by Becca Van
Jaylynn nodded. Enya was probably right. Other than the women she worked with, their partners and now her guys, she didn’t really know anyone else. She’d seen a lot of faces since she’d been living in Slick Rock and working at the diner. There were more than a few regulars, so it was possible that was the reason the asshole wasn’t so much of a stranger to her.
So why was she having trouble convincing herself of that, too?
She gazed toward the doorway as Brax entered and sighed with relief when Wilder followed him into the room. Both men knelt on the floor next to her and Enya, while Wilder asked his questions in a quiet voice. The more they explained, the angrier the deputy looked.
“I’ll have both of your statements typed up and bring them to you sometime later today or early tomorrow for you to sign them.” Wilder shoved to his feet as he turned his phone off the recording app. “Rest up and do as your men say, Jaylynn. We don’t want you getting sick again.”
Jaylynn nodded and forced a smile but rolled her eyes at Enya. The other woman giggled and quickly turned it into a cough to cover up the sound. Thankfully, Wilder was already striding out of the room.
“Let’s get you home, baby,” Brax said as he held out his hand.
“I don’t want to leave Shyann by herself. Enya and I both promised to stay with her.”
Brax dropped his hand back to his side with a sigh of frustration. He ran his fingers through his hair and spun away before turning back again. “If you could see the way you look…you’re in pain, baby. No matter how hard you try to hide it from me and even yourself, it’s there on your face for everyone to see. One side of your face might be bruised and swollen, but the other side is as white as a sheet. I can tell by how dull your good eye is that you’ve got a bad headache. You need to be in bed, Jaylynn.”
“I’m fine…”
“Fuck!” Brax clenched his jaw. “What is it with women and the word fine? Us guys aren’t as stupid as you think we are. When a woman says she’s fine, it usually means she isn’t.”
Jaylynn wanted to refute that even if it was sort of true. As she opened her mouth to reply, Shyann groaned.
She and Enya rose and moved closer to Shyann.
“You don’t need to stay with me,” Shyann said quietly as she opened her eyes. “I’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?” Jaylynn asked. “I said I’d stay and don’t want to go back on my word.
Shyann blinked as if it hurt to keep her eyes open, but she met Jaylynn’s gaze. “I’m sure. You were hurt, too. You need to go home with your man and rest.”
“But—”
“No buts.” Shyann paused to lick her dry lips. “Thank you for everything you did. I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”
“Hey.” Jaylynn clasped Shyann’s hand in both of hers and squeezed. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You weren’t the one who hit me. That asshole did.”
“You’re right.” Shyann gave a semblance of a smile, which turned to a grimace as she closed her eyes. “I take my apology back.”
Jaylynn and Enya chuckled.
“Good for you, hon.” Jaylynn glanced at the hospital table and sighed with frustration before turning toward Brax. “You wouldn’t happen to have a pen and a piece of paper on you, would you?”
“No, I don’t. Sorry, baby.”
“I do.” Enya moved to where she’d dropped her bag on the floor, bent over, grabbed it and rummaged around in it. She turned back to Jaylynn and handed them to her.
“Thanks.” Jaylynn took them, leaned the paper on the table and wrote down her cell phone number. “I’ve just written my phone number down for you, Shyann. Please call me if you need anything. I don’t care what time of day or night it is, okay?”
“Okay, thanks, but I’ll be fine.”
“This isn’t about this situation. I like you and I think we could be great friends. I’d really like to spend more time getting to know you.” Jaylynn handed the pen back to Enya.
“I would, too,” Enya said as she skirted around Jaylynn. “I’m adding my name and cell phone number, but I will be staying here with you.”
Jaylynn smiled at Enya before returning her gaze to Shyann. Tears trickled out from beneath the other woman’s lowered lashes. “I’d really like to call you both. You don’t need to stay with me, Enya.”
“I know I don’t, but I have nothing better to do right now. My shift at the diner is over and I would love to sit with you for a while,” Enya said.
