Sweet Vengeance Read Online Free Page B

her
surroundings.  Growing up in a rough neighborhood had taught her some survival
skills. 
    The
room was comfortable with nice furnishings, but it felt more like a hotel room
than someone's home.  Still, she had no clue where she was.  But more than
caring where she was, she wanted to know how Jase had known she would need him
to save her last night.  It was too much of a coincidence to think he'd shown
up by accident. 
    Who
was he really?
    She
slowly stood, careful to keep her balance as she crossed the room to the
blinds.  She peered out between the slats, finding the bright May sunshine
glinting off the water.  In the distance, she could see the skyline of
Chicago.  Thankfully, she was still in her hometown. 
    She
turned when Boo came bounding back into the room.  He walked up to her and
nosed her hand, leaving a wet feeling on her fingertips.  She stared down at
the friendly dog.  From the looks of him, the Border Collie was still a pup. 
    "Hey,
Boo."  She skimmed his soft head.  "Where's your ball?"
    His
ears perked up, and he dashed out of the room.  The tags on his collar jingled
as he left.  He returned a few seconds later with the orange ball in his
mouth.  Allie caught herself smiling.  Then tears threatened again over the
guilt of the emotion, but she held them back.  "You're a smart doggie,
aren't you?"  She pulled the toy out of the dog's mouth and threw it into
the hallway.  He ran after it, and without thinking, she followed.
    She
made it a few steps down the short hallway before she met Jase returning with a
handful of supplies. 
    "I've
got you covered."  He smiled as he held up a pair of rubber gloves and a
roll of masking tape.  "Literally." 
    She
found his smile contagious and returned a small one of her own.  Joey hadn't
been dead twenty-four hours yet, and it seemed all she could do was smile or
cry.  God help her, she didn't want to do either of them.
    "Come
here."  He motioned inside the bedroom toward the dresser where he laid
his contraband.  "These rubber gloves should keep your hands dry." 
He slipped one gently over her fingers and up her wrist.  She watched as he
used his teeth to tear off a piece of tape before he wrapped it around the edge
of the glove.  "You're still going to have to be careful to not let the
water get in.  This will hold, but not for long."  His hands were
calloused and scarred, and had obviously seen a lot of abuse during his
lifetime.  The way he'd fired off those shots last night, more than likely they
were the hands of a killer. 
    She
lifted her gaze and watched his face as he slid on the second glove.  Hard
angles.  A small scar above his right eye.  Lips that turned sensuous when he
smiled.  Up close, he didn't appear to be much older than her, but his big
muscles and street smarts made him seem like it.
    He
glanced up, catching her as she studied him.  "Does that feel okay?"
    She
nodded. 
    He
paused for a moment, their connecting gazes creating a current.  Without saying
anything, he broke the link between them and picked up a small piece of plastic
wrap.  "I need to tape this on your arm, and you'll be good to go."
    He
must have sensed the tension that had sprung between them.  Memories of the
awful things that had happened the night before hung in the air, and he had to
know she'd want answers sooner or later.  "Your name is Jase, isn't
it?"  Her words echoed in the quiet room.   
    He
paused, meeting her gaze once again.  "It is."
    "I
remember that from last night when—after Joey was shot."  A deep pain
squeezed her heart. 
    He
watched her with dark eyes, as though waiting for a reaction.
    She
swallowed fresh tears.  "We were going to get married.  Joey and
me."  She took a breath.  "We were going to move away and start a
family."  How could her dreams have been shattered so easily?  "He
was the love of my"—her voice faltered.  "I loved him."
    He
shook his head.  "I'm sorry.  I wish I could change