Darkness into Dawn (The Unraveled Trilogy Book 2)

by Theresa Sederholt

  I’ve never seen this side of her, and fuck it all, she’s really hot.

  “Well, Max, if you have anything to say, you better say it now.”

  “Wow.”

  “That’s it, wow?”

  “Come here, baby.” I lift her into my arms and place her in the middle of the bed. I begin kissing my way up those fucking legs, and I think I’m going to die. They seem endless as I work my lips gently up one side and down the other. There is a spot right behind her knee that I love to kiss, knowing every time I do, she moans. “I’m so fucking turned on right now, I’m going to take you every way I can . . . everywhere I can and when I’m done, I’m going to start all over. I want you screaming my name over and over again.”

  I reach over to the nightstand and grab a condom. Getting it on as quick as possible, knowing I need to be inside her now. I enter her very slowly and when I’m all the way in, I stop. I lean down and latch onto her nipple. Grating it with my teeth. “Oh God . . . more, Max . . . please.”

  I latch onto the other one as I slowly rock my hips up and down. Dragging myself across her clitoris with just enough pressure to make her quiver. I pull out and then slam into her again. I’ve got my arms locked around those fucking legs, and I’m not letting go. I feel it; dear God above, the wave that is coming over my body is going to fucking kill me. I’m looking down at her and she looks like an angel. I feel like I’m looking down upon the whole scene . . . everything, moving in slow motion. Her nails are digging into my arse, and she’s screaming.

  I rear back and slam into her, over and over again. “Oh holy hell, Jackie!” I explode with such a force and that’s when it happened. Her eyes fly open and she knows it too. An explosion so forceful, the condom broke. The two of us are stunned. Neither of us knowing what to say or do.

  “Jackie, it will be okay. Chances are, nothing happened. Look, we had so much sex the past few days, maybe they didn’t really have time to re-group.” I can’t believe I just said that to her. She’s too quiet. “Baby, talk to me, please.”

  “Max, I’m only twenty-five and no way am I ready for parenthood. We need to shower and then I need to get to the drugstore for the morning after pill.”

  I’m holding and kissing her, trying to calm my racing heart. “You go shower first, I’ll be just a minute.”

  As I watch her walk away, I realize the broken pieces of my heart are coming back together. I want the whole deal with her, now I need to make her see the light.

  WE HEAD NEXT DOOR to Max’s place. Max let’s us in and I see Jackie sitting in the living room, mindlessly flipping through the television channels. She waves at Jax, but she never looks up from the television. She seems really quiet. I know my friend and something is off. Before I can suggest that we have some girl time, Max takes Jax into his office for Raiders business. Jackie’s gets up and slips into the kitchen. I follow her, thinking maybe she wants to talk to me in private. She begins to put together a fruit and cheese plate.

  “Jackie, how about you tell me what’s going on with you.”

  “Oh, Raven, the condom broke!”

  Okay, not what I was expecting to come out of her mouth.

  “What did you do?”

  “Really, what did I do? What do you think I did? I completely freaked out, that’s what I did. I’m not ready for parenthood. Heck, I don’t even know if that’s on my radar. I made him take me to the store for the morning after pill. Condoms are supposed to have a low breakage rate, between 0.4 and 2.3 percent if used and stored properly.”

  “How many times have you read the box, Jackie?”

  “A million times.”

  “Well let’s stop worrying about how it went wrong, you can’t change what happened. You took the morning after pill; maybe you will be fine. I do think that you should follow up with the doctor tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. Do you want me to call Dr. Leanne? I’m sure she will see you on short notice.”

  “Would you go with me? I don’t want to go with Max.”

  “Of course I will go with you. Why don’t you want to go with Max? You’ve been giving yourself to this man twenty-four seven. He is an equal partner in this and you need to realize that. You are both responsible adults, Jackie.”

  “This is all very new for me, Raven. I want to go on some sort of birth control. I’m not leaving anything to chance. And . . . you’re right; Max should be a part of this.”

