by Elise Whyles
“Gilli, baby, I’m gonna run out to the truck, clean out the cab. I’ll make a couple of calls while I’m doing that so we can get going as soon as you’re changed. Then we can grab a bite to eat before we head over there.”
Jack closed the door and trotted down the steps. He pulled the phone from his pocket and dialed a familiar number. He jerked open the truck door and reached for the old discarded coffee cups from too many stops at the coffee shops on the way to or from work.
“Good morning, this is—”
Jack chuckled at the familiar spiel from his friend. “I know who you are, Tim. Look, I need a favor. Got a friend who’s looking for a place to rent.”
“You know I got two places.”
“Yeah, but she don’t want my help.” Jack glanced up at the window of Gillian’s home. “She wants to do it on her own. If she stops by, consider me a reference, and tell everyone I’m her reference, okay?”
“Sure, but you know it’s rare one of your girls would need—”
“This one’s different,” Jack whispered tightly. “She’s the kinda sexy it takes a second to see. She’s not all boobs, no brain. This one is keeper material.”
“Why, Jack, didn’t know you had it in you.” Tim chuckled in his ear. “I’ll put the word out. Only two places to go to find rentals here in town, and I’ll let ’em both know she’s looking. What’s her name?”
“Gilli Hilliard.”
“Hilliard? Why is the name familiar?”
“Her mother married Lenny. Thanks, man, I owe you a beer.”
“Or two. Her mother’s a flat-out bitch. Pity Lenny bedding down with her.”
“Well, we all have our blind spots.” Jack crawled into his truck. “Look, I gotta run, but thanks, man, for looking out for her. I appreciate it.” He hung up with a sigh. Cursing a blue streak, he dialed again. No point in putting off whatever Lenny wanted.
“You called?” Jack listened to Lenny heave a breath.
“Yes, I did. Barbara just called me, upset, in tears—”
“So, why call me? I’m not her keeper.” Jack leaned against the back of his seat, his gaze firm on the door of Gillian’s townhouse.
“Look, just do me a favor and stay out of their business. Barbara’s distraught over Gillian’s attack on her, and I’m not about to—”
“Barbara is a cold-hearted, self-centered bitch who deserves to rot. She marches into Gilli’s home and starts laying out accusations. How does she get Gilli attacked her?” Jack swore. “You know what, my personal relationship is not open for discussion. You want to smooth your wife’s ruffled feathers, placate her. I’m not going to stand by and watch someone I care about get abused by a parent because you’re worried about getting your dick wet.”
“How dare you? Gillian is part of my family and I have—”
“She’s your wife’s daughter.” Jack tensed as the front door opened and Gillian stepped out. “To me she’s something far more important, and I’m not going to give her up. Not even for you. Look, we’ve been friends for a long time, Lenny, but you’re off your rocker if you think for a moment I’m going to stop seeing Gillian.” Hanging up, he tossed the phone in the glove compartment and slid out of the truck.
“Hey, pretty lady, you ready to go?”
“Yes, but I don’t know if this is such a good idea. I have—”
“Nothing to do, but spend a few more hours with me.” Jack pressed a kiss to her lips and ushered her into the truck.
Chapter 21
Two days later, Gillian stood in front of her apartment, her heart in her throat, an icy cloak encircling her as she stared at the number on her ringing phone. Hitting Ignore, she clutched the phone as the red light stopped flashing. A few moments later, she flipped it open. Her throat tight with fear, she dialed her voice mail and listened.
“Bet you thought you were rid of me. Making out a police report, talking to your lawyer, kinda pointless, ain’t it?” Mike snickered in her ear. “They’ll make a note, file it, and nothing’s gonna happen. Nope, I’ve got it made, sweetie-pie. Pretty soon we’ll be together again. And then, well, we’ll be as happy as two clams.
“Were you hoping I’d just go away? Well I’m not going to. I meant what I said, Gillian. You belong to me. Nothing is going to change that.”
Her heart racing, she whispered into the cool morning air. “I don’t belong to you, I never did.”
