In the Shadow of Evil Book 2

by Nancy C. Weeks

  “Jennie McKenzie, you need to shut that brain of yours off.” Father Anthony eased next to her.

  “Just how do you suggest I do that?”

  “I have no idea.” He removed the wineglass from her clinched fingers. “There’s no way you could’ve known Mendoza would stoop to this level. It’s not your fault.”

  “I don’t belong here.”

  She rushed past Father Anthony to the open doorway. He reached out and grabbed her elbow. “You can’t leave,” he said, under his breath. “It’s not safe.”

  “If I don’t get out of here, I will scream.” She twisted out of his hold. “I’m just going up to my place. Jared sent someone in to clean it up. I need to be by myself, work through this new nightmare, and I can’t do it in here,” she pleaded.

  Father Anthony stepped aside and allowed her to pass.

  Jennie dropped her keys on the small foyer table. Taking in a deep breath of vanilla-scented air, she closed her eyes and waited for the serenity the place usually gave her.

  She leaned her back onto the soft cushions of her futon, drawing her head into her knees. A hand on her shoulder sent her soaring, and she banged her head on someone’s jaw.

  “What the hell, Jennie—damn it, you made me bite my tongue,” Noah slurred.

  “Stop sneaking up on me. Where did you come from?” Jennie asked, rubbing the top of her head.

  Noah stuck his tongue out as far as he could. “It’s bleeding, you see what you did?”

  “Me! This is my apartment. No one was supposed to be here.”

  “I didn’t sneak up on you. I was here first. Been here all morning,” he replied.

  “Why?”

  Noah glanced back at the bedroom. “I was doing some painting. Don’t know how, after you almost broke my shoulder with a frying pan. Do you have any idea how destructive you are?”

  “Yes, I do. But this wasn’t my fault. What are you painting?”

  Jennie rose and strolled toward the back room. The overpowering smell of paint fumes hit her. “You’re painting my bedroom? Why?”

  “Well, you can bleach the blood spatter off the walls, but it takes the paint with it.” He followed Jennie into the room. “I primed the walls first and, well… as you can see, it turned out okay.”

  Jennie stood in the doorway, speechless. Not only had Noah painted her room, but, on the wall behind her bed, he was putting the final touches on the most intricate mural she’d ever seen. It was so breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes didn’t know where to look first.

  An enchanted forest with detailed exotic flowers and foliage filled the space. Delicate fairies poked their heads out from behind the flower petals, cloaked behind the forest undergrowth.

  Her hands on her cheeks, Jennie stared in wonder. He had accomplished the impossible, transforming a nightmare into true beauty.

  “I can easily paint over it if you don’t like it.” Noah stood behind Jennie with his hands in his pockets.

  “My God, Noah,” she said, breathless. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. You’re an artist.”

  “It’s just a hobby. My grandmother was the true artist. She taught all of us, but it stuck on me.”

  “If you can do this,” Jennie said, circling the room, “why choose law enforcement?”

  “I’m a multi-talented guy. I like being a cop.” Eyeing his work, he said, “This keeps me from fixating on the evil in mankind—fades it away.”

  “I never felt comfortable in this room, always slept on the futon,” she said, nodding toward the living room. “Why would you do this for me?”

  “I wanted to do something… I owe you.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Noah.”

  “I misjudged you. You went after Mendoza on your own, and I mistook that for being his mole.”

  “So, Noah, where does this leave us?”

  Noah left the bedroom and leaned against the back of the futon. “I guess we accept each other, for Jared’s sake. You’re very important to him, and he’s everything to me. He’s common ground.”

  “Common ground, like friends?”

  “When this Mendoza craziness is over, do you plan to dump Jared?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then I assume you two will eventually get married and make babies.”

  “Well, we haven’t really had time to discuss all that yet, but—”

  “Technically, that’ll make you my sister, won’t it?”

  Once again, Jennie found herself speechless. As hard as she tried, she didn’t have a comeback.

