Page 40 of Jenna's Protector
“It’s okay,” Jenna says softly, shrinking back in her seat. Max, sensing her discomfort, moves to lay his head on her lap. “I don’t know if what happened to me is connected. It was years ago, and that tattoo could have been unrelated.”
Jeb and Stitch exchange a look.
“It’s one hell of a coincidence,” Jeb says, his brow furrowed.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions.” As a detective, the worst thing we can do is jump to conclusions before understanding the data. “We’re here because Jenna made detailed sketches of the places she was taken. I hoped to use your resources to identify the buildings, trace ownership, and follow the money trail.”
“We can do a lot better than that,” Blake says, his eyes shining excitedly. “It’s time to bring in the big guns—Mitzy, CJ, Sam, and Forest. We need to investigate this from all angles.”
“I’ll set up a meeting,” Stitch says, pulling out her phone.
We’re on the brink of something huge. Max whines softly, pressed against Jenna’s leg, as if he senses the weight of what’s to come.
Jenna and I find ourselves momentarily alone as the others disperse to set up the meeting. She rubs at her wrist again, a gesture I’ve seen her repeat several times today. She seems to withdraw into herself, her eyes becoming distant.
“Hey, are you okay? I know this is a lot.” I lean in close, my voice low.
“I just… I never thought I’d have to face this again. I thought I left it all behind.” She takes a shaky breath, her eyes meeting mine. “I don’t think I’m okay with it.” Her eyes pinch in pain.
“I’m sorry. I can make excuses. Take you home…I know this isn’t easy, but…”
“You don’t have to do that.” A flicker of determination flashes in her eyes. “I want to help. If Sentinel is behind your missing girls and behind what happened to me… I want to stop them. It’s just overwhelming.”
Pride swells in my chest at her words. Despite everything she’s been through, Jenna’s strength and courage never cease to amaze me. I pull her into a hug, holding her close. Her body trembles slightly, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she melts into my embrace, finding comfort in our shared warmth.
“You keep rubbing your wrist. I can’t help but notice there are faint lines there.”
Jenna hesitates, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of fear and trust. Slowly, she turns her wrist over, exposing the delicate skin on the inside. At first glance, I see nothing, but as she traces her finger over the area, I make out the faintest of lines.
“It’s a UV tattoo,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “The man who… Well, after he stripped me and before he…Well, he had that tattoo put on my wrist. It’s the same Chinese character; next to it, he placed a number. The number nine.”
I lean in closer, my heart racing at this revelation. “Nine? Do you know what it means?”
“Not really.” Jenna shakes her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I assumed it meant I was his ninth acquisition.” The pain in her voice breaks something inside me.
“You’re not a number,” I murmur into her hair. “You’re so much more than what they did to you. You’re strong, brave, and resilient.”
Her breath hitches, but she nods against my chest, the warmth of our connection providing a small but much-needed comfort. Her shoulders shake as she lets out a quiet sob. My arms tighten around her, wishing I could shield her from the pain of her past.
“I’m scared,” she admits, her voice muffled against my shirt. “I thought I’d left all this behind, but now…” Suddenly, Jenna’s body trembles more violently, and her grip on me tightens.
“We’re going to figure this out together, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you.” I run a soothing hand down her back. I pull back slightly to look into her eyes, seeing the raw terror there. “What is it? Tell me.”
She pulls back slightly, her tear-stained face looking up at me. The vulnerability in her eyes makes my heart ache, but there’s also a flicker of something else—trust, maybe even hope.
“It’s all happening so fast,” she says, her words tumbling out in a rush. “If this organization, Sentinel, is the same one that took me all those years ago… It’s bigger than I ever imagined. And if they’re connected to what Guardian HRS is hunting down…” She shakes her head, unable to finish the thought. “How are we ever going to find your missing girls?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not giving up on them.”
“The man who bought me,” she continues, her voice dropping to a whisper. “If he finds out where I am…” Her eyes fill with fresh tears. “He’ll come after me. He’ll find me, and he’ll…”
I cup her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Listen to me. I won’t let that happen.”
“But what if word gets out?” she asks, the fear palpable in her voice. “It’s all moving so fast, and I feel like I’m losing control. I’m terrified of being found, of being taken again.”
“Your fear is completely understandable, but you’re not alone. You have me, and now you have Guardian HRS resources behind you. We’re going to figure this out, and we’re going to keep you safe.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, a small smile tugging at her lips.