The Gentlewoman

by Lisa Durkin

  “I’m sorry to interrupt.” He looked at Nicole. “May I speak with you privately?”

  “Certainly.” She turned back to the group. “Continue, I’ll be back.”

  They went into her office and sat down. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need your help.”

  “Is everything okay with Rory, I mean, considering…”

  “Yes, she’s still in committee. I left to catch you alone.”

  “We were just briefing the staff on the threat. I didn’t want them to do it while she was around.”

  “Good idea.”

  “What do you need, Jackson?” she asked, cocking her head and gazing at him.

  “Advice. On how to get Rory to forgive me.”

  “I warned you. We sat exactly as we are now and I warned you not to hurt her or give her another reason to retreat. Didn’t I?”

  “You did.”

  “And yet you weren’t honest, with me or her. You knew then she was a pawn. You could have limited the damage by being honest, but you didn’t. I believe my rearview mirror has a spot awaiting your—”

  “I admit I wasn’t honest, Nicole, but you can’t believe I wanted to hurt her. I’m in love with her.”

  The announcement rang in the air and Nicole smiled. “I knew it. I told her so.”

  “So, you’ll help me? I don’t know what to do. I can’t seem to make her believe I love her and want to be with her. She thinks the seat on Homeland is the only reason I had anything to do with her. She won’t acknowledge what’s right in front of her.”

  Nicole searched his face while she thought things through. “You ever been betrayed by someone you loved before?”

  “Does my ex-wife’s infidelity count?”

  Nicole cocked an eyebrow, impressed. “Yeah, that’s pretty bad. But not as bad as what happened to Rory.”

  “Nicole, I read her FBI file. I know the whole thing; saw the pictures too. That guy was a monster and I know what he did to her father and her. I know about the pregnancy. I’ve also seen how badly she struggles with the aftereffects, the PTSD.”

  “You know a lot then. Rory never dreamed that man was conning her and she never dreamed him capable of doing that to her and her family. Imagine, finding out your whole life is a lie and your husband’s a criminal, losing your father to him violently, and the baby you wanted all your life. She was almost dead and had to come back to life and deal with all that.”

  “I already feel like a bastard for what I’ve done to her, please, Nicole.” He shook his head in bewilderment.

  “The worst of it is this, Jackson. She blames herself for the death of her father and her baby.”

  “What? Why would she?”

  “Survivor’s guilt and PTSD. Only more severe. She thinks she was just stupid and should have been able to see what Aidan really was. Her cousin Devon and I have tried, but she never talks about it. She doesn’t believe she deserves to be forgiven or be happy. She feels totally responsible.”

  Jackson was wide-eyed. “Holy shit.”

  “Devon and I had to convince her to give you a chance. We knew she was attracted to you and we really thought you’d be good for her. Thanks for fucking that up.”

  “Well, how do I fix it?”

  “I don’t know. In her mind, you’ve used her like Aidan did.”

  “If I hear myself compared to that monster again I’m going to break something.”

  “You brought this on yourself. You could start with begging, I guess.”

  “I’ve tried that.” They were silent for a moment, both thinking about the situation.

  “So if she blames herself for Aidan, does she blame herself for what I’ve done to her?”

  “Probably, that’s how her mind works. She always says ‘fool me once, shame on me’. Drives me crazy.”

  “So that’s the problem, she blames herself for letting her guard down and trusting me. She can’t forgive herself, so she can’t forgive me.”

  “I tried telling her this wasn’t that bad. Hell, I’ve seen her do worse in the name of revenge, not to mention political gain.”

  Jackson’s gaze shot back to Nicole. “Really? Like what?”

  “Let’s go out to dinner tonight,” Jackson said to Rory. They were in the back of the livery car, and she looked at him as if he had three heads atop his broad shoulders. She had boxed herself up next to him on the seat with bags full of work to keep herself busy over the weekend.

  “Are you nuts?”