“Still a sexless, stupid bitch.” Mike laughed. “I heard all about the firefighter you’re screwing. Yeah, I heard all about him. How he’s so good looking, how he’s got plenty of appeal. Man’s got a reputation with the ladies. What makes you think he’s gonna want your scrawny ass?” Mike’s voice dropped.
“Get rid of him, Gillian, or you’ll regret it. I don’t share. Remember that. I told you before I wasn’t done with you, and I meant it.” His voice slithered over the phone, freezing her heart. “I can make him disappear and you know it. Maybe I won’t, maybe I’ll just beat him to a pulp and leave him on some back road. Make you watch as I beat him with something; a bat maybe. Or maybe I’ll just run him down. Whatever I do it’ll be your fault. You’re as good as dead if you think I’m going to let you go.”
Gillian hung up the phone and closed her eyes against the scalding pressure. Her breath exploded on a sob and she turned to race back to her apartment. She closed the door, sliding the lock into place before she picked up the house phone, her fingers trembling as she pressed the numbers in.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“This is Gillian Hilliard. I, uh, my ex has been calling me and he’s making threats against me.”
“Where are you, Gillian?”
“At my home.”
“Is there anyone with you?”
“No, no one is with me.”
“I have two RCMP officers dispatched. Stay on the line please.”
Gillian clutched the phone and stared out the window. Her fingers traced over her cell, the urge to call Jack so strong. With half a mind, she listened to the operator’s instructions, her heart racing—her mind focusing on one thought. She wanted, no she needed, Jack. Needed to see him, to see the confidence in his eyes, the safety in his arms. Beyond the sound of her racing heart, she could hear the familiar sound of a cruiser coming. Gillian swallowed. “I hear the sirens.”
“Stay inside until they come to the door, Miss Hilliard.”
Though she knew the operator couldn’t see her, she nodded and flipped up her cell phone. Shakily, she punched in the number she’d memorized, praying he would come, that she wasn’t alone, and dreading knowing she was to blame for everything.
* * * *
“Why didn’t you listen to me?” Lenny slammed a hand on his desk. “Now I have an irate wife, a step-daughter who isn’t talking to her mother—”
“What Barbara does is not my concern. Gillian is.” Jack glared at his boss. “You seem to think they have this great relationship. They don’t. I’ve seen firsthand what your wife is like with Gillian, and frankly, I’d have told her to fuck off years ago. My personal life is in no way, shape, or form part and parcel of my professional life.”
“You’re right, Jack, it’s not. However, your personal life is my business when it affects me directly. Not only did you leave your shift early the other day, now you have your—”
“I didn’t leave early. You asked if I wanted to pull an extra half shift to cover for Dean. I said I had plans. I meant I had plans, but you didn’t listen to me. Jesus, Lenny, stay out of it. What’s between Gilli and me is not your concern.” Jack shook his head. “How much more plain can I say it? I don’t think you realize your wife isn’t a woman who wanted to be a mother.”
“Barbara has her issues, we all do, but that isn’t grounds for—”
“It is to me. No one has the right to say their daughter is a sexless object who should have stayed with a man who was abusive. I’m not stupid, nor am I going to tolerate interference in my relationship with Gillian.”
Jumping at the condescending voice, Jack shot a glare at her before turning back to Lenny. “Not hardly.”
“Really? She accused and had a man convicted of assault and attempted murder—after she fell down the stairs. He wasn’t home at the time. Since then she’s screwed around with anyone with a dick and plays games with people’s heads. You think she wants you? Very unlikely. She wants your money. That’s just how she is.”
“No, that’s you.” Jack rose to his feet to tower over her. “That’s the woman who stands around in expensive suits and drives a BMW while invading her daughter’s house and shooting her down all the time. Stay away from Gillian, both of you.”
“Are you threatening me?” Barbara gasped, her face paling beneath her makeup.
“No.” Jack shook his head. “I’m not threatening you. I’m telling you.” He glanced down at the cell on his hip and smiled. The name flashing in his caller ID eased the anger burning through him. He hit Answer and put it to his ear. “Hello?”
