In The Still of the Night [The Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Monroe, Marla

  * * * *

  “So, how are you and Riley doing?” Tina asked over the phone.

  “We’re doing fine. Did Logan tell you we went shopping?” Jenna asked.

  “Yeah. I can’t believe you got him to take you.”

  “Oh, it was his idea. They are trying to draw Gregg out into the open.”

  Tina’s intake of breath could be heard over the phone.

  “I know, but I feel the same way. I want this over with.”

  “I don’t like it. Something could happen to you if they push him. You and I know what he is capable of,” Tina said.

  “I trust Riley to keep me safe.”

  “You’ve got it bad for him, don’t you?” Tina asked.

  “I can’t help it. I know he’s going to leave when this is all over. He hasn’t made any promises, but still I want him.”

  Tina’s sigh could be heard over the phone. “I can’t believe he will leave you. I know he cares about you as much as you do about him.”

  “I do care for him.”

  “Do you love him?” Tina asked softly.

  “I…I don’t know.”

  “I think you do. I think you have from almost the beginning. Otherwise, you would never have trusted him enough to let him sleep with you.”

  “Jenna? Are you still there?”

  “Yeah. Just thinking.”

  “Don’t think too much about it. Let whatever happens happen. I can tell you from experience, love is worth every bit of the heartache,” Tina said.

  “You should see the dress and shoes I bought today.” Jenna changed the subject.

  They continued talking for another fifteen minutes until Logan started harassing Tina, and the other woman hung up. Jenna smiled. They truly loved each other. They would be happy together. She was sure of it. Logan had been the best thing to ever happen to her friend. She refused to believe that she was making a mistake by letting Riley so close to her heart.

  The phone rang again. She figured it was Tina and grabbed it.

  “That sure was a quickie,” she said.

  “Bitch! You belong to me. I’m going to teach you once and for all whose whore you are.”

  “I don’t belong to you! I’ll never belong to you. I’d rather be dead than have you touch me again,” she yelled into the phone.

  Suddenly, the phone was jerked out of her hand.

  Riley growled into the phone. “Gregg, you’re going to pay for touching her. Do you understand me?”

  Jenna couldn’t hear what Gregg said, but she could tell by the fury on Riley’s face it wasn’t good. When he slammed the phone down, she jumped.

  “What did he say?” It came out almost as a whisper.

  “Nothing,” he said and turned away.

  She grabbed his arm and stopped him. “What did he say?”

  “Nothing that need concern you, Jenna. The chicken should be ready now.” He sighed and looked at her.

  “Why won’t you tell me what he said? Is it that bad?”

  “It’s just more of his bullshit, and there’s no need for you to have to hear any more of it.”

  Jenna closed her eyes and shook her head. She let go of his arm and followed him into the kitchen. Suddenly, she wasn’t as hungry anymore.

  He opened the stove and pulled out the casserole. He took off the top and set it aside then turned the beans back on to warm up. He shoved a pan of rolls into the oven and closed the door with a snap.

  “Fuck!” He huffed out a breath and then turned around to face Jenna.

  “He said he would make sure you knew what he intended to do to you. He wanted you scared, baby. I don’t want you scared. I’ll take care of you.”

  “I know you will, Riley.” She stepped closer and put her hands on his chest. “I trust you.”

  Riley wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently before stepping back and brushing a stray hair from her face. She wished she could read his thoughts. He looked worried for a second then he looked like he always did, hard and in control. Even Riley was human. She knew there was still a chance that Gregg would get to her despite Riley’s promises. She trusted him to do the best he could to take care of her, but she was a realist, and Gregg was crazy.

  * * * *

  Riley waited until after dinner, while Jenna was in the shower, to call Logan and fill him in on the phone conversation with Gregg. He didn’t want her overhearing him.

  “He said he was going to use one of her friends to show her what he planned to do to her. Watch out close for Tina. I don’t know what he will try to do or to whom. I’m going to send Tyler back over there to watch. Morgan can handle here.”

  “I’ll be on the look out here.”

  Riley hung up and then called Tyler and had the other man go back to Logan’s house to watch them. Tyler didn’t ask questions. He just said okay and hung up. Morgan, on the other hand, asked plenty of them.

  “You think he is serious about hurting someone she knows?”

  “I don’t know what to think. I don’t know him well enough to make guesses. I do know he nearly killed Jenna. That’s all that matters to me.”

  “What did she say about it?” Morgan asked.

  “I didn’t tell her the entire thing. I only told her enough to satisfy her. She’s already on edge now as it is after talking to him,” Riley said.

  “I wouldn’t let her answer the phone anymore in case he has someone call her while he hurts them.”

  Riley hadn’t thought of that and nearly groaned out loud. He would have to make sure she didn’t answer the phone for sure now. If she knew he had someone she knew in his grasp, she would lose it.

  “I’ll talk to you in the morning. Watch your back.” Riley hung up.

  He walked back into the bedroom and heard the shower shut off as he slipped off his shoes. He removed his shirt and opened the bathroom door to find Jenna surrounded by steam as she bent over, rubbing her hair dry with a towel. He grabbed another towel and wrapped it around her body. Their eyes met in the mirror. He pulled her up against him and began to dry her front with the towel. She wound the towel around her hair and reached back with one hand to wrap around his neck.

