Jack: Stone Security Volume Two, #1

By Glenna Sinclair

This is the first book of Stone Security Volume TWO and contains over 50,000 words of romantic suspense. For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to start from the beginning with Stone Security Volume ONE.

 

Jack goes to a small town in Arizona where a local militant group has taken over, harassing honest business owners in an attempt to run them out of town. Jack is pulled into a war between the right and the righteous, caught up in a world that is as foreign to him as a distant country. Among it all, he meets Ruth, an angel who makes him rethink the direction of his life. In the end, he's faced with a choice: the stubborn woman who dominated his past, or the pious woman who could fulfill his dreams of the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glenna Sinclair
• Release date: Nov 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9798224279777

Glenna Sinclair

Experience the heart-racing novels of Glenna Sinclair, the master of romantic suspense. Sinclair's books feature strong male protagonists, many with a military background, who face real-world challenges that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Books2read.com/GlennaSinclair Facebook.com/AuthorGlennaSinclair GlennaSinclairAuthor at Gmail dot com

Book preview

Prologue

––––––––

Six Months Earlier

––––––––

What an amazing day!

I stood beside my brothers and watched as Bo came out of the nursery, a tiny bundle of life in his arms. The baby was red and so wrapped up in blankets and a hat that only its eyes were truly visible. But what I could see...maybe it was the emotion of the day, the excitement of seeing Brent marry for the second time—marry a woman he clearly loved more than life itself. Maybe it was the entire family finding happiness after so much darkness. The deaths of our parents so close together, the death of Brent’s wife and daughter...it had been a difficult time. But we’d come out the other end and were now more a family than we’d ever been.

This baby was like the exclamation mark on the end of the sentence.

Beautiful, Brent sighed, running his hand gently over the babe’s head. There was something wistful about his expression, a touch of grief mingling with his joy. I remembered the day Brent had presented his own child in this way and knew he was remembering the same. Was it better or worse that it should happen on his wedding day?

Perfect, Gentry said softly.

Awesome, was Aiden’s declaration.

They all turned to look at me. I stepped forward and slipped the child from Bo’s arms. The baby’s eyes were wide as it looked up at me, wide and so full of wonder that it was almost mesmerizing.

She looks like Remy, I announced.

Murmurs went all around, Brent slapping Bo on the shoulder.

A girl. You’re going to have to keep your guns clean, brother, Gentry announced. Laughter erupted as Bo’s face showed all the pride and bewilderment this moment had brought to his world.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it as I drove home, the wonder of holding that baby in my arms. My niece. One day it would be my own daughter. Or son. A son would be an incredible thing. I could teach him to throw a fast ball, to catch an interception. I could show him how to fire a gun and all the techniques he’d need to defend himself in almost any situation. I had a lot of knowledge I could share with a little boy. Or a girl...my daughter would be strong and independent, especially if she was anything like the woman I intended to make my partner in life and love. Rae was nothing if not strong and independent.

The house was quiet as I let myself in, but I knew she was there. She’d been stubborn in choosing to live on her own, to have a small place miles from here. But she often spent the night. I teased at what a waste it was, paying rent when she spent most nights in my bed. She was practically moved in, but still insisted she needed her freedom.

It’d been long enough. It was time to put my foot down.

She was asleep in the center of my bed, her red hair spread out over the white pillowcases. Her face was smooth in sleep, her lips slightly parted as she breathed softly, the slightest bit of a snore escaping with each breath. I quickly undressed and slipped under the covers with her, pleased to find her body warm and bare. I ran my hand over her hip and tugged her back against me, pressing my lips to her shoulder.

Has the baby come? she asked in a sleep-thickened voice.

It has. A seven-pound girl.

Raelyn sighed. That’s nice. Remy’s okay?

Remy’s strong. She did well.

She muttered something I didn’t quite catch and pressed her hips back against me, settling into sleep again. I let my hand wander around her body, slipping over her navel and down farther, searching for that place that I knew would bring her back to life. Rae moaned softly when I touched her there, her own hand reaching back to pull my hip closer to hers. It was only a moment before her body responded to me, telling me that she liked what I was doing. She moved her bottom against me, urging me on.