  “So, I guess that’s where we stand,” Noah said, taking a seat. “Come sit down and tell your future big bro what had you so upset that you made me slice my teeth through my tongue.”

  Jennie joined Noah. “You saw me as a threat, and you were right. I’m a threat to Jared, a threat to everyone I care about. Mendoza must be stopped, but I can’t stop him myself.”

  “No one expects you to. What’s wrong?”

  “Emma’s text… Mendoza tampered with Louise’s medication. I should have prevented that from happening.”

  “Ahh, you came up here for a pity party of one.”

  Before Jennie could answer, Noah’s cell phone rang. He reached into his back pocket and answered it. Every muscle in his body tensed at once. After he replaced his cell phone, he stood and paced the small space in front of her futon.

  “Noah, what’s happened? That wasn’t Jared. I would know.”

  Noah studied her, then shook his head. “That’s some kind of freaky gift you have there. But you’re right. That wasn’t Jared. Our tech guy just located Mendoza.”

  Jennie shot up from the futon. “And?”

  Noah swallowed hard. “He’s here. The team has been reviewing traffic footage for hours. Facial recognition picked up Mendoza in Inner Harbor last night. They followed him to your hotel, then lost him. He was spotted a couple blocks over, about fifteen minutes ago. It looks like he’s taking a stroll down memory lane by visiting his childhood home.”

  “Well, arrest him.”

  “On what? We have nothing on him, yet.”

  “He is coming after me through the people I love. Who’s next? Father Anthony, you, Jared?”

  “I know this is hard, but we will get him.”

  Jennie covered her face with her hands. “He’s a murderer, a snake-in-the-grass killer. This can’t go on anymore. It just can’t.” Jennie sucked in a gulp of air, but her lungs remained empty. “He’s here, God, he’s here. I can feel him.” She couldn’t stop her voice from trembling. “I will need your help, Noah, convincing Jared.”

  “Just what are we trying to convince Jared of?”

  “To use me as bait to catch Mendoza.”

  “There is no way in hell that will happen!” Jared bellowed from the doorway.

  Twenty-Seven

  Jared stood in the doorway, dressed in the traditional black pants, black shirt, and white collar of a priest. He stormed into the room, stopping inches from Jennie.

  “You had better not let Father Anthony catch you wearing that. If you were a little earlier, there would’ve been serious hell to pay.” Jennie choked back a laugh.

  “Who do you think I got this get-up from?” He closed in and cupped her chin. “No way in hell are you getting anywhere near Mendoza. You got that? I’m placing you in protective custody.”

  “Now, Jared, just wait a second,” Noah interrupted.

  “Stay the hell out of this!” Jared’s fist clenched to his side.

  Noah leaned close to Jennie’s ear. “He’s all yours.” Then he left the room.

  Jared reached out for his brother’s elbow, but Jennie stepped into his path. “He’s here for me.”

  “I know, but he can’t have you.” Jared wrapped her tightly to him. “You’re shaking. Stop it. It’s tearing me up inside.”

  “Everything you feel, I feel, remember?” She ran a hand over his arm. “We’re ending this together. That’s the only way it will w
ork. If I go into hiding, he’ll just hurt someone else I care about until I return.”

  “I hate this.”

  “Mendoza is a few blocks away. But he doesn’t know we know he’s in town. That’s an advantage, right?”

  “We still have nothing. We—”

  Jennie reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers. “I think he just made a huge mistake. He’s not infallible. Did you talk to Emma?”

  “Yes. Your predictions seem to be coming true. Great birthday.”

  “My guess is he’ll either go after Father Anthony or my godfather, who will be hard to get since he’s in the Vatican. But Father Anthony is—”

  “I have people on him. He’s not alone.”

  She looked toward her bedroom. “And you and Noah are on me, is that it?”

  “We’ll be on you until this is over,” Noah responded from the bedroom.

  “Well, it will not work like this,” Jennie said, shaking her head. “I can’t have you two dogging my every move.”