  “Only for you.” He smiled and batted his eyes. She looked out the window. “I’m serious; let’s go to dinner. Why not?”

  “Well, let’s see. It’s freezing out, there’s two feet of snow, and oh yeah, there’s a cold-blooded murderer scouring the city looking to kill us.”

  “I don’t mind the cold a bit,” he quipped. She shot him an eat-shit look. “We’re supposed to maintain appearances, Ror. We would normally go out to dinner at some point. Let’s go. I don’t have any food in the house.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “When was your last meal, anyway?”

  Rory ignored him.

  “We can go right now. Travis here can drive us, can’t you, Travis?” he shouted to the driver.

  “Jackson,” she hissed, closing her eyes and praying for patience.

  “Please. For me. I want us to talk and I don’t think we should hole up in that condo tonight. We’re liable to lose our minds. Please, Rory.”

  She searched his eyes. “I’m not sure why I should be doing you any favors. Let’s go home first. I want to change. I’m tired of monkey suits,” she murmured to herself.

  “Certainly. I love it when you wear jeans.”

  The waiter handed them menus after seating them in the center of the restaurant. Rory looked around for any signs of Roan or Lon. She felt exposed, even though she knew there were at least two agents shadowing them. She looked over at the generous bar area. It seemed quite the happening place; bodies were piled up six deep over there.

  “Want a drink? I’m having a Jack and Coke.” Jackson seemed happy to be out.

  “Water is fine,” she mumbled.

  “They have the best Spanish food in town here.” The waiter returned and took his drink order. “I wish you’d relax. Nothing will happen in public. Your former brother-in-law is a very smart criminal.”

  “Thanks, that thought eases me.”

  “Rory, I want to talk…”

  “Hello, Jackson, Rory, nice to see you here.” Jennifer Durand stood beside them, another blonde twit in tow.

  “Jennifer, Gwen, how are you both?” Jackson stood and kissed both women’s cheeks. Ever the gentleman, Rory mused. “Rory, you remember Jennifer. This is another friend, Gwen Saunders.”

  Rory rose halfway, managed a semblance of a smile and quickly shook both ladies’ hands before reclining in her chair again. She really wasn’t in the mood to socialize. Especially when she was pretty sure she was odd woman out in one of Jackson’s threesomes. The new twit was wide-eyed and drooling.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Congresswoman,” Jennifer offered coolly.

  “You too, Jennifer.”

  “We saw your news footage,” new Barbie explained, bouncing. “You two looked very hot together.”

  It took real talent to flirt with two people simultaneously, Rory thought. “Well, thank you.” Rory didn’t want to say more. She wasn’t sure she could keep it polite.

  “We’ll leave you to your dinner,” Jennifer said.

  “Thank you,” Jackson said. “Nice seeing you ladies.”

  “Come on over if you’d like a nightcap after your meal,” Gwen offered, looking a little too hopeful. She let her gaze roam down Rory’s body. “It was very nice meeting you, Congresswoman.”

  Rory smiled. Damn if it wasn’t comical that all Jackson’s fuck friends kept coming on to her. “Thank you, Gwen. The pleasure was mine,” she cooed condescendingly.

  Jackson smiled across the table after they were gone.
r />   “What?” Rory shrugged.

  “You.”

  “What?” She feigned confusion.

  “Let’s just say sometimes I’m glad I can’t hear what you’re saying in your head.”

  Rory finally laughed as he had guessed her thoughts so accurately. “I’m just stepping around all the innuendo your multiple partners drop.”

  Jackson laughed and looked into her eyes appreciatively. “Rory.”

  “What?”

  “What can I do to make you forgive me?” She stared at him. “I’m not giving you up. You’re my girl. The only one I want.”

  “You used me.”

  “You’ve used people. Hell, you used me to get to the people you needed that vote from. That’s what we do, Rory. We use people and we consider it fair game because we pretend it serves a higher purpose. That’s politics. Doesn’t make it right, but it doesn’t make me wrong for you.”

