Shadows and Light: The Complete Series, page 29
“Why are you here?”
“I was visiting with a family in the building and saw you heading for the roof. Poor Mrs. Perez must think I’m stark raving mad the way I dashed out of her apartment.” He pulled the collar of his coat up over his ears, and picked up the excess rope. “But I can tell that nothing I say is going to keep you from carrying out your crazy plan. I might as well see that the people in this building don’t have to wake up with you splattered all over their front step.”
Jennie sucked in a breath. “You’re going to help me?”
“I want something in return before you dive off the roof.”
“What?”
“This is the last time you do this. We’ll find another way. I want your word on it.” His eyes bore into hers.
“I can’t give you that.” She stiffened her spine.
“You think this is up for negotiation?” He glared at her. “I want your promise that this will be the last time you roam in the middle of the night, scaling over rooftops to repair those dilapidated cameras. I also want your promise there will be no more hacking of any kind looking for evidence on Mendoza.”
There had been people in her life she could eventually sway, but never the man in front of her. It must have been the cassock.
“I’m waiting, Jennie.”
Jennie looked out over the rooftop then back at Father Anthony. “I promise this will be the last time,” she hissed.
Father Anthony nodded and braced his boot against a cement block. Jennie gave him a quick hug and repositioned herself before he changed his mind.
“I can do this,” she said, bracing her left hand on the ropes at her waist and her right hand holding the section of rope around her back. She then stepped back to the edge of the roof and propelled herself into the air, controlling her descent down the side of the building for about four yards.
She pulled herself up against the building and reached for the camera with her left hand while she held her descent with her right hand. She tried to flick the release button on the battery cover, but her wet gloved hand just wouldn’t cooperate. Using her teeth, she pulled the glove off each finger. While she held the soggy glove between her teeth, she released the latch and pulled out the battery. She slipped it into her pocket and took out the replacement. In seconds, she had the battery in and the casing closed. The only problem left was getting the glove back on her hand for the climb to the roof. She pulled the glove out of her mouth, but couldn’t figure out how to put it back on without using her other hand.
An eerie feeling of being watched danced across her skin. Jennie froze, her eyes scanning up and down the street. She gripped the rope and spun around to face the house across the street. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but the feeling overwhelmed her.
“Jennie, are you okay down there?”
“I can’t get my glove back on.” She slammed down on the panic and tried again to place her hand in the glove.
“Why did you take it off?”
“I couldn’t unlatch the button on the battery casing. Can you hold me so I can use my right hand?”
“I have you. Just be careful. It’s icing up.”
Jennie released her right hand and quickly tried to yank on the glove.
“Shit.”
Anthony’s panicked whisper reached Jennie just as she dropped, her stomach plummeting with her. A gasp escaped her lips and the glove slipped from her fingers. The rope immediately went taut and she grasped it with her bare hand, her descent jerking to a stop. She clutched the rope with both hands as her body slammed against the bricks of the building. Her body twisted and she spotted a faint light turn on in the third story window across the street. The dim light cast a shadow on the side of the house. Movement caught her eye and a man’s form appeared, his body plastered against the siding. The light switched off, she blinked, and he was gone.
As her heart hammered, she used all her strength and climbed the rope until Father Anthony dragged her over the edge.
“Jennie, are you okay?” The priest helped her stand.
Jennie began to remove her harness, but a sharp pain in her left hand stopped her. Raising it up into the dim light, she studied the long, red rope burn that ran across her hand from the middle of her fingers to the center of her palm. She couldn’t stop the groan.
“That’s got to hurt. I can bandage it back at St. Luke’s,” the priest said, coiling the rope.
It took a moment before she could speak. When she did, her lips trembled. “Someone was watching me.” Her heartbeat roared in her ears, drowning out the night sounds. She turned to look back at the house. “He was hiding in that shadow at the edge of the house. He backed behind that bush and disappeared.”
“Are you sure? Why didn’t he warn the guys inside the house?”
“I don’t know, but let’s get out of here.”
A deep grumble came from Father Anthony’s throat. “Last time, Jennie. I’m getting too old for this shit.”
• • •
Jared eased behind the large column and stood in the shadows of the sanctuary of St. Luke’s. A cold, stale chill filled the air. Ceiling lights beamed over the cross casing a light glow on the altar. The rest of the sanctuary was bathed in flickering candle light. With his back against the cool marble, he took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the familiar scents of incense, burning candles, and wood polish.
From his position, he had a clear view of the woman sitting at the grand piano. Jennie McKenzie. Except for the few moments in the squad room, it had been over two years since he stood this close to her.
There was a time he didn’t go a week without seeing her. After the fiasco on Mendoza’s lawn, he should have disappeared from her life. But for some reason, he couldn’t stay away. His protective instincts wouldn’t allow him to rest until he knew everything in her world was safe. Then a friendship like none other he ever experienced formed between them. Jennie had an exuberance for life, she lived every minute to its fullest. But it was her quiet maturity that drew him to her. Her very presence settled him and filled a hole that not even his twin could touch.
