Just One Touch (Slow Burn #5)(53)

"How often did they check on you, sweetheart?" Dane asked Jenna gently as they moved as a unit toward the kitchen where they'd gained access to the building.

"They left me alone after the first time when . . ." she trailed off, her gaze dropping and her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.

The others exchanged grim expressions. They knew well about that first time and as angry as Isaac was about the son of a bitch who'd put his hands on Jenna, he was relieved that from that point no one had bothered her.

"They tied me up and left me on the floor," she said, her chin coming up, defiance glinting in her eyes. Almost as if she'd admonished herself for feeling shame for something she had no control over. Now if he could only get her to see reason in other areas . . . "I don't think they were overly concerned about me going anywhere. They were busy planning their move to a more secure location."

She dropped her head once more, but Isaac saw fury burning in her ice-blue eyes. It was a stunning contradiction. Fire and ice.

"I didn't exactly prove a challenge to them. He laughed at me and said I'd made it far too easy and that he was disappointed. Then he told me that I may have been able to waltz right out of protective custody but that where he was taking me I'd never see outside the walls of my prison. He seemed to think he was very amusing. He told me that he might consider torturing those who defied him, just so he could send them to me so I'd have company every once in a while."

Her voice dropped to a whisper and became tearful.

"But he also said he'd never allow me to heal them. He planned only to taunt them with my presence and the knowledge of what I could do so they'd know healing and life was so very close, just a touch away, and he wanted me to watch them die because he knew exactly what that would do to a person like me."

She shuddered, and Isaac put his arm around her to squeeze comfortingly.

Knight eased his head forward to get a sight line down the hallway in both directions, to and from the kitchen, their objective. He gave a simple nod and Isaac urged Jenna forward, wanting her out of this place as quickly as possible.

Just as he and Jenna were about to step into the hall, where they'd be visible to anyone present there, apprehension rolled down his spine. Without confirming his gut feeling, he slammed Jenna back, inserting his body in front of her. She stumbled, but Shadow caught her against his body and quickly covered her mouth with his huge hand to silence her.

The remaining group of men slid down the wall from the doorway so they wouldn't be readily visible. Only if the person walking rapidly down the hall chose to enter the laundry room.

Shit. Isaac hoped the others had already left the kitchen and were outside waiting because if not, they were all fucked. Isaac watched the outline of a large man pass by the laundry room and pause at the kitchen door. He peered in and then let out a grumble. Then he checked his watch and swore before lifting a radio to the side of his head.



       
         
       
        

"When the fuck is Chopper going to cook some goddamn food?"

"He's not, fool," the reply crackled over the two-way radio.

"Why the fuck not? I'm starving, and I'm sure everyone else is too."

"Perhaps you should worry more about doing as you were told and carrying out those orders instead of planning the next time to stuff more food into your lard ass," a silky, taunting voice sounded low over the radio.

Jenna went rigid, her hand flying to her mouth as if she were going to be sick. Her eyes were sorrowful and she bit down on her knotted fist just as an involuntary dry heave wracked her body.

Shadow's arm went around her for support and then he gently extricated her curled fingers from her mouth, rubbing the teeth marks left by her agitation.

"I think those hands have suffered enough abuse already," he whispered next to her ear. "He can't hurt you, Jenna. We'd never let that happen."

Her eyes flew to his, her misery so pronounced that it made Isaac's own gut clench.

"What is it, little angel?" Shadow asked, frowning at her extreme reaction.

"He'll kill him," she said, barely managing to form the words.

Her stomach heaved again, but this time she swallowed it back and balled her fists at her sides.

"We have to hurry. He's one of those people I told you about. One of the ones he'll torture for pissing him off. Then he'll bring him to me, just like he promised, and he'll let him die while I have to watch."

Tears trickled down her cheeks as everyone else exchanged looks of shock. She spoke with too much conviction for someone who hadn't seen it happen.