by Aimee McNeil
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Jackson
Jackson pulled to a stop in front of his apartment building. He’d had a tail on him since he left the precinct. It didn’t worry him—instead it irritated him beyond measure because he knew exactly who it was. He flexed his fists, praying for patience that he knew would never come. Jumping out of his car, he slammed the door and stalked toward the Civic, parked a few spots down the street. He grabbed the handle and swung the door open of the rusted grey car.
Evan sat behind the wheel. He threw his hands up in surrender. “Don’t fucking hit me! I just need to talk to you.”
“You are the last person I fucking want to see, let alone talk to right now.” Jackson grabbed Evan by his shirt and wrenched him to his feet. He slammed him against the side of the car. “Don’t. Follow. Me. Go back to Freyview and wait for me to call you like I told you.” Jackson released him and Evan stumbled, grabbing the side of the car for support.
He started for his building. He only had twenty minutes until he needed to pick up Teddy and no time to entertain Evan’s stubbornness. He wasn’t surprised when he heard Evan’s footsteps following him. “You know I carry a gun, right?” Jackson called back over his shoulder.
“Yes.”
“I will shoot you,” Jackson threatened.
“I’m not leaving. I told you I need to talk to you.” The tone of Evan’s voice spoke of desperation. Jackson closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he spun around to face him.
“What?” he barked impatiently.
“I can’t just sit here and twiddle my thumbs waiting. I need to find them. I need to find Lexie.” Evan ran his hands through his hair. He looked terrified.
“How sweet. I don’t care about your little fucking love story,” Jackson bit off.
“Listen, I know she doesn’t feel the same. I can live with that—but she’s all that I have left of my brother.”
“You have mistaken me with someone who gives a shit.”
“I can shoot,” Evan blurted. “I can help. I’m a good shot. I want to take that fucker down.” He pulled out a gun that was tucked in the back of his pants.
Jackson rolled his eyes. “I’m a cop. You can’t go waving guns around.”
“I know you have a badge, but you don’t convince me for one minute that you wouldn’t cross the line if the opportunity presented itself.”
“I don’t have time for this shit. Take your toy gun and go home, Evan.” Jackson spun around and pulled out the key to the front entrance of his apartment building. Evan insisted on following him inside, but Jackson proceeded to ignore him.
“Do you know where he took them?” Evan asked. He was close on Jackson’s heels as he jogged up the stairs of his building.
“Not yet, but I will. Go home, Evan.”
“I can’t.”
“Listen, Evan. You are a fucking junky,” Jackson accused. “You would only get in the way.”
“I don’t want to be anywhere near you either, but you are the best chance I have of finding her. I need to make sure she’s safe. I know you have feelings for her too. I can tell by the way you look at her.”
“You’re wrong. I don’t do feelings.” Jackson pushed his apartment door open and spun around. “Don’t follow me.” Jackson slammed his door in Evan’s face.
Jackson headed straight toward his bedroom and grabbed a duffle bag. He threw all his necessities in before zipping the bag and swinging it over his shoulder. Grabbing his gun, he turned and aimed toward the doorway to his room when he heard movement.
“Whoa!” Evan put his hands up.
Jackson narrowed his eyes as he looked over the barrel of his gun.
“I know how to pick locks. I told you, I can be helpful,” Evan defended himself. “I’m going with you. I have to.”
Jackson narrowed his eyes at Evan. He could see something in Evan’s determined gaze that reminded him of himself. He tucked his gun back into his holster and walked toward Evan. He wound up and punched him in the face, causing Evan to slam back into the wall.
“Fuck, that hurt. God dammit. Stop hitting my fucking face!”
“I can’t help it. It fucking annoys me. You get in my way at all, I will shoot you in the face next time. I will not save your stupid ass if you get yourself in trouble.” Jackson walked past him and toward his door.
“Does this mean I can help you find her?” Evan asked, shuffling his feet behind Jackson. “Where are we going?”
“Bellhaven.” Jackson spun around and looked back at Evan, who had his hand against his jaw. “You just need to promise me one thing.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“When I get Lexie out of there, you need to take her as far from me as you can.”
“Done.” The relief on Evan’s face gave Jackson the urge to hit him again, but he clenched his fist and instead headed for the door.
***
“Who the fuck is this?” Teddy asked as he slipped into the front seat of Jackson’s car. He turned to look at Evan sitting in the backseat. “Oh shit. You are fucking bringing Lexie’s friend? You’re shitting me, right?” Teddy looked at Jackson for clarification.
“Nope. He has a death wish, and who I am to deny his hopes and dreams?” Jackson turned his lips in a frown but was completely unfazed by the idea of putting Evan in harm’s way.
“I take it Giles doesn’t know we’re playing babysitter.” Teddy shook his head.
“If anyone asks, he’s your baby brother who just earned himself a brand new shiny badge and we’re breaking him in.”
“Are you fucking serious, Jackson? Why?” Teddy shook his head.
“Because he knows I’ll come regardless,” Evan piped up from the backseat.
“We could just arrest him,” Teddy offered with raised brows. “Lock him up.”
