Tough Love (Hidden Secrets) (18 page)

“Kayla…”

“No don’t Kayla me! You’re going to sisters day, no ifs ands or buts about it. Whether you are dating my brother or not, we count you as a sister!” She stood up from the couch as fast as she could and left.

Flopping
back on the couch, I let out a deep breath. Why were they so adamant on keeping us around? Maybe if for just a moment, they looked at it from my point of view they’d see that it hurts to be around them. When I am, all I see is Jack. It hurts. I miss him so much already. No matter how much I miss him, I’m sticking to my guns. I can’t be with him and him not fully be with me.

“Hey
guys?” I called out, walking down the hall to their room.

They
weren’t in their bedroom so I walked into their playroom. When I didn’t find them in there either, panic started to take over me. I ran into my room, the lamp near my window was knocked to the ground and the window was opened. The chairs were askew the cushions that were on the bay window bench were out on the floor.

I
screamed!

Running
to the living room, I picked up my phone and called Kayla.

“Shan-”

“Their gone! Someone took my brothers!” I screamed before she even had a chance to answer.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Stalker

This
took far too long to achieve. They were almost crowding them, as if they knew I was coming. It’s a good thing that I’m a patient person to a point. The uncle was a dead end honestly. Plans change all the time, and this was just a means to get Shannon’s attention. With her precious little freaks in my grasps, I’ll be able to get her to do whatever I want.

Now,
I’m still debating back and forth on which route I’m going to take just yet, but the point right now is that I have the power. Right now, I could get her to agree to anything. Right now, I could tell her to walk into a burning building and I’m sure she would. For some reason she was attached to these hideous little things.

“Will
you shut up back there!” I yelled.

Since
I snatched them out of the house, they have not stopped crying. Thankfully I had my friend helping me today. He was one of those guys that would do anything shady as long as there was a thrill in it. He was a definite adrenaline junky.

“Char
can you get them to shut up!”

“I
took the kids. I ain’t hitting no kid.”

“Char
if you want paid you’ll do something to get them to shut up!”

“I
still don’t even know what we’re doing wit dese kids. Why you want them?”

“It’s
not them I want. It’s their sister.”

“Then
why didn’t we just get her. I could control her better than dese brats.”

“Will
you just stop asking questions and get them to be quiet. Or I’ll hurt you instead,” I hissed.

Blaring
the music to try and drown out the incessant cries, I turned down the alley behind the warehouse. Pulling into the bay door, I shut the car off and shut the bay door. Opening the back door, I pulled out the less freaky one and made Char carry the other one. Opening one of the rooms, I put them in there then I locked them in there.

“Keep
your mouth shut. I’m making a call.”

Dialing
the number, I waited for her to answer.

“Hello?”
Came the frantic voice.

“You
missing something?”

“Where
are they? Are they hurt? What do you want?”

“Shut
up! If you don’t want me to hurt them then you will do as you’re told.”

“Yes,
whatever you want, just please don’t hurt my brothers,” she sobbed.

“Somehow
I knew you’d listen to me. First, you tell no one! If anyone comes looking for them, I’ll kill them.”

“No!
Please no!” She yelled.

“Second,
you need to meet me at Lexington and Fourth at ten o’clock tomorrow night. If one person follows…,” I let my sentence trail off.

“Okay.
I’ll be there with no one. Please don’t hurt them.”

Hanging
up the phone, I smiled. Finally, I was going to get what I wanted. Finally, I’ll know the feeling of Jackson’s hands on me. It was about time that something started to go my way and I have so much anger to work off that I’ll have a bit more fun before I finally give in through my last part of my plan. She deserves nothing less than to suffer. After all I’ve had to suffer with her being with my man. He was mine and no one touches what’s mine.  I can’t wait for tomorrow night now. I should have made it for tonight, but I need time to get everything set up for her arrival.

For
the first time, I was happy. Skipping to the car, I opened the driver’s door.

