by J. E. Taylor
Tom followed. “It was the only way to get her to back off,” he said, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew how much Jessica disliked Sharon. “Besides, we weren’t married yet.”
Jessica turned and looked at him with a healthy dose of anger in her eyes. “But we were planning on getting married, weren’t we?”
Tom nodded and looked at his feet. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know what else to do.”
“How many times over the last five years has she come calling for favors?”
“Many, but that was the only time I gave in.” He let the silence fall between them.
Jessica turned her back on him. “She has the videos?”
“Yes.”
“And you asked to see them?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to know how much of the script is true.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “If it is, I can’t fathom why you don’t hate him like I do.”
“Some of the videos will be missing, Tom. You wouldn’t get the complete picture, even if you saw each and every tape she has.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Chris was involved with the operation.”
“But they cleared him of all wrong doing.”
Jessica laughed. “Ty erased everything that would incriminate him.” She turned toward him. “You won’t see the first time Ty put me in the room with Chris and Frank. I didn’t know they were his brothers at the time and I was drugged, so I put on a good show to piss him off. That’s why the phrase never in a million years was so paramount to our relationship; I didn’t just say it to him in the electric chair. I said it in that room to Ty after I screwed his brothers and he wanted some action.” She took a deep breath. “That was the last time he allowed anyone else to touch me. I told you I played some serious games with his head too. Ty was pissed when he found out that Frank raped me. You won’t see the video of him beating the crap out of him because Chris was also in the room.”
Tom stared at her.
“Ty started protecting me long before he realized he was in love with me. So you can go see those tapes, but you will never have the full picture.” She walked back toward the house.
Tom followed her and grabbed her arm. “He raped you, Jess.”
Jessica nodded. “Yes.”
“How do you get past that?”
“You know as well as I do why he did that.”
“I’m not talking about when the three of us were in that room. I’m talking about you tied to a mattress and saying no and him not listening.”
She rolled her eyes. “He stopped, Tom. Besides, that wasn’t rape.”
“Yes, Jess, it was. No means no.”
“Except when you’re tied to a bed and the man seducing you just wants to hear the word yes, he just wants you to admit what he already sees in your eyes. That’s not rape, that’s a survival game.”
Tom closed his eyes. He would never understand. “All right. I guess I’ll never get it.” He studied the harsh tilt of her eyebrows, the tight set of her lips and the dull throb of anger in her eyes, making the swirl of colors darker, more ominous. “But I expect the same thing from you where I’m concerned.”
Jessica raised her eyebrows.
“I expect you to let it go and forgive me where Sharon is concerned.”
Jessica closed her mouth before, her jaw muscle jumped and then she said, “I will, eventually.” She headed back inside.
Tom followed her in feeling like a scolded puppy. He half smiled at the kids. “What’s for dinner?” he asked and Jessica glared at him over her shoulder. “Okay, you guys want to go out?” he addressed the kids, ignoring Jessica.
“Sure, where?” Eric switched the video game off.
“We could go to Planet Hollywood if you’d like?”
Jessica rolled her eyes and Tom smiled. He knew she wouldn’t want to go to such a touristy place, but it would be fun for the kids.
“That would be so great! Do you think we will see any movie stars?” Eric asked in awe.
“What am I, chopped liver?”
Eric smiled. “You know what I mean.”
Tom laughed and nodded crossing and wrapping his arms around Jessica’s waist from behind. “You game, babe?”
“Sure,” she said.
Usually Tom hesitated before using the kids to his advantage, but this time he didn’t. They needed the diversion and he caught Jessica’s reluctant smile. “I figured it’s the last night here with the kids, so we might as well do something fun with them.”
“Classic avoidance.” She glanced over her shoulder at his grin. “Okay, I’ll let it go. But if she comes near us again I’m going to slug her.”
“Fair enough,” Tom said. “Can I have my kiss hello now?” He leaned over and kissed her before she could answer.
* * * *
Their dinner was filled with colorful conversation and the laughter of the children as they ate at the restaurant. They did see a couple of movie stars and both Tom and Jessica rolled their eyes at the kids’ excitement, after all, they were just people. Eric giggled each time someone came to the table to get Tom’s autograph.
Jessica stopped laughing when Sharon Young walked in. Tom put his hand on her knee when she approached the table shooting Jessica a look that said, keep your cool.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the happy family.” Sharon smiled smugly and stood behind the children’s chairs.
Jessica’s hands balled into fists under the table.
“Back off, Sharon,” Tom said, his voice clearly sending the warning out.
Eric looked from his mother to Tom and then to the woman standing behind him and his eyes narrowed. “You’re the reporter bitch that wouldn’t leave my family alone.”
Emily’s mouth dropped at her brother’s comments.
“Eric, you don’t speak like that to a stranger,” Jessica scolded.
Eric looked back up at the woman. “But she wants to ruin your marriage, Mom.”
Sharon took a step back, looking at Eric like he was a large, deadly bug.
Tom smiled. “Sharon, this is not the time or the place for this discussion. And I don’t appreciate you ambushing my wife on the beach. We had a deal.”
