Lucky SEAL (Lucky Devil #2) (6 page)

“No, she is not married,” Pastor Davis answered without pause. “If she were, I would have discreetly told you after I introduced her to you. I know neither you nor Luc would dally with a married woman.” He seemed insulted that Rourke had even asked.

“So she is in trouble.” The pastor’s non-answer was answer enough. “And you won’t tell me more?” Rourke didn’t mean to bark again, but worry and aggravation bubbled up in his throat.

The pastor held up his hands as if to calm Rourke down, but there would be no calming him until he found Jennifer. The damn woman didn’t even know she was his yet. She was possibly in danger. And she was fucking gone!

Rourke didn’t let Pastor Davis delay him any longer. He was out the door and scanning the street for any sign of Jennifer or a cab. There was nothing. He jogged toward the church. Jennifer hadn’t been carrying a purse or anything. That was odd for a woman. She must have left it behind at the church. But when he reached the church, all of the doors were locked, and the building was dark. She wasn’t there. She was gone, and Rourke was pissed off.

That sad look in her eyes after their mad bout of sex in the pantry hadn’t been because she feared he would walk away. No, it had been because she was going to be the one walking away. Well, Rourke wouldn’t stand for it. He was going to find her and convince her that he could be the right man for her. Yes, he was in Navy, and that was hard on a relationship; but damn it, she hadn’t even given him a fucking chance!

Rourke tossed his bag down the steps of the church in frustration and shouted, “Fuck!”

*   *   *

Jennifer stood in the shadows of the church vestibule and watched Rourke through one of the huge windows. He cursed at the sky, and the sound of his annoyance surprised her. She’d run all the way from the Davis’ to the church with her heart pounding and a lump in her throat. All the while, telling herself this was for the best and trying to convince herself that it was better to cut Rourke loose before he broke her heart.

She’d just made it inside the church and locked the door when she saw Rourke hustle around the corner of the office building across the street from the church at top speed carrying the massive duffle bag on his back. He scanned the street, the parking lot, and the building as he approached. Jennifer had backed up into the shadows in case he peeked in the windows.

Jennifer wasn’t sure if she should be happy or depressed that Rourke was interested enough that he follow her when she slipped away before he had a chance to stop her and ask questions she couldn’t answer. She couldn’t allow him to find her, either way. Jennifer wouldn’t risk his life. The time she’d spent in his arms had been the closest to magic she would ever know, maybe especially because of that magic she couldn’t allow him into her life.

Rourke had followed her, though, and that was something. He’d cared, if even just a little. He really liked her, Jennifer was sure of that. They had crazy chemistry. At this point in her life when Jennifer honestly believed no one short of the kindhearted pastor and his wife cared for her, it was an incredible feeling.

Rourke was probably only looking for a hook-up while he was in town. Jennifer would never know for sure. What Jennifer did know was that Rourke had given her a gift the likes he’d never know. Rourke had given her a few precious of moments of peaceful oblivion in his arms. He’d also given her more pleasure than she’d ever known. Her body still vibrated from the experience.

Jennifer watched Rourke stomp down the steps of the church, grab his duffle, and stalk the street to hail a cab. His jerked open the cab door and tossed in his bag before climbing inside. He looked frustrated and angry. She watched the cab pull away, and her heart broke a little. He was gone, and she’d never see him again. Not even if she wanted to.

She didn’t believe in love at first sight, but Jennifer couldn’t deny that after spending only one afternoon in Rourke’s company, she was dangerously close to falling for the man. It would be so easy. No, it was better this way. Rourke would go back to his life in the Navy. Jennifer would lay low and continue to look for a way out of the mess her life had become.

She made her way to the back of the sanctuary and down the hall to the stairs and descended to the kitchen. Jennifer crossed the space between the swinging door and the stove that made food for so many needy people. The day replayed in her mind, and tears filled her eyes. She would never enter that kitchen again and not remember Rourke. He was a big, tough man on the outside. That exterior of steel was his Superman shield. He was a military man, and she supposed as a Navy SEAL, he’d seen many things that would necessitate the building of such a tough façade.

