Shattered Heart (Z series)

by Jerri Drennen

  JT glanced at Charlotte. “You said up until today you were going to say yes to this offer. Why?” The man had to be at least thirty-five years older than Charlotte. Why would she even consider marrying him?

  “He offered to save Lettie’s. I’m behind on my loan and he said he’d settle it for me if I married him. I need that cafe. It’s all I have.”

  JT tried to keep the contempt he felt for her decision from showing. The men his mother had always dragged home were only there to keep her from going without booze and whatever else she needed. When the guy ran out of funds, she was onto the next. So, the idea of Charlotte marrying Terran to save her restaurant didn’t set well with him.

  “What changed your mind?” he asked, an uncontrolled sharpness in his tone.

  “I don’t want to marry him. I just want to save Lettie’s.”

  JT inhaled, then slowly released the breath. “When were you going to tell him?”

  She shrugged. “I guess when I saw him again.”

  “I’m afraid the minute you do that, you’ll be putting yourself at risk.”

  Her blue eyes widened. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Maybe it’s best you not say anything at all until I find what your husband had on him.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know if he’ll be happy with that.”

  “Your husband has been gone for almost two years. I think a few more days isn’t going to matter to Terran. If he asks, just tell him you need more time.”

  “I’ve been telling him that for a while now.”

  “Throw in the fact that you’re still grieving. Maybe he’ll feel a tinge of guilt and stop pressing you for a while.” JT inwardly scoffed at the idea. A man like Terran probably didn’t feel an ounce of remorse for anything he did. Not if money ruled his every thought. Hell, that’s why Z existed. To protect people from the likes of Terran and all the scumbags of the earth—a shitload of them residing in Washington, DC. All with their hands in the pockets of elected officials. All with their own agendas.

  JT shook his head. More than anything he hated dirty politicians who only cared for the top one percent of the country. Not what the Founding Fathers had envisioned for the United States of America when the Constitution was drawn up. Whatever happened to all men were created equal? Bring us your poor, your downtrodden.

  He brushed off the thought and returned his attention to Charlotte. “He’ll have no choice but to accept that you’re not ready.”

  And if Terran didn’t, JT would be there to make sure he did.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Charlotte locked the cafe and turned to leave, her heartbeat taking off when she spotted William’s Escalade parked in the lot. How was she going to act normal around him when all she wanted to do was run away—or tear the man’s face off?

  The first option would be easier. Too bad that was impossible right now.

  A cold sweat raced across her body while her heart thudded a crazy drum beat in her chest.

  All day she had wanted to talk to Cara about what she’d learned, but JT had told her not to say anything to anyone. He was right of course. Yet, emotionally she wished she had someone to confide in.

  “Charlotte,” William hollered, signaling for her to come to the truck.

  She gritted her teeth. Somehow, she had to tell him she wasn’t ready to commit and hope she’d never have to see him again.

  Reluctantly, she shuffled toward him, forcing down her newfound hatred.

  “William. What are you doing here?”

  “I came by to see if you’d made a decision yet.”

  Don’t sound angry. Just tell him no.

  “I haven’t. I’m not ready to say yes or no. Shaun hasn’t been gone all that long. I feel like it would in some way taint his memory if I did so now.”

  His hazel eyes darkened. “It’s been almost two years, Charlotte. Shaun would want you to move on with your life.”

  Charlotte bit the inside of her lip to keep from lashing out at the reason why her husband wasn’t with her. The man had some nerve using him to get what he wanted.

  “I can’t right now, William. I’m not ready.”

  “What about Lettie’s? The bank is going to take the cafe if you don’t give them that money. Are you willing to lose it because you think Shaun would be angry at you for marrying me?”

  Damned right he’d be mad if she married his killer.

  “I’ll find another way.” Charlotte gazed around, wanting to escape. She couldn’t look him in the eye any longer.

  “You’re making a huge mistake. One that could cost you everything.”

  Why did that sound like a threat?

  She swallowed the lump in her throat and shifted. “I’m sorry you’re angry with me, William. I just can’t, in clear faith, marry you right now.” Talk about an understatement. “I have to go.”

  Charlotte turned and walked away. From this day forward, at least until JT found what her husband had hidden, she’d need to watch her back.

  She took in a breath and released it slowly. She was going to have to find this proof, or every time a car backfired she was going to be in fear for her life.

  Maybe she should have told William yes—lied to him so she wouldn’t have put herself at risk? Unfortunately, her conscience wouldn’t have allowed that—not knowing what he did. William Terran killed her husband, and she refused to be linked in any way to him from this day on.

  Charlotte cut between the cafe and the small bookstore next to it, wanting to get home and lock herself inside. At least she’d be safe. For a while.

  A hand gripped her wrist and dragged her into the dark recesses of the alley, against cold concrete and the warmth of another taller, wider body. Fear and a need to escape had her pushing against the person.

  “It’s me, Charlotte.” His heated breath stirred the air around her ear.

  JT! Her heart slowed in relief for a moment.

