In The Still of the Night [The Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Monroe, Marla

  The more he thought about leaving, the more he hated the idea. Just the thought of leaving Jenna behind sat wrong with him. Somewhere along the way, she’d gotten under his skin. He didn’t know when it had happened, but he wanted her, wanted her to belong to him. He wanted her to want him and only him. Where did that leave him?

  * * * *

  Jenna swallowed around the knot that had formed in her throat the minute she realized Riley was gone. He would be there to watch out for her when she went home. Somehow she thought with him there she could handle it. Now that he wasn’t, she felt lost and unsure of her decision.

  “Did he say anything when he left?” she asked.

  “No. Just that he was going to catch up with Morgan and Tyler before they got here.” Tina hugged her lightly. “I’m sure he’ll be back.”

  “It doesn’t matter anyway. I just thought he would want to say good-bye. I don’t think he’ll be coming back, Tina.” Jenna squeezed her friend’s hand as they waited for the police to call and give her the sign to return home.

  They were setting up in the house and around the neighborhood. Tina and Logan were going to take her home and drop her off. Tina balked at the idea. She thought they should at least stick around a little while to get her ready, but she figured they wouldn’t leave if they got inside, so she vetoed it.

  Instead, they would pull into her driveway, and Logan would carry her suitcase into the house for her. She and Tina would hug and say good-bye outside. That way if Gregg had followed them there, he would see that she was staying alone. In theory, it should work. Jenna hoped it would work. She wanted her life back. She wanted to be able to come and go without worrying someone was going to get her all the time. She’d made up her mind. No more men. If she got horny enough, she had a vibrator that didn’t beat her up.

  “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Tina had only asked that same question a hundred times now.

  “I’m sure. It’s better to get it over with.”

  “I’m going to be a nervous wreck until he’s caught,” Tina complained.

  “You and me both. I’m going to do something about it.”

  The sudden ringing of the phone jarred both women. Jenna groaned when her ribs protested the sudden move. Logan answered and then hung up.

  “They’re ready whenever you are.” He looked at Jenna. “For one last time. Please don’t do this.”

  “I’ve got to, Logan. It’s the only way to catch him and no one else to get hurt.” Jenna stood up and waited on them to follow her.

  Logan carried her bag out to the truck then came back for them. He wasn’t letting them take any chances that Gregg might be out there waiting on her. He helped her into the backseat and then checked on Tina in the front. When he walked around to the driver’s side, Jenna almost changed her mind. Instead, she set her jaw and readied herself to handle whatever happened. Maybe nothing would. Then what? The police would eventually give up. They couldn’t watch her house forever. Gregg might wait until there was no one around.

  She fussed at herself for over thinking again. She would cross that bridge if and when she had to. Right now, she had to get through the next twenty-four hours. She could do it.

  They arrived at her house much too soon. Logan walked around and helped her out of the truck then pulled out her suitcase and escorted her up to the house. She unlocked the door and let Logan set her suitcase in the hall.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “I’m sure,” she answered with as much conviction as she could put into her words.

  “Okay. If you change your mind, just call, and I’ll come get you. Okay?” Logan asked.

  “Okay. Thanks, Logan. Tell Tina I’ll call her tonight.”

  She felt almost as if it were the end when she closed the door. Maybe it was the end of a lifetime of poor judgment and bad choices. She was doing something about it now. If only Riley hadn’t left. She would have felt better about it all knowing he was out there somewhere. She shook it off. She couldn’t depend on anyone but herself. If she hadn’t learned anything from all of this, it should have been that.

  Jenna tried picking up her suitcase but couldn’t handle it with her ribs. Instead, she pushed it down the hall to her bedroom. By the time she made it there, she was worn out. She decided a nap might help. At least if she slept for awhile, she wouldn’t be worrying. Right now, that as about all she would do. She started to pull off her shirt then remembered that there was supposed to be someone in the house, as well. With a grimace, she toed off her shoes and climbed up on the bed without taking off her clothes. She wouldn’t be as comfortable, but since she didn’t know who or where they were, she wasn’t going to flash them.