  “I’ve never forced someone to do something like…”

  “Who’s Kevin Miller, Congresswoman?”

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Damn Nicole and her mouth. That wasn’t like this.”

  “No, you’re right. It was worse. You tricked him into taking a job you knew would take him out of the running for a seat you wanted.”

  “So? You’d do the same. He tried to discredit me and caused me a lot of trouble.” She shrugged. “Not my fault he couldn’t hold on to that job.”

  “That’s not the only outcome you’ve engineered. Think about that.”

  “Yep, engineering outcomes is the job. You’re right. I should just welcome you back with open thighs.”

  “You shouldn’t dismiss my love for you. I engineered that committee seat, for sure. I even knew it was against your will. But I didn’t do it to hurt you. Hell, I actually think it’ll do you some good.”

  “You sure throw that love word around.”

  “It’s the truth, Rory. Look, I made sure to get to know you and I even helped you out with those votes because I wanted you to count on me. When the time came, I was going to put you on that committee and I did. I’m sorry about the method, but you know that’s how it goes here. But I didn’t become involved with you and fall in love with you because I needed to get you to sit on Homeland. That happened extracurricular to my plans. And it has become the most important thing that’s ever happened to me. I would do anything to get past this and return to what we had.”

  He seemed so sincere. She stared transfixed into his heated blue eyes. The waiter approached and Jackson waved him away without a word.

  “And while I’m at it, let’s clear the air entirely. I’m nothing like your late husband, and if you ever say that to me again I’ll fucking lose it. You should also know that you’re not going to like the legislation we put you on the committee to sponsor. And third, I read your FBI file a long time ago. I know exactly what happened to you. You didn’t cause any of it, and there was no way in hell you could have stopped what happened. He was to blame, not you. So do us all a favor and forgive yourself and me so that we can get on with things, because I’m dying to hear you say you love me too.” Jackson sat back and drained his Jack and Coke. He snapped his fingers at the waiter and signaled for another round.

  “And don’t even think about getting pissed off at me about anything I’ve just said, damn it.”

  Rory stared at him before looking down at her hands at either side of her plate. She was sure this was information overload, because all she could do was wonder what detergent they used to get that shine on the dishes.

  “When…” She cleared her throat trying to recover her weak voice. “When did you read my file?”

  Jackson held her gaze. “I read it when you flew home to Cleveland.”

  She looked back at her plate. He knew almost everything. Had known all along.

  “Rory.” Her head snapped up from gazing at the table. “Let’s order some food. I think you need to eat.”

  Aidan had placed another chair between Rory and her father. He demanded their full attention. In the event they started to lose focus or pass out, he corrected them with a punch. In Rory’s case, since she was on the floor, he kicked her in the ribs. He was quite the showman.

  He questioned them on many things, including their involvement with the FBI and their knowledge of his operations and family. He wanted to know who they had given up to the authorities. He made Rory answer the questions and left her father gagged, kicking him every time he wanted a nod of confirmation. Rory told him the truth about everything, hoping to spare their lives. It didn’t matter; they were rewarded with continued violence, each horrified to see the other beaten. Rory could barely move.

  It lasted forever, and then finally Aidan was quiet. He was so still that it alarmed her and she opened her eyes slowly to see what he was doing. He was staring into her face from only inches away.

  “I only have one more question.” He stood over her. “Let’s see who I shall ask. Eenie, meenie, miney, mo.” His finger ticked back and forth from her to her father. He stopped at her. She looked into his eyes. They seemed clouded. She hadn’t noticed that before.

  His hand ticked back to her father. “I’ll ask your da, love. Maybe he’ll be honest with me.” He skipped over to her father and stood next to him. He made a show of bending at the waist and pretending to whisper. His Irish brogue made her sick now.

  “Oh Dad, oh Dad, is our little Rory Elizabeth with child?”

  Every cell in her body flared with adrenaline. She tried to lift herself but had no purchase with her one good arm. It was like trying to lift solid iron. She began to breathe erratically again.

