by Shay, Janna
Dani glanced at Jace to gauge his reaction, noting the tightness of his mouth and the anger in his face. Dear God, was that revulsion she saw in his eyes? A sob escaped when her heart shattered into a million pieces. Did she really expect anything less? No, but she’d hoped. Henry’s filth stained her body, his blood stained her hands, and the consequences of her actions stained her life.
It was ironic. Telling her story was cathartic, but that release had come at a high price. It had cost her the only man who ever loved her. An acute pain pierced her heart, like the plunge of a dagger, as she felt her emotions drain out of her body and the emptiness flow in. A state of being, one she’d lived with before she met Jace, one she was familiar with.
With a purpose for which she felt no enthusiasm, she wiped her face and stood to get dressed. Her decision had been made. Tonight she’d stay with Julie. Tomorrow she’d turn herself in. No matter what she had to admit to, she swore to exonerate Jace, no matter the cost.
Jace placed his hand on her shoulder. Startled, she stopped, then swung around.
“Why are you dressing? We need to talk.”
Drained and emotionally destroyed, she sighed. “I can’t run from it anymore. I am what I am. I’m a killer and need to be punished for what I’ve done. I want you to know it’s all right to hate me.”
“What are you talking about? You had no control over your rape or the stabbing of your stepfather. You were trying to save your mother. How could you even imagine I’d hate you for what happened? My feelings are unconditional and constant, and that will never change. You’re stuck with me because I’ll never let you go.” He hugged her tight.
In that instant, she felt her heart knit. She held on to him as tears coursed down her cheeks. Tears of sorrow, for the mother she lost, and tears of joy, for the man she cared about.
Chapter 17
Dani woke up and touched her face. Damn! It felt like someone had tap danced on it. She was sure she looked like hell. Amazed that she could feel so exhilarated on the inside, while feeling like an eighteen wheeler had run over the outside, she dragged her body out of bed and trudged to the shower. She swiped the fogged mirror with her hand, then started when she glimpsed her face, swollen from her crying jag the night before. Shit! She looked like Rocky, from the movie Mask. Jace! He couldn’t see her like this. She rushed into the kitchen, grabbed an ice pack, then laid down until the swelling was gone.
Later, deep in thought, Dani stared sightlessly at the vista before her as she stood in front of the living room window, feeling the tentacles of her past trying to draw her back. Blind to the sunlight warming her face, she held a coffee cup, replaying the events of last night, Jace’s faith in her in the forefront. Disbelief still lingering, she mentally shook her head, knowing nothing could be done to help her situation. Whatever happened, she knew that with his love she could endure anything.
“How are you feeling?” Jace’s arms snaked around her waist as his cheek slid next to hers.
“Terrific.” She let the sarcasm drip from her words.
“I did a little anonymous checking today to find the particulars of your arrest warrant, but couldn’t find one.”
Quietly, her voice almost a whisper, she answered, “You won’t.” Two words, though spoken softly sounded like a shot to her ears. “I changed my name the day I left. I used to be Debra Thomas.”
“I’ll check under that name.” He drew her near then kissed her forehead. “I also need the names of your stepfather and mother. If I could spare you this, I would.”
She reached up, smoothing the crease on his forehead. “You shouldn’t frown. It makes you look fierce.” Her finger outlined his nose, then lips. “My stepfather’s name was Henry North, and my mother was Maureen Thomas North.” She felt the sting of tears, but blinked, refusing to let them fall.
“I’ll let you know what I find out.”
A chill crept up her arms. Whatever Jace discovered would determine her fate. She only hoped it wouldn’t harm him.
What a busy day. Dani, emotionally drained, took a minute to rest. Tired from dealing with fussy whales, with no time to stop and eat, had made for a difficult several hours. To make matters worse, she hadn’t heard from Jace. Maybe he was just as busy. At least tonight would end the turmoil she’d been under for the last two days. He hadn’t mentioned one thing about her arrest warrant. The time had come for him to face reality. There was nothing he could do to change her situation. Tired of thinking about it, she wanted it over.
She glanced at her watch. 4:00 p.m. Why hadn’t he called? Usually by this time they’d made plans for dinner. He’d be calling soon, she was sure of it.
6:00 p.m. and he still hadn’t called. Irritated, she tapped her foot, then opened her cell phone to call his office.
“Hi, Maria. This is Dani. Is Jace around?”
“Hi, Dani. No, he’s been gone all day. I don’t expect him back until tomorrow. Didn’t he tell you?”
“Sorry, I forgot he had that business meeting. Didn’t mean to bother you.” She closed her phone, a strange sensation stirring in her stomach. Funny, that wasn’t like Jace to forget to tell her he was going out of town.
Tired, she dragged herself to the apartment, then stared when she spotted Jace on the living room couch studying some papers.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Jace. I called your office and Maria told me you’d been gone all day. Since you didn’t call about dinner, I assumed you’d be gone until late this evening.” On her way to the couch, she stepped out of her shoes, and left them where they fell. She plopped down on the couch. “It’s been such a long day, and my feet are killing me. What did you do today?”
