Protecting Jessyka (SEAL of Protection) (Volume 6) (4 page)

“I have no idea why you want to be my friend, but thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like I’ve had one.”

Having the urge, and not resisting, Benny reached out a hand and slowly caressed Jessyka’s face. Then he slid his hand around until it was resting on the back of her neck and he drew her gently and awkwardly in the small space of the car toward him. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and then rested his head against hers.

“Trust me, Jess.”

Benny felt her nod slightly. He leaned back, squeezed her neck reassuredly, then let go.

“How about we get you home? It’s late, you’re tired, and I’ve got to get up in about an hour and a half for PT.”

“Okay.”

When Benny pulled up to the townhouse Jess said she lived in, he put the car in park and said, “Stay.”

He then walked around the car and opened the door for her. Jess just shook her head and climbed out. Kason walked her all the way to the front door, even though she’d insisted she was fine. He leaned in and once again kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll see you later. Be safe.”

Jess nodded and when Kason pulled back said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Don’t be a stranger. I expect you to text.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Bye, gorgeous.”

“Bye, Kason.”

Jessyka opened the door and cautiously entered the townhouse. The last thing she wanted was for Brian to be there waiting up for her. He wasn’t. The place was quiet. Jess quickly headed up the stairs to her room and sighed in relief when she was in her room with the door locked.

She hated being scared of Brian, but she could still feel his fingers wrapped around her neck. He’d been pissed, and she hadn’t even done anything. She knew nine days was too long. She had to do something sooner than that.

The phone Jess had been clutching in her hand vibrated. She looked down and smiled.

Sleep well. Talk to you later.

She didn’t know how the hell she’d gotten lucky enough to have Kason decide he wanted to be her friend, but she certainly wasn’t going to complain. It seemed like the only good thing that had happened to her in the last year.

Nite. ltr.

She expected that to be the end of it, but her phone vibrated again soon after she’d hit send.

You’re one of those people who write in text speak aren’t you?

Jess couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her mouth. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed out loud.

Appntly so. Don’t txt & drve

I’m at a stop light. Good night, gorgeous.

Gd nite

Jess turned off her phone with a smile. Maybe tomorrow, well today, would be a better day. It certainly started out all right.

Chapter Four

Benny couldn’t stop thinking about Jessyka. It’d been days since he’d seen or talked to her, with the exception of the few texts they’d exchanged. They had all been initiated by him, but she’d always responded, which made Benny feel a little bit better.

He hadn’t had a chance to get back to the bar, but he also didn’t want to seem like a stalker. Benny trusted Jess would get a hold of him if she needed to. He couldn’t force her.

The bottom line was that Benny liked her. He couldn’t say he really knew her all that well, but he hadn’t lied when he’d told her that he liked what he’d seen so far.

Benny had a conversation with Dude about Jess the night before. He’d gone to his house to have dinner with him and Cheyenne. It seemed like the guys were “passing him around” like a lost puppy. Each week someone new would ask if he wanted to come over for dinner. Benny never refused, first because he liked his friends and their women, and second because it kinda sucked sitting at home alone.

Benny supposed he could go out and find a woman to bring home for the night, but he didn’t really have the urge, especially since his little chat with Jessyka.

After dinner and a movie, Cheyenne had gone up to bed, and Dude had asked Benny how he was doing. Benny took the chance to bring up Jess.

“Remember the waitress at the bar the night we all went out last?”

“Yeah, Jess, right?”

“Yeah. We all saw the shape she was in that night. I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I mean, I feel like I know her, with how much time we spend in that damn place. I think we’ve only been served by someone different a few times.”

Dude had nodded. “Yeah, she looked a bit rough. Didn’t like the way she flinched when you touched her.”

“Yeah, me either. I went to the bar the other night and she looked even worse.”

“In what way?”

“She was wearing a fucking turtleneck.”

“Are you shitting me?”

“No.”

“What’d she say about it?”

“Well, nothing about that specifically, but she’s got some stuff going on and she’s stressed out about it. She lives with some guy she used to date. Apparently he’s kicking her out.”

