by F. G. Adams
“The woman’s spunky and stubborn. She’s never been one to let things slide in this family. She calls it like she sees it and takes care of everyone she loves.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.”
“Hmph. Your pretty words. Ha! Anyhow, when Fallyn first left, we didn’t hear from her, only what was told to us through Grandma. She and my dad had so many arguments since the night Fallyn left. She won’t ever let it go, not until the wrongs have been righted.”
“I wouldn’t want to cross that woman. Don’t mess with the cubs, yeah?”
She giggles at my joke. I’m trying to ease her into reliving a hurtful piece from the past.
“No kidding. My baby sister, Sage, was with me in the car. Her eyes full and blooming with hope. I wondered if she saw the same in mine. But I knew it couldn’t be. There was nothing there but sorrow. I remember Sage held excitement in her beautiful, large brown eyes. Along with unshed tears. We were gonna meet our niece, little Harper Blackwood.”
I cup water in my palm and bring it over her chest, trickling slowly back into the tub. Her rosy nipples harden from the sensation. I continue the ministration.
“Faith Harper Blackwood was born a week before we actually met her. We weren’t allowed to go to the hospital with Grandma and that stung so badly—another hole punched deep into my heart by my dear ol’ dad. On top of everything that’s happened, he was still the master puppeteer in our life. Pulling strings up and down, side to side, in the directions he deemed fit. So Grandma set up this time for us to see the newest addition to the family without my dad’s interference.”
She pauses and rubs her chest gently like she’s removing the ache from her heart. I replace hers for mine and stroke.
“Finish for me, Boo. Get it all out.”
“Harper carries the Blackwood name, Keagan. Not many people know that. She’s just as special as the rest of us, too. Fallyn didn’t take David’s last name. Well, they never got married. Fallyn said she wouldn’t marry him just because they were having a baby. You know how she was. He was listed on the birth certificate, but Harper’s last name was written as Blackwood. She is and will always be one of us.”
“So Harper is a Blackwood? On paper?” I ask, a little puzzled by the revelation.
“Yep. So you know Grandma had already set up her trust and taken care of everything. Which leads me to believe that she helped Fallyn leave. For whatever reason, she helped them.”
“Interesting.” I’ll get this little bit of info to Lukas and the kid, see what they can turn up. “So what did Harper look like?”
“Perfect. Absolutely beautiful. I was a hot mess that day, for sure. I’ve always been an emotional rollercoaster and that day was no exception. Fallyn was sitting in Grandma’s rocking chair with a tiny bundle wrapped tightly in a pink and green blanket. The tuft of black hair was peeking out of the blanket and all to be seen from my vantage point. Baby Harper’s little cheeks were rosy and flushed from a recent outburst. Her little nose and bow mouth were so perfect, I couldn’t turn away even if I wanted to. And her big round eyes, the color was still indistinguishable, but she seemed to try and focus in on her surroundings … on me. I was immediately in love.”
I’m deep in thought when she blows my mind.
“Tell me you love babies,” she demands.
Laughter erupts from deep within. She makes me happy even with all the craziness going on. “Yeah. I love babies, Jo.”
The jets stop. The water has cooled. I hit the stopper and the water slowly drains. She cranes her neck, offering those puffy red lips I can’t resist. I can tell she’s been gnawing on her lower lip from the pain of revisiting her past. Our mouths connect. I pour all of me into the searing kiss, trying to convey how much she means to me. She reacts by matching the intensity and passion with her own.
Jocelyn is collecting the scattered pieces of my soul, gluing them back together. She settles the restlessness, soothes the pain from the past, and calms the turbulence raging out of control inside. I’m happy again because of her, and I want her to find peace and make her whole. I will help her find Fallyn, and help her learn to trust me. I promise. Only then will we both be able to move on from what’s holding us in the past and live in the present.
The vibration and light from the phone jars me from the twilight sleep. Jocelyn’s leg is wrapped around my right thigh, her arm splayed across my chest. She fell asleep cuddled in the safety of my arms after we made love. I brace my left foot to get the phone and a prickling akin to needles shoots up my leg. The culprit releases a sleepy hiss; Miss Kitty is sleeping on me, too.
