Don't Say a Word (Strangers Series) by Jennifer Jaynes Read Free Book Online Page A

him, and for minutes at a time, she was able to forget about the issues they had—and that she would soon be breaking up with him. Allie concentrated on the program, welcoming the chance to escape for a while. But twenty minutes into their second episode, the phone rang.
    She hurried to pick it up before it woke anyone. “Hello?”
    She heard silence on the other end of the line. The hair on the back of her neck rose.
    What the hell? Again?
    She glanced at the caller ID, but the screen indicated the call was coming from a private number. “Hello?” she said louder.
    She could hear muffled breathing. Then a man’s voice asked, “Who is this?”
    She frowned. “Who is this ? You called me .”
    The man was silent.
    A shiver crawled up Allie’s back. She instinctively glanced at Sammy. He was still asleep.
    She heard more muffled breathing, then the line went dead.
    When she hung up, Johnny was propped up on his elbow, staring at her. “Who was that?”
    “I don’t know. Some man,” she said, rubbing her arms.
    “Well, what did he say?”
    “He asked who I was.”
    “Really? Well, that’s weird.”
    “Yeah . . . and I think he might’ve called this morning, too.”
    He squeezed her shoulder. “You okay? You look a little green.”
    She felt green.
    Allie glanced at Sammy again to make sure he was still asleep, then she lowered her voice. “Did you see those little girls who came home with Bitty today?”
    “Yeah, why?”
    “Their parents were killed a few days ago.”
    “Killed? What? How?”
    “They were murdered.”
    Johnny’s eyes widened. “No shit?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Jesus. That’s crazy. Who killed them?” Johnny asked.
    Allie shrugged. “That’s the thing. They haven’t caught him yet. He’s still out there somewhere.”
    Johnny let out a low whistle. “Holy shit.”
    “Yeah, I know. And what if he didn’t just want to kill the parents? What if he wanted the girls, too? Or what if the girls saw him the night their parents were killed and now he’s after them? I mean, it wouldn’t be hard for him to get our phone number. Or figure out where we live.” She shuddered, hearing the words leave her mouth.
    “Come here,” Johnny said, patting the mattress in front of him.
    Reluctantly she lay down on her side and let him pull her close. This time she didn’t cringe. This time his closeness to her comforted her a little.
    They lay in silence, their bodies pressed together for several minutes. Johnny’s arms felt safe; she felt protected. She’d always longed for that feeling from a man, but she hadn’t felt it with Johnny for some time. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she could make the relationship with Johnny work after all. Maybe she was being too tough on him, and he could change. Maybe—
    She felt him easing down her sweatpants.
    She jerked away from him. “Johnny, don’t.”
    “Shh,” he whispered. “It’ll make you feel better. I promise.”
    “For heaven’s sake, Sammy’s right there!” she hissed.
    “Then let’s go somewhere else. How about the laundry room?”
    It’s what she’d taught him to expect. That when he visited he would at least get a quickie. In the laundry room. In the woods, in his truck.
    “I said no, Johnny!” she said. “Can’t you take a freaking hint? My God, I’ve been hinting all day!”
    The desire vanished from his eyes. He sat up in the bed. “Seriously? After I drove all the way out here?”
    “Yes, seriously . And lower your voice.”
    “May I ask you why?”
    Anger flared in her belly. “I wouldn’t even know where to freaking start.”

CHAPTER 9
    THIRTY MINUTES LATER, everyone but Allie was sleeping peacefully. She was on one side of the bed, with Piglet and Johnny curled up on the other side.
    In the darkness, she quietly climbed out of bed, then walked through the house making sure that all of the doors and windows were still locked. She knew that it wasn’t logical to keep checking, but it