  “Good, it’s your body, Jackie. You’re in control, no one else. However, he is just as responsible as you are.”

  “Can you not tell Jax?”

  “Jackie, I won’t tell Jax but you know those two are joined at the hip, so there’s no vouching that Max hasn’t already told him.”

  “Let’s get back inside, Jax needs to talk to you.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Keep an open mind.”

  JAX AND RAVEN CAME over and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I need to bounce this off of Jax. I’m not that shocked that the condom broke. I’m shocked that I’m happy it did. I need to snap out of this, I know I said it was Raiders business but the reality is the condom breaking is the only thing on my mind. Jax and I head into my office, leaving the girls in the living room. I’m sure Jackie wants to tell Raven what happened. I pull the bottle of Scotch from the desk and pour us each a glass. He begins to take up my pacing and he keeps running his hands through his hair. “What’s the problem, Jax?” I stare into my glass, dreading what’s coming.

  “I need to watch the video.”

  “Why? Jax, there’s no reason to put yourself through that.”

  “I’ve put it off long enough. If that video needs to be released, then I need to stay ahead of it.”

  “Are you sure you want to watch this?”

  “It’s the last piece of the puzzle, Max, I need to see it.”

  I open my laptop and set it all up. He pours another scotch and hovers over the play button. “Do you want me to stay, Jax?”

  “Yeah, please.”

  I HIT PLAY AND the screen comes to life. I gasp when I instantly see a seven-year-old Raven. She’s so beautiful, even as a scared little girl. She’s crying, her little lip is trembling, and my heart is breaking. Max goes to stop it and I grab his hand. “No, I need to see this through.”

  The evil bastard grabs her by her ponytail and puts a knife to her throat. “Shut the fuck up or I’ll slit your throat.”

  Joseph and Antonio storm in the room. “Vin, let my daughter go, it’s me you have a problem with.”

  “I’ve got the brat and Gabriella. The price you’re going to pay for walking away from your family. You think you’re better than us? Well, guess again. The blood that runs through us is the same that runs through her.” He’s gliding the knife down her neck. The lump in my throat tightens with each swipe of the knife.

  “Let her go, Vin, Gabby will perform the surgery, you don’t need Cara.”

  “You’re right, I don’t, but maybe I’ll keep her all for myself. Think of the fun I could have with her. I could teach her all about our family; make her one of us.”

  The next few seconds happen so fast. Antonio looks at Raven, nods, and then say’s something I can’t catch. She kicks Vincent in the shin, bites his hand, and begins to run. He drops the knife, yelling. Vincent pulls a gun out of his back. Joseph jumps in front of Raven, and Antonio dives in between them. Vincent fires, hitting Antonio. Joseph blankets Raven with his body. Antonio takes aim at Vincent, but he’s hurt and he’s down. His shot only grazes Vincent’s shoulder. Within seconds, agents are rushing in, shots are fired and Vincent is gone. The video is still running as Joseph gets up and Raven runs into her father’s arms. There’s blood everywhere, and Joseph is applying pressure to Antonio’s wound. Then I hear her last words to her father:

  “Daddy, Daddy, please don’t die. I love you, Daddy.”

  “Cara, my beautiful, baby girl, don’t cry. Daddy loves you, beyond this lifetime.”

  Then silence.
She’s rocking and crying in total silence.

  Max stops the video and I can’t hold back my tears any longer, I let them fall. She’s so strong and brave. “Max, I never want her to see this ever, understand?”

  “I understand, but it may not be up to us. We can try to shield Raven and Rose, as much as possible.”

  “Max, that bastard made Rose watch this everyday, it’s no wonder she retreated into the darkest corners of her mind. I want him dead. The first time in my life I’ve ever felt like this. What does that make me?”

  “Jax, after seeing that video, who wouldn’t want him dead? It makes you human.”