I read the message and know I have business to attend to that can’t wait until the daylight. I’m not sure where we are going with this new connection forming between us, but one thing’s for sure: I don’t want to lose her. She’s a light in the darkness, beaming a pathway home on the rocky waters.
I’m stuck. I can’t move my feet. As I struggle to get out of whatever has a hold on me, I sink further in. Why can’t I move? Somebody help me. The darkness is surrounding me, I’m drowning. NO!
I wake up screaming in bed as I hear my phone ringing insistently beside me. The feeling of being suffocated has my breathing labored, unsteady. My phone stops and I look around the dark room. My bedroom. Glancing over and reaching out to the place Keagan occupied earlier, it’s empty. He’s not here. He didn’t stay.
I get up to splash water on my face and use the bathroom, darkness on the verge of taking me over again. Heading to the kitchen, I put the kettle of water on to boil. A steamy hot cup of Chamomile tea will soothe me. Hopefully in about thirty minutes, I’ll be fast asleep again. I rub my temples, the beginning of headache in the works. The tea should help with that too.
My phone rings again. Looking at the clock on the wall, it reads 2:30 a.m. Dread consumes me and I run to get my phone.
“Hello!” I rush out in a puff of adrenaline and worry.
“Miss Blackwood.” The voice of the woman crying on the other end is broken and forlorn. I recognize her. Calista.
“Mrs. Payne? Is that you? Are you okay?”
I go into defense mode, ready to take action and help. After all, it has to be about her teens. She’s married to a monster.
“It’s … Desmond. I—”
The line goes dead and a whole new fear grips ahold of my psyche. Oh my God! I didn’t act quickly enough. He said I had twenty-four hours. I need to call and check on Addie.
My phone rings once more, startling me. I hit the answer button.
“Calista?”
“Yes. I’m here.” She sniffs. “I’m outside and the service is not very good. It’s my twins, Miss Blackwood. He’s taken my children. You have to help me!” she cries out in pain, and I cringe.
“Alright, slow down and take some deep breaths. You have to calm down, Calista. You won’t be any good to help your kids if you don’t. Okay?”
“O-Okay.”
“I’ll count and you breathe. One, deep breath in. Two, exhale out. Three, deep breath in …” I walk her through a few exercises until she’s able to speak without crying.
“Thank you, Miss Blackwood. I feel more composed.”
“Good. And call me Jocelyn, please. Now start at the beginning. Tell me what happened and where are Cade and Crystal.”
“Desmond came home earlier. He said the kids were fine as long as …” I hear her breath in and out. “As long as I did what he said. I don’t understand any of this, Jocelyn. He said you had something he wanted. Information to be traded for my children. Please. Whatever it is, you must give it to him. Please!” She breaks out in an ear-splitting trill and I have to pull the phone away from my ear.
“Breathe, Calista. Everything’s going to be fine.” I pause at the irony in my statement. It’s a sign that, at this particular moment, those words would comfort us both.
The whistle of my tea kettle goes off. I had forgotten about it. Walking over, I shut off the stove and pour the boiling water over the teabag
waiting in my cup.
“You’re right, Jocelyn. I’m breathing.” I hear her deep inhales of air. Then she continues, “Will you help me? Will you help save my children?”
I release a long sigh. I pull the teabag up and down, watching the water slosh around in the mug. My mind's made up. It was yesterday after the horrible encounter with Desmond Payne. I will not let anything happen to those kids or any child for that matter.
“Yes, I will.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much. You won’t regret this, I promise.” Her relief is palpable and I know it’s the right thing to do. “He said to meet him at the library where the kids study first thing in the morning when it opens. Nine o’clock. He’ll bring my children and you bring the information. For the exchange. No cops and no other witnesses. Do you understand? No one.”
“Then nine o’clock it is. I’ll meet you there. We’ll take care of this together.”
“Jocelyn, I don’t know what to say. Words can never express my gratitude. I’m indebted to you, forever.”
