One More Time (Red Hook 1)

Noah pulled Ray to an empty corner. “Is Alana okay?”

“Physically yes, she is so much better. Working a few hours a day at the restaurant makes her happy. Mentally no. That bastard called our house last night.”

Noah felt anger and shock sweep through him. Then worry immediately followed. He had been sure the guy was long gone.

“What did he say?”

“My father answered the phone. He said he was an old friend of Alana’s checking up on her. When Alana got on, she screamed and dropped the phone. It pisses me off,” Ray said through clenched teeth. “She refuses to talk about it. She cried most of the night. I was hoping you could talk to her. Whatever your feelings for her are, I am starting to believe you at least care.”

Noah swallowed down his heavy emotions. His mind was whirling with questions, but most of all he was scared for Alana.

“Give me five minutes to shower. I smell.”

Ray sighed with relief. “I have to get back to her. I shouldn’t have left her alone, but I knew you were my last hope. She can’t continue to bottle this up inside of her. She is wound tight.”

Noah hurried through his shower at warp speed. His gut was swirling with anger. Alana was just starting to recover. It wasn’t fair. How had this guy found her? Why would he call her? He got her money, so what else did he want?

He called his secretary, Helen, to let her know he would not be in. He asked her to contact Drake and Sam to run things in the office. Alana came first. He parked in the Garcia driveway and practically ran up the stairs. Ray opened the door and let him in. Noah saw Alana lying on the couch, under a blanket.

She looked up, and he saw her swollen red eyes.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he groaned. He heard Ray walk out of the living room. Noah didn’t hesitate. He swooped Alana into his arms and sat on the couch with her. She curled into his arms like a baby kitten. She made him feel every emotion deeply, something no other woman did.

He buried his nose in her neck and just held her. He rocked her back and forth until he heard her sigh softly. He wished she would cry and let it all out.

She looked into his eyes. “Ray told you?”

He nodded. Her voice was still raspy from crying the night before.

“Want to talk about it?”

She shook her head no and looked away from him.

“I have to know so I can be prepared. I will not let him get to you again, Alana.” He made his voice firm and hard so she knew he meant it, and he did. If he had to stay awake twenty-four-seven, he would.

“He said he wasn’t done with me yet.” She whispered the words, and he could feel the tension in her body. He used his hand to soothe her and rub her back. “I don’t get it, Noah. I thought it was a random act of violence, so why is he calling my home and acting like he knows me? I thought he was just a vagrant passing through.”

“I don’t know what is going on, but I will find out,” Noah said with anger. He was just as confused as she was. “If he thinks he can harass you, he can think again. We stick together, baby.”

Ray walked into the room with a bottle of water and handed it to her. Noah opened it and made sure she drank it.

“He’s right, Sis. We will protect you. You have family and friends.”

“The whole town will close ranks, and he will have nowhere to hide.” Noah brushed her hair out of her face. “Now you are going to shower and dress. We will stop at the station so I can inform my men. Then you and I are going to spend the day together.”

She gave him a curious look as if she didn’t understand his words.

“Sitting here worried and scared does you no good,” he insisted. “Adam is off today, too. We’ll fire up the grill, eat, and watch movies all day.”

“Sounds like a plan, Sis.”

Noah looked at Ray with surprise. He had expected Ray to nix the whole idea. He looked at Ray and saw that look in his eyes. He was trusting Noah not to hurt Alana again.

Alana sighed and got up. “Okay. I don’t want to be alone. Are you sure, Noah?”

Noah kissed her lips lightly and nodded. “I’m here for you because I want to be.”

She turned toward her brother and hugged him. She whispered her thanks for his help. Noah and Ray watched her go up the stairs until she was out of sight.