ALL too soon the others began filtering back into the living room and Jenna retreated into observation mode, shrinking against the couch as if to make herself invisible as she watched the others interact.
Isaac had used the need for more seating room as an excuse to move closer to Jenna until they sat side by side, their thighs touching. Eliza walked out ahead of Sterling to collect Jenna and Isaac’s plates, but before she could return them to the kitchen, Sterling was there, taking them from her, and then he leaned in and kissed her deeply.
“We need to be going,” Sterling said to Isaac and his men. “But my guys will be staying to guard the perimeter and if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Jenna had watched Eliza and Sterling, her eyes glazed with shock, but she waited until they’d left the room before she whispered to Isaac.
“Why did he kiss her?”
He could tell she was deeply confused and hell, so was he.
“He loves her,” he said simply. “She’s his wife. Hell, he can barely keep his hands off her most of the time,” he added with a chuckle.
There was no change in her expression.
“The men never kissed their wives,” she said in a low voice. “I was told I was unworthy of being kissed, of being held in such high regard, but none of the women were kissed. They were just possessions, married or not. I guess I don’t understand the point of kissing.”
Isaac swore under his breath. Just how old was Jenna? Was she even legal? He knew she looked young and there was definitely an air of innocence and naïveté about her that he’d never encountered even in very young girls. Jesus, if she wasn’t even of legal age, that meant he was almost twenty years older than her and he had no business having the thoughts he’d had of her.
“There are many reasons to kiss someone,” he said in a near whisper so the others wouldn’t hear. He knew she’d be deeply embarrassed if they were overheard. “Kisses can be a gesture of affection. Friendship. They can be an indication of passion. Of love. Of wanting someone. Or they can show a person that they are deeply cared about.”
Her sad expression of longing told him that she’d never felt any of those things, or at least that no one had ever felt those things about her.
He leaned forward, sliding his hand behind her neck to pull her toward him, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“See?” he said huskily. “It’s not so bad, is it?”
She stared strangely at him, color tinging her cheeks, her eyes glazed and her respirations speeding up as she emitted shallow breaths. Then she raised a shaking hand to touch the exact spot he’d kissed, almost as if committing it to memory.
“And, honey, if anyone is worthy of being kissed, of being held, of being given the utmost regard, it’s you. I don’t know what kind of bullshit you’ve been told and I know you’ve been told it often enough and long enough that you believe it, but if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to prove you wrong.”
She turned away, but not before he saw the betraying glimmer of tears in her eyes and the sadness that seemed to swamp her entire expression. God damn it, he hated fighting a faceless, unknown enemy. Worse, he hated fighting against her own deeply ingrained belief that she had no worth.
He knew he should be pressuring her to answer his questions and provide the information he needed, not only to keep her safe and protected, but also his teammates, who were in more imminent danger. Her pursuers wanted her at all costs. Alive. But he and his teammates were expendable, mere obstacles in the way of the ultimate prize.
He doubted he knew even a fraction of the horror Jenna had been subjected to, but what little he did know instilled a fury unlike any he’d ever felt in his life. Not even hearing of Ramie’s gruesome ordeal and experiencing firsthand Ari, Gracie and Eliza being taken, tormented and tortured or learning of Ramie’s horrific ordeal before DSS was created and Isaac had come to work for the Devereaux brothers had made him feel this murderous.
How would he react when he finally knew it all? When the time came that Jenna trusted him enough to confide in him, he needed to be strong and in control for her. A rock for her to lean on. Her shelter and shield against anything or anyone that could ever hurt her again.
But he also knew that it would be the most difficult thing he’d ever have to do. To sit there and stoically listen as Jenna outlined what she’d been made to endure without losing his ever-loving mind. He wanted to lash out and destroy everything in his path, anything to unleash the terrible rage that bubbled within him even now before he knew everything, but he couldn’t afford to lose control, scare the fuck out of her and have her shut down and worse, shut him out.
Zeke spoke up, breaking the silence. “I know Sterling has men posted, but I think we should alternate taking watch through the night. Doesn’t hurt to double down.”
Dex and Knight nodded their agreement.
“I’ll take first watch,” Shadow said, standing up. “I’d like to see how close I can get to Sterling’s men without them noticing. Doesn’t do us any good to have them if they don’t do their jobs worth a shit.”
Jenna’s worried eyes found Shadow’s. “Please be careful,” she begged. “I’ve already caused so much harm to come to you all. I couldn’t bear it if anyone else was hurt or even killed this time because of me.”
Shadow immediately softened and then merely dropped a kiss atop her head as he walked by her. Not a single man in the room was unaffected by her statement or the guilt that lay so heavy in her voice. They looked as though they wanted to go to fucking battle, and they weren’t alone. Isaac wanted to lead the goddamn war and punish every last bastard who’d made her life a living hell.
“The rest of you get some sleep. I’ll wake Dex in three hours. Isaac, your only watch is to make sure Jenna is safe at all times.”
Jenna’s brow furrowed as Shadow disappeared and then she turned to Isaac, question and confusion in her beautiful blue eyes.
“So what kind of kiss was that?” she whispered. “I never realized there were so many reasons to kiss or reasons for kisses,” she amended.
“It was an affectionate kiss and one meant to reassure you,” Isaac said. At least that had better be all it was. It had taken everything not to growl when Shadow’s lips had touched her, even if it was just a light touch to her hair.
Isaac showed Jenna to the room at the end of the hall so she’d be flanked by two rooms, one he’d take and Dex, the other. When he flipped on the light and they entered, her eyes widened and she looked captivated.
“This is where I’m sleeping?” she asked in a hushed tone.
“Do you like it?” he asked, prepared to switch with her if it wasn’t to her liking.
“It’s the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen,” she said, her voice escaping in a sigh. Then she looked anxiously up at him and he was immediately desperate to do whatever necessary to ease her anxiety.
“What is it, Jenna?” he asked softly.
She bit her lip and then glanced between him and the bed. “Do I . . . do I get to sleep in the bed?”
He had to take a moment before responding, as rage mottled his vision and he had to bite back vicious curses. Unfortunately, she took his momentary silence as his response and her shoulders sagged, disappointment making her face droop with sadness.
“Of course you’ll sleep in the bed. Jenna honey . . . where did you think I meant for you to sleep?”
She flushed. “I was never allowed to sleep on a bed or even one of the cots. Only on a pallet on the floor, and sometimes it was taken away if I was being punished.”
Her eyes widened in horror and she clamped her mouth shut, turning away. It was just as well, because the expression on Isaac’s face would have scared the hell out of her. Someday, and he didn’t care how long it took, he was going to make every single one of the assholes who’d abused his angel pay dearly. It wouldn’t be quick and it wouldn’t be merciful. But it would be righteous.
Thank goodness her attention was drawn to the bed so she didn’t see the blackness in Isaac’s features. Her fingers ran reverently over the bedspread and then caressed the soft down pillows, so much longing in her eyes.
He couldn’t stay a minute longer without losing his composure. He wanted to smash something. He wanted blood. The blood of every person responsible for Jenna’s imprisonment.
“Why don’t I leave you to get dressed for bed and turn in for the night. You’re exhausted and you need your rest,” he said gruffly.
At her questioning look, he pointed out the large T-shirt and pajama shorts Eliza had left for her on the end of the bed.
“I’ll be next door if you need anything at all, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered. “Good night, Isaac.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
She looked so vulnerable standing there in the middle of the room that it took all of Isaac’s strength to leave.
At the door, he turned back one last time. “Remember, I’m right next door. Nothing can hurt you here, okay? You need anything, you come get me.”
She gave a small smile and nodded and then he left, closing the door behind him.