But after his screw-up in Mexico, he cut Jennie out of his life almost completely. It was the only way he could protect her. The painful scars he earned while in Mendoza’s hellhole he could live with. What woke him in the middle of the night was the faceless voice from his dreams — Elías will hurt you by destroying Jennie. Protect her. You are her only chance.
Night after night for over three years, the message screamed in his head. Ending all contact with Jennie was his only choice, but it was a damn hard one. The sick bastard watched her sleep, teach, live — and Jared felt powerless to stop him.
The special FBI taskforce led by Jared’s brother Mac was finally closing in on Mendoza. Mac needed Jared completely off Mendoza’s radar. In order to insure Jared stuck with the plan, Mac went against the brother code and obtained his superiors’ support. Jared knew he would have done the same thing in Mac’s shoes. Relying on others to keep Jennie safe was hell. Mac’s team, who watched her every move, didn’t know her like Jared did. If they did, then they would know something was off.
Jared needed to see Jennie. He needed to find out what the hell had her so upset, and he wasn’t leaving tonight until he got her to open up to him.
He rested his head against the column and listened to the hauntingly sad music coming from the piano. As Jennie’s fingers waltzed across the keyboard, a tear slid down her cheek. Whatever gut-wrenching pain she was trying to rid herself of through the music, it wasn’t working. Every note echoed what only could be a deep hurt — the kind of hurt that dug itself into the darkest crevasses of the heart. Just listening to her pain ate away at him. What the hell had he missed that would cause this kind of grief?
Jared stepped out of the shadow and waited for her to notice him. It didn’t take long before her fingers froze and she sought him out. “Jared,” she whispered.
He took another step closer. “Hey, Jennie.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” He strolled up the side aisle, keeping as much in the shadows as he could. The one question he wanted to ask all day came stumbling out of his mouth. “How could you just run off like that, Jennie? You know Noah. He’s all bark. He never would have … ”
“You shouldn’t be here.” Her expressive, deep hazel eyes widened as she searched the sanctuary. When Jennie turned and faced him, her features were clouded with fear.
Jared straightened his stance and his hand went to his weapon. “Who else is here?”
“No one, except Father Anthony.”
“Why are you so spooked? Hell, Jennie, you look like you are about to jump out of your skin.”
Jennie stood and lowered the piano lid over the keys. “It’s just late. I didn’t expect anyone to be here. You just startled me … ”
Damn. What the fuck was going on?
“I think that is the first lie you ever told me.” Jared took several steps, closing the space between them. Even in the dim light he could tell his words affected her. He reached for her hands clutched in front of her. His fingers rubbed against several layers of gauze wrapped around her left palm. He lifted it so he could get a better look. He couldn’t see what was under the bandage, but the skin was red, and blisters formed on each joint. “What the hell? You didn’t have this earlier.”
She yanked her hand free. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
“That’s two lies.” Jared shook his head. “And this,” he said, holding up her hand, “is definitely something. How did it happen?”
In all the years they have known each other, Jennie never tried to close herself off from him. In fact, he teased often that her eyes gave away exactly what she was thinking. But not tonight. She was definitely hiding something.
Where was the smile that lightened his mood, or the hug that stayed with him for hours? Their friendship was solid. She was one of the few people with whom he felt completely comfortable. He didn’t think there was anything he didn’t know about her.
So what had he missed? Could the distance he placed between them have finally led her to stop believing in him? The thought was crushing.
“Why did you come to the station today?”
“I left you a note.”
Jared edged in close enough that her citrus and jasmine scent surrounded him. She didn’t back away but she kept her gaze on the floor. “Since when do you need to leave a note? Why didn’t you just let me know you were coming? I would have been there to meet you.”
Jennie brushed a hand through her auburn shoulder length hair while her eyes darted everywhere but at him. So many emotions passed across her features — desperation, guilt, sadness.
With the tip of his finger, he lifted her face. “Jennie, what’s wrong?”
“Read the note, Jared. It’s all in there,” she replied in a hushed whisper.
It took everything in him to keep from blaring out where she could stuff the damn note. “You could always talk to me before. What’s changed?” He cupped her face with both of his hands. His thumb caressed the tender skin along her jaw. “I’m here, Jennie. Please don’t shut me out.”
“You’re not here, Jared. I can’t … won’t — ”
“Won’t what, Jennie? Count on me, trust me?”
Shaking her head, she reached out her uninjured hand and flattened it against his chest. Her touch sent a jolt straight to his gut and he swallowed, hard. She must have noticed his body stiffen because her fingers stopped their circular caresses and her eyes locked on his.
She pulled back. Jared placed his hand over hers, capturing it against his chest. He traced his thumb along the outside of her wrist. Her pulsed raced against the fabric. “I’ll always be here for you — do you understand? I thought you knew that.”
“I know you are there for me, but I’m not that stupid kid anymore. I’m all grown up.”
“You were never a stupid kid. Maybe too trusting, but never stupid.” He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I stopped treating you like a kid a while back, Jennie. All I want to do is help if I can.”
