Just One Touch (Slow Burn #5)(68)

She lifted one eyebrow as she waited for him to address the first issue.

Dane strode into the kitchen. "We're out of time, so do what you're going to do but make it fast," he snapped.

Jenna narrowed her eyes as she marched past Isaac as if daring him to stop her. And he was tempted. He was so tempted to make good on his threat to tie her to his bed. It would certainly make keeping the rest of his promises a hell of a lot easier. His lips curled upward into a snarl, baring his teeth when Jenna followed Shadow into the living room and took a seat on the floor next to him, the two sitting cross-legged directly in front of the TV.

"What do you think it is?" she asked Shadow nervously. "What did they say before the break?" She struggled a moment, her lips pursed in concentration, clearly puzzled. "Commercial break. That's what you called it, wasn't it? What is that?"

Oh hell no. If she needed information, reassurance, someone to hold her if the newscast upset or frightened her, it sure as fuck wasn't going to be Shadow. Isaac moved pointedly between Jenna and Shadow, wedging his large body into the small space, unapologetically bumping into Shadow until Shadow gave him a disgusted look and moved over several inches.

"Let's just see what the news anchor says," Shadow said soothingly. "I'll explain a commercial break to you later."

Dane held up his hand for silence as the news anchor sat at her desk with a screen to the right of her shoulder showing images of flashing lights, dozens of ambulances, police vehicles and fire trucks.

As soon as the images began rolling, Jenna stiffened, her body going so rigid that the strain was evident in her face and eyes. Eyes that became haunted and so apprehensive that Isaac wanted to smash the fucking television to make it stop. The others cast Jenna worried glances and Shadow leaned forward, eyeing her sharply around Isaac.

It took everything Isaac had to focus on what the reporter was saying when all he wanted to do was shield Jenna from further distress, but the images meant something to Jenna, so they needed all the information the news could provide.

"We have a breaking development on a story we brought you earlier. What was first believed to have been a mass suicide in a compound in an isolated area north of Houston by a previously unknown and highly secretive cult has now been determined to have been a gruesome mass homicide," the anchor said in a somber voice.

Isaac swore long and hard, and he wasn't the only one. Tensions skyrocketed in the room and everyone's eyes were glued to the television, where grisly details were being reported as calmly as if they were the weather report.

Jenna turned away from the TV, covering her entire face with her hands. She rocked back and forth, sounds of acute distress escaping her lips despite her having covered her mouth in an effort to prevent any sound from escaping. She shook uncontrollably and Isaac knew she was on the verge of shattering.

He exchanged helpless looks with Shadow and then glanced up at Dane, who was staring at Jenna with compassion and also fury over all she'd suffered. They all knew what this meant. What they didn't know is whether Jenna had put it together yet or if she was just reacting to the reminder of the horror her life had been for two decades.

"Give me a minute with Jenna," Isaac said in a low voice. "I'm going to take her into the bedroom and try to get her to rest." He gave Dane a meaningful look. "Do what needs to be done while I take care of her."

"There is a bottle of sedatives in the kitchen cabinet," Dane offered. "We keep all our safe houses stocked with stuff the women might need in case they ever have to go into hiding. The sedatives are Tori's. She still has anxiety attacks and she rarely sleeps worth a damn because her dreams frighten her."



       
         
       
        

He rubbed his hand over his face, his eyes stormy with rage. "She has nightmares of the past and of all that bastard did to her and she has dreams of the future, of what is to be. Both are very hard on her and sometimes taking a sedative is the only way she's able to sleep."

Isaac nodded. "Thanks," he said quietly. Then he looked to Shadow. "Can you get me one of the pills while I take Jenna to the bedroom? Bring something for her to drink so she can take the medicine."

Shadow rose without hesitation and Isaac turned back to Jenna, who had shut out everything around her as she struggled with the many demons that haunted her. With all the tenderness he was capable of, he lifted Jenna's curled-up body and cradled her against his heart. He squeezed her to let her know she was safe, that he was with her and that he'd never leave her. Then he pressed a gentle kiss to her hair, nuzzling the silky tresses as he slowly walked to their bedroom.