“Hey!
Where are you going?”

“I’m
heading out to get everything ready for tomorrow. Watch the freaks.”

I
drove off, whistling a happy tune. Everything was planning out just right. It was time to get my love and remove the distraction for good.

* * *

“YOU DID WHAT!” I yelled.

“I
may be willing to run into a plan without much information for the rush and some money, but I’m not into stealing kids. D’em kids were terrified. I took them back.”

“They
were my leverage for your payment.”

“I
don’t want money if dat’s what it’s from.”

“You
sorry son of a bitch!”

He
just turned and left like I wasn’t talking. I watched as he left the warehouse and closed the door behind him.

“FUCK!”
I screamed.

My
voice echoing off the brick walls. What the hell was I going to do now! He just totally fucked me over. That fucking hick just cost me more time with my love. I can’t believe he went and did that. It wasn’t like I was going to pay him, but I definitely hadn’t told him that.

“DAMN
IT!”

I’ll
get her if it’s the last thing I do. Thinking about it now, I know just the person to get. She will be mine. Soon so will my Jackson.

Driving
out to my hidden spot, I watch Jackson walk to his car. He doesn’t look happy. In fact he looks like a loved one died.

Oh
my love, I’ll heal you. You’ll see. Just a little bit longer.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jackson

I
don’t know how long I’ve sat here, but I haven’t moved. I haven’t moved even an inch since those elevator doors closed. My hand was clenched tightly to my chest. It felt like if I removed my hand, my heart would just fall to the floor. There was not enough oxygen in the air to fill my lungs giving me a suffocating feeling.

She
was gone. Why was she gone? Because I can’t let go of the past.

Even
facing the fact that I’d lose her by not telling her, I still couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go back and relive it. I couldn’t stand to see the look in her eyes, to disappoint her. To be honest, I wasn’t strong enough to let my two worlds collide. They were colliding like I never thought they would. I knew they’d collide, but what I didn’t know was that I would love someone. Shannon changed me captured my heart and I opened myself up to her more than I have anyone else. But it wasn’t enough.

“Why
couldn’t it be enough?” I roared to my empty apartment.

Just
as I am pulling myself up off the floor, I hear the elevator ding. My heart jumped into my chest and I stood there frozen waiting for the doors to open and bring my love right back to me. The doors started to slide open and I found myself holding my breath.  My head dropped and the breath left my lungs as my brother Nick walked out of the elevator.

“What
do you want Nick?” I grumbled.

He
stormed up to me and shoved me against the wall. “I don’t know what you’re fucking deal is, but you need to straighten your fucking ass out! Whatever you did to take the life out of Shannon you need to fix it! She’s acting like she’s cutting us all out of their lives and I’ll be damned if I let you do that to us.” He shoved me hard against the wall and started pacing back and forth.

“What
are you talking about?”

“I’m
talking about the broken woman I just showed her completely redone house to and she could barely see past her pain talking about repaying us and all that. I’m talking about you saying how much you loved her at Mary’s a few months ago, but let her walk out of your life and for what? Why?”

“It’s
complicated.”

“Yeah
well not from where I’m sitting. You have a girl that loves you and wants to be with you, but you’re walking away. Here I am in love with a woman and she walks away from me. The difference between you and me is, my girl doesn’t love me back. Yours does. Quit being a fucking prick! Get your head out of your ass and man the fuck up! If you let her slip away because you’re scared then be prepared for your life to fall apart. Once love enters your life nothing will ever be the same again.”

He
doesn’t even wait for me to talk or reply he turns presses the button, enters the elevator and leaves. Honestly I was dumbfounded. Nick didn’t even bother to ask if I was okay. He didn’t bother to comfort me. No, he went to standing up for Shannon. I smiled at the thought. In all honesty, I was glad that they were supporting her. At least now I knew she wasn’t alone.

