Jenna had no idea what to expect when she woke up the next morning. Would they be back to business as usual? Would Scot regret what had happened? Should she act as if nothing had happened at all?

But when she awoke and rolled over, she discovered him awake and watching her with a smile on his face.

“Think we chased some demons last night?” He traced a line across her forehead and down over her nose.

“Yes.” She wet her lips. “Thank you.”

“Hey. I didn’t do it for gratitude. I did it because I wanted to. Because I’ve wanted to feel this way about someone since I left the SEALs, and it didn’t happen until you. I was just afraid you weren’t going to be able to get past that terrible trauma.” He brushed a kiss over her lips. “This may be quick, but it’s more than a roll in the hay to me. Please believe that. I want to see where this goes. How about you?”

Relief washed through her. “Yes. Me, too.”

“Good. Then let’s clean up this mess so we can get on with our lives. I’ve got some ideas I want to run past Hank. By the time you’re dressed, I should have a good outline of what I want to do.” The look he gave her was filled with so much emotion and strength. “And don’t forget, I’m still your bodyguard. This just makes it that much more imperative that I keep you safe.”

He insisted they shower together, where he made delicious love to her. If anyone had told her when she first met Scot Nolan that he would be like this she’d have told them they were crazy. But then she remembered something a friend had told her. “When you meet the right person, there’s no timeline, and everything is different.”

After he was finished she took a long time washing her hair and rubbing lotion into her body before she dressed. Scot headed into the kitchen to make breakfast. He was just disconnecting a call on his cell when she wandered into the kitchen.

He pulled her close for a moment and gave her a brief kiss.

“Mmm. You smell delicious.”

She grinned. “That was the idea. Who were you on the phone with?”

“Hank. I wanted to run something past him and maybe get his help. Let’s sit down, and I’ll tell you.” He served up two plates of bacon and eggs and filled two mugs with coffee.

Jenna stared at them. “Wow! I might have to keep you around.”

He gave her one of his hot looks. “You just might.”

“Okay, so give with the details.”

“Here’s the thing.” He took a swallow of coffee. “We could be here for weeks talking to people and trying to shake something loose, and truthfully, I wouldn’t mind that at all. But I think it’s time to bring this to a head. Those women are still terrified, and people are scared for their teenagers.”

“So, what do you propose?“

“We need to force someone’s hand, and the most likely person is the sheriff. I’m sure he’s covering for whoever this is and will keep doing this until the guy is too old to do this anymore.”

She nodded. “I agree.”

“I don’t like the idea of using you as bait, but I’ll have you well protected. Hank wasn’t all that happy about it, but he agreed we need to make something happen. He’s sending a couple more agents to help me.”

Jenna frowned. “Help you with what?”

“We’re going to stir the waters a little. Becca said she’d set up appointments for you to talk to some of the other women, and to those who are older now but wow were raped as teenagers. Let’s call her to set them up today and tomorrow.”

“Okay, but how does that move things along?”

“You’re going to tell Sheriff Bartell what you are doing and ask him if he wants you to pass along to him anything you learn.”

Jenna’s eyebrows flew up. “Are you kidding?”

“Not in the least. Tell him you’re also planning to take pictures of a couple of the places where the bodies were found. Becca and the others were pretty specific about the locations last night. Tell him which two you’re going to, and that you just wanted to inform him in case anyone noticed what you were doing.”

“And if he gives me a hard time?”

“He can try all he wants, but you are free to interview people for a story. You can even hint to him that you might pick up a clue or two, if he’s interested.”

She took a sip of her coffee then set the mug down. And where will you and Hank’s men be all this time, my personal bodyguard?”

“I’m going to be driving you to your appointments. Hank’s men will be stationed at both murder sites.” He paused. “The tricky part is separating us so you go out there alone.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Her stomach did a flip-flop. “I don’t think I can buy into that. I’m finally agreeing with everyone that I need this kind of protection.”

“We came up with a plan that we think will work. When you call Bartell, ask him if those two places are hard to find, because I’m not able to go with you and you don’t want to get lost.”

Jenna frowned. “You think he’ll buy it? He’ll probably tell me to just say away from those places. They are crime scenes. Of course, I can point out to him the crimes were a long time ago and I’m free to take any pictures I want.”

“I’m sure he will, but you’ll tell him you are going anyway.”

“And where will you be, my faithful protector.”

He grinned. “Under a blanket in the back of your SUV. You don’t think I’m letting you go five feet without me, do you?”

Some of the tension eased from her. “Good.”

