That heavy heart began to thump harder in her chest. “What do you mean if? He has to be the one who did all those things. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“I’m sure you’re right. But the fact is, you’re out here all alone. And as much as I’d love to, I can’t be here twenty-four-seven. Sweetheart, I need to know you’re safe when I’m away.”
The near-desperate tone of his voice tugged at her chest. Olivia took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not mad at you or Derek. It was sweet of you both to do this. And to be honest, it does make me feel safer out here.” She went onto her tiptoes and kissed him. “Thank you.”
After stepping into her house, Jake shut the door behind them and entered her alarm code. Before she knew it, Olivia found herself wrapped in the warmth and safety of his strong embrace. She hugged him back with everything she had.
For a moment in that garage, she’d thought she would never see him again. Tears fought their way to the surface, but she refused to let them fall.
They stood like that for a solid minute before he released her.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, while taking one side of her face into his palm. “Any dizziness?”
“No,” she answered honestly. With a smirk, she added, “I have a headache, but I’m pretty sure that’s to be expected.”
Staring into her eyes with an emotion Olivia didn’t dare try to guess, Jake started to say something when his phone rang. Cursing under his breath, he pulled it out of his front pocket.
“It’s D.” Glancing back up at her, he said, “Why don’t you go lie down and get some rest. I’ll be back there in a bit.”
Olivia wanted him to come with her, but refused to sound as needy as she actually felt.
“Okay.”
After another quick peck, she turned and headed back to her bathroom. She stripped down and took a quick shower, needing to wash away the day. In the privacy of her bathroom, she finally allowed her tears to fall. Olivia cried quietly, not wanting Jake to hear. She refused to add to the guilt he already felt.
Back in her bedroom, Olivia pulled out the nightgown she’d worn in South America, the night she and Jake had first made love. She smiled, the feel of the smooth silk beneath her fingertips taking her back to that amazing night with him.
Not quite ready to go to sleep, she chose to sit in her overstuffed chair positioned near the one window in the room that faced the back yard. Desperate to fill her mind with more good memories, she reached over to the small bookshelf near the chair and picked up an old photo album before settling back against the cushions.
****
Jake slid his index finger over the screen and put the phone to his ear.
“Talk to me, D. What do you know?”
“The information I found matches what the sheriff told Trevor.”
That was both good and bad news. “Okay, so the sheriff isn’t holding out on us, but we still don’t know why this guy tried to kill Trevor and take Olivia.”
“Not yet, but they’re bound to find somethin’ once his place gets tossed. I’ll let you know if anything else comes up.”
“Roger that. Oh, and send me a copy of the security footage from the parking garage.”
There was a beat of silence, and then, “Who says I have that?”
Jake smirked. “Just send it, asshole.”
Derek chuckled. Jake heard a few clicks through the phone and then, “Done. You should be get it in just a few seconds.”
Right on cue, Jake’s phone vibrated with the notification. “Thanks, D. I appreciate it.”
“I’d say anytime, but I’m hopin’ we’ve seen the last of this shit.”
“Yeah,” Jake exhaled loudly. “You and me, both.”
“Oh, and Jake?” Derek said at the last minute.
“Yeah?”
“That video...it’s hard to watch, man. And I’m not the one in love with her.”
Jake’s chest tightened, but he didn’t bother to denying it. “I know, but I still have to watch it. I need to know exactly what happened.”
“I get it. Just remember...Trevor got the guy, and Olivia’s safe there with you.”
“Thanks, D.”
Jake ended the call and pulled up his email. His finger hovered over the newest one, and his gut churned. He was about to see his friend get shot and the woman he loved get attacked and nearly kidnapped. Jake closed his eyes as his breathing picked up. He inhaled deeply and reopened his eyes. If she could live through it, he could damn sure do this.
His finger tapped the screen, and Jake watched his nightmare unfold. The whole thing only lasted about two minutes, but it felt like an eternity.
He was sick to his stomach, and his eyes and nose stung from his tears. It was one thing to hear Olivia and Trevor describe what took place, but to actually see it—Jesus, baby, I’m so sorry.
Jake wiped at his eyes and nose. He sniffed as he blinked quickly to stave off even more tears. The compulsion to kill the fucker hit hard. Too bad Trevor already took care of that.
Swallowing his anger and guilt, Jake called Homeland next. After ripping into Ryker for allowing Liv to turn away the protection Jake had ordered for her while he and his team were away, Jake proceeded to fill the other man in on everything that had happened to Liv. He then demanded that Ryker look into Carlos Hernandez as well.
Twenty minutes later, Ryker called him back with confirmation that Hernandez had no known ties to anyone involved in Cetro’s human trafficking business. Nor, was he involved with any of the other men they’d taken down in connection with Olivia’s
