Chapter 137: Finding Herself
*Till this moment I never knew myself. – Jane Austen*
That same odd feeling followed Jolene around all day as she walked across the campus. The odd feeling of being followed and watched never left her. She had convinced herself that it was because this was her first day back to classes from her vacation. That it was because in the parking lot over there, her eyes cut to the lot behind the science building, she had been drugged and kidnapped.
“You okay?” Nichols asked quietly.
Jolene nodded as she turned away from the lot and headed towards the language arts building. She heard the soft grunt that the man gave her. They were no longer wearing uniforms as a way of making other students feel more comfortable. And to make Jolene feel a little more normal.
They both wore faded jeans and a t-shirt for the college football team. Jolene knew all about the football team. Her mother was such a contradiction. The woman loved all the girly things – pink, dresses, makeup, jewelry, shoes, cooking… Jolene remembered thinking that there was no way that you could ever find a more girly woman.
Except for when it came to football.
The woman was a walking encyclopedia of football knowledge. Not that she would throw out stats and records. Not usually, anyway.
A while back she had corrected one of the men at work when she told them that the Dallas Texans predated not only the Houston Texans but also the Dallas Cowboys. As the room stood in shocked silence, she explained that the Kansas City Chiefs had originally been the Dallas Texans but the owner, Lamar Hunt, moved it after the Cowboys moved to Dallas in 1960.
Jolene snickered at the memory of Frank telling Reese about it. It had happened towards the end of her hospital stay and they thought that she was asleep. “Don’t ever watch the playoffs with her.”
Reese had learned the hard way when he accidentally sat on the remote and changed the channel during the AFC championship game. Her docile mother nearly became unglued.
“And that is why the contract is not valid during football games.” Jaxon had surmised as Reese quickly moved away from his Kitten turned angry lioness.
“What are you laughing at?” Nichols asked with a grin.
“My mom.” She admitted as a gust of wind caught her hair just right and ripped it out of her loose band.
“Here.” Nichols took the books that she was carrying so she could control her hair.
“Thanks.” She pulled her hair back and placed it back in the silk scrunchie.
“Welcome.” He handed the books back to her. “Marcus is inside the building, he’ll take over.”
“Thanks, again.” She smiled at him. “And thanks for… you know, not making it seem like I’m being watched all the damned time.”
“Not a problem.” He grinned at her. “It’s worked good for me too.”
“Oh?”
“I have a coffee date during your next class. And if a cute little brunette with big doe eyes and a little freckle just here,” he pointed to his jawline, “asks, you’re my friend’s girlfriend.”
“That’s not a lie.” Jolene admitted as she patted him on the arm. “Go get her, tiger.”
He was chuckling as he walked her up the steps leading to the red brick building. Seeing Marcus standing inside, he waved, and the other guard waved back.
“It’s twenty feet, Nicky.” She gave him a friendly nudge. “I can make it twenty feet on my own.”
“Nicky?” He grinned.
“Nicky.” She confirmed. “I want to hear about your coffee date.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave a mock salute before waving at Marcus again.
Jolene was laughing happily, the feeling that had been plaguing her was gone, as she stepped through the door that another student was holding open. There was a rush of students as the class closest to the door let out. She was jostled a little bit and didn’t think much of it when a hand wrapped around her arm.
Then she was pulled to the side and into a small hallway out of the way of the stampede. It wasn’t until she saw the all to familiar eyes and shaved head that fear set in. Jolene was frozen with fear for a moment.
“Don’t make a fucking noise.” Hank warned quietly and she nodded.
He pulled her down the small hallway and she saw the back exit that she had never noticed before. Suddenly everything that Neo had taught her came flying back into her head. Before she even thought about it, she twisted her arm and body, muscle memory taking over.
Gripping her thick English lit book in her opposite hand, she swung around and slammed the spine of the book into the back of his neck. The bottom of her thick soled shoe made hard contact with the side of Hank’s knee. He went down with a loud oomph and landed on his hands and knees.
Jolene grasped her book in both hands and slammed it into the back of his head. His head jerked forward and slammed into the cinderblock wall. After he bounced off the concrete, he slumped to the ground, unconscious.
All her anger, fear and anguish that had built up in her over the past year came out as she kicked him in his ribs. Her booted foot made contact over and over again until strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her up.
“Come on, Bruce Leigha.” Nichols chuckled as Marcus moved in to check on Hank.
Marcus pulled out his phone and called the office. Then he ended the call before it connected and called Shelby on her new phone. Same number, fancy new phone that for the price that Zack had paid, should probably do the dishes and leave a mint on the pillow.
“Shell, I need a bus for an idiot. Is the boss around?”
Hank stirred slightly and Marcus punched him the face, knocking him back out.
“Did he, umm, slip on a bar of soap?” Nichols asked.
“Slick spot on the floor.” Marcus grinned before he turned his attention back to the phone. “Hey, first, we’re all good, but Nichols is going to be late for his date. Your girl is going to miss her class. And Hank Fargo is going to have one hellacious fucking headache when he comes to.”
He chuckled. “No, sir. Your girl. Yes, sir. Oh, did I forget to mention that your Jo is one hell of a badass?”
As he hung up, campus police arrived. He gave a brief rundown of what happened to one officer as Nichols handed over a copy of the order of protection to another. A third officer tried to pull Jolene off by herself and they both objected.
“I understand that you have a job to do, but so do we.” Nichols explained. “You can take her out of earshot, but not out of our line of sight. This is the second kidnapping attempt in less than a month.”
They were still arguing over it when two state police officers arrived. The campus police tried to keep a hold of the case but when Douggie arrived, the argument died. As they were walking Jolene out to the ambulance, Neo pulled up.
“She’s fine, boss man.” Nichols said as he walked over to his boss. “She took him down singlehandedly. She’s good. And she needed to do it.”
Neo looked at his friend and employee.
“She *needed* to be the one to end it.” Nichols emphasized.
The only response was a slow nod.
A few minutes later, Jolene joined them, and Neo hugged her close.
“I love you, Neo.” She whispered.
“You’re okay?” He asked quietly.
“I am.” She assured him. “I’ve never felt more proud of myself. Now I understand why my mom pierced her nipples.”
Nichols choked and began to cough as he pictured Helen with nipple rings. Marcus chuckled as the other man shook his head in shock.
“I’m going to forget that I heard that.” Nichols grumbled.
“I’m not.” Marcus grinned. “Filing it away in the spank bank.”
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