by Claire Adams
“Thanks, PJ, I’ll see you soon.”
“Remember, Jackson, be careful of Stephano’s people. They know how to switch sides quickly.”
“Will do.”
As I hung up the phone, I felt a new uneasiness around Roxanne. Certainly, she was trustworthy. I had watched her be strangled by Stephano’s man. But PJ had managed to instill a small bit of doubt in Roxanne’s ability to be trusted.
Chapter 12
ROXANNE
“Jackson, I just don’t think it’s a good idea to try and buy Ana. Stephano isn’t stupid. He’s going to know something is up.”
“I know, Roxanne. I’m working on something that will help that. Let me shave and get dressed and we can talk about it more.”
I didn’t know what exactly Jackson was up to, but it didn’t feel like he understood just how dangerous Stephano was. Stephano wouldn’t wait to see who Jackson was. He would kill him the second something felt wrong. I needed to call Chase and warn him.
Jackson didn’t understand how Stephano’s world worked. If a new guy wanted to buy a girl, he wasn’t going to automatically trust him and just sell a girl to him. He certainly wouldn’t sell someone like Ana who he already had a buyer for. He would think that Jackson worked for the police and was trying to set him up. He would kill Jackson and I feared Jackson didn’t understand what he was getting himself into.
“Hey, Jackson. What’s up?” Chase said as I dialed his number.
“It’s Roxanne. Jackson is planning to try and buy Ana. He’s going to get himself killed.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s getting ready. I don’t think I can talk him out of this, Chase. Can you come down here? We are at the Motor Inn across from the Hyatt.”
“Yes, try to stall him for a few hours. I’ll be down by noon.”
Chase hung up the phone and I placed Jackson’s cell right back where it had been. By this time, I was pretty sure that Stephano knew something was up with me. He had his guys follow me to the hotel, where Jackson had beaten them up. Stephano would be on high alert. There was no way in hell he would fall for Jackson showing up and trying to buy Ana.
There had to be a better plan. As much as Stephano liked money, he liked his freedom even more. If he thought for a tiny second that Jackson was a police officer, Stephano would close the deal down at the very least and we would have no more contact or opportunity to get Ana. At the very worst, Stephano would just kill Jackson.
I felt so frustrated as I waited for Jackson to get out of the bathroom. I knew he was the one with the training, but I was the one who knew Stephano.
As Jackson came out of the bathroom, I tried to hide my concern and put on a smile for him. I really hoped Chase got down to Miami quickly and could convince Jackson to stop his ridiculous plan.
“Ready to eat?”
“Yes, I’m starved,” I said as I gathered my jacket. “You know, I’m starting to like this little hotel better than our other one.”
“It’s very comfortable for a side street motel.”
“Oh, I forgot something, just a second,” I said as I went back to the room.
I hadn’t really forgotten a thing; it was the only way I could stall him. If I took a few extra minutes in the room, a few extra minutes ordering, I would hopefully be able to stall until Chase arrived.
When I finished stalling, we finally made our way to the little diner next door to grab some breakfast and hopefully figure out what to do next. I needed to convince Jackson that he couldn’t go into meet Stephano alone. There was too much risk involved in that. Jackson might be trained to kill people with his hands, but Stephano was trained to just shoot people and not wait for the hand-to-hand combat.
“Maybe we should call Chase and have him come down and help you with this? It might be helpful to have another man go with you to met Stephano.”
“No need. I’ve got things covered. I have an old co-worker that’s with the CIA coming into town. PJ is highly skilled in trafficking cases and will get us the connections we need.”
“Oh, does this PJ know how dangerous Stephano is?” I asked, highly suspicious that anyone with the CIA knew a damn thing about Stephano.
“Yes, apparently the human trafficking division has had their eyes on Stephano for years. I think they are excited at the opportunity to catch him.”
Jackson was so naive when it came to Stephano. Sure, I believed that Jackson had probably dealt with a lot of bad guys when he was in the military. But even those guys followed some basic rules of combat. Stephano didn’t follow any rules.
“So, when is this person coming? Are they going to go with you to meet Stephano?”
“Why so many questions?” Jackson asked.
He seemed to be getting agitated with me, and I knew I needed to back off. I didn’t want him to think I was against his plan. I just wanted him to be safe. In the end, any plan that ended up getting Ana away from Stephano was a good plan and I was willing to look at everything. Unfortunately, I didn’t think Jackson was willing to consider any other plan than the one he was currently fixated on.
“You know I’m just trying to help. What can I do?”
Jackson thought about it for a moment and seemed to be pondering many different ideas as he tried to decide. I didn’t want to just be along for the ride. I knew Stephano well and I had a lot to offer the situation. I just wished that Jackson could see my worth and let me participate a little.
“I don’t know if we should use you much anymore. You are compromised now. Stephano knows something is up. His guys were in the hotel room.”
“Like I said, they just thought I was fucking you. They don’t know anything more than that. Don’t take me off the case. I really need this money.”
