Page 21 of Protecting Jess

Talking to the police was the last thing Jess wanted to do, because there was no way she couldn’t explain what’d happened in the past.

The fallout from that confession was going to be monumental.

Finn clenched his fists in his lap, doing everything in his power not to slam them on the table and throw a chair against the wall.

This fit of anger was irrational, but also justified. How the hell had Jess gone through everything she had, and hadn’t breathed a word of it to her parents?

Or to me!

“Bartholomew’s in jail. He can’t be the one responsible for this,” Jess told the police.

Fuck! Finn hated hearing the fear in her voice. It was worse than what he’d heard a few hours earlier before they’d opened her door to her room.

He wanted to take her out of here. Take her somewhere where no one could touch her. Then he wanted to go to that prison and beat the shit out of the man who’d caused her so much pain.

“We’ll check and make sure he’s still there. It could be a case of a mistaken room. They were looking for someone else and found your room,” the police officer said cajolingly.

Finn wanted to wipe the condescending look off his face. The man didn’t give a shit about what was happening.

“What about the security footage? Will you check that?” House asked.

“Of course,” the officer responded, as if offended by House’s suggestion. “If that’s all, we’ll head back to the station. If we need anything else, we’ll be in touch.”

“Of course,” Jess said. Strain and fatigue were evident on her pretty face.

Her friend had stayed by her side the whole time. Not saying a word, but watching and ready to jump in if she needed to.

The officers nodded at everyone and retreated from the room.

“I’m going to give Tex a call,” House announced once the door closed behind the police.

“Tex?” Finn asked.

“He’s a legendary former SEAL,” House said. “Always keeps an eye on the teams when we go on a mission. You know, that tracker you have?”

He nodded. The first time he’d been handed the device, he’d questioned his commander about it, but the only answer he got was to keep it on him at all times.

“Tex is the one who designed it. Before you joined us, it got us out of a few tricky situations. The man’s a computer genius, as well. I know the cops will look at the footage, but I doubt they’ll inform us of everything they find. All they’ll tell us is they have a person of interest and they’re following up. Tex will give it to us straight.”

Finn glanced at his watch. It was almost six in the morning; too early to call if the man was on the west coast. He’d leave it up to House, knowing his teammate would get back to him with any information. “Sounds good.” He pushed his chair back and stood, reaching down to grab Jess’s hand. “I’m taking Jess home.”

“No, you’re not,” Tenor answered.

He pierced his teammate and friend with a death glare. “Yeah, the fuck I am.”

Oak’s hand landed on his shoulder. “You live on base. You can’t take anyone there.”

Fuck...where was his mind at? All he could think about was getting Jess away from this place. “Right.”

“It’s okay, she can stay with me,” her friend Kaley spoke up.

No doubt the dancer would make sure nothing happened to Jess, but Finn didn’t like that idea at all. Didn’t want to let Jess out of his sight.

“It’s okay. I’ll get a room here,” Finn said.

“How about you ask me what I want? I am standing right here, you know.” Jess poked him in the side.

He flinched. “Sorry. You’re right.” As much as he wanted to take control of the situation, he couldn’t, not after what Jess had recounted, and the way her control had been stripped away from her by Bartholomew. “What do you want to do?”

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