Sweet Vengeance (12 page)

"Considering
what you've been through, that's understandable."  The sound of his voice
soothed her, and she curled closer in his direction.  "Just remember, you
promised no snoring."  He chuckled, but it didn't lessen her anxiety.

There
were actual killers looking for her.  She shivered.  "You have a gun in
here, don't you?"  Just in case.

"Don't
worry.  It's right by the bed."

"Okay." 
If someone did break in, he could protect them.  She relaxed a bit.  He shifted
again, and then all was silent.  A few minutes later, Jase's breathing became
deep and even.  He'd fallen asleep, and now she was left to face the shadow
monsters alone.  She shut her eyes and tried to match her breathing to his. 
But try as she might, she couldn't will herself to fall asleep. 

His
men would watch, too, she reminded herself.  They were outside the kitchen
door.  And it wasn't as though the entrance to the house was on the street. 
Jase had already explained someone would have to make it through the warehouse
and know where the hidden door was to find them.  Plus no one except Jase's men
knew where she was.  The guys who wanted to kill her had no idea where to
look.  It would be okay. 

She
inched a little closer to Jase.  His breathing remained steady so she scooted a
bit more.  Being near him made her feel safer.  If she felt safe, maybe she
could sleep.  That was all she wanted.

She
moved again until she was right next to him.  She waited, but he didn't say
anything.  In the faint light, she could see his arm resting above his head on
the pillow.  His eyes were shut, and his bare chest rose and fell repeatedly. 
Gently, she lifted her head and rested her cheek on his chest.  His body was
hard, but warm and comfortable at the same time.  When he didn't move, she
released a pent-up breath and relaxed. 

She
froze when he brought his arm down and snuggled her closer to him.  She wasn't
sure she dared to breathe, wasn't sure he was consciously aware of his
actions. 

But
a moment passed, and he didn't say a word.  He held her close, and somehow, she
knew everything would be okay.  Her eyelids grew heavier.  She sighed and
closed her eyes.

*       
*        *

When
morning came, Allie was alone.  At some point during the night or early
morning, Jase had gotten up and left her by herself.  She pulled his pillow
toward her, throwing her arm around it and hugging it to her as though it were
him. 

She
wasn't quite sure what to think of herself, craving the comfort Jase offered
her, wanting to spend the night curled up in his arms.  It had to be from the
shock of the whole situation.  She was a little embarrassed she'd come begging
to sleep in his bed.  But every time she'd woken during the night, she'd been
tightly wound in his arms, his strong body warm against her.  She buried her
face against the cotton pillowcase and inhaled his scent.  It had felt so
right.  He felt so right. 

Why? 
It had to be more than shock that fitted them so neatly together.

The
clock on the nightstand said it was after ten-thirty, but she didn't want to
get up.  Getting up meant she would be moved to another stranger's house today,
and she would no longer have Jase around to protect her.  He'd insisted it was
the right thing to do.  But she didn't want to go.  Nothing much in her life
felt stable right now.  Nothing but Jase.  It was only when she was with him
that everything seemed okay.

She
heard footsteps outside the bedroom, but before she could react, Jase popped
his head inside.  Boo came bounding up behind him and settled himself in the
crook between her belly and bent legs.  He swiped his pink tongue across her
face before she had time to move out of the way.

"Good
morning."  Jase was fully dressed in jeans and a dark blue T-shirt that
showcased his muscles and made his dark eyes seem darker.  He smiled at her, but
it didn't reach his eyes or touch her heart.  "It looks like Boo gave you
your morning kiss so I won't need to."

"Funny,"
she said as she ruffled Boo's soft fur.

"You
need to get up and get dressed."  Jase barked out his orders, seeming
every bit the rough vigilante, and Allie couldn't help but wonder where her
warm snuggle-buddy had gone.  "Max has already been here, and he'll be
back in an hour to drive you out to Jenna's."

Boo
jumped over her and settled behind her as she rolled onto her stomach, burying
her head under the pillow.  "I don't want to go," she said, her face
against the soft sheet.

