“Fuck Ella, I’ve been trying to ring you for the last week!” Rita shrieked and I pulled the receiver away from my ear.
“Chill out Rita, I’m here, I’m fine. I’ve been busy, sorry.” I grumbled my excuse as pathetic as I felt.
“Do you think I would keep calling, over and over and over if it wasn’t important?” My stomach sank. How could I have let some childish boy drama foreshadow the real problems in my life? My hands trembled and a cold sweat broke out on my brow.
“Don’t freak Ella,” I heard Rita say with calm but firm words. “A man approached me after work last week. He said his name is Dillon Montgomery and he’s investigating a man by the name of Marcus Fairmont.” Hearing Marcus’s name made bile rise in my throat.
“Ella, are you alright?” Rebecca asked from across the room. I wiped my brow and fought to stay focused as I listened to Rita.
“He said that Marcus Fairmont was your step-father Ella, is that right?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“He asked questions, about you Ella.”
“What sort of questions?”
“He wanted to know how I knew you, had I seen bruises on you, if I knew Marcus.” My brain couldn’t work out why this Dillon would be asking such questions. If he was working for Marcus, why would he ask about my bruises? Why would he be asking about Marcus?
“What did you tell him?” I murmured.
“Sweetie, I told him nothing, but he said he is working for a friend in Claymont to make sure you are safe and he gave me his card.” Suddenly everything fell into place. This must have been Jax’s ex-military friend, the man who Jax had looking into Marcus. Why he was there, in Dunston had me a little confused, but he definitely wasn’t being discreet like Jax had assured me. My panic disappeared, followed quickly with anger.
“Thanks for not saying anything Rita, I appreciate it.”
“Is everything okay hun, you sound tired?” I was tired, I had been plagued with nightmares and restlessness all week.
“I’m fine, I’ll call you in a couple of days. Please don’t say anything else to this Dillon, I’ll take care of it.” As I hung up the phone I grabbed my mobile.
“I just need to make a quick call,” I mumbled to Rebecca who was watching me a little bewildered. I headed for the back of the store, to step out into the small ally behind the shop.
“Ella, are you okay?” Rebecca called out behind me. I turned and nodded, attempting a smile which I knew was a complete waste of time. It was as fake as Selena.
I looked at Jax’s number on my screen for at least five minutes before I called. Leaving would be so much easier. My backpack was inside I could so easily run and leave this mess behind. But running seemed so weak and a part of me wanted to stay. I had made friends, I had a wonderful job and I liked Claymont, even with all the drama that had so far come with it. Jax answered on the first ring.
“Who the fuck is Dillon Montgomery?” I snapped, skipping the pleasantries that I was in no mood for.
“He’s a friend, a good friend. He’s checking out Marcus for us to make sure he is no longer a threat.” Jax didn’t hesitate and he didn’t try to sooth me with flowery words. He knew I was pissed and direct answers were needed right now.
“He’s asking questions. I didn’t want that Jax.”
“Yes, he’s asking questions. Marcus still has a Private Investigator looking for you, Dillon is trying to find out where the case is at, what sort of information they have on you.” I took a deep breath. I knew Marcus would never give up searching for me. I was going to be running for the rest of my life. Claymont was just another pit stop on the race track my life had become.
“Angel, I need to talk to you, how about I come by tonight?”
“No, I’m busy tonight.” I was having dinner at Rebecca’s but even if I hadn’t of been, I wasn’t ready to face Jax Carter just yet.
“Then tomorrow, I really need to see you angel,” he growled. “Dillon has found out some things that I don’t want to talk about over the phone.” His words caused a sharp twinge of disappointment while also managing to terrify me. I couldn’t imagine what Dillon had uncovered and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. But that was why Jax wanted to see me, not because of us, not because he cared for me and wanted to make things right.
“Tomorrow’s not good either, I’m working and you have a date,” I spat.
“Angel,” Jax implored. “Please, I really need to see you, I’ve missed you and I know I fucked up. I wanted to call you last week, fuck, I wanted to call you the minute you turned and left me standing there by that giant fucking Christmas tree, but I knew I had to finally deal with my own shit before I could give you everything you deserved. I talked to David about Sarah. We have a lot to talk about.” He had said the words I had wanted to hear but they were like a conciliation prize. He didn’t bag me with the first line, so try another.