“Sounds like that’s probably for the best.”

“Yeah, but I still don’t like it. I gave her my number, but shit, Dude, I’m still worried about her.”

“Want to call Tex to do some recon?”

“Yeah, but I won’t.”

“Why the hell not? I would. You know I’ve got Cheyenne monitored 24/7. I won’t allow some asshole to take her again.”

“I still can’t believe you guys got all the women to agree to that shit.”

“You don’t understand.”

Benny nodded. “You’re right. I don’t, not really. But just because I don’t have a woman of my own doesn’t mean I don’t understand wanting to keep them safe.”

“I didn’t mean . . .”

“Yeah, it’s okay. I know what you meant. I like Jessyka, Dude. I don’t really know her that well, but I’m concerned about her. I don’t like that she’s living with a guy. I really don’t like that she’s living with a guy who has given her a deadline to get out of the townhouse they share. I don’t like that she feels like she has to stay for his niece who has some self-esteem issues. I don’t like that he probably grabbed her and hurt her. And I really don’t like that she doesn’t have the money to move out.”

“What are you doing about it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can I give you some advice?”

“Please do. I wouldn’t have brought all this shit up if I didn’t want your advice, Dude.”

“Don’t give her space. It sounds like she needs help. If she’s as independent as Cheyenne and the other women, she won’t reach out. She’ll keep on trying to do it all herself. Don’t give her a choice.”

“What if she gets pissed?”

“Who the fuck cares. She gets pissed, she gets pissed. Then she’ll get over it. If it’s the right thing to do, and she needs the help, give it to her. Eventually she’ll thank you for it.”

Benny thought about that for a moment. “You’re right.”

“Of course I am, Benny-boy.”

Benny just rolled his eyes at his friend. “Thanks, man.”

“You’re welcome. Now go home. My woman is upstairs, and if she’s being good, she’s doing what I told her to and she’s waiting for me just as I asked.”

“Jesus, Dude, I don’t need to hear this.”

Dude just smiled.

“I’m out of here. When you let Cheyenne up for air, thank her for dinner for me.”

“Will do.”

Now, Benny thought back to the conversation with his friend and knew he had to get on it. He didn’t want to wait anymore. He wanted to know how Jess was doing and if she wasn’t going to call him, he’d have to go to her.

He stirred the spaghetti sauce on the stove and tested the noodles. They were almost done. Pasta was an easy meal to make for one, and Benny usually had leftovers. He always made the sauce from scratch, there was nothing worse than the bottled crap in the store.

Hearing his phone vibrate, Benny looked over. It was a text from Jess. He smiled and picked up the phone.

I need you.

Benny’s muscled clenched immediately. The three words looked so stark on his phone screen. He didn’t even hesitate.

Where are you?

Sittig at entrnce to apartmnts

On my way

Benny took the time to turn off the burners, but that was about it. He quickly stuffed his phone in his pocket and headed for the door. He was in his car and headed for Jess’s place about thirty seconds after he’d hit the
y
on his last text.

Knowing it was dangerous, but not caring at the moment, he texted Jess back while he drove to her.

Are you ok?

He waited impatiently for her response.

No

Fuck.

Do you need a doctor?

Maybe

Benny pressed his foot down on the gas. Double fuck.

Are you safe where you are?

I think so

Get somewhere where you know you’re safe

I don’t know where that is anymore

Call me

Fuck the texting thing. Benny needed to hear her voice. His phone rang and Benny put it on speaker as he answered.

“Jess?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Her voice sounded low and scratchy.

“I’m on my way. It’ll probably take me another ten minutes. Will you be okay? Should I call an ambulance?”

“No.”

“You’re scaring the shit out of me, gorgeous. Talk to me.”

“Tabitha’s gone.”

“What do you mean? Who’s Tabitha?” Benny didn’t like the monotone sound of Jessyka’s voice. It sounded like she was in shock.

“She killed herself.”

Benny pushed the car a little faster. He was going way over the speed limit, but Jess needed him and he wasn’t there.