"You're
mumbling."

Allie
swiveled her head and poked her face out from under the pillow.  A little zing
slid through her when she caught Jase visually stroking her bare legs.  She
shifted, making the sheet ride higher up her thighs, enjoying the look of
desire on Jase's face.  "I don't want to go."

He
seemed distracted by her bare skin and didn't immediately reply, giving her an
idea.  If she played her cards right, using every bit of ammunition she had at
her disposal, maybe she could convince him to let her stay until she left for
college.  She wouldn't resort to sex to influence him, but she'd do almost
anything else to not be thrust out into the dangerous world that lay beyond
Jase's door.  She slowly slid the front of her foot up the back of her leg and
down again, caressing it. 

Jase
blinked and then jerked his gaze to her.  "Stop it."

"Stop
what?"  She widened her eyes in innocence.

"You
have to go.  It will be better for you."

"How
can it be better for me?"  She sat up in bed, determined to give it one
last fight.  "I'm safe right here."

"You'll
be safer there.  You're too close to me, too close to my men.  It's better this
way."  He tossed her a dark T-shirt similar to the one he wore. 
"Here.  Wear this.  Max will be here soon."

"You
already gave me some shirts yesterday."

He
frowned at her.  "This one will fit better."

She
frowned back, feeling agitated that he wouldn't agree to let her stay. 
"The others fit just fine."  She held the shirt up against her. 
"This one's too big.  It looks like one of yours."

"Does
it matter?  It's a shirt."  His dark eyes turned black.  "Put it
on."

His
dismal mood didn't frighten her, and she wasn't finished yet.  "Why does
Max have to drive me?  Why can't you?"  She'd wondered if Jenna really was
his girlfriend and wouldn't like Jase showing up with another woman. 

"What
difference does it make if Max drives you or if I do?" 

"I
want you to."  Not only because she felt safer with him, but she would
miss him.  In the short time she'd known him, she'd become attached.  It was
probably that stressful-situation-attachment kind of thing.  Whatever the
reason, it didn't matter.

The
frustration on his face was evident, and she enjoyed a small amount of
satisfaction.  He opened his mouth to reply, just as his cell phone rang.  He
narrowed his eyes at her as he pulled the phone from his jeans pocket and
answered it.

Allie
frowned and ruffled Boo's fur while she half-listened to Jase's end of the
conversation.  There had to be a way to convince him to let her stay.  Just for
a little while. 

"When
did this happen?"  Something in the tone of Jase's voice caught both Boo's
and her attention.  "The one on Ninth?"  Another pause.  "What
about Jenna?  When did you hear this?"  He shook his head and swore
softly.  He shifted his gaze to Allie and then he quickly looked away. 
"Okay, fine.  Get some men out to both places.  Make sure Jorge has extra
cash for anyone willing to talk.  I'm leaving right now, and I'll see you in
twenty."

Jase
ended his call and looked at her.  From the expression on his face, she knew it
wasn't good news.  "Someone's torched one of our hideouts."

Allie's
throat tightened.  "You said Jenna."  She tried to inhale.  "Was
it her place?"

"No." 
He shook his head.  "But rumor is, her place is next." 

"I
thought you said it was safe there."  Cold fear gripped her.  "Is it
because of me?  Do they think I'm there?"

"Allie,
this isn't a risk-free business I'm running.  It could be for any number of
reasons."  The look on his face told her otherwise.

"But
that's not what you think."

"I
don't know what to think.  All I know is I'm the closest one to Jenna's, and if
her place is about to be hit, I need to get there first."

Allie's
insides started to shake.  "Can't you call her?  Warn her to get
out?"

"Max
tried.  Nobody's answering."  He looked as sick as she felt.  "I have
to go."

"No,"
she said, scrambling out of bed.  She grabbed his hand.  "Don't leave
me."

"You're
safe here, Allie."  He touched her cheek.  "There's fifteen men
stationed in the warehouse.  All with guns.  All prepared for a fight." 
His look was sincere, but she didn't feel comforted.  "And no one but a
few of my people knows you're here."

