Page 26 of Jobe

“Do you know about the Sixers?” Matt asked.

She shook her head and admitted, “Not really.”

“There’s a local gang run by Tito Montalvo. He’s an especially nasty piece of work but, he’s making a name for himself and the gang, and word on the street is that he’s looking to join with one of the major international gangs. From what our informants have told us, the girl you took in? Gabrielle? She’s pregnant by him.”

Mackenna’s mouth made an “O” but no words came out. She turned to look at Jobe, but his face was hard and she could see the tick in his jaw.

Finally finding her voice, she said, “But Gabby just said that the baby’s father was in a gang and he’d fathered so many bastards, one more wouldn’t make a difference. Since he would never be paying child support, she wanted to get out and start a new life for herself.”

“I’m not knocking what she said and maybe in her mind it’s the truth, but she may also be running scared and just didn’t want to say anything,” Shane surmised. “So you can let go of some of the guilt, Mackenna. You disrespecting them was part of it, but to be honest, I would assume that Tito’s stepping up his show by trying to get this girl back by threatening you.”

Running her tongue over her dry lips, she said, “I can’t put my mom at risk, but I can’t shut down the center. Can’t let him win! Can’t let him get his hands on her again.”

“We can’t get to Tito at this point, but your neighbor was out walking his dog and had stepped behind a tree to let his dog take care of its business when the car pulled up. He saw the member who jumped out and spray-painted your sidewalk with the Sixers’ name. The kid then got back in the car when the shots were being fired. There’s a streetlight right there and your neighbor got a decent look at the kid, so we’re working on an ID now.”

“But there’s nothing that can be done about this Tito guy?” she asked, frustration pouring out in her words.

Shane shook his head. “Right now, we’ve got nothing positive on him.”

“I…I don’t know what to do,” she said, turning her gaze back to Jobe. “I have to work with those girls, but mom…”

“We just needed all this information to make sure that we know what we’re up against. And best how to protect you,” Matt said, closing his notebook.

Before anyone else could speak, Tony added, “She falls under Alvarez protection as well.”

Jobe smiled at his boss and accepted the smiles of the others.She’s mine to protect and mine to care for.

Mackenna sat, shocked, not saying anything, not knowing what that meant. She looked up at the others, noting the men around the table. Gabe, Vinny, and Tony had served with Jobe overseas.They knew him back when…when we were still a couple.Whatever had happened had not lessened their obvious care and respect for him.

Jobe watched her face as she moved her eyes around the room. Tony and the others were discussing the security needs for her and the center. He could see her mind working furiously, trying to analyze the problem and what needed to be done.

“Mackenna?” he interrupted her thoughts. She turned silently toward him. “You’re going to be safe. You and your mom…I promise.” Seeing the expression of doubt that flew across her face, he continued quickly, “I know that you don’t have a reason to believe my word right now. But you will. I can’t change the past, but I can change the future.” With that he leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

9

Arriving back at Jobe’s apartment building, she followed him inside. Nervous, she walked over to the living room and stared out of the huge picture windows. Dark clouds were forming in the background and she wondered if they were going to have a thunderstorm. She could hear him move to the kitchen and open the refrigerator. Other noises came from the area and curiosity got the best of her.

She headed toward the sounds, sliding up on a bar stool. Jobe was standing at the stove, deftly turning the crisp bread in the frying pan. He glanced over his shoulder at her and grinned.That panty-dropping grin that used to make her melt.His dark hair swept back, tanned skin, muscular arms straining at the short sleeves of his t-shirt. Afraid to allow her eyes to drop lower she realized that she did not need to. The vision of his body was burned into her memory forever.

“Grilled cheese?” he asked.

She could not help but grin back. “Yeah, that’d be great.” Moving to the refrigerator, she grabbed two water bottles and set them on the table. In a few minutes, he slid the toasted sandwiches onto two plates and tossed a bag of chips onto the table between them.

Jobe noticed her eating with relish. He had always liked that about Mackenna – no pretense, no whining about her weight, just a real woman. His dick twitched, but he willed it back down.Who knows if I’ll ever have her like that again, but I sure as hell can keep her safe.But if he was honest…he wanted her…and not just for sex.

“When do you think I can go home?” she asked, interrupting his musings.

“I’ll find out from the police when they have finished processing the scene and then Tony’ll get your security installed. It’s safer for you here right now.”

She nodded absentmindedly, then looked up quickly. “And the center? I took today off but need to get to my office at DSS and then to the center tomorrow.”

He would love to forbid her from continuing the work at the center just because he was afraid for her, but knew that she would never do that. “We have security people there tonight to make sure the women are safe and then we’ll finish tomorrow getting the security system in place.”

He watched her carefully while she ate. Her mind seemed elsewhere, but at least she was no longer protesting staying at his home.

“Do you think your mother would be insulted if I called to check on mom?” she asked.

Smiling, he said, “Not at all. Mom knows you’re worried.”

---