Dangerous Confessions of the Heart (Dangerous Secrets of the Heart)

by Johnson, Michele

  “He’ll figure it out if he’s still here. I’m going back to the hotel.” I said to myself in defeat as I opened the cab door.

  “Take me back to the hotel, Conner.” I said as I climbed in.

  Tears began to fill my eyes. I looked down at my neck. I studied the two rings on the chain. My heart broke as I began to play both proposals in my head:

  Austin’s- His sweet dolphin proposal on the day I broke his heart and basically told him my heart belonged to someone else.

  And:

  Jesse’s- The night of my birthday, candle light dinner, dancing to our favorite song, wearing my mother’s dress, all our friends there. The perfect night that went terribly wrong.

  “Why do I want a remembrance of that night? It’s over, right?” I asked myself as I began to play Jesse’s rejection in my head.

  I began to graze it with my finger “…Return it…” I said to myself.

  “Conner, take me to 302 Dale Rd.” I said.

  “Okay.” He said with a smile. “Heading back home?” he asked.

  “I have some unfinished business.” I admitted.

  Conner and I drove in silence as we approached my long, graveled drive way. We slowly crept up just in case someone was home. As we approached the house we noticed that no cars were in the driveway.

  “Okay Conner, do you have a cell?” I asked.

  “Yeah?” he said.

  “Good, if anyone starts to come, you notify me immediately.” I said.

  “Sure. Where are you going?” he asked.

  “I have somewhere I have to go. I’ll be right back.” I said as I climbed back out of the car. The storm clouds were moving in.

  The wind began to pick up as I ran towards the woods. As I came upon the red building I realized I was getting close, close to where it all began. I began flashes of the horrible day of my mother’s death. I ran toward where she was shot. I kneeled down and touched the ground. Tears filled my eyes.

  “I love you mom.” I said as I gently rubbed the ground. “I have to… say goodbye.” I began.

  Tears were rolling down my eyes as it began to rain. I laid my head upon the wet soggy ground.

  Back in the church:

  The church was filled with Bill’s “subjects” as James, Jesse, and Austin walked to the altar to wait for Sarah. The church was dressed up in beautiful red roses and red ribbon. The men had red ties on with black suits. They were striking and very handsome. The wedding was about to start.

  Meanwhile:

  I finally got the strength to pick my head back up. I stood up and began to walk towards the river. As I reached my waterfall I slipped off my heels. I climbed up the cliff and entered the cave. I unclamped my necklace and gently slid E’s ring off. It was dark, empty, and cold in my special place. I pulled out my cell and shined a light to see the compartment that I had found this stuff in. I placed the ring in there. I pulled out the two notes from my handbag and placed them in there as well. I gently rubbed the wall as the tears continued to fall and I kneeled down in front of it.

  At the church:

  Sarah’s bridesmaids, dressed in beautiful red dresses, were descending towards the altar to join the men, followed by a little flower girl dropping red rose peddles and JJ as the ring brier holding a red heart-shaped pillow with two golden rings on top of them. After a few moments, the entire church rose and the bridal’s march was beginning to play. Sarah showed up at the double doors facing the altar. She was in a beautiful white dress with a red sash. The dress had a long trail and was short off the shoulder sleeves. Bill was on her side with his arm laced with hers. In her other hand was a large bouquet of red roses. They began to walk towards the altar.

  After I had the strength to move again, I picked myself up and climbed back down the waterfall. I blew a kiss to my once sacred place, turned around, and headed back to the cab. Once I entered the cab, Conner asked if I was okay, but I didn’t speak. He realized I was ready to head back to the hotel. He started the car and began to drive. After we reached the road, I began to speak:

  “I could really use Cody right about now.” I said out loud.

  “What?” Conner asked.

  “Cody…He’s my dog.” I said.

  “Oh, man’s best friend” he said.

  “Yeah…”

  “Where is he now?” He asked.

  “Back home, In Hawaii.” I admitted.

  I thought about that, “Home”. Hawaii was my home.

