She Belongs to Me (44 page)

“You’re right, Ronny, I am sick, more like delusional, both of us are. Jordan has been nothing but generous to both of us, and I coveted his wife and you tried to murder her. I don’t need your help…I
should
want to kill myself. Do you mind if I have a drink? I don’t need Ambien.”

Ronny smiled at this revelation. “No, go ahead. I’ll have one too if you don’t mind.”

How amiable they were discussing murder and suicide over a drink. John just hoped it would be enough time. He knew Ronny would want him to use his own gun. If he could talk Ronny into letting him get drunk first, maybe he could buy some time until Jordan could send help.

63

Chapter
Thirty-Three

Jordan heard nothing but silence on the other line.

John must have hit the recall button by accident. This should be interesting. It would give him something to do while he waited for Jaynee to wakeup. He hoped John talked to himself, as he did when he was in the car sometimes.

It was hard to make out anything from John’s line, mostly just muffled sounds of John’s voice, but then he realized there were two voices. He turned up the cell phone volume the highest it would go and heard Ronny’s voice, “No, have a seat, John!”

Jordan burst out of his chair, sprinting from the room to the waiting area with the courtesy phone. He didn’t know Len’s number. He had been connected to him on the first call, and though Len returned his call, he wasn’t about to hang up and redial. He pressed the mute button on the cell phone, picked up the courtesy phone and dialed 911. He had to argue with the operator this time that not only did she need to send police to John’s house, but she also needed to connect him with Detective
Powe
. Jordan gave her his badge number and position as before and held the line for what seemed like forever. He heard Ronny’s confession, how he planned to take care of everything.

Finally, Len came on the line. “What’s up, Jordan? I just got to your office. No one was here, so I—”

“He’s at John’s place,” Jordan burst out, interrupting him. “I only heard part of what was going on, but Ronny said something about John would want to pull the trigger himself. I wasn’t thinking straight, Len. I told the disp
atcher to send black and whites;
no telling what’ll do if he hears ’
em
.”

“I’ll call and have them standing by. I’ve got John’s address in my computer.
He still off Albemarle Road?”

“Yeah.
I’m right behind you,” Jordan blurted out before Len could hang up.

“No, Jordan! This is not your division, and I don’t need you going off on either of them. You move from there and I’ll have you arrested myself.”

As much as Jordan didn’t want to concede, he knew he had to follow his order. Besides, how could he ever face Rachael if things turned badly, and he was the one to pull the trigger?

Jordan darted back to Jaynee’s room, plopped down and dropped his head back against the cool vinyl chair. Would this day ever end? He listened to John’s request for a drink. They were just
gonna
sit there like old friends. John was smart; he knew Ronny would want to make his death look
as if
he’d gotten wasted and committed suicide. He’d be willing to draw it out. John hadn’t tipped his hand entirely. Now Jordan would have to wait and listen, and pray he didn’t hear something he didn’t want to.

No conversation could be heard, only the echo of glasses clinking. Were they toasting? How deranged.
Lorraine’s phone chimed the melody Jordan knew would come eventually. It was dying; he’d been on it all morning.

How long would Ronny wait, Jordan wondered? Quiet muffles and chuckling filled the background. Were they telling stories? John was attempting to sidetrack him as long as possible.

“Jordan?” Jaynee’s voice, barely a whisper, broke him from concentrating on their conversation.

His gaze leveled on her. “Yes, love?” He took her hand in his, as moisture filled his eyes again.

As bad as this day was, in some ways it was also the happiest day of his life. Jaynee was going to be okay, he was confident. And nothing was more important to him now or ever. It was irrelevant if she was pregnant or if she ever became pregnant or if she ever stopped loving him—not that that seemed likely. All that mattered or would ever matter was that she was safe, and he would never stop loving her. He heard the final chord of the phone as it died. He groaned. There was nothing he could do.

Her eyebrows pulled together, and she winced at the pain. “Is everything okay? Are you all right?”

Jordan reached to her face, soothing her forehead.

“Everything is now, Jaynee. I love you so much. Can I kiss you, or will that hurt?”

“Please,” she whispered.

He leaned over her and kissed her as delicately as if she were spun glass, his lips moving softly over her cheekbones. “Oh, God, I love you,” he murmured through kisses. “I missed you so much.” His lips
continued along her jaw. “And then this happened. I truly believed I was going to die. I would have—if something happened to you—you are my life, Jaynee.”

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“Don’t apologize. I’m the one
who
jumped to horrible conclusions. I feel awful, how could I—what was I thinking? You didn’t do anything.” He choked on the awful feelings. How could he have been so ignorant? “You never did anything, and I yelled at you. I got drunk…and almost…” he trailed off hanging his head, not wanting to admit his weakness.

“
Shh
, Jordan, it’s going to be okay,” she whispered, attempting to comfort him. He didn’t deserve to be comforted.

“Jaynee, I have to tell you something. Nothing happened but still I have to confess. I’d want to know.” He looked deep into her eyes, ashamed. “The night it happened,” somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to say the words, “I
was
drunk, and I
am
sorry. Lorraine called, and I asked her to drive
me home. She made a pass at me.
I swear nothing happened, but…I…it could have…I was so stupid.”

“I know. Lorraine told me.”

Jordan’s eyes widened. “She told you?”

“Yes… I know you didn’t do anything—even drunk.”

“No…I didn’t,” he admitted. “I love you, Jaynee, only you. And I want only you, forever.”

“Forever,” she agreed, smiling, but then her hands went to her head.

