The HUSH Series: (HUSH, HUSHED and JANE.)

by Sandra Raine

I choked back my tears and nodded. "Okay," my voice then shook as I clung to the back of my father's shirt.

  "Damn, you fucking people are stubborn. Jane! Get-your-fucking-ass-over-here. . .NOW!" Parker fumed while the fury of his tone bounced off the living room walls. I flinched, hard. This time digging into the silken fabric of my father's shirt. One of my fingers then accidentally slipped, grazing the hidden butt end to my father's gun that was wedged in between his pants and his backside. I gently lifted up my father's shirt, and without so much as thinking or planning, I discreetly pulled out my father's revolver; it was a .38 special, a six shooter, exactly like the one I saw at that pawn shop back in Indiana. I quickly shoved the revolver down the front of my jeans, quickly concealing it with my sweatshirt.

  "Okay," I said, taking a deep breath, trying to steady my hands that were shaking uncontrollably.

  "Jane, don't," Marx pleaded helplessly as I sauntered around him. I could literally feel his body trembling in unison to mine.

  "It's. . .it's okay, Devon," I comforted with tears clouding my eyes 'cause I could see the tears in his particularly as he watched me make my way to Parker who sat there waiting patiently for me.

  As soon as I cleared Justin, who was standing defenseless less than ten feet from Parker, and who was staring at me with that same sorrowed glaze in his eyes as Marx's, Parker abruptly grabbed hold of my arm and yanked me to him.

  "You've caused me so much fucking shit! I ought to. . .kill you!" And with that said, Parker raised his hand and backhanded me over the table causing everyone to shift on edge, particularly Justin.

  "You motherfucker!" he fumed at Parker, making an attempt to lunge at him but Parker, having the upper hand over Justin's misfortune, pulled a pistol from off his person and pointed it straight in Justin's face.

  "Uh ah," Parker admonished through a shake of his head. And when he saw that Justin wasn't backing down, Parker cocked back his pistol forcing Justin to immobilize. "Good boy," Parker verbally applauded as if Justin was a dog, as if we were all his dogs. . .And I had had enough!

  I slovenly reached beneath my sweatshirt and wrapped my hand around the revolver's butt end and yanked it from the front of my jeans. And without giving the obvious of my misfortunes a second thought, particularly the obscene loyalty of Parker's men surrounding the entire living room ready to go to war for him, I shot Parker straight in the gut, not once, but twice, back-to-back. And one of the things I would remember, something that would forever echo in my memories, something I would most likely to carry on as I'm passing from this world and into another, was Justin shouting: "JANE! GET DOWN!" right as he lunged at me, the burden of his strength shoving me down to the cemented floor with his body shielding mine right as the hail of gunfire struck.

  * * *

  There were bullets literally flying everywhere: over my head, onto the floor, against the walls, through the windows; bullets piercing the conference table, the chairs, the walls, the vehicles parked out front. And within all this hail was smoke, yelling, cursing, and me screaming from the top of my lungs.

  "Stay calm, Jane, stay calm," Justin urged as he continued to shield me from the rapid gunfire as I continued to flinch each time a bullet grazed passed us, either hitting the table, the floor, the walls. A couple of times I felt Justin flinch hard when a bullet came to close for our comfort and when a couple ricocheted off the floor striking the leg of the table.

  "Justin! Justin!" I then found myself crying out for comfort 'cause I was scared shitless for my life. I wasn't so much as worried about Dominic and Josh but I did worry about Jonah, our father and Marx; something told me that they were still alive, and somewhere in the house gunning their way to freedom. As Justin humped me further beneath the conference table for safety, I felt something hard grab a stern hold of my left leg. I quickly shifted a terrified glance over my shoulder and found that Parker was still alive and he was the one holding my leg.

  "Let go! Let. . .go!" I shouted down at Parker as I tried repeatedly kicking his hand off my leg but he just kept on yanking on it, trying to bring me down to his level despite the fact Justin's body was lying on top of mine. I managed, and as a last bout 'cause my legs were losing strength against Parker's, to twist my body slightly beneath Justin's. I then raised my right leg and kicked Parker in his face. . .And it pissed him off something awful. 'Cause instead of him giving up, and despite him being gravely wounded, he managed to elevate himself just enough to grab a firm hold on both my legs. And with one brutal yank, Parker triumphed into pulling me right out of Justin's shield.

