Without care (20 page)

I race past
them, knowing Tucker is safe on his own. Running back towards the
front of the house, the front door is open and I step inside. I
pull my gun out from its hoist from beneath my t-shirt and slowly
begin to search each room. Nothing, each one is empty. Something
clicks in my head.

That day when
we visited Mel and Jen’s father returned there was a door closing.
It sounded too light to be a front door. The sound came from within
in the house somewhere. I back track into the hall, the same hall
we found him in.

My eyes look
around and fall on the stairs, a door. I walk towards it and try to
open it, but it’s locked. This has to be the way to the basement
and there is only one way to open it. I stand back, raise my foot
and boot it in.

CHAPTER
FIFTHTEEN

Jen

“If you’re in
your home why don’t you just leave?” I say for like the billionth
time. I just don’t understand him. I’ve always known my father to
be a fighter. For crying out loud he’s a lawyer, standing up in
front strangers demanding they see things from his point of view.
Right now, he looks lost and defeated. This is his home and he
allows Mel to keep him a prisoner in it.

“Please” he
voice needy. “Stop going on….”

I jump to my
feet and once again start pacing up and down. I hate in here, I
hate being closed in. I can hear movement above me. No doubt Mel is
doing that on purpose. Probably trying to scare me even further.
I’m not scared anymore; I just want to go home, that’s why I am
staying strong. I have faith in Ayden that he will find me and take
me back to Lacey and my mom.

What will
happen to my father? I never thought about him. I hope he keeps his
word and hands himself in and I hope Mel gets what she deserves. My
father was tricked into all of this and she was the one pulling the
strings. She planned everything and for what?

“Why does Mel
hate you so much?” I finally ask, stopping in my tracks and turning
towards him.

He gives a
little snort and shakes his head. “Its just seems a little drastic
that someone would go to all this length if she simply disapproved
of you being with Mom.”

“I must say” he
smiles, closing his book and putting it down. “You have a very
sharp and inquisitive mind, Jennifer.”

“Enlighten me
then” I groan, folding my arms across my chest and glaring at him.
“I’m not a child, I am pretty I will understand.”

“Of course
you’re not a child anymore” he sighs as he rubs in between his
eyebrows. His mouth turns down at the side and sadness fills his
eyes. “It was your eighteenth a few days ago. My little girl
eighteen already. Soon you’re graduate and then your be off to
college. You should be at home, having fun.” He pauses. “Because of
me you’re stuck here. I have been a pointless father.”

“You’re not
pointless” I say as I walk over to him. “You had you’re head turned
by money. You thought you were providing for your family and I
guess I understand that.” I sit down beside him and grab hold of
his hand. “I just want to know what’s happened between you and
Mel.”

His thumb
brushes along my knuckles. “I dated Mel for a while during high
school. Not because I liked her, but because I wanted to get to
know your mother” he smiles fondly as he remembers. “Your mother
was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her hair would shine
in the sun and her smile would light up a room. Every guy at school
had a thing for her and she never noticed me until I started dating
Mel.”

“I see,” I
smile at him. “And Mel has had a grudge ever since.”

He shrugs his
shoulders. “I thought she had gotten over it. Although, she’s had
her moments when she would show her hatred towards me. She was
forever telling your mother I was a waste of space. I guess in the
end she was right.”

Crash!

I and my father
just stare at each other as something crashes again. His arms reach
out and he pulls me into him, protecting me in his arms. My heart
begins to race, is this it? Is this how I’m going to die? Is it a
horrible thought that I would rather be in my mothers arms at my
last moment? The crashing and thudding stops. Footsteps begin
walking towards us. I close my eyes tight; I don’t want to see the
face of the man/woman who kills me.

“Jen,” says a
caring voice. All fear leaves me instantly at the sound of that
voice and I finally let out a deep breath. I feel strong arms lift
me up and wrap tightly around me.
He’s here
, the voice
inside sings.
He’s here
. I wrap my arms around his neck and
fall into him. His heavenly scent awakening all my senses.

“Open your
eyes” he whispers into my ear as he pulls away, holding me at arms
length. My eyes slowly open and take in the sight of him. His face
is full of concern and his dark eyes taking me in.

My heart
swells, god I love him. I’ve never felt this way in my whole life.
I need him and I will be what ever he wants me to be. One of his
hands lets go of me and he cups my chin. A soft smile spreads
across his lips.

“You’re
perfect” he breathes, leaning in and kisses me sweetly on the
forehead.

“Who are you?”
My father abruptly says, banishing my perfect moment with the man I
love.

I pull away
from Ayden and look over at my father. His brow knotted together
with confusion. “This is Ayden I told you about.” He quickly
relaxes and stands up walking towards us. He holds out his hand to
Ayden. Now it’s Ayden who looks confused. “I told my father how you
looked out for me. He’s promised he will turn himself in once we
get out.”

“You have no
idea how thankful I am to you, Ayden. My girls mean everything to
me. You must trust me I had no idea about the threats. I never
meant for things to get this much out of control.”

Ayden looks
down at my father’s hand. “You’ll excuse me if I am not touched by
your speech” his voice cold and hostile. His eyes have darkened
again, reminding me of the first time I spoke to him in the store.
“We need to get outta here and we need to do it fast.” He grabs
hold of me and we charge towards the door.

Once again
there are footsteps and we freeze in the doorway. I breathe a sigh
of relief when I realize it’s only Tucker. His face is covered in
blood and he isn’t alone. Mel is behind him, a gun pressed against
his back. No, this can’t be happening. Poor Tucker’s face is a
mess, his lip is swelling up and the cut on his forehead looks
serious and painful.

Mel looks as if
she is enjoying the whole thing.

“Leave him
alone” I scream at Mel.

