In The Still of the Night [The Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (16 page)

* * * *

Jenna’s hands shook as she told the story over and over again to different people. Still, they pounded her with questions. Two of the policemen were from the other day. They kept trying to get her to admit that Riley said he was going to kill Gregg. Did that mean Gregg was dead? She didn’t know since no one would tell her anything. She didn’t even know if Riley and Morgan were okay or not. She couldn’t even get them to tell her about Tyler. He’d been the one guarding her that night. He hadn’t come to help her, so that meant he was either unconscious or dead. God, she hoped he wasn’t dead. She couldn’t stand it if someone died because of her.

Finally, she managed to get away from the bevy of policemen as well as the paramedic treating her cuts and bruises.

“I’m fine. Nothing is broken, and I’m not bleeding anymore.”

He shook his head and started putting away his tools.

Jenna pulled the robe tighter around her. Then she walked outside to find someone who could tell her more. After a couple of minutes searching the sea of unfamiliar faces, she latched on to Logan’s. He was talking to someone wearing slacks and a tie. She rushed to him, and he pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

“Jenna, this is Detective Brunson. He’s handling the case.”

Jenna nodded. “What about Tyler? Is he okay? No one will tell me anything.”

“He’s fine. He has a hell of a knot on his head, but he will be just fine.” Logan squeezed her arm.

Jenna sighed, relived to know he wasn’t dead.

“Why don’t you tell Detective Brunson what happened. I need to go check on Riley.”

Logan started to pull away from her, but she latched on to him.

“Riley? Is he okay?” she demanded.

“He’s fine. He’s got a few cuts and bruises, but he’s fine.”

“I told him to leave, that I didn’t want him around me anymore, but he stayed,” Jenna whispered.

“He wasn’t leaving you unprotected. He cares too much about you to trust your safety to any of us.”

“Not enough though.”

Logan sighed but didn’t say anything. Jenna knew she was right, but when Logan didn’t protest, it told her a lot. It told her she needed to get rid of that little seed of hope that Riley really did care about her as more than a friend. She nodded and turned around to return to the house. She would sit in the kitchen until they finished with her house. She felt numb all over, empty inside. There wasn’t any pain. She figured it would come later, but right now she couldn’t feel a damn thing.

“Ma’am?” The detective stopped her before she had made more than a couple of steps.

Jenna turned around and faced the man. It didn’t register at first that he was speaking to her until she heard the word “dead.” That caught her interest.

“What?”

“I need to talk to you about what happened. Your ex-husband is in bad shape. He might die,” the detective said.

“I hope he does. He killed Todd and made my life a living hell.” She hugged herself. “Can we go sit down?”

“Sure. The kitchen is clear.” He held out his hand to indicate she should lead the way.

Jenna immediately went to the coffee pot and began making coffee. She needed a cup to clear her head. Everything felt so surreal. Nothing felt real anymore. It was if her entire life had been put in a blender and turned on high.

“I understand your ex-husband used to beat you. He nearly killed you a few weeks back.” The detective took out a little notepad and began to write.

“Yes, he’s crazy. He just got out of prison a few weeks ago. No one even bothered to tell me.”

“How well do you know Riley?”

Jenna bristled over the mention of Riley. “Long enough to know he is a good man.”

The detective sighed. “Ma’am, he may have killed Gregg. I’m not saying the man didn’t deserve what he got, but you can’t take matters into your own hands.” He leaned back in the chair he’d taken at the kitchen table.

Jenna crossed her arms and leaned against the cabinet as she waited for the coffee to brew. How dare he insinuate that Riley had purposely killed her ex-husband? What if he had? The thought peeked inside her brain. So, what if he had? Like the detective said, the bastard had deserved it. It wouldn’t matter to her if he had.

“I don’t think he would do that. He was in the army for a long time. He abides by rules, and the rule is you don’t kill someone unless it’s in self-defense.” Jenna turned and pulled down a cup. Her hands weren’t as shaky as earlier.

“So he never said he planned to kill him when he got the chance?” the detective asked.

“No, he never said that.”

“So you don’t think he might have done it?”

“No. I don’t believe he would.” But Jenna knew he could and probably had.

The detective sighed and closed his book. Then he put it away inside his shirt pocket and stood up.

“If you think of anything later, be sure and let me know.” He handed her a card with his name and phone numbers on it.

“I will.”

* * * *

“I tackled him, and he fell on the knife. I’ve told you this at least a hundred times already.” Riley was getting pissed all over again.

He wanted to know how Jenna was. No one would tell him anything. He and Morgan had been separated almost from the beginning. He knew it was to get separate statements and compare them. It didn’t matter to him. He was telling the truth. The fact that he hadn’t twisted the knife still amazed him. He had the chance to kill the man responsible for nearly beating the life from Jenna, and he hadn’t taken it. Why? Because he hoped somehow he could have a life with Jenna. He had to admit it to himself. There was no running from it anymore. He loved her.