But when he was alone with Luc and Dolce, she’d seen him loosen. Later when he was relaxed at the Davis’ home, he’d softened even more. Finally, when it was just the two of them, Rourke had become as open and warm as anyone she’d ever known. He was like an entirely different person. Jennifer was honored to have been one of the few people to see him so unguarded when she was sure Rourke was always on guard.

Rourke had held her like something precious at first. He’d treated her like glass that might break in his huge callous roughened hands. He made Jennifer feel sexy and desirable when his eyes glazed over, and grunts were the only verbalizations he was capable of voicing.

Once Rourke got past the surprise of having a woman beg for sex –her cheeks blazed with heat at that memory- those gentle hands had turned demanding. Holy hell, he’d damn near screwed her to the wall. It was a good thing Jennifer had been so turned on. The slickness of her pussy and some deep breathing were necessary for her to accommodate Rourke’s proportions. Maybe the myth about the size of a man’s hands and feet wasn’t a myth after all.

More than the sheer pleasure Rourke had given her, Jennifer would never forget holding his strong face in her hands and looking into his intense eyes as they both climaxed. The wonder she was feeling had been mirrored there in Rourke’s eyes. It was nearly perfect. Only almost perfect, because Jennifer already knew she’d have to escape before he could see how much he could hurt her. She had to hide so the fear of him being hurt more than just emotionally because of her became a reality.

Pastor Davis understood her concern. He loved Rourke like a son, so he’d agreed to keep her secret, but he hadn’t liked it at all. The pastor believed Rourke could help her far more than he could by giving her a place to hide, but Jennifer refused to give her evil ex the chance to touch a hair on Rourke’s perfect blond head, should Evan catch up with her before she found a means of escape from Vegas. That was a real possibility. She wasn’t worth Rourke’s life. It was better that she remain a pleasant memory for him. She was just a girl he met when he was home on leave, nothing more.

Jennifer pushed open the storeroom door and entered on aching feet. She had to move a few of the boxes Rourke had carried down the stairs to get to her destination. The rusty hinges creaked when Jennifer opened the door to her secret home. Rourke had come close to her hideaway. The fact that he’d stuck around so long after the others left was the only reason she hadn’t retreated to her cozy little hole in the wall sooner. She didn’t want anyone to know she was actually living in the church basement. If you could call hiding and biding your time living.

Her small room had a light, a single bed, and a shelf. Her few items of clothing hung from a bar affixed to the bottom of the shelf. Mrs. Davis had been bringing her novels to read since there wasn’t even a television. The books lined the shelf. Jennifer had read a few of them twice already. That was all she had, but Jennifer was so very grateful for a safe place to lay her head that she couldn’t wish for anymore. It was warm and clean, and she was safe for now, thanks to the Davis.

Once she’d stripped out of her dress and hung it up, Jennifer collapsed onto her borrowed bed. The sheets smelled pleasantly of lavender fabric softener. She reached up and shut off the lamp. In the darkness, she was left alone with her thoughts.

The pleasant ache between her legs and down her thighs was a reminder of Rourke. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man. She rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head. She wouldn’t think about him anymore. She couldn’t if she wanted to remain sane. She didn’t want to remember, but she couldn’t block out the image of his devilish grin as he told her stories about his teammates.

Jennifer let the tears come. She cried for all she’d lost. She cried because she missed her parents, her brothers, and the rest of her family. She cried because her hopes for the career she’d walked away from that family for were in tatters. She cried because Even MacGraff was still out there looking for her. But mostly she cried for what might have been if only she’d met Rourke just a little sooner.

Jennifer told herself again to forget Rourke. She’d gotten what she expected, and she’d known the whole time nothing more would come of it. If he hadn’t chased after her, it would be so easy for Jennifer to believe she’d only been a fuck in a closet for the big, sexy SEAL. But he had followed her, and she’d seen the loss in his eyes. She’d heard his frustrated shout of defeat. So Jennifer cried because she was sure she’d lost the one man who could have made her sad life worth living. She was forced to walk away from the man who could have been the love of her life. And that was worth shedding more than a few tears over.