  * * * *

  Several hours later, Jenna woke with a crick in her neck and feeling groggy. She hadn’t planned to sleep more than an hour or so. She glanced at the clock and groaned. It was nearly six. She’d be up all night now. Sunlight still streamed in around the curtains, but in another hour, it would be dimming. The quiet of the house worried her. She’d never noticed before how quiet it could be when you lived alone. Why did it bother her now?

  She shrugged it away and got up. It was time to figure out something for dinner. She needed something in her stomach to take her antibiotic. Maybe something light like cheese and crackers would be good. She smiled. Tina’s crack about how she loved them reminded her they were together in Logan’s house. She wondered where Riley was now. Had he caught up with Morgan and Tyler? Was he going to stick with them? Would she ever see him again? The thought crossed her mind that she shouldn’t care. But she did.

  She flipped on the lights in the kitchen and searched the fridge for cheese. She found half a block of sharp cheddar and located a sleeve of crackers left in a box. The meal looked sparse, but she enjoyed it. It was one of her favorite things to eat. She swallowed the medicine and decided to wait until she was ready to go to bed to take another pain pill. Instead, she took two Ibuprofens and poured a diet cola. She would sit and watch TV for awhile.

  Flipping through channels should be a sport, she decided thirty minutes later. There was nothing on, and she was tired of looking. She pulled out a book and tried to concentrate on that but to no avail. Finally, she’d had enough and took the pain pill and headed for her bedroom. She’d take a nice, relaxing bath then go to bed.

  Once the water was how she wanted it, Jenna climbed into the tub and gently lowered herself in the water. It felt wonderful to her sore muscles. Between the warm water soak and the pain pill, Jenna fell into a light doze, waking up when the water cooled around her. She climbed out of the tub and dried off.

  Once again, she wondered where the person inside the house was. She pulled on underwear and the large T-shirt she slept in. Stepping out into the bedroom took all her courage. She didn’t know if someone could see her or not. She climbed under the covers and switched off her bedside table. The dark greeted her with all sorts of nasty images in her head. She resisted the urge to leave the light on. That was childish, and she wasn’t a child any longer. Instead, she gritted her teeth and willed herself to sleep.

  * * * *

  Nothing happened over the next two days. The police were getting antsy, and she was worn out from worry. She talked with Tina every day, several times a day, but it didn’t keep her from dwelling on the helplessness she felt being at the mercy of her fear. The police warned her that they would only be here one more night, and then she would have to call if she needed them. The phone rang.

  “How are you doing?” Tina’s voice was always a welcomed one.

  “I’m fine. I’m tired of wondering and waiting. I’ve got to go to the grocery store. Do you want to meet me at the coffee shop?” Jenna hoped her friend would do that. She missed her and needed someone to talk to without it being over the phone.

  “Sounds great to me. I’ll meet you in thirty minutes,” Tina said.

  “I’ll see you then.” Jenna hung up and smiled for the first time in days.


  She made it to the coffee shop before Tina and snagged them a table in the back. Even though she knew the police would follow her wherever she went, she wished she could see one of them. It would make her feel a lot better. In fact, she had yet to see any of them at all since she had been back at her house.

  Tina walked into the room and grinned when she caught site of Jenna. She hurried over to the table and plopped down in the opposite seat after giving her a big hug.

  “I know you are happy to get out for awhile,” Tina said.

  “You know it. I’m going stir crazy. The doctor will let me go back to work next week. I’m actually looking forward to it.” She waved her hand to get the attention of a waitress. “Did you have any trouble getting an early lunch?”

  “Not a problem. I just told the boss I was meeting you to see how you were doing.”

  “Tell him I’ll be back next week after I see the doctor on Monday.”

  The waitress walked over and took their lunch orders.

  “Logan’s still pissed at Riley for leaving like he did.”

