Aftermath (The Deceptions Trilogy Book 2)

by Dana Mansfield

  “Which way do we go?”

  “Towards the house. The road is near there. Maybe someone will come along.” We started in that direction. The night was a little chilly but humid and I was soon wheezing. My legs were starting to not feel so sure.

  “Can we slow down a bit?” I asked and Jack came to a complete stop. He had a worried look on his face.

  “I do not think you will make it,” he said and looked past me into the woods. “Come with me.” He took my hand again and I followed him. The canopy of the woods eliminated what little light there was from a full moon. We walked for about five minutes until we came to a conglomeration of a fallen tree and some sort of bushy bush. “Here. You hide here. I will go for help.”

  “I don’t want to split up,” I replied. The last thing I wanted to do was hide in the middle of nowhere without Jack.

  “I do not think we have a choice. You are just not up for this trek. You stay here. I will find help and come back for you. I think it is our only choice.” Jack cupped my face. “I am so sorry for how I have treated you this last week. It was not fair of me at all.” He leaned in and kissed me. “I love you so much, Penelope.”

  “And I love you.” I kissed him back and then wrapped my arms around him. Tears came to my eyes and I let them fall. “Be careful out there, Jack.”

  “I will and hopefully our hell will be over soon.” Jack gave me one more kiss before turning around and leaving me alone. In the darkness, he quickly disappeared. I was by myself in the woods and it was scary. My legs were problematic so I felt around for a spot to sit. There was a stump that kept me below the line of the fallen tree and bushes. The darkness closed in and the nighttime noises grew louder. My stomach flip-flopped from nerves and a sharp chill began to fill me. I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer that Jack was successful.

  . . .

  The bark of the fallen tree was rough beneath my cheek. As I waited and despite my nerves, sleep caught me off guard. I woke with the hoot hoot of an owl and I heard something crunching the foliage. My eyes adjusted to the dark and I saw the deer family moving slowly about ten feet from me. I stayed as still as possible so as not to disturb them. When they had moved away, I stood on shaky legs and tried to look around. I saw no sign of Jack. I had no idea how much time had passed but it was still the middle of the night as there was no dawn on the horizon.

  I sat back down, worrying. What if Jack lost his way? What if William or one of the other thugs caught him? The night was so still and I listened to the nighttime noises as I sat. There were crickets, and owls, and, which was a little unsettling, the occasional coyote. It sounded a good distance away and I was thankful there was no breeze. I’m sure one sniff of me would pique its interest. For a few moments, I let my mind wonder ‘what if.’ What if Jack was successful? We would be free and out of this hell. I could take a shower and no longer smell. We could eat as much as we wanted.

  A new noised seeped through my thoughts – an engine! I peeked over the fallen tree and saw a pair of headlights slowly coming closer. Had Jack been successful? My heart started to race. Was freedom finally here?

  The headlights moved closer and I could just make out the vehicle. My heart stopped racing and dropped. The vehicle was a Hummer. It moved to a stop and someone exited. In the headlights, I could see who it was – William. Tears came to my eyes. Another figure joined William – James – and he was dragging Jack with him. He pushed him down to his knees.

  “Pretty Penny, come out, come out, wherever you are!” William singsonged. I stood my ground. “It wouldn’t be wise to make me wait!” He pulled out his gun and held it to Jack’s head. That was my cue. I didn’t trust William after what we’d done. Slowly, I stood up and made my way through the woods towards Jack. The closer I got, the more worried about him I became. I could see that he’d been beaten. There was blood coming from his nose and the corner of his mouth and his left eye was puffed up. Across his chest were scattered bruises. The closer I moved to them, the worst my legs felt. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it so I focused on Jack’s sad face.

  When I arrived at the Hummer, James handcuffed my wrists behind my back. Jack was pulled to his feet and we were both pushed towards the workshop. My stomach was giving me fits; we were certainly facing some sort of punishment. I doubted Jack’s beating would be the only consequence and for the level of our indiscretion, I was scared the punishment may be my ending.