“I never thought of that.” Jackson rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Fuck no. Jackson already said I was in. I’ll take care of myself.” Evan leaned back in his seat. Jackson could feel Evan’s eyes burning a hole in his back. As much as he wanted to kick his ass out of the car and speed off, he could see the determination to track down Lexie reflected in Evan’s eyes. Being reckless was not new to Jackson. He didn’t know why he should start playing by the rules now. If Evan wanted to get himself killed, he wouldn’t stand in his way. The only thing Jackson cared about was crumbling the very foundation beneath John Stodden’s feet and making sure that Lexie wasn’t in the way when it all came crashing down. An ache formed in his chest when he thought of Lexie. Time was of the essence, and he had to find her now.
“And you thought Haffey was going to have your balls. Just wait until Giles finds out we brought a civilian with us on our field trip. Fuck, I love hanging out with you, Jacks. You always make for a good time.” Teddy chuckled. “And why the fuck does he have to be my baby brother? Why can’t he be yours?”
“Because you both have the same stupid look on your face.”
Teddy shrugged, turning his lips into a frown. “Buckle up, baby bro. We don’t want you to die before the guns come out.”
“Shit.” Evan grabbed his seat belt as Jackson tore out of the parking spot. Jackson’s only thought was those sweet beautiful blue eyes that desperately pleaded for him before John’s men took her. He would tear down the whole world to get her back. There was nothing that would stand in his way. A part of him needed to believe that she would hate him after discovering the truth about his intentions with her mother.
Solving his father’s murder was above him; it was something he could not walk away from, even knowing that it meant that he would never again indulge in the sweet, beautiful pleasures her body offered him. Desires that flowed straight to his heart that roused only for her. He wanted to stare into those eyes that saw something he didn’t know existed. He wanted to hold her, touch her, and smell her sweet scent until the end of days, but he was not a man who deserved that part of her. Lexie needed a man that knew how to
love, that knew how to put a smile on those beautiful lips. He didn’t know how to love. The only thing he knew was hatred, and eventually it would crush what he loved about her. She could never be his, and it made his anger that always swirled deep in his stomach flare hot and fiery.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Evan
Evan was restless in the backseat of the car, shifting constantly to ease the discomfort that grew in intensity as the hours passed by. He looked down at his hands—trembling. He grasped them together and swallowed the nausea beginning to claw at his insides. It had been too long since he had a hit.
“Are you feeling all right, man?” Teddy spun around in his seat to assess him.
“Yeah, I’m good.” Evan wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “I could use something for this headache.”
Evan looked up and noticed Jackson’s narrowed his eyes on him in the rear-view mirror. Evan knew he was going downhill fast if he didn’t get a hit to ease the shakes that were becoming hard to hide. He could feel cold sweats begin to break out over his skin.
“What’s your poison?” Jackson asked with an irritated tone.
“No, man, it’s not that.”
“What is your goddam poison, Evan? We can’t do this if you are going through fucking withdrawal.”
Evan sighed and leaned his head back on the seat. “Smack.”
“Jesus,” Teddy breathed out in a rush. “My little brother is not only a cop impersonator, he’s also a junky. Fuck me. What’s Mom gonna say?” Teddy shook his head.
“I know a place,” Jackson said, throwing the car into a U-turn without any warning, jarring him.
“I’m gonna be sick,” Evan mumbled with his hand on his mouth. Jackson slammed on the brakes. He was barely stopped when Evan flung the door open and stumbled out. The contents of his stomach spilled over the ground, but it did little to alleviate his discomfort. He took a deep soothing breath before walking back to the car. Evan didn’t say a word as Jackson continued to drive with purpose. He needed this hit if he was going to be of any use to anyone. Jackson was right.
Jackson pulled up to a mechanic shop about twenty minutes later. A dozen rusted-out vehicles of various makes lined up along the property. One of the three overhead doors was open, showcasing three rough-looking men working on a white pickup. They all wore full sleeves of tattoos and looked anything but the typical mechanic. Evan would have bet his life savings that all three of these men spent time behind bars.
“Stay here.” Jackson opened his door and approached the men. It only took a moment for recognition to show on their faces. Jackson knew these guys. The man closest to Jackson, sporting a full beard and shaved head, gave him a pat on the back.
“Who are these guys?” Evan asked Teddy, leaning against the center console.
“I have no fucking clue.” Teddy began tapping his fingers on his knee. “Our Jackson likes his secrets.”
Jackson disappeared in the building with the man that welcomed him, while the others remained watching Teddy and Evan closely.
“Whoever they are, they’re scary as shit.”
“Yep, that pretty much sums them up.”
Jackson returned ten minutes later, walking straight toward the car. There were no waves or friendly send offs from the three grim faces watching Jackson leave.
“Here.” Jackson threw a small black case into the backseat as he slipped inside and threw the car into reverse.
“Friends of yours?” Teddy asked. His eyes still lingered on the men as they drove away from the garage.
“My past,” Jackson said curtly.
Evan’s attention was solely on the small black case in his hands. He unzipped it and grabbed the small vial and one of the needles inside, ripping the packaging off. He set to work; he could feel the discomfort ease with the anticipation of what was to come. His body craved the drug like air to his lungs.