“Jess . . .”

“I told her yesterday I was leaving and she killed herself.”

It came to Benny suddenly who Tabitha was. Shit. “Why aren’t you inside?”

Benny had to figure out what was going on.

“Brian was mad.”

Fuck. He knew what was going on now. “Okay, gorgeous. Stay put. I’m coming for you all right? Just hunker down there and I’ll be there in a second.”

“He . . .”

“Shhhh,” Benny interrupted. He didn’t want Jess to relive anything else until he was there with her. “I’ll be there in a moment. You can tell me everything when I’m there with you. Just hang on.”

“I’m so tired, Kason. You said you were my friend right? I need a friend.”

“I’m your friend, Jess. You can rest as soon as I get there. I’ll take care of you.”

“Okay.”

“Go ahead and hang up, Jess, I’m a block away, I’ll be there before you know it.”

“Okay,” she repeated in the same eerie monotone voice she’d been using.

The connection was cut.

Benny clenched his fists around the steering wheel until his fingers turned white. Jesus fuck this was messed up. He felt like he only had snippets of the story, but what he had was bad enough.

He got close to the turn off into Jess’s complex when he saw her. She was sitting on the curb, her hands wrapped around her knees and she was leaning over staring at the ground. She didn’t move, even when the headlights from his car shone on her. Benny slammed the gearshift into park and got out. He approached Jessyka carefully so as not to startle her.

“Jess?”

Her head whipped up at the sound of his voice and she looked ready to bolt. When she saw it was him she sagged and sighed, “Kason.”

Benny didn’t hesitate, but went over to her and sat next to her. What he really wanted to do was pick her up and hold her, but until he knew what was wrong and where, and if she was hurt, he couldn’t.

Jess’s face was tearstained and blotchy from crying. The shirt she was wearing was torn at the neck and was hanging off one shoulder. Benny could see her bra strap highlighted against her shoulder. He couldn’t see much more of her than that, but the ripped shirt was enough to make him want to kill someone.

Benny put his hand on the back of Jess’s head and held it gingerly. “Where do you hurt, gorgeous?”

“Everywhere.”

“I need you to be more specific, Jess. What happened and where did he hurt you?”

Ignoring the first part of his question, she answered the second. “It hurts to breathe. Brian punched me in the stomach. My back hurts because he pushed me and I fell into the corner of the coffee table. My leg hurts because it always hurts when I’ve pushed it too far. My face hurts because he slapped me a few times and my neck still hurts from the other night.” She paused a moment and then said softly, “And my toe hurts because I stubbed it walking over here to sit and text you.”

Benny couldn’t help but smile at that last part. There was absolutely nothing to smile about, but Jess was so earnest about her poor toe.

“Do you think you can walk to my car?”

Jess looked over at the still-running car sitting about four feet from where they were sitting and said, with a hint of her old spunk, “I think I can manage it.”

Benny didn’t even smile. “Okay, then up you go. I need to get you out of here.” He helped Jess stand up and steadied her when she wobbled. Benny put an arm around her waist and took most of her weight as she hobbled unsteadily to his car. Even though it was only a few feet to the car door, Benny wasn’t convinced Jess
could’ve
made it by herself.

He shut the door and jogged around to the driver’s side. Benny had a million questions for her, but he wanted to get her out of there first.

Before he left, Benny leaned over Jessyka and grabbed hold of the seat belt and buckled her in. She hadn’t moved since he’d helped her sit, and it was really worrying him.

“Hang in there, Jess.”

He watched as she nodded.

Benny tried not to peel out of the parking lot, but he heard the tires squeal as he did a U-turn and turned right toward the emergency room. He wasn’t going to take any chances. Jess looked like crap and he didn’t like the distant look in her eyes. She said she hurt everywhere, well the doctors could make sure that nothing was broken and that she wasn’t bleeding internally. She hadn’t said she was assaulted, but maybe she was embarrassed and ashamed about that. Maybe she didn’t feel like she knew him well enough to admit it. Just the
thought
of her being hurt that way made his adrenaline spike.