a fee being paid to their parents. Jessica was one of those dirty dealings, and she wanted to get as far away from it as possible.
“I didn’t know what William was doing. I didn’t know what he was, or even that he was part of the Syndicate. My husband killed him, and it has brought us nothing but problems. I don’t think either of us is too upset about it, though.”
“I don’t think I am either.”
Jessica said it so quietly that it took Jamie a minute to really hear it.
“Well, don’t worry about any of that. There is nothing to pay back, and I would love to drive you home.”
Jessica smiled, more relief coming off in waves. “Thank you, Jamie. I thought this was going to go very differently. I am glad that it didn’t.”
Jamie just returned the expression. She was happy about how it had all turned out. It could have gone very different, and though it wasn’t the ending she was looking for, it seemed like the perfect one for the situation.
Jamie wasn't happy about Jessica leaving, but she could totally understand it. It was bad enough that she had been bought by William and then left to wait around for months. Nothing would have made Jessica continue on in that way. She didn’t blame the owner, but she knew that it was her drama that made the last few months harder than they had to be.
The drive was several hours, and the two got to know each other on the way to Jessica’s house. As they were getting off the interstate, Jamie felt like they were friends. If it had been a different situation, maybe they could have been.
“I'm glad that we are able to do this. I have been so worried about you guys.”
“So, there are more of us?”
Jamie reluctantly said that there was.
Jessica was looking out the window, and Jamie could tell that she was excited. She was almost afraid to ask her how long it had been since she’d seen her family. The last girl she had talked to about it said it had been over two years.
The GPS in the car was saying that they had arrived at their destination. Jamie was paying attention to the road, so she didn't see the house at first. She heard the sound that came from her passenger though, a guttural moan that was almost ethereal and definitely haunting. It didn't sound like it had come from their current plane of existence.
“Let me out! Let me out! Oh, my God!”
Jamie was looking at the burnt remains of what could have been a grand house. It seems like William had targeted not just poor families, but also wealthy ones that were on the brink of ruin.
By the time she got out of the car, Jamie knew this was the work of the Syndicate; she just knew it. She watched Jessica run up to the house and felt her heart breaking.
Chapter Three
Jessica was out of it for a moment. She fell to her knees and started crying. Although she didn't know for certain what had happened to her family, she knew in her heart they were not coming back. They were gone.
When she said something like that to Jamie, she assured her that they couldn't jump to conclusions. Jessica didn't feel like it was jumping to conclusions. She just felt like it was the truth. It was just something that she knew deep down inside. They were gone, and she was left alone in a world that she no longer understood.
“They are gone. Don't lie to me. I know that you know. This was the Syndicate, and from what I hear, they don’t leave any survivors.”
Jessica waited for Jamie to tell her that she was wrong. She was begging for it in her mind, but the words never came forward.
“It's the people that are looking for you that did this to my family.”
Jamie shifted uncomfortably and avoided her eyes. It gave Jessica the answer that she was looking for.
“I never knew that this would ruin my life so completely. I wish that I never would have met you or William. It all started going downhill fast when you two came into my life. I was fine before you two.”
All Jamie could do was look sad and agree. She shook her head and said, “I wish I had never met William, either. I don't know if they're still watching this house, so you are probably right. This was probably the Syndicate, and I need to get you out of here. I need to keep you safe.”
“Keep me safe? It's because of you that all of my family is dead!”
“You don't know that.”
“Yes, I do, and so do you!”
Jamie tried to stop her, but Jessica was just in the middle of too many emotions. Against her will, she turned into a bear and took off into the forest. The house was nestled up against about ten square miles of national forest, and Jessica wanted to be lost for good. Maybe she didn't have to go back into human form at all. It seemed like every time she did, something bad happened. Not to her as a bear, though. That way, she was free, and everyone would leave her alone.
Jamie called Dylan and relayed to him what had happened. Not only did she need his reassuring voice, but she also wanted to warn him that the Syndicate had not been quiet. While they were not attacking the clan at the moment, it would appear that they were taking out anyone that was related to William’s dealings as well.
“I don't want you there by yourself.”
“I'm fine, darling. I just wanted to let you know what was going on. I'm probably not going to be home when I thought I would be. I need to find her. She's all alone in the woods, and the Syndicate is after her. It’s my fault.”
Dylan paused for a moment, and there was silence on the other side of the phone.
“I don't like this.”
“I don't like it, either, but I can't leave her out there. This is all my fault, and you know it.”
“This isn't your fault, Jamie. None of this is your fault.”