Sharon looked over at him and smiled. “That was five years ago and now with the movie, she’s fair game again. Perhaps another favor is in order?” She raised her eyebrow at him.
Tom shook his head. “Not happening, Sharon.” He gripped Jessica’s knee tighter as she started to get up.
Jessica knocked his hand away and got up, heading toward the restrooms in a silent rage. That bitch has the audacity to ambush me here? She stopped in the middle of the restaurant and turned back to the table. Bullshit! Sharon had her back to her and she tapped her on the shoulder. When Sharon turned, she punched her in the face and then stormed off to the restroom with a small smile of satisfaction playing on her lips.
Sharon’s nose had broke under the force of her fist.
* * * *
Tom looked after Jessica and broke out in a grin. Sharon stood there holding her bloody nose screaming while the staff ran back and forth in confusion.
He got up, threw some cash on the table, and looked at the kids. “Time to go,” he said and stopped next to Sharon. “I told you to back off.” He headed in the direction of the restrooms to collect his wife.
Jessica came out of the bathroom and Tom stood a few feet away, a smile plastered on his lips. “Hell of a right hook.”
Jessica shrugged and looked at the commotion by their table. “Where are the kids?”
“I sent them to the car,” he said and put his arm around her waist, escorting her out of the restaurant with a big grin on his face. “I kind of like seeing you jealous.”
Jessica elbowed him in the side hard enough for him to side step away from her. “I told you I’d slug her if she came near us. I think I broke her nose.”
Tom looked back over his shoulder as they got into the car. “Hop
e she doesn’t have you arrested,” he said and Jessica burst out laughing.
“She wouldn’t dare.”
“You punched her, Jess,” Tom said and his smile disappeared.
“She was propositioning you,” Emily said from the back seat. “Mom had every right to smack her.”
Tom looked in the rearview mirror at Emily.
Jessica turned in the seat and looked at her children. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Not in front of you.”
Emily smiled at her mother. “It’s okay, Mom.”
“No it’s not. I didn’t handle that very well.” She looked over at Tom. “That reporter was relentless five years ago and Tom got her to back off.”
“By sleeping with her,” Eric said and Tom nearly swerved off the road in surprise.
Jessica looked at her son. “We’ve all made mistakes,” she said, her eyes penetrating and intense.
Eric nodded slowly, giving in to her will. “Sorry.”
Tom drove in silence. He hated that they knew what he had done, even though it was to protect their mother. It wasn’t something he was proud of by any means. He looked over at Jessica, his eyes conveying the regret he felt. She reached over and took his hand.
“We’ve all made mistakes,” she said again, squeezing his hand.
Chapter 57
The next morning Jessica woke before Tom did and lay watching him sleep. She traced his lips lightly with her fingers and then combed his hair back with her hand, leaning in and kissing him gently, watching him stir.
He smiled sleepily at her.
“I love you, Tom,” she said feeling the weight of her own mistakes. “I’m sorry I got so mad yesterday.”
“It’s okay, babe.” He yawned and stretched glancing in the direction of the clock and then reached over, pulling her close, snuggling with her.
“I still feel safe in your arms,” she whispered.
Tom kissed her neck, nuzzling as his hands began to wander. He gently pulled at her underwear and when he looked up, she saw the lust in his eyes. He rolled, pulling her on top of him.
Slow, sweet, morning sex, riding him somewhere between asleep and awake, sensual and surreal, she arched into him, purring and stretching through three rounds of hitting the snooze button. Surfing the wave until they came together, moaning and collapsing on each other.
The alarm went off again.
“I have to go to work,” Tom said.
“I know.” Jessica smiled down at him, but made no attempt to move.
He rolled her off and got up, stretching as he stood.
She pulled the covers back around her and curled up in the warm sheets, closing her eyes again and slipping into sleep.
* * * *
Jessica opened her eyes to the bedroom in Maine, her arms tied to the bed and Chris strapped to a chair. Fear jolted her as Frank’s knife carved the crooked scars back into his cheeks.
“That’s the Ty I know,” he said and looked over at Jessica. “I’m going to fuck the life out of her while you watch.”
She shivered, her heart pumping terror to every pore and her gaze traveling between the knife and Chris’s frantic eyes.
“But before I do...” Frank slammed the knife into Chris’s leg and he cried out in pain. “I promise you’ll see her die before you do.” Frank yanked the knife from Chris’s thigh.
“No!” Jessica screamed, watching the blood pump out of his leg, spurting with every beat of his heart. Both his panic and her own gripped her when Frank turned his sights on her, advancing with malicious intent.
She sat straight up in the bed, the scream escaping from her. Her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room landing on Tom as he skidded from the bathroom, a towel around his waist and his face half covered in shaving cream. The momentary tightness in his stressed features smoothed out.
“Nightmare?”
Jessica nodded and he came and sat on the edge of the bed, running the back of his fingers gently across her cheek.
“Jesus,” she said through the short bursts of breath, shaking.
“You okay?”