  He smelled of spring rain on a pine tree, fresh and appealing. Forbidden thoughts accelerated her pulse, her heart now knocking painfully against her ribcage.

  “What...are you...doing skulking in an alley,” she stammered, angry with her lack of control. His body crushed hers. The contact had her nipples drawing up tight and caused them to tingle.

  “I saw William parked in front of the cafe. I was worried. I don’t like the look he gave you when you told him you weren’t ready to marry him. His threat was real, Charlotte. I’m afraid he’ll do something to make you change your mind.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t think you should be alone. I need to stay close until all this is over.”

  The thought of him getting any closer to her caused an uncomfortable heat to creep up her body. “How are...you going to do that?” She wanted to kick herself for sounding like a babbling idiot.

  “I need to stay at your place at night. You should be safe at the cafe during the day, and I can keep an eye on Terran at work.”

  “What? How?”

  “I forgot to tell you. I have your husband’s old job. I started today.”

  Her jaw dropped. “If he knows you, then you can hardly be seen around me, especially at my place.”

  He smiled. “I’ll make sure no one sees me. I know what I’m doing. This is hardly my first cakewalk. Believe me. I’ve dealt with way worse than Terran.”

  Charlotte didn’t know what to say. How was she going to allow this man to stay with her when she could hardly deal with being next to him in a dark alley?

  “I don’t know, JT.”

  “I’m going to stay with you at night. No arguments. Now go. I’ll see you after dark.”

  She walked past him, her head still reeling with what would happen when he did show up. The two of them would be alone. Hell, even if she put him in the guest bedroom, he’d be just down the hall. Only two doors separating them and frankly, just thinking about the man sent her body into fits. How was she going to spend the night in the same house with
him?

  * * *

  JT slipped behind the building and ducked under the window, keeping out of view of the neighbors. He tapped lightly on the glass and waited. When Charlotte didn’t come, he rapped again, a little louder this time. The shade came up, and she leaned toward the window pane, her eyes widening when she recognized him.

  She lifted it up. “Why didn’t you come to the door?”

  “Sssh, I don’t want anyone to hear or see me.”

  He pulled himself inside and closed the window behind him, then dropped the shade.

  “Were you sleeping?” He pointed to her pajamas, a very unsexy top and bottom that completely engulfed her.

  “I was getting ready. I have to get up early.”

  “Okay. I’ll bunk in the living room. You go on to bed.”

  “All right. Goodnight.” She hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave.

  JT ambled down the hall to the front of the house. He wouldn’t be able to sleep for hours, not knowing that Terran could, at that moment, be outside Charlotte’s, waiting to make a move. If he were the man, he’d scare her in some way, enough to get her to change her mind.

  That thought alone ignited JT’s temper. He clenched his hand into fists and squeezed tight, his nails digging into his palms.

  He walked around the house, checking the windows and doors to make sure they were all secured.

  He was thankful that Charlotte hadn’t been wearing anything sexy. No way would he ever get any sleep. Being in the same house was hard enough.

  A throat clearing behind him made him turn.

  Charlotte leaned on the wall, looking anxious.

  “Something wrong?”

  “I wanted to let you know I have a spare bedroom if you’d prefer a bed.”

  He’d prefer a bed all right—hers, but he was here to protect her, not get into her baggy pajama bottoms.

  “The couch is central to watching for trouble. But thanks.”

  “All right. Have you eaten? I could fix you something.”

  “I’m fine, Charlotte. While you’re up, though, I wanted to ask if your husband left a will.”

  “He did, but I could never bring myself to look at it. I guess I didn’t want to actually see the finality... you know, his last written words.The attorney said he left everything to me. Which was everything we shared together. Why?”

  “Do you still have it? Maybe he left a clue in there.”

  “Yeah, I think my lawyer placed it inside the desk in Shaun’s office.”

  She turned and walked down the hall.

  JT followed, forcing his focus on anything but her behind in the two-sizes-too-big pajamas.

  In the office, she rifled through the drawers of the desk, then pulled out a large manila envelope and untwisted the string holding it closed. She emptied the contents on the top and stepped back.

  JT fanned through the stuff. A white envelope with handwriting on it caught his eye. He picked it up and noted that it was still sealed. When he turned it over, he saw that it had Charlotte’s name on it.

  “What is this?”

  She shook her head. “Like I said, I didn’t look through the packet the attorney left. I just couldn’t deal with it.”

  “Will you let me read this? There could be something inside that could tip us to what Shaun had on Terran.”

  “No!” She snatched the letter from his hand, tears clouding her eyes.

  JT inwardly reprimanded himself for making her cry. How thoughtless he was to want to read a personal letter that could have likely been the last thoughts the man had for his wife.

  “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I wasn’t thinking.”

  A single tear emerged from one of her sparkling eyes and slid down her cheek.

  “No, I’m sorry. I know this could be something important. I’m just not ready to read it yet.”

  “That’s all right. I understand.”

  JT studied the rest of the papers that were in the packet, reaching for a tiny yellow envelope. Something shifted inside. He opened it up and found a key.

  “Know what this goes to?”