Jennifer tossed and turned in bed. She was reliving her nightmare again. It was the same every night, and no matter how hard Jennifer tried, she couldn’t wake from the reoccurring dream that wasn’t a dream at all, but a vivid memory that haunted her every night. It always started the same way.

They were walking back to Evan’s car after being ejected from the club full of naked people, and she was so confused. Jennifer was frantically trying to find a way to let Evan down politely but firmly. After the way he’d been trying to change her for their so-called date he’d taken her on that night, Jennifer was done. She didn’t even want to get in his car again, but she needed a ride home. Her instincts were screaming at her to run because something was very wrong here, but Jennifer ignored the warning. 

Jennifer would ask Evan to take her home and end it before she got out of the car. She just wasn’t interested in a relationship with him. He was handsome, and he had money, but those things meant nothing to Jennifer. Of course, she had to be attracted to a man to give dating a try, so being handsome helped, but there just wasn’t any chemistry there for Jennifer. She’d rather have an average looking man she could be herself with than a gorgeous man who made her feel as if she should be grateful for his attention.

She always felt like Evan was evasive. It was impossible to get a straight answer from Evan about anything. She couldn’t tell you where he came from or where he lived now, other than that he had a condo in downtown Vegas and house in the suburbs. He didn’t like to talk about his work either. But he wanted to know every little detail about Jennifer.

That evening’s events were the clincher for Jennifer. First, he didn’t like her clothes. He took her to an illegal gambling club turned brothel on a date. Then, he started a fight and pulled a gun. Afterward, he had the nerve to blame her when they got kicked out. There was no way this could go on. Evan MacGraff was not the gentleman he pretended to be. Jennifer wasn’t interested in finding out who he really was behind those fake smiles.

“I’d like to go home now, Evan,” Jennifer said during a break in a tirade about Luc Christianson, the owner of Hell, the club they’d been tossed out of just moments before. Evan was actually talking about having the club owner murdered for monopolizing the market in Vegas. What market? Was Luc an investment banker too? Jennifer didn’t think Evan was joking either. Would he really kill someone?

Evan gave her a cold glare. Something was missing in his deep-brown eyes now, and it scared the shit out of Jennifer. It was like looking into the eyes of a hungry shark. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. Then he relaxed. He turned the car in the wrong direction. They were driving away from her place.

“I said I want to go home. Now,” Jennifer repeated. She wouldn’t break it off with Evan while he was behaving so irrationally. It could wait until morning. She’d give him a call and calmly explain that things weren’t going to work out between them.

“I have good news for you, sweetheart.” Evan’s demeanor had reversed. He seemed to realize that he’d let his mask drop, and he was trying to recover. “You don’t have to go back to that dump you live in ever again. I’m taking you to your new home. I’m taking you to my home.”

“Excuse me?” Her apartment wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t a dump. It was clean, and she lived in a decent complex. She worked hard for everything she had, and she didn’t appreciate him downing her. First, it was her clothes, now her apartment. He wanted to take her to his home? Was he fucking joking?

“There’s no need to thank me, Jenny. You’re going to make me a very happy man. It’s my job to take care of you, and I intend to do it well.” He returned his attention to the road.

“What are you talking about? I want to go home. Pull over. I’ll just get out here.” What the fuck was wrong with this man? He had to be kidding. And she hated being called Jenny. She’d told Evan that numerous times.

Evan didn’t respond to her demand. His hand reached over to brush her flushed cheek, but she swatted it away. She never wanted him to touch her again. Evan just chuckled at her. They had driven for a short distance before he pulled over. Relieved that he was letting her go, Jennifer got out of the car as soon as it came to a full stop, but she was blocked by the appearance of two large men in suits.

