Turning to get back into her truck, she gasped as two men loomed toward her, one grabbing her arms and pinning them easily behind her back with one hand while the other clasped a hand over her mouth tightly.
“Shut up and just listen,” the other one said.
Instinct took over and she reared back kicking her legs out, hitting the one in front of her. Trying to squirm, she bit down on the hand at her mouth.
“Goddammit,” he cried out, jerking her arm harder while the one in front backhanded her across the face.
Unable to move, she took the full force of the hit. Pain sliced across her face and she squeezed her eyes shut as tears sprung out. She felt something run from her nose, over her lips and drip off her chin. The pull on her shoulder had her certain that it was broken. Oh Ross, I’m sorry. They’re going to kill me. The initial rush of adrenalin was draining out, leaving her quaking in pain and fear.
“You weren’t supposed to hurt her,” growled the man holding her arms.
“The stupid bitch nearly kicked my balls,” the other one groused, as he was catching his breath. Standing up straight his eyes bored holes into hers, as the dark face loomed in her view grabbing her throat.
“You need to—”
Just then, the kitchen door flung open and Carlos ambled out for his smoke break. The light from the door illuminated the scene in front of him. “What the fuck? Jim!” he yelled as he bolted from the kitchen.
The two men ran off before Jim was able to catch them while Carlos knelt by Jennifer. Seeing her bloodied face, he quickly called 911 before grabbing her phone and calling Gabe.
*
Gabe and Vinny bolted into the ER, not surprised to see Matt and Shane already there. Vinny had the presence of mind to call them as soon as Gabe called him. Pulling them to the side, Gabe asked, “Where is she? What happened?”
“Right now she’s getting x-rays, but it doesn’t look like anything is broken. Just…” Matt began.
“What?” Gabe growled.
“She looks bad, but her nose isn’t broken,” Shane said. “At least that was the last thing the doctor said.”
Gabe’s legs felt weak, a feeling he’d never known before. Not with all the military missions. Not with all the training. But the idea of someone hurting Jennifer had him both scared and livid at the same time.
“What the fuck happened?” Vinny asked.
Matt and Shane shared a glance. Taking a deep breath, Matt answered, “She’s not saying a lot.”
Gabe’s eyes shot toward his friend. “She’s not saying?” he bit out. Oh Jesus, was she sexually assaulted?
Knowing where his thoughts had gone, Shane quickly spoke up. “She was fully dressed and there’s no evidence of any sexual assault.”
“So why isn’t she talking? Did she see who did this?” he prodded.
“We haven’t gotten that far, man. We know she told Cora that the restaurant called to say they had food for her to pick up. According to the kitchen manager, Carlos, the restaurant never made the call. He just happened to go outside to take a smoke when he saw two men attacking her. Then the docs took her for x-rays just before you got here, so we haven’t gotten any further.”
Hearing a noise behind them, Gabe knew instinctively that Tony and Jobe had arrived. Glancing at his brother, he knew Vinny had made the call.
Vinny turned to fill them in when a doctor came out to speak to the detectives. “I’m her fiancé,” Gabe spoke quickly. “When can I see her?”
The doctor turned to him saying, “She has no broken bones but several contusions. She’ll be released within the hour and you can take her home.” With that, he turned and headed back into the ER bay area.
Gabe followed him, with the others close behind. He stopped just outside the room. Heart pounding, he felt fear. He hadn’t felt fear since…shit don’t go there. He closed his eyes tightly for a second to clear out the memory of the fright in the child’s eyes just before—
“You okay, bro?” Vinny asked, his hand on Gabe’s shoulder.
Sucking in a huge breath, Gabe nodded and walked into Jennifer’s room. She was sitting up in the bed, a gauze bandage across her nose, staring at him through two black eyes. Her cheek was swollen and turning purple. His eyes slid to her neck. Her tiny neck. The fingerprint bruises on her throat stood out against her pale skin.