I
walked down the hall and stared into the boys’ room. My heart tightened in my chest. Would I ever see the boys again? Sebastian and Atreyu were like my own kids. Their happiness made me happy. Sighing Shannon’s happiness meant everything to me too. No matter what my actions have showed, I really do love her. It killed me to let her walk out, but she deserved better than me. She deserved better than half a heart. Shannon deserved the world. Deserved a man who could give one hundred percent of themselves, that sadly wasn’t me. I’m only half the man I used to be. I couldn’t give her any of that.

Walking
away from the boys’ room, I walked into our room. The bed was still in shambles from our last moment together. Just as I was about to walk further into the room my phone rang. Turning I walked back out into the living room. Answering without looking at the caller ID.

“Hel-”

“You have to be the dumbest smart person ever! What the hell is going on with you?”

“Hey
Mare, nice to hear from you too.”

“Don’t
start Jackson! What is going on with you?”

“What
are you talking about?” I sighed.

“I’m
talking about whatever is going on with you and Shannon.”

“Look,
I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

I
hung up the phone and threw it on the couch.  Walking back down the hall, I walked into our bedroom again. I went to the closet doors to shut them when I saw her dress on the floor. Dropping to my knees, I held her dress in my hands. The tears started to fall before I could stop them.

“You
know you wouldn’t be hurting if you’d just get past it.”

I
turned to find Jake standing in the doorway. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Well
I came to take you guys out for all the hassle I’ve caused, but seems you’re the only one I’ll be taking out tonight.” He walked further into the room and pulled me up to stand. “Jack, look, I know you’re hurting. Anyone would in your position. I don’t know the whole story behind it all, but brother,” he gripped my shoulders. “You can’t have back the past. You can’t redo it. You’ve lived and it happened. Yeah it’s shit and hurts, but how much more of your present and future are you going to give up for something that won’t change no matter how much you harden yourself? Let it go, Jackson before you lose it all.” He walked out of the room, leaving me alone in my misery.

Going
into work the next day was hard. Not because I was worried about the work, but because the office made me think of her even more. I sat in my office for most of the morning trying to straighten things out. Rachael left this place in complete shambles. I don’t think I’ll hire anyone else for a while. It wasn’t like I couldn’t do this. It just meant more work and longer hours. It wasn’t like I had a reason to go home now. My place now was just a nightmare of memories of what I’ve lost. It was so quiet there that the click of the fridge running or the clunking of ice in the ice bin all sounded way too loud.

Walking
out to the reception area, I was shocked to find Kayla sitting there.

“What
are you doing?”

“I’m
going to help you get this shit straightened out.” She said without looking up at me.

“You
are far too pregnant to be sitting here Kayla. You need to go home and rest. I can’t believe Jason let you out of the house.”

“Well
he was a little busy, but I’m my own boss. Stop deflecting on me. I’m thinking that maybe if I help you get this shit straightened out that you’ll get your shit together in other areas.”

I
groan. “Oh come on not you too.”

She
looks up at me, then stands and walks to me. “Jackson, I can see you are hurting. It kills me that you’re in pain, but you’re doing this to yourself. Shannon loves you. You’ve already said you love her. What is stopping you? What is keeping you from living and accepting the love of the rest of us around you?”

Just
then a patient walked in the door. I smiled down at my sister, kissing her head, then went and greeted the patient. The day dragged on in much the same manner. It was patient after patient. My sister stuck to her word. She’s been helping get everything back in order. With her help I was able to fully focus on the patient and not the behind the scenes as much.

“You
really were a Godsend today,” I said as I hugged her after the last patient left.

“Okay
I’m going because frankly I’m exhausted, but I want you to do one thing for me.”

“What’s
that?”

“I
want you to go home and listen to this song. I mean really listen to it and I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you my big idiot brother.”

“Love
you too, brat. You don’t have to come in.”

“
I know, but I’m trying to help.” She kisses my cheek and walks out.