“I’m glad you’re talking to someone about Sarah, that’s a good thing Jax,” I sighed. “Don’t worry about me, I’ve stayed out of Marcus’s hands for years, I know how to stay safe. Thank you for trying Jax, I appreciate it.” I hung up before he could say another word. My phone vibrated instantly, his name flashing across the screen. I had to leave, it was the only way. I walked awkwardly back into Bouquets and groaned when I saw Selena chatting animatedly with Rebecca, when her eyes found mine they glistened with evil malice.
“Soooo,” she said in a sing song voice. “I picked up my dress for the ball, it’s divine of course.” Her eyes were glued to Rebecca, but I knew her words were for me. “And we’ve got three nights booked at the lodge up in the mountains after. It’s kind of a ritual for us we’ve done it every year he’s taken me to the Ball.” Rebecca shook her head and cast me a glare that confirmed just how pissed off she was with Selena.
“Cut the bullshit Selena. The only reason Jax is taking you to the Ball is because there are no more tickets available and it’s good P.R for Mercy’s. Everyone in Claymont knows that whatever you two once had going is over.” The look on Selena’s face was priceless and I adored Rebecca even more in that moment. Selena spluttered in outrage for a moment before finally composing herself.
“Have the arrangement delivered this afternoon.” She snapped.
“Not a problem. Say hi to your folks for me,” Rebecca sung as Selena turned and stalked from the store like a diva who was denied her botox.
“Bitch,” grumbled Rebecca turning to face me. “So, what’s going on tiger?” She asked her attention now solely on me. I shrugged and scratched my arm nervously.
“I have to go, it’s kind of an emergency and I’m not sure when I’ll be back. I’m sorry.” Her brow furrowed as she approached me and pulled me into an easy embrace.
“What do you need?” She asked. I stepped away from her comfort and support. I had to break this luxury I was quickly growing accustomed to. There was no room for attachments in my life.
“Just deflect Jax for me, just for a couple of days. I just need some space.” Rebecca nodded thoughtfully as the phone rang.
“Go, take as much time as you need you can come back whenever you like. But promise me you will call. Promise me you will let me know you’re okay. I need that Ella.” I nodded. I would let Rita know and she in turn would tell Rebecca. No harm no foul. I grabbed my backpack but hesitated at the door when I heard Rebecca mention Jax’s name.
“No Jax, she left early, can I give her a message?” She nodded my way and I mouthed a quick ‘thank you’ before leaving the warmth and joy that I’d found in Bouquets.
I knew Annie was relying on me to watch Eli for Thanksgiving. She had been offered the shift and the money was awesome working the holiday. I had promised I would watch Eli, even though I knew it would be difficult. Thanksgiving was always difficult. I would leave on Saturday and tell Annie then. That would hopefully give her some time to sort out what do to with Eli before her next night shift, tonight though I would find a motel to stay in. I was intent on evading Jax any
way I could, and he knew to find me at Annie’s. Tomorrow night he would be busy and if there was any truth to Selena’s words, he wouldn’t be in town for a few days after that. My break from Claymont would be messy if I had to confront Jax. I just needed to get through the next forty-eight hours, and tomorrow would be the hardest. The anniversary of my dad’s death always hit me hard. With my shoulders back and head held high I went in search of a motel.
Chapter 26
Jax
Fuck, fuck, fuck and double fucking cluster-fuck. Ella’s phone was switched off, she had left Bouquets and Rebecca assured me she had no idea where she had gone. Ella had apparently said she needed to take care of something, but Rebecca eventually confessed her words were more of a goodbye. She hadn’t returned to her apartment but Annie assured me she had spoken to Ella and she was fine. Annie had offered to work Thanksgiving and Ella was watching Eli for the night. I was stuck at Mercy’s now filling in for a night shift and tomorrow I had that fucking ball. The punch’s that landed on the bag in the basement were unforgiving. Somewhere over the last week I had found a measure of peace at the thought of broken little Sarah, but now Ella had me tied up in knots all over again. I needed to tell her everything Dillon had discovered, she needed to know about her mother and I needed to make things right between us. The last part I had no idea how to do. Taking Selena to this damn Thanksgiving Ball was a betrayal and downright disrespectful to Ella. Doing it for Mercy’s was one thing, doing it for Selena was another thing altogether.
