awe, his babies resting inside Jenna. The doctor assured him the babies were fine. Jenna wasn’t having any contractions or spotting blood. They were safe, all of them.
Jenna woke up screaming before dawn. Actually, she’d sat bolt upright in bed with her mouth open in a scream, but nothing came out but a raspy whoosh of air. Breathing heavily, she collapsed into Jack’s arms and cried herself back to sleep.
She woke up again late in the morning, disoriented, but Jack still held her hand, comforting her. It hurt her head too much to open her eyes, so she simply lay still. Her body ached, her head hurt, her ribs burned with each breath, and the images in her head wouldn’t go away. She’d never forget the crazed way David looked when he’d come after her with that knife.
Crying again, Jack gently wiped her cheeks. He whispered in her ear, such soft loving words. Just like when she’d first met him, that soft honey of a voice soothed her. He always knew just how to make her feel safe.
“You’re okay, honey. I’m here with you. You’re safe.”
“Make it stop. I can’t do this anymore. Make it stop.”
“Oh, God, honey. I love you. You’re going to be fine, and we’ll go home and have a wonderful life. I promise.”
“He won’t stop. Even in my head, he won’t stop. You should walk away. Get as far away from me as you can. I’ll only ruin your life.”
Crushed by her outburst, Jack’s heart ached. She sounded so defeated, barely able to speak at all. Nothing but a rasped-out whisper, making what she said even sadder.
“You’re not ruining my life. You’re the best thing in my life. We’re going to get married, raise our babies, and be happy on the ranch. We’ll stop him one way or another, even if I have to kill him myself.”
“He’s too evil to die. I can’t get his eyes out of my head. They were so crazed and empty at the same time. It’s like he wasn’t even there and some monster was inside him.”
“Look at my eyes, honey. What do you see?”
Jenna opened her eyes, tears spilling out and rolling down her cheeks. “I see home. I see love. Jack, I’m sorry. I don’t want you to go. I love you so much. I don’t want you or your family to get hurt. I was so afraid he’d done something to Lily. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to one of you.”
“I can’t stand it that something did happen to you. We’ll put a stop to this. I promise. Whatever it takes.”
“I want to believe we’ll get married and raise these babies, and I’ll get to see them grow. I’m so afraid to hope for that.”
He rested his brow on hers.
“Believe it, honey. It will come true. Rest, baby. I’m right here. You’re safe.”
She didn’t need much coaxing. Her eyes already drooping, she fell back into a deep sleep with Jack watching over her and holding her hand. Safe.
Chapter Forty-Seven
* * *
JENNA SLEPT ON and off for the rest of the day and night. Jack sat by her bed, never leaving her side. Sam, Summer, and Caleb came by to check on them. Jack refused each offer to leave and get some rest. They would stay with her, but if she woke up, he wanted her to see him and know she could count on him. He’d let her down once. He wouldn’t do it again when she needed him the most.
He held her when she woke from a nightmare and whispered words of love. She didn’t stir for much of the night. He hoped she was finally overcoming some of the shock and trauma.
Jack fell asleep shortly after dawn, only to wake up with Jenna’s hand gripped in his hair. His eyes flew open, only to see hers wide with shock and utter fear. His heart slammed against his chest. He had no idea what had her so scared, but his whole body jolted with adrenaline, making him ready to defend her.
“Jack, you better tell her who I am before she rips your hair out,” Sam said from the door.
“Jenna, honey, did I forget to tell you I have a brother, a twin brother. That’s Sam.”
His head rested on the bed next to her side, and she still had a death grip on his hair. Her head turned from him to Sam and back and forth again.
“That’s right, honey, my twin. Sam lives in Virginia, and