He pushed the needle through his skin, pressing the fluid into his bloodstream. The effect was immediate, and the suffocating feeling of being submersed in water washed away, and he was left feeling light and powerful. It was the reason he fell for the drug. He needed the distortion of reality to deal with the emotions of his life. The pain that strangled him every moment of every day seemed more bearable while under its effect, and for those fleeting moments he felt free. Though it was different now, he couldn’t let himself drift away in the bliss. He needed his focus. He only allowed himself enough to be functional.
Evan looked up to see Teddy watching him. “One of my prouder moments.” Evan sighed as he leaned back into the seat. He didn’t even look in Jackson’s direction. He just let the silence fill the car as he watched the scenery change.
Jackson’s phone rang, breaking the silence. Evan listened as Jackson spoke to the caller. “Yeah, we couldn’t stick around. We have to stay on the case. We’re on the way to Belhaven…fuck you too…you do that…we’ll check in with you later.” Jason dropped his phone in the console. “Dane said we could all go fuck ourselves for leaving him in the hospital.”
Teddy laughed and shook his head. “He shouldn’t have gotten himself shot if he didn’t want to miss the fun.”
When they entered the border of Belhaven, Evan couldn’t help but be intrigued. He had never been to the large city that drew people from all over for its nightlife and entertainment.
“So this is Belhaven, huh?” Evan leaned forward between the seats. Jackson had been quiet most of the drive, seemingly lost in thought.
“The one and only,” Teddy replied with a smirk. “I got my first blow job in the washroom of…” He leaned closer to the window. “That night club.” Teddy pointed at a rundown building with a few people lingering out front, cigarettes hanging out of their mouths and dark circles under their eyes. They looked as if they had just emerged from an endless night of drinking. Teddy turned back toward Evan, a satisfied smile on his face. “It was fucking awesome.”
“Did you grow up here?” Evan asked curiously.
“Yeah, until my sister was taken. Then my parents picked up and ran.” Teddy leaned back in his seat. His usual light-hearted mood was suddenly washed with mud. He splayed his hand out on the window and just stared at the passing city streets. It was strange to see Teddy in a solemn mood, radiating so much pain. Jackson reached over and gave Teddy’s shoulder a squeeze.
“Sorry, man.” Evan knew better than to dig into Teddy’s past. It was the last place he wanted to be by the look of his face. He leaned back in his seat and watched the people walk up and down the street. He was used to his small town of Freyview; here everyone looked as if they came from different corners of the earth as they passed each other on the street. The sidewalks looked full of lonely people. He tried not to let his thoughts dwell on Lexie and where she was. The thought of her in danger made his heart race with fear. He needed to protect her. He needed to make sure she was safe. He had already made too many mistakes, and he needed to start making things right. He owed his brother better than this.
Evan glanced up at a large brick building as Jackson pulled into a parking lot. The Belhaven Police Department definitely put the small town sheriff’s department of Freyview to shame. The building and lot looked as if it consumed an entire city block.
Evan followed Jackson and Teddy into the building. They walked up to the main desk and asked the full-figured woman behind the counter where they would find Detective Haffey. The woman pushed her glasses up her nose, giving them a calculated onceover. “Who should I tell her is here?”
“Detective Finley,” Jackson said impatiently. He seemed a bit uneasy, and Evan could tell he was not looking forward to this meeting.
“Just a moment.” The woman sat back down and grabbed her phone.
Teddy leaned against the counter and picked up the woman’s pen and began flipping it around in his hand. She snatched it away from him, shooting him a scolding look before she began to speak with someone on the line. Teddy turned around with a sigh, l
eaning against the counter like a bored child.
“She’s in a meeting right now. She’ll probably be about twenty minutes. If you’d like, you can wait for her in the blue chairs to your right.” The woman waved her hand before she set back to her work.
“I’m gonna make a call,” Jackson informed Teddy and Evan, pulling his phone out of his pocket and walking off.
“Let’s take a walk, little brother.” Teddy slapped Evan on the back of the shoulder.
Teddy led them down the hall. “So tell me why Jackson is really letting you tag along?” Teddy asked with raised his brows.
Evan shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“It’s the girl.” Teddy seemed satisfied with his conclusion. “I never usually question Jackson. He can see the bigger picture better than any of us, but something is different, and I know it has something to do with Lexie. Do me a favor and don’t get us killed because of your sorry ass.” Teddy spun around and placed his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “I’m serious. Don’t do something stupid.”
Evan shook his head. “I won’t.”
“Good talk.” Teddy gave him a tap on the side of the face. “Wait here and keep watch. Let me know if anyone comes this way.”
“What?” Evan asked in confusion as Teddy walked into an open office.
“Tell me how much you missed me,” Teddy said to the attractive woman behind the desk. Evan barely got a glimpse of her before Teddy swung the door shut. He turned around and leaned against the wall with a sigh. Evan was feeling anxious and didn’t want to hang around waiting for whatever Teddy was up to. He watched the minutes tick by and people walk up and down the hallway.
