- 5.
“Well, well, Jenny DiMarco. Long time no
see.”
A chill shot down my spine.
I couldn’t make out his face in the dark, but I
knew that voice.
Jake. My old bodyguard.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, stopping
right outside the door.
I didn’t have time for this. “Look, can you just
let me hide out for a minute, please?” I
whispered.
He didn’t say anything, but a knock sounded
at the door. I instinctively tried to hide behind
<
Jake.
I’m thinking about how I used to boss him
around back then, and started to feel sick.
I clutched at his jacket. “Please, don’t open it.
Just until he leaves. I’ll be out of your hair, I
promise.”
The knocking grew more insistent.
Tony’s voice, impatient now, cut through the
door. “Open up, or I’m kicking this thing
down!”
Jake didn’t answer me. Instead, he reached
for the doorknob. I panicked, trying to
scramble away from him.
Next thing I knew, he grabbed me around the
waist, and I was flush against his chest.
At the same time, the door swung open.
I stopped breathing, instinctively pressing myself against Jake, burying my face in his
chest.
“Jake, what’s up?”
<
The cold voice cut through the air, and I felt
Tony’s icy gaze on me, lingering for a long
moment.
I shivered, and the hand around my waist
tightened, pulling me closer.
“That outfit…” Tony’s voice trailed off, and
my heart leaped into my throat.
Did he recognize it?
“Why doesn’t the lady turn around? I mean,
we should at least introduce ourselves, right,
Jake?” Tony’s footsteps started again, getting
closer.
The next second, Jake tightened his hold on
me and moved back, putting distance
between us and Tony.
The scent of cedar surrounded me, and
somehow, my panic started to fade.
“She’s shy, doesn’t like strangers.” As if to
sell it, Jake reached up and gently patted my
back.
<
“Is that so?” Tony sounded skeptical. “Or is
she just hiding something?”
He stepped closer, and a hand clamped down.
on my arm, ready to drag me out into the
light.
I held my breath, nails digging into whatever I
could grab.
“What’s got you so jumpy, Tony? You don’t
think I’m hiding…Jenny, do you?”
Jake’s voice was like velvet, and at the same
time, his hand brushed my cheek, and he
leaned down to kiss me.
His lips were on his hand, but I felt his hot
breath on my face.
Whatever he was doing, it worked. Tony let
go of my arm.
He seemed to figure it out, and said, “Of
course, it couldn’t be! Jenny loves me too
much to do anything that would hurt me! And
let’s not forget that Jake was Jenny’s
く
bodyguard once, so I’m sure you haven’t
forgotten all those memories, right, Jake?”
“They replay in my mind every night and day.”
Jake kissed me on my head, surrounding me,
so I had to push away.
When Tony heard it, he laughed, then warned,
“Jenny is my woman. If you lay a hand on her,
you’ll have to deal with me!”
Jake gave a noncommittal laugh.
Tony didn’t seem to notice, suspicion gone,
and said, “Have fun, I won’t bother you!”
The door closed, and I stepped back, feeling
like I could finally breathe again.
“Thank you for this. I’ll pay you back
sometime.”
I reached for the door.
But, the door closed again.