“Jack, I’m sorry to bother you.” Terror-filled, Gillian’s pitiful whisper made his blood run cold.
“You’re never a bother. What’s wrong?”
“Could you come by, please?” Gillian’s voice broke. In the background he could hear the distinct sound of two male voices. “I know you had plans—”
“I’m on my way.” Jack hung up and faced his boss and Barbara. “You want to stick your nose in, pick someone else to meddle with. My relationship with Gillian is off limits to you.”
“Mark my words, Jack, you’ll rue the day you met that sniveling little bitch. She’s cruel, malicious, and greedy. You think she’s going to walk away when she’s done with you? She won’t.”
“Stay the hell away from her.” Jack leaned toward her, his voice a low, furious snarl. “Because if it comes down to it, I’ll do whatever I have to, to protect her.”
“That’s enough, Jack.” Lenny’s voice cracked through the room. “You will not threaten my wife. I will not allow your reckless behavior to interfere with the morale and performance of this station. If you can’t abide by the rules, then perhaps you should find other employment.”
Jack froze, his gaze sweeping over Lenny. With a snort of derision, he shook his head. “My reckless behavior? What behavior, Lenny? Sticking up for a woman who’s been the brunt of abuse all her life? Or maybe not being eager to kiss your wife’s ass? Rules? What rules are those, Lenny? The ones you make up to suit your little wife here? Jack can’t date so and so because it creates a problem for my wife? Or is it the rule that says Jack must behave himself because if he doesn’t toe the line then I don’t get laid? You can’t fire me, Lenny, I quit. I would rather work with people who can respect me and mine than work for someone who was supposed to be my friend. Someone who does what he’s told because his wife has him by the balls. I’ll have my office cleaned out within two weeks.”
The door slammed behind him as he all but ran to his truck. His mind a tangled web of fear, he forced himself to keep to the speed limit as he drove to Gillian’s. He pulled into the parking lot and gasped at the two cruisers sitting, lights flashing in the morning sunshine, behind Gillian’s car. He parked and hurried past the crowd, taking the steps to her apartment two at a time.
“Gilli?” Jack opened the door to see her sitting in a ball on the couch, her face streaked with tears, a female officer sitting on the chair next to her. “Baby, are you okay? What’s going on?”
“Who are you, sir?” The RCMP officer stood, her hand going to her waist.
“I’m her boyfriend, Jack Payle. She called me.” He narrowed his eyes and read her name tag. “What’s going on, Corporal McQuire?”
“Miss Hilliard got a rather disturbing phone call.”
“Are you okay?” Jack kneeled before Gillian, pulling her hands away from her face. “Did Michael call you?”
“Yes.” Gillian sobbed. “He said, he said…” Diving into Jack’s arms, she wept uncontrollably.
Jack clung to her and stared at the woman cop. “What’s going on? What does this have to do with her mother?”
“Nothing that we’re aware of. It seems her ex-boyfriend’s gotten himself some privileges and has been reaching out. I’ve tried to get her to go to another location, at least temporarily, but so far she’s been unwilling,” the constable explained. “I’ve also contacted the prison. They’re doing a head count to be certain he’s still in custody.”
“Hey.” Jack pulled back, his hands cupping her face. “Why don’t you come and stay with me?” He tensed when she sobbed harder, her entire body shaking with terror. Uncertain why his offer would send her into hysterics, he glanced from her to the officer and back. Tightening his grip, he rocked with her. “Or I can see about finding you a place. I’ve got a friend in real estate; maybe he can find you an apartment for now. Just until we can figure out what’s going on.”
“I’m so sorry, Jack, I didn’t mean to get you into this.” Gillian clung to him. “I didn’t. I’m so sorry.”
Rocking her back and forth, Jack stared at the stunned face of the cop and shook his head. Come hell or high water he was going to find out what was going on.
An hour later, several bags sat in the back of his pick-up, a shaken Gillian curled against the passenger door, her hands covered by the sleeves of her sweat shirt. He slipped into the cab and glanced at her, a hard knot of unease in his gut. “Gilli, it’s okay. We’re going to fix this. Baby, I still say it’s best if you stay with me. I know this is hard, and it may get harder, so please, please reconsider. Come stay with me.”