She dropped her arms to her side. “You can’t ride in and fix my problems. I need to fight my own battles.” She glanced over his shoulder at the entrance. “You shouldn’t even be here. You said we had to stay away from each other so … ”
Jared lifted her injured hand. “Is this the result of you fighting one of those damn battles?”
He took in a calming breath and then another. She would not respond to him if he allowed himself to get angry.
The space between them went cold, empty. Unable to stop himself, he drew her back into his arms. Jennie gripped hold of his arms and her gaze bore into him. There was such longing in her expression which went against everything she said to him. “Don’t push me away like this. I need — ”
He didn’t understand what came over him, but he brought his lips to hers until they barely touched. Every sense awoke at once, the heat of her breath on his lips, her body molding itself to his, the scent of her wrapping him in a sensual cocoon. All that was missing was taste. He had to taste her.
Their gaze held, and when Jennie didn’t pull away, he curled his hand around the nape of her neck and covered her mouth with his. At first, he tried to be tender, gentle, giving her time to shove him away.
Then need took over — the kind of need that demanded a response. It was as if he had been waiting a lifetime for this moment, a starved man with a hunger so intense, he could do nothing but take what was being offered.
Jennie tasted of mint, vanilla, and there wasn’t a tentative bone in her body. She matched his desire with her own, taking everything. Hot, boiling blood raced through his veins, coiling in his belly until he thought he would burst.
How had he missed this primal, sexual connection between them? Where in the hell did it come from? How long had it been staring him right in the face?
Jared’s hand caressed her spine landing at the base. He drew her into him. Jennie arched her back until there was nothing separating them but their thin layer of clothing.
The nails clutching his shirt relaxed. Jennie planted her hands on his chest and gave a slight push. It almost didn’t register. Then she broke the kiss. Her head rested on his chest while she caught her breath. Jared buried his fingers into her hair and cradled her to his chest.
Shit! How was he going to walk away from her now? How was he going to breathe without touching, holding, making love to her? He just opened up a Pandora’s box he had no desire to ever shut.
“Jared?” Jennie’s voice was winded as she tried to speak.
“I know, Jennie.”
She raised her head and met his gaze. “We can’t … I can’t.”
“I know.”
He rested his forehead against hers. He was going to step away and leave her here. There was no other option for him until Mendoza was stopped. Mendoza will use Jennie to hurt him. He had to let her go. But what he unleashed tonight could not be taken back.
A door slammed from somewhere in the church. Jennie moved out of his arms. “That’s Father Anthony. He’s here to walk me home.”
“Damn it, Jennie I can’t leave without knowing you’re okay.”
She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. “I’m fine.”
“And that’s lie number three. You are not fine, far from it.”
“You have to go, Jared.”
Jared cupped her neck and drew her to him. “It will not be like this forever. We have something damn powerful between us, and one day we’re going to see where it leads us. Believe in me, Jennie. Trust me like I trusted you. Can you do that?” Without waiting for her to answer, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then on the tip of her nose, ending on her lips. The kiss ended way too soon. He lifted his eyes and met hers, then stepped behind the large column just as the priest entered the sanctuary.
“Are you ready to go, Jennie?”
Jennie stood alone at the piano with her eyes closed. Jared could feel her anguish. He felt empty, yet filled with her.
The priest strolled up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Jennie, are you okay?”
Jared didn’t miss the concern in his voice. Jennie turned and faced her friend. “Yes, just drained.”
“After your evening, I don’t doubt it,” the priest commented. They both turned and left the sanctuary using the door near the altar. Jennie never turned back.
Jared stayed in his location until he was sure he was alone. He moved out behind the column and approached the altar. He genuflected as his mom taught him many years ago. Raising his eyes to the man on the cross, he prayed, “Help me keep her safe.”
Chapter Five
Maryland Department of State Police Headquarters
The next morning
Blood thundered in his ears. His lungs ached as he tried to compete with the vise around his throat. Jared scrambled violently to remove the arms that constrained him, but he couldn’t breathe … move … react. His twin brother lay unconscious only inches from him. Mendoza held Jennie up against him, his hand gripping a chunk of her hair.
“Get your hands off her!” Jared gasped for air.
Mendoza laughed and yanked her hair, forcing her head back. While he eyed Jared, he crushed his lips down on Jennie’s mouth. The brutal kiss only lasted a moment, but he received the response he wanted. He dragged her to the chopper, shoving her to the floor.
Jared fought Mendoza’s goon like a madman. He reared his head back and bashed it into the man’s jaw while he tried to release the arm from around his neck. His captor, in one fluid motion, slammed Jared’s body down onto the asphalt and rammed a foot into the middle of his back.
“You were her only chance,” a familiar voice roared inside his head.
“Adios, pendejos, enjoy hell.” Mendoza leered and climbed in behind Jennie. Jared watched in horror as Mendoza lifted his cell phone and pressed the call button.
“No!”
While Jared struggled to free himself, the cell phone rang, activating the explosives attached to Noah’s chest.
