by Jen Talty
“Who is Hannah?”
“Jeanie’s birth mother.”
“Why are we talking about this?” Not that Shannon didn’t appreciate the reprieve from her problems. It gave her strength to form the words she hadn’t spoken outside of therapy in years.
“Just let me finish.” He caught her gaze. His dark eyes captivated her in a way made her feel cared for and understood.
The only person who’d ever looked at her that way was Annette.
Shannon nodded.
“Jeanie was born with a congential disability, and she always thought that’s why her parents gave her up. She wanted them to tell her she was glad they had. That she had a wonderful life with a great family.”
Shannon let the tears flow. “That’s all I want for my baby.”
Jackson nodded. “So, it came as quite a surprise when Jeanie found out that her mother hadn’t even known she had been born with problems and that Hannah had only been fourteen when she gave birth.”
“Oh, no.” Shannon set her coffee on her nightstand and inched across the room. “Hannah was raped, wasn’t she?”
“By her stepbrother. For a long time, that messed with my sister’s head.”
Shannon placed her hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “I hope Jeanie understands that how she came to be has nothing to do with who she is.”
“It took a good therapist—one like you—for her to figure that out.” He kissed her temple. “I don’t need to know the dirty details, but I hurt for what your father did to you. If he were still alive, I’d kill him with my bare hands.”
She wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head on his strong shoulder, staring at Sweet Freedom. For him, the boat represented a new chapter in his life. But for her, it was all about everything she wanted to erase from her mind, and yet it held onto the one thing she never wanted to forget.
Her daughter.
No matter how she came into this world, she was a precious gift. Even if she wasn’t meant to bring that joy into Shannon’s life, she was for someone else.
“The reason I reacted so negatively to your boat was because my daughter was conceived on one just like it.”
He reached out and set his coffee on the dresser and hugged her tight.
She’d never felt safer than in his arms.
“It happened right out there on Lake George, up by Paradise Bay. I was sixteen, and my dad liked to bring some of his buddies out and have me act as the galley wench. He thought it was hysterical to call me that.”
“It’s not funny at all.”
She let out a slight laugh. “There were five men that day.”
“Jesus. I don’t think I want to hear this.”
Glancing up at him, she managed a smile. “Alex Angler was one of them, and he could be the father.”
“What about the other four?”
“One is dead. The rest don’t live anywhere near here and aren’t messing with my patients or me.”
“And what about Ned?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen or spoken to him in years. My father hated him after he got arrested. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I think either Ned embarrassed the group or left. Or both.”
“How do you feel about giving him a call and finding out what he wants?” He cupped her cheeks. “I’ll put him on speaker and be with you every step of the way.”
“Why are you doing this? Whoever hired you to find Belinda, besides me, doesn’t need your services anymore.”
He brushed her bangs from her eyes, leaning closer, his mouth only an inch from hers. “Isn’t it obvious?”
She swallowed her breath before his lips brushed gently across hers in a tender, caring kiss. It wasn’t a romantic or sexual kiss.
But it still made her heart race.
“I’m falling for you. Hard.”
There was no point in fighting her feelings, which she’d been doing her entire life, but Jackson was special.
She rubbed her fingers across his shoulders, clasping her hands behind his neck. “I’m kind of falling for you, too.”
Chapter Nine
Jackson leaned against the hood of his truck with his arms folded across his chest. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell Shannon this.”
“Like you’re ripping off a Band-Aid,” Katie said. “Are you sure that’s her uncle?”
“Positive. And that’s Alex Angler.”
“They look pretty chummy.”
“A little too much.” Why the hell would Shannon’s uncle be having coffee with Alex? Considering the history and what Jeromy said about Ned, it didn’t add up.
Unless Ned was playing both sides of the fence.
The question was…why?
Jackson pulled out his cell and called Jeromy.
“Hey, kid, what’s up?”
“Why would Alex and Ned be hanging out together as if they’re old friends?” Jackson often believed in cutting to the chase.
“They wouldn’t.”
“Except I’m staring at them, and it looks like a friendly conversation.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Ned has been sort of working with me, like I told you.”
“It’s the sort of that bothers me,” Jackson said. “Is there anything else I should know about these two men?”
“They didn’t travel in the same circles. Ned was out by the time Alex came into the picture. But if they are talking, maybe Ned is gathering information.”
“I don’t think so. I better get back to Shannon.” He ended the call and tucked his cell into his pocket. The more he learned, the more he realized that Shannon was in grave danger.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Shannon glanced between her long-time friend, Cameron, and Jackson’s boat rocking in the breeze. “There’s nothing to say.” Shannon leaned forward in the chair and took her friend’s hand.
“I knew you didn’t have a good relationship with your father, but I had no idea.”
“Most people didn’t,” Shannon said. “It’s the kind of skeleton you keep buried.”
Cameron nodded. “I wouldn’t have ever judged you for what you did, you know that, right?”
