Rev (Jack 'Em Up #4) Read Online Free

came. I couldn’t help it. I blubbered on like an idiot, my words incoherent and spewed from an emotional well I’d capped off.
    Delilah stood. “Come on.”
    She didn’t wait for me to answer. She herded her daughter out of the pool and we all tromped inside. Somehow, she managed to tuck me into the couch with a glass of iced tea and a peanut butter sandwich while she got the kids down for naps.
    Once the house was quiet, she sat with me, her eyes sympathetic. “Okay. Let me see if I caught all that. Another rape victim. The description she gave looked a little like Nolan. You freaked. You almost ran over a guy. And your little brother is coming for a visit.”
    “That about covers it.” I dabbed my eyes. “Well, the guy I nearly hit looked like Nolan, too. I guess I have him on the brain and it’s got me a little freaked out.”
    “He doesn’t know where you are, does he?”
    “I don’t think so. I only told my parents and brothers and swore them to secrecy. They never liked him anyway, so I don’t think they’d tell him even if he did have the balls to ask about me.” I would make sure of that when John got there.
    “It wasn’t him, right?”
    I shot her a confused glance.
    “The rapist she described today. The guy in the parking lot.”
    “No.” My voice was a strangled whisper, but that didn’t keep the fear from screaming something else in my heart.
    “No,” she echoed. “I think maybe today brought up some bad memories that you haven’t really dealt with.”
    Same song, different verse. She worried about me. I glanced away and sipped my drink.
    “Have you thought any more about talking to someone? If you’re hell-bent on keeping this secret from your family, I’m sure Tori could help.”
    “Tori? She works with kids.”
    “I know, but she’s still trained in psychology. She’s better than no one.”
    Great. Just what I needed. To spill my guts to one of my new friends so she’d feel sorry for me. No, thanks. I was doing all right.
    Delilah handed me a clean tissue since I’d torn up the one in my hand. I thanked her, suddenly uncomfortable. I shouldn’t have come.
    I stood to go, excuses on my lips.
    “What about Micah’s class?”
    I whipped back to her. “What?”
    “Micah’s self-defense class. Nolan may not be here, but maybe it’d be good for you to learn some stuff and feel empowered to protect yourself.” Her face softened. “It might help you.”
    I thanked her and promised to think about it before hustling out the door to head back to work.
    I wasn’t sure anything could help me now.

Micah
    I finished up the last job of the afternoon, a set of new rotors on an ancient boat of a car, then left early to hit the gym. Unease that I couldn’t name ate at me, a sense of foreboding crawling up my throat like acid. I needed to get rid of some of this excess emotion before dealing with the public.
    I apparently had a brand new self-defense class of a dozen women, all ready to learn how to kick some potential rapist’s ass. It was my job to help them learn not only the moves to protect themselves, but the mental space they needed to be in to do it. Defending yourself is not about aggression or offense. It’s about being smart and calm and using your inner power. Something I was definitely lacking at the moment.
    I met JD by the free weights after changing into my gym shorts and a worn gym T-shirt. Restless, I bounced on the balls of my feet like a fighter about to hit the ring. “Hey, dude. What’s up?”
    He eyeballed me. “Not much. Thanks for doing this class.”
    I rolled my neck. “No worries.”
    “I promise I’ll keep looking for someone to help so it’s not all on you. Though, I’ll admit, Kathy appreciates it. She loves you, dude . . . though I have no idea why.”
    “It’s my charm,” I deadpanned without cracking a smile.
    “Yeah. I know.” His gaze floated to the door. “Looks like some of our newbies are getting here.” He faced me again. “Go.