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“They’re on their way back now,” said Ace looking at the men gathered for dinner. “The woman is with them.”

“Sister Agatha is with them?” frowned Ghost.

“She no longer goes by her name as a nun. She’s gone back to her given name. Jenna Brooks.”

“Wh-what did you say?” asked Nash giving the room a strange expression of uncertainty and familiarity.

“Jenna Brooks. Originally from Arizona, moved to Louisiana to join the Sisters and become a nun. She’s lived here ever since.”

“Arizona,” he whispered.

“Nash, you okay?” asked Kane.

“I don’t know. I knew a Jenna Brooks a lifetime ago. We went to high school together in Arizona. I left for the Marines and she was going to go to college. We just lost touch.”

“Well, if you know her maybe it will make this transition easier for her,” said Nine.

“I don’t know. Like I said, we were just kids the last time we saw one another. I can’t imagine that she even remembers me.”

“You’re about to find out,” said Ghost nodding toward the door. Irene walked in first, Jenna behind her with Angel and Trak at the rear. The woman immediately looked up and her eyes went right to Nash’s.

“Nash,” she mouthed without a sound.

“Jenna. Jenna Brooks,” he grinned slowly walking toward her. Irene quickly moved toward him, whispering to him.

“She’s scared and skittish, baby. Take it slow. Let her lead.” He nodded then continued toward her.

“We can stay if you like, Jenna,” said Angel.

She turned, smiling at the two very sweet protectors sent for her. Although, she believed the older woman might be the one to truly fear, she knew that she was safe.

“No. No, he’s an old friend from Arizona. A very old, very dear friend,” she smiled.

When Nash stopped in front of her, she looked him in the eyes then crumbled to the floor, sobbing. Nash kneeled beside her, gently placing an arm around her shoulders.

“It’s alright, Jenna. You’re safe now,” he said softly. Bree kneeled beside them along with Doc, both of them introducing themselves to the woman.

“Let’s get her to the private clinic space in the office,” said Bree.

“No. No, I’m okay now,” she sniffed. “I’m sorry. It was just such a shock seeing Nash. It’s been almost forty years. You joined the Marines. You went off to protect our country. I should have stayed in touch with you but the convent wouldn’t allow letters to males unless they were relatives.”

“I did join the Marines,” he nodded. “I became a Special Forces Marine.”

“Oh,” she smiled. “Well, that makes sense. You were always special Nash and handsome. He was the most handsome boy in school.” Nash could only shake his head at his old friend.

“Why don’t we get you two off the floor,” said Doc. “A good plate of food will make you feel much better. When you’re done, Nash can show you to your cabin on the private island where we all live. No one gets on the island without us knowing about it. And no one knows where it is.”

She nodded, standing with Nash as he offered her his arm. They walked toward the food and she laughed for the first time since they’d met her. Gaspar looked down at his mother.

“Did you know about that, Mama?” he asked.

“Why are you always so suspicious, Gaspar? The world is a mysterious place and mysterious things that can’t be explained happen all the time. That’s all.” She walked away and Kane chuckled.

“She didn’t answer your question.”

“She never does, brother. Never.”

Nash sat alone with Jenna near the windows, allowing her to not feel so closed in. He asked about the last forty years of her life and what made her become a nun.

“I knew you were a devout Catholic,” he said, “I just didn’t realize you were that devout.”

“Well, I was and I wasn’t,” she said looking at him. “My folks really hit a rough patch and couldn’t afford to send my three sisters and me to college. Jeannie got a scholarship for music. She was always so talented.”

“I remember,” smiled Nash. “She played the piano, didn’t she?”

“She did,” nodded Jenna sadly. Nash felt the pit in his stomach realizing that she’d lost her sister. Likely, her parents were gone now as well. He’d been so wrapped up in hiding himself, he didn’t think about old friends that might have needed him.

“Hey, I’m sorry,” he said reaching for her hand. She pulled back, settling her hands on her lap and he shook his head in apology again.

“No. No, it’s me,” she said. They were quiet for a few minutes, just eating in silence. “Anyway. The twins, Jillian and Jari got married right out of high school. I’m not sure what happened with all of us but I’m the only one left. Jillian was killed by a drunk driver and Jari had a stroke at forty-one. Mom and dad are long gone. So, it’s just me. Joining the convent seemed my chance to get a college degree and do something to help others.”

“Then why leave? What happened isn’t your fault.”

“I know,” she said. “I know that but I can’t go back. I just can’t. I’m not the same any longer, Nash. I’ll never be the same again.”

“Well, you don’t have to go back and you don’t have to be the same. You can stay here and think about how you want to proceed with your life. We’ll all protect you and you’ll have access to our legal and medical teams.”

“You mean psychiatric care,” she frowned.

“No. I mean medical care for any injuries you have. If you want to talk to someone, yes we have counselors, therapists, psychologists, and much more. Everyone needs someone to speak with now and then. I’ve just moved here but I can tell you that these people are extraordinary.”

“I was beaten nearly to death and repeatedly raped on a grocery store floor, Nash. Not one person has stepped forward as a witness. Not one. I don’t need a therapist to tell me that I’m never going to find a resolution to this.”

“Yes, you will,” said Ghost walking toward the couple. “Evening, ma’am. I’m Ghost.”

“Ghost?” she frowned.

“Just a nickname. We’re going to make sure that you’re safe here and that this nightmare ends for you. Those men threatened our friends and family and no one does that and gets away with it.”

“They’ve done it before,” she said. “The first attorney tried to scare me away from them and told me they’d raped and killed dozens of women and yet they never went to jail. He even said that they held women hostage in their homebase, their club house. He said I should watch myself so that they didn’t take me.”

“We’re aware of all of that. But your attacker is in jail now,” said Ghost.

“Because I pointed him out in a line-up and proceeded with my case. I didn’t care if they knew who I was.” Nash looked at his old friend.

“Well, we care and no one will ever touch you again.”