  “I told him to leave. He shouldn’t hold it against him.” Jenna hated that she’d caused a rift between the two men.

  “He’ll get over it. They’re men. They’ll cuss each other out and then forget about it.”

  “So, what’s going on at work that I’m missing?” Jenna asked.

  They discussed work for the next half hour as they ate their lunch. Tina caught her up on the office gossip. By the time they had finished their meal, it was nearly time for Tina to go back to work.

  “Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?” Tina asked.

  “Thanks, but let’s make it over the weekend unless you have other plans. The police won’t be watching me anymore then. I’d rather not drag them around anymore than I have to.”

  “How about Friday night then. We’ll cook steaks out on the grill. How about that?” Tina said.

  “It sounds like a plan. I’m going to the grocery next. I’ll call you tonight,” Jenna said.

  They parted ways, and Jenna walked to her car a block down. The back of her neck tingled as if someone where watching her. Good. The police really were there. She was beginning to wonder.

  She climbed into her car and drove to the store. She spent the next hour shopping. After checking out, she loaded her groceries into her car and started across the parking lot to return the buggy to the buggy rack. Out of nowhere, a car barreled toward her. She turned to run and twisted her ankle in the process. She tried to take a step, but it gave in, and she fell to the hard concrete ground. Someone grabbed her and lifted her, dragging her across the lot to the safety of a row of cars. The car sped by, hitting the grocery cart in the process. It flew through the air and landed on a car hood.

  “Fuck! Are you okay?”

  Jenna looked up into the worried eyes of Riley. Where had he come from?

  “I don’t think so. I twisted my ankle.” She still couldn’t get past the fact that Riley had saved her.

  He knelt beside her and checked her ankle. She winced when he squeezed it.

  “It’s not broken, but it’s a bad sprain. What about your legs? I drug you part of the way. I’m sorry, baby. I wasn’t in a good position to pick you up.” Riley checked her legs, pulling her pants legs up to check.

  Seconds later, one of the policemen in regular clothes ran up.

  “Is she okay?”

  “No thanks to you, asshole.” He stood up and advanced on the man.

  “Riley. Don’t start. I need help to stand up.” She knew he would end up in jail if he hit the man.

  “Did you get him?” He bent over and picked her up in his arms.

  “One of the others is following him now. We’ll get him.”

  “She’s got company from now on whether you are there or not.” Riley didn’t wait around for the cop to answer him.

  “Let’s get you home so I can check your legs and that ankle. You need ice on it.” He carried her over to her car and opened the passenger side door.

  “Hand me your keys.” Riley held out his hand.

  She reached in her pocket and gave them to him. She was in no condition to drive anyway. Where had he come from? Had he been watching her all this time? Why had he let her believe that he had left? The questions kept circling in her head as he drove them to her house.

  “Stay here. I’m going to check your house then I’ll help you inside.” His tone brooked no argument.

  Jenna stayed where he left her.

  When he returned, he picked her up and carried her into the living room. Once he had her settled on the couch, he took the pillows and lifted her ankle on top of them.

  “I’ll bring you some ice for it then I’ll get the groceries out of the car.” He disappeared for a few seconds then returned with a Ziploc bag full of ice and a dish cloth.

  Riley wrapped the bag of ice in the cloth and laid it gently across her ankle. Jenna tried not to make a sound, but her swift intake of breath let him know she was hurting.

  “Sorry, baby. I know it hurts. I’ll be back once I get the groceries inside. Don’t move.”

  Jenna wasn’t planning on moving. She ached all over. Damn. She’d just begun to get over the last bruises. Now she would have an entire new set of them. She listened as Riley carried in the groceries. He must have put them away, as well, since it took him a little while to show back up.

  “I called Logan. He will be over in a few minutes. You’re not staying alone anymore.”

  “He can’t help. He has Tina to take care of,” Jenna reminded him.