  "No! No! NO!" I pitched from the very top of my lungs. . .then. . .the sweet sound of salvation began to echo from the back of the house to the front.

  At first, the sound of: "Cease fire!. . .Cease fire!. . .Cease fire, goddamn it!" was faint. But then it started to slowly and clearly transcend throughout the house. The chant even coerced Parker to lessen his hold on me, or at least I thought it was the chant.

  It wasn't until I unnervingly glanced up and found Viktor Kasa standing over Andrew Parker's wounded body, and he was holding Parker's gun. And without so much as a snicker, or a laugh of sarcasm, or even a speech to what would precede his actions, and in spite of the 'cease fire' warning still echoing through the house, Viktor unloaded Parker's gun on him until it finally clicked, dead.

  "Vik?" Sissy Young suddenly called out to him as she approached him from behind in cautious, breathless steps. "Vik," she then called to him a second time her tone no longer sounding anxious but unnervingly concern. Viktor slowly turned to Sissy and gazed at her in a state of complacency.

  "It's over," my father stated as he stared blankly down at me.

  PART 4

  Chapter 23

  New Orleans, LA

  September 14th, 2013 ~

  "So what do you think, Bree?" I said spinning around in my bridesmaids dress. I was feeling giddy, so I laughed.

  "It's nice." she stated flatly

  "Just 'nice'?" I repeated trying to sound appalled over Bree's choice words but she was still a kid.

  "Can I go play some XBox?" Bree instead replied boredly.

  "Yeah, go ahead. But for fifteen minutes only."

  "Yay!" Bree exclaimed, storming passed Anna and out of the dressing room.

  "Who said you look nice?" Anna pried as she crossed the dressing room, handing me a glass of water and a couple of aspirins. "There. That should help your headache."

  "Bree. Thanks," I said popping the aspirin into my mouth and chasing them down with the water.

  "Hmm. What does Bree know. Besides I think you look beautiful." Anna said as she stood back to survey my dress from top to bottom.

  "Think mom will like the way we're going to look?"

  "Sissy likes anything we wear."

  "Well she better," I said turning around and surveying myself in the full length mirror. I never thought the color scarlet could invoke such happiness. "She picked them out."

  "Well, I better head back to the room and finish getting ready. And plus Jonah said he wanted to talk about something."

  "Yeah," I smirked.

  "What?" Anna blushed.

  "Jonah doesn't talk, Anna."

  "So do you think it's code for. . .sex?"

  "Well you better go and find out." I winked with Anna returning my wink before she headed back to her room.

  "Oh!" Anna suddenly exclaimed right as she hit the dressing room door. "Vik wants to see you down in his office as soon as possible."

  Kasa Manor was bustling with people both Viktor and Sissy knew from over the years. And the idea of illegitimate businessmen mingling with federal agents was very amusing.

  As I neared my father's office my nerves started to turn in nervous knots 'cause he rarely, if not, ever summoned me into his office. . .not since I moved in almost six months ago. So his summoning me was a little unnerving. Once I reached the office's door, I stopped, and recomposed my flustered nerves and took a deep breath before knocking first, then entering, whe
re I found my father standing near the window, gazing out into the oasis of his backyard.

  "Um," I then said, clearing my throat just as my father glanced in my direction. "Anna said you wanted to see me."

  "Yes," my father smiled as he crossed to me in his tux. I don't ever recall seeing a man so as handsome as my father. I could see why the women in general, including my mother, Anna, and our housemaids were so in awe with him every time they saw him or whenever he walked into a room. My father alone was a statement. And I was his daughter indulging that very statement. I couldn't help but to smile even as he took my hand and led me toward the front of his desk where he pulled back one of the chairs and invited me to sit down. And instead of my father taking his throne behind his desk, he instead took the seat opposite mine.

  "You look stunning, by the way," my father acknowledged first before he reached for my hand and touched it gently, fatherly. "I uh. . .mm. . . - "

  "Is everything alright, dad?" I interrupted, concerned. My father smirked and merely shook his head.

