Page 107 of Jenna's Protector

“Promise.” I take Jenna’s hand, eager to get her out of here and someplace private.

Blake pulls me aside as we prepare to leave. “I’ll keep you updated on anything Sophia shares, but…” His voice drops to a whisper. “Whatever’s going on here, it’s big. We need to be careful.”

“I know.”

With a final glance at Sophia, who watches with wary eyes, I lead Jenna out of the medical wing. I can’t shake the feeling we’ve scratched the surface of something much larger and more dangerous than we ever imagined.

Nine Sentinels.

Malfor at the head.

An organization that spans the globe.

Disruptors.

My arm tightens around Jenna’s waist, a fierce protectiveness surging through me.

Yeah, this is far from over.

THIRTY-SEVEN

Jenna

The humof the car engine fills the silence between us. Carter’s hand envelops mine, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my skin. The familiar streets of our town blur past the window, but I barely register them.

My mind races, replaying the events of the past few days in a never-ending loop.

The van.

The yacht.

Jonathan’s cruel smile.

Sophia’s betrayal and subsequent redemption.

It’s all too much.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Carter’s voice is soft—careful.

I shake my head, then pause. The weight of everything I’ve been through presses down on me, threatening to suffocate me.

“I can’t stop thinking about Max.”

“He’s a fighter. Just like you.” Carter’s hand tightens around mine. His jaw clenches, a muscle twitching beneath the skin.

“He was so brave.” My voice cracks. The memory floods back, vivid and painful. “When those men grabbed me, he just… He leaped at them. No hesitation.”

The scene plays out in my mind: the snarl ripping from Max’s throat, the flash of his teeth, the deafening crack of the gunshot. His yelp of pain was so sharp and sudden it felt like a knife to my heart.

“I saw him fall.” My free hand clenches into a fist, nails digging into my palm. “There was so much blood. I thought... I thought he was gone.”

“Max would do anything to protect you.” Carter lifts our joined hands, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. His eyes flick to mine, full of concern and love.

“How did you find him?” My voice trembles with lingering fear.

“I didn’t know where to look at first.” Carter’s jaw tightens, his eyes darkening with the memory. “But I had to find you. I searched your apartment, then your shop. I knew something was wrong, just felt it. When I couldn’t find you, I retraced the path you take when walking home. That’s when I found Max and your phone. I called Walt and he, of course, called Guardian HRS. That place is beyond incredible. By the time we took Max to the emergency vet, Guardian HRS had already mobilized Blake’s team. Mitzy was on the traffic cameras. She saw you being taken, then told us where to go. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He trails off, swallowing hard.

I squeeze his hand, encouraging him to continue.

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