“No problem,” Evan answered. “I’ll let the rest of the team know what’s going on, and Dave and I will be there as soon as we can. If you need anything, let us know.”
“Thanks,” Kyle answered curtly and disconnected the call.
Pacing the waiting room, it seemed like an eternity before he was allowed to see Jenna. By then, the detective had arrived and went back to the room with Kyle. Kyle wasn’t able to add much to what Tim had already told the man, but Jenna was able to recall several things Tim hadn’t. Taking Jenna’s statement, the detective promised to be in touch and left Jenna to rest.
Kyle sat on the edge of the bed and softly brushed Jenna lips with his. Holding her hand, he looked at her for a long time.
With tears running down her face, Jenna looked at Kyle and said, “Do I look that terrible?”
“Baby, you look like a dream. I can’t believe I almost lost you. I’m so glad you weren’t hurt any worse. I’m so sorry this happened to you again.” Kyle was rubbing her hand and he also had tears running down his face.
Jenna reached up and wiped the tears away with all the love she felt for this man in her eyes.
Kyle didn’t know how he was ever going to let Jenna go but knew, for her safety, he had to. It was going to kill him.
The nurse came in then and tried to send Kyle out of the room, but he was having none of it. He was not letting Jenna out of his sight until he knew she was safe.
Soon the doctor came in and said, “Good news, no broken bones and no signs of internal injuries. I’d like her to say the night just to be cautious, and then she can go home tomorrow as long as there will be someone to be with her. She may have a concussion from being thrown to the ground and we want to observe her tonight.”
Jenna started to protest and Kyle just stared her down. “Thank you, doctor. She will be staying the night, and I will take her home tomorrow and stay with her as long as she needs me. She won’t be left alone for a second.”
Again, Jenna started to say something, but was stopped by the look on Kyle’s face.
It seemed she didn’t have any choice in what happened.
Once the doctor left the room, Jenna started to tell Kyle off, but thought better of it. He seemed pretty mad and she didn’t want to aggravate him.
Kyle sat on Jenna’s bed and just held her hand. Soon the painkillers the doctor had given her kicked in and she drifted off to sleep. How was he ever going to leave her, this woman that he loved more than life itself? But even as the thought crossed his mind, he felt himself mentally pulling away.
Dave and Evan came to the hospital, bringing Kyle and Jenna a change of clothes and Kyle his truck. The rest of the men had been caught and all were in jail for now. It seemed the threat was over. But Kyle knew from his work that nothing was ever truly over.
Chapter Fourteen
The next day, Jenna was released and Kyle took her home. Jenna called her office and told them she had been mugged and took a couple weeks off. She felt something different about Kyle, but couldn’t put her finger on it. He was very attentive and loving, but Jenna felt there was something missing.
Kyle stayed with Jenna and slowly she started to put her life back together. They had stopped house hunting while Jenna recovered and Kyle didn’t seem anxious to start again.
All eight of the men confessed and were given jail time. Jenna did not have to worry about a trial.
Kyle stayed with Jenna for a couple weeks until she was well enough to go back to work. Then, using the excuse that he had to work, he started to pull away from her, spending more nights at his suite at the club and doing less and less with her.
&nbs
p; Jenna knew something was wrong, but Kyle wouldn’t admit anything. She talked with the girls about it and none of them knew anything either. Kyle was pulling away from her and she didn’t know why.
Deciding she had had enough, she took the bull by the horns and confronted Kyle one evening. “What’s up?” she asked him.
“What do you mean?” he answered her.
“Kyle, you’ve been different since the attack. You’re pulling away from me and I don’t know why. Don’t you want me anymore? You don’t want to play. When we go to the club, you are distant. You only want to watch and don’t want to do anything with me. What’s going on?”
“Baby, I love you, but I need some space. I’m going to move back to the club and think we should slow things down. I think things are going too fast and we both need to slow down and take some space, don’t you agree?” Kyle hated what he was saying, but knew Jenna would not be safe in his life, and he had to keep her safe. If the only way to do that was to not be with her, so be it. This way she could go on with her life without him.
“No, I don’t agree, but if that’s what you want, I can’t stop you.” And she ran to the bedroom crying. Slamming the door, Jenna threw herself on the bed. What did I do, she wondered? Knowing she couldn’t keep Kyle if he didn’t want to stay, she knew fighting would do no good.
Kyle hated hurting Jenna, but this was best for her. He had to keep her safe. Looking at the bedroom door and listening to her cry broke his heart. But he needed to be strong. This wasn’t about him. After staring at the door for several long minutes, Kyle took a deep breath and call out, “Jenna, I’m going to the club now. I’ll call you soon.” He wanted to go in the bedroom, strip her naked and fuck her into tomorrow, but that would just make things worse.
Chapter Fifteen