Page 32 of Hooked on Marshall (Hooked #9)

I leave Lana and head out to the bar. My protective instincts are in overdrive right now, but I know I need to reel them in. I have no idea who is asking for Lana. Considering she’s also from Willow Point; it could be anyone. A friend from high school. A former teacher. Or…a former boyfriend.

While the last makes me cringe, I know that I’ll have to keep my cool to deal with this.

When I walk behind the bar, Jace gives me a half-hearted smile.

Then he nods his head to the corner of the bar where only one man stands out to me.

Having seen his picture on his company’s website, I know that I’m about to confront one Jonas Freeman.

Before I can take another step, Jace grips the inside of my elbow.

“You okay, man?”

“No,” I growl. “I’m not.”

“Do I need to call the police?” he asks.

“No,” I say again. “Not…yet.”

Understanding my meaning, he simply nods his head and releases me.

After a deep breath, I move toward the man who has been harassing the woman I love.

I say nothing at first, I just do what I would normally do when I come out here to check on things.

But as I get closer to where he’s seated, he speaks.

“Excuse me, sir,” he says.

“What can I do for you?” I ask with a forced smile.

“I was wondering if you knew a woman by the name of Lana Rose.”

I laugh a little. Then try for a bit of humor.

“It would be poor form for a bartender to give up the whereabouts of anyone to a stranger, don’t you think?”

He has the good sense to look ashamed. Then he holds up his hands as if in surrender.

“Fair point,” he sighs. “But I’m an old friend of hers.”

“If you were an old friend of hers, why don’t you know where she is?”

“You know how it is,” he starts. “Life takes people in different directions, and you lose touch. I’d heard that she moved back home, and I was hoping to surprise her. You see, I’m only here for the weekend.”

Thank fuck for that.

“Tell you what,” I nod. “Give me your name and number, and if I see her, I’ll let her know.”

“So, you do know who she is?” he asks hopefully.

“Yeah,” I nod again. “I do.”

“And she’s been in here?”

“A time or two.”

“That’s good to know,” he nods. “I’m Jonas Freeman.”

He offers his hand, and I take it, making sure my grip is firm but not overbearing.

“Marshall Jones.”

“Let me give you my card,” he smiles. “And maybe I’ll have some lunch, too, on the off chance she comes in. I just did get to town and I’m starving.”

“Sure.”

I take his card and put it in my back pocket. Then I hand him a menu. Not wanting to talk to him any longer, nor leave Lana in the office uncertain of what’s going on, I walk over to Jace.

“He’s the one that’s been harassing Lana,” I say softly. “Wait on him like you normally would but don’t talk about her or that she and I are together. All he knows is that I know who she is, and she’s been in here a few times. Got it?”

He nods. But his eyes harden as he glances over at Jonas.

I smile and pat his shoulder, thankful that he also wants to protect the woman I love.

Then I make my way back to my office. Lana is pacing and so distracted she doesn’t notice I’m here.

Not wanting to frighten her, I softly speak her name just after she sobs.

“Lana.”

Her head snaps up and her frightened eyes lock with mine. I take three long steps and pull her into my arms. She buries her face in my chest, her entire body trembling.

“It’s him isn’t it?” she asks on a whisper.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “It’s him.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Right now, nothing,” I tell her. “He knows that I know who you are and that you’ve been in here before. I have his card under the guise that I’d give it to you if I saw you. He’s having lunch now.”

“Should I leave?” she asks as she pulls back to look up at me.

“You’re not going anywhere without me for the rest of the weekend,” I tell her. “That’s how long he’ll be in town.”

“But what if-”

“Stop,” I say as I place a finger on her lips. “I’m going to call Chief Flood and tell him what’s going on. We’re just going to take this one step at a time, okay?”

She nods. I move my finger and give her a soft kiss.

Then I set her on the love seat and do as I said I would.

After I explain that Jonas is here, he tells me that he’s going to come in to pick up some lunch and maybe engage him in some conversation to get a feel for him.

Then he’ll get back to me. I thank him and send back his lunch order.

When I settle next to Lana and explain all this to her, she just nods numbly.

“Come here.”

I open my arms, and she literally crawls into my lap. She’s not crying, which I’ll take as a win, but I know she’s not happy with any of this. I’d be lying if I said I was anyway. I’m still holding her when Jace knocks on the open door. Lana doesn’t move when I look up at him.

“Chief Flood is here,” he grins. “He’s asking to see you.”

I nod and turn my attention back to Lana.

“Will you be okay back here for a few minutes?”

“Yeah,” she says as she lifts her head.

Then her stomach growls and she giggles. I kiss her and she moves off my lap.

“Perhaps I’ll put in our lunch order, too?” I ask as I pull her up into my arms.

“That’s fine,” she nods. “But not much for me, okay? When I’m stressed, I don’t eat well.”

I don’t like this, but given our current situation, I don’t argue. Instead, I kiss her thoroughly and head back out to the bar. I’m surprised when I find Brian next to Jonas, leaning in to look at something on his phone. When he sees me, I can tell that something’s wrong.

“Marshall,” he says as I approach. “Always a pleasure.”

“Likewise,” I say as I shake his hand.

“This gentleman here says he’s looking for Lana,” he says slowly. “Apparently they’re old flames from high school."

"Really?" I ask, knowing it’s a lie. “He didn’t mention that to me.”

“What can I say?” Jonas laughs. “Beer always loosens my tongue.”

“He even has a picture of them together,” Brian adds.

I furrow my brow. Without being asked, Jonas turns his phone toward me. I lean in to take a look. And my blood runs cold at what I see.