He reached for one of her hands, a serious expression on his face. “Jenna, when I left the SEALs, I was ready to find someone and build a life with them. But that was two years ago, and I’d begun to think it wasn’t going to happen. That I wasn’t able to make a connection with someone like I wanted to.”

“I hear a but in there.”

“But then I met you, and it didn’t take long for me to feel the connection I wanted. I don’t know if you—”

She reached over and pressed her fingers against his lips. “I didn’t think I’d ever be able to have a relationship. That rape kept me traumatized all these years. And then you came into my life, and, well, now I’m really hopeful.”

“After this is over, can you take some time so we can really see where this is going?”

“I can and I will. I feel as if my life has been on hold for as very long time and someone just pressed my Go button.”

Scot’s smile curled her toes. “I’m happy to push your buttons anytime at all.”

She blew out a breath. “Then let’s get this done.”

Becca was more than happy to set up the appointments for her.

“They will be thrilled to talk to you,” she assured Jenna. “I’ll call you back as soon as it’s all confirmed.”

Sheriff Bartell wasn’t quite as happy about it. His reaction was just as Scot predicted—irritated, aggravated, and pissed off.

“I told you before, you need to not stick your nose in this. These people have been through enough.”

“But don’t you think they deserve answers?” she persisted.

“They’ll get answers when I find them,” he snapped.

He was even more angry when she told him about the pictures she planned to take.

“Those spots are crime scenes. Stay the hell away from them.”

“They aren’t recent crime scenes,” she pointed out. “And I’m sure other people have traipsed through them.”

“I don’t need reporters screwing around with my people and my county. I’ll handle the cases. You should go back where you came from. Stay the fuck out of my county.”

The phone slammed in her ear.

“Well.” She looked at Scot. “That’s one unhappy camper.”

“If he had nothing to do with this, I’d think he’d be glad of any help at all.”

“Makes you wonder, right? Well, let me get my tablet and notebook, and we can get going.” She shivered. “I’d like to get this over with as soon as possible. Like I said that first night, I didn’t realize how much being back here would depress me.”

He leaned over and brushed a kiss over her lips. “I’ll do my best to help you get rid of that feeling. Come on, now. Let’s get going.”

The interviews went well, all things considered, even as emotional as they were. Ruth Hartwig broke down and cried and had trouble pulling herself together. She said her daughter was still seeing a therapist. Two other women had the same reaction, but then the last two Jenna met with were more angry than depressed and said they’d do whatever it took to help her find answers.

“It’s depressing how many lives this selfish, arrogant man has ruined,” she told Scot. “Just for his own selfish reasons.”

“I could kill him and not lose a moment’s sleep over it,” he said. “Hopefully Bartell will have passed the word along about your interviews and visits to the sites. You ready?”

She drew in a deep breath to settle herself, let it out, and nodded.

“Let’s do it.”

They drove back to the cabin to pick up Jenna’s SUV. Then, just in case anyone was watching, they drove off in their own vehicles, meeting up outside of town after they were sure no one was watching them. Scot had found a place to stash his truck. Then they put the seat down in Jenna’s SUV, he climbed in, checked his Glock 19, and curled up beneath a blanket.

She pulled away, having set the location on the GPS on her phone, and followed the directions. She hoped whatever happened took place at her first stop. Not that she was anxious for the confrontation. More to the point, she wanted to just get it over with. Catch whoever showed up, make him tell if Bartell was involved, and turn everything over to the state police, which was what Hank had told Scot they’d do.

The spot she came to was a heavy grove of trees along the side of the road, one that went several yards back. It was isolated, on a highway without much traffic. And where it would take days, as it had, for the body to be discovered. She parked in a space between some of the trees, grabbed her phone, and headed into the woods. Many of the trunks were thick enough to conceal someone, so she looked carefully around as she walked to the small clearing where the bodies had been found.

She had just started taking pictures when she heard a twig snap behind her and turned to find Sheriff Bartell standing there, a look of rage on his face. He grabbed her camera with one hand and her hair with the other.

“You just had to stick your fucking nose in my business, didn’t you,” he growled.

He was pulling her hair so hard, Jenna had to stand on tiptoe to relieve the pain.

“Whoever you are covering for deserves to be revealed and arrested. Rape is one of the worst crimes you can commit.”

“It’s not a crime if you enjoy it.” The look on his face chilled her blood.

“I hope whoever this is pays you a lot of money for all the lives they’ve destroyed all these years.” Scot’s voice was edged with rage. “ Now, let go of her damn hair.”

The sheriff released her, and Jenna stepped far away from him, rubbing her head.

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Bartell asked. “It wasn’t just one person. It was six of us. Yes, us,” he added when she gasped. “We all had the same cravings. It’s how we took our pleasure all these years.”