  “You look good enough to eat,” Riley said against her ear.

  “I wouldn’t say no to that,” she teased.

  “Let’s get you dry and into bed.” Riley ran the towel up and down her sides.

  With her hand around the back of his neck, her breasts were pushed out proud and standing out. He dropped the towel and focused his attention on them. He cupped them in his hands and ran his thumbs over the tips. She drew in a deep breath. He groaned. He wanted her again. He didn’t think he would ever not want her.

  “I have to dry my hair, or it will be a massive knot later,” she finally said.

  He kissed along her neck then stepped back and popped her on the ass.

  “I’ll handle the hairdryer while you brush.” He picked up the hairdryer from the counter and stared at her in the mirror.

  Their eyes met, and for an instant, he couldn’t breathe. She literally took his breath away. She smiled, and the moment was gone. He turned on the dryer and aimed it at her hair. She laughed and turned his wrist at an angle so it didn’t blow directly on her scalp. For the next fifteen minutes, he manned the dryer while she brushed out her hair until it lay soft and dry against her shoulders.

  He could already see the droop to her eyelids. She was about to fall asleep on her feet. He smiled and steered her toward the bed. He pulled back the covers and had her climb in then he covered her up.

  “I’m going to check the house good again, and I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

  She smiled and curled up in the bed. After checking the windows in the bedroom first, Riley made the rounds in the house, checking all the windows and doors to be sure they were secure. Then he stood in the middle of the living room just thinking. What was it about Jenna that called to him? Why was he so attracted to her? Enough so that he really thought about sticking aro
und for awhile.

  He didn’t want to answer that question. Something tight inside his chest already knew the answer. It was something he refused to acknowledge. Besides, he didn’t have time to think about it now. Jenna’s ex-husband was still out there and planning to hurt someone close to her. He would have to deal with her when it became known who he had targeted.

  After shutting off the lights, Riley returned to the bedroom to find her sound asleep. He smiled and removed his clothes. Then he slipped beneath the covers and pulled her back into his arms. She fit perfectly against his body. It felt right to have her there.

  He steered his thoughts away from her and how well she fit him and back to her ex. He needed to be ready for anything. Logan would take care of Tina, so he could focus everything on keeping Jenna safe. The sickening feeling that things weren’t going to improve gnawed at his gut. Something bad was going to happen and soon. He only hoped it wouldn’t upset Jenna any more than she already was.

  Riley closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep. He needed to be rested for whatever happened tomorrow.

  * * * *

  The doorbell ringing woke Riley and then Jenna. He squinted at the bedside alarm clock and found it was only six in the morning. He growled at being wakened so early then stiffened at what that could mean. Something was wrong.

  “Jenna, honey, stay here in bed until I get back. I don’t want you near the door.” Riley stood up pulling his jeans on as he did.

  “It’s my house. I should answer the door,” she began.

  “No, Jenna. Not as long as your ex is out there causing trouble. I’ll handle it.”

  He didn’t bother with a shirt. Instead, he closed the bedroom door behind him and tucked his gun in the small of his back. He peered through the living room curtains to see who was at the door and cursed. Two policemen stood outside. He ditched the gun in a drawer in the end table and unlocked the door.

  “Officers? What can I do for you?” he asked.

  “Sir, is Ms. Randle here? We need to talk to her,” the shorter of the two men said.

  His name tag read Smith. His partner’s name tag read Hudson.

  Riley knew he couldn’t refuse to let her talk with them. He just hoped like hell it wouldn’t end up hurting her.

  “She’s still in bed. Do you want to wait for her to dress or come back later?” He hoped they would return later.

  “We’ll wait,” Hudson said.

  “Well, make yourself at home. I’ll go wake her and get her up.” He hesitated then sighed. “Is this going to upset her?”

  The two cops looked at each other and shrugged. The taller man seemed to think about it before answering.

  “Yeah, it probably will.”

  “Well, hell.” He turned and walked back toward the bedroom.

  He opened the door and found her already getting dressed.

  “It’s the police. They want to talk to you.” Riley watched as she pulled the T-shirt over her head and smoothed it down.

  “Okay, do you know what about?” she asked.

  “No. They didn’t say.”

  “Okay, I’m ready.” She held out her hand.

  Riley took her hand and led her out to the living room. The two cops were still standing in front of the living room door. They pulled off their hats when she walked into the room.

  “Ms. Randle?” Hudson asked.

  “Yes? What can I do for you?” she asked.

  Riley felt her hand tremble in his. She was nervous.

  “Perhaps we should sit down,” Riley interrupted.

  “Good idea,” Smith agreed.

  Riley led Jenna to the couch and sat next to her. She let him keep her hand in his. The two officers took the chairs across from the couch and leaned forward.

  “Ma’am, I understand you know a man by the name of Todd Crenshaw,” Smith said.

  “Yes, I do. Why?” she asked.

  Jenna looked up at Riley with a question in her eyes. He shrugged. He didn’t know, either.

