Jennifer awoke, bolting upright in the living room, shaking, her scream echoing in her ears. Her breath labored and she told herself to calm down in a silent repetitive mantra while her heart leapt into overdrive with panic and fear.

“Only a dream,” she repeated under her breath, wrapping the blanket tighter around her until she had control over her breathing. Her chest ached and she leaned her head back against the soft cushion of the couch and took a deep breath.

She glanced at the clock, surprised to see it was still early and she reached for the phone, dialing the now familiar number.

Chapter 27

Steve walked into his room with a towel around his waist when his phone rang. He flipped it open, closing the door behind him.

“Hey.”

“We found them near where we found that little girl,” Murphy said, and his voice betrayed his anger and disgust.

“Same condition?”

“Worse. Parts were missing this time.”

Steve sat down. His other line buzzed and he ignored it. “What parts?”

Murphy hesitated. “Both heads and his privates. Sheared clean off.”

This was a new development, very different from the others, and he wondered why. “Do you need me out there?”

“I need you where you are.”

Steve took a deep breath. “Any tracks?”

“No and no signs of animals either. We have the forensic team here now. What’s going on there?”

“They’re worried about the camping trip they are doing for their initiation ceremony on Friday night. That’s the only thing I could get from them when I got back. I think Bill is with Jen’s roommate tonight. Do you want me here or there?” he asked, hoping for the latter.

“I want you at the fraternity,” Murphy said. “You may be able to get a hint of something while he isn’t there in control.”

“Okay. Gotta go.” Steve hung up without waiting for further instructions. He looked at the caller ID to see who had called a few minutes before and hit redial.

“Hello?” Jennifer answered, breathless.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she said, her voice that throaty sound that accompanied physical stress.

“Were you working out?”

“No, I had another nightmare,” she said.

The slight tremble in her voice now made sense to Steve. “The teenagers?” he asked, his mind still logically on the case.

“No, and this time it wasn’t in that awful clearing. It was in something made of concrete.”

“What happened?”

“When it touched me, my skin burned. It hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. It was like my soul was being raped.”

Steve flopped back on his bed. All he wanted to do was go hold her in his arms, but he’d been given orders. “Awe babe,” he said, closing his eyes.

“Can I come over?” she asked, sounding a little like she was begging.

Steve inhaled but didn’t speak.

“Please.”

“Are Tracy and Bill there?”

“No, they haven’t come in yet.”

He understood her hesitancy to be at the apartment alone after having a disturbing nightmare and he sighed. “Okay,” he said, giving in to her plea. He hung up and stared at the ceiling, beating himself up for allowing her to come there. But he had no choice, he couldn’t leave tonight and he couldn’t say no to her. He slowly pulled on a pair of jeans and a crisp blue oxford, leaving it unbuttoned. He hand-combed his hair back and went downstairs, grabbing a beer and joining the guys on the front porch.

“You smell a hell of a lot better,” Joe remarked as Steve took the chair next to him.

Steve smiled easily. “Imagine what the back of that cruiser smelled like.” He raised the beer and took a swig while Joe let out a laugh. “So what’s up with the initiation? Do I have to do it?” he asked, looking over at Joe.

Joe shifted like he was uncomfortable with the question. “Ask Bill.”

“I’m asking you,” Steve said, taking another sip.

“I’m not sure.”

Steve nodded. “I’m not really into camping. Think I can skip it and hang with my girlfriend?” He drained the rest of the beer and let out a belch. He watched Joe out of the corner of his eye and did not like his reaction.

Joe broke out in a quick, knowing smile before he suppressed it and spoke. “I’m not sure. It’s up to Bill—he’s the president of the fraternity. You want another beer?” Joe asked, pointing at the empty bottle.

“Sure.” Steve handed him the empty. He glanced back at the street, expecting to see Jennifer’s car any minute. Joe came out with the second beer at the same time Jennifer pulled into the parking lot.

The smile that spread over Steve’s face prompted Joe to look over his shoulder. Steve stood and walked down the steps with a grin plastered on his face.

Jennifer followed suit. She stepped out of the car with her winning smile. “I figured I’d surprise you,” she said, playing the part beautifully.

“I like surprises,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her lips. “You want a beer?”

“Sure.”

He escorted her up the stairs, pointed to the seat next to his, and handed her his beer. “I’ll be right back.” He trotted in the house to get another beer for himself, hating to leave her on the porch with all the rest of the fraternity members leering at her.

* * * *

“Hey Jen,” Adam said behind a crooked smile.

“Hi,” Jennifer said, shifting in her seat. Their intent stares set her skin crawling, like each and every one of them was mentally undressing her. She crossed her arms and legs, unconsciously blocking their continued inspection.

Relief flooded through her when Steve stepped outside again and she took a sip of her beer, meeting his gaze and silently transmitting her discomfort.

Steve put his hand on her thigh, conveying his ownership to all on the porch. His meaning was clear and he gazed around, marking his territory. The majority of the guys filtered inside, but Joe lingered.

“It’s been a while,” Joe said. He glanced nervously at Steve then back at her.

“Yeah it has,” Jennifer said.

“It’s good to see you again.”

“You too, Joe.”

He made his way inside.

Steve looked at her with a smile. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Not here, okay?”

Jennifer smiled in return, but it felt foreign and forced. Not natural and certainly not the way she felt when she was acting. She decided to try a moment of levity instead of caving into the pressure building in her chest. “I’m hungry. Want me to cook you something?”

Steve sprayed his beer out in a laugh that caught both of them off guard. He coughed and laughed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “French fries?” he sputtered, trying to dislodge what little beer had gone down the wrong pipe.

This time, the smile felt more natural and a measure of relief lifted the weight trying to constrict her lungs. “I’m serious about being hungry.”

Steve nodded. “I’ll be right back,” he said and left her alone on the porch again.

A couple minutes later, he came back with his shirt buttoned and his car keys in his hand. “Let’s grab something quick at Joe’s Grill,” he said, leading her to his car.

The minute they were out of view of the fraternity, he took her hand. “I’m sorry, babe.”

“That was weird.”

Steve huffed and nodded.

“They were looking at me like I was their next meal.” Jennifer shivered.

“I noticed,” Steve said, taking a deep breath. “You can’t stay with me tonight.”

“What better way to let them know I’m yours?”

“I’m not playing games with you,” he said. “That wasn’t normal, Jen. All of them looked at you that way, not just one or two.”

“They always took notice of me.”

Steve turned his hard gaze toward her. “Taking notice is one thing, but that was anticipation.” He looked back at the road.

“Anticipation?” she asked.

“Think about it. Think about the way I looked at you that day in the cabin just before we screwed around. That’s the look each and every one of those fuckers had,” he snarled.