“It’s okay,” she said into my chest. “Thank you. For everything.”
This strong, brave, reckless girl was going to be the death of me. “It’s my pleasure and honor to take care of you, Firefly. Thor, too.” And I’d kill anyone who threatened her beautiful, unbreakable spirit.
I wanted to stay like this forever, but I reluctantly let go. “Keep getting ready. I want to get you out of here.”
Her head snapped up. “You think he knows where I live?”
Fuck. I didn’t mean to say that. “I don’t know.” I didn’t know. But I had my suspicions, and I sure as hell wasn’t sharing them with her.
Jenna nodded and rushed to throw more things together, and a few minutes later, she was ready to go. I double checked the windows were locked and everything was off, then we loaded my car before taking Thor for a quick walk. Jenna gripped my two little fingers tight, so sweet and trusting and scared. I wanted to scoop her up and whisk her far away.
Jenna hesitated outside my car, looking toward hers. “Should I take mine?”
“No. You don’t need it right now.”
Luckily, she didn’t make me elaborate that she wouldn’t be going anywhere without me and I’d be the only one driving in case I had to lose a tail.
“I need to call Izzy,” she said once we were on our way. I listened as she gave her the most watered-down, understated version of the story. She did warn her to be alert, at least. She also promised she’d be there Monday, although as far as I was concerned, that was not a guarantee.
I waited until we were home and Jenna was settled in before I excused myself to the backyard to make my calls. If that was the story she was telling, she wouldn’t want to hear mine.
Tex, a medically retired SEAL who was just as lethal from his computer as he’d once been in the field, promised to look into it, although he said he was busy gathering intel for a mission that was going sideways and may not be able to devote much time to it for a couple of days. I assured him we were fine and I’d keep her safe for as long as it took, even though nothing about this felt fine or safe.
Next, I texted Sledge and his wife, Beth. She was almost as powerful from behind her keyboard as Tex, and they’d both helped Dylan with his psycho ex-wife and her asshole boyfriend last year. I knew Sledge was working, but it didn’t feel right to draw his wife into this mess without him knowing.
Beth called immediately. “I’ll find him. Tell me everything you know.”
I told her what I could, then I went inside for Jenna to tell the rest. Jenna was sitting at the kitchen island staring into a steaming mug of coffee, but when I explained Beth was on the phone, she took a long, fortifying sip, and with shaking hands, calmly and clearly told her everything.
Beth asked a few clarifying questions and promised to be in touch soon, the sound of a keyboard clicking quickly in the background.
“You did great, Firefly,” I praised. “Will you be okay if I go back out for a few more calls?”
“Of course,” she said with a fake smile. I hated it, but I had to let it go. I dropped a kiss on top of her head and hurried back out. The sooner I finished these calls, the sooner I could be with her.
I called the library and spoke to Jim, the security guard. He sounded adequately troubled and like he certainly cared for Jenna, but also like he was woefully unprepared to do more than direct patrons to the restroom or politely request that they don’t eat in the library.
Then I called Ryan. He’d texted me right after our shift started, and I’d replied vaguely that I’d call when I could.
“What the hell, man? Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It’s Jenna,” I said, my voice catching.
“What’s wrong with Jenna?” he asked, and I heard the others repeat him in the background.
“Put it on speaker.” He did, and I filled them in about her stalker, finishing it off with the fact that I might’ve seen him in the park shortly before the rape.
The guys all responded at once.
“Is Jenna okay?”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“You’re not psychic, you know. Even if that was the guy, you couldn’t have known.”