He stopped in his tracks, unsure if his legs would hold him erect. Vinny quietly slid to one side and Tony the other, offering support as they walked him over to the bed. Gabe sat down on the edge of the bed with her, taking her small hand in his much larger one.
Her eyes were looking down and he saw a single tear slide from the corner, making a track down the swollen check.
“Baby?” he asked softly.
She kept her eyes down, unwilling to look into his face. Stay strong. Stay strong, she chanted to herself. With her chin quivering, she finally lifted her eyes seeing his haunted face in front of hers.
Her eyes looked around the room, filled with his friends. Her friends now too. And the look of concern on their faces only made it worse. Her nose was so swollen that she couldn’t breathe through it and with her bottom lip split, it hurt to talk. Swallowing deeply, she managed to croak out a “Hi”, as though she were greeting them at the picnic.
“Babe, what happened?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered.
Matt spoke, “Jennifer, we know that the restaurant didn’t call. Can you describe the voice on the phone?”
Swallowing painfully again, she shook her head. “Man’s voice,” she whispered.
“Can you describe the men who attacked? Carlos told us that there were two. We need to know anything you can remember,” Matt prodded. “Tall, short, heavy, skinny, black, white, eye color, clothes.”
“I…um…don’t really…um…” she mumbled, the pain medicine already making it hard for her to concentrate.
The men in the room shared a glance but before they could continue a noise at the door startled them.
A child’s scream pierced the room as Ross barreled into the room, Cora following closely. Ross launched himself toward the bed but was caught in mid-air by Gabe. Jennifer reached out and pulled the crying child from him, holding him close to her heart. With her arms around him, she began to shake as tears streamed from her eyes.
“Shhh, I’ve got you. I’m here,” she whispered in his ear.
The men in the room looked at her and then each other, before several of them moved to a corner.
“She’ll be able to tell us more tomorrow,” Matt said.
“She’s scared and drugged right now. We’ve gotten all we can tonight,” added Shane.
Tony quietly spoke, “We’ll get on it. Meeting at my place tomorrow at eight a.m.” Looking over at Jobe, he ordered, “Make sure to tell BJ.” Glancing at Matt, he just lifted an eyebrow.
“Yeah, man. I’ll tell Lily. She’ll be upset, but she’ll be there.”
With a backward look at the tearful pair on the bed and a visibly upset Cora standing next to the bed, they nodded at Gabe before walking out.
Vinny walked back over to the bed, hearing Cora exclaim, “Oh lordy, child. I’m so sorry. I’dve a never brought Ross if I thought it was this bad.”
Ross turned his tear-stained face up to his sister’s, taking in her injuries. Lifting his hand to her throat, he asked, “Does it hurt bad?”
“No baby. Not too bad. The nice doctors have given me some medicine that makes me feel better. I’m sure it looks worse than it feels,” she lied.
“Who did this?” he asked. “Was it some bad men?”
Her eyes found Gabe’s and silently implored him to assist with the explanation.
“She’s going to be fine, buddy,” Gabe promised. “Just had a problem with someone who wasn’t nice, but we’re going to take care of her, aren’t we?”
Ross’ tow head nodded enthusiastically. “When can we go home?”
The doctor entered the room just then, overheari
ng Ross’ question. “She’s ready to be discharged. We just need her to sign some forms. Will someone be caring for her for the next several days? She’s not to drive or lift anything heavy. I’d advise her to sleep inclined upwards for a few nights to assist in the swelling in her face.”
Cora stepped forward, but Gabe put his hand on her gently. “She’ll be coming home with me.”
Jennifer looked up sharply. “I can’t leave Ross,” she croaked.
“Of course not,” Gabe replied. “He’ll be coming with us.”
She looked conflicted and searched Cora’s face for her advice. Cora leaned over, saying, “Darling girl. I don’t know what happened, but right now I think you should spend a few days with Gabe. We would easily take care of you, but I think that young man needs to be with you to see for himself how you’re doing.”
Jennifer nodded, knowing that it was for the best. Moving stiffly to the edge of the bed, she gasped as Gabe lifted her easily and gently to the floor. Turning to Cora, he said, “Why don’t you take Ross back to the waiting room. We’ll be out in just a minute.”