“I’d really appreciate that,” Shyann replied. “But I won’t be very good company. I’ll probably end up falling asleep on you.”
“I’ll stay until you do.” Enya nodded.
Jaylynn clasped Shyann’s hand again. “It was great meeting you, Shyann. I just wish it was under better circumstances. Get better soon.”
“Thanks,” Shyann replied.
“Bye, Shyann, Enya.”
Brax stepped up to Jaylynn’s side, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the door. She was so exhausted, she ended up leaning into him and sighed wearily. She was looking forward to taking some pain pills, climbing into bed and falling asleep. “Where are Ajay and Cael?” she asked.
“We’re here, sweetness,” Cael said.
She turned to look at him and Ajay and tried to smile. When they both frowned at her, she knew she’d failed miserably, but this time she didn’t care.
“Do you want me to carry you, baby?” Brax asked close to her ear.
It was only then that she noticed he was practically holding her up and while it was tempting, she could get wherever they were going under her own steam.
“I’ll go and get the truck,” Ajay said and took off at a fast clip.
By the time they got to the entrance of the hospital, Ajay was waiting in the truck just outside with the motor still running. When Brax swept her from her feet and lifted her into the cab, she didn’t protest. Brax got in the back with her and Cael got into the front passenger side.
Jaylynn closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the seat, thankful to Brax when he put her seatbelt on for her. Once he had on his own safety belt, she leaned into his side as he once more slung an arm around her shoulders, and sighed.
She fell asleep moments later.
Chapter Nineteen
“Is she all right?” Cael asked as he turned and met Brax’s gaze.
“She’s asleep,” Brax answered.
“When was Wilder going to contact us after searching for that asshole?” Ajay glanced in the rearview mirror before looking back at the road.
“Whenever he has something,” Brax replied.
“Have you ever heard of Gavin Redpath?” Ajay asked.
“No, and neither has Wilder or any of the other deputies,” Brax said. “He contacted Luke and he asked around. No one has ever heard of the fucker and if he lives in Slick Rock, his name isn’t on anything.”
“He could have given a false name,” Cael piped up.
“Could be.” Brax rubbed his chin as he stared down at Jaylynn. “Unless we catch this asshole hurting someone else, I don’t hold out much hope in catching the prick and arresting him. Neither Jaylynn or Shyann gave a great description.”
Cael shrugged. “I’m just glad that Jaylynn wasn’t hurt worse.”
“She shouldn’t have been hurt at all,” Ajay snapped as he slowed the truck and turned onto their street.
“I agree,” Brax said.
“I do, too.” Cael sighed. “But it could have ended a hell of a lot worse than it did.”
“Yeah, I know.” Ajay slowed the truck and turned into their driveway. Seconds later he parked the vehicle in the garage.
Cael jumped out of the front passenger seat, closed the door and hurried toward the door leading into the house. He unlocked it and stepped aside just as Brax walked up with Jaylynn in his arms. He followed his brother and their woman inside toward the bedroom.
Ajay entered the room when Cael and Brax were removing Jayl
ynn’s shoes and socks. They went to work on the rest of her clothes until she was left in her underwear. Anger surged through his blood when he saw the white bandage covering the stitches in her hip. He hated seeing her hurt, but he was glad she hadn’t been seriously injured. Cael helped Brax pull the covers up over Jaylynn and while he wanted to strip down to his shorts and climb into bed with her, they needed to talk things out. He was still full of ire and didn’t want to inadvertently hurt his woman by holding her too tightly. After giving Jaylynn a last lingering glance, Cael followed his brothers from the room.
* * * *
Jimmy flexed his bruised knuckles and rubbed at the back of his neck. He hated punching Jaylynn in the face when he hadn’t been ready to confront her, but he’d had no other option. He hadn’t wanted her recognizing him, but he wasn’t sure if she had or not. His gut was churning with rage and anxiety, but it was too late for regrets. He hadn’t meant to hit her so hard, but she scared him by shouting at him. He’d been so intent on getting that other bitch to co-operate it hadn’t registered that it was his woman who’d yelled at him. He’d been lucky to escape without anyone seeing him. Thank fuck he’d parked his truck in the back of the parking lot behind the diner. If he’d parked on the main street like he’d originally planned he’d probably already be in jail.