  I take a moment to collect myself, staring into the glass of amber liquid in my hands. Finally, I take in a deep breath and look up at Max. “Rose watched the video from Antonio today. She thanked Raven for giving her Antonio, again. Raven still hasn’t watched her video. I asked her why, and she said she might never be ready.” I put my glass down, my hand still shaking from what I’ve just watched. “When all this is over, I am going to see if she wants to go to counseling. I think we could all benefit from it.”

  “Jax, maybe a counselor will be able to help Raven deal with the video. I think the pressure and the stress is getting to all of us. Hell, I think we could all benefit from counseling after this nightmare.” He throws back the rest of his scotch. “Jax, what happened with Sammy today at Raiders?”

  “I spoke to him about working for Raiders. I think he’s interested. We need someone in the field who can be trusted, and I’m just not sure, when push comes to shove, where his loyalty would fall. I know he is very protective of Jackie, which makes me feel a little bit better.”

  “Jax, what’s your take on Gerhard?”

  “He’s smart and direct, but plays it close to the vest. The brother, Dylan, is a total arsehole. Apparently, he has a thing for Raven. When we went back to pick up Jackie, he was yelling, telling her she would probably end up knocked up like Raven.”

  “You didn’t snap his fucking neck?!” He throws his hands out.

  “Before I could, Raven gave him a total bitch slap in front of his entire family. I was very proud. Gerhard gave Jackie a complete file on you.”

  Max grabs onto the side of the table. “So she knew about Samantha and Elliot?”

  “No, she refused to read it. She said, anything she wants to know she would ask you directly. She’s tough, a lot tougher than she looks.”

  “Yeah, I know, but it’s killing me that she’s in danger because of me. God only knows how Raven feels.”

  “I met with Mathew earlier. He said the Feds were demanding we turn over our copy of the tape. How ridiculous is that? He said to keep a copy someplace safe, wouldn’t be surprised if Vincent tried to destroy it.”

  “No worries, I‘ve got multiple copies in many different locations, including one at the Yard. I called in a lot of IOU’s.”

  “How connected is this fucker, Max?”

  “He’s got some judges in his pocket and he has some political connections. His lawyer, Deveno, handles a lot of his business, and surprisingly, so does Annabelle. You know money rules, Jax. He’s got it and he’s not afraid to use it.”

  “Yeah, well he just met his match.”

  “We need to be smart and operate without emotion, otherwise mistakes will be made.”

  “Trust me, Max, I understand lives are at stake here. No one fucks with my family or me. I’m going to break him into a million pieces. I’ll rip apart his organization one brick at a time, until he’s left with nothing.”

  “And what if he doesn’t stop, have you thought of that?”

  “He’s made my family fair game, well, turnaround is fair play. He shot my brother, kidnapped my wife, kidnapped and raped Rose. By the time I’m done, he’ll be begging for mercy.”

  I pour us each another Scotch. Something is bugging him, he takes care of all of us, it’s about time he lets me take care of him. “So, Max, what’s going on with you and, Jackie? Something seems off.”

  “I can’t get anything past you. I brought up her going to her dad’s for a while and before I could finish she tore into me like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It was actually quite hot, mate.”

  “What else?”

  “The condom broke.”

  “Oh fuck, and?”

  “We went and got the morning after pill, and I assured her I’m clean.”

  “What are you not telling me?”

  He’s quiet for a bit. “I never thought I would ever want another child again, but when that condom broke, I felt walls around me shatter with it. I want everything with her. I’m scared; there’s a bigger target on her now than before, and I put it there. If I were a better man, I would have let her go. But God forgive me, I can’t live without her.”

  I watch as Max picks up his glass and he’s shaking. I realize I need to take charge here.

  “Well, that settles it—we are going to the island. I will have a medical team brought in for the delivery. I need everyone safe. Raven knows this is what I want to do, and we came here tonight to discuss it with Jackie.”

  “Jax, you know she is going to fight you on this.”

