Flood Rising (Jenna Flood #1)

Now that the goal was finally in sight, she was filled with dread for what would happen next. Even worse was the sinking feeling that all her efforts had not brought her any closer to the answers she craved. She took a deep calming breath, headed up the steps and opened the door.

She stepped into a small unfurnished foyer. There was a cash machine in one corner, a window that looked a little like the check-in desk of a rundown hotel and a closed door. On the other side of the counter, an elderly gray-haired woman—Jenna thought she looked old enough to be Noah’s grandmother—played mahjong on a computer.

The woman started to speak, but when she got a look at Jenna, whatever she had been about to say was forgotten.

Jenna stood there, unable to speak. She had been mentally preparing for a different sort of gate-keeper, maybe a beefy steroid-infused bouncer or a hostess wearing a leather dominatrix outfit. She shook her head to clear away the hesitation. “I need to speak to Raul.”

She saw the flicker of recognition in Granny’s eyes. Well, at least I’ve got the right place. Then the woman’s face twisted into a matronly look of concern. “Oh, sweetie. You can’t be here.”

Jenna kept her expression neutral, but puffed up her chest a little, leaning forward. “Raul.”

The old woman squinted behind her glasses, as if questioning her original appraisal, then reached down and pressed the button on an intercom box. “Someone here to see you, Raul.”

There was a brief pause and then a tinny voice issued from the speaker. “Send him back.”

The woman glanced at Jenna again, the anxious look back on her wrinkled face. She really wants me to leave. Maybe I should go while I still can. Jenna pointed down and mouthed the words: “Out here.”

Granny nodded to her then pushed the button again. “It’s not a ‘he,’ and I think maybe you should come out front.” As she lifted her finger, the woman gave Jenna a sad, resigned look, as if to say ‘I tried to warn you.’

Yes you did, she thought. But I’m going to play this through to the end.

The door opened and Raul Villegas stepped out. He was wearing a white linen suit over a lavender silk shirt, opened to just above his sternum, revealing the thick gold chain around his neck. There was an easy-going smile plastered on his face, which vanished in an instant when his eyes found Jenna.

She took a deep breath and then turned away, heading for the door. She had rehearsed this encounter dozens of times during her long walk. It was imperative to control every aspect of the scene, and the first step was moving Raul away from his home turf. Equally important, she had to make sure that she had an escape route if things went sour. She paused on the front porch, waiting to see if he would follow.

He did.

Raul exited the house, glowering. “You,” he said in a low, threatening voice. His body was tense, a coiled spring full of unpredictable energy.

Take control, she told herself. Keep him off balance. “I need your help,” she said quickly, forestalling the accusations that she knew would come.

She turned to face him, positioning herself under the porch light so that it would illuminate her scrapes and bruises. She saw his eyes move, and knew that he had seen them. His mouth opened, but before he could say anything, she continued.

“I ran away, Raul. You saw how violent he is.” She held his gaze, tightening the muscles of her eyelids so that her eyes would not betray the fiction in her words. The ability to detect falsehood was instinctive, even in those untrained in the techniques she was now attempting to use.

Raul’s indignation seeped away. “He did that to you?”

She nodded, but did not elaborate. The lie would be all the more convincing if she let Raul’s imagination fill in the details. “I can’t go to any of my friends. You’re the only person that can help me.”

His eyes began moving, and Jenna recalled Noah’s words. Most people are an open book. She had no difficulty reading his thoughts. Raul was calculating how he would turn her vulnerability to his advantage. He would invite her inside, get her somewhere isolated, comfort her with words, a touch, maybe offer her a drink, and then he would take her. She knew this was a dangerous game, but it was a game she could win.

“Do you need some money?” he asked.

That surprised her. “Money?”

“Isn’t that why you came here?” A faint smile played across his lips.

She shook her head. “No. Maybe. I don’t know. I just need to get out of here.”

I’m losing him, she thought. Get back on track. Control the scene. She glanced at the street, gauging the distance to the nearest well-lit storefront where she might be able to find refuge.

His expression was becoming more confident. “Oh, sure baby. I can help you with that.”

With an effort, she stilled her racing heart and met his gaze again, reminding herself to mimic his stance. “I shouldn’t have bothered you, Raul. I thought you might be able to drive me to Miami, but I have no right to ask.”