Just One Touch (Slow Burn #5)(82)

Christ, no wonder she'd seemed so stunned, lost and bewildered. How she'd come to ever be in the cult was a question that had haunted her from the time she was old enough to question it. Had she been loved? Had her parents wanted her? Had she been taken from them or had they given her into the keeping of the cult, and were they even alive?

She'd had happy memories of her father, and now to find out that he'd been killed trying to prevent her abduction? It was little wonder she was so devastated, but even so, the knowledge that she had been loved seemed to give her a small measure of comfort. Her last words before she'd drifted to sleep were that she'd been loved.

He wanted to weep for her and at the same time he wanted answers for her. But where did the mother fit into the equation? His suspicious side considered the timing of her mother appearing on national television to plead for information regarding her daughter highly coincidental, given the fact that a powerful drug lord was desperate in his bid to own her like a prized possession.

But the mother's appearance and subsequent plea could very well have to do with the cult making national headlines when the tragedy was reported on local and national networks alike. On the surface her story seemed plausible enough, but fuck! What was he supposed to do? Forbid Jenna from being reunited with her mother because the timing was suspicious, since it was his goddamn job to be suspicious of anyone trying to get close to his woman?



       
         
       
        

Hell, he didn't even know Jenna's feelings on the subject. She'd received a shock she hadn't expected in a million years, and that had come on top of the other stressful events she'd endured in such short order. How much more could she take before she crumbled under the weight of the shit constantly being piled on her?

Frustration simmered and boiled in him, threatening to explode. He hated this feeling of helplessness. Of not knowing what to do to make everything better. To give her the kind of life she deserved, a family who loved her.

"This is heavy, man," Shadow muttered. "What the fuck are you going to do?"

Isaac sighed and ran his hands over his face. "It depends on what Jenna chooses to do with the bombshell just dropped on her. It's our job to make damn sure that everything checks out and she's protected at all costs.

"Before we get Jenna's hopes up or dashed, I think it would be a good idea if we did some discreet investigating on the mom and just see if she checks out. We can't be too careful until Jaysus is taken down for good, and we can't just waltz Jenna out in public for a reunion   with her mother. It would end up being a fucking bloodbath."

"We'll get on it right away," Shadow said. "You just worry about Jenna and finding out how she's handling the news and figure out what she wants to do with it."

Isaac nodded, a curl of panic snaking through his stomach. He didn't like this one bit and especially the timing even if the timing was perfectly reasonable given the national attention the mass murder had been given.

He strode back into the bedroom, his chest tightening when he saw Jenna curled into the smallest ball possible. She huddled there on the bed, her eyes closed, but even in sleep, her thoughts were troubled and her dreams were haunted.

He slid into bed next to her with no hesitation and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest so he surrounded her with his strength and warmth. She relaxed some, as if recognizing him in her sleep, and she let out a little sigh before burrowing her face into his neck and then she went limp as sleep once more claimed her.

For how long he lay there simply holding her, he didn't know, but he didn't sleep, instead staying awake to stand guard over his precious angel. He wouldn't close his eyes and succumb to sleep no matter how tired he was, because he couldn't risk her waking and him not knowing it.

After what seemed an eternity, she began to stir against him. She let out a soft murmur against his neck, one that sounded like "daddy." His heart broke for her. How much more loss could she endure when she'd already had everything in the world taken from her once?

She lifted her head, pulling away until she could look into his eyes. "Isaac?" 

"Yes, baby," he said, caressing her cheek in a comforting gesture.

"Is it true? Is what I saw true?"

He blew out his breath, wishing he could give her definitive answers. "I don't know yet. We're checking on it right now and as soon as we know something you'll be the first one to hear."

"I don't remember much about her," Jenna said fretfully. "Will that anger her?"