Broken and rebuilt

Memories

>>Jenna’s POV<<<

Racing through the trees in this little civic, I know it’s too early to celebrate. Already I feel such relief to be out of that house, but I know the next few days and weeks will be dangerous for me. Until I can stop his plans, I must take all precautions.

I can feel the probing stare of the security guard, Christian. Power is radiating from him, I swear I've felt exactly this before. Have we met before? Just his stare makes me feel alive, and I blush. Gaining some courage, I look towards him. Tall, over 6ft for sure, with dark hair, green eyes, a little bit of stubble, and a devilish grin. He noticed me checking him out. f**k. 

“So...Jenna, is it?” he breaks the silence. “As nice as this –“, he does a swiping motion around him “all of this – is, where are you taking me? Are you k********g me?” he finishes, raising an eyebrow. I laugh inside at the thought of being a kidnapper - Once this is all over, I'd love to get him alone in a room, I'm not gonna lie. 

Instead I reply “Hmm, you got in my car of your own accord, Christian”.

He smiles, and his eyes travel from my face, to my body, to my legs, before he shivers and casts his eye in the back seat.

“Woah!” he exclaims!

I caught the shiver out of the corner of my eye, and absentmindedly turned the heater temperature up. “I’m sorry, are you cold?” I ask. “There are blankets in the back seat, and a thermos of hot chocolate in the cupholder beside you,” I say with a yawn.

A puzzled look passes across his face before he clicks, seemingly finding something amusing, and smiles. “Now, why would Mrs Smith have blankets and hot chocolate in a getaway car, stashed in the trees?” he asks in such a way that he thinks he knows the answer. It's my turn to shiver. I never liked the name Mrs Smith. I never wanted to marry my husband. Let's just say it was for the greater good, and now that I had enough intel, I could actually do something about it. 

Remembering how good an actor my husband is, I doubt this poor security guard knows anything about it. I smile and change the subject. “Is there somewhere you’d like me to drop you off? I really need to leave town, but I can take you where you need to go first, given that I did ‘kidnap’ you and all” I smirk.

Christian looks at me, seemingly surprised, before nodding. “That’d be great, thanks. Though I’m sure the fact that I’m missing and Bryan is unconscious, will get me in a lot of trouble. Pretty sure I’ve lost my job” he replies.

“Be careful”, I admonish. I know my husband is dangerous, but to the outside world he is an innocent, generous, wonderful man. “Maybe lay low for a while, Javier can hold a grudge”, I frown. I feel terrible that I have put him in danger, but I just couldn’t shoot him back at the trees. There is something about him, I can’t explain it, but I certainly don’t want to cause him any pain...wait, what is wrong with me? I don’t even know this guy and I feel very protective of him. Given his bulging biceps, I'm sure he probably can handle his own in most circumstances, so perhaps my wanting to protect him is unwarranted. I blush again at the thought of his biceps. 

Christian smiles a large, genuine smile, and touches my hand. Sparks engulf my body, causing me to jump back and swerve the wheel a little. What.The.Fuck?

He looks shocked too, as if we both were just hit by lightning. Then he stares into my eyes apologetically. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you”, he whispers. Oh god, now he’s whispering. His thumb starts tracing circles on the back of my hand, and my heart starts pounding through my chest. It feels like fireworks exploding inside me, so overwhelming that I feel like I’m about to pass out. I start breathing deeply, sucking in lungful's of air through my nose and out through my mouth, like I’m hyperventilating. That was the first kind male touch I’ve had in years, why am I so damn emotional tonight!

“It’s ok, it’s my fault”, I stammer, pulling my hand out from under his before turning off the main highway on to an off ramp, heading toward the city.

Christian takes a breath and runs his hands through his hair. “Do you know Bastion Docks?” he asks. “You can drop me off there, if you like.”

I nod, realizing that the docks are only a few more minutes away. Bastion Docks were disused, and rumors abounded that pirates had taken over the buildings. Ridiculous, may as well be fairies and dragons. It was the most beautiful part of the city, though. My father owned many ships, and was very good friends with the owner, I think his name was Diego? He and his wife (Cianna, maybe) came to my father’s funeral, with their two sons. A little older than me, we used to play down under the pier, throwing stones and laughing. I can’t believe I remember that – I was 8 when my parents died.

A large horn sound blasted through the night air, bringing me back to the present. “Just through this gate” Christian says, as a tall figure all in black slides open the gate.

Feeling a little nervous, I drive through the gate, and head to park on the right, in front of a large sign with the words “Pier 7”.

I shut off the engine, mostly because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Christian just yet. I know we’d just met but I felt like I could trust him – strange.

“Thank you,” he says, as he unbuckles his seatbelt.

“For what, k********g you?” I joke, and the light laughter seems to make the air a little clearer.

“No,” he says, “for making my job so easy”.

Suddenly my door is yanked open and I feel a sharp prick in my hand. I look down to where the pain is coming from, and I see Christian’s hand holding the tranq dart I shot him with, after stabbing it into my hand.

Well...fuck. I close my eyes as a single tear escapes.