by Ann, Jewel E
“You’ll go.”
“Yes.” She stood tall, chin up, resolute.
“You’ll marry me Monday and leave here for forever, no questions asked?” The disbelief in his voice bathed her in guilt. When he said it like that it made her sound irresponsible—crazy.
“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “Now, I’d better get home and start packing.” Ryn brushed past him to get her things from the bedroom. Her hands shook. Her teeth chattered. Her heart thundered in her chest.
“I used to be Jude Day.” He stood in the doorway to the bedroom.
She fumbled around, shoving her things into a bag. “Jude Day. Jackson Knight. Cute.” Too bad she couldn’t speak without her voice shaking just as much as the rest of her body. The key was to not look at him.
“I’ve never lived in New York.”
Ryn fished her arm under the bed, searching for her sock. “Just as well. I hear it’s quite crowded.”
“I was a computer engineer in San Francisco.”
“A shame. You’re … you’re good at the piano.” Sucking in the biggest breath her lungs could take, she squeezed past him toward the front door.
Ten steps. That’s all she needed to reach her coat and boots.
“Gunner, come.”
Five steps.
Her knees wobbled.
Two steps.
“Jude Day killed twenty-three people.”
The floor disappeared, so did the final two feet to her destination. She slammed into an invisible wall, hugging her bag as she collapsed to her knees.
“No!” she cried.
Just. Like. That. He blew up her world.
*
Step Four: Be prepared to gently hold her in captivity until she snaps out of her inevitable conniption fit because realistically there is no way Step Three would ever fly.
Jackson balled his hands, the hands that wanted to hold her. Instead, he watched her sob, folded over on the floor. Gunner lay down next to her, resting his head next to hers.
“I was trained to defend—trained to kill. The people I killed had more blood on their hands than I did. I killed to save lives. I was a soldier in an unofficial army, and I was good at it. That was my life. I hated my mother. She cheated on my father. I hated my father for being so blind. I hated my sister just … just because I couldn’t tell her, and I needed to tell someone. Instead, I lived a very lonely life filled with random women, secret missions, and a family that lived a lie.”
“Stop …” Ryn continued to sob.
He hunched down beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“No! Stop!” She fought him.
He fell back against the wall, pinning her arms to her sides and her legs beneath his. Then he waited.
“Our parents were murdered, so we were in danger. There are two headstones with our names on them. We were supposed to be safe … miles away from our past with no one having any reason to look for us.”
At some point the body encased by his gave up its fight. He still held her tight, more for him than her.
“But our past found us. Luke and Lake came to find my sister—Jessica Day.”
Her body tensed again. Lake shared her brother’s fiancée’s first name, but not her last.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, slowly lifting her head.
He loosened his grip a fraction and released her legs from beneath his, allowing her to turn in his arms and face him.
“Jillian was going to marry Luke.”
“No. Jessica.”
“Same—”
Jackson shook his head. “Not the same person. Jessica loved Luke. Jillian loved AJ.”
“Who did Jude love?”
He paused before answering. “His sister.”
“And now?” Ryn sniffled.
“He doesn’t exist.”
“He existed the moment you told me his name.”
“He died.” His jaw clenched a little in spite of his effort to stay calm.
“I’m looking at him.”
He released her and stood. Taking a deep breath, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Believe me when I say Jude Day would not hold you in his arms or give a fuck about your feelings. What happened against your refrigerator would have happened in the bathroom of a bar and then it never would have happened again.”
She flinched.
He sighed, releasing enough anger to feel some regret. “I’m sorry. I love you. Jackson loves you.”
Ryn grabbed her bag and stood, Gunner heeled. “Well, I love Jude.”
“Don’t say that.” His voice hardened.
“It’s true.”
Jackson shook his head. “Why would you love someone you’ve never known?”
“Because he died so I could be with you.”
“Dying was the best thing that happened to him. He lived a miserable life.”
“I’m sorry.”
“The only thing I’m sorry about is what I have to go through to keep him in the grave. I don’t want that life back, but Luke and Lake showing up here … they’re trying to resurrect the dead.”
Ryn rubbed her temples.
“Headache?”
She nodded.
“Is forever too much to ask?”
Ryn chuckled in spite of the pain etched on her face. “For me? Of course not. But I think what you were trying to tell me earlier is that Maddie would have to come too, right?”
“No. She could stay as long as you don’t tell her anything, but …”
“But?”
On a slow blink he looked down. He didn’t want to see the expression on her face when she figured out what he meant.
“When Jillian and I left San Francisco, we knew we would never return, never see anyone from our previous life again.”
“Jackson, I can’t never see my daughter again.”
He nodded, still looking at his feet. “I know. That’s why there are only two options.”
“She can come too or?”
“Or you can stay.” He met her eyes again.
“And you?”
“If I stay, my life is in danger and so is everyone I know. I don’t have a choice. You do.”
“I don’t know if Maddie will go.”
“It doesn’t have to be a choice.”
“It does. She’s an adult with friends and school and …”
“Her father?”