Jessica shook her head. “No.” She looked at her husband. “I think we die. Oh God, I think we die.”
“We aren’t going to die, Jess,” he said and pulled her to him.
“Not you, Tom. You weren’t there.”
He went rigid against her and pulled away, his jaw tight with frustration and he turned, crossing to the bathroom without another word.
Jessica walked into the bathroom a few minutes later and reached for her toothbrush with a shaky hand.
“That bastard ruined a perfect morning.”
Jessica’s gaze flicked from him to her reflection and she nodded, thinking he was referring to Frank. Her skin had a pale pallor dulling her calico eyes in a haze of fear.
Tom rinsed his face and met her gaze in the mirror. He blinked and stood straight. “What did you see?”
“Frank. Frank tied him to a chair and stabbed his leg. I think he hit an artery, there was so much blood. He said Ty would see me die before he did. And then Frank came for me.” Tears blurred her vision and a pained sobbed escaped. “That’s when I woke up.” Jessica buried her face in Tom’s chest.
Tom slowly wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t let that happen, Jess. You aren’t going to die,” he said but his voice belied his words. He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her before continuing, “So much for the perfect morning, huh?”
Jessica nodded against his chest and pulled away, wiping her eyes. “If something does happen to me, you have to promise to protect Emily.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you.”
“Promise me, Tom.”
Tom met her gaze. “I promise,” he answered and hugged her. “But nothing is going to happen to you.”
“Thank you.”
“I have to go. I’m already late,” Tom said and glanced at his watch. “I’ll have a car here when I get home. The flight takes off at eight.” He kissed her and left.
Jessica splashed water on her face and reached for a towel to wipe it off.
“You had the nightmare too,” Chris said, making her jump when he appeared in her bathroom.
Jessica nodded and started to cry again.
Chris wrapped his trembling arms around her. “That means when it happens I have less than five minutes to kill Frank and get to you before I bleed to death,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m not sure I can do this,” he said and disappeared.
“Ty?” she sobbed. He didn’t answer her. “Chris?” she corrected. “Please.”
He looked back at her in the mirror, silent but his eyes still carried the horror of the dream. “I have to go, Jess. I will talk to you later.”
“I need you to be okay.”
He smiled a little. “I will be,” he said and his smile faded. He looked at his watch. “I have to go.”
Jessica nodded and watched him disappear.
She slipped into her running gear and quietly left the house. It was still very early, not yet six on the West Coast and she got lost in the sound of the breaking waves as she ran alone on the quiet beach. His words kept resounding in her ears ‘less than five minutes before I bleed to death’ and each time, she let out a little sob.
She walked slowly back up the stairs after running for what seemed an eternity and grabbed one of the beach towels to wipe her face. The kids were up and flipping through the television channels as she walked in. “Hi guys.” She smiled and blocked her mind. She didn’t want to worry Eric.
Jessica stepped under the warm water with her mind three thousand miles away. “God, Chris,” she whispered with her eyes closed and could almost feel his arm wrap around her. She kept her eyes closed as she felt his lips on her neck and heard him whisperer her name. Her eyes flew open and she turned to an empty shower stall, gasping.
* * * *
Chris stood in the shower stall with his eyes closed and a smile on his face. He had heard her and felt her an
d kissed her and whispered her name. He looked up as he turned the water off, still holding the shower rod with his broken wrist.
Chapter 58
The trip back east was uneventful. They all slept soundly on the plane and landed in Boston as the sun came over the horizon.
“Oh man, I hate losing that time,” Tom groaned and stretched the sleep out of his limbs.
Jessica stirred and looked at him with sleepy eyes. “We’re already there?”
He nodded. “And we have another hour or so on the road.” He stood, grabbing their carry-on luggage and then shook Emily and Eric awake. “Time to get moving,” he said and yawned.
They departed the plane and headed down to the luggage turnstiles; collecting their own bags this time and carrying them out to the truck in the parking garage themselves. Tom laughed as the kids groaned. “You can’t always be spoiled like we were in L.A. Sometimes you just have to do things by yourselves.”
Both Emily and Eric rolled their eyes at him.
“And this coming from the pretty plastic person,” Jessica teased.
He mouthed the words ‘bite me’ at her and smiled.
The kids were sound asleep again by the time they hit the 93N interchange from the airport and Jessica was asleep as he turned north on Route 95.
Tom turned the radio up, singing softly as he drove. Jessica began to mumble in her sleep as he rolled through the tolls in New Hampshire, and he turned the radio down to see if he could make out what she was saying.
“Enlighten me,” Jessica purred in her sleep.
Tom looked over at her and saw her smile and had the feeling that he wasn’t the one starring in her dream. “Jess,” he said loud enough to startle her out of sleep.
Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around and then back at him. “What’s wrong?”
He glanced over at her. “You were talking in your sleep again.”
“Oh.”
“What were you dreaming about?” he asked trying to sound nonchalant.
“I have no idea.”
He snorted in the driver’s seat.
“Did you just snort at me?”
He glanced at her.
“Why’d you snort at me?”