She turned and peered at him. “You haven’t said a word since I came in.”
Jace gave her a quick kiss on the lips, pulled her feet to his lap, then started massaging them. Closing her eyes, she moaned. “Oh, that feels so good. I’ll do anything you want, you name it, just don’t stop what you’re doing.”
When he didn’t comment, she opened her eyes, then sat up.
“Okay, what’s wrong? You’re never this quiet.”
He drew her hand to his. “I need to discuss something with you.
“Okay,” she said slowly, a sense of dread coming over her.
“I did some checking, and I did find something.” He started playing with her fingers.
“How bad?”
Jace squeezed her hand, his eyes dark and serious. “I didn’t find an arrest warrant for you.” He blew out a breath. “Dani, you didn’t kill your stepfather. He’s still alive.”
Her stomach plummeted and her breath caught in her throat. She shot from the couch and faced Jace who rose slowly to his feet. “No. He can’t be alive. I stabbed him. There has to be some mistake. I saw him lying there dead.”
Jace shook his head, his voice low. “There’s no mistake, Dani. He went to the hospital, but he didn’t die from the stab wounds. He did go to prison, though, for rape ... for raping you. He got out of prison last week after serving his sentence.”
She covered her heart with her hand, feeling it beating through her chest, then paced back and forth nervously. “Oh my God ... He’s a monster. What if he comes after me? He knows I witnessed him killing my mother. What am I going to do?” She stopped, turned toward Jace, then stared as Jace’s words sank in. “Wait a second, how did they know he raped me? I left and never told anyone except you?”
He came toward her, then placed his hands on her shoulders. “The police knew about the rape because your mother told them. In fact, her testimony not only put him away for your rape but also attempted murder.”
Her pulse accelerated as hope blossomed. “Attempted?”
“Your mother didn’t die, Dani. She’s alive.”
Chills ran up her spine and her breathing became shallow as she felt the blood drain from her face. Slowly she brought the question to her lips. “My mother’s alive?”
“Yes. I don’t know the how or why. The
only thing I found out is she’s alive and living in Chicago.”
“All this time I thought she was dead.” Fear, disbelief, dread, happiness, and confusion, all mixed together, tangling in her mind. “Oh my God. What does she think happened to me? I need to see her. Please, you have to take me.”
“I know she searched for you for a long time, but I think she believes you’re dead. We can’t just drop in on her, though. We’d scare the hell out of her.”
“Jace, we have to phone her then. I need to let her know I’m okay.”
“I have another idea. We could fly there, and she can see for herself that you’re okay.”
“Perfect.” She spun around and headed to the bedroom. Speaking over her shoulder, she uttered, “Hurry, get your things so we can go.”
“There aren’t any flights tonight, but we can go in the morning if you’d like. I have one more little thing to tell you.”
Her heart rate accelerated, causing her to place her hand over her chest. “I don’t know if I can handle any more. Is it good or bad?”
“That depends on how you look at it. I think it’s good.”
“Jace Diamond, I’m going to kick your ass.” She was an emotional wreck and losing patience fast.
He hugged her. “It’s something good. Your mother is married.”
“Married?” Dani took a tiny step back. “Who did she marry?”
“A man named Charles Stanley.” He stared into her eyes. “Apparently, he’s your biological father.”
“How could she marry that snake?” Dani shook her head slowly, trying to inch backward, but Jace wouldn’t let her. “She worked so hard to try to make ends meet after he deserted us, and now she’s married to him?” A wave of heat rose from her toes to her head. “Is she out of her mind? Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know, honey. You’ll have to ask her yourself.”
“You’re right. But if he hurts her again, I swear I’ll beat him silly.” Realization swept over her and she broke out into a huge smile and hugged Jace. “Oh my God. I can’t believe it. She’s alive. I can’t wait to see her.” She pivoted toward their bedroom. “I’m going to go pack.”
Jace laughed, then circled her waist with his arms. “How about we eat dinner first?” He lowered his mouth and kissed her long and soft. “Maybe make some love before we fall asleep? You’re like my personal sleeping pill. I can’t sleep without you,” he teased.
She drew away, then turned to go into the bedroom. “Great, tell a man you care, and you change from being a lover to a sleeping pill. What is this world coming to?”
He picked her up, then threw her on the bed, pressing her down with his body. With a smoldering kiss, he demanded a response. When he got what he wanted, he deepened the kiss, then whispered into her ear. “Change of plans. Dessert first, dinner last. I have to show my lover she’s more than just a sleeping pill to me.”
Chapter 18
Jace turned the rental car into a curving driveway of a large two-story white house with gray trim in an upscale neighborhood of Chicago. Dani took note of the carefully manicured lawn with its neatly trimmed hedges and vibrantly colored flowers decorating the yard. Stately columns flanked the entrance, and a balcony on the second floor skirted around the home overlooking the estate. It seemed to her like something out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Her mother had finally reached the comfort level she deserved. Never in her wildest dreams had she envisioned her living in such a grand manor.