“Not a chance,
sweetie” She pushes Tucker and he falls to the ground. Her gun now
points in our direction. Ayden pushes me behind him, protecting me
from that monster. “I really don’t understand why you’re all making
a big deal about this.”

“Just let Jen
go and we will sort things out” Ayden barks at her.

“I did have
things sorted out!” Her eyes going crazy and she starts waving the
gun. “Why does no one ever take me seriously?” She screams as she
points the gun at Tucker and without even thinking she pulls the
trigger.

Everything goes
in slow motion as I watch the bullet hit Tucker in the back. His
face as he screams, but no sound emerges. He just slumps stomach
first to the ground and blood pools all around him. I want to be
sick and my legs give way. I fall to the ground and I can’t take my
eyes off his still body. This is my entire fault. I’ve killed a
wonderful man who had so much going for him.

“Drop your
weapon!” Yells a voice, more footsteps descend down the stairs. Men
dressed all in black fill the room and surround Mel, guns pointing
straight at her. Her eyes met mine and that smile has dropped off
her face.

“I hope you rot
and burn in hell” I hiss at her as they hang cuff her and drag her
away.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

Ayden

He’s gone…. My
best friend. The man I thought of as a brother. Gone just like
that. She showed no remorse. Just pointed the gun and shot him. I
sit quietly in the hospital waiting room as Jen gets checked out.
However, I’m not alone long as I hear heels clicking on the
floor.

“Ayden” says a
voice.

I look up to
see Jen’s mother staring down at me. Her voice full of hatred and
her eyes burning into me. How can she be so ungrateful? Her
daughter is safe, her ex husband and sister are locked up. Her life
can return to normal. She can move on and enjoy it, unlike poor
Tucker.

“Jen wants to
see you.”

I quickly stand
up and walk towards the room. I need to see her, I need her comfort
me. Why is it everyone I care for leaves in the end? First my
mother, then grandmother, my father and now Tucker. Jen is all I
have left and I refuse to let her go.

A hand grabs
hold of my elbow and I turn to look at Jen’s mother. “This is the
last time you will see my daughter, do you understand?” My jaw
drops open and I just stare at her. “She’s going to go on and
forget about this. She doesn’t need a reminder of what
happened.”

“Why?” I gasp,
feeling as if something has hit me in the chest. “Why would you be
this cruel?”

“Cruel?” she
repeats as she throws my hand down by my side. “I am protecting
her. I don’t know what has happened between you two, but it ends
today. If you care for my daughter, you won’t punish her.” She
folds her arms across her chest. “You tell her what you need to,
but you make sure this is last time you speak.”

“Ms Hopkins...”
I protest.

She holds her
hand up which makes me stop. “Like I said, if you care for her your
let her go.”

Her words hit
me hard and I simply nod. I turn on my heel and walk towards Jen’s
room. I want to break down now. I open the door and look at Jen
just lying on the bed. Her blue eyes meet mine and my heart thumps
against my chest. This is it…. My first love. I begin to replay all
those moments we have shared in my head.

Her mother is
right and I have always known that it couldn’t go any further. I
swallow back the lump in my throat and walk towards her
bedside.

“Oh Ayden” she
cries, standing up and wrapping her arms around my neck. “Please
tell me Tucker is okay.”

I hold her
tight against me and just shake my head. Her whole body sags
against mine and I hold her closer. I inhale her sweet scent,
knowing it will be the last time. Its official, everyone I care
about is gone. Her words hit me…
“Its just I felt sorry for you
in Summerton. You lived all alone and there was no sign of a
family.”
What is they say, that lies can become reality?

I will be alone
now, with just my job to keep me company. It hurts hugging her and
I pull away. Her blue eyes looking up at me in wonder. I can see it
written across her face, she thinks I’m the hero. I’m not. I’m
about to break her heart and walk away.

“Jen,” I sigh,
I can’t help it. My forefinger and thump take hold of her chin. “I
need to go and sort a few things out. The station needs a report
and I need to make a few calls.”

“You’re coming
back, right?”

“Yes,” I lie.
“I’ll be back…” I don’t why I do it. Maybe I’m just a sucker for
punishment. I lean down and press my lips firmly on hers. Those
lips I will remember forever. They’re softness, the way they feel
perfect against mine.

“I love you”
she moans, as her fingers grip in my hair and she her tongue glides
across my bottom lip. “Never leave me, Ayden. Never leave me.”

I slowly
pulling away and just simply nod. “I promise” I give her another
kiss on the forehead and quickly restore myself. “Be good and do
what they say. I’ll be back in a while.” I turn on my heel and
leave the room. I was hired to protect her, shame, because the only
person she needed protection from was me.

CHAPTER
SEVENTEETH

Jen

“It’s another
glorious morning in Summerton” booms the radio presenter. I lean
over and hit the snooze button. I don’t care if it’s glorious, I
don’t want to get out of this bed. I roll over and just stare up at
the ceiling. I can hear my mother, Ted and Libby all downstairs
talking and laughing. How can they pretend everything is
normal?

A man is dead,
my father is in prison and Ayden has gone. My heart breaks a little
more. He promised me in that hospital that he would stay with me.
That was nearly a month ago and not one word from him. What did I
expect? After all it was because of me his best friend was
killed.

There’s a tap
on my door and I sit up. My mother enters already for work. She’s
changed so much, the tight clothes and make-up is gone. There’s a
permanent smile on her face and its all down to Ted.

I should be
happy for her, but there’s a dark cloud hovering over me and I
can’t get rid of it. I just seem to go through the day without
noticing anything. The whole time my mind plays Tucker getting shot
and bleeding to death in front of me. A shiver runs down my spine
and I have to blink back tears.

“Sweetie,” my
mother says, bringing me back to the present. “You’re going to be
late for school.”