  She frowned, then took the key and examined it. “I have no idea.”

  “This might be important. I’m going to keep it, see if I can find out what it opens.”

  JT scanned the rest of the stuff, nothing else looking significant.

  Silence filled the twelve by twelve foot room. JT would love to see the contents of that letter Charlotte had, but he understood why she wasn’t ready to read it. Especially when she just found out about it. He’d wait. If indeed it had anything about Terran inside, she’d tell him.

  “Maybe you should try to get some rest now, since you have to work early in the morning.”

  Her eyes locked on his, the intensity in their blue depths almost buckling his knees.

  The woman was incredibly beautiful, and much too sweet for the likes of him. He wasn’t the commitment type. Charlotte clearly was. Look how she still held on to her dead husband. JT was so wrong for her, it wasn’t even funny. Too bad his body could care less about how opposite they were.

  His heart hammered in his ears. Walk away, Charlotte. Go to your bedroom and lock the door.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer a bed to sleep in?”

  Was that an invitation? He wasn’t sure.

  He shook his head. “Couch is fine.”

  For a brief moment, he thought she looked disappointed.

  “Night then.” She walked out of the office, the envelope clutched in her hand.

  JT released the breath he’d held. Remember why you’re here, Malone.

  He headed back for the living room and sat down on the overstuffed sofa. He turned the small key over in his hand. The moment he saw the thing, he knew it wasn’t a regular key. It looked like it fit a lockbox of some kind. Now all he had to do was find the one it opened. Too bad that could take some time—time he didn’t have. Damn it.

  This was a clue though, and he was going to learn what Shaun had on Terran if it killed him. Not only so he could put the man away and leave this godforsaken place, but to help Charlotte move on with her life. Almost two years was a long time to mourn. Hopefully finding justice for Shaun would somehow help her start over. To possibly meet another man deserving of her and to have a family. Then she could put this nightmare behind her, like he would Terran, once the bastard was behind bars.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Breaking glass startled Charlotte awake. She shot out of bed, her gaze darting around the room, surprised to find her bedroom window intact.

  She crept into the hall. From outside she heard a truck rev, then tires squealing.

  When she entered the living room, a shadowy figure emerged from the doorway. The scream ready to escape her lips died when she remembered JT’s presence. Instead, she blew out a breath.

  “What happened?” She looked from one end of the room to the other. Glass shards spattered the floor beneath the front window. “Was it Terran?”

  “I think it was one of his goons.” JT moved closer.

  Charlotte noticed he wasn’t wearing a shirt and that he was nothing but sinewy, ripped muscle. She’d never been up close and personal to a guy who looked as perfect as him. A person would have to work out a lot to get a physique that fine.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat, angry she’d allowed herself to think such immoral thoughts about someone other than her husband. Then again, Shaun never looked like the man standing next to her. Not even close.

  Charlotte mentally shook herself. “What came through the window?”

  “A rock.” He pointed to the large stone lying in the far left-hand corner of the room. “I’ll replace the pane of glass tomorrow.”

  “You can’t chance being seen. Oh God, did the guy driving the truck get a look at you?”

  “I doubt he could tell who I was, but I’m sure he knew I came from this house.”

  “Now what? He’ll go back and tell William. How am I going to explain someone
being here at two in the morning.”

  “You don’t have to, Charlotte. You’re a grown woman. Your husband has been gone long enough for you to take a lover.”

  “But I told him—”

  “To hell with Terran. Besides, the guy is in his sixties, isn’t he? Surely he knows you wouldn’t be marrying him for love and all that comes with that. He’s not stupid. A woman your age has needs.”

  His insinuation made her skin warm. She hadn’t had any of those so-called needs for a long time, not until JT showed up.

  Her gaze inadvertently slid to the man’s nicely outlined package in the pair of snug-fitting jeans. Charlotte had never been brazen enough to do such a thing. Until now.

  Her attention shot back to his face to find that her ogling hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  “I ah...”

  He reached out and brushed his knuckles against her cheek, crumbling her reserve.

  When she didn’t retreat, his hand cupped the back of her neck, and he drew her close.

  Charlotte held her breath as he leaned in and his lips came down on hers. Her blood turned to molten lava.

  His lips slanted over hers, stirring something innately carnal inside her.

  Her palms slipped up his chest.

  He moaned and crushed her to him, his tongue forcing her lips apart to plunge into her mouth. No kiss had ever been so primal—so animalistic.

  So incredibly mind-blowing.

  Charlotte couldn’t think past the pleasure. JT had opened the floodgates to her desire, and she refused to close them until this burning ache in her belly subsided.

  Her hands roamed at will, exploring the hard planes of his back and shoulders, amazed at how they seemed to swell at her touch.

  He coaxed her backward, bumping her against the wall, his body melded into hers. Excitement, beyond reason, electrified her as his arousal made contact with her hip. Every cell inside her supercharged.

  Charlotte traced the lines of his body with her fingers, down over his well-defined pecs, past the fixed muscles on his stomach, ending at the part of his anatomy that fascinated her more than anything—his cock.