Chapter 14
Bishop knew he was being unfair. He knew it, but it couldn’t be helped. Even Jenny’s revelation of the abuse she’d suffered only served to temporarily stall out his wounded pride. He was disgusted with himself now too because he knew that’s exactly what it was. Jenny had pricked his stupid manly ego, and it stung.
Riding in silence, it grew torturous, and he tried to find some middle-of-the-ground conversation. He came up with nothing and opted to keep silent. It was hard to do considering how Jenny looked like a wounded kitten, all huddled in her seat and avoiding his gaze.
Three hours later they pulled through the front gates at StoneCrow and Jenny shifted nervously in her seat.
“Now what?” she asked.
“I called ahead and secured you a cabin.”
“I don’t need to stay at the estate, Bishop, my place in the city…”
“No,” he cut her off. “I need you close. You’ll stay in one of the cabins. For now, we’ll keep the affliction to ourselves, just like you wanted. We’ll give each other space, just like you wanted. We’ll see what happens. Just like you wanted.”
He watched her lips purse like she didn’t like any of what he said, but when she spoke, all she asked was, “An-and you? Where are you staying?”
“I have my own cabin.” He didn’t tell her that his was two down from hers. He didn’t tell her that the one cabin separating theirs from each other was vacant. He didn’t say anything else until he pulled up to a small cabin in line with others on the other side of the giant hedgerow behind the main estate house. Jerking his chin toward it, he didn’t look at Jenny when he told her. “That’s you. I had Ash retrieve some of your things from town. Your suitcase’ll be in the bedroom.”
She reached for the door handle but stopped. “I’ll…I’ll need to see you in the infirmary. We’re both overdue for injections, and I really need a blood samples.”
“Monroe has suspended you from practice.”
He could tell by the way her jaw slackened, and her eyes grew wide that she was shocked by the admission.
“What did you think was gonna happen, Jen? You get to play God in there and suffer no consequences?”
“But my patients. They need me.”
“Yeah,” he scrubbed a hand down his tired features. “You should’ve thought of that.” Turning, he leveled her with a look. “Right?” For some reason, it was important that she agree with him on that.
“Yeah,” she muttered. “I should have. I should have thought about a lot, Bishop.”
She reached for him, and he caught her wrist, his eyes going hard as he looked at her hand then at her. “Don’t. You don’t have the right to touch me, Jenny.”
She pulled her hand back and scrambled from the car, and he felt gutted when she raced into the cabin and slammed the door.
He told himself it was for the best as he drove past the vacant cabin and then parked at the next one. He got out and stomped up the front steps before going in, showering, and donning fresh BDU’s. He was gonna fall back on the one thing that had been keeping him sane. Work.
Through the mist he contacted Haka. “I’m back at the estate and ready for duty. Where do you want me?”
“Back just in time,” Haka answered. “We’ve got dignitaries coming in. You’ll be an escort, so…”
“Dignitaries?” Bishop cut him off. “What the hell does that mean? Who are these dignitaries?”
“The first family. Monroe’s parents are coming for a visit. They’ll be bringing one of their own teams, but you know Monroe. Not sure if he’s doing all this for show or because he’s legitimately worried. Regardless, he wants a full team on Elias and Fleur StoneCrow their entire visit. Report to RedKnife.”
“RedKnife?”
“Yeah,” Haka snorted. “Monroe’s given him lead.”
“Holy shit,” Bishop breathed. “Has that happened before?”
“Nope.” Haka popped on the ‘p’. “Shitty time to try out RedKnife’s social skills if you ask me, but what the piss do I know?”
“Where are RedKnife and his team now?”
“They’re heading to the main gate now to await the arrival.”
“On it.”
***
Jenny had just showered and changed when a mental nudge indicated someone was trying to contact her.
“Jen?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s Stoney. Heard you were back at the Estate. Welcome home.”
“Thanks.”
“Look, I was told to contact you and let you know that Monroe wants you in medical.”
“Why?” Jenny was already moving. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. His parents are arriving today to tour the estate. He said he wanted you in here to greet them. That’s all I know.”
Jenny stalled halfway to the door. Elias and Fleur were coming here?
Most Walkers didn’t know that Jenny had been raised by the Dominant’s parents. Even as she opened the door and made her way to the main estate house, she wondered at their sudden appearance. Last she’d heard they were in Ireland working with the Silkies. The timing just seemed odd, and it was even stranger that neither Elias nor Fleur had contacted her to let her know they were coming.
“Jen? You coming?”
“Yeah, Stoney. Sorry. I’m on my way.”