Cora nodded and took Ross’ hand as they walked out. Jennifer could hear Cora comforting her brother as they walked down the hall.
Looking back at Gabe, she blushed, although with the bruising it was hard to tell. “You could have taken Ross and let Cora help me dress.”
Grinning, he kissed the top of her head. “Yeah babe, but then I’d miss your beautiful body.”
An unladylike snort followed this statement and she just shook her head, wincing in the process.
Immediately contrite, Gabe turned to pull her clothes out of the plastic bag provided by the hospital. She discovered that leaning over caused her head to pound, so he leaned her back against the bed so that he could slide her pants up her legs. He knelt to pull her socks and shoes on as well. He pulled out her sweatshirt and eyed the narrow opening at the top. Jesus, how can she pull this over her swollen face without it hurting like hell? Tossing it to the side, he pulled out her worn, zip-up hoodie. With her blood on the front. Fuck, that won’t work either.
The last item was her bra, which he assisted her in, sliding her arms through and fastening in the front. Jerking off his own jacket, he pulled it on and buttoned the front.
Standing, she glanced down at the jacket that hung to her knees. “At least I’m covered,” she said ruefully.
He pulled her in gently to his chest and held her tight. She fits. Right here, next to my heart. He tried to still his racing mind, but the anger at what happened took over. Someone’s gonna fuckin’ pay.
Vinny met them outside, already making arrangements. Cora turned to her and asked, “Honey, why don’t you let Ross come back to the center and stay with me and Henry until you feel a little better?”
Vinny and Gabe were about to agree, but Jennifer shouted, “No!” Her eyes were filled with fear as she muttered, “He stays with me.”
A look passed between the two men as Gabe assisted her into the SUV. Cora hugged her tight and promised to see her the next day. Vinny buckled Ross into the front while Gabe settled in the back with Jennifer.
Little was said on the drive to his apartment and Vinny helped Ross get settled for the night in Gabe’s second bedroom. Gabe walked in to make sure he was all right, when Ross asked, “Where’s sis going to sleep? Is she sleeping with me?”
Vinny’s eyes opened wide as he stepped back for his brother to answer. Gabe easily said, “No, buddy. She’s got to be propped up and we want her to get plenty of rest. I’ve got her in my bed right now, with a bunch of pillows.”
“So where are you going to sleep?” Ross asked.
“I’m going to be with her, making sure she rests and that way I’ll know if she needs anything during the night.”
The explanation satisfied Ross, but he then looked around the room in concern. “Do you have…um…”
“Whatcha need, buddy?” Vinny asked.
“Well, I have a nightlight on at home,” he said in a small voice.
Gabe looked at the small boy in the strange bed, his eyes wide having just seen his sister in the hospital, and realized how young he was. Ross’ eyes stared at his, but instead of having a haunted look they were filled with the look of someone who trusted him to make things all better.
“Don’t have a nightlight, but I’ve got a small lamp in the study that we can put in here.”
Vinny volunteered to get it and soon Ross was settled in and fell asleep. Gabe propped Jennifer in his bed with lots of pillows and with the pain medicine making her comfortable, she was also soon asleep.
Gabe met Vinny in the living room, plopping down on the sofa, taking the offered beer. He took a long pull on the beer before looking at his brother.
“What are you thinking, bro?” Vinny asked.
“Man, I’m so torn between being scared and pissed, I don’t know which way to go,” he said, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. He took another long pull from the beer before looking back at his brother’s worried face. “She’s holding something back.”
“Yeah, that’s what we all thought as well.”
“That’s not like her. She jumps in to right a wrong quicker than anyone I’ve ever seen and sometimes without thinking about herself at all.”
“You think she’s just scared?”
Gabe nodded. “Whatever those fuckers said to her spooked her. And I’d be pissed as hell if it were a random attack, but they called her there.”
