Unexpected Guardian (Skyline Trilogy Book 3)

by Willow Summers

  He did what he did; she did what she did.

  Josh’s chest constricted. When would all this be over? When could he get her away from the Steves of her past?

  “Whatever it was, I hope it works,” Josh said, looking into the mystical waters of his coffee.

  “Me too, man. Me too. I’m gettin’ too old for this shit.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Two months passed without event. There was no backlash from their exploits into the badlands, nor did anyone expect there to be. Except, of course, for the epic tongue lashing Jenna received for stepping in front of Josh into danger. Josh was so pissed off that Jax intervened just in case there was a choking segment attached to the rant. Regrettably, Jax got a black eye for his efforts and Jenna lost an expensive vase.

  The make-up sex was legendary. It lasted the better part of two weeks, off and on, in various locations. They were caught three times, twice by Jax, who retaliated by strutting through the apartment nude for an entire Sunday, and once by an elderly couple who were bird-watching and would probably never be the same.

  There had been handcuffs involved.

  The amount of ground the architects were covering was also epic, but so were the setbacks, but by the end of two months, they were right on schedule. Jenna’s dad was also on track. It seemed that he’d been serious about mending fences with Jenna, and was showing it by creating an aggressive offensive position against her company, encompassing all architects and any discrepancies with paperwork concerning Josh and Jax. He’d pulled together a task force for the occasion with two other big names and a team of research assistants.

  The only thing that wasn’t going to plan was Jax’s house. They were behind schedule by two weeks, each day putting them further back. They were having a hard time orchestrating the crew, and it wasn’t helping that the design was so intense.

  As Josh requested, Jenna talked Gerry into leaving New York, and he was dropped into the fray of busy carpenters trying to get the house completed. It turned out that many of Benny’s men from Boston were also Irish, go figure, and the boys took the town by storm. Benny reported that the pack of Paddies drank one of the local bars dry.

  Despite the setbacks, Benny was confident they would get it done, and get it done properly. Sobriety or no.

  It was Jax’s house that Jenna was dreaming of before she was startled awake. She was feeling the pressure because now she had no doubt her friend would marry the naked jokester. Each time they collectively hiccupped, they sorted it out and got stronger. They were saying the L-word all the time, and happier than ever in each other’s company.

  It meant that their house had to be perfect. So did the building. Both were due at the same time—now! There just wasn’t enough time in the day to get to everything.

  Sleep fleeting in the wake of her worry, Jenna slid out of Josh’s arms. It was four a.m. when she stood in front of the open refrigerator, debating a warm glass of milk or some coffee. To go back to sleep, or to get to the office early…

  She’d just flicked on the coffee pot when she heard a metallic rattling.

  She padded softly to the edge of the kitchen, sticking her ear into the hallway in search of the source. Sometimes she met Erika pacing the apartment, just as keyed up as Jenna about their job. Sometimes Jax, who heard someone out of bed and went to investigate. The man was the lightest sleeper Jenna had ever come across.

  She heard it again, coming from the front of the apartment. As she neared, she realized it was the front door. She lightly tiptoed closer, wondering if Mrs. Christenson, her old, boozy neighbor, had the wrong door again. It happened every once in a while, and after trying her key two or three times, she usually caught on and wandered down a door.

  This time, the key was starting to work! The door handle turned as the object in the lock jiggled.

  Fear shot through her with a surge of adrenaline. She silently put the chain on the door, ever so slowly, so freaked out it seemed like her hair was standing on end. She inched the bolt into its metal cradle. It wouldn’t help much if a burglar really wanted to get in, but it would give the boys time to run to the door.

  It clinked and grated as it slid into place, louder than Jenna anticipated. The jiggling lock went quiet.

  Jenna listened through the door, the loud pounding of her heart making it hard to hear anything else. She imagined the person on the other side listening quietly as well, his ear pressed against the same square of wood on the other side of the door. He probably wasn’t shitting his pants, though.

