Page 56 of Jolene's Justice

Jolene sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. “Yeah. Okay. You’re right. But if that woman has so much as harmed a hair on his head, I’m going to fuck her up so hard.”

Emma chuckled, but her laugh was devoid of any real mirth. “There’s my girl.”

“Grady’s on his way,” Brodhi told her. “He has some ideas about how to get up there.”

“You hear that?” Emma said, having obviously heard what Brodhi said. “Brodhi’s on the case. You know you can count on him and Sorcha.”

“Yeah, I know. And I’m going with them.”

“Jo Jo,” Emma admonished.

“Shut it, Em. You didn’t sit back and let those guys hurt Marcus. You can’t expect me to.”

“I know. But I had training,” Emma said softly, and Jolene knew she was only telling her the truth. But at this point, nothing would keep her from getting to Finch. She didn’t care about her lack of training. Emma had been teaching her a few self-defense moves, and her dad had taught her how to shoot a gun years ago. If the need came, she could handle it. Even if the idea of pulling the trigger made her palms slick with sweat.

“I’m going,” she said firmly.

Emma sighed, knowing there was no talking her out of it. “Please be careful, Jo Jo. I don’t want to lose you, too.”

She knew Emma was thinking about the night her best friend and partner died. It was part of the reason why she’d left the Coast Guard. “I know. I promise I’ll be careful.”

“Can you promise you’ll stand back and let Brodhi and Sorcha handle the bitch when you get there?”

“Um.” She hesitated. She wanted to promise that but couldn’t. There was no telling how she’d react to seeing Angelica. Especially if she’d hurt Finch.

“Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

“I love you, Em. We’ll meet up when I get home. We have a lot to talk about, and I want to hear all about the movie release tour.”

“You got it. And you better not leave anything out. I want to hear all about how you and Finch got together again.”

“I’ll call when this is over.”

“Please do. I won’t be able to sleep until I know you’re both safe and sound.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“Anytime.” They said their goodbyes as Grady came into the cafeteria looking just as exhausted as Brodhi. Their little town had been put through the wringer, and Grady had done an amazing job at the helm. He’d shed the asshole persona from the other night and stepped up for his town. And now he was willing to help save a stranger.

He led them outside, where a pair of ATVs on a flatbed truck waited for them. The rain had, thankfully, finally stopped. She glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds scuttled across the expanse while the moon fought for supremacy. She was rooting for the moon.

They drove out to a trailhead, and Jolene waited as Grady and Brodhi unloaded the ATVs. She shivered involuntarily, unsure if it was from the cold breeze or the fear of what they were about to do.

Grady tried to talk her out of her decision to ride along one more time, but she was determined. Nothing would keep her away from the man she loved. Nothing.

Chapter 24

Finchwokewithastart, a pounding head, a nauseous stomach, and pain everywhere. He groaned and rolled to his side, trying to remember what had happened.

“It’s about time you woke up, Atty.” The harsh voice from his past blasted through his skull, and it all came rushing back. The trip to the cabin. The thoughts about his future with Jolene. The attack when he’d entered the cabin.

Angelica. She’d been behind the whole thing. She’d orchestrated the rescue mission, then attacked him. He’d been hit by her plenty in the past, but nothing as brutal as what had just happened. He was sure a few ribs were cracked, if not broken. His mouth had a metallic taste, and he felt around his teeth with his tongue, surprised they were all still there after that kick to his chin.

“You’re completely out of your mind,” he said, his voice shaking with anger. He moved his hands to push himself up into a sitting position, only to find them bound in front of him. With zip ties.

He shook his head at her stupidity. Didn’t she know how easy it would be for him to break the plastic?

Still, he’d wait until an opportune time to break free. Until then, he’d play along. Especially after seeing the large knife in her hand. If he needed to, he could easily wrest it from her, and this time he wouldn’t hesitate. He’d never fought back in the past, afraid of hurting her and having her turn him into a bad guy in front of the authorities. This time, he’d do whatever it took to disarm her. He was done being pushed around by her.

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