Page 30 of Waiting to Lose
AS JAKE LED her inside, Madi could feel the squeaky wheels in her head twisting and turning. She desperately tried to place pieces of this puzzle together, but realized she was missing too many pieces to ever have it make sense. She watched Jake cautiously as he opened the door. Once inside, Madi jumped when a tall, muscular man came around the corner.
“I apologize for frightening you, Ms. Ryan. My name is Robert Haster. I’m a security expert working for Jake.”
Madi pursed her lips into a fine line as she glanced expectantly between Rob and Jake. Jake seemed to be lost in his thoughts and unconcerned about the man in his front room.
“Please, call me Madi,” she said as she held out her hand.
Rob shook it and glanced warily at Jake, as if he wondered what he was allowed to say. Jake rubbed the back of his neck before he noticed them both staring at him. He quickly widened his eyes before schooling his expression. “I’m sorry. Where are my manners? Have you two met?”
Madi and Rob exchanged thoughtful glances before acknowledging their acquaintance. Jake smiled briefly as he excused himself and Rob into the hallway. Madi studied Rob as he and Jake exited the room. He was slightly taller than Jake, who was at least six two. His arms looked huge through the fitted material of his shirt. His hair was extremely short, like he’d recently had a buzz cut that was just growing out, and his jaw line was sharp and strong. Madi immediately sensed he was military. There was something about him that shouted courage and honor. Maybe it was the way he carried himself as he strutted into the hall.
It was the first time Madi had been back to Jake’s place since she left L.A. Everything was exactly as she’d remembered it, except for the chill in the air. Madi wrapped her arms around herself as she made her way down the hall. She flicked on the light switch to her old room and smiled to herself as the memories and feelings of the past came flooding back.
She heard the door close and meandered back toward the kitchen. Jake was standing with his back against the door and flipped the lock with his right hand. He eyed Madi cautiously as she inched closer to him.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” she asked with her hands on her hips.
“Yes, I am, but first let me just look at you for a moment.”
His eyes were hesitant, as if he were looking at her for the first and last time. Then he studied her with such intensity that Madi felt her body begin to shudder. One look from him and the only thoughts she had were of being in his arms.
She rushed toward him and crushed herself into him, linking her arms around his neck. He accepted her happily and held her tightly, as if her proximity gave him the air he needed to breathe.
“I missed you,” she whispered into his cheek.
His hand cupped her face as they separated enough for him to look into her eyes as he spoke. “I didn’t realize just how much I missed you until you were standing in front of me. I may never be able to let you go again.”
Madi saw the returning pain in his eyes. She was instantly reminded of the events of the night.
“Jake, talk to me.”
He gripped her hand to his chest as he led her to the couch. “Can I get you something? Maybe water?”
“Answers. That’s what I want. Give me answers.”
As Jake slowly sat down next to her, she could tell he was practicing words in his head. His lips seemed to move in reflection. “Before I say anything, please tell me that you know how much you mean to me.”
Madi nodded as she felt a tightening in her stomach that made her feel as if she may need to vomit in expectancy of a future blow.
“There’s no need for me to sugar coat this, so I’m just going to lay my cards on the table and be completely honest with you.” Jake cradled Madi’s hands in his lap. She wasn’t sure if it was to reassure her or to keep her from making an escape.
“Nate was hired to protect you, but not from the press. I found out that the security guard who attacked you was released on bail. He’s got it out for me, so I hired security to protect you and my family in case he tried again.”
His words seemed to linger individually in her mind as she tried to process what he’d just said. “He’s out? How? I thought he confessed. Is he in Chicago? Was he here in your apartment?”
“The officers who arrested him didn’t read him his Miranda rights once he regained consciousness. His confession is inadmissible. The judge set a ridiculous bail, but apparently he was able to afford it, thanks to an inheritance from his late grandmother. He’s not in Chicago. I’ve had him followed since he was released. I just didn’t want to needlessly worry you. And no, it doesn’t appear he was here.”
Madi removed her hands from his grasp and could immediately feel a sense of emptiness from the lack of his touch. She stood as she tried to process his words. Jake stood as well, as if he might have to tackle her to the ground if she tried to run.
“And now? What happened tonight?”
“They lost him, but now he’s back in his apartment. They won’t lose him again.”
“How long have you known he was out?”
“A while.”
“And you didn’t think I’d want to know?”