  In a flurry of muted sound, she heard a slide against the wood. Something tinkled, and then footsteps hurried away. The action dumped another shot of adrenaline into her system. She almost wanted to open the door and shout, “Gotcha!” Then throw up.

  She waited for another second, making sure all was quiet, then turned to go wake Josh. She bumped into someone.

  “No!” she screamed, throwing a frantic punch.

  Two hands grabbed her arms and pushed her away. She bumped against the door, breathing heavily.

  Jax was smiling at her. Apparently her fear was humorous.

  “Jax! Can’t you let a girl know when you’re behind her?” Jenna panted, clutching at her chest.

  “Sorry. Thought you knew I was there. Good jump, though. You got some air! By the way, don’t look down.”

  “What?” Jenna looked down, because that’s always the first thing a person does when someone says don’t look down. She met Mr. Happy.

  “Ah gawd!” Jenna jerked her head back and covered her eyes.

  “Sorry. Morning wood. Not my fault.”

  Josh came running, having heard her scream. He took in the scene and stopped dead, a look of confusion on his face. Jax’s face fell—it did look bad.

  Jax explained in a rush. “Heard something at the door, came to investigate, didn’t know anyone was up so didn’t put on clothes in the interest of speed, she was here already, I scared her, I got morning wood—you know I can’t help that, Josh, look at your own pants right now—I am not to blame in this!” His hands were up and waving around. So were his man bits.

  Jenna couldn’t help laughing.

  Josh glanced down at the mention of his own pants, and then his eyes hit Jenna. His mouth quirked in a haphazard smile. Jenna slugged Jax—the game was still in full force. The number of bruises Jax had might make people think he was being abused.

  “I think the scream was enough to note Jenna’s lack of involvement, in any case. What happened?” Josh asked.

  “Someone was trying to pick the lock, I think,” Jenna said, her breathing starting to slow. She turned back to the door, both in an effort to avoid Jax’s still raging morning wood, and to look at her door handle. “Who would want to break in with two bodyguards staying over?”

  “If they had a gun with a silencer they probably thought they could get in and dispense with everyone before we woke up. Although it isn’t the brightest idea. Perhaps they hadn’t done their homework and didn’t know anyone was staying over.” As Josh talked, he stepped back, reached into the kitchen, and tossed a kitchen towel at Jax.

  Jenna lurched forward and grabbed it before it could touch Jax’s private parts. “Gross! This towel is around food, you guys! Jax, go put on some clothes or I am going to call Ralph and tell him you are ready for your nude close-up.”

  As Jax walked away muttering, Josh slipped his hands under Jenna’s robe and found bare flesh. He groaned, apparently expecting a nightie, and dipped clever fingers between her thighs. She sighed and closed her eyes.

  Josh said, “I think we need to stop being so complacent about our safety, but we can talk about that later. I’m in the mood to be sidetracked.”

  His fingers worked faster, his free hand opening Jenna’s robe, then lowering his pajama bottoms. He bent and slipped himself into her, sliding in fully, pushing her against the door. He kissed her passionately, longing in his advance.

  His hard length moved inside her, setting off bursts of
pleasure through her body. Her core tightened, and she clutched his hard shoulders. “Hmm, Josh.”

  He thrust harder, filling her up. Rocking her against the door. Delicious sensations wound within her, tightening up. Nearly there—

  “What the—? C’mon, you guys! Don’t you do anything else as a couple?” Jax whined behind them as he headed back into his room.

  “Oops. Thought he’d stay in his room. I’ll hurry,” Josh said fervently, speeding up the process.

  Jenna rocked forward, moaning with the friction. She lifted her legs, making Josh take her weight as she wrapped them around his waist. Gyrating hard, she pumped, pleasure pounding within her. Just on the cusp.

  “Oh!” She clutched Josh and shook against him as an orgasm tore through her. She gritted her teeth, feeling him shudder as sweet tendrils of bliss unwound within her, followed by a vibration of aftershock.

  Josh licked her earlobe, making her shudder, before he straightened up and tied her robe back on. “I need to talk to Jax. I’ll meet you in the shower.”

