But it wouldn’t be happening for Mark. Not with the health news he’d gotten a couple of months ago.
Mark was the last one to the top, thanks to his damned leg, but not so far behind that anyone really noticed. He rubbed at his knee and calf as the other guys took in the view around them.
He didn’t want to rush them to head back down—that would definitely give away what was happening. But rappelling was heavily leg- and knee-dependent. Mark should have a few hours before his really became a problem, but he didn’t want to take a chance on this being the one time the pain and numbness moved quickly through his limbs.
Ended up he was saved by a highly unlikely situation. They’d only been at the top of the cliff for a few minutes before Ian got a message on the two-way radio from one of his assistants.
“Boss, we just got word of a situation in Oak Creek.”
Ian froze. “Wavy?”
“Secure. Her team has eyes on her. She’s at her mom’s.”
Wavy had a security team everywhere she went. Ian had too many enemies who might once again try to use her to get to him. There was no way in hell Mark’s boss would ever allow a repeat of that.
Ian relaxed slightly at the news his wife was okay. “What’s going on?”
“We’re not sure. All we know is there are weapons drawn at the Eagle’s Nest. Some sort of situation involving outsiders. Dorian and Ray Lindstrom captured them on the way into town.”
Mark met eyes with Ian. Everyone knew Dorian and Ray, but the husband and wife tended to keep the lowest of profiles. With their pasts, it was necessary.
If they’d taken someone into their own custody, it was a big deal.
“Any indication of what this is about?” Ian asked.
“Apparently something to do with Jenna Franklin.”
Mark froze. What the hell would someone want with Jenna?
“Make sure Wavy’s team keeps her out of town,” Ian said. “We’ll be there ASAP.”
Mark was already running for the rappelling equipment.
Chapter 3
Jenna’s hands were still shaking hours later as her fists pummeled the fighting dummy.
When most women referred to a BOB, it was a Battery Operated Boyfriend. But for Jenna, BOB was a Body Opponent Bag—a lifelike mannequin with a vinyl “skin” for more realistic self-defense training.
She ignored the tremor in her limbs as she struck one of the multiple BOBs in her home gym and training area. The tremors were no longer coming from fear, but from exhaustion.
She’d beat the fear out of her system after the first hour in her gym. It had melted away, leaving only anger.
Anger at what had been done to her.
Anger at the fact that she couldn’t get past it and enjoy being outside.
Anger that even if she could get past it, she should probably stay inside away from people anyway.
She spun, hitting the BOB in a roundhouse kick with enough power to knock its stand off-balance, causing it to crash to the floor.
Breathing hard, she stared down at the faceless apparatus. “Sorry, buddy.”
BOB didn’t reply. He never did.
Jenna wiped sweat from her forehead. As always, her workout session had exhausted her enough to allow her to reset herself. At first, her training had been a mental necessity—learning how to get herself out of dangerous situations. Making sure she could never again be taken against her will.
She’d become a damned expert at that.