I didn’t need a lot of encouragement.

I slid inside of her, and we moved together the way we had dozens of times before, our bodies a perfect match for one another. I’d never known a woman like Rae before, one so strong and determined, but soft and gentle all at the same time. She’d had a hard life, one filled with violence and distrust. It was taking time for her to learn to trust. But she’d chosen me, and she kept coming back to me. And that was everything.

Our movements were slow at first, but quickly rose to a frenzy of sorts. And then they slowed again, our breathing a rush in time with one another. When that calmed, too, she settled back against me, ready to reenter the world of dreams.

Marry me, I said softly against her ear.

Rae stiffened, her eyes coming fully open for the first time since I entered the bed. What?

Marry me. Start a family with me.

She pushed my arms from her body, skittering off the bed like a spider escaping the exterminator’s spray. She snatched a thin wrap from the back of a chair and crossed the room, pacing the length of the far wall. I sat up and snapped on a light, watching her, unsure where the tension on her beautiful face came from.

I knew this would happen, she said, not looking at me, not looking at anything. I knew the moment your brothers and sister started getting married and having babies, you would do this.

Why shouldn’t I? It’s the next logical step.

It’s not logical to me!

Why not?

I just got out of a bad relationship, Jack! You know that!

You and Snake were done years ago. The fact that he stalked you doesn’t really count, does it?

She stopped long enough to glare at me. Snake and Rage were my life for a very long time. I need space to move past that.

It’s been months.

It’s been weeks. You’ve only just stopped them.

Rage has been gone for months. Those others...Mad Dog...that was about me and my brothers, not you.

But I brought them to your doorstep.

It’s over, Rae. It’s been over.

Not for me.

I climbed off the bed and crossed to her, forcing her to stop pacing by wrapping my arms around her and physically holding her still. For a moment, she relaxed in my arms, pressed her back against my chest and let me hold her. But then she stiffened again and pulled away.

You can’t change what was by sheer will. And you can’t tell me what I need to do, what the logical next step is supposed to be.

Can I tell you that I love you?

She glanced at me, tears in her eyes even as anger tightened the line of her mouth. I need time, Jack. Space.

I’m not in any rush.

You just asked me to marry you!

I tilted my head slightly. I want to marry you. I want to have children with you. But I can wait, if that’s what you want.

Don’t be so damn understanding! She turned away again, taking up her pacing once again. I don’t even know what I want. This normal thing...I’ve never had normal. I’ve never had people in my life I could trust. I’ve never had my own money, the freedom to do my own thing. I’m not sure I’m ready to let that go.

Okay. But can’t you have that and be my wife at the same time?

She was quiet for a long moment, and the longer that moment stretched on, the bigger the knot in my stomach became. I was suddenly aware that I was pushing her in a way that I shouldn’t have done. I should have waited, but the excitement of holding Remy and Bo’s baby had been almost overwhelming. I’d never thought a family was something I wanted, but now I knew it was. And I wanted it with Rae.

But did she want it with me?

She slowly shook her head. I don’t think I can, Jack.

Rae—

I don’t think I want to be anyone’s wife right now.

Okay. We’ll wait.

You don’t understand. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, tugging at a few tangles. I don’t think I ever want to be anyone’s wife.

A sinking sensation rushed through my chest. Never?

She shook her head, tears beginning to spill from her eyes. I don’t know. I grew up in that damn motorcycle clubhouse, grew up with men telling me what to do all the time. And Snake, forcing me to do things I can never even describe...I don’t want that again, on any level.

You’re comparing me to Snake now? I asked, a little anger leaking into my tone.

You have to admit that you have this habit of bossing me around, just like he did.

I don’t think that’s fair! I don’t force you to do anything.

But you’re presenting me with ultimatums all the time. Move in with me, work for me, marry me...

That’s not an ultimatum. That’s a commitment. It’s my attempt to tell you what I want for our future.

But you never asked me what I want.