“Get her in the car and keep her calm. I don’t want her upset. Jenny is still a little flustered by her good fortune,” Evan instructed them through the still open passenger door.

One of the men grabbed Jennifer as she attempted to jump out of the car. He opened the door and shoveled her into the back seat, then climbed in after her. The other guy got in the front next to Evan.

Jennifer had had enough. This shit wasn’t funny at all. She started yelling at Even and demanding he pull over and let her out of the car. After a minute of her ranting at the back of Evan’s head, he began getting increasingly red in the face. The man next to her made a show of unbuttoning his jacket so she could see his gun holstered there. Jennifer blinked rapidly, recognizing the threat. She finally looked the man directly in the eyes. He was a barrel-chested man with a craggy face. He looked mean as hell when he reached up and wrapped his giant mitt around the handle of the gun.

“Don’t make the boss angry, lady. That makes me angry. I’m supposed to keep you calm back here. I’ll do that any way necessary. You get me?” His cold stare was unsettling. Would he shoot her? Would he pistol whip her?

Jennifer realized these must be Evan’s men. The ones he said would have been with him tonight if he weren’t tiptoeing around her. She’d never seen them before. His men were gun toting thugs. It began to sink in that she was in real danger. This was not a joke. She wasn’t being punked, either. Jennifer looked up to find Evan glaring at her through the review mirror.

“I understand there will be an adjustment period for you, Jenny, but I demand respect and obedience. You belong to me, now, and that’s how it’s going to be. I’m done playing this game with you. No more dating, either, unless I feel like you’ve earned the privilege. No more pretending I’m some soft punk to gain your trust. I’m a businessman, and I don’t have time to coddle you any longer. You cost me money tonight. That won’t happen again.” His expression promised retribution if it did. “I’m bringing you into my world sooner than later, so you can just adjust to your new circumstance. It’s a gift I’m giving you. You will learn to appreciate it.”

Jennifer was in shock. She stared at him wordlessly. Evan drove into the parking garage of a tall residential building. He parked and handed the key to the silent man in the front seat. Her gun-happy companion got out of the car and pulled Jennifer along with him. She looked around for help, but the garage was empty of people. There were only rows and rows of expensive cars.

Evan walked to the elevator, and Jennifer was towed behind him by the craggy thug. Inside the elevator, Jennifer looked frantically for a security camera, hoping to call out for help. If there was a camera, she couldn’t find it. The elevator slowed to a stop, and the doors slid open at the lobby level. A man stood there waiting to board, but he stepped back when Evan gave him a glare and shook his head. The man blinked in confusion but said nothing. He got the message and wasn’t getting on.

The doors were closing again when Jennifer shouted, “Help me! Please! He’s holding me against my will! Help!” She lunged for the opening and got one foot outside when Evan grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back in. The stunned face of the man in the lobby disappeared when the door slid shut.

“What did I say about obedience, Jenny?” Evan snarled.

Jennifer was slammed against the wall by her hair. “Fuck you!” she shouted in Evan’s face.

Evan struck her hard across the cheek with the back of his hand. Jennifer’s head snapped back and cracked against the wall. She was momentarily senseless. Her brain was scrambled. Her eye and cheekbone exploded with pain. Her legs gave out, and she slid down the wall. Never in her life had Jennifer been hit. She’d never even been spanked as a child.

“Look what you did!” Evan shouted. “Dammit!”

Jennifer felt herself being lifted and carried off the elevator. She shook her head trying to clear the fog, but it didn’t help. She was dazed.

“Go find our neighbor from the lobby and be sure he understands all is well. He better keep his mouth shut if he wants to keep it that way,” Evan told the craggy-faced thug.

Jennifer was still foggy when she was deposited on a large bed. Evan stood over her, looking like the father of an errant child with his hands on his hip.

“Why did you make me hit you, Jenny?” he asked with a disappointed shake of his head.

“You’re crazy,” Jennifer told Evan.