  “You have no idea what Mendoza or Ivan is capable of…”

  “Sometimes, I think you don’t know me at all, Jared. How can I be so in tune to you when you’re so clueless?”

  Jennie ran a trembling hand through her hair. Jared reached for her, but she moved the futon between them.

  “No,” she said, shaking her head.

  He saw the pain in her eyes. “Shit, Jennie, I’m sorry.”

  “Has there been a minute since the day my parents died that Mendoza didn’t know exactly where I was and what I was doing? Wrapped in your arms last night, I felt him. He was probably right outside my hotel room,” she whispered, the anger evaporating into terror. “I’m scared to death about what that man has in store, but hiding isn’t the answer. We have to do this together.” She stormed back around the futon and grasped Jared’s hand. “You said it yourself. We’re stronger together than apart.”

  “Get your head on straight, bro, and listen to her. We’ve got to get Jennie close to him and take the bastard down once and for all.”

  “I’m fucking sick and tired of people stringing Jennie out, like she was a worthless worm on a hook.” Clinching his hand into a fist, he shot a jab right at Noah’s jaw.

  Jennie reacted by blocking the punch with her right hand and jabbing her shoe into Jared’s abdomen, sending him over the back of the futon. The force of the momentum landed him on the seat cushion, where he rolled over and crashed onto the floor.

  Noah howled in laughter and wrapped his arms around Jennie. “Hey, thanks for the save, but it’s okay. We go at each other like that all the time. You’ll get used to it,” he said and reached down to give Jared a hand. As soon as Jared was on his feet, Noah released Jennie into his brother’s waiting arms.

  “Babe, where did you learn to do that? Very impressive.” Jared laughed, rubbing his chest.

  “If you two can act your age, we’ve some decisions to make.”

  “That’s an enormous temper for such a little bitty thing.” Noah gave his brother a head slap and faced Jennie. “It will take the team a while to get through the rest of the traffic footage, but there’s something you can do. It’s a little extreme, but Father Anthony suggested it. You need to stop him from claiming her.”

  Jared looked at his brother. “And how do you suggest I do that?”

  “Marry her.”

  “What!” Jared and Jennie said, simultaneously.

  “Ask Father Anthony to perform the ceremony tonight. Mendoza can’t have her if she is bound to you. What’s stopping you from making it legal?”

  “A license, blood work...”

  “Mendoza won’t care about that. A priest marrying you at St. Luke’s creates a sacred vow. For a madman, Mendoza takes the sacraments of the church seriously.”

  “I can’t ask Jennie to marry me to stick it to Mendoza.”

  “Uh, yes you can,” Jennie whispered, her hands caressing his chest.

  “I haven’t even taken you on a proper date yet.”

  “There will be plenty of time for all that,” Noah said.

  “Noah, leave,” Jared instructed.

  Noah headed back to the bedroom, but Jennie reached for his hand as he passed her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

  He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “If it bothered me, Jennie, I wouldn’t have suggested it.”

  It was a crazy plan. Why would Mendoza care? Noah made it sound as if their connection was sacred and would protect them somehow.

  She allowed herself only an hour of daydreaming about Jared kissing and hugging her. Sharing a life with him was too farfetched to even fantasize about.

  How could they possibly jump into something permanent? After everything calmed down, Jared would feel tied down and want out. Nothing would devastate her more.

  Jennie broke the silence. “We don’t have to do this. I don’t see how it will make any difference. Before we make that kind of sacrifice…”

  “Marrying me is a sacrifice?”

  “No, I meant you don’t have to marry me to protect me from Mendoza,” she stuttered, her gaze on her shoes as heat crept into her cheeks. “I can’t think.” She took a step back.

  “Don’t think. Tell me what you feel.” Jared moved her against him and held her close.

  “Like I’m trapping you into something you’ll hate me for one day.”

  Jared’s eyes narrowed. “Of all the things I thought you might say, I never went there.” The disbelief in his voice was palpable, and he laughed.