“ But you won’t be taking it anymore.” Like a ghost materializing out of nowhere, Scot appeared behind Bartell and shoved his gun in the sheriff’s back. “Let go of her hair if you don’t want a bullet in your spine.”

“You won’t pull that trigger.” Bartell’s voice was edged with bravado.

“Don’t bet on it. I was a sniper with the SEALs. I killed bad guys for a living.”

“And so did I.” Another man appeared from the trees. “Scot, keep your gun on him while I truss him up. Then we’ll toss him in the back of the truck and haul him to the highway patrol. Their headquarters is in Helena, and Hank’s already contacted them so they’re expecting us.”

They frog-marched Bartell to the other agent’s pickup, but before he tossed him in, Scot got up close and personal with him.

“Without you and your playmates exposed. I’d venture to say a lot more people will be coming forward.”

“They’ll keep their fucking mouths shut or else,” Bartell spat.

“Or else what? A real law officer will be taking statements now. This whole disgusting game just fell apart.”

“You ready now?” the other man asked Scot.

“I am. Oh, and Jenna? Say hello to Charlie Zero.”

“Sorry we had to meet like this,” Charlie said. “Scot, you help me get this asshole tied down real good in the truck before I take off. I’m going to call Hank so he can have the highway patrol send a car to escort me. You take your lady home. She looks like she’s had a quite a day.”

“Hi, Charlie.” She was proud she’d managed to keep herself together. “Thanks for helping.”

“It’s what we do.”

Jenna managed to keep herself together while Charlie drove off and then when Scot followed her back to the cabin. But once inside, she collapsed on the floor, and the tears she’d been holding back for years fell as if they’d never stop. Scot picked her up off the floor and sat on the couch with her on his lap, holding her against his chest and murmuring soothing sounds to her.

They sat that was for a long time as she burrowed into his warmth and the safety of his arms.

It was dark out by the time her emotions finally settled down. Scot insisted on giving her a hot shower and bundling her in her thick robe. Then he made her some hot soup, and a cup of tea liberally laced with bourbon.

“We won’t talk about this anymore tonight,” he ordered. “I want to help you sleep. Then, tomorrow, we’ll find out what’s going on. Okay?”

She nodded, apparently incapable of speech.

And that was what they did. He held her in his arms until she finally drifted off to sleep, for once without nightmares.

“It’s a nine days’ wonder,” Scot said as he disconnected a call on his phone. “Apparently Bartell tried calling his friends to have one of them get a lawyer for him. When everyone hung upon him, he decided to see what kind of deal he could get if he gave everyone up.”

“So there really was a group doing this? Not just one man?”

Scot nodded. “Bartell was cozy with the others—the ones you thought might be involved, by the way—and in civilian clothes handled security at their big parties. They were sitting in someone’s den after one of the shindigs. Someone—no one wants to admit who—complained about his wife being an ice cube and wouldn’t it be great to get a taste of young flesh for a change.”

“So they thought it would be wonderful to have this good-old-boys club raping virgins so they could get their rocks off?” Jenna thought she might throw up.

“So it seems. People like that make me sick.”

“Who killed the girls who came forward?”

“The highway patrol thinks it was Bartell. They found the pictures of the dead girls with fingerprints on their neck and they’re comparing them. Can you believe he kept those pictures all these years?”

“I can believe anything at this point,” she said in a sad voice.

“Hank will keep us up to date over the next few weeks as things unfold. And he’s hoping you’ll do not just a series on this but also another book. Get the word out, so to speak. Let other women and girls know how dangerous men who abuse power can be.”

“I had that in the back of my mind. But what I’d really like is to put all of this away for a couple of weeks and just enjoy finally being free of that nightmare.”

“Funny you should say that.” He carried a mug of fresh coffee to the table for her and sat down next to her. “Hank asked me if I’d like a couple of weeks off after this, even though it was a short stint and not really taxing.”

Her heart did a double-time beat. “And what did you tell him?”

“I told him I either wanted to take someone sightseeing in the Crazies or sit on a boat in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico.” He grinned. “I guess that depends on which you like better.”

She stared at him. “You want to spend it with me?”

“Didn’t we say when this was over we’d see where it could go?”

“Yes, but—” She bit her lower lip.

“But you weren’t sure I meant it?”

She nodded.

“Jenna. I’ve never meant anything more. I feel the kind of connection with you I’ve been looking for the past two years. Are you all in?”

“Yes.” She laughed. “Yes, I am. So where do we start? Montana or Florida?”

“We can talk about that later. I know where I want it to start right now.”

He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, pulling her down on the bed with him.

And then there was no more talking.