  I stumbled as we came to the workshop and Jack caught me. We exchanged a look but no words but he took the moment to give my arm a gentle squeeze. Under different circumstances, I might have taken solace from the squeeze but the situation had me too scared.

  “Keep going,” barked William and we entered the workshop. Landon was just getting to his feet. William saw him and for a moment Jack nor myself were in his crosshairs. “What the fuck happened here, Landon?! I found Jack trying to make a run for it.” William pulled back and knocked Landon back down with a right hook. “Stay here and I’ll deal with you later.” He then shoved us both again and within a few feet, we were back in our little cell. William said nothing but the look he gave us was chilling. He slid the door shut with force and locked it.

  Jack turned to me and wrapped his arms around me. He held me for several minutes. I was shaking and I could feel that Jack was shaking also.

  “I was so close,” he said. “I was to the road but there was a gate. As soon as I touched it, these flood lights lit up. James was on me before I had a chance to jump the gate. I am so sorry I failed.”

  “Don’t feel bad,” I replied and pulled back out of his embrace. “We were up against a mountain. I’m surprised you got as far as you did.” I wanted to reach out and touch his beaten face but I was still handcuffed. “And they did such a number on you.”

  “I am okay. I am just worried about what our punishment will be. William said there would be one.”

  “I was afraid of that.”

  “I think we should be afraid.”

  Chapter 23

  Millie stood before her floor length mirror and checked out her outfit. Nothing fancy, just a narrow navy blue skirt and a gauzy red blouse with small white polka dots. Her normally loose, dark brown curls had been blown out by Natalya and Annie gave her a red Gerber daisy, from one of Penny’s flower gardens, to wear just behind her ear. It was the 4th of July – Jack and Penny’s thirty-sixth birthday and their first birthday spent in captivity.

  It had been a rough morning. Crystal, the media whore, had swept into the house with a Today show crew to give a weepy interview. While she forced the kids, including Little Sofie who had to be held by Sasha, to participate in the interview, Danny documented the incident on his laptop. The kids had not been happy and using her cell phone, Millie turned on the video part of the camera and hid it on one of the bookshelves in the basement to visually document Crystal bullying her children. They were getting closer to their day in court and Millie thought it best, whenever possible, to document both in words and with pictures Crystal’s pathetic behavior as a parent.

  She was gone by noon and everyone focused on the party they were holding for Penny and Jack. It had been Danny’s idea to keep their memories fresh for everyone. It was also going to be a special occasion, one Millie and Danny debated for a long time.

  Danny and Melanie were getting married.

  They had been able to come back together and fix their relationship and in light of everything, Danny finally decided it was time to make the relationship permanent. At first, he wanted to wait for Jack but then Millie convinced him not to. Danny thought Millie was losing hope in Jack being found but that wasn’t the case. As had been the case throughout the ordeal, Millie wanted things to be as normal as possible for the kids and she thought it would actually be beneficial for
them to get married so the kids could see there was still good in the world.

  Danny talked it over with Melanie and her parents and his fiancé and future in-laws thought the idea was beautiful. That was two weeks earlier and since then, it was a mad dash to get things ready. Melanie never wanted a fancy wedding anyway so something simple and intimate was perfect. The wedding was being held in the backyard and, obviously, Millie would be there with the kids. Melanie, an only child, asked Millie to be her maid of honor and Sasha would stand up for Danny. Leo was the ring bearer with Matty and Carlos being groomsmen and paired off with Natalya and Karie who were bridesmaids. Annie was the flower girl. Melanie’s small family and a few other close friends of both families would be in attendance. The band wives were running the show and reception. Agents Reynolds and McLey volunteered, along with several of the other FBI agents that were involved in the case, to run security although with the new perimeter fence it would take a small army to get onto the property now. Melanie’s colors were a no brainer – red, white and blue. In all the bouquets of red Gerber daisies were two yellow roses for Jack and Penny. Rabbi Frank would perform the ceremony beneath a beautiful chuppah adorned with yellow roses.