“Fuck!” He’d had the perfect opportunity to snatch up Jaylynn, but then another slut had shouted from the other end of the laneway. He’d bolted away worried someone had heard her screaming and bring unwanted attention his way. Thank fuck the bitch had seemed to be frozen in shock after yelling so loudly, because there was no way she’d have been able to see his face from such a distance as well as the lack of light.
Now, here he was sitting in the street where those assholes and Jaylynn had been holed up, waiting for them to come back home. It’d been hours since he’d parked his truck at the end of the street and he was getting impatient.
Jimmy was just thinking about leaving when a late model blue truck turned and headed his way. He’d recognize that vehicle anywhere. He slid down in his seat and peered through the windscreen. When the truck indicated and slowed before turning into the drive about two hundred yards away, he smiled for the first time that day and rubbed his hands together. He’d already checked out of the motel for a quick getaway and he was locked and loaded just in case.
Now was the time to make his move. If he didn’t get Jaylynn today, he didn’t think he’d ever get the chance again. Nonetheless, he couldn’t move too soon. Maybe waiting a couple more hours would be better. He chuckled to himself. He’d give the bastards and his woman time to settle down and become complacent and then he’d go in. If he could get to Jaylynn without alerting those arrogant fucking Marines, his task would be that much easier. He glanced at his watch. No, an hour would have to do. If he waited longer than that, people who lived on the street were going to start arriving home from work and see him. The last thing he wanted was to have someone witnessing his abduction.
“Soon, you’ll be mine again, bitch.” Jimmy rubbed his hard, aching cock. “Once I’ve got you, I’ll never let you go again.”
* * * *
As soon as Jaylynn saw the big guy hitting Shyann, she knew she was dreaming. Even though she tried to convince herself to wake up, the images, feelings of fear and pain didn’t stop until they’d played themselves out. She jerked upright and gasped as the stitches in her hip pulled at the abrupt, swift movement. She was covered in sweat and she was breathing heavily. Once she had her breathing back under control, she flung the covers aside, scooted to the edge of the mattress and climbed out of bed.
After using the facilities, she turned the shower on and stepped in under the warm spray. Jaylynn made quick work of washing off the sweat and grime, turned the water off and got out. She dried off, brushed her teeth and hair before heading back to the bedroom to get dressed. She’d just sat down on the edge of the bed to pull her socks and shoes on, when she felt a breeze drift over her skin. She frowned as she stood, dropping the rolled-up socks onto the bed and turned toward the window. The blind was up but she didn’t think it had been earlier, before she had her shower. She walked over to the window and just as she glanced out toward the garden, she felt a presence behind her.
Just as she was about to turn, a large cruel hand clamped down over her mouth and nose and a muscular arm wrapped around her waist. Jaylynn’s scream was muffled, but she wasn’t giving up. She kicked back with her bare foot and ended up moaning when she hurt herself.
Her heart was pounding, and her lungs were burning from lack of oxygen and she could already feel herself starting to wilt. She was sweating and shaking with terror, but knew she couldn’t give in to the fear. She reached up and back, trying to claw the bastard’s face, but he somehow managed to avoid her nails as he shifted from side to side behind her. Darkness invaded her eyesight and in a last-ditch effort of desperation, she kicked out again. This time she was aiming for the wall to the side of the window, hoping the noise would alert her men that she was in trouble. Whoever had her must have seen her intent, because before her foot connected with the gyprock, her assailant spun her around.
The lack of oxygen was too much, and Jaylynn slumped into unconsciousness.