  “No but Morgan and Tyler can. They’ve been helping me keep an eye on you. We didn’t do such a good job today.” He checked her ankle again and then began pulling on her pants leg to check her legs again.

  “Stop, I’m fine.” She struggled to keep her pants legs down.

  “Stop it. I want to check. I dragged you on them. If you don’t be still, I’m going to strip your pants off you.” He glared at her.

  Jenna bit her lower lip and suffered through his checking her all over. She did have some scrapes on her knees and her left elbow. Nothing major, but Riley frowned at them.

  “I’ll clean them up after we settle what we are going to do about the mess you’re in. Did you know that they’ve only had two men on you for the last three days? Not enough to keep you safe from a damn gnat.”

  “He said there were four of them with one in the house. Tonight was supposed to be the last night.” Jenna swallowed at the thought that they had lied to her.

  “Yeah, well. You can’t trust the police, baby. They are only after their man. They never cared about you at all.”

  He was right, but it hurt to realize that. She had risked her safety and all for nothing. It wasn’t lost on her that Riley had been there all along—watching out for her. Yeah, he cared. She had been a fool not to believe him. She frowned. Had Tina known and not told her? Surely her best friend wouldn’t have done that to her. She’d find out.

  Riley returned with a glass of water and held out the bottle with her pain medicine in it.

  “It looks like we are going to need to get a refill of these if you keep getting hurt.” He attempted to smile but failed miserably.

  “Hopefully this is the last time. I’m tired of being sore all over.”

  The door bell rang. Riley quickly moved to the door and checked the peep hole. He let in Logan, Morgan, and someone she hadn’t met. It must be Tyler, she thought to herself. He was as tall as the other three men. He had short, light-brown hair and blue eyes. He was also the most muscular of the men. He smiled a cocky grin and crossed the room with his hand out.

  “I’m Tyler. It’s great to finally meet you in person. I’ve heard nothing but talk of you for the last four days.” He shook her hand, holding it just a few seconds longer than was necessary.

  “You can let go of her hand now, Tyler.” Riley growled.

  “You didn’t say what a lovely woman she was. Shame on you.” Tyler
winked at her.

  Jenna liked him right off. He was a shameless flirt.

  “Cut it out, man. I’ll bust your mouth if you lay any of your shit on her.”

  Tyler died out laughing and threw his hands up to ward off a blow when Riley turned on him. Jena liked seeing the playful side of the men. They had been so serious every time she had been around them.

  “So, what is the plan?” Morgan asked.

  “The same one we had with Tina, only I’ll be in here with Jenna. Tyler and Morgan can take the night shift, and you will take the day shift. That way you can be home with Tina at night, Logan.” Riley turned to Tyler “Did Morgan fill you in on everything?

  “Yep. The whole sordid story. Even the part about how you’re—”

  Riley interrupted him with a slap upside his head. “That’s enough.”

  Tyler rubbed his stomach and frowned. “Morgan, you didn’t say he was sensitive about it.”

  “Yeah, well.”

  “You’re next, asshole. Shut up,” Riley said.

  “You two haven’t been helping Riley all this time?” Jenna asked.

  “No, we got detained and just made it in last night,” Morgan said, looking pointedly at Tyler.

  She looked at Riley but kept her mouth shut. She’d say something to him later about working on his own. Right now, she needed to concentrate on what their plans where. What did Riley mean he’d be inside with her? Her couch was too small for him, and she only had one other room, and it was her office.

  Tyler stretched. “I better find my spot to watch. I’ll see you later, little lady.”

  “Over my dead body.” Riley took a step toward Tyler.

  “Play nice boys,” Morgan said.

  Logan just shook his head and grabbed Riley. “Come on. I’m going to go get Tina and follow her home.”

  “I’m going to scout out my spot, too. I’ll see you in the morning. Tell Tina I said hi.” Morgan said he was going to look around the house and leave out the back door.

  “Talk to you later, Riley.” Logan bumped fists with his friend and left, as well.