More couples get up, joining us on the busy dance floor.
“Mom’s a dancer, remember?” He tweaks my nose. “Dani and I took dance lessons for years. Mom bribed me into doing it because Dad has two left feet and she needed someone to practice with.”
I grin. “That is very sweet.”
“It’s hell. Now, every event we attend, she drags me up to dance with her. It’s cringing.”
“I never realized you were such a momma’s boy,” I tease.
“Guilty as charged,” he admits, reeling me in closer. His hands hold me firmly at the waist as his eyes drift to my lips. “I want to kiss you so badly right now.” His voice deepens, and his pupils dilate with unconcealed desire.
“Jackson,” I warn, “you can’t push me.”
“I never would.” He brings his gaze back up, peering deep into my eyes. “Guess I’ll just have to lie in bed later imagining your lips on my mouth.”
I’m expecting him to add something dirty, but he doesn’t. I arch a brow.
“What?”
“That’s it?”
He pins me with a shit-eating grin. “I was going to add how I’d jerk off to thoughts of you riding my cock. You know like you did in The Hamptons? So fucking hot. But I thought better of it, because I’m trying to woo you and Mom says I need to be romantic and keep my filthy thoughts to myself.”
I stare at him flabbergasted.
He chuckles. “I’ve rendered you speechless. I’ll consider that a win.”
“You’ve talked to your mom about me? And you talk to her about your sex life?” I lower my voice, glancing around, conscious of our surroundings.
“I asked Mom for advice, and I guess she knows the male mind.” He shrugs.
“I love your mom,” I blurt.
“She loves you.” Tentatively, he cups one side of my face. “It was thoughtful of you to send her the card and gift. You made her day.”
“She went out of her way for me. Both your parents did. It was just a little token of appreciation.”
“You do know she’s already planning our wedding.” He grins, and I stare at him dumbfounded.
“I thought you went to her for advice, so that implies she knows we’re not together anymore. Why on Earth would she be planning our wedding?”
“Because she has faith in me,” he says, moving his hand to the nape of my neck. “And she has faith in you,” he whispers over my mouth, moving in closer.
“Jackson.” I take a step back even though it pains me to do it.
He holds up his hands. “I’m sorry. It’s just so hard to keep my hands and my lips off you.”
“You’re not going to give up, are you?”
He vehemently shakes his head. “Never. You’re it for me, babe.” He tweaks my nose, and it’s so damn hard to stay mad at him. His expression sobers up. “If you give me another chance, I promise I’ll never let you down again.”
“I’ll think about it,” I murmur, and he picks me up, grinning like a little boy in a candy shop as he swings me around.
My cheeks are on fire, and I swat at his arms when he puts me down on the ground. “We’re not supposed to be drawing attention,” I hiss.
“You’re right. Sorry,” he says, not looking in the least bit sorry.
I roll my eyes. “I need to go to the ladies’ room.”
He offers me his arm. “Lead the way.”
Jackson waits out in the hallway while I step into the restroom. It’s not too busy with only a few stalls occupied. I attend to business, and I’m washing my hands at the sink, looking at the renewed glow in my cheeks, when the door locks with a distinct click.
All the hairs rise on the back of my neck, and my spine stiffens as I feel the ominous presence filling every nook and cranny in the room. My eyes flit to the stalls behind me, but they are all empty.
I’m alone. Trapped in here with this dark entity. The urge to squeeze my eyes shut and pretend like nothing is happening rides me hard, but I ignore it. I’m not a terrified little girl anymore, and I’m not going to let anything happen without a fight.
I whip around just as he reaches me.
My eyes pop wide in horror as I stare at a face that regularly features in my nightmares.
“Hello, Vanessa,” he says, stopping right in front of me, leaving barely any space between us. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you again.” He’s wearing the same arrogant smile I’m familiar with.
Memories return, threatening to derail me, but I jerk my chin up and lift my shoulders, determined not to give in to them or to cower from this monster.