  Aidan pulled the tape from her father’s mouth in one loud tear. “I’ll ask again, Da, does our little Rory have a bastard in her belly?”

  William Morgan breathed heavily. His teeth clenched, he answered in a deadly growl. “No, she does not.”

  “Wrong answer!” Aidan announced. “Let’s give them another try.” He sashayed over to Rory and lifted her head by her hair.

  “Wife, are you knocked up with my whelp and didn’t bother to tell me that information?”

  Tears ran down Rory’s cheeks. She didn’t want to risk their lives by lying, but she’d be damned if she was going to tell him about her baby. God only knew what he would do. Fear throbbed throughout her chest. She breathed quickly.

  “Please, Aidan, I need water,” she begged.

  “Answer me!” he screamed so loudly into her face that her battered head rang anew. “Are you pregnant, Rory? Tell me the fucking truth, you whore! Did you get knocked up?”

  “No!” she cried.

  “What’s that? I can’t hear you! Are you pregnant, Rory?”

  “No!” she cried again and he dropped her head with a thud to the floor.

  He stood to his full height and as she opened her eyes, she saw him pull the knife from the sheath at his waist. He looked down at her and laughed.

  “Wrong answer, love.” With a hop he swung around and planted the knife into her father’s chest. She screamed and tried to lunge at him, dragging herself across the floor. Aidan came forward and kicked her in the stomach before returning to her father’s chair and stabbing him again and again. She could hear him choking and gurgling as he drowned in the blood entering his lungs. Aidan moved behind him and looked into Rory’s eyes.

  “This is what you get when you lie to me.”

  Aidan dragged the knife across her father’s throat, all but severing his head.

  Rory screamed and closed her eyes. She didn’t open them for a long time. Maybe she was dreaming. Of course, this was a dream. She opened her eyes and she was in a room filled with bright light. She blinked several times and the room came into focus. She was in her bedroom in Bay Village and the sunshine was flooding through the glass wall. She turned to look at what time it was but she couldn’t see the clock. She turned the other way and Roan was standing over her bed. She screamed as she saw that he had his knife poised over Jackson, who was
asleep beside her.

  Rory’s scream woke Jackson and he grabbed his gun from the nightstand. Checking his surroundings, he silently stepped into the hall and put his ear to the door. He nudged it open, leading with his weapon, and burst into the room. She screamed again, writhing in the bed, soaked in sweat and gasping for breath. He dropped his weapon and grabbed her shoulders.

  “Rory, Rory! Wake up!”

  She awoke with a gasp. Wide eyes looked around, trying to gain her bearings. She looked into Jackson’s eyes and her hands shot forward, firmly embracing each of his cheeks.

  “Oh God, you’re here! You’re alive!”

  “I’m here; of course I’m here.” He hugged her tightly and rocked her back and forth. She quickly jerked back from him and stared into his eyes. Just as quickly, she grabbed his face again and kissed him hard. He kissed her back.

  “I thought he hurt you. I thought he hurt you like Aidan hurt Daddy and the baby…” She trailed off and looked at him with wide eyes. “He killed my baby,” she cried.

  “It’s okay. I know. I know how he hurt your dad and I know about the baby.” He held her firmly. “Nobody’s going to hurt me. I’m right here with you.”

  “Oh thank God.” She held him with all her strength, coming up on her knees to squeeze his neck. “I don’t know what I’d do if he hurt you. I don’t know how I’d live with myself if he hurt you.” He could feel her tears on his neck. His heart broke for her.

  “Rory, listen to me. I’m not going anywhere. Nobody’s going to hurt me. None of this is your fault; you know that? And your father’s and baby’s deaths weren’t your fault either.”

  She backed up and looked at him. “It was my fault. I lied to him. He killed Daddy because I lied about the baby. I just wanted to save the baby.” She broke down sobbing and Jackson could barely understand what she was saying.