  Erika walked into Jenna’s office with a bleak look. “Someone broke into my apartment.”

  Jenna leaned back, rubbing her eyes. Despite having been up since four o’clock that morning, her brain was buzzing on high gear, cranking out problems on her to-do list one after the other. Replacing her blood with caffeine probably had something to do with it. She’d take it, though; she’d just come up with a patch-job solution that would save them a week of work. “Did they take anything?”

  “A few things. They didn’t bother with the safe, so they didn’t get any of my high-dollar jewelry.”

  “What did they take?”

  “Takeout cash, a couple of pieces of crystal—that’s it. Nothing was really disturbed.”

  “Did the police say anything?”

  “They are calling it a burglary. Even though nothing was really burglarized, that’s what they’re calling it. Didn’t even bother with prints. NYPD for you.”

  “One more month, Erika. One more month. Maybe less. We’re kicking ass.”

  “I thought we had this taken care of. I mean, what’s going on with…you know…”

  Jenna looked at the open door. She knew, but no one else should. Erika was talking about the visit to Steve. The bag full of cash. Twenty grand a hit, taking out those sons of bitches that threatened them. Erika had been right—Jenna was the wrong woman to mess with. So was Erika. They’d both had their share of crap growing up, even if Jenna’s was self-induced, and had made a better life for themselves. Damned if they’d be torn down now by a couple of thugs.

  Erika might have balked at her guy killing someone barehanded, but she was totally on board with a stranger doing it when their lives were at stake. She’d taken up the mantra “Them or me,” and she had chosen “them.”

  It had made Jenna proud, and relieved. She didn’t want to have to carry that burden all by herself.

  Steve had given her a helluva deal. Twenty grand each should have bought a hack for the guys she was talking about. She was prepared to pay twice as much—what she’d taken to Steve was the half upfront. Strangely, Steve had taken what she had and called it even.

  Plus, Steve said he’d hand-pick the guy for the job, using a favor he was owed to get one of the best, and take the knowledge to his grave. The guy would never know his benefactor, just that he was getting paid by Steve. It was more than she was owed for her parting gift all those years ago. Especially since her parting gift had been to square them up. All she’d been going for were no hard feelings. It wasn’t like she’d push the issue, but the thought nagged at her.

  “He hired the best for half the cost. I was told it would take a couple of months. The guy had to finish what he was working on, then get close and come up with an exit plan. He’s a professional. One hundred percent success rate, without questions. It takes time.”

  “A professional shouldn’t take all that much time.”

  “The guys we are talking about are big-time drug people. They always have interest with Feds and cops and, hell, maybe terrorists for all I know. Last thing anyone wants is someone with a badge taking an interest in our guy, then, through him, an interest in us. Patience.”

  Erika switched positions in her chair. “Did you tell Josh?”

  “No, and I don’t plan to. It’s illegal. They don’t need any part in it.”

  “I know. I agree. It’s just…Jax looks at me funny sometimes. Like he knows.”

  “He doesn’t. They never held the pack. I took one in and one almost exactly the same out. They didn’t even notice the switch. You’re paranoid.”

  “You’re probably right.” Erika sighed. “I don’t like this. Any of this. I keep waiting for the shot. I keep…”

  Josh walked in, glanced at Erika, then at Jenna, and stopped dead. Jenna had her poker face on, but Erika looked all kinds of guilty.

  “What’s up?” he asked, homing in on Jenna. It was irritating how well he could read her.

  Erika jumped up. “Right, I’ll get that thing you need.” She scurried out.

  No wonder Jax looked at her funny. She was as bad a liar as he was. And that was pretty bad.

  “You going to tell me what you girls were talking about?” Josh asked, his eyes unwavering.

  “You going to mind your own business?”

  Josh snorted. “Nope.” But, mercifully, he did let it go.