“I’d like to say the same, but I’d be lying.” I’m proud my voice doesn’t shake even though I’m quaking like a leaf inside. Pressing a hand across my chest, I move my pinkie, activating the audio recording chip. “What do you want?”
“That’s a loaded question if ever I heard one,” he says, smirking. Strands of dark hair fall across his brow, and while he’s still aesthetically handsome, to me, he will always be ugly on the outside and the inside.
“I’m coming,” Jackson whispers in my ear.
“My boyfriend is outside,” I blurt as nerves get the better of me.
“I’m counting on it. Mr. Lauder has been so attentive all night.” A shiver crawls up my spine at the thought he’s been watching me and I didn’t notice.
“Tell me, Vanessa,” he says, grabbing my throat as the door rattles. “Did you enjoy your time in Lanzarote?”
Panic jumps up and bites me when his fingers squeeze my throat. His breath is stale and warm on my face as he leans in close, pressing his disgusting lips to mine. He grinds his hips against me, but the layers of my skirt shield me from feeling his arousal. Tears leak from my eyes as memories I’m trying to forget surge to the forefront of my mind.
I freeze, every muscle locking up tight, my brain checking out as I give in to the inevitable. Darkness infiltrates every part of me, swallowing up the light, and I’m back there, in the past, frightened and alone, at his mercy.
The door groans with successive shakes as Jackson roars in my ear, shouting at the others for help, but I barely hear it in my frozen state.
“I might know if I could find my dear friend Christian, but he appears to be missing,” the monster says. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, now would you?”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Jackson
KAI, CHARLIE, RICK, and Drew race toward me as I shove my shoulder at the door again, but the fucking thing won’t budge.
“Step aside,” Anderson demands, producing a fire extinguisher and smashing it into the door. He moves his arm back, ready to slam it into the wood again, when the door suddenly swings open.
“Mathers!” I snarl, lunging at him. “You fucking bastard!” I ram my fist into his face, hitting him square in the nose as I push him back into the bathroom. Shoving him out of the way, I run to where Vanessa is trembling and crying by the sink.
“Nessa.” I deliberately soften my tone, lifting my hand carefully to touch her face. “It’s okay. I’m here.” I brush my thumb along her cheek, urging her to look at me.
“Jackson,” she whispers, pinning me with terrified eyes. Her lip wobbles, and she collapses against me, clinging to me as she sobs. My heart breaks all over again, and Denton Mathers is lucky my girl needs me, because otherwise, I’d be over there making mincemeat of him.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” I snarl, holding Nessa close as I glare at Mathers over my shoulder. Kai has him pinned to the wall, the others forming a circle around him.
“Not enough,” he coolly replies, smirking, and Kai punches him in the gut.
Mathers doubles over before straightening up, fixing us with an evil grimace. “I really wouldn’t do that, gentlemen. I think you’ll find the new president a lot more focused on discipline than the previous one. You have initiation coming up in a couple of months. Take my advice. Don’t piss him off in the meantime.”
“What is going on here
?”
Speak of the devil. William Hamilton forces his way into the bathroom, his gaze bouncing astutely around the room. His eyes land on Nessa, and then, he turns his attention to that slimeball Mathers.
“What did you do?” His voice drops a few octaves.
“Nothing.” Mathers holds up his hands. “I was just having a friendly word in Vanessa Montgomery’s ear. It’s not my fault the kids overreacted.” He dabs at the beads of blood trickling from his nose.
Hamilton stares at us, and I maintain eye contact, challenging him with a warning look. He breaks our stare down, addressing everyone in the room. “We are hosting these events in public places for a reason. To assure the public at large they have nothing to fear, and you idiots decide to destroy hotel property and attack a senior elite member.”
“He locked himself in here with my girlfriend to threaten her and to incite us. How about you reprimand him for that,” I hiss.
“And you are?” Hamilton eyes me like I’m scum on the bottom of his shoe.
“None of your fucking business,” I retort, because fuck him. I’m not an elite. I don’t have to act civil to him, and I sure as fuck don’t answer to him.