I felt the panic set in at the thought of not being able to finish the case with Jackson. I had thrown away my livelihood with Stephano. I needed the money that Chase had promised me if I was going to start a new life. I needed to help save Ana and get my $250,000 there was no way in hell I was going to go back to stripping and I certainly couldn’t go back to Stephano.
“It’s alright. I’ll tell Chase you finished the job,” Jackson said as he dismissed my worries.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I had just called Chase to bring him down to Miami. He was going to know for sure that I hadn’t done anything to help the case at all. In fact, my stupid actions had jeopardized the case. I felt sick to my stomach. I needed the money that had been promised to me. I had to figure out something so I could make good on the job.
I sat quietly and ate my breakfast while I contemplated what I could possibly do. I couldn’t let Jackson do everything, then I wouldn’t get any of the money. It was about more than just helping Ana – it was about helping save my own life. I couldn’t live the life I had before, I wanted so much more now.
“I’m going to go and meet with the CIA contact in a little bit. You will need to stay back at the motel. Do you understand?”
I hated what he was saying. Yes, I understood that he didn’t want to risk the job by letting me be involved anymore. I got exactly what he was saying. But I had to finish the job. I needed the money and quite frankly, I thought that Jackson needed me in order to get the job done without getting himself killed.
“Sure,” I said to appease him.
I felt the life I had dreamed about slipping away from me. Jackson wasn’t going to let me be involved and Chase was going to be there soon and would see that I hadn’t done a damn thing to help save Ana. Sure, I had been strangled and they would feel bad about that, but I hadn’t felt like I had made a real contribution to the effort.
“It’s alright, Roxanne. I’m coming back,” Jackson said as he reached across the table and grabbed my hand.
My gut spun with his touch and I instantly wanted to be back in bed with him. But maybe that was why he didn’t want me to help with things anymore. Our relationship had been very physical in the last couple of days. I should have had better willpower, but it was so hard
around him.
“Is it because we made out? Is that why you don’t want me to help?”
He started to laugh and I had no idea what was going on. What had I said that was so funny?
“No, I liked that.”
“Then what is it? Why don’t you want me to help?”
He still chuckled a little as he held onto my hand and looked me in the eyes. His face seemed relaxed and calm. I really couldn’t read him, at all. Nothing seemed to get him worked up. The more chaos and danger around, the calmer Jackson seemed to be. I wished I could behave like that when craziness was going on around me.
“There is no reason, Roxanne. I just think it would be better if I went without you.”
“Well, that’s a reason, isn’t it?”
I felt tears start to well up in my eyes. But there was no way I was letting Jackson see me cry again. I was tired of being the weak girl who couldn’t take care of herself around him. That wasn’t me. That had never been me. I knew how to take care of myself better than any girl my age. I didn’t need a man to do it for me.
For the last five years, I had successfully avoided crying around any man. Now in the span of only a few days, I had broken down twice in front of Jackson. I didn’t know what was going on with my emotions, but I couldn’t risk it and tried damn hard to put my emotional wall back up and stop crying.
“Come on, now. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Can I have the room key, please?” I said as I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.
Jackson grabbed my hand and I felt the tears leaving my eyes. There was no way I could avoid it now.
“Stay, we can talk about it.”
“Key. Please.”
He reached into his pocket and grabbed the room key. I took it from his hand and made my way back to the room as fast as I could. I hated how out of control I felt. It wasn’t me. It was some weak girl who I didn’t want to be. My whole life, I had avoided being that weak girl around men, but there I was crying over something stupid.
As I got to the room, I rushed in and shut the door behind me. Finally, I gave into the tears that had been filling my eyes. I needed to figure something out. I couldn’t lose this job. I couldn’t lose the opportunity to change my life.
I grabbed the landline in the room and dialed one of my old friends from the club.
“Michaela, it’s Roxanne, I need your help.”
I knew I had been lucky to get her to answer the phone and I held my breath to see if she would stay on the line with me or hang up. Michaela had gotten out of the business after almost being killed by a John. I hadn’t been a good friend after that incident and wished I had. I was afraid of Stephano and I didn’t want to reach out to Michaela, but now it had been several years and I felt safe talking to her.
“What do you want, Roxanne? Is this a safe phone?”
“Yes, I’m at a motel. I’m trying to help a girl that Stephano is trying to sell. Is there any way into his house without him seeing me?”
“Roxanne, I know you’re not stupid enough to think that you can outsmart Stephano. Just let the girl go. If she was dumb enough to get trapped in his web, then she deserves to get sold off. You know that’s not a bad life. Those guys overseas treat their girls really good.”
“Any doors he leaves unlocked? Time of day that is best to get in there? Come on, Michaela, help me out a little.”
There was a long pause while she decided whether I was worthy enough of her help. She had dated Stephano after her assault and he had treated her well, but she just never felt well enough to dance again.
“He goes to the club on Fridays and Saturdays. There are guards still at his house and they will have no problem killing you, but you might be able to sweet talk one of them. Don’t call me again.”
Michaela hung up the phone without another word.
