Protective Hearts

Chapter 5

Chapter 5Shelby appeared in the doorway, carrying a fresh mug of coffee and my discarded pop tarts. Without a word, she placed the plate and mug on the bedside table, and then crawled onto the bed, where I was sitting with my arms wrapped around my knees.

“Wanna talk?” she offered.

“Not particularly.”

Shelby sighed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “How long have you been in love with Shep?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“To me. Probably not to those bags of testosterone downstairs.”

I sighed, lifting my head and turning to my friend. “I'm not sure I'm in love with him.”

“You do have feelings for him?” Shelby probed gently.

“Yeah. What a waste of time and energy that is,” I announced bitterly.

“What happened?”

“I thought he was going to kiss me this morning.”

Shelby raised an eyebrow. “Really? Isn't that good news?”

“Not when he announced it was a lousy idea.”

My best friend's expression rapidly shifted from excited to indignant. “Why would he say that?”

“Apparently he's too old for me. And I'm not like the other girls he dates. And,” I sighed, reaching for a pop tart and nibbling on it, “he doesn't do virgins.”

“He said that?”

“Yep.”

Shelby's eyes sparkled with anger and she was clearly outraged. “Bastard!”

I chewed thoughtfully on a mouthful of pop tart. “I threw him for a loop when I announced I wasn't a virgin.”

Shelby was clearly surprised by my announcement. “You aren't?”

“Not since I was taken by the Ripper,” I responded softly.

For more than a minute, there was complete silence in the room. “s**t. I didn't know, Finn. You never told me he r***d you. I thought The Ripper didn't r**e his victims.”

I shook my head, forcing the memories into the dark recesses of my mind. “No, he didn't r**e the others. Only me. And it's not something I want to dwell on.”

We sat together in silence, Shelby rubbing my shoulder soothingly. “Surely that's helpful though,” she began tentatively; “wouldn't there be some DNA evidence?”

“Nope. He used a c****m and he washed me each time.”

Shelby didn't attempt to hide her horror. “He did it more than once?”

I nodded bleakly. “I don't know how often it happened and I can't remember the details. I just know it happened and I recall snatches of what he did.”

“But Shep—” Shelby began, and then clamped her mouth shut.

I turned to face her, Shelby's expression confirmed she'd been about to blurt something she thought she shouldn't. “But Shep—what?”

Shelby shut her eyes, shaking her head. “Shep must have known about the r***s, Finn. He and Ash were poring over police reports, after you went to bed last night.”

I took a minute, absorbing the implications. “So he knew I wasn't a virgin.” I clambered off the bed, pacing across the room. “s**t! That makes it even worse – he comes up with a pitiful excuse for blowing me off – knowing it isn't even the truth!”

Shelby slipped from the bed and wrapped her arms around my waist. “I'm so sorry, Finn.”

I shook my head, fighting back tears. “Don't be. I've been a fool.” I lifted my chin defiantly. “I won't be making the same mistake again.”

“How could he not be interested in you?” Shelby questioned defensively. “You're a beautiful girl, Finn.”

“It's obvious he doesn't think so.”

“Remember the party we went to a few months back? The Priest and Hooker fundraiser?”

I remembered the night Shelby mentioned. How could I forget? It was the party, which pinpointed me as a target, according to Ash. He'd insisted it was the trigger for the Ripper taking me, the only event the police could identify which brought me into the Ripper's sights.

I hadn't planned to attend the event, but Shelby and Bryan talked me into it. They insisted I go along, although I'd argued it wasn't my scene and I had nothing suitable to wear. Bryan chuckled knowingly; announcing Shelby would have something I could borrow. My brother won me over when he insisted it was for a good cause. Held in the mansion of a prominent Chicago author, the event was raising funds to provide shelters for prostitutes trying to escape the life. After years undercover, it was a cause close to Bryan's heart – he'd seen the devastating effects p**********n had on women he met on the streets.

After giving in and agreeing to attend, Shelby spent hours preparing me and even Bryan's jaw dropped when I arrived at the event with Shelby and Taylor.

Shelby had outdone herself; turning me into a different woman, one I didn't recognize in the mirror. She'd located a red bustier in her wardrobe, which gave me an outrageously buxom look, my breasts pushed high in tight leather that barely covered my n*****s. The short length of the bustier left a significant part of my flat abdomen on show. The plain silver belly ring I usually wore had been replaced with an ornate golden chain, which circled my narrow waist. A black leather miniskirt skimmed the top of my thighs, teamed with fishnet stockings and thigh-high leather stiletto boots. I didn't dare question why Shelby owned an outfit like this and was self-conscious from the second I saw myself, almost cancelling my attendance. Shelby insisted I looked wonderful and between her donning a similarly outrageous outfit and Taylor's quiet compliments, my nerves settled.