Shannon smiled. “I do. I’ve thought about telling you about what happened and about the daughter I gave up a hundred times, but I often didn’t believe it was real. I mean, my own mother made me pretend that it never happened, and for a long time, I think I tried to believe that, too.”
“God, I’m sorry. But I really don’t like your mom.”
Shannon opened her mouth, but Cameron held up her hand.
“You make a ton of excuses for her. You always have. Like when she went to your stepsister’s graduation over yours. Your mother has not once put you first, and that’s not right.”
Who was Shannon to argue with that logic? “I know. But she’s the only mother I have.”
Cameron smiled. “You have Annette. She’s stood by you through all of this. I know she’s a whackadoodle at times, but she loves you.”
“Yeah. She does. And I appreciate her standing by me all these years.” Shannon squeezed Cameron’s hand. “As I do you. I know I didn’t tell you any of this, but I couldn’t have gotten through college or my PhD program without you. There is no way I would be the woman I am today, or have the courage to ask Jackson to find my little girl, if it wasn’t for you.”
Cameron wrapped her arms around Shannon. “You’ve done the same for me. And no matter what, I’m always in your corner.” She leaned back and wiped her cheeks. “You really don’t want to meet your little girl?”
“I don’t. I let my mother put lies into my head that she didn’t exist, and I need to know she’s real. That’s all.”
“I can understand that,” Cameron said. “And I support that.”
“Thanks. You have no idea what that means to me.”
Cameron nodded. “Now. Tell me about Jackson. What’s going on there?”
It was impossible not to smile. “I’m not exactly sur
e, except I really like him. A lot. More than any man I’ve ever dated.”
“So. You’re dating now?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I hope that’s where we are headed.” Shannon’s heart swelled. For the first time in her life, she felt like she might have gotten a taste of what sweet freedom might actually feel like.
“Oh, crap.” Cameron tapped her Apple watch. “I’ve got to go. Call me so we can go on a double date.”
“Absolutely.” Shannon stood, hugging her friend. She watched Cameron slip behind the steering wheel of her vehicle and drive away before stepping into her cottage and putting on a pot of coffee.
She settled at her kitchen table, unable to concentrate on all the paperwork staring her in the face. Her mind kept wandering to Lilly and her mother and worrying about what might have happened to them. She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
Three in the afternoon.
Jackson had stepped out. He had some lead on Lilly and her mother and wanted to handle it personally, and Shannon appreciated everything he and his partner were doing to help her with a variety of problems. She just hoped he made it back before her uncle Ned came knocking on her door in half an hour.
Her cell rang, and she jumped.
“Hello?”
“Shannon Brendel?”
“Yes?”
“This is Kent from the hospital.”
She pushed her computer to the side. “Hi, Kent. How are you?”
“I’m okay,” he said. “I thought I should call to tell you that I saw that guy who visited Gretchen the night she killed herself.”
Shannon sat up taller. “You did? Where?”
“He was here talking with some of the staff. He said he was Gretchen’s mother’s boyfriend, and I overheard him asking about you. I thought you’d want to know.”
“Me? Do you have a name?”
“Only a first name. Alex.”
Shannon’s heart dropped to her gut. “I appreciate you calling me.” She ended the call and stared out at Sweet Freedom.
When her father died, Alex had felt as though he’d been abandoned by a man who loved him, only Dwight had no feelings for anyone but himself. Alex blamed Shannon for him losing what he thought was his best friend as well as his connection to the club.
Of course, Shannon had no idea what’d happened to it after her father passed, but she constantly looked over her shoulder for a good year. It wasn’t until all the men had left the area that she finally felt safe. Even though she lived a half-hour south, and her mother never brought her to Lake George, that didn’t matter. She still worried that she’d run into them or they’d come after her, expecting the same favors her father had promised. And she didn’t think she’d be strong enough to say no.
The door rattled, and she gasped. “Shit, you scared me,” she said as Jackson stepped into her kitchen.
“You look like you just saw a ghost. What happened?”
She stood, knocking over the chair as she raced into his arms.
“Whoa.” He hugged her tightly. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Alex. He was at the hospital visiting another of my patients.” She sobbed into Jackson’s shirt. “I tell my patients, all of them, that this isn’t their fault and that telling someone is safe. That they can be safe. And yet, because I kept all this a secret, and didn’t do anything, that man is out there. And I think he’s killing my patients because he blames me for taking my father from him.”
“Hey. This is not your fault.” Jackson cupped her cheeks. “Even if Alex is coming after you through your patients for whatever sick reason, you still can’t hold yourself responsible for his actions.”
“But I can hold myself accountable for my inaction.” She pounded his chest.
“Did you ever tell anyone?”
She laughed, turning on her heel to pace in her kitchen. “I told my mother once. She called me dramatic and a liar.”
“Your mother is a piece of work,” Jackson muttered. “Why did they get divorced?”
“Because he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants, and he hit her a few times.”
“And when you told your mom you were pregnant?”