“Oh my God …” She closed her eyes again and shook her head. “I didn’t even think about my parents. I would never see them again either, would I?”
Biting his lips together, he shook his head. “It’s only Saturday. You don’t have to decide until Monday. Take some time to think about it.”
“Time? Are you serious? Basically twenty-four hours. That’s what you’re giving me to make the biggest decision of my life … of my daughter’s life.”
Pulling her into his arms, he hugged her. The love thing hurt so damn bad.
“I’ll love you no matter what decision you make.”
She looked up at him, eyes brimming with renewed tears. “If Maddie won’t go, and I highly doubt she will with no real explanation, then I can’t …” One blink sent them running down her cheeks as her words caught in her throat.
“I know.” Jackson gave her a sad smile.
He’d broken all the rules by telling her before marrying her. He would have to break another if he left her behind. She knew too much and in the eyes of G.A.I.L that made her a liability. He’d take his own life a hundred times over before even a spark of a thought about killing her would enter his mind.
He trusted her with his life and Jillian’s. If she couldn’t leave, he would never think of her as a liability, and he would never tell a soul that she knew everything.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Day
Fairy godmothers were real. That’s all Jessica could think when she looked at her reflection.
“Don’t cry.” She smiled at her mom.
Sunny stood behind her, dabbing her w
atery eyes with a tissue. “This is all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
Jessica slid her hands down the white fitted bodice to the thin satin argyle ribbon tied around her waist. It made her grin.
“Luke is all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Am I going to have grandkids?”
Jessica smirked. “You should investigate Jude’s past. It’s possible you already have grandkids.”
“Don’t say that. I don’t like to think—”
“About your son being a whore?”
Sunny sighed. “I don’t want to talk about Jude right now. I want to just look at you.”
Lifting the skirt to her dress, she turned to face her mom sitting in Luke’s chair by the window. “Kids were part of a dream that I lost years ago. But Luke is my unicorn. He resurrected my dreams, and he likes to give them back to me one at a time. I’ll have as many of his babies as he wants to give me, but don’t tell him I said that.”
Sunny’s smile beamed as much as her daughter’s. “Why not?”
“I like to make him work for things.” She winked.
“Babe?” Luke called, knocking on the bedroom door. “Why is the door locked?”
She reached for the zipper to her dress as Sunny jumped up to help.
“Uh … what are you doing back so soon?”
“Look outside. It’s raining. Jones is not a water dog. Open the door.” He rattled the doorknob.
“Just a sec.”
“What are you doing?”
“Hiding my lover under the bed.”
“Well then take your time. I’d hate for you to hurry and poke a hole in him.”
Sunny slapped a hand over her mouth to contain her laughter as Jessica shoved the wedding gown back into its hanging bag.
“Here.” She handed her mom the bag. “Love you. Bye. See you tomorrow at rehearsal dinner.”
Sunny draped the bag over her arm and opened the door. “There’s my favorite son-in-law to be.”
“Sunny.”
She blew him a kiss on her way to the front door. “Be good to my baby girl.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, staring at Jessica as she tied the belt to her robe.
“Really? You think the only hot affair I would have is with a blowup doll?”
He smirked, shrugging off his wet T-shirt on the way to their bathroom. “Trying on your dress again? Thought you did that the other day. You said it fit perfectly.”
Jessica followed him to the bathroom and stood in the doorway as he removed the rest of his clothes and stepped into the shower.
“I just … I wanted to try it on again. That’s all. You have a problem with that?” She let her robe drop to the floor then removed her panties.
“I’ll be quick. Don’t come in.”
She laughed. “Don’t come in?”
He looked like a video in fast forward, soaping up and rinsing off at record speed.
Jessica stepped in the shower.
“I’m done,” he said in a quick, jerky voice.
She moved in front of him as he tried to slide past her. He looked at everything but her.
“Does my body offend you?”
He swallowed. “Not at all.”
“Then what’s up?” Jessica grinned, looking at exactly what was up.
“My family will be here in … ten minutes.”
“I bet I can get you off in under two.”
Luke groaned.
“Go.” She let him out with just a hard smack on his ass. “But this is a huge shower, I bet your parents would join us.”
“NO! No. No. No,” he mumbled from beneath the towel as he dried his hair. “Look. Just like that, my erection is gone.”
“You’re welcome.” Jessica’s giggle echoed from the shower.
*
“Everyone decent?” Tom called as Jones barked.
Luke finished buttoning his navy shirt as he made his way to the door. “Do you really care if we’re decent?”
Tom dropped two suitcases by the door as Felicity gave Luke a hug.
“Not really.” Tom winked.
“Where’s the bride?” Felicity peeked into the kitchen.
“Drying her hair. Where’s everyone else?”
“Lake wanted to introduce them to Ben’s parents then they’ll be here.”
“I like his parents. Jessica and I met them two weeks ago when Lake invited us to Ben’s birthday dinner.”
“We do too. They’ve stayed with us twice in Tahoe and while I don’t want Lake thinking about marriage before she’s done with college, I hope he’s the one. What would be the chances of all of my kids marrying such wonderful people?”
