Page 10

If this was about Jake and his family, why did these people think she was the best person in his life to target?

She could see targeting Cade’s daughter, that made sense.

Even going after Connor’s ex-girlfriend, who he hadn't seen in twelve years, could kind of be explained. But she was just Jake’s friend.

Best friend, but still. Then again, these men had targeted Susanna, thinking she was Cole’s girlfriend when in reality they were just neighbors.

So … maybe it made sense?

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Jake’s urgent questions managed to penetrate the thick fog settling over her and because she could hear the thread of worry in his voice, she gave a shake of her head.

Not hurt, just scared.

Terrified really.

When was this going to stop?

Reality was sinking in and Alannah realized the gravity of the situation she found herself in.

It definitely should have sunk in earlier, after all, she could have died twice in the last two days, but somehow it was this fire, by far the smallest of them all, that really drove the point home.

They weren't giving up.

These people who had been targeting Jake’s family for months now had set their sights on her, and they didn't seem to want to turn away from their new focus. What would make them give up? When she was dead? The others had all managed to survive their ordeals but that didn't mean she was going to.

“I'm going to need you to answer me with your words, sunshine,” Jake told her.

A tap on her cheek had Alannah blinking, and then Jake’s face came into view.

He must have carried her down the aisle away from the small fire, and then set her down on the floor because he was crouched in front of her.

His large body blocked her view of pretty much everything else, and his hand on her knee kept her grounded.

The fear in his dark eyes made something flicker to life inside her, but she didn't have the time or energy to figure out what that was all about.

“I'm okay, not hurt,” she assured him, even throwing in a weak smile, anything to soothe the lines of worry from his handsome face.

It was only because his hand was still on her knee that she felt the fine tremor ripple through it. Her big, strong protector wasn't just worried, he was terrified. Just as much as she was.

“What was that?” Now that she’d noticed that Jake was trembling, her own body responded by shaking.

Shock.

Settling over her like a heavy blanket.

“Someone threw what looked like a rock or something covered in a towel that had no doubt been soaked in something flammable, then set alight and aimed at you. They had to be right on the other side of the shelves.” Frustration was in Jake’s voice and she knew it had to be annoying to him that he’d been so close to one of the people after him and yet the man had slipped away yet again.

“The cops are going to blame me.” Two fires had been enough for them to think she was somehow involved, add in a third, and she’d be lucky if she didn't wind up spending a night in a cell.

“Not going to happen, sunshine.” Jake tugged off his zippered hoodie, then picked up one of her arms, feeding it through the sleeve, repeating the process with her other arm, then zipping her up.

Immediately, Alannah felt like she was cocooned in Jake’s arms, with his warmth and scent wrapped all around her. Her shaking eased, and her panic receded to a manageable level.

Jake was here so she was safe.

He wouldn't let anything happen to her.

Despite her fears when she’d gone to bed last night, her subconscious mind had been settled enough knowing Jake was nearby to allow her to get a good night’s sleep. This morning she’d been able to tackle everything she needed to get done, and Jake’s presence in the house had soothed her.

She just needed to trust that he could do what he knew how to do and keep her safe.

Keep both of them safe.

Because she didn't want to lose him.

Not now and not ever.

With a weary sigh, Alannah rubbed at her temples.

“I don’t know why they think I'd try to kill myself with a fire.

I was trapped both times. If you hadn't been with me at the gym, I wouldn't have gotten out, and in the woods … if it wasn't for that man, the flames would have gotten me.” Glancing around nervously, she reached out and grabbed one of Jake’s hands.

“Do you think it was him? Here today? Did he leave after he threw that fireball thing at me or is he still here watching us?”

“I don’t know. These people have been sending in teams of men after us, so I’m guessing there are probably at least a handful of men targeting you and me now.”

An icy cold rush of fear hit her system at Jake’s words. It wasn't that it was better or worse if there was one man or half a dozen intent on coming after them, they were in danger either way. It was just that Jake spoke about it with such conviction.

They were in danger, and he’d accepted that.

On the other hand, she was having trouble accepting it.

Had been at least.

“Wh-what are we going to do?” she asked, hating the wobble in her voice.

Alannah wanted to be all strong and stoic like Jake was.

Or at the very least she wanted to be angry and use that as a shield to hold off her fear.

Not angry at Jake but at the people who had raped his stepmom then gone to the extreme to try and keep their crimes a secret.

From having their victim’s husband and his team ambushed, to having her charged with treason, and then everything they’d done these last few months to try to keep the Charleston Holloway family from learning the truth.

She should be angry, and she was, but it paled in comparison to her fear.

One thing was for certain, she wasn't cut out for this kind of high adrenaline, danger-filled life.

“We’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure these men don’t get to you again,” he answered simply. Although that wasn't much of an answer. And why did it feel like he already had a plan in mind, one he had neglected to share with her?

“What does that mean exactly?”

“It means that we’ll talk about it when we get back to my place. I hear sirens so cops have showed up. We’re going to have to give statements again, and then I want you checked out by EMTs.”

“I didn't get hurt.”

“Yeah, sunshine, you did.” Lifting a finger, he brushed the calloused pad of a finger across her left cheekbone, and she winced slightly as pain flared in her face.

“You have at least one bruise where something hit you when he threw that fireball at you. There are probably more, but adrenaline is masking the pain. You get checked out, not negotiable.”

There was the Jake she knew so well, all gruff and commanding. The smile on her lips was genuine this time as she caught his hand and entwined their fingers. She needed him close, and she wasn't going to fight her instincts. “Okay, grumpy, wouldn't want you to get those pants of yours in a knot.”

The smile slid off her face as she caught sight of cops coming toward them.

This mess wasn't even close to being over.

Jake and his family still had no idea who the fourth rapist was which meant there was nothing stopping these men coming after them again and again until they finally got what they wanted.