Shannon opened the front door and took two steps outside. “I told her it was one of my dad’s friends, and for about five seconds, she believed me. But then she realized what it might do to her reputation, and she decided that I was high on cocaine—which was true.”
“How exactly did your dad die?”
She spun on her heel and gasped. “What did you hear, exactly? And from whom?”
“I know he died of a heart attack, but a retired cop said that Annette’s story changed so much, he wasn’t sure he believed everything.”
Shannon opened her mouth, but Jackson shushed her with his finger.
“I did some digging today, and I read the police report. No one thinks Annette killed your father. Perhaps she waited to call an ambulance, but no one can prove it. And, honestly, if that’s the case, outside of turning the bastard in, Annette was the only adult in your life who had your back.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” The sound of a car pulling down the driveway caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder. “Fucking wonderful. Uncle Ned is here.”
“He’s early,” Jackson said, glancing at his watch. He took her by the hand and squeezed. “I’m not going to leave your side. I promise.”
She blew out a puff of air. “I don’t want him in my house.”
“We’ll sit outside.” He tugged her toward the fire pit and arranged some of the chairs.
Her uncle slipped from the driver’s side of the vehicle. God, he looked so much like her father with his chocolate eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. He’d aged some and had put on some weight, but he was still a handsome man.
He waved awkwardly as he strolled down the path. “Hi, Shannon,” he said softly. “You look well.”
She nodded. “This is my friend Jackson.”
“I was hoping we could talk alone,” Ned said.
“That won’t be happening.” Jackson put his arm around her. “And I know everything. So, this will be a very candid conversation.”
“Wow. I’m surprised.” Ned stuffed his hands into his pockets. “But relieved.”
“Why relieved?” Shannon asked. “You were a part of that life. You—”
“I was. But the day I got arrested, it changed my entire world. At first, I thought it’d ruined me, but in actuality, it set me free.” He took a few steps closer.
Jackson puffed out his chest. “But you did nothing to help your niece, knowing full well—”
“I did not know my brother would bring his own daughter into that life. When I was involved, family members were off-limits.”
“Oh, and that makes it okay?” Jackson said.
Shannon leaned into him, drawing on his strength.
“No. Of course, it doesn’t. And anything I say will sound like an excuse. But once my brother died, I knew she was safe because there was no one to pull her in. Her mother’s a lot of things, but once she was in—”
“That’s bullshit,” Shannon said. “Any of those men could have found me and manipulated me, and you know it.” For her entire childhood, Shannon had felt as though she had no voice. Now, she felt stronger than ever.
“I was dealing with my shit, and your mother wouldn’t have anything to do with me…we can go ‘round and ‘round with this all day, but that’s not why I wanted to talk to you. You should know that Alex Angler has moved back to the area.”
“You’re a little too late with that juicy piece of information,” Shannon said. “If that’s all you wanted, why didn’t you just send me an email?”
“I wanted to see you. I wanted to apologize personally. And I wanted you to know that not a day goes by that I don’t regret not saying something. I needed to say that to your face. But I couldn’t invade your space without your permission.”
“I appreciate that.” Shannon allowed
the rage to fade into the background. She hadn’t forgiven him for anything but holding on to it didn’t help.
“How do you know about Alex?” Jackson said.
“When you went to rehab, as your mother spun that story, Alex and Borden came to me, wanting to know what’d happened to you.”
“You’d been out of that stuff for a few years. Why did they come to you?”
“You weren’t the first girl to give up a child from those sex clubs.”
Jackson kicked one of the flimsy plastic chairs, sending it flying across the yard. It smacked the side of his house, shattering into pieces. “Finish what you have to say before I beat the shit out of you,” he said under his breath.
“Your boyfriend is a bit of a hothead.”
“Can you blame him?” Shannon asked. “He’s had to watch you sit at the top of the driveway like a creeper, and now you’re spouting this crap about how you wanted to tell me to my face? I’m sorry, Ned, but it wasn’t necessary, and we have nothing left to say to one another.” She shook out her hands. “Actually, if you had any real decency left, you would have told me the second you knew that Alex was back.”
“You’ve said your piece, now leave.” Jackson pointed. “Before I make you.”
Ned held up his hands. “Alex is dangerous. He was involved in some dark shit in the city. Worse than anything your father was ever involved in.”
“Oh. Because raping and selling teenagers isn’t that horrible,” Shannon said.
Ned cocked his head. “Be careful. He blames you for how his life turned out.”
Shannon closed her eyes and waited for the sound of an engine driving away. She shivered.
“Hey, Katie,” Jackson said.
Shannon blinked, glancing toward Jackson, who stood in the middle of the driveway where Ned had been parked.
“Are you following him?”
“What?” Shannon asked.
Jackson held up his finger.
“Don’t shush me. Put her on speaker.” The last thing Shannon needed was more secrets.
Jackson nodded.
“I’ll stay with Ned until you tell me not to follow him,” Katie said.
“Perfect. And what about Alex?” Jackson stared into Shannon’s eyes.