“Kindly leave.” Hamilton glares at me before swinging his gaze on the others. “All of you. You are no longer welcome here.” He points his finger at my friends. “I know who you are, and this is the exact type of behavior that must be stamped out. I expect you to generously compensate the hotel for the damage, and I’ll make sure this little incident disappears.”
Nessa has her face pressed into my chest, but she has stopped crying. I smooth my hand up and down her back, hating how badly her entire body is trembling.
“Touch her again, asshole, and you’re dead,” I warn Denton as we move past him.
“Was killing both Montgomerys not satisfying enough, Lauder?” he baits. “I think you fit right in around here, and you know it.”
“Enough.” Hamilton barks, glowering at Denton.
I fix both men with dark glares as I leave the room, holding Nessa at my side, her head buried in my chest.
Anderson looks Nessa over, and his troubled eyes meet mine. He can tell she’s hanging on by a thread, and we need to get out of here.
“Can someone drive us?” I ask, because there’s no way I’m prying myself from Nessa in this state.
“I will,” Abby says, storming up the hallway, closely followed by Shandra.
“I’m coming too,” Anderson adds, throwing his car keys to Drew.
“Where’s Rebecca?” Rick asks, alarm lacing his tone.
“Mom has her,” Abby confirms, and his shoulders relax.
“Everyone, meet back at my place,” I say, walking toward Abby with Anderson at my side.
“Nessa.” Abby places her hand on Nessa’s back, but she still won’t lift her head from my chest.
I shake my head at Abby. “Can you grab her purse and meet me at the car? I’ll text you the location in the garage.” I just want to get Nessa the fuck out of here now. Anderson slides his arm around his wife, and they exit the hallway into the ballroom.
“There’s a back stairwell this way,” Drew says, pointing to the corridor on my left. “Take the left at the end, and you’ll see the door.”
I nod my thanks and take off.
I’m in the back seat, cradling Nessa to me, when Abby and Kai show up a few minutes later. “Thanks for this,” I say when she slides behind the wheel. Anderson takes shotgun.
“No thanks necessary.” Is she okay? Abby mouths, and I shake my head.
I hold Nessa close, my arms wrapped firmly around her, while I dot kisses into her hair. She isn’t crying anymore, but she’s shaking uncontrollably, and I wish I could ingest her pain and free her from hurting.
Mathers acted like he knew her, and I’m dying to find out what’s going on, but she’s falling apart in front of me, and I don’t want to do or say anything to make it worse.
Abby drives us out of the city in silence, her worried gaze locking with mine through the mirror on several occasions. Anderson holds his hand over hers from time to time, and I can tell being back in this world has heightened his protective instincts.
We are about halfway back to Rydeville when Nessa stirs, straightening up and easing out of my arms. When she looks at me, it’s like she’s looking through me. She has a dazed expression in her eyes that troubles me. “You know him,” she whispers.
I nod, wetting my dry lips as I risk asking my question. “You know him too?”
She bobs her head, and a strangled noise crawls out of her mouth. It’s the type of anguished, baleful sound I imagine I’d hear if I found an animal in pain, dying at the side of the road.
My helpless eyes meet Abby’s and Kai’s in the mirror. Tears stream down Abby’s cheeks, and I wonder if she’s remembering her own ordeal at the hands of Christian, Trent, and Denton.
“He raped me when I was fourteen,” Nessa whispers, and my helplessness turns to horror and rage. “It was the summer before I started high school. Mom had gone out with the twins for the afternoon, and he showed up with Aaron at the house. He’d visited before, and I never liked the way he looked at me.”
She shivers all over, and I clasp her hand as Abby pulls over to the side of the road, putting the car in park. Very gently, I move my hand to the top of Nessa’s dress, pressing down on the chip adhered to the swell of her breast, deactivating the audio device. I don’t think she wants to broadcast this to everyone.
Anderson pulls Abby over into his lap, circling his arms around her as his worried eyes meet mine.
