Chapter 29

Nate

"Mr. Hayes? You're free to go." The nurse walked into my room the next morning with some of my clothes folded up in her hand. "Your friend Mikey is outside the room. You want me to tell him that you're not seeing people?"

"No. Let him in." I got up and pulled the gown off as she yelped and turned, walking to the door while cursing me.

I chuckled and walked over to my clothes.

"Okay. Thanks, ma'am." Mikey walked in and turned his back to me. "You fucker. How did I know you'd be wanting to wag your cock and make us all jealous? Sick ass."

"You missed me. It's obvious." I pulled my jeans over my legs and buttoned them. "You alone?"

"Yeah." He turned around, squinting. "Is it safe?"

"Only threat is jealousy." I picked up my shirt and pulled it over my head as the smell of Jenna's perfume filled my nose. I flinched and lifted an eyebrow as I glanced over toward Mikey. "Why does my shirt smell like Jenna?"

"Because she went with Erik to get you clothes a day or so ago. She held them clutched to her chest for most of the night." He glanced down. "You know I hate getting in your business-"

"Right. So don't." I brushed my hand over my nose and tried not to let the scent of her all over me drive me to the brink of insanity. I missed her so bad I felt like I had the fucking flu.

"Yeah, and I wouldn't if I didn't love you like a brother." He moved in front of me and gripped my shoulders. "You ain't never had nothing good in your life, Nate. Nothing. None of us, or a good woman. A mother that loved you. And finally this angel shows up, and because of shit that was out of her control, you dismiss her like she was a whore you paid money for."

"I'm not hearing this, Mikey. You weren't there. You didn't see the way I behaved. The things I said. The way I treated her."

"Word on the street is that she tied your ass up and rode you like a prized stallion."

"And you think that's the way a woman wants to be talked about?" I gripped his throat, striking at him like a viper. "She's a good woman. She deserves a man that never puts her in the position to have to do that shit."

He gripped my fingers and pulled. "What if she liked it, Nate? Some girls like rough sex. Ash did."

I released him and turned my back to him in search of my shoes. "Jenna isn't like other women. She's beautiful and kind. And don’t talk to me about Ashley again. I need to forget all that shit. You bringing it up ain’t helping."

"Alright.” He nodded. “But even if Jenna is sweet and kind, she’s still a woman. She's strong and sexy. Bold as fuck. You're telling me on a wild night in the future the two of you might not have tied each other up and fucked half the night?"

I glanced over my shoulder. "She put you up to this shit?"

"No. She's out cold." He glanced down to his hands as my blood ran cold.

"What the fuck do you mean, out cold?"

"She and Erik found Ashley last night, at least that's what I'm assuming with the little bit that he's telling me."

"Where is Jenna?" I walked toward my oldest friend with a pleading in my voice that I knew I didn't need to explain.

"What do you care?" He took a step back.

"I'll fucking take you to the ground and whoop your ass like I did when we were kids, Mikey. Where is my girl?"

"Your girl?" The door opened a little wider behind Mikey and Erik leaned against it, looking like the cocky fucker he was. "I was thinking you threw her away. I was trying to be a gentleman, sweeping in and playing prince charming while you were tucked away, nursing your wounds."

"Stop dicking around with me." I gave them both a look that said I was going to find a blunt object and start fucking people up pretty soon.

"I told you where she was." Mikey turned and walked toward the door. "Come on. Get your shoes on and we'll take you home."

"Is Jenna at my place?"

"What? No." Erik smirked. "Why would she be at your place?"

"Did she kill Ash? Or did you do it?"

"I did it, and you owe me for it. She almost did it though. You should have seen her. I've had a hard on since last night. She's lucky she belongs to you, because I would have violated every part of her. So beautiful. So strong and fucking sexy." Erik's eyes grew dim.

"Hey. Shut the fuck up. Now." I moved toward him and he lifted his hands.

"She's pretty upset, man. I can't get her to eat or drink anything. She feels like a monster even though I put two slugs in Ashley’s pretty face.”

I swallowed my questions. All but one. "Where is the body?”

"Burned it."

"And Jenna’s brother's murder case?"

"It’s going to get pinned on Ashley.” Erik shrugged. “She attacked you and Jenna at your place and then fled town.”

Mikey cleared his throat. “Hey. They’re going to wonder where the hell she is.”

“True.” I glanced over to Erik. “We say that we don’t know or what?”

“Have you seen her since she went ape shit over at the apartment?” Erik lifted his eyebrow and smirked.

“No, but the cops aren’t going to stop looking for her.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Dude, there isn’t anything to tie my girl to Ash’s death, right?”

“Nope. They got a tip this morning that Denise, or Ashley ran out to an old house in the woods and the water heater was faulty. Whole fucking house blew up. Cops are out there now, I’m sure.” He looked far too cool for the situation at hand. Asshole. “Let’s just say I paid an eyewitness at the house beside it to help cover the story of nothing being out of the ordinary.”

“Paid or threatened?” Mikey snorted and jerked back as Erik turned and growled at him. “Okay. Shit. Sorry.”

“What’s going to happen to the money Ashley was set to inherit?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“It will go back to the family.” Erik chuckled darkly. “Why? You still wanting your cut?”

“No. I’m done with that shit. Never. I’d never take anything from Jenna or her folks.” I let out a long sigh. “Her family knows me as one of Denise’s old friend.”

“Good. That helps then.” Erik shrugged and moved back to rest against the door.

“How so?” Mikey glanced between me and my old friend.

I spoke up. “It could help in that they might think I met Jenna through Denise, but honestly that doesn’t matter. I told her dad that I go to De Luca all the time. He already assumes that I’ve seen Jenna, I’m sure. This isn’t as fucked up as it seems. We can work through it.”

“If you can work through killing Ash, then you got this in the bag.” Erik gave me a knowing look. “Besides, this pretty woman is totally in love with you. She mentioned not wanting to live without you. I even told her my dick was far meatier than yours, but there's just something about-"

I charged him, popping him in the mouth once before he returned the favor.

"Fuck you for that," I barked in his face.

"Yeah. Fuck you too for almost giving up the best thing that's ever going to happen to your sorry ass. Get your shit and I'll take you to her, but you fuck it up and that's it. She's mine. And you're not going to do a goddamn thing about it."

I turned and walked back into the room, sliding my hands through my hair as I looked around for my shoes. He was right. She was the best thing that was ever going to happen to me. She needed me. Even watching someone die was a big fucking deal.

Shit changed you forever.

Only love and high doses of lust offered a reprieve from that type of nightmare. I wanted to give her both. Fuck my pride. Jenna needed my acceptance and I needed hers.