Jamie wanted to believe it, but she didn't. If she never dealt with William or if she had done her due diligence and looked into him better, then she would have never hired him in the first place. He would have never bought young girls to then be sold to her later. It was all leading back to her, no matter how she tried to look at it.
Jessica was in the situation she was in because of herself. It was so simple to her, and the only thing that would make up for it was to try to fix it. Jamie just didn't know how yet, but she was determined to figure it out. She wasn’t going to let anyone down again.
“It feels like it is. Are you sure you don't want to change your mind about being married to me?”
He laughed and then growled on the other end of the phone. “You know that I will never change my mind about that, Jamie. You are doing the best you can to fix it; that's all you can do. You’ve got to stop being so hard on yourself all the time.”
Jamie agreed with the sentiment, but she couldn't help but feel like it wasn't enough. Not only did all of Jessica's family get killed, but now she was going to have to go into hiding just like Jamie and Dylan were. Jamie wouldn’t have wished that on anybody else.
“So, what should I do?”
“You're already doing it. She needs a safe place, and there isn't much room at the cabin, not for anybody else. However, I know a couple of clans that would be more than happy to take her in. She would be safe there with them.”
Jamie sighed with relief. “Thank you. I didn't know what I was going to do with her.”
“Don't worry about it, Jamie. Just be safe and come home to
me. You've been gone long enough.”
Jamie reminded him that she had only been gone a day, and he said that was long enough.
“I'm not whole unless you're next to me.”
Jamie grinned to herself. As much as she wanted to say that she didn't need a man and she was independent, Dylan had shown her that it wasn't true at all. He also made her realize that needing him was not a weakness. He made her stronger. Dylan made her whole.
Jamie got off the phone with him and went to find the woman that had taken off outside.
Now, she had to add insult to injury. Not only was Jessica going to have to live without her family, but she was also going to have to go into hiding with complete strangers. Jamie couldn’t imagine how that would feel, and she didn’t want to be the one to tell her, even though she knew that she had to.
Chapter Four
Trevor got a strange call from an old friend, and after hearing his case, he agreed to help Dylan out. They had known each other for many years and had helped each other out on occasion. That was not anything new. What was new was what was asked of him this time around.
“Why do I get the feeling that there's something you're not telling me?”
The man got quiet for a moment, and then he sighed loudly like he knew the question was coming. “Full disclosure?”
Trevor scoffed. “I think that I need it, don't I?”
“True, true. Okay, well, the truth is that, one way or another, she was sold to my wife.”
Trevor didn't know what to say. He knew about Dylan's wife and the matchmaking service that she offered. He would have never guessed that the women were sold. He was speechless.
“You mean like a slave?”
That did not make his friend happy. He made a frustrated sound. “No, that's not it. Well, I guess it is.”
Trevor asked Dylan what he’d gotten himself into.
“Let's just say that we made some enemies recently. Jessica was trying to get home, and then we found out that her family perished in a fire.”
Trevor was starting to see the problem. His friend had brought trouble, and he was asking him if he wanted to be a part of it. Trevor didn't mind himself, but he had a clan of five hundred other people that he had to worry about. He was a leader, and that meant that he had to make the right decisions for them all.
“You know that we go way back, Dylan, and I want to help you, but you're going to have to tell me what's really going on and who this enemy is that you have picked up. I need to know what I’m getting myself into.”
Another long sigh, and he waited patiently for the answer. He couldn't give one of his own until he knew all of the details.
“I think we got wrapped up with the Syndicate.”
“You think? That's something that you should be sure about.”
“I'm pretty damn sure. The guy who sold her to my wife was part of the Syndicate. She didn't know half of what was going on. Jamie thought that she was helping, but it has all backfired. Now they're after her, and apparently, they're after the last few women that they didn't get paid for. William was killed before he could collect the money.”
“You are right; you are in trouble.”
“So, are you going to help me or what? That’s all of it, and I have to say, it doesn’t sound so good when it’s all strung out together like that.”
“What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help you when you needed it?”
There was a sigh of relief from the other end of the phone, and although Trevor felt good to help his friend, he was nervous about what he’d just agreed to. It was only supposed to be putting up an innocent girl. What could be so hard about that?
“Thanks, man. They will be there tomorrow.”
“You can at least tell me her name.”
“Who?”
“The girl. What's her name?”
“Oh, I think her name is Jessica. I've actually never met her. My wife will be there with her. I can't tell you how much of a help this is. I owe you one.”
“I will come calling one day.”
Dylan agreed, and Trevor had to wonder if he, had just made a mistake, putting himself and his clan at risk.
Jessica was less than thrilled to hear about where she was going. Not only had she never heard of the shifter clan that she was expected to go live with, but she had a strange feeling about it.
