Defended by a Hero: A Romantic Suspense Novel by SJ Clarke & JL Madore

Author:SJ Clarke & JL Madore [Clarke, SJ & Madore, JL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781990853654
Publisher: Dauntless Publishing Inc
Published: 2023-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Jordan eased from the bed, her footfalls soft. “Leave the apartment”. She hesitated, gasped at the pain slicing through her abdomen, then continued. Her breathing calmed as she neared the door. She had to get out of here. “Find him. He’s waiting.”

She shivered. Goosebumps rose on bare arms even as sweat pearled on her upper lip. She grabbed the hoodie dangling off the back of a chair, opened the apartment door and walked into Owen standing out in the hallway.

“Jordan?” Owen shook his head. “What…” his eyes darted about the entryway. “What are you doing up?”

She rubbed a hand over her face and looked at his bare chest. “Where were you going dressed like that?”

His gaze dropped to look at himself and rose, eyes wide at the sight of his pale blue boxers and bare feet. He frowned and yanked the hoodie from her hand. Creases appeared in his forehead as he shrugged into it. “How did you know I was here?”

Images crashed through her mind—flailing arms, torn clothing, a broken body—before withdrawing into shadows. “Something woke me.”

“You sound out of breath.”

She winced and rubbed at the icy spot on her temple. “I have to go out. I’ll be back soon.”

“You’re not wearing shoes.” She followed his gaze down to her bare feet. “Or much of anything else,” he added, swallowing.

She slipped her feet into the sandals she’d kicked off earlier. The tank top and sleep shorts easily passed for summer day wear. She crossed her arms over her chest. The lack of a bra was a little obvious, especially with the chill in the air. A metallic taste invaded her mouth, and warmth dribbled down her chin.

Owen handed her a tissue from the box on the entryway table.

She took it and stared at him.

“You’re bleeding.” He took the tissue back and dabbed at her lip. “You’ve bitten right through.” He stepped back when she took over tending to it.

“Keep going.”

Owen’s lips moved in slow motion. A haze blocked everything but her need to be—somewhere. The ding of the elevator called to her. She walked down the corridor, entered and turned, saw Owen brace a hand against the door frame, watched him disappear as the narrow doors slid together.

Jordan tapped the heels of her hands on her temples and leaned back against the mirrored walls. The rear door of the elevator opened, leading her to the back of the building. She rubbed warmth into her arms, and she headed for the shortcut to the L.

Deep shadows framed the alley, denying entrance to the amber glow of the exit light of Lee’s building. The shadows devoured misshapen forms—cardboard boxes and garbage overflow.

Jordan paused, glancing back to the light before bending to twist a loose three-foot plank off a wooden pallet. She dragged the board into the darkness. A nail protruding from the jagged tip scraped on the ground. She maneuvered around a parked car, gaze darting while keeping her focus on her target.

A horn honked and light flashed at the far end of the alley as a car drove past.

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