  “Ma’am—”

  “Call me Jenna.”

  “Jenna, where were you between nine and midnight last night?” Hudson asked.

  “Excuse me?” Jenna frowned.

  “She was here with me. We were in bed around that time and haven’t been up until you rang the doorbell.” Riley didn’t like where this was leading.

  “Todd Crenshaw was found dead this morning. Someone called the police about an apparent break-in, and Mr. Crenshaw was found dead at the scene by the police.”

  “Todd is dead?” Jenna’s voice broke. “Oh, God.”

  Riley pulled Jenna into his shoulder. It would be a shock to her no matter how the man had treated her. As far as Riley was concerned, it was no loss.

  “I understand you had a restraining order on him,” Smith began.

  “Yeah. He hit me.”

  “I also understand your ex-husband is out on parole and attacked you a few days ago,” he continued.

  “I don’t understand. What has that got to do with Todd?” She looked from one to the other.

  “There was a note left at the scene of Todd’s murder.” Hudson pulled out a notepad and began to read.

  “Tell that bitch that no one touches what’s mine. I’ll kill anyone who dares to fuck with what I own. Then I’ll take care of you.”

  By the time he’d finished reading from his pad, Jenna’s hands weren’t the only thing trembling. Her entire body shook in his arms.

  “Easy, baby.” He glared at the two officers. “Don’t you think that was a little harsh?”

  “Murder is harsh.” Hudson obviously wasn’t worried about upsetting her and continued. “Can you tell me where you were between the hours of one a.m. and four a.m. this morning?”

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” Riley growled. “She was with me the entire night.”

  “As in the same room with you?” Hudson probed.

  “Yes, in the same room, in the same bed. The damn note is directed at her.”

  “True, but that could be to throw us off the trail,” Smith said.

  “Why would the killer target you?” Hudson demanded.

  “Because he’s my ex-husband, and he’s crazy,” Jenna managed to get out between chattering teeth.

  “Sounds like he has it bad for you,” Smith said. “You need to be very careful.”

  “I think it’s her lover here who needs to be careful,” Hudson sneered. “Her ex seems to be targeting men she’s been with. Are there very many?”

  “That’s it. You’re out of here.” Riley stood up and pointed toward the door. “Get out.”

  Smith nodded and stood up. “If you hear anything from him or think he is around, call us.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Riley said.

  He walked over to the door and opened it for them to leave.

  Hudson stopped in the doorway and looked back at Jenna. “You sure your lover was in bed all night? Maybe he went and did your ex-boyfriend while you were asleep.”

  Jenna stood up and crossed to Riley, putting her arms around his waist. “I know he was with me all night.”

  Riley was pleased that she didn’t drop her eyes under Hudson’s stare. Instead, she glared at him standing in the doorway.

  The other man finally turned and followed his partner outside toward their police car.

  “You okay, baby?” Riley asked. He pulled her around to face him and brushed a tear from her cheek

  “I’m scared for you. What if he comes after you now?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself. I’m more worried about you. He’s fixated on you. That’s not good.”

  A knock at the door startled Jenna, and she jumped in his arms. He squeezed her for reassurance and checked the window to see who it was although he was sure he already knew. Sure enough, it was Logan.

  “It’s just Logan.” He opened the door and let him in.

  “What were the police doing here?” Logan asked as he crossed the room to the kitchen. “W
hat? No coffee?”

  “I’ll fix it while Riley fills you in.” Jenna began filling the coffee pot with water, her hands still shaky.

  “What’s up?” Logan asked.

  Riley filled him in on Todd’s death and the note.

  “That’s not good. He probably knows we’re watching the house.” Logan sat down at the kitchen table and steepled his fingers. “We need a plan.”

  Riley nodded, drawing a deep breath in through his nose. “We’ve got to keep Jenna safe, but we also need to lure him out into the open to catch him.”

  “We can use his need to get rid of her ex-lovers and put you out there as bait.”

  “That’s along the same line I’ve been thinking about, too.”

  Jenna’s eyes grew wide with shock. She crossed her arms and glared at the two men from where she was leaning back on the counter.

  “Absolutely not! You will not put yourself out there as a target.”

  Riley stood up and squeezed her against him. He looked down into her pleading eyes. “I’m going to take this bastard down one way or another. He’s not getting close to you again.”

  She pushed away from him with her hands against his chest.

  “That doesn’t mean you have to be the bait to catch him. He’ll try here again soon. Just wait for now.” Tears welled up in her eyes.

  Logan agreed with Riley. “It’s the best plan, Jenna. We’ve got to catch him, or he’ll just sit out there until we aren’t as vigilant looking for him. That’s when he’ll strike, and someone is going to get hurt, or worse.”

  Logan stood up and got a coffee cup down before pouring coffee into it. He took a sip and looked back at Riley.

  “I think we should start tonight. You can go for a ride, and we’ll set up some sites along the way where you can stop and stretch.”

  “Tyler can watch Jenna while Morgan and I go with you,” Logan said.

  Jena walked across the room toward the door. “If you’re that desperate to end this so you can get back on the road, then just leave now,” Jenna said. “I don’t want you here if you don’t want to be here.”