Vinny settled back on the sofa. “You might as well know that we’re convening a meeting here tomorrow about her. Tony knows you don’t want to leave her, so he’s bringing the whole gang over including Matt and Shane.”
“Appreciate it, man. Hopefully by tomorrow, she’ll be more likely to be able to answer some questions. I think tonight she was just in shock.”
Vinny hung his head in thought for a moment before a chuckle erupted. “I’m sorry man, but when Ross wanted to know where she was going to sleep, I almost lost it. I was in a panic over how to answer him, but you were real cool.”
Gabe smiled, “Well, he’s a cool kid. I didn’t want to make things worse, but I couldn’t lie to him either.”
The two men sat quietly for a few minutes finishing their beers before Vinny spoke again. “You’re really doing this, aren’t you bro?” At Gabe’s questioning look, he continued. “Her. Ross. Making it work for all of you. You’re willing to take her on, knowing that includes helping to raise her little brother.”
Gabe shook his head while smiling. “What can I say? I saw those huge blue eyes looking at me from that fairy face and I was a goner. Tried to tell myself that it was just because I was tired of the meaningless fucks but honest to God, my chest sometimes hurts when I look at her. And as I got to know her? Goddamn, there is nothing but goodness in that tiny woman. Got a heart as big she is and I know…just know…that there’s no one else for me.”
They stood up together as Vinny left for his apartment. After Gabe locked the door, he began shutting off all of the lights. As he was turning off the lamp on the table near the hall, he stopped. Remembering Ross’ comment about being afraid of the dark, he decided to leave it on. He peeked in on Ross and was glad to see him sleeping peacefully.
Moving on to his room, he stopped by the side of the bed and stared down at Jennifer. He gently leaned over to maneuver the pillows to the side of her, helping her to rest easier. Quickly taking care of business in the bathroom, he slid under the covers and awkwardly moved as close to her as possible without disturbing her sleep. Hell, with those pain meds in her, she wouldn’t wake up if a bomb went off.
He lay, listening to her breathing through her mouth and his anger rose to the surface again. Some fucker’s gonna pay. And when I get my hands on them…
CHAPTER 11
Waking the next morning, Jennifer was aware of a stiff neck and her face feeling tight. Sluggishly she tried to move, but something heavy was holding her legs down. Where am I? Her eyes felt swolle
n as she tried to open them and then slowly the memories began to come back. The alley. The men. He hit me after I kicked him.
Her breathing became rapid as the memories flooded back and she felt the movement in the bed instantly.
“Baby? Are you in pain?” Gabe asked as he jerked himself up. He saw that the ice pack was thawed and said, “Stay here, I’ll get a fresh one and your pills.”
“I don’t mean to be crude,” she croaked, “but I have got to go to the bathroom.”
Nodding he assisted her into the spacious room and closed the door as he left. She avoided the mirror as she headed to the toilet. Walking to the sink, she washed her hands with her head staring down at the water. Stop being a wuss. If Ross is going to see your face, then you need to know what he’s looking at. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her eyes to the large mirror…and gasped. Her left cheek was swollen and purplish and her eyes…I look like a raccoon. And on her neck was the purple imprints of the man’s fingers.
Taking a shaky breath, she remembered the night’s events. They must have been there to rob someone. But who would be there at night in the alley. Oh my God, I must have stumbled across some…some…something illegal. Wrong place at the wrong time, she thought as she promised to have Carlos wait outside from now on.
Deciding to take a quick shower to rid herself of the sweat, fear, and the hospital smell she turned on the huge shower. Stepping inside she quickly washed her hair and body, feeling the cleansing power of the water as the warmth enveloped her. Stepping out, she saw Gabe leaning against the counter, one large leg crossed over the other. Wearing jeans hanging low on his hips, he was shirtless and the expanse of muscles never ceased to draw her in.
“You didn’t want to join me?” she asked, trying to take the scowl off of his face. Walking over, she placed her hand on the warm skin of his chest, feeling the power underneath her fingertips. “I’m really okay, honey,” she said. “Just the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series Page 14