“Look, if you’re finished with me, I want to check on Jenna and Tyler.”

“Don’t plan on leaving. We aren’t finished with you yet. We know you killed him,” Hudson, the officer from that morning, said.

“Last I heard, he was still alive and on his way to the hospital. If I had wanted him dead, he would be dead. Not just hurt but dead all over.” Riley walked away, heading for the house.

He found her sitting in the kitchen, bundled up in a robe with a cup of coffee sitting in front of her, untouched by the look of it. She held herself as if she’d fly apart in a thousand pieces if she didn’t hold on. She looked so small and vulnerable sitting there. He didn’t make a sound as he walked around the table and knelt in front of her. When she looked up at him, a frown marred her features.

“What are you doing here?”

“Checking on you. I was worried about you.” Riley reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m fine.” She searched his face. “What about Gregg?”

“I didn’t kill him, but he might not make it.”

“If you didn’t kill him, what happened?”

“He fell on the knife he was trying to use on me. I could have finished the job, but I didn’t. I didn’t want that between us.”

“Is it wrong that I hope he dies?” she asked with tears in her eyes.

“No, I don’t think it is. He made your life a living hell. He deserves whatever happens to him.”

Jenna sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. He could tell she was trying to keep the tears at bay.

“Don’t, Jenna. Cry if you need to.” He cupped her face in his hand.

“Why did you come back?” she asked.

“I never left. I thought we could draw him out by my giving him the opportunity to get to me, but he outsmarted us and went after you instead. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you, baby.”

“You shouldn’t have put yourself in danger. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if something had happened to you because of me.” Jenna rubbed her face against his hand.

“Nothing happened to me,” Riley said.

“Except there’s blood on your shirt and it’s ripped in a few places.”

“Just some scratches is all.

“Let me see.” She rolled his shirt up and gasped at the bandage on his chest and the small cuts across his abdomen.

“See, just some scratches.”

“Let me see your chest.” She gently pulled the bandage away on one side to reveal an ugly cut. “You need stitches in this. It’s deep.”

“It will heal fine without them,” he said. He didn’t want to go to the hospital and leave her alone for one minute.

In fact, he didn’t want to ever leave her alone again. He’d almost lost her. It wasn’t lost on him that he was talking about forever. He pushed that aside and concentrated on Jenna.

“Please. I’ll even take you if they will let me get dressed now.” She scowled toward the men in the living room.

“They’re taking evidence. It may be awhile before they let you have any of your stuff back. Why don’t we go to Logan and Tina’s place?”

“You need stitches.” She huffed out a breath.

“First we’ll go to Logan’s. You can probably wear something of Tina’s,” Riley suggested.

“I’m holding you to letting me take you to the hospital for stitches,” she reminded him.

“First, we get you something to wear. You can’t traipse around in a robe all over town.”

He stood up and switched off the coffee pot before holding his hand out to Jenna. She smiled at him and let him pull her to her feet.

“At least they let you wear your tennis shoes,” he offered. “You’re going to look cute enough on the back of the bike wearing this.” He indicated the robe with a tug.

He held her hand as they walked outside toward where a group of police and the detective in charge stood discussing something with Logan. They all looked up when he and Jenna walked up.

“I’m taking Jenna to your house, Logan. She needs something to wear besides the bathrobe,” Riley explained.

“I’m on my way home, too,” Logan said.

Riley turned to the detective. “You know where to find us if you need anything else.”

The detective looked at the three of them and nodded. Hudson grabbed his arm.

“He’s a flight risk. He doesn’t even have a permanent address, for God sakes.”

“He isn’t guilty of anything. We can’t hold him just because you don’t like him, Hudson. Now let the man go.”

Riley looked at the hand holding his arm and then back up at the policeman. The other man paled and let him go. Riley stared just a few seconds longer then turned and headed for the bike, pulling Jenna behind him.

“I’ll ride with Logan. I’m afraid I’ll hurt you if I ride with you,” Jenna said.

“You won’t hurt me, baby. Come on and ride with me.” Riley held out his hand again.

Jenna smiled up at him and took it. He grinned and put the helmet on her and fastened it. He waited as Jenna climbed on behind him. When she held on to his waist, he knew she was ready.

They arrived at Logan and Tina’s place a few minutes later with Logan right behind them. Tina was waiting on them outside. Evidently, Logan had called ahead. She grabbed Jenna and hugged her then drew her inside the house.

“Tina will take care of her,” Logan said, looking at Riley.

Riley resisted the urge to follow the women inside. After everything that had happened, he didn’t want her out of his sight even with friends around them.