“You think hitting that bag is going to answer all your problems?” Dave stood on the stairs behind me. I cast him a quick glance between punches.
“Nope, but sure as hell makes me feel better.” David grunted and sat down. “What are you doing here tonight? Mercy kick you out?” I joked. It was David’s night off, and night shift workers really did appreciate going home to a warm house and comfy bed after working a couple of shifts in the shelter.
“She needed sweets and I promised her I would also stop in and check on you. Have you spoken to Ella?” With one final punishing blow to the bag I stopped and turned to face David.
“Yep, she’s running.” I growled. David nodded.
“It’s how she stays safe. Staying is scary as hell, especially with the shit going on. She doesn’t really need or want all this high maintenance drama on top of her own crap.” I wiped the hair from my eyes in frustration.
“I don’t know how to fix it Dave. I don’t know how to take back what I did, what I said.” David thought for a moment.
“You can’t take back what you said. You can only make it right, look forward rather than back. I know the ball is a big deal as far as sponsorship and donations go, but is it worth losing Ella over?”
“That’s the thing, if I answer truthfully and say no doesn’t that make me a heartless prick? I’d be letting down all the women who need the shelter. I’d be letting down Mercy.” David was careful at choosing his words again.
“So, you’re sacrificing one for the good of many? You see going to the ball as sacrificing Ella and choosing the shelter?” I leaned against the wall contemplating David’s words.
“I want both. I need Mercy’s Shelter, I need to keep it running for Mercy, for me, fuck for you, but mostly for the women who need the shelter and safety. And I need Ella. My need for her is fucking all consuming. The need to protect her, love her, fuck it borders on painful Dave. I don’t know how to have both.” David shrugged.
“I’m kind of insulted that you would think you’re the only man around here who scrubs up okay in a tux.” I’m sure the dumbfounded look on my face was priceless and David’s low chuckle confirmed it.
“You would do that? You would take Selena Liander to this stupid Ball? It’s Thanksgiving David you’re supposed to be with Mercy.” David rubbed a hand down his face.
“Damn Jax, I have three grown daughters that keep me on my toes. I’m sure I can put up with a spoilt brat like Selena for one night. As for Thanksgiving, as long as you spend it with Mercy, here at the shelter I’m okay with that and I have no doubt she will okay with it to.”
I nodded and for the first time in a week, I smiled and it didn’t feel forced. “It will piss Selena off. I need a photo of her reaction when you knock on her door. Promise me you will take a photo.” David laughed.
“I’m sure I can do that. Now get upstairs and clean up that kitchen, it’s a bloody disgrace.” I pulled off the boxing gloves and threw them onto a nearby table, following David up the stairs.
“I helped Mary cook so that might have something to do with the mess.” David looked back over his shoulder,
“Mary let you cook?” He chuckled.
“Yep, I told her I wanted cooking lessons, she accepted and now I know she is regretting it.” I grinned at the memory of Mary all flustered and yelling obscenities at me as I apparently ruined the sauce for the spaghetti meatballs.
Twenty minutes later, as I wiped down the last bench in the kitchen my phone rang from my back pocket. Glancing at the screen I noted Dillon’s name and quickly answered it.
“What’s up?” I asked and Dillon’s usual grunt confirmed that whatever it was it wasn’t good.
“This cluster fuck makes Afghanistan look like a ball park.” He grumbled. “Rita is a good friend, silent, didn’t even blink when I asked her if she knew Ella Munroe. I get the feeling she genuinely didn’t know Marcus Fairmont, perhaps she doesn’t know the whole Ella story.”
“Fairmont still there?”