* * * *
Jimmy couldn’t believe how easy it was to gain access to the house. Luck had been on his side since those fucking Marine idiots hadn’t armed the security system. He’d had a lot of experience getting into places that were supposed to be impenetrable thanks to his military training. Breaking the lock on the window had almost been child’s play. Getting into the house had been easy as pie. When he’d first gained entrance to the bedroom and heard someone rummaging around in the bathroom, he thought he was going to have to shoot someone. He’d hidden in the closet and kept the door slightly ajar and waited for whoever was in the other room to come out. He’d nearly given himself away by laughing when he’d spotted his woman, but he’d managed to stave off his glee. She was so fucking sexy just fresh and clean from her shower and he’d had trouble being patient as she’d dressed. He knew the jig was up when she’d frowned toward the open window, but she wasn’t as smart as she thought she was.
Her turning her back to him as she walked over to the open window to investigate had given him the perfect opportunity to make his move and get what he wanted. Jaylynn in his arms.
Stifling her oxygen was conducive to keeping the other fuckers in the house in the dark. She tried to fight him, but he’d been prepared and when she passed out after he’d starved her of air, he lifted her into his arms, stepped over the sill of the large open bay window and jogged away from the house toward his truck. He wasn’t about to put his quarry down to replace the fly screen and close the window, because he wanted to get away as far and as fast as he could.
He snorted with laughter as he imagined the shock and fear of those fuckers finding Jaylynn gone. Hopefully, he’d have a major head start before they came looking for her. Although he didn’t think they’d even know it was him that had taken the beautiful bitch right out from under their noses.
Jimmy scanned the area as he carried Jaylynn to his truck and was happy to see that no one was about. Once he got her into the back seat of his vehicle, he secured her wrists and ankles with duct tape, slapped another piece over her mouth, got out and climbed into the front seat. After securing his seatbelt in place, he turned the key in the ignition, put the truck in gear and drove away.
He was just about to turn the corner when he saw the sheriff’s car heading his way. Jimmy held his breath as he kept driving and didn’t breathe easy until the cop’s vehicle was out of sight. Jimmy was hoping to get to Farmington, New Mexico, before stopping at a cheap motel. He wanted to be across the state line from Colorado. When he found somewhere to stay for the night, he was going to start training his woman to be the good wife she was supposed to be.
He didn’t think it’d be too hard to get Jaylynn to cooperate. All he had to do was remind her how painfu
l it had been to have his fist in her face.
Tonight was going to be the best night of his life.
* * * *
Wilder gazed at the truck and the man driving it as he drove toward it. He catalogued the man’s features as well as the make, model and license plate with a quick glimpse. He kept repeating the registration number in his mind so he wouldn’t forget it. He wasn’t about to take chances with anyone after what had happened to Shyann and Jaylynn. He was suspicious of seeing a Texas license plate, but since the driver hadn’t broken any laws he had no reason to pull him over to check the guy and his truck out.
He pulled into the driveway, parked, turned off the ignition and got out of his truck. He rang the doorbell and waited, Jaylynn’s written witness statement in hand ready for her to sign.
* * * *
“Hi, Wilder, are you here to see Jaylynn?” Cael asked after opening the door.
“Yeah. How is she?” Wilder asked after entering the house and following Cael toward the kitchen.
“You can ask her yourself soon enough,” he replied as he walked toward the coffee pot and reached to the cupboard to get another mug down.
“She’s fucking gone,” Ajay shouted as he came to a skidding stop in the kitchen.
“What?” Brax, who was sitting at the dining room table reading over his work contract, dropped the paperwork onto the table as he shoved his chair back and stood. “What the fuck do you mean she was gone? I’m sure I heard the shower running not that long ago.”
“The bedroom window’s wide open, the lock’s been broken, and Jaylynn is nowhere in the fucking house.” Ajay slammed his fist into the wall to the side of the doorframe.
“Shit!” Wilder snarled. “I fucking saw him. Let’s go.”
Cael didn’t bother to ask Wilder what he was talking about. He was a Marine and he’d trust him with his, his brothers’ and Jaylynn’s lives.