  “You’re laughing at me.”

  “We belong together. Stop trying to pull out of my arms, and feel us.”

  “Two people should never marry unless they are both in... how is this going to help us fight Mendoza?”

  “It will cement our connection. If you have a two-way channel into Mendoza’s emotions, our marriage will drive him over the edge. He’ll react impulsively, and that will give us the advantage.”

  “What about when it’s all over?”

  “We live our lives together. Would that be so hard? Is the idea of marrying me so terrible?”

  Touching his face with her hands, she whispered, “God, no, Jared. I’m scared—so tired of being scared. And this idea just seems so extreme. You’d better be damn sure you want me.”

  Jared took both of her hands in his and led her back to sit on the futon. When he shoved the coffee table over and knelt in front of her, Jennie bit down hard on her lip, trying to ward off the tears that were dying to spill. What the hell did she ever do to deserve this moment?

  Jared took her left hand in his. His thumb traced small circles over her wrist as his eyes bore into hers. “I can’t convince you this is the right thing to do. You have to feel it.” He paused, but she couldn’t break the hold he had on her. When he spoke, his deep, rich baritone voice caressed her deeply. “Jennie Nash McKenzie, will you give me the honor of becoming the only Mrs. Jared Thomas McNeil, or use your own name. Just please become my bride.”

  Feel us. When had she not? He leaned in, his lips close, but not close enough to touch. The intense blue of his irises morphed into almost black, just before his mouth covered hers.

  The passion behind that kiss was none like she experienced before. It was as if he were branding them together. Jennie held onto his shoulders, as his arms went around her, lifting her so her legs wrapped around his waist. An urgency, a need, built up between them that Jennie had no idea how to control. Jared’s body trembled just as much as hers did.

  At that moment, there was no question about who she belonged to. No other man could make her feel like this. Jennie wanted Jared beside her, in her, surrounding her, for as long as he would have her.

  His lips left her mouth. “So that’s a yes?”

  Jennie’s breath shook. “Yes.”

  Jared removed a small ring from his pinky and slipped it on her ring finger. “This ring was my grandmother’s,” he said, in a breathless, hoarse whisper. �
��From the moment my grandfather placed it on her finger, she never took it off. Right before she died, she removed the ring and placed it on my right finger. She made me promise to wear it always. I didn’t have a clue what she meant, but it seems she knew this day would come.”

  Jennie studied the simple ring. “We do this?”

  Jared nodded.

  “How?”

  “Today is Holy Thursday. I’ll arrange everything with Father Anthony after mass tonight.”

  “I can’t see him going along with this, Jared.”

  With his lips on the soft skin just below her ear, he said, “I can be very persuasive. I got you to say yes.”

  “This has to be for us... about us, Jared. We do this because it’s what we want, not because of—”

  “God, yes, Jennie. You are who I want. Only you.” His mouth covered hers and again, she was lost in the feel of him.

  You are who I want.

  Those five simple words sent a sense of calm through Jennie; the constant shadow of evil that followed her for years was gone. In its place was an incredible sensation of contentment that had been missing since childhood.

  “I don’t have a nice ring to give you,” Jennie whispered, as her arms encircled his neck. “But you have me, all of me.” She brought his lips back to hers. It took seconds for Jared to take over, deepening the kiss until it felt like every cell was firing at once, sending an electric charge straight to her core. Jennie’s rapid heartbeat quickly synched with Jared’s until they felt as one.

  A light tap sounded at the front door. Noah opened it, and Father Anthony’s deep voice filled the room. Jennie pulled away from Jared, burying her face in his shoulder as the heat rose in her cheeks. Would the world never give them any peace?

  Jared helped her to her feet. He smiled as he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Again, don’t be embarrassed by how you react to us.”

  Her cheeks grew hotter. Jared placed his lips on each cheek, before facing Noah and Father Anthony.

  “I’m glad you’re here. Jennie and I have some news. We’re getting married.”