“Yep. He’s an easy tail. From home to work with a quick stop in between to sample his latest flavor, a twenty-four year old waitress named Chloe. Good Doctor Theo is interesting though. I discovered the doc has two files for Ella and her mother. The office file and the home file, and since the bastard doesn’t have a clue about home security I was able to have a thorough peek. Seems Doctor Theo has been a longtime friend of Marcus Fairmont, even saw him as a patient fifteen years ago. Our Marcus has some deep fucked up issues sarge. Goes all the way back to his own father who beat the shit out of him on a regular basis and a mother who apparently had a never ending supply of men who frequented the home while hubbie was working. You’ll never believe this, Mrs. Fairmont senior committed suicide, cut her wrists.” I groaned, caught somewhere between disbelief and horror. “I get the feeling Doctor Theo doesn’t completely trust Fairmont and is keeping this second set of files, the real files, as his back up. All Ella’s claims of abuse are documented in there as well as the apparent suicide. Theo goes as far as to state he believed Ella’s claims, even states that he believes Fairmont was entirely capable of cutting her wrists. He’s got video footage of all of their sessions and in many you can clearly see the bruises.” I suddenly needed to pound something again.
“Son of a bitch believed her and left her with that fucker?” I roared.
“Doctor Theo is well paid Jax, better than your average psychiatrist. He’s fucking loaded and I have no doubt if I dug through those finances I’d find a trail leading right back to Fairmont or something illegal.”
“Then dig. This is good stuff Dillon this is the sort of stuff that will put the fucker away for a very long time.”
“Not the devil himself could stop me now Jax. We’re onto something big here and I’m gonna’ see it through.”
“Call me when you have something else.” With the conversation ended I was far too wound up to sleep. Beth had the first shift and I collapsed restlessly onto the couch in Mercy’s office. I found myself staring at Ella’s phone number. My fingers moved across the keys as if controlled by a force outside of my own influence.
Please don’t run angel. Trust me. I made you a promise and I won’t break it.
There was no reply, but I wasn’t really expecting one. I threw the phone to one side and tried in vain to get some sleep. Come morning I needed to find Ella and I would turn the town upside down to do so.
Chapter 27
Ella
I woke before the sun ha
d risen, my mind pulled from a deep slumber by the horror that this day brought with it. I don’t think even death itself could contain my grief. I wanted to cry, I needed to cry. I needed to scream at the heavens over the injustice of it all. Him up there, he took my dad, he stole him and left me alone, defenseless and today I hated him for it. Tomorrow I would find my forgiveness again but today I would allow the hate to consume me, but those damned tears would still not come. I dragged the sketch book and charcoal Jax had bought me onto my lap and began to draw. It was the same picture, the same pose, over and over every year on the same day. I was so scared of forgetting what my dad looked like that on the anniversary of his death, every year I forced myself to confront my heartache and sketch my dad just as I remembered him. His eyes were identical to mine, dark brown and slightly slanted with the Asian ancestry that laced our family tree. His hair was black like the night sky and dead straight and he wore it long to his shoulders, sometimes tied at the nape of his neck. In my picture it was out, like a warrior of old, I loved it. His cheek bones were high like mine, his lips not quite as full. His nose was straight and the lines around his eyes and mouth revealed the truth, this man laughed a lot. Not with my mother of course. He tried, he did everything he could to make that woman happy, but only with me did true happiness seem to find him. I remembered everything about my dad. I remembered the stories he told me before bed, I remember the pancakes he greeted me with the next day. He worked so hard, but somehow he never missed a thing. Every swim meet, dance recital, parent teacher night, everything, he was there for it all until that day, Thanksgiving ten years ago. I remember waking him with the huge box of decorations and we began decorating the tree and house. He didn’t look well, he looked tired but he didn’t stop for even a moment. He lifted me to put the angel on the top of the tree, we hung the wreath on the door, then he moved to the kitchen to make us lunch. That’s where it stopped, where my life as I knew it ended. It was likely one of the reason’s I hated cooking. The kitchen was the place where I had lost my dad. With the sketch finished I sat and stared at it for a long time and eventually found the strength to carefully fold the picture and stuff it to the bottom of my backpack, where the other pictures of him were folded and crammed away like the painful memory they were.
Saving Ella (Mercy's Angels) Page 19