Evan’s lips pressed together into an unhappy line. “That may be so, but it changes nothing. You are mine.” He looked down her body with a possessive glint in his eyes. As his gaze traveled back up her body, Jennifer’s skin crawled. When he reached her face and saw the bruises forming from his assault, Evan growled and walked into the bathroom. She heard the sound of water running.

Jennifer leaped from the bed. There was no way she’d docilely accept this madness. She ran down the hall to the large living area. There were several more of Evan’s men standing around looking surprised when she burst into the room. The only way out was blocked by their presence. She looked around for a weapon of some sort to defend herself with, but there was nothing in sight.

Not willing to just give up, Jennifer sprinted toward the door. Maybe they would let her pass if they didn’t know why she was there. Jennifer was stopped in her tracks once more by a fist in her long gold hair. She screamed in pain when she was jerked backward off of her feet and fell to the floor. Evan had twisted his fingers in her hair and was dragging her back down the hall. Jennifer clutched his hand and lifted herself, trying to relieve the pain in her scalp. She screamed for help, but none of the men moved. She was on her own. Evan took her to a different room, this one smaller with no bathroom. He dropped her on the carpet and loomed over her.

“I can see you don’t yet appreciate your good fortune. I’m going to give you a comfortable life with all the money, clothes, and happiness you could ever want. All you have to do is obey me. It will be a good life, Jenny. No more dancing to pay the bills. No more scrounging for money. You will have a life of luxury with me. Do you understand?” He spoke to her like she was a confused child.

“You’re fucking crazy,” she whispered.

Evan’s nostril’s flared. He went to the door and called out. When one of his cronies appeared, Evan stepped into the hall. “Find a bucket and bring it back to me. Send Tommy to me as well.”

“Yes sir,” Jennifer heard the mumbled reply.

Evan stayed in the hall. Jennifer crawled to the side of the bed and sat up, leaning back against it for support. Her face was throbbing, her eye was swelling shut, and her scalp burned from being dragged by her hair. Jennifer’s heart was pounding in her chest.  What was she going to do? How had this happened to her? She saw stories about missing people on the news and social media all the time. People just disappeared. Was she going to be just another story for people to scroll past while searching for more interesting news?

“This is your new post, Tommy. I’m trusting you with my greatest treasure. Do you understand me?” She heard Evan talking in the hall.

“Yes, Mr. MacGraff,” Tommy answered.

“Don’t touch her unless she tries to leave her room. Then, I expect you to safely bring her under control and send for me. You got that?”

“Yes, Mr. MacGraff,” Tommy repeated.

Another voice broke in, “Your bucket, Mr. MacGraff.”

Evan returned to Jennifer with an oval blue bucket in his hand. He dropped it in front of her on the floor with the opening down and sat on it like a stool. “You’re a woman with spirit and backbone. I can appreciate that, but you’ll learn quickly that I’m as hard a man as they come, Jenny. If you test me, I’ll snap that pretty fucking backbone.”

Evan clutched her jaw and jerked her face up to his so he could kiss her roughly. She fought him. Evan shoved her away from him and went to the door.

“When you’re ready to behave like the lady I know you are, let me know. Until then, this is your world.” He gestured around the room. “You won’t have food or water until you apologize for your behavior. There is your toilet,” He pointed to the bucket. “We’ll talk again when you’re feeling more like your sweet self again. Tommy will be in the hall to assist you when you’re ready.” Evan closed the door behind him, and she listened to his footfalls retreat down the corridor after a quiet discussion with Tommy.

Jennifer went from trying to break it off with Evan to being imprisoned in his home within an hour. She stared at the door for a long time, while impotent rage built in Jennifer’s gut.

When Jennifer could no longer contain the fury bubbling in her chest. She exploded into action. She destroyed the room, ripping down the curtain rods, breaking the mirror in the empty closet, overturning everything she could move, and finally trying to shatter one of the windows with the metal curtain rod. The fucker wouldn’t break, though. Even if it had, she wouldn’t have been able to jump from that height. She stopped beating against the window when it dawned on her that someone on the ground below could be seriously injured or worse by the falling glass.