I shook my head as I crossed my arms over my chest, regarding her as I tried to keep my anger under control. She stood still, watching me the same way, a battle clearly being waged just behind her perfect eyes.

We’re in a relationship. Most relationships progress in this way.

But it doesn’t have to happen this fast.

It doesn’t feel fast to me. It actually feels kind of slow.

She crossed her arms over her chest, too, and we faced each other like a couple of cowboys in the moments before a duel. Then she slowly began to shake her head, her arms falling to her sides as tears dripped from her chin onto her chest.

Maybe I’m just not ready for a relationship.

Rae—

I’m screwed up, Jack. You knew that from the beginning. My life has never been conventional, and I don’t know how to be like this! She waved a hand around the room. I don’t know how to be a good little wife, throwing little dinner parties, shopping at the mall and going to bridge club meetings. I’m not this person.

I never asked you to be.

You did. When you took me into your bed, you asked me to be this woman who represents the softer side of you, who presents to the world this perfect power couple. But I’m not that.

You’re the woman I chose.

Maybe you should have chosen different. She was quiet a second, her eyes moving slowly from my face to the floor. Maybe you should have stuck it out with Stacy.

Rage burst through me at that suggestion.

You’re fucking kidding me! I charged toward her, but she stood her ground, the unflinching stare of a woman accustomed to being abused on her face. I was engaged to Stacy because I never imagined someone like you would come along. And when you did, I resisted you because I knew Stacy was better for my future than a volatile woman like you would ever be. But you wouldn’t back off until I fell for you. And now...now you’re telling me I should have stuck it out with her? I reached out to grab her arm, but stopped just short of actually touching her. That’s low!

Her chin came up. You made your choice.

I did. I chose you.

You chose wrong.

I shook my head, but she didn’t see it. She was gathering her things, dragging a shirt over her head, tugging on a pair of jeans, pulling a sweater out of a drawer and a toothbrush from the bathroom counter. She even took the bottle of aspirin she’d bought for me, dropping it into her massive purse.

Rae—

I should never have come back here. I should have stayed in Jackson where I belong.

You belong here.

She shook her head. I’ll give Brent my two weeks’ notice as soon as he gets back from his honeymoon.

That’s not necessary, Rae.

I don’t want to make things any more awkward than they have to be.

I snorted. I couldn’t help myself.

You’re leaving me, and you don’t want to make things awkward? That’s rich.

Don’t be rude.

Don’t go.

I’d never begged a woman for anything in all my life. I’d never had to. But watching her gather her things in this way, to see the determination on her face, broke something inside of me I didn’t know existed.

Rae, I love you. I know you love me. And I know that scares the shit out of you. But leaving is not going to make it better. Stay and we’ll talk this through.

She shook her head, tears falling again. I do love you, Jack, she said, her voice choking with emotion. But I can’t do this. I can’t be the woman you need me to be.

Rae—

Don’t make it harder than it has to be.

She came over and pressed a hand to my chest, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss me lightly. And then she walked away, disappearing from my home, from my life, in just a few confident steps.

Just like that. It was over.

Chapter 1

I woke in a strange room, half dressed, the cottony taste of old alcohol in my mouth. I rolled over, and a groan that was not my own alerted me to the presence of another person in the bed. I glanced over at her, only mildly surprised to realize I had no memory of this woman or the party we must have had last night. There were a few empty booze bottles scattered on the floor, one half-filled bottle of whiskey on the table just beyond my companion. And beer cans, some my brand, others a brand I’d never tasted before, were also scattered around the room, suggesting either that we’d swallowed an impossible amount of liquor the night before, or that there had been other people in the room at some point or another.

I got up, my head pounding with the movement. I stumbled across the room, tugging at my jeans, freeing myself just in time to release a bladder full of my overindulgence onto the lid of the toilet. I cursed, reaching down to lift the lid, releasing what felt like gallons into the already discolored water.

Hey, baby, the woman on the bed mumbled. Come back to bed.

I glanced at her, wondering where the hell I’d found her. The last thing I remembered was a dark bar on the highway, loud music and the acrid smell of smoke. I had no idea how I’d