Perv(74)

“Yeah. I think the crazy girl hit on me.”

“Not surprised. She’s a spoiled brat.”

“Well, the important thing is, it’s over. Done. There’s no way she can go back there. And I don’t blame her. Now I just need her to let me back in, and I’ll show her how a real family works.” He smiled at his friends, and then he glanced at his feet. “I asked her to move in with me.”

“Already?” Rider asked.

“It feels right.”

“I get that,” Rafe said. “When I met Katy, it was fast.”

Mason chuckled. “So fast I recall punching you when she walked in the building for the first time and nailing you to the ground.”

“Ha ha. Something like that. Anyway, go for it. Sorry I gave you such a hard time initially. I didn’t see her fitting into our kind of world.”

Mason shrugged. “I don’t think I would have believed it, either. No hard feelings.”

Rider lifted a hand and gave a quick wave. “Hey. I have to get back to work. Night shift. You guys work out your happily-ever-afters without me.” He smirked as he headed to the door.

Rafe yelled over his shoulder. “Your time is coming, Rider.”

“Never.” Rider slipped out the door without another word.

“I’m gonna go home too. You okay?” Rafe asked.

“Yep. I’ll sleep better after the work out. Tomorrow I’ll pull out all the stops. How can she turn down a face like this?” He pointed at his own.

Rafe shook his head. “I’m sure she can’t.” He turned to leave the building, Mason on his heels.

Tomorrow.





Chapter Nineteen


Jenna bolted to sitting in her bed. Someone was pounding on the door. She glanced at the clock. Eight thirty. The sun was pouring in. She’d slept long and hard after calling Mariel last night to see if she could open the shop this morning, and then she’d curled up in a ball and cried herself to sleep.

Who the hell was at the door?

The knocking started again, and she swung her legs over the side of the bed and brushed her hair back from her face as she padded toward the front of the apartment. She worried it was some drunk or someone high who had the wrong address. It wouldn’t be the first time someone showed up outside unannounced and apologizing for their mistake. But they didn’t seem to be going away, either.

She peered out the peephole. Two men in official-looking suits stood outside. She’d never seen them before. And she didn’t like the looks of them. Something about them made her shiver.

Instead of opening the door, she backed toward her bedroom. As soon as she was inside, she grabbed her cell phone and dialed Mason.

“Hey, baby. You sleep well?”

She whispered, suddenly gasping for breath. “There’s some men at my door, pounding on it. I’ve never seen them before.”

“What?” His voice was stronger.

She heard them yell her name, and she jumped. “Oh, God. They know who I am. What the hell?”

“Jenna. Don’t open the door. I’m on my way.”

“What do you suppose they want? It’s a Monday morning. They’re so insistent.”

“Don’t know. Stay inside. I’ll be right there.”

“Hurry.” She hung up. She didn’t want to distract him. She wanted him to concentrate on getting to her. Hell, he would be at work. At least he didn’t work very far away. She didn’t know why she was so concerned, but the tingle crawling up her spine was unmistakable.

She didn’t trust her parents not to do something crazy like send someone to reason with her. She wasn’t in the mood. Or maybe they were lawyers. They looked like it, but what the hell for? She shook her head. Lawyers don’t make house calls.

The pounding grew louder. She shook as she moved to the back of the room as though each inch would help buffer her from whatever those men wanted. She slinked down onto the floor when her back hit the corner of the room, pulling her knees up to her chest.

Muffled sounds still reached her ears. “Jenna. Open the door. We know you’re in there. Please don’t make this harder than it is.”

Make what harder? What the fuck was going on?

•●•

Mason drove fast, too fast. He’d dialed Rider as he’d run from his office to his car. Luckily Rider had just gotten off his shift and was currently barreling toward Jenna’s place also.

Mason had no idea what he might find, but he had a bad feeling. And Rider was the best person he could think to call for backup.

The drive seemed much longer than normal. As Mason pulled up to the curb, he saw Rider coming up behind him, lights on. They both jumped from their cars at the same time.