  "Everything is fine, Jane," he said letting go of my hand and straightening himself in the chair which seemed to contour him very oddly. I mean, I had gotten so used to seeing my father sit in his throne, and for him to have sat on anything else seemed offensive.

  "I've been wanting to talk to you for some time now but time just always seems to get the best of us. And I do apologize that I've decided to talk to you now, on this day. . .the day of my wedding. Mind you, I don't mind because it's important and I don't think it can wait much longer. And I hope you don't mind seeing that you have your hands quite busy as it is - "

  "It's alright, dad," I comforted 'cause I was sensing he was needing some comfort from what he was about to say.

  "I want you to understand, Jane, that I don't want there to be any secrets between us so I'm just going to come out and say that in spite of all that has happened to you my business still continues as is. Meaning, what I've done before I still continue to do today. I will say that the only thing that has changed is the prostitution aspect of it. . .meaning, I no longer deal in prostitution, that the girls I had are no longer in my possession, and that they've gone on to better places. But the trafficking for girls for other organizations still continues to operate - "

  "I'm sorry for the interruption, dad, but why are you telling me this?"

  "Because like I stated previously, I don't want any secrets between me and you and Jonah. I guess what I'm trying to avoid, meaning with you, is hearsay; I'd rather you know first hand from me than to have you approached by someone wishing to harm you with the dealings of my business."

  "Um. . .Does mom know. . .that you still. . .operate, I mean?"

  "She knows, Jane. But she'd rather turn a cheek. And besides, it's none of her business. My business is of yours and Jonah's and to me that's more important. Mind you, I'm not seeking Sissy's or anyone else's approval to what I do. . .my only concern is that you and Jonah approve."

  "But Sissy is just as important, dad. You just can't discount her like that. It's very rude."

  "Sissy is nothing to me but a woman I love. You and Jonah, Jane. . .you two are my flesh and blood. Something bonded and sacred. . .Something no one will ever compare or live up, too. And I'm sorry if I sound so blunt and heartless but trust me when I say, sweetheart, that Sissy understands. It it's one thing she has, it's understanding. And I can't ask for anything more. But going back to where this conversation originally started. . .I really would like to know your thoughts on this."

  "Look, dad," I began to say but then I suddenly paused to choose my words more wisely, carefully as to not offend him especially on his wedding day. "today let's just. . .talk of simple pleasures. Today is about you and mom. So for today let's talk about this in a month's time. Will that be alright with you?" My father smiled and shook his head in absolute approval. "What?" I laughed.

  "Now I know you're my daughter. . .And that's very dangerous, Jane." my father mused.

  "Well it's good to know where some of my level headed thinking comes from. So with that, I thank you." Again my father smiled, rising from his seat, taking my hand so that I could join him in an embrace.

  "Promise me that you will dance with me tonight?" my father whispered gently against my forehead. I nodded favorably. "Good," he then said kissing my forehead, my nose, and lastly, my lips. "I love you, Janie." and I smiled. I figured in time I would tell him the same.

  I made my way into the formal living room and inspected the chairs, the flowers, the alter; everything from the ceiling right down to the plush white rug leading to Viktor and Sissy's marriage.

  "You've already done enough," Marx casually reminded me as he strolled into the living room and in his tux which made him look every bit as gorgeous; the editors at Details magazine would have been envious!

  "You think so?" I said crossing to Marx in hastened steps to adjust his bow tie.

  "You look beautiful, Jane," Marx then said coercing me to blush.

  "Thank you," I said kissing him on those succulent lips of his.

  "Sometimes I wonder if it's Vik and Sissy who are getting married, or you two?" Justin sassed; I detected a hint of jealousy in his tone but I just dismissed it knowing that I was right.

  "Oh, leave 'em be, babe," Tia said nudging Justin in the arm. "You look fabulous, Jane!" Tia complimented with a kiss to my cheek.

  "Hey. Love the dress!" I said giving Tia a thumbs up.

  "I think it's to short," Justin grunted, reaching into his suit coat and pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

  "Nope! Nope!" I stated firmly, snatching the pack of cigarettes from Justin's hands. "Absolutely no smoking." Justin pursed his lips and shot Marx a look of disbelief.