“Not necessary, Calista. I won’t let you down. Nor will I let anything happen to your teens.”
“I’ll see you in a little while, then.” Her voice is hopeful. “Thank you again, Jocelyn.”
“Night.”
I hang up the phone. The tension in my shoulders is exploding with pain. My tea finishes steeping and I sip carefully at the steamy brew, thinking about my decision.
The image of Keagan’s crystal blue eyes haunt me and my heart spasms with guilt. He’s going to be so mad at me. He has to understand, right? I hope he will forgive me for what I’m about to do and not leave me—this time for good.
The scars he carries on the outside mirror his turmoil on the inside. Even though I don’t know the full story, those scars torture me too. I would never want him to gain another scar because of me. He already felt my sorrow tonight when he showed up. Keagan knew something was wrong. I didn’t say a word about it. The disappointment was dripping off of him. Not trusting him with the truth was so difficult. It’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life.
I need to give him something, though. Somehow, someway, he doesn’t need to be there when all this goes down. My head starts to spin and I sit down at the bar.
Meow. Meow. Miss Kitty jumps up onto the counter and I reach over and pull her into my lap. I brush her fluffy fur with my hand as I scheme and plan. I come up with a brilliant idea. I’ll text Keagan in the morning before I go to the library, asking him to meet me at the coffee shop around the corner from my office around ten or so. That’s it. Perfect. At least I know he’ll be away from the safe house and out of harm’s way.
A fresh round of guilt pushes through. What about the other guys? Keagan’s team? Do their lives mean so little that I would give them up to this monster?
Letting Miss Kitty go, I finish my tea and go back to bed. I need to figure out a way to save everyone. Not sure how yet, but I’m going to try.
It’s a little past eight in the morning when I text the message to Keagan.
Me: Hey, u. Hated waking up alone :(
I wait patiently for his reply. A few minutes later my phone pings.
K: Had lots to do, Angel. Will make it up.
Whew, at least he doesn’t hate me, yet.
Me: Ok. Wanna meet for coffee? At 10?
K: Sure. Could use the break. Where?
Me: At the coffee shop right by my office. Will text you address.
K: Good. See you then.
Me: ;) <3
I sent the last wink and heart hoping for something, but all I get is silence. Shoot. I send him the address to the coffee shop. At least I know he’ll be out of the way by the time Desmond gets there with whatever he has planned. My guilt resurfaces and I stuff it back into the box. This has to work.
Driving to the library feels like walking death row. I’ve mentally prepared myself for what’s to come. I already drew a map to the safe house, tucked away in my purse. I park at the front of the building and walk to the front doors and enter.
It’s quiet. Too quiet, even for a library, and my hackles flare up. I look around, glancing at the front desk, then the rows of bookshelves, and still I see nothing, not a soul around or in sight. As I turn to leave, I hear high-heeled footsteps echoing on the tiled floor coming towards me.
“I knew you’d come, Jocelyn. Like Old Faithful, dependable ‘til the end. And right on time.”
Calista is walking leisurely down a row of shelves in my direction, a snarky smile etched across her face. What the—?
“I told you I would. Is Desmond here yet? Is he with you? Did he bring Crystal and Cade?” I bombard her with my questions as I try to figure out what the heck is going on.
Bringing up the rear is a very tall and well-built man in a suit. I can’t see his face in the dim light but I recognize immediately that it’s not Desmond Payne.
“No, no, and no.” Calista shakes her pointer finger as she sounds off with all her nos.
“Okay, so he’s running behind, or coming soon? What in the world is…?”
My words fall short as the man following behind Calista comes into view. Things just got really strange, real quick.
“David? Is that you?”
The man reciprocates with a sinister smile and my blubbering continues.
“It is you. I remember you. Fallyn … Wait, what on Earth are you doing here? With Calista Payne? I don’t understand.”
My head is spinning with this new revelation. What the devil is going on? I believe I’ve stepped into it big time. My heart rate spikes from the anxiety coursing in my veins. This is not good. David just stares at me with that evil smile and the creeper factor rears its ugly head. His eyes are malicious and hateful. He was never my favorite or my choice for Fallyn. But I loved my sister and her happiness was most important to me.