Nessa’s hand is cold in mine, her fingers just limply lying there, and when she speaks, it’s in a monotone voice. She’s staring straight ahead as she talks, but it’s like she’s not here. Abby shoots me another concerned look as she turns around in Anderson’s lap, giving Nessa her full attention.
“They took turns all afternoon,” Nessa says. “It felt like it lasted days. Everywhere hurt.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing my tears to subside.
“Aaron had been climbing into my bed since I was ten,” she continues, and a fresh wave of horror accosts me. I’d suspected as much when I heard what Montgomery said to her on the boat, but this is even worse than I’d imagined. “He raped me for the first time when I was twelve. Mom knew, but she didn’t care. It meant he stopped raping her.”
Abby is openly crying now, and Anderson is visibly distressed. I know both have compassion for Nessa, but it’s also resurrecting the stuff that happened to Abby this past year, and those memories are not pleasant.
“I went crazy after those bastards tag teamed me,” Nessa admits. “I did a ton of crazy shit. Got arrested for shoplifting. Skipped school. When I showed up at West Lorian, I was belligerent and rude. I got in fights with other girls. I—”
She doubles over, clutching her stomach. I wrap my arms around Nessa again. “It’s okay. You don’t have to continue.”
“I want to,” she cries, lifting her eye, stabbing me with red-rimmed swollen eyes. “I want to purge this now, because if I don’t, it will fester inside me until my insides turn rotten. And then, he’s won. They’ve all won.”
My beautiful, brave warrior. Still battling. Still surviving.
Abby reaches out, twining her fingers with Nessa. “Survivors,” she says, letting her know she understands.
“I thought it was behind me,” Nessa continues, sniffling. “I was proud of me, because I got away from Aaron and I built a new life. I worried about Kayleigh though.” She turns to me. “It was Aaron who attacked me at my apartment, because I’d reported him to social services after I spotted bruises on my sister.”
I had guessed some of it from what Montgomery said on the boat, but everything slots into place now.
“He warned me if I told you that he’d rape her and let his friends rape her too. I had to lie.”
“I understand.” I rub a hand up and down her back. “You were protecting your sister.”
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“When he died, I was so happy. So hopeful for the future,” she sobs.
Until I fucked with her head. God, I have so much to answer for.
“You know what’s really fucked up?” she asks us, her gaze flitting between me, Anderson, and Abby. “Montgomery staged his murder so it’d look like a car accident. He murdered him because he had the nerve to come after me again. He said he’d no right to touch what was his.” She shakes her head, and wild laughter bursts from her mouth. “What the fuck is wrong with these people?!” she shouts.
“They have no conscience,” Abby says. “And they think we were born to spread our legs for them. They legit believe that.”
“I thought it ended with Montgomery, but it’s never going to end, is it?” Nessa pins doleful eyes on me, and I want to bundle her up and run away. To find some idyllic island oasis where no monsters exist, and no one can find us. Only I’m not naïve enough to believe such a place exists.
“Let me protect you. Let me love you.” I kiss her cheek. “You don’t have to do this by yourself anymore.”
“I’m so tired, Jackson.” She slumps against me, resting her head on my shoulder. “How many times do I have to go into battle?”
“I don’t know, babe.” I kiss her temple. “But you’re no longer going into battle alone. You have an army beside you, and we’d die before we let anyone hurt you again.”
_______________
“Is she okay?” I ask Abby when she materializes in my kitchen a couple of hours later. The mood is somber since we all arrived back at my place. Abby wanted to talk to Nessa, woman to woman, and the only reason I left them alone was because Nessa asked me to.
Abby jerks her head to the side, and I join her in the corner.
“She’s asleep and doing as well as can be expected, but she’s been through so much, Jackson. More trauma than one person can endure. Denton didn’t hurt her in the bathroom, but he didn’t need to. His threats have sent her spiraling into the past. She needs to talk to someone. The only time she ever attended therapy was after that happened at fourteen,” Abby confirms through gritted teeth. “But that bastard Breen warned her not to say a word or he’d bring Denton back for a repeat performance.”
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