  “When are you headed back there?” He asked interrupting my thought.

  “Tonight, my plane leaves at 5pm.” I admitted.

  “Well good luck.” He said as we pulled up to the hotel.

  “Thanks Conner. It was really great to see you.” I said placing $300 in his hand.

  “Oh, I couldn’t take this much Jamie.” He admitted.

  “Call it a summer bonus.” I said as I climbed out of the car. “Take care of yourself, and your family.” I said with a smile. “I hope to see you again.” I said.

  I closed the door and walked into the hotel room to pack my bags.

  Back at the wedding:

  The service had begun. Jesse impatiently watched as they said there vow’s and exchanged words of commitment to each other. He couldn’t help but to think about me. How beautiful I would, and will look standing in front of him, in a beautiful dress pleading my eternal faithfulness and commitment to him.

  Little did he know, Austin was thinking the same?

  At last the ceremony was over and the kiss had sealed the deal. James and Sarah were now husband and wife. The church cheered as the two walked towards the church doors and descended the stairs for the reception. Bill put his arm around Jesse and Austin.

  “Thanks again boy.” He said to Austin.

  “It’s Austin.” He said annoyingly.

  “Yeah, I know.” Bill lied. “Let’s go get some wine!” He cheered. “And I think there is a cake too.” He said dragging the boys down the stairs to the reception room.

  “Okay, let’s get out of here.” Austin pleaded.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Jesse said. They turned around and were about to walk up the stairs when James begin to speak.

  “Jesse? It’s toast time.” He said.

  Jesse rolled his eyes and turned around.

  “Oh right, the toast.” Jesse said.

  Austin leaned against the wall as Jesse poured words of congratulations and happiness to the newlyweds. After the toast they attempted to leave again.

  “Guys…?” James caught them. “Look, please don’t leave. Dad will still be able to figure it out. It’s only 3:45.” James said.

  “Fine, you have 15 minutes to wrap this shit up.” Jesse warned.

  30 minutes past and the guys became restless. It was now 4:15pm.

  “We have to get our tickets and go through security. Please, let’s go.” Jesse pleaded with his brother.

  “Go...Go where Jesse?” Sarah asked overhearing the guys.

  “Jamie…She was here…He messed it up for me…again” He told her.

  “James…What happened?” She asked.

  Jesse told her the whole story.

  “Let’s go.” She said.

  They began to think their guests and told them they wanted to get to the honeymoon now. Sarah told her aunt to take JJ and leave right now, before it got crowded. She did as she was told. They offered the guests to stay, drink, and eat. They had wasted another 25 minutes.

  As they walked over to Jesse and Austin they had planned to leave. But unfortunately Bill was around the corner and heard what was being said.

  “Her plane leaves in 20 minutes, we’re never going to make it.” Sarah said.

  James began to tap violently on his phone. “There are a few seats left on the 7:00pm flight. We can catch that one.”

  “Let’s go.” They said together and began to climb the stairs.

  Bill began to become angry at his sons. They were yet again defying him.

  “And where do
you think you four are going?” He said hatefully to the group.

  “Bill.” Sarah said.

  “We are just heading to the airport to get these two off to their honeymoon.” Jesse lied.

  “I know where you’re going…” Bill said angrily. “You’re going to rescue that little bitch, Jamie.”

  They stayed silent.

  “I thought I told you three not to test me.” Bill began to raise his voice. “I’ll excuse Austin since he’s new.”

  They began to slowly climb the stairs. Bill followed.

  “Run.” Jesse whispered as Bill climbed closer to them. Bill placed his hand inside his suit’s jacket. “RUN!” Jesse yelled as Bill pulled a gun from his pocket and started shooting.

  They all began to run up the stairs tripping over each other. The guests began to franticly leaving as well. James grabbed Sarah’s hand as they ran through the church, bullets flying at them. They reached the doors and climbed into Sarah’s car that was parked out front. Austin and Sarah climbed in the back as the brothers jumped up front. Jesse started the car and with a slam of his foot he drove them violently out of the parking lot; Bill still shooting at them. He pulled onto the interstate.