Shelby worked my hair into a mass of spiral ringlets, pulled to one side so they draped across my left breast. The entire effect was finished with a generous amount of makeup, lashings of mascara and black eyeliner, which highlighted the blue of my eyes.

Drawing back from the memory, I tilted my head at Shelby. “What about the party?” I questioned, unsure why she'd brought up the subject.

Shelby grinned. “Every man had a hard-on, the second you walked in. Don't you remember how many men wanted to dance with you?”

She was right; the costume had ensured I got plenty of attention at the party. Including the Ripper's, according to Ash's hypothesis. Although I wasn't a hooker, that night I'd looked like one, and somewhere, somehow the Ripper had been watching. The police thought he'd been at the party, but investigation of nearly four hundred guests came up with nothing tangible. “I still don't know what that has to do with Shep.”

Shelby's smile was knowledgeable. “You were too busy having a good time to notice, but I can assure you Caleb Sheppard was pea green with envy that night. He spent all night watching you, Finn.”

I shook my head. “It doesn't make any sense, Shel. He didn't even dance with me.”

“Trust me, Finn O'Flaherty. If I understand anything in this world, it's men. And I know Shep was absolutely engrossed by you at that party.”

≈◊◊◊◊◊≈

It took a while to bolster the courage to face Shep again. I'd made a fool of myself, but he was an adult and so was I – there was no reason to hide. He wasn't interested in me and I was going to accept the fact and move on. With my head held high and mustering every ounce of dignity, I walked into the dining room with Rebel trailing behind and stopped at the table where the men had congregated. “You wanted to show me what to do with Rebel,” I announced quietly.

For a few seconds Shep studied me, a flicker of emotion passing over his handsome features before he pushed back the chair and stood up, following me out to the gravel drive.

“Finn, we should talk,” he announced quietly when he reached my side.

“We don't have anything to talk about,” I responded coolly. “If you could just teach me the commands, that's all I need from you.” The implication was clear and Shep frowned deeply.

“I'd never intentionally hurt you, kitten…” he began, but I held up my hand, motioning for him to stop.

“Just show me the commands, Shep. That's all I need and please – stop calling me kitten.”

With a deep sigh Shep did as I requested, showing me the hand signals and I quickly memorized the words, which would prompt Rebel to attack. It was relatively simple, although I prayed I wouldn't have to use them. It was comforting, knowing I had some protection if the worst happened and the Ripper located me.

Satisfied that I understood, Shep crossed his arms over his chest and gazed down at me. “Finn, I'm sorry I hurt you.”

I stared at the gravel beneath my feet, toeing it with my sneaker as I tried to muster a reply. Shep continued to watch me, and I was uncomfortably aware of his attention as he waited for a reaction.

I was saved from responding by Shelby and Taylor coming down the stairs, bags in hand. Shelby was close to tears as she handed her bag to Taylor and walked across to where we stood. “We have to go, Finn. I wish we didn't, but our flight leaves in a couple of hours and we have to drive back to Boston.”

I forced a watery smile, pulling her into my arms for a hug. “I'll be okay, I promise,” I whispered against her ear. “I'll ring you every day.”

“Twice a day,” Shelby whispered back. “Morning and night, every day, no exceptions.”

“Promise.”

Ash descended the stairs behind Shelby, his rucksack hanging across one shoulder, Shep's bag in his hand. “Time to go, Shep. We're on the same flight as Shelby and Taylor.”

I wrapped my arms around my chest and watched my friends preparing to leave. Nervous tension assaulted me and I shook it away, determined to put on a brave face.

Ash dropped the bags into the trunk of Shep's rental, then handed me the keys to his car. “I'll ring you tonight, Finn. Use the car whenever you need to, but keep to yourself as much as you can. The fewer people who know you're out here, the better.”

I nodded, letting Ash draw me into his arms for a fierce hug. “I'll be okay.”

Ash released me so he could look into my eyes, his own tender as he spoke. “I know you will, Finn. I'll be doing my damndest to catch this bastard. We'll get him, I promise you we'll get him, and you can leave this nightmare behind.”

Tears filled my eyes as I hugged him close, drawing on his strength to supplement my own. He kissed my cheek before he released me and strode to the car.

For a long moment, Shep was motionless, watching me warily before he closed the gap between us. “I'll phone you later.”

I lowered my gaze, uncomfortable and uncertain how to handle this difficult goodbye. Shep took control, lifting my chin with his fingertips. “You're wrong, you know. I do care about you,” he whispered against my cheek, before he kissed it softly. “Don't ever think I don't.”

Before I had a chance to respond, he swung around and walked to the car, wrenching the door open and slipping inside. With another warm smile, Ash blew me a kiss before he joined Shep.

Standing with Rebel on the gravel, I watched them drive away, leaving us alone.