Blind Fury by Gwen Hernandez Read Free Book Online Page B

Tara said, squeezing Jenna’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking…”
    Jenna relented with a sigh. She didn’t want to fight with her best friend, especially not today. “It’s fine. Just be careful. Mick doesn’t trust him.”
    “I will.” Tara nodded. “Are you sure you’re all right? What are you going to do about the break-in?”
    Jenna had pulled her aside before the funeral to give her a quick recap of the morning’s events. “We reported it to the police on our way here. Since no one was hurt”—not physically, anyway—“they said they could wait to examine the scene until I get home.”
    “Why don’t you stay with me tonight?” Tara frowned. “You won’t be able to sleep there tonight anyway.”
    Mick stepped in. “She’s staying with me.”
    Jenna’s head snapped around. “I am?” It was the first he’d said about it.
    So much for never seeing him again after today.
    Tara nodded solemnly, a gleam in her eye. “Good idea. He can keep you safe better than I can.”
    “And I don’t want to bring you into this,” Mick said, using the one argument that Jenna couldn’t counter. She’d never willingly put her friend in danger.
    “He’s right,” Jenna said reluctantly, giving Tara a quick hug. “Be careful with Colin this weekend. And just say no,” she whispered into her friend’s ear. After a string of one-night stands, Tara had made a new rule: no sex on the first date. Colin would be her first test.
    “Yes, Mom.” Tara scowled playfully, then turned serious. “Stay safe. I’ll talk to you Sunday.”
    Mick watched her leave. “I guess you’re not going to tell her to keep away from Colin,” he said.
    Jenna turned to face him. “She’s a grown woman. I can’t order her around, especially not based on your vague distrust of the guy.”
    “Yeah,” Mick sighed. “I know.” He squeezed her shoulders, kneading them with his strong hands. “How are you holding up?” he asked quietly, his bright blue eyes searching hers.
    She shrugged free and turned away as tears threatened again. She might never be okay again, but she was done crying. “I’m fine.” The light dimmed as a cloud blocked out the sun, and the breeze chilled her skin. She rubbed her arms, suddenly frozen to the core.
    All around, fake flowers fluttered in their urns, bright spots in the calm of the endless green lawn. So many lives reduced to brass plaques and plastic petals.
    Mick wrapped his arms around her from behind, chasing the ice from her veins. He didn’t speak. He just held her, and this time she didn’t fight him. How easy it would be to let him take care of her, make all the hard decisions.
    Too easy.
    Not that he wanted the job. He was good when he was around, but he didn’t ever stick around. Jenna had watched him go through a string of women over the last several years, and she had no desire to be another of his throwaway girls.
    Somehow she’d find the strength to stand on her own.

    Jenna pulled free from Mick’s embrace again, leaving him cold and empty. She shuffled toward the deep hole in the ground where Rob’s casket lay, as if reluctant to say goodbye to her brother. He could relate. Rob had been his best friend since basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
    Seeing right through Mick’s carefree act, Rob had slowly begun chipping away at the walls Mick had built to protect himself. Because after watching his asshole dad charm everyone around him into believing he was some paragon of virtue, Mick had gotten into the habit of using his own brand of charm to keep people at a distance.
    Rob had sealed their friendship by saving Mick’s ass during an inspection. When he applied for PJ training a year later, Mick signed up right after him. They’d agreed that it was the perfect job, combining the adrenaline rush of jumping into a hot zone—sometimes fighting their way out—and saving lives. As a PJ, Mick had been too busy rescuing other people to worry