  After another long day in a string of long days, the four found themselves at the wine bar, trying to find some relaxation in this New York nightmare. Josh and Jax were amped up, peering into shadows, eyes always moving, close to Jenna and Erika at all times. Whenever the girls were outside, one of the men was always present. Always. Even if it was just to get a paper.

  The table was quiet as Erin delivered two bottles of wine and a cheese plate. When she left, everyone bent to their glasses, tired and stressed.

  “I got a weird call from my neighbor,” Jax said into the silence.

  “Oh?” Josh asked, looking in his wine glass.

  “Yeah, she asked if I’d sold my house.”

  Jenna’s ass clenched in worry. She’d told the old project manager to inform all the neighbors that work was being done to Jax’s house as a reward, and not to say anything. Jenna should have had Josh double-check with his guy. That project manager had been fired for a reason.

  “Why was she asking that? Have you?” Erika asked, also analyzing the contents of her glass.

  “She said it looked like someone came through and wiped it out, and then built something else in its place.” Jax was looking at Jenna when he said this, his suspicion evident.

  “Don’t look at me,” Jenna said with a laugh. “I don’t even have time to get the building done—how am I supposed to get your house done, too? It’ll happen, I said it would, but give a girl a second!”

  “Was it your drunk neighbor? That one that sits out on her deck in the middle of the night watering her lawn?” Erika asked skeptically.

  “The very same. But she was sober when she called.” Jax was still looking at Jenna, only now with his evil eye.

  “Oh, she was sober. Well, maybe you won the sweepstakes.” Erika laughed. Josh smirked and Erika socked Jax in the arm.

  “Ouch! We need to stop that game. He’s acting like a normal person these days. My arms are all bruised up.”

  “Your fault for being so slow,” Erika said.

  “I’m not even paying attention!”

  “Like I said, your fault.”

  “Besides, I can’t go around hitting chicks.”

  “Why not, Josh goes around choking ’em.” Erika smirked.

  “Are you guys ever going to let that go? It’s not funny,” Josh said.

  “Not funny to Jenna, maybe, but hilarious to the rest of us,” Erika said as Jax snickered.

  “Har har.” Jenna finished off her glass.

  The rest of the table followed suit. The rate they were getting through the wine was testament to the stress level
of the day. With someone trying to get into her apartment, and someone having gotten into Erika’s, it seemed the heat had been turned up. It was a reminder that the last two months had been a small reprieve—they weren’t out of danger.

  When they were finished drinking, Josh headed out first, wanting to hit the corner shop for some soda and beer. Jax and the girls followed a couple of minutes later, having paid the tab. They stepped outside into the gloom. The streetlight directly in front of the entryway was out, allowing long shadows across their path.

  “I need to call the city about that,” Jenna muttered to no one in particular.

  “It was taken out,” Jax said quietly, stepping closer to her and Erika.

  “What do you mean, taken out?” Erika stared into the hollow darkness of the light casing.

  Jax pointed to the sidewalk below the streetlight. There were shards of glass strewn around the concrete like glitter.

  “Not sure how. Gun, probably. Too high for a rock.”

  “But…” Fear twisted Jenna’s gut. She knew this was possible. A taken-out streetlight meant they were coming for her wine bar. Somehow, that felt more offensive than trying to get into her apartment. She’d worked hard for the bar to prosper, and it wasn’t on display like the building she was working on. There was no point in bothering with it.

  She was still looking at the streetlight when she felt Jax’s hand on her arm. Erika grabbed her from the other side.

  “What have we here?” There were three of them. The speaker was of medium height, black hoodie up and almost covering a white face with a big nose. He wore baggy pants that sagged low. He had two guys with him. One was big—Josh’s height, solid build, dark-skinned. The other was smallish, looked to be of Asian descent. It was a damned equal rights group of criminals.

  “We don’t want any trouble, bro,” Jax said quietly. There was an edge to his voice. He had Erika behind him and to the right, away from the street. Jenna was beside her.

  “Might not want it, but you got it. I’m here for the women. At least the tall one. Rest of you can hand over your wallets and get the hell out of here, for all I care,” Hoodie replied.