“Does it hurt? Do you want me to call the nurse?”

“Yes, but, no. I want to stay awake. I was just realizing my hair…” She whimpered, and her eyes glazed over as the realization hit her fully.

Jordan understood what she was thinking. It was the first thing he noticed when he saw her after surgery. Her long, beautiful hair was gone, but he’d gotten used to it over the last few days.

“Don’t cry. It’ll hurt.” He soothed her forehead with his hands again, tracing her features with his fingers.

“But I’ll be ugly.”

“No, you won’t,” he offered with a chuckle. “You’ll be my G.I. Jaynee.”

Jay
nee laughed in spite of herself;
it obviously hurt her head and she moaned in reaction.

“You should rest, Jaynee. I’ll call the nurse for more medication.”

“No, Jordan, please. I want to stay awake a little while longer. There was something else I wanted to say.”

His stomach flipped. He wasn’t sure if he wanted any more surprises, though the last one was a good one. He didn’t want to hear about her meeting with Brian, knowing the conversation would have to turn around to him eventually. He still wasn’t thrilled that she hadn’t told him. He hoped he could keep his jealously intact when she mentioned his name. The idea was ridiculous he knew. He had no reason to be jealous…heck even Brian admitted that.

She smiled fractionally. “You look worried.”

He shook his head, attempting a smile but knew it was shallow, and she would see right through him.

“Don’t be. I just wanted to explain the question you asked the other day. What was keeping me so busy that I didn’t have time for my husband,” she repeated his question, looking up at his response as he blanched at her words, ashamed.

“I’m sorry—’’

She cut him off. “Don’t be…I
was
trying to keep myself unavailable. But, I
was
busy. I finished my novel, Jordan.”

He looked at her bewildered now…he didn’t actually know she was writing a book only that she wanted to.

“I started writing the story that I told you about when I started college, and as I neared the end, I couldn’t stop. An agent requested my manuscript after receiving my initial query. And guess what?”

“What…?”

“She’s interested, and she wants to represent my book. So, that is what has been keeping me so busy.”

“That’s fantastic,” he exclaimed, holding her head gently between his hands as he kissed her again lightly. “I’m so proud of you and happy you are going to get everything you ever wanted.”

She moved her head slowly back and forth. “I already have everything I ever wanted, Jordan. This is just icing.” She moved her free hand to her stomach. “And now, you’ll
have everything you ever wanted
too.”

He covered her hand with his. “I
already had everything I wanted;
I just didn’t realize it. But thank you, this will definitely be icing.”

She smiled and her eyelids drooped as the darkness threatened to take her again. “Jordan,” she murmured
through half-shuttered eyes. “You need t
o get some rest. No offense…but,
you look awful.
Although, I do like the start of the beard.
It reminds me…”

He watched as her eyes closed completely. He was certain she was right about how bad he looked. He’d probably lost ten pounds in the last couple of days. But he wasn’t going anywhere. He laid his head beside hers on the bed and caressed her arms until he was confident she was deep asleep. Then he rested back in the recliner, thinking he could sleep for the first time in days. Len would call him. No news is good news.

Jordan jumped when he was shook awake. His eyes darted around the room expecting danger, but instead he saw Bobby standing over him.

“Hey,” Jordan said confused. “You were supposed to stay with the girls.”

“It’s over, Jordan.” Bobby released a heavy breath. “John called me from the station to pick him up. The detectives demanded he go down and sign an affidavit before releasing him.” He paused for Jordan to reflect on his words. “John gave me the complete story on the ride back. What the heck was Ronny thinking? Who would have thought he was capable?” He gestured his astonishment by lifting his large hands in the air.

Jordan caught up with Bobby’s words, relieved to hear at least John was safe but wasn’t sure what happened or what he wanted to have happened to Ronny. He didn’t know how he’d ever face Rachael again.

“What about Ronny…” Jordan asked.

Bobby released
a
puff of air through his nose. “He’s probably still too drunk to know what’s going on. John explained how he’d called you when he was trying to stall Ronny. He’d asked him if he could have a drink and then offered him one. Before he knew it, Ronny was talking about Rachael, practically crying over her according to John. He kept refilling Ronny’s glass, and he kept accepting. John always could drink anyone under the table. Not that you or I were ever competition for him even when we did drink.”

Jordan nodded in agreement.

Bobby paced around the room. He always looked like a trapped bear. “John said he saw the police surround the house through the back window, but Ronny was too far gone by then to notice. John made eye contact with Len and lifted his glass to explain. Len just laughed according to John. When all was said and done, all John did was open the back door for Len to step inside.” Bobby laughed, but it was a nervous laugh.

Jordan knew what he was thinking. He too wondered how they could have worked and lived beside Ronny and not have known he was capable of such atrocious actions. “Does Rachael know?”

“Yeah…I called her on the way over. I almost feel sorry for Ronny.”

Jordan glowered at his brother-in-law.

“Not for what he’s done,” he quickly explained.
“Because of Rachael.
She didn’t even care; she was embarrassed more than anything. But not once did she even ask if he was okay. How’s that possible? I’d like to think no matter what I did, no matter how repulsive,
Melissa would still have some vestige of concern. And to think, John said he was crying over Rachael.”

Jordan nodded his head. “I guess that makes sense.” He reflected back on how he felt when he thought Jaynee cheated on him or had attempted suicide and still his largest concern was only her safety. He hadn’t cared about what she’d done as much as he worried for her wellbeing, even if it meant losing her. “Still…I could kill him.”