  Millie’s stomach flip flopped a bit. She was nervous for her brother, for her nieces and nephews, and for Little Sofie. Although not a lot of people were invited – the total count would be no more than thirty – Millie was still worried if it all might be too much for Little Sofie. She looked over at the little girl who was sitting quietly in Natalya’s lap. Since her older sister’s breakthrough, Little Sofie allowed Natalya to hold her. It was a quiet improvement but Little Sofie was still locked away somewhere. Millie would carry Little Sofie down the aisle with her.

  She kneeled in front of Little Sofie and smoothed her hair before placing the delicate ring of red and white sweetheart roses in her hair. Little Sofie’s outfit for the wedding was a red and white sparkly tutu, a white t-shirt with red hearts scattered around it, and red glitter Mary Jane shoes. And, of course, Penny’s charm bracelet, Teddy (who’d been snuck away from Little Sofie in the middle of the night to be cleaned) and the wrinkled picture of Jack and Penny.

  “You are so pretty,” Millie said and kissed Little Sofie. She looked into the deep brown eyes that were hers also but there was no sign the little girl was aware of anything. It hurt Millie’s heart so much but although the day started out hectic with Crystal, it was ending with love.

  The ceremony went smoothly. Melanie wore a vintage white bouffant dress from the fifties and Danny looked so handsome in a vintage tuxedo from the same era. That was about as formal as it got, especially when Matty wore a pair of red, white, and blue All Stars for the occasion with his own vintage suit and Millie thought he looked so handsome. The reception continued the happiness of the occasion and the band wives put on a wonderful kosher spread using many of Penny’s recipes she adapted over the years. There was a simple yet elegant all white wedding cake but also two additional cakes – birthday cakes – for Jack and Penny. Millie cried several times throughout the celebration from the I do’s to the smashing of the glass and she was nearly inconsolable when Danny stood and dedicated the evening to Jack. He then performed, with Matty and Carlos, an instrumental song they wrote. It was a simple piano piece with a strong yet subtle bass line and quiet but happy guitar. “Penny’s Song” was so beautiful. Melanie and Danny had their first dance to Etta James’ “At Last” and at the end of the night, everyone raised a glass of champagne – Millie raised her Diet Coke – and toasted the two people who meant so much to everyone who were missing.

  . . .

  It was two in the morning and all the lights in the house were still blazing and not one child was in bed yet. Melanie and Danny were cuddled up in one of the easy chairs, the kids were scattered between the couch and ottoman, and Little Sofie, Matty and Millie were sitting on the hearth. Everything had been cleaned up and the extra folks who helped with the wedding bid adieu with many thanks. Everyone was still too wound up to go to sleep so they sat around talking about the special evening and passing around cell phones and digital cameras to show each other various memorable moments frozen in time. It was imperative as many pictures and videos were taken so when Jack and Penny came home, they could see what a wonderful celebration it was.

  Finally, just before three, Annie zonked out without warning. It was a sign it really was time to wrap everything up. Danny and Matty went downstairs to tuck the boys in and Millie and Melanie herded the girls upstairs. It was good to see Annie warm up a bit to her new aunt. Although Danny and Melanie had been dating for five years and engaged for an additional one, when they told the kids of the wedding, Annie had not been happy. When Millie talked to her after Annie had been quite rude to Melanie, Annie finally admitted she was afraid Melanie would try to take the place of Penny. Millie had no idea why her niece would think this but Annie was just seven. The days were still a little difficult for her to cope with the situation. Millie explained that Melanie wasn’t there to take Penny’s place. Melanie would be Danny’s wife but never a replacement for Penny. Annie, as with all the kids, was expected to respect and listen to their soon-to-be new aunt. Eventually, Annie understood and Melanie, trying to ease the situation, took Annie to a special lunch, just the two of them the day before the wedding.