“Zero.”
They turned to Jessica’s voice.
“But maybe over time you’ll learn to love me anyway.”
“Shut up, half pint, and get your skinny ass over here.” Tom hugged Jessica, lifting her off the ground.
“Tom Jones. God, I love me some Tom Jones.”
“Let her go, Thomas, before you chafe her perfect skin with your scruffy face that you will be shaving Saturday morning.”
“Yes, dear.” He set Jessica back on her feet.
“Louise.” Felicity grinned.
“Thelma.” Jessica hugged her.
“Not this again.” Luke rolled his eyes at their Thelma and Louise thing. He didn’t know why they did it, and whenever he asked they both replied, “It’s our little secret.”
“So what’s Gabe got lined up for us tonight? Titty bars or a private ‘dancer?’”
“What?” Jessica perched her ass on the counter, shock in her wide eyes, but not the kind that most brides-to-be would have at the thought of their fiancé watching strippers. Her shock was an offended shock, but for an entirely different reason.
“I offered to get you a stripper for you bachelor party, but you said no. What that hell?”
“Jess—”
“You offered to get him a stripper?” Tom asked.
“Yes. Titty Tina. She used to do marathons with us, but then she messed up her ankle. I saw her last month at the store and Oh. My. She has some serious new jugs. Of course, I didn’t say anything but she just came out and told me. Now get this …”
Luke narrowed his eyes at his parents who were completely enthralled in Jessica’s story.
“She’s twenty-five and decided to go back to law school and she’s paying for her new boobies and school by stripping at private parties.” Jessica shrugged. “I guess she’s really good and a lot of rich guys pay a shitload of money to hire her. Anyway, back to my original point. I told her about Luke and I getting married, and she offered to do his bachelor party for half-price.”
Everyone’s attention shifted to Luke.
“Don’t look at me like that. All of you, stop giving me that look. Tina competed with us, a teammate of sorts. I’m not going to watch her strip for me.”
“Gabe said he’d be willing to check out her new ‘gear’ and Kelly is fine with it. She’s a nice girl, Luke.”
Luke shook his head. Why did not wanting a stripper for his bachelor party make him into some bad guy in, of all people, his fiancée’s eyes? Only Jessica …
“It doesn’t matter now. We’re going to a sports bar, having a few beers, and watching a game or two. Even Jude was opposed to the stripper.”
“Excuse me?” Jessica’s look of shock returned.
“It’s true. He said real men don’t have to pay to see women naked.”
“He misspoke. What he meant was real men don’t have to pay for sex. Stripping is different. Women don’t strip for him then put their clothes back on and leave. They get paid using the barter system. We’re no different. If I strip for you, I expect something in return. Does that make you ‘not a real man?’ No, of course not.”
Luke didn’t know who to address first: his parents enjoying the back and forth like a good tennis match or Jessica implying that she strips for him to get paid using the barter system. Why did his dad have to m
ention titty bars and private dancers?
“I will discuss our barter system with you later, in private,” Luke said before turning his attention to his dad. “And this is all a moot point because Gabe will be here soon to pick us up. There will be a limo, plenty of alcohol, but no naked women.”
Tom saluted Luke. “Yes, sir.”
Felicity rested her hand on Jessica’s leg as they both laughed. Separately they were manageable, but his parents and Jessica in the same room always ended with Luke being embarrassed or on the verge of being committed.
“The bachelorette party tonight has a male stripper, right?” his mom asked.
“Absolutely,” Jessica grinned at Luke. “Hope you brought lots of cash, Thelma.”
*
Luke survived his bachelor party. Even with the surprise stripper that arrived in the private room Gabe rented at their final bar destination of the night. Thankfully it wasn’t Titty Tina, just a random girl he would hopefully never see again. She gave both he and Tom lap dances, and like the good Jones men they were, they kept their hands to themselves.
“Goodnight, son.” Tom pulled him in for an awkward drunk hug before staggering to the guest room.
“Night.” Luke weaved his way down the hall.
He eased his bedroom door open. His mom and Lake slept on his bed, with Jones.
“Paging Dr. Jones.”
Luke whipped around. Jessica stood behind him in argyle porn attire.
“A little birdie tweeted me that the surprise stripper he hired just wasn’t doing it for you. I bet she went the Victoria’s Secret route, didn’t she?”
Without taking his eyes off her, he eased the door shut before his mom or sister woke up. He wasn’t aware there was such a thing as argyle nipple pasties, but they coordinated with her pink and white argyle neck tie and matching cotton panties. His beer brain tried to make sense of the women and dog in his bed and the woman before him.
“I’ve … I’ve had a lot to drink.”
She adjusted her tie. He was drunk, but not too drunk to notice she did a terrible job of tying it.
“Me too, Doc. But I don’t have to get anything up.” She popped the P. “Are you too drunk to … you know?” Her index finger stood erect.
He stared at it for a moment, waiting for it to look like one instead of a blurred two. “You tell me, Ms. Day.” Grabbing her hand, he pressed it to his jeans.