“I can’t.” Gillian shook her head, her breathing coming in raspy hiccups. She closed her eyes, a distant look crossing her face as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward town. In spite of his offer, she’d elected to go to a hotel, refusing any help. The gnawing feeling of unease grew with each passing moment.
The truck rumbled to a stop in front of the hotel and Jack got out. Without saying a word, he helped Gillian inside, setting her bags next to the dresser before he straightened. She hadn’t moved from the chair she’d sunk into when they got into the room.
“I’ll swing by your place and grab your mail and bring it by. Do you want anything from the office?” He hovered near the door. “We’re going to get through this, I promise. Are you sure I can’t change your mind about staying with me?”
“No, thank you,” Gillian clutched at his hand. “I’m sorry, Jack, I really am so very sorry.”
“Hey, you haven’t done anything.” Jack pressed a kiss to her knuckles, the unease coming back at the look in her eyes. Something told him she wasn’t apologizing for calling him. “Get some rest, I’ll be back this afternoon. The constable said they were going to bring you a rental by later, but I’ll pick you up for dinner.”
Gillian offered a weak smile and nodded. Her fingers tightened around his for a second before she pulled away, a lone tear tracking down her face. He sighed as her eyes slid past him to the bed, her brows furrowed.
“I’ll be back,” Jack promised and slipped from the room. He tensed at the soft sob as he closed the door, her whisper too low for him to hear. He turned to the closed door, his hand on the knob, fear licking at the back of his mind. Ruthlessly, he crushed it and hurried to the truck.
*
Huddled on the bed, Gillian waited for Jack to leave. Mike’s threat rang in her head, again and again, his words grating over her exposed and raw self-confidence. How had Mike come to know about Jack? Who would … with a sickening clarity she knew. Swallowing, she raked a hand through her hair and cursed.
“I can’t do it,” Gillian whispered to the empty room. The idea of Jack being hurt worse than anything she’d ever felt. Mike’s and Barbara’s betrayals were so minor compared to the panic ripping through her at t
he thought of Jack being hurt or killed. She couldn’t, no wouldn’t, let them hurt him. Hurt someone whose only offence was to care about her, to want her. “God, how did I let myself fall so hard? I can’t let him get hurt. I just can’t.”
Memories surfaced, dancing across her mind in vivid colors. Every kiss, every touch. The pleasure they’d shared in the bedroom. His hands running over her body, tweaking, building the fire within her blood until she couldn’t tell where she ended and he began. It would have to be all she took. All she held. The darkness of her past would kill it if she stayed close.
“I love him, but I can’t. The more I love him, the more he’s going to get hurt. Why? I love him so much. How can I protect him if he’s next to me? Loving him, no, no.” Gillian rocked back and forth, her heart breaking into pieces. “I can’t love him if it means Mike will hurt him. I won’t.”
The purr of Jack’s truck faded as Gillian sat in silence, tears streaking down her face. She rose to her feet, shuffled across the room, and moved the curtain aside to stare out. Pain licked at her heart as she took a shuddery breath. There was no doubt Mike would hurt Jack. He was a cold, brutal monster and he’d do whatever he wanted to. It was for the best. Better to hurt him a little now than have him killed. Dropping the curtain back, she rubbed her sweaty hands down her thighs and grabbed for the phone.
After calling a cab, she hovered by the window. Spotting the blue and white car, Gillian grabbed her bags and stuck them outside. Without a word, she loaded the car and crawled into the back seat.
“Where to?”
“Seven fifty-four Bridge Street.” Gillian swallowed the rising panic. The small cabin she’d found was out of the way, hidden between two taller, more modern buildings. It was a place her mother would never find her, one where she would be safe until she figured out how to keep Jack safe.
Tears burned her eyes as she dug out her phone. Her thumb traced over the keypad before she tucked it back into her coat pocket and leaned back. Jack would be hurt, but it was better to wound his pride than take his life.