As soon as the images began rolling, Jenna stiffened, her body going so rigid that the strain was evident in her face and eyes. Eyes that became haunted and so apprehensive that Isaac wanted to smash the fucking television to make it stop. The others cast Jenna worried glances and Shadow leaned forward, eyeing her sharply around Isaac.
It took everything Isaac had to focus on what the reporter was saying when all he wanted to do was shield Jenna from further distress, but the images meant something to Jenna, so they needed all the information the news could provide.
“We have a breaking development on a story we brought you earlier. What was first believed to have been a mass suicide in a compound in an isolated area north of Houston by a previously unknown and highly secretive cult has now been determined to have been a gruesome mass homicide,” the anchor said in a somber voice.
Isaac swore long and hard, and he wasn’t the only one. Tensions skyrocketed in the room and everyone’s eyes were glued to the television, where grisly details were being reported as calmly as if they were the weather report.
Jenna turned away from the TV, covering her entire face with her hands. She rocked back and forth, sounds of acute distress escaping her lips despite her having covered her mouth in an effort to prevent any sound from escaping. She shook uncontrollably and Isaac knew she was on the verge of shattering.
He exchanged helpless looks with Shadow and then glanced up at Dane, who was staring at Jenna with compassion and also fury over all she’d suffered. They all knew what this meant. What they didn’t know is whether Jenna had put it together yet or if she was just reacting to the reminder of the horror her life had been for two decades.
“Give me a minute with Jenna,” Isaac said in a low voice. “I’m going to take her into the bedroom and try to get her to rest.” He gave Dane a meaningful look. “Do what needs to be done while I take care of her.”
“There is a bottle of sedatives in the kitchen cabinet,” Dane offered. “We keep all our safe houses stocked with stuff the women might need in case they ever have to go into hiding. The sedatives are Tori’s. She still has anxiety attacks and she rarely sleeps worth a damn because her dreams frighten her.”
He rubbed his hand over his face, his eyes stormy with rage. “She has nightmares of the past and of all that bastard did to her and she has dreams of the future, of what is to be. Both are very hard on her and sometimes taking a sedative is the only way she’s able to sleep.”
Isaac nodded. “Thanks,” he said quietly. Then he looked to Shadow. “Can you get me one of the pills while I take Jenna to the bedroom? Bring something for her to drink so she can take the medicine.”
Shadow rose without hesitation and Isaac turned back to Jenna, who had shut out everything around her as she struggled with the many demons that haunted her. With all the tenderness he was capable of, he lifted Jenna’s curled-up body and cradled her against his heart. He squeezed her to let her know she was safe, that he was with her and that he’d never leave her. Then he pressed a gentle kiss to her hair, nuzzling the silky tresses as he slowly walked to their bedroom.
He laid her down on the bed and immediately climbed in beside her, pulling her into his arms. She shoved her face in his neck, her body shaking. Her pulse was a frantic staccato, and heated moisture fell onto his neck and slithered downward to disappear beneath the collar of his shirt.
“Don’t cry, baby. Not for them. They aren’t worth your tears. I don’t want you to ever have a reason to cry again.”
She gripped him harder for a moment, pressing her face and lips more firmly against his neck before she released her hold on him and slowly eased her head back so she could look up at him.
She was prevented from speaking when a quiet knock sounded at the door and Isaac called for Shadow to come in. He carried a glass of water in one hand and his other was curled around something, trapping it in his grasp.
He handed the glass to Isaac and then opened his palm to reveal the small peach-colored pill. “I need you to take this, sweetheart. Can you do that for me?”
“What is it?” she asked cautiously.
Isaac caressed her cheek with his free hand. “It’s just something to help you relax and it will ease the panic and anxiety. Most important, it will help you sleep, and you need to get some rest. I’ve kept you up the last three days and I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
She flushed, looking so adorable that Isaac wanted to spread her out and kiss and lick every inch of skin that was now a delectable shade of pink.
But then her expression became troubled and she lifted sorrow-filled eyes to both Isaac and Shadow. “But what about what happened? What does it all mean? Who would do something so horrible?”
“We’ll talk about it after you wake up from your nap,” Isaac said soothingly, stroking through her hair with his hand. “Right now I need you to rest. Will you do that for me? I won’t withhold any information from you. I promise.”
She eyed the pill Shadow was now holding just in front of her lips, waiting for her to open her mouth to take it, and hesitated.
“I’d never give you anything that would hurt you,” Shadow said, sincerity ringing in his voice. “You have my word, Jenna. I’ll protect you from anything or anyone harming you. I’m not the enemy.”
She grimaced and looked ashamed. “I’m sorry, Shadow. I didn’t mean for you to think I doubted you. I just feel as though I have absolutely no control over any aspect of my life and I was afraid the medicine would make me feel even more helpless.”
Shadow grinned. “Kinda hard to feel helpless when you’re sound asleep, angel face. Now open up so Isaac can give you something to wash it down with.”
She took the pill and immediately made a face, lunging for the glass in Isaac’s hand. She swallowed hard and then shuddered. Then she sent Shadow an accusing look. “Youweretrying to kill me! That tasted awful!”
Shadow laughed and then gave Isaac a chin lift before ruffling Jenna’s hair affectionately. Without another word, he left the room and Isaac gathered her in his arms once more, determined to stay with her until the medicine took effect and she fell into a deep and hopefully dreamless sleep.
“I wasn’t upset that the elders were killed,” Jenna said, suddenly interrupting the quiet that had fallen over the room. “I know it’s wrong, but they’re pure evil and they deserved what they got.”
“What upset you then, baby?”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “They killedeveryone. Even the children. And the women. Many of the cult members weren’t evil. They were just misguided and brainwashed. They thought they were doing God’s will. They didn’t deserve to die just because they believed the wrong people.”