I could tell Jackson about the information I had just received and maybe it would help him. But deep down, I knew I needed to try and rescue Ana myself. None of those guards were going to let a guy like Jackson onto the property. But I knew most of them, they might be willing to say that Ana escaped if I was sweet enough to them. It was worth a chance. I couldn’t risk Jackson and Chase thinking that I hadn’t done enough to earn the money I had been promised.
Only about a minute after I hung up the phone, Jackson was at the door. He knocked first and then came in. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t locked the door. I needed to do better in protecting myself. It could have been Stephano’s goons again, instead of Jackson.
“I’ll call my brother Nathan and see if he can come and help. He does private security for celebrities and diplomats. He’s got the muscle that I might need if I’m stuck dealing with Stephano. He’s also got access to some firepower. Would that make you feel better about the plan?”
“I don’t like any of this, Jackson. I like you. I don’t want you to get killed.”
He came and sat next to me on the bed and let his hand rest on mine. He thought this was all about me and wanting to get the money. But it wasn’t just about that, it was also about Stephano being willing to kill anyone he didn’t like. My heart hurt with the idea that Jackson could get killed by going to deal with Stephano and trying to buy Ana. It wasn’t a good plan.
“I like you, too. I’m not going to get killed, but I can’t risk having you out there with me. I watched you get strangled. It’s too dangerous. Can you please not fight me on this?”
I took in a deep breath and thought about my own plans for saving Ana. I was going to have to agree to stay in the room so that Jackson would just leave me alone. I felt much more confident with me going into Stephano’s home than I did with Jackson trying to deal with him. I had five years of a relationship with Stephano, he wouldn’t suspect that I would now try to go against him.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?” Jackson said as he looked concerned about what it was I had to say.
“I did something. Please don’t be mad at me.”
“What did you do, Roxanne?” He stood up and looked out the window. “You didn’t tell Stephano where we are, did you?”
“What? No! Why would I do that? No!” I yelled.
I couldn’t believe what he had said. The first thing that had come to his mind when I said I did something was that I had called Stephano. Why on earth would I call Stephano?
Then it dawned on me. Jackson didn’t trust me. Maybe that was the real reason he didn’t want me involved. He didn’t think I was there to truly help him. He had doubts about my intentions.
It made me sick to think that I had almost slept with him – a man who thought I would risk Ana’s life and my own all to stay in the good graces of Stephano. Did he really think I was still on Stephano’s side? My mouth dropped open at the idea.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” Jackson said.
But then there was a knock at the door. It startled both of us and for a second, I wondered if it was really Chase at the door or someone else. Maybe Stephano had followed us. Maybe it was one of his goons coming to try and hurt us.
I watched Jackson as he looked out the window and then back at me.
“Chase? You called Chase?” Jackson said as he opened the door more annoyed than ever at me. “She called you?”
Chase waved at me and gave me a little half grin before he answered Jackson. “She was worried you were going to get yourself killed with Stephano.”
“I’m a professional, Chase. You are paying me to help you with this job. You are not a professional. If anyone is more likely to get themselves killed here, it would be you.”
Jackson was really annoyed and I made a point to avoid eye contact with him and stayed on the bed. I saw a look in Chase’s eyes as he looked around the honeymoon suite we were in and realized there was only one big bed and a romantic bathtub in the corner.
“We need to talk alone. Come out here,” Chase said as he grabbed Jackson and they shut the door behind them.
“Are you kidding me, Chase? You seriously came all the way down here to babysit me? I can handle the job.”
“Are you fucking her?”
I stood up and kept my ear to the curtain near the window as I listened to their entire conversation.
“No! Why would you say that?” Jackson protested.
“Well, you’re in a romantic room with a king-size bed and hot tub in the corner. She’s acting all worried about you and when I left, the two of you before you seemed to hate each other. But now she’s calling me worried that you’ll get hurt.”
Jackson was quiet for a minute and I could tell he was trying to decide just how much information he should admit to his brother.
“We’ve made out. That’s it. No sex. It really doesn’t matter, anyways. I’m a grown up and so is she – we can do whatever the hell we want to.”
“Jackson! Come on. I trusted you to get this job done. I’ve got Jordan at the hotel crying because she thinks her friend is being raped and tortured. I’ve got you here trying to get laid with our best inside informant. I don’t like this.”
“Listen here, Chase. I’m your older brother, let’s not forget that. I know what I’m doing. I know how to do this job. Now, if you want to do it yourself, you are more than welcome to. But I’ve got a friend from the CIA trafficking division coming down to help today and I was just about to call Nate in on the deal, as well.”
“You were going to call Nate?” Chase said as he calmed down.
“Yes, now do you want to come in and talk about this some more or should we stay out here and just throw some punches to get this over with?”
I ran back to the bed and sat down as I waited for the guys to come back in. They seemed like typical brothers, yelling at each other one minute and then best friends the next.
“Did you boys make up?” I teased as they made their way back into the room.
Both Chase and Jackson were a couple of the best-looking men I had ever met. Of course, I was much fonder of Jackson than Chase, but they were both delicious hunks. I was secretly really excited to meet their other brother Nate. I could only hope that he was equally as delicious.