I
work for a bit longer before walking out to my car. My feet were as heavy as my heart. My heart struggled to beat as my feet fought to keep moving. Making my way back to an empty apartment was almost torture, but I went there anyway. Walking inside I just threw everything down. Didn’t bother finding its place, just dropped it all. Ready to punish myself further, I walked to my iPod dock, typed in the song that Kayla had given me. Hitting the preview button, the soft, slow, sad melody of Mindy McCready’s
Maybe He’ll Notice Her Now
filled the silence. I listened to every single word in this song until the preview stopped. I purchased the song and set it on repeat.

Over
and over the song plays, filling the air and hammering a bigger hole in my heart. There was so much pressure in my chest that I felt like I could feel each beat of the drum, each key of the piano and strum of the guitar. For it to be sung in a female’s voice made it hit home even harder.

It
became routine. I’d come home, play this song, sit in the boys’ room and hold Shannon’s dress singing the words loud. Before I knew it a week had passed. Tonight something tells me to go there. Grabbing my keys, I drive the long drive thinking about the past.

“What
do you say we get out of here and let the lip locking twins have their privacy?” I ask.

“That
sounds perfect. Goodbye guys not that you care,” Hannah says laughing.

Placing
my hand at the small of her back, I lead her out of the club. Pulling my jacket off, I place it around her shoulders. We walk toward the park. The park at night was a peaceful sight. We made small talk as we walked. Eventually, we found a bench that was kind of hidden to offer us a bit of privacy from the people that walked the park in the evening.

“It’s
beautiful out here,” she says after a while.

“It
is. Do you come down this way often?”

“No
not that often, never really had a reason to drive this far.”

I
smile at her, leaning down I kiss her slowly. My hand cups her face as the kiss deepens. When she moans, she pulls back.

“I’m
sorry, really. I’m just not that kind of girl.”

I
laugh. “It’s okay. I really wasn’t intending it to go any further. I’d like to see you again though. I’ve really enjoyed myself tonight.”

She
smiles. “I have too. Amber and I are both staying in town for a few days. Maybe we can use that time and see what we have here?”

“That
sounds good to me,” I smile down at her.

She
cuddles into my side and we watch the moonlight dance across the river in front of us. It was a comfortable silence. We don’t really say much else to each other. Just silently enjoying each other’s company.

The
days pass quickly and before I knew it Hannah and I have been dating for two months. Tonight she was coming into town and staying at my place. A smile spread across my face as watched her car pull into the parking lot. It had been about a month since we had saw each other last. That last time was amazing, we’d made love for the first time. She was just has hot and fiery in bed as she was out of it. It was addicting.

Helping
her with her bag we travelled up to my apartment, I couldn’t keep my hands off her. I’ve missed her. Our lips met in a frenzied kiss.  Soon we were stumbling into my apartment and over to my couch where I fell on top of her. We made love right there on my couch. Come to think of it, it’s the only place we’ve made love. Guess we just couldn’t wait to get to the bedroom.

“Jack?”

“Yeah?” I sighed holding her to me on the couch, content, sated.

“I
think I’m falling in love with you,” she says nervously.

“I
think I might be too,” I whispered kissing the top of her head.

“Well aren’t you conceited, falling in love with yourself,” she laughs and I smack her bare ass.

Shaking
my head, I made the long walk to my past. Sitting down next to the headstone, I traced the letters.

HANNAH
CONLEY

Tears started to fill my eyes, “We were planning forever and I let you down.” My voice caught in my throat. “I didn’t save you, protect you.” Sniffling, tears land on the ground in front of her headstone.

“I’ve
met someone. I love her. She loves me,” my voice catches in my throat. “You were my friend first before we fell in love. So was Shannon. Hanz, I loved you. I loved you more than I thought I could, but Shannon… Shannon is so much more than love. She’s my other half. Hanz, what if I fail her like I failed you… I couldn’t suffer a loss like that again. I can’t. I’m not strong enough.”