Page 59 of Hiding Rose
“Why he feeds me nonstop. He told me he wants me to have healthy food to strengthen me. Maybe part of it has to do with nutrition, but I think a bigger part has to do with him—”
“Proving not all men are bad guys? He wants to prove there are good men out there who care about women and children? He wants to heal with his food, but also give them hope and a landing place to get out of a bad situation?”
I raised one eyebrow. “Uh, yeah. Did he talk to you about this when you were setting it up?”
She shrugged as she started on another baby playset. “Sure, I mean, he explained why he wanted to set up the program, but his personality makes it easy to see what his intentions are.”
I nodded as I grabbed the square box the deliveryman dropped off earlier. There were no markings on it or a packing slip. “All you have to do is look in his eyes to see his intentions,” I whispered, and she put a hand on my arm.
“He intends to have you, Rosie. He’s not going to give up, so if you aren’t ready to give your whole self to him, don’t string him along. You’ll break his heart, but better now than a year from now.”
I grasped her wrist angrily and she winced. I released it quickly and put my hand in my hair. “I’m sorry, Kate. Are you okay?”
She rubbed her wrist but nodded. “What did I say to anger you?”
I shook my head and swiped at a tear as it fell down my face. “I’m not angry, but scared. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have grabbed you, but I wanted you to stop before I cried, and now look at me.” I laughed at myself sadly as I grabbed a tissue and wiped my eyes. “I’ve already given my whole self to him,” I whispered. “I realize now how wrong every other guy has been for me. Every time I think about losing him my heart starts to race. I’m scared my past is going to screw it up, or Jarrett will show up. I couldn’t stand it if he got hurt because of me,” I cried.
She tucked me into her shoulder and held me while I shook with fear, sadness, and worry. “Shhhh. we aren’t going to let anyone get hurt. We’ve done this protection detail a few times, and we’re getting good at it, if I do say so myself,” she quipped. I laughed through my tears and wiped at them with the tissue. “You aren’t going to lose Sawyer or any of us for that matter, and we aren’t going to lose you. Let go of the fear and replace it with faith, okay?”
I stood up and took a cleansing breath, wiping my eyes and nose and tossing the tissue. “I’m good. I got this,” I promised, squeezing her hand before we turned back to our respective boxes. “If you want to put the bigger pieces of baby furniture in the other room I would appreciate it. Stack it in a row along the far wall.”
She picked up the bouncy seat. “You got it boss,” she said as she carried it through the doorway.
I sliced open the box and lifted the flaps, reaching in to pull out a wooden cross. I held it in my hand while I dug around for anything else, but I didn’t like the way the cross made me feel. I set it down on the table as I pulled out a notecard, which I flipped open and read aloud. “One, two, Jarrett’s coming for you. Three, four, I can walk through a locked door. Five, six, here’s a crucifix. Seven, eight, I’ll show up late. Nine, ten, you’ll never breathe again.”
I dropped the note to the table and it fluttered like a leaf on a lazy October breeze. “Dammit!” I screamed, grabbing the cross and hurling it across the room. It sailed over Kate’s head as she ran toward me, both of our heads swiveling toward the sound when the cross clattered to the floor.
Kate grasped my shoulders, her fingers digging into my arms. “What happened.”
“Jarrett,” I moaned, my eyes traveling to the paper on the table.
She picked it up and read it, her lips pursed together tightly. “I’ve had it with this guy,” she ground out.
She took out her phone and made a call, but I didn’t hear what she said because my hand was burning. I grasped my wrist and stared down at the palm of my hand. Where I held the cross it was red, and blisters started to form in the shape of the cross.
“Kate,” I called, holding my hand out toward her. “My hand,” I cried, the blisters filling with liquid as we watched.
She grabbed me and helped me to the sink in the kitchen, turning the faucet on and sticking my hand under it. The coolness of the water soothed the burn and I left it there, filling the sink until I could submerge my hand. I leaned on the edge of the counter, panting.
“Don’t touch the cross, there’s something on it,” I said, my voice weak. “I think I’m going to pass out.”
Kate sprang into action and pushed a chair toward me, but firm hands grasped my waist and lowered me to the chair. “Deep breaths, baby,” he said, holding my head between my legs. “I’m here and I’m not going to let you go.”
I listened to his voice and took several slow, but long, breaths. There was a pounding of footsteps in the hallway and Gideon and Niko ran in. Sawyer released my head and I sat up slowly, my hand still in the water in the sink.
“Nobody touch the cross,” I ordered. “Not without a glove.”
Gideon knelt in front of me as Sawyer kept a hand on my shoulder. “Did you see who delivered this?”
I nodded. “It was a UPS guy. I was here and he dropped it off without a word. I didn’t recognize him and I didn’t have to sign for it. It’s been sitting there for probably an hour and a half. I thought it was more supplies for the center.”
Gideon flicked his eyes to Niko. “I’m on it,” he called as he ran out the door.
“Niko will check the security camera,” he said as he stood and lifted my hand from the water. He plunged it back in immediately and swallowed hard. “I’m calling in a doctor. I don’t want you going to the ER.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I need a doctor.”
He knelt again and held my chin. “Rosie, those are chemical burns on your hand and you need to see a doctor. I can’t risk sending you to the ER. I think his plan is to grab you there. He sends you a gift to cause an injury to get you off the property. He’s close and we have to catch him before he hurts you worse. Do you understand me?”