  “Shit, we are going to have all his men chasing us soon.” Jesse warned.

  They all tried to catch their breath as they began to hear gunfire again.

  “Shit, here we go.” Jesse said.

  Three cars surrounded them as they drove at high speeds. The one on the passenger side pulled his gun out and attempted to shoot Jesse but he put his foot on the gas slightly. With a loud whimper he realized where the bullet had landed. James had been shot.

  “Oh my god…!” Sarah said franticly grabbing at his shoulders.

  He screamed as she did. The bullet had hit his chest. Austin grabbed her and pulled her down.

  “Stay down.” He ordered her. “Jesse, man, you have got to lose these fuckers.” Austin pleaded with Jesse.

  “I’m trying.” Jesse said as they continued to be shot at. He finally saw his opportunity; He rammed into the one on the driver’s side towards an oncoming truck. The car swerved and the truck T-boned the car. He rammed into the one on the passenger side making him wreak his car, too. The only one left was behind them. He continued to try to get around and shoot but Jesse continued to swerve the car, keeping him behind.

  “We have to get James to a hospital!” Sarah squealed. “He’s going to die.”

  Jesse looked over at his brother. Blood was pouring out of his bullet wound.

  “Jesse…Please!” Sarah pleaded from the floor of the back seat.

  Jesse swerved the car and headed towards the hospital.

  The man behind them slowed down and brought the car to a stop on the road. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

  “Sir, they are headed for the hospital, I think we hit one.” The man on the phone said.

  “Good, keep an eye on them. I have to get to the airport.” He said with a dirty smile on his face.

  They pulled up to the hospital and parked the car in front. Jesse and Austin carefully lifted James and placed him in a wheelchair Sarah had retrieved for them. They wheeled him in. The nurses began prepping him and before they knew it they took him away. The three stood, drenched in his blood, in the waiting room waiting for confirmation that he was going to be okay.

  Chapter 15

  Almost an hour had passed since they had brought James in. It was now 5:45.

  “Family of James Anderson…” A nurse announced.

  “I’m his wife.” Sarah said approaching the nurse.

  “And I’m his brother.” Jesse said.

  “Okay, your husband and brother is having a rough time. We removed the bullet, but…There isn’t a one hundred percent chance that he will make it. He’s very weak. He lost a lot of blood. Please don’t crowd him too much, he’s in room two.” She said.

  Sarah hurried to room two and opened the door. James looked up at her with wonder in his eyes.

  “Beautiful…” He said as she approached.

  “Listen to you…you still know exactly what to say…to get me to smile.” She said with a smile and tears beginning to fill her eyes.

  “Baby, it’s going to be alright.” He whispered.

  “How do you know that?” She whispered back as tears began to fall.

  “Because…I love you...” He said.

  She smiled. “I love you.” She repeated.

  “James…” Jesse said from behind Sarah.

  “Jesse…” James started.

  “How are you feeling?” Jesse said.

  “Could be better…You guys should be heading to the airport soon.” James said.

  “We will be.” Jesse said.

  “What time is it?” James asked.

  “It’s 6pm.” Austin said.

  “What…What are you still doing here?” James asked. “Go…Go to her.” He urged.

  “Go Jesse, go to her.” Sarah said.

  “You must go with them Sarah…” James said.

  “What…NO.” She fought back.

  “They need you.” He reminded her.

  “I won’t leave you.” She said.

  “Jesse, take her with you.” He said to Jesse.

  “No, no, please.” Sarah pleaded.

  “Go. Go now, before Bill gets to her.” James warned.

  “Come on Sarah.” Jesse said. “Bill is probably at the airport.”

  “I…I won’t go.” She fought back.

  “Please get her out of here Jesse.” James said.

  Jesse picked up Sarah and carried her out as she kicked and screamed.

  He placed her in the back seat of the car. “NO JESSE LET GO!” She said.