One after another, questions rushed into her head. Would her mother look and act the same, or was she as different as her new lifestyle? Would her mother still love her? Over seven years had passed since they last saw each other. Gone was the innocent child who’d stayed by her mother’s side. In her place was an adult who had experienced life and all its harsh realities. Was there enough of the girl left in her for her mother to recognize? Dani’s stomach clenched as she realized the answer was no. Debra was gone.
“Let’s go home,” she pleaded as she grasped Jace’s hand. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to see her. Please, Jace, take me home.”
“Before making any decisions, there are a couple of things you should think about,” he said calmly, stroking the top of her hand. “Can you, knowing your mother is alive, happily live your life knowing she believes you dead? And after she’s gone, will you have regrets because you didn’t see or talk to her?” He paused, giving her time to consider her answers, then continued. “If you can live with your decision, then so can I. Do you still want to go home?”
“What did I ever do to deserve you?” She kissed him lightly on the mouth. “I can’t live with those regrets. I’m afraid she might not like the person I’ve become. What if after all this time she doesn’t want or love me anymore? I’m not sure what I’ll do if that’s the case. It might be better, for me at least, to not know the answer.”
“You’re worried for nothing.” He rubbed her arms for reassurance. “I know she’s going to love you as much as I do. Give her a chance.”
“What about my father?” Her heart thudded against her chest. “He didn’t want me when I was born. What if he still doesn’t?”
“Then he’s a fool.” He placed a kiss on her nose. “But you’ll still have me.”
Curious, she wondered what her father looked like. Never having seen a picture of him, she searched her memory, trying to recall if her mother had ever talked about him in her presence. Her nerves bunched as she tried to envision their first meeting. His desertion of her mother, in her opinion, didn’t warrant a second chance. She hoped, for his sake, that he didn’t expect forgiveness. He wouldn’t be dealing with a small child, but an adult who would not be afraid to confront him about his actions.
Jace squeezed her hand, bringing her back to the present. “Are you ready?”
Because of the huge knot clogging her throat, she nodded her assent. When he held out his hand, she latched on, feeling the gentleness of his touch. Slowly she walked toward the house, then abruptly stopped on the stairs, her body frozen.
When the door opened, Dani slowly scrutinized her mother’s face as she stood immobile on the porch. Her features, the same as she vividly remembered, had a few added lines. When her mother’s eyes flooded and she opened her arms, all of her misgivings seem to fall away as she rushed into her waiting arms. Tears drenched their faces for the years they lost, as well as for the joy of years to come.
When the tears were spent, her mother glanced at Jace, then wiped her cheeks. “Please, come in. I’ve been waiting for this day for the last seven years. I can’t believe it’s here.”
They followed her to the dining room, a spacious room decorated with a gleaming oak dining set and breakfront. Dani sat, gripping Jace’s hand like a lifeline.
“Tell me everything. I want to know what you’re doing and where you’re living now.” Maureen glanced at their joined hands, which Dani had placed on the table. “I see you’ve found happiness, if the love in your young man’s eyes is any indication.”
“I’m now living in Las Vegas and work as a casino host at Jace’s casino.” Smiling, she leaned toward him, then continued. “If it weren’t for him, I would never have known that you were still alive.” A tear spilled on her cheek, although she was unaware that it had slipped out.
“My poor baby.” Maureen reached over and hugged Dani. “I’m so sorry for what happened to you.”
Dani kept her head lowered as she sipped her coffee. An uncomfortable silence fell in the room. The tension grew until Jace addressed her mother. “So I guess congratulations are in order on your marriage, even though it’s a bit late.”
“Thank you.” Maureen nodded at Dani. “I know a lot has changed. We need to talk about what happened that night.”
Dani gave a short nod.
“After Henry attacked me, I passed out. If you hadn’t stopped Henry when you did, I would’ve died. When I came to, he was lying on the floor and you were nowhere to be found. I searched frantic
ally, but I realized you’d left when I found the broken cookie jar. I checked Henry to see if he was alive, then called 911.”
Her mother kept her steady gaze on her, then continued. “When the police came, I filed a report stating I’d walked in from work and found him raping you. In my rage, I attacked him, and he started choking me. When he tried to continue his rape, I stabbed him, to protect you. When they asked where you were, I said you ran away while we were struggling. I filed a missing person’s report, but we couldn’t find you anywhere.” Tears swarmed her mother’s eyes, and her throat knotted. “And now I’ve found you, Debra. I’ve missed you so much.”
“My name is Danielle Jordon. Seven years ago, Debra Thomas died, when she was raped. I don’t ever want her to come back.”
Her mother caressed her cheek. “I’d love to get to know Danielle, if you’ll let me.”
“I’d like that. Everyone calls me Dani.” Unsure, hesitant, she scraped her lip with her teeth. “Do you think you can love Dani the same way you loved Debra?”
Maureen shook her head. “No, I don’t. I loved Debra as the child of my heart. I love Dani as the woman of my heart. A beautiful, vibrant woman with a lot of love to give, who turned out so much better than I could ever have hoped.”
With a sigh, Dani released the breath she had no idea she’d been holding. “I love you so much mama. I’ve missed you.”