  Although they were keeping the condo, Melanie had moved her things into Millie’s old bedroom over the last week. It was another body in the full house but it would be nice to have her around more. Millie always liked the quiet woman whom Danny met through Carlos and his wife, Tracy. Melanie Shapiro and Tracy had been roommates at NYU. Danny and Melanie hit it off from the first blind date and in those days after the horrific car crash, Melanie had been the family’s advocate at the hospital. She was just a few months shy of finishing up her residency and then she planned to join her cousin’s pediatrics practice in Cherry Hill. Her cousin was the children’s pediatrician – Dr. Shelly. It was a small world moment when that connection was revealed.

  Millie found Melanie to be a comforting soul when Danny became wound up with the kidnapping. Danny had always been a quiet person but the stress of the abduction was bringing out a side of him that was a touch scary but Melanie was always able to calm him down and bring back Danny’s even keel. Melanie pitched in to help when she was over for dinner or just to hang out with Danny when she had time from the hospital. From early on in the relationship she bonded well with the kids, except for Natalya – that relationship only truly started since Natalya’s breakthrough – and Millie knew Jack approved of her. It was important for Danny that Jack liked the woman he had fallen in love with since they both held the institution of marriage in high regard. The brothers were lucky; they had witnessed what a strong marriage their parents had. Millie was jealous of this; she had very little memories at all of Alexsandr and Elizaveta. Melanie was a perfect fit for Danny and the Petrov family

  As Millie undressed a now sleeping Little Sofie, she thought of Jack’s marriage to Crystal. Jack tried, he really did, but Millie could see Crystal took advantage of Jack, especially when it came to money. She had to have the fancy car, the designer clothes, and the condo in Atlantic City. Jack thought the cabin in the Poconos was enough but Crystal was not an outdoorsy type of girl and wanted her own getaway place. Every time Jack appeased Crystal, the more Millie hated the woman. He worked hard to provide for everyone but it was Crystal who didn’t respect him for all he did. She wanted him to work more but then complained when he was gone so long. She wanted a big family, as did he, but she left the child rearing to Penny and then would treat Penny so poorly. Crystal hadn’t always been that way but Jack’s career changed her.

  Crystal had been invited to the wedding out of obligation but Millie was glad when Crystal texted her and said she had a prior engagement and wouldn’t be attending. She left a gift that morning and Millie was curious to know what it
was. Danny and Melanie were spending their wedding night at the condo and would be back over the next day. Because of the quickness of the wedding, Melanie was only able to get a couple days off from the hospital and until Jack and Penny were back home, they decided to postpone their honeymoon. Millie told them to get away for a few days, maybe go up to Jack’s cabin, but Danny didn’t want to leave Millie alone. Nothing she said could change his mind and deep down, she was glad they weren’t going anywhere. There were moments when the kids were fighting or the seriousness of the situation frightened her that she was glad she had her big brat around to help. Matty was picking up more obligations but the bond between the two siblings was super strong.

  Getting a sleeping Little Sofie ready for bed was not easy. She was dead weight and Millie was tired. Melanie quietly slipped into the room and between the two of them, they got the task done. Millie tucked Little Sofie into the bed and hoping the little girl stayed asleep, she went down to the kitchen with her new sister-in-law to send her and Danny off and to spend a few quiet moments with Matty.

  “Thank you for a beautiful day,” Melanie said and gave Millie a hug.

  “Thank you for being so understanding to what is going on,” she replied.

  “I’ve known you all for six years; you’re my family. It’s been so hard to see what you are all going through and knowing there wasn’t much I could do.”

  “But you have been there for Danny and that is so, so important,” she said and gave Melanie another hug. “You are so good for him.”

  Danny joined them in the kitchen and Millie gave him a hug also.

  “You two skedaddle,” Millie said quickly. “You’ve got some hugging and kissing to do.” She guided them to the garage door and waited until she saw the new gate close at the end of the driveway before hitting the garage door button. Matty came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her neck and she let herself melt into the feeling.