  "Don't look at me, man. She's the one calling the shots!" Marx fended.

  Justin grunted, pulling Tia to him and kissing her on the mouth. A slight tinge of jealousy stirred within me 'cause Justin had gone to great lengths to protect me from Parker; shielding me with his body as the bullets rained down around us. And then in the end, I ended up choosing Marx over him which had me questioning where exactly my loyalty lied? One thing I did know for sure was that I couldn't be with Justin in the marital sense 'cause our lives were so entangled that I figured in the end one of us would just simply walk away, and I couldn't bare the thought of it. Marx however, wasn't as conflicted, and deep down in my heart I knew we could have a good life together.

  The ending to any bad situation always leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, now meaning with the event that took place back in Caldwell. . .It turned out that while in the throes of plotting against Parker, Jonah and Dominic, along with Justin, Josh and Marx were secretly communicating with Viktor Kasa who was in turn communicating with Sissy Young; and the three parties were plotting to bring down Parker and his entire Organization with this one meeting. But in order for things to have fallen in place, I later learned, through Jonah 'cause Viktor and Sissy and Marx just didn't have the heart to tell me, that they had used me as leverage against Parker since Parker seemed gung-ho on tracking me down just to pull me back to him. And since Parker was always one step ahead of us, and we always seemed to be one step behind him, in the end the three decided to make it easy for him - hence Parker's men abducting me from the motel room so that I could be taken to the meeting. What neither of them didn't anticipate within their secret scheming was my attempted suicide which, and according to Jonah and Sissy, scared the living shit out of Viktor that he actually went blank on their plot, meaning, and since Viktor was strapped with a wire, he was supposed to have signaled Sissy and the feds in code the second things started getting out of hand, meaning, Parker opening fire on them. It wasn't supposed to have gone as far as it did.

  After the fiasco in Caldwell, which had made the national news, three things happened: With Sissy's help, the Parker-Ray Organization collapsed, and arrests were made all across the US, including Jeanest's kiddy brothel which I was elated to hear 'cause I knew Cassie would finally be gettin
g her chance to go back home. Then there was something I had not anticipated within all the arrests made, and that was the surprising arrests of both Doug and Mr. Henry Church.

  Doug was hiding out near the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas in Piedras Negras, Mexico when one of his fellow associates snitched him out during his arrest. I was told that Doug did not go "gently into that goodnight'; he had put up such a fight that it took several agents just to bring him down.

  Mr. Henry Church was a different story however. He was arrested a couple of months after the initial arrests began. He was in New Jersey living under an assumed name. And the only reason the Federal agents were able to capture him was based on an anonymous tip they had received; no one knows who exactly snitched out his whereabouts but for some strange and unexplained reason, I had a hunch. And the hunch wasn't an associate or a partner. . .that hunch was something else.

  The Second thing that took place was that Pablo Soma-Guillermo turned out to be a very good and very personal friend of both my father and Sissy, and the person responsible for gifting me with that vibrant red shawl which had been hand woven by none other than his mother, proving that one: there was no other shawl like it; and two, proving who I was to both my father and Sissy.

  So when Guillermo made reference at the meeting about being "insulted", he was insulted by the fact that Parker had stolen me then raised me as his flesh and blood then set me up for prostitution then sold me, and to none other than him, all while knowing that my past could one day resurface.

  And last, but not least, since Sissy was in association with the Federal agents here in U.S. she swung a deal with one of their higher ranking officials to exonerate Dominic, Justin, Josh and Marx of their crimes since they were all looking to be prosecuted. So instead of locking them up and tossing away the key, they each instead received a lifetime of parole.

  It also turned out that one of the Federal agents Sissy was working closely with had his child abducted a couple of years back, and he presumed by sex-traffickers considering what had been found at the scene of the crime. So when the crime sweeps began to hit every child prostitution ring and underground kiddy brothel associated with the Parker-Ray Organization, the missing child to the Federal agent turned up in a sweep that had taken place in a suburb located in Bloomington, Indiana. And that child's name was Cassie.