  “Austin, get in back with her.” Jesse ordered.

  Austin climbed in the back seat as Sarah kicked him.

  “Oww. Damn it, stop.” Austin said.

  “Let me out.” She ordered as Jesse started the car.

  “Sarah, please. He wanted you to leave with us, just stop fighting us.” Jesse said.

  “I want my husband! I need to know he’ll be safe.” She pleaded as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Austin grabbed her and pulled her to his chest.

  Jesse sighed “He’ll be fine” he said as he put the car in drive and headed for the airport.

  Once they got to the airport it was 6:10 they rushed to the ticket booth.

  “Three tickets to Hawaii, 7pm flight.” Jesse said pulling out his wallet.

  “I’m sorry, sir, a gentleman just purchased the last seats we had left.” The lady announced.

  “DAMN IT BILL.” Jesse yelled. “When is the next flight out to Hawaii?”

  “Monday at 10am.” She said.

  “Monday, I need to get there now.” He said.

  “I’m so sorry sir.” She apologized.

  “It’s fine.” He said walking away from the desk.

  “What are we going to do?” Austin asked.

  “I don’t know…” Jesse said. “We can’t drive, it would take to long.”

  Jesse dialed franticly at his phone.

  “Pick up…pick up! Yes! Hey!” Jesse said.

  “Where the hell have you been Jesse!?” the man on the phone began. “We we’re having a major problem and you wouldn’t answer any of my calls.”

  “I didn’t get any of your calls!” Jesse began.

  “Oh…Jesse…Bill made me switch your phone number on your phone…” Sarah admitted.

  “Damn you people.” Jesse said. “What is the problem?”

  “The problem is Jamie is with someone else. I was watching her here on the island; she was having sex with some local guy.” The guy on the phone said. “But I hired him to help me around the house while my wife was pregnant, I told him everything.”

  Jesse looked at Austin. He stomach began to churn as he thought about his girl sleeping with Austin. His blood began to boil with rage.

  “I don’t know if he broke it off with her
. I told him too but my wife went into labor, had the baby and now I can’t find them. Jamie and Austin have disappeared.” He said.

  “No… No they haven’t. Jamie came here.” He said. He told the story to the man on the phone.

  “Just keep a lookout for her, she should be landing there soon. I have a friend that owes me a favor I’ll get him to fuel up one of his jets.” Jesse said and hung up the phone.

  He dialed another number. “Hey Johnny... Remember that favor that you owe me?”

  The next thing they knew they were boarding a jet and were beginning their trip to Hawaii.

  A few hours later I had landed in Hawaii. I had no way of knowing that in just a couple of hours danger would be at my doorstep. I grabbed my luggage and headed home. Cody was so happy to see me. I spent several minutes hugging him and telling him how much I missed him. He wagged his tail and licked my face. I went to the kitchen and placed some food in his bowl for him. He violently ate at it. I looked down at my necklace at the one ring that was attached to it. I unclamped it and placed it on my left hand, ring finger. “Austin…Where are you?” I asked out loud thinking about him.

  On the jet, Johnny, Jesse, Austin, and Sarah sit in silence until Austin spoke; breaking it.

  “Are we almost there?” Austin asked.

  “You slept with her?” Jesse asked ignoring his question.

  “What?” Austin asked.

  “You and Jamie…you had sex?” Jesse asked again.

  “Yea…yes.” Austin admitted. “I didn’t know that was a crime.” He said.

  “I should kill you.” Jesse said.

  “Hmm, and be like your daddy?” Austin taunted. “Look, she needed someone, I was there. We built an attraction for each other. We had sex.” Austin admitted. “I don’t think I have to explain how a relationship works to a grown man.”

  “Don’t be such a smartass. I’ll come over there and kick your ass.” Jesse warned.

  “Why are you so threatened by me?” Austin asked. “Is it because you think she’ll pick me and not you?”

  “No, there is no chance in hell.” Jesse said.

  “Oh but there is, I asked her to marry me.” Austin said.