She
shook her head.  "No.  Please don't leave me."

"I
have to go.  If I don't, Jenna's dead."  He pulled away.  "I'll put
several more men near the entrance to the tunnel leading here and a couple more
just outside the kitchen doorway.  They'll protect you."

"Who
will protect you?"  Tears hovered in her eyes, but what could she do to
stop him?

"I'll
leave Boo with you, too."  He didn't acknowledge the question of his
safety.  "Stay," he said to his dog.

Allie
looked down and there was Boo sitting loyally by her feet.  She lowered her
hand, and he bumped it with his wet nose.  "Be careful." 

There
was a fierce look in his eyes as he left.  She sank to the floor next to Boo
and pulled him into her arms.  His fur was so soft.  So warm.  He seemed to
sense her mood, and she let him lick the tears from her face.

Allie
didn't sit for long.  The best thing would be to get up and get dressed.  She
didn't want to be in her pajamas when Jase returned, and if she needed anything
from the men stationed outside her door, it would be better if she was dressed.

Using
Jase's methods from the previous day, she made a makeshift patch to cover the
bandage on her arm and took a quick shower.  Afterward, she slipped into Jase's
shirt, letting the feel of the soft cotton surround her.  She hugged herself,
pressing the fabric against her skin.  This was better than the other shirts,
anyway. 

She
released a deep breath.  Everything would be okay.  She repeated the mantra to
herself again several times, trying to sound believable. 

Boo
followed her out of the bathroom and down the stairs.  If she weren't safe, the
dog would let her know.  She walked into the kitchen and over to the door. 
Jase had said he'd stationed some men out there to protect her.  She pressed
her ear against it and listened as Boo sniffed around the edges.  The voices of
two men echoed from beyond, laughing over something.  Boo wandered away, and
she felt satisfied everything was as it should be.

In
the quiet of the kitchen, she sat at the table, eating toast and milk, tossing
the crusty edges of her bread to Boo.  He was so cute with his white chest and
feet.  She smiled.  When she finally found a place to settle, she was going to
get her own dog.

She
stood to take her dishes to the sink when Boo let out a low growl.  Growing up
in a rough neighborhood, combined with the previous night's events put her on
alert.  She froze midstep, her gaze drifting to the door.  Adrenaline gushed
through her veins as her heart pounded loudly in response.  She swallowed,
listening carefully.  There was a yell, and Allie screamed when several loud
pops echoed from behind the kitchen door.

Oh,
God.  Not again.

"Boo,"
she whispered and patted her leg.  "Come on."  She raced out of the
kitchen and up the stairs.  This was not happening again.  It couldn't.  Jase
had promised she'd be safe.  But she wasn't.  No one was.  She'd learned that
lesson the hard way.  No one was safe living in a world of crime.

In
her bedroom, she stopped long enough to stuff her feet in her shoes, and then
she headed immediately for the closet.  She opened the door.  Her pulse
thundered in her veins, but she was determined to stay in control.  The latch
to the opening was up above somewhere.  Frantic, she felt along the underneath
of the shelf.  Then she had it.  She jerked it down and pushed open the hidden
door. 

Below
her, she could hear pounding.  It wouldn't be long before they were inside. 
Boo turned toward the open bedroom door and growled again.  "No, Boo. 
No."  She called him to her. 

She
found Jase's flashlight on the shelf and shut her and Boo in the closet.  She
wouldn't leave a path for them to follow, and there was no reason to think
they'd find the hidden door.

She
grabbed Boo by the collar and turned into the narrow stairwell.  Quietly, she
pulled the hidden door shut behind her. 

Each
beat of her heart was loud enough to give away her location.  With soft pats on
her jeans, she convinced Jase's dog to follow her up the stairs.  Calm.  She
needed to stay calm.  Her deep breaths echoed in the narrow space.  She kept
the flashlight's beam trained on the door above her.  Safety lay ahead.