Seeing no point in arguing with the men he let them in. He took them to the sitting room. Exhaustion swamped him. He hadn’t anticipated a mass clean, and now that he’d been awake for the past twenty-four hours, James needed to sleep.
He took a seat accepting the coffee they gaze him along with the buttery croissant.
“Where’s your lady?” Hubert asked.
“She’s staying with her sister.”
The two agents looked between each other. “We know this is a hard time, and we’re sorry about the circumstances that led us to this, but if Prudence Star needs to speak to someone, please, let her call us.” Josiah handed him a card with a female doctor’s name on. “She’s a professional psychologist and has experience with kidnapped victims along with abuse.”
James pocketed the card and filed the information away. “I don’t know if Prudence will fall under that category, but I’ll let her know that there are people to talk to.”
“Please do.”
He sipped the bitter coffee and winced. The stuff reminded him of the coffee his woman served him. He chuckled then placed the cup on the table as the pain of the memory was too much to bear.
“What can I do for you gentlemen?”
“Lucas returned the file to us, and we’re using everything we can to put Henry Warren away for life. We’re convinced he won’t be a problem to you guys anymore.”
“But?” James asked. He sensed there was more to it.
“We want to assure your safety, and the only way to do that is to keep checking in with you. Josiah and I would like to stay around for awhile.”
James started laughing. “Is this to get access to the clubs?”
Both agents looked at each other before returning their gazes back to him.
“We would like that,” Hubert said.
“Whatever. Ravage isn’t even open, but you’ll have to talk to Stephen.” He took a bite out of the croissant and sighed. The food tasted good. He hungered for something else, only the woman he wanted with such desperation was off limits to him. There was a time when no one was off limits. He needed to respect her wishes. Giving her time could only help improve matters.
“We’re dealing with Ravage. We’re hoping to have the club available to you to open in the next two weeks. Until then, you’re free to go inside and make arrangements to replace the staff you lost,” Josiah said, handing him a set of keys.
He took them and thought about Jermaine. Replacing him would be difficult.
“Is there anything else you have to tell me?” he asked.
“No. We’re not at liberty to discuss anything else with you, and this was more of a courtesy call than anything else,” Hubert said.
“Right. Does this mean Stephen and I are free from any suspicion?”
“Yes.” Both of the agents spoke at the same time. They left the baked goods and rancid coffee for him. James saw them out then made sure his gate was locked. He wanted privacy for the next few hours.
He made his way up to the bathroom and removed his clothes as he did so. Turning on the shower, he climbed under the steaming hot jet. Closing his eyes, he allowed the hot water to cascade around without interfering or reaching for anything.
“Think of a list of things to do,” he said, muttering to himself.
“Get to Ravage and check everything out. Organise a new barman and security guard at the door.”
As he listed the things he needed to do he started to ease the ache from his muscles.
Once he washed the grime and dirt away from his body, he turned the shower off and padded into his room. Staring at the spot where Prudence had lain, he dried himself with the towel then lay on her pillow.
James inhaled her sweet scent and wondered how she was getting on.
Stop thinking about her and give her time.
Giving her time was proving to be difficult.
Closing his eyes, he allowed his mind to wander to sweet images of her. He thought about the way she looked at him when he sank into her tight wet heat. Her temper when he tried to control part of her life.
Could he get her to work at the bar with him?
His phone rang in the distance, which he ignored.
The phone beeped to let him know he’d missed a call.
He opened his eyes and stared across the bed to where the sun was shining in the bedroom window. Christmas would be with them soon, but James doubted he’d be celebrating the festive season. He looked forward to the spring to take away the dull dampness of winter.
It was Saturday, and he didn’t have anything else to do but wallow in his loneliness. He rolled over facing away from the window. At that moment in his life there was nothing happy about his time. The one woman he loved is gone from him, and he didn’t know how to get her back.
Within moments of turning away from the window and closing his eyes, sleep consumed him. James welcomed the oblivion of sleep even though his dreams were filled with the tantalising images of Prudence. She plagued him in sleep and when he was awake.
Chapter Fourteen
Prue jolted awake. She lay alone in a single bed. The door to the bedroom was wide open with the light from the bulb in the hall way illuminating her way. Sunshine came through the window on her left side. Slowly, her heart slowed, and the panic that had gripped her several minutes ago disappeared.
Veronica walked down the hallway and leaned against the frame.
“You’re awake,” she said.
“How did you know?” Prudence asked, sitting up. Her face hurt but not as much as it had in the last few days.
“You gasped and cried out for James in your sleep. I’ve been keeping an eye on you for the past few hours.” Her sister walked into the room with her arms folded over her chest. She looked in control without a care in the world.
“What time is it?” Prudence looked out of the window and around the bedroom for a clock.
“It’s a little after ten. You’ve slept for a long time. I thought about waking you with pancakes and then figured you’d love to help me make them,” Veronica said, taking a seat on the end of the bed.
Folding her legs in front of her, Prue ran fingers through her hair in an effort to get some order to her hair.
“Your colour is gone. Did they take the colour out?”
“Yes. They washed the dye out of my hair. The bastards.”
She gave her sister credit as Veronica didn’t wince at her curse words.
“So, what do you say to pancakes for breakfast with some strawberries?”
Prue laughed before nodding in agreement. She watched her sister leave the room. Veronica grabbed the door ready to shut it, and panic gripped Prue tighter than ever. Her sister stopped and left the door open.