“Oh, that’s right. Ha. I forgot. Where are my manners? You know him as David, don’t you, little JoJo? Let me introduce you to the boss of the Cabricci family. Roman David Cabricci. My cousin. And I’m his underboss, second in command.”
I’m shocked at the news. I’m in the twilight zone. Quick, someone pinch me so I can wake up. My mind is muddled, but I have to keep it together. I keep my wits and don’t give away anything on my face. I begin to do what I do best: talk while searching for answers.
“I’m …” I play the dimwit blonde, a role I’ve excelled at over the years. “I don’t understand. What’s going on?”
I’m starting to get pissed at Calista’s senseless ranting. JoJo, really? She’s messing with the wrong girl. A Blackwood, to boot. Second in command of handbags, maybe. I play her game and bide my time. Why is David not talking?
“I’m so confused. Can someone please explain to me what the heck is happening here?”
“It’s rather simple, really. Something very precious was taken from our family, by your family, the Blackwoods, and we’re going to get it back one way or another,” Calista begins her tirade.
“My family? Is it possible you’re mistaken, Calista? The Blackwoods are not in the business of stealing from anyone.” Even my wayward dad wouldn’t stoop that low. We have our own money, own belongings. No need to take from anyone else. We give to charities and help out as much as we can.
“Ha! You are just full of it. You can’t even see the forest for the trees.”
“Enough of the cryptic bull crap, Calista. What are you talking about?”
“And that would be too easy, JoJo.” She sneers the pet name, laughs, and I’m ready to punch her in the face. Again, with the JoJo. No one calls me that except for my sisters and Grayson.
My face heats up and my body begins to shake. I remember the family Keagan and the guys were talking about. David—I mean Roman—is the head honcho. Oh. My. Goodness. When Keagan finds out … They were friends in high school. The same man who, ten years ago, ripped our family wide open when Fallyn got pregnant.
“Oh, you're so cute when you're angry.
”
“Shut up, Calista! Tell me what’s going on. Where are your children?” I shout out at her.
“Oh yes, my beautiful, wonderful, crafty teens. Guess what, Miss Blackwood? You got played.” She throws her head back in a wicked laugh and I look to Roman for help. He’s chuckling under his breath with the same craziness in his eyes as Calista.
“They’re okay then. Crystal and Cade were never in any danger?” I’m relieved and sickened at the thought. “This was all just a ploy to get me here, now? Was anything real? What about Desmond?” I spew forth question after question, although I’m sure nothing will be settled right now.
Then my mind turns even darker. Oh, no. What about my little sister?
“Are you seeing the bigger picture now? Desmond is just a capo in the family. An enforcer, if you will. Takes care of things so our hands don’t get dirty. I married him after my husband was killed, God rest his soul. It’s a marriage of convenience, really. Nothing more. He does what he’s told. Just like you will, little JoJo.”
I’m going geothermal here, ready to erupt molten magma at any moment. I’ve been had. On every front. Did she just say killed? Her husband died of cancer. It was all over the news, but she just said he was killed. I’ll file that away to analyze later.
Calista’s whiny voice catches my attention again. “He’s got a thing for you, though. I just don’t understand it. Doesn’t matter. You will tell us where Gunner is and take Desmond to the location. He’s waiting outside.”
“No! I won’t. You can’t make me, Calista. You won’t hurt your own kids. None of this was real.”
“Yes, Jocelyn. You will.”
She walks over and hands me her phone. On the screen is my grandma’s house in Lakeview. It’s streaming live as the person operating the camera zooms in on the window. Sitting in the parlor room is Addie and my grandma, unaware anyone is watching.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “You can’t. You won’t.”
“I can and I will. All I have to do is give the order. So you see, you will take Desmond to the safe house to retrieve Gunner Travers. Or you can be the cause of the death of your precious Grandma and baby sister. Up to you.” Calista shrugs and snatches the phone from my hand.