Jessica got the gift of premonition from her family. Her grandmother was able to see the future just as clearly as she saw the past. Jessica wasn't quite there yet, but she had a feeling that whatever was going to happen next was going to change her life forever.
“Do I have to go stay with those people? I don't even know them. I have never even been out west.”
Jamie tried to assure her that everything was going to be all right.
“They are good friends with my husband, and it will make you safer. You wouldn't be safe here, with everything else going on. It is probably best to be as far away from here as you possibly can.”
If she could turn back time, Jessica would never have agreed to it. Maybe if she had thrown a big enough fit, her family would have found another way to get the money they needed. She could have done something, but now her life was not her own. Now, she had to go live with strangers while her future was decided by people she’d never even met.
“Are you sure that I will be safe there? I mean, I have been staying in that hotel for the past few months and there haven't been any problems. Why can’t I just stay there?”
“I would think that staying with Trevor’s clan would be better than being by yourself in the hotel. You told me yourself that it was lonely.”
Jessica agreed. “It was lonely, but I don't know if what you propose would be any better. I really just want to pretend like none of this ever happened.”
Jamie hugged her and apologized again for all of it.
“I know you do. I wish that I could change this for you, but I think you know I can't. This is the best option that we have so far.”
Jessica agreed reluctantly. They had another long drive ahead of them, and the second trip had no answers at the end of it. The second trip was filled with regrets and worry about what was going to happen next. Jessica found it impossible to believe that she would be carefree and happy ever again.
Jamie tried to talk to her and make her feel better, but there was really nothing that could be said. Jessica knew that her life was never going to be the same, and she just needed time to mourn the life she’d known.
They drove all through the night, only stopping to get gas one time. When the car finally stopped for the last time, Jessica was worried about what she was going to see. To her, if she stepped out of the car, it was all going to be true. As long as she just closed her eyes and pretended to not see it, it didn't have to be real.
Jamie got out, and she was standing in front of the car and looking through the windshield at Jessica. Jessica put her hand on the door and took a deep breath. Whatever her new life was going to be, all she could do was move forward. It was something that her father had always told her. Even if it was a baby step, she was still moving forward.
Jessica took the first step. She was going to move forward, no matter how hard it was.
Chapter Five
Trevor spent most of the day waiting for his mystery guest. As soon as he met Jessica, he knew that he had bit off more than he could chew. There was nothing concrete, just a feeling that he had.
Dylan's wife, Jamie, was just as beautiful as he remembered. Trevor felt the familiar pangs of jealousy. His friend had done quite well for himself.
It took a minute for Trevor to see that his guest had not quite made it out of the vehicle. When she did so, it was tentative, and he stared. Something clutched in his chest, and he knew that whoever the woman was, she was going to be trouble. It wasn't the sort of trouble that he wanted to run away from, though. Jessica was the sort of trouble that every man wanted to run towards.
When she got into the light, Trevor
was even more nervous than before. He felt protective of her. Someone wanted to hurt her, and he was certain that he would do anything in his power to make sure that no harm came to her.
She was quite short and had freckles all across the front of her face, as well as her arms and parts of her neck that were visible. Her eyes were a brilliant blue, and he felt immediate magnetism when she finally looked up.
Everything about her was ordinary, except when it all came together, it was somehow made extraordinary. Her small mouth, generous lips, smoldering eyes, and natural smile. It took him a moment after being introduced to even say anything. If he had more wherewithal, he might have actually been upset with the way he was acting. But the truth was that he couldn't help it.
“Trevor, are you all right? You look rough.”
He looked up at Jamie and smiled. “Of course. It’s nice to meet you, Jessica. You are welcome here as long as you need to stay.”
Trevor actually meant that too. He had long heard of moments like the one he was experiencing right then, where the world fell away and everything was focused on two people. In that instance, it was him and Jessica. What it meant, though, where it would lead, he had no clue.
One thing that he did notice while he was checking her out was, she was really nervous. Her blue eyes barely met his before she was looking away again. He didn’t know what she saw there, but it felt like she didn't like it. Why did that bother him so much?
“Why don't I take you to your room, where you'll be staying? You can put your stuff down and relax. Maybe I can get you a drink?”
He nodded to the man next to him to go get them all drinks. Johnson, his second-in-command and cousin, looked at him a little strangely because it wasn’t usually his job, and then went to go get the drinks. Trevor knew that it was also because he was not acting like he usually did. He didn't feel the way he usually did. Usually, he was a little gruffer.
Alpha Shifter Bride Service: (A Paranormal Romance Series) Page 33