  “I will negotiate with her. Stop laughing, mate, I’ve been practicing the art of negotiating. If that doesn’t work, then, we go to plan B.”

  “What’s plan B?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “How soon are the houses going to be done?”

  “Well, now that Mrs. Osla told the crew she was going to go down to supervise, it seems they are ahead of schedule.”

  “I told you she’s scary.”

  “Come on, I need to go negotiate with Jackie.” I slap his back and we head out.

  IN THE LIVING ROOM, the girls are deep in conversation. The look on Raven’s face tells me all I need to know—she knows about the condom.

  “Jackie, I need to talk to you about something important, and I need you to keep an open mind.”

  She jumps up, “Jax, before you start, I’m not going back to my parents.”

  “I understand from Max, that it’s not an option. I have a plan and I would like for you to hear me out. Please, have a seat.”

  She sits next to Raven, and takes a hold of her hand.

  “I know you’re aware of the private island, I purchased, off the coast of Belize. I am having renovations done; adding cottages all over the island. I’m making it into a family retreat. I would like for us all to go down there for a while, until the dust settles. I’m having a medical team brought in for the baby.”

  “Jax, I understand that I’m at a greater risk now, but is running away really the answer? These people will know where we are. Do you really think you can stop them?”

  “Baby, it’s not running away.” Max interjects. “We are trying to protect everyone and give ourselves some breathing room. It’s not permanent, just until we can get a handle on the situation. The entire family will be there. Will you please do this for me . . . for my sanity?”

  After listening to Max, she brings her focus back to me. “Jax, when would we have to leave?”

  “Best case scenario . . . by the end of the week—at the latest.”

  Jackie grabs Raven’s hand, and tilts her head as if she’s unsure. “Raven, are you okay with all of this?”

  “Yes, I think we all need a break. Security will be very tight.”

  “Jax, I have to let my father know what is going on before we leave.”

  “Of course. Max and I are working closely with Sammy on everything that is going on.”

  “Okay. Then, I will go.”

  I see a wave of relief wash over Max, and I’m happy my negotiating skills worked.

  “Great, now that we’ve got that all settled, I’m taking my wife home.

  I scoop her up and head towards the flat. “Before you tell me you can walk, I know, but humor me, wife. I need this.”

  STUDYING JACKIE, I CAN see how overwhelmed she is; rubbing her upper arms nonchalantly and s
taring blankly as if she’s in a daze. “Talk to me, baby, tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours.”

  “I spoke to Raven about what happened with the condom. She’s making a doctor’s appointment for me in the morning. I would like you to come along.”

  “Were you afraid I wouldn’t go?”

  “I was unsure about asking you. It’s my body and my responsibility, however, after talking with Raven, she made me realized that you’re just as responsible as I am.”

  She’s looking down and tearing up the napkin in her lap. “Look at me, Jackie. I would move heaven and earth for you. I am just as much responsible for taking care of this beautiful body as you are. We are in this together. Please, never feel that you have to hide anything from me.” I open my arms, “Come here, baby.”

  She crawls into my lap, wrapping her legs around my waist. “I know that the next few days are going to be crazy, and very intense. I need you to understand that I’m not letting you out of my sight. I will get the doctor to come here. I know it’s extreme, but I really need this from you right now. Please stay indoors, until we are on that plane. Jax has probably made all the arrangements, including the personal shopper to supply everyone with enough clothes for months.”

  “Maxwell, why was Jax so rattled when he came out of the office?”

  I promised her complete honesty, I’m just not sure how much she can handle. “He watched the video of Raven’s dad being murdered. You saw how rattled he was, do you understand why I need you to stay put?”

  She’s searching my eyes, not saying anything. She leans in and softly kisses my lips. “Okay.”

  I feel relief wash over me. “Thank you. Now, I need to make love to you all night long.”

  She leans forward and nibbles on my lip, “Max, I need it just as much as you do, probably more right now.”