“I obviously can’t tell him the real reason, so he’s being persistent. He doesn’t understand why I’m leaving. That’s why he’s been around. It’s not his fault. The day you came by, I broke up with him. I’ve done everything you’ve told me to do. Leave him alone, please. He was here because I drank too much and he drove me home. That’s all.”
Dennis seemed to be studying her as if he was trying to decide if she was telling the truth. “Good.”
Her heart pounded. She thought it would come out of her chest and land on the floor.
“You better not be lying,” he added threateningly.
“We’re over. I’m leaving.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“I don’t fucking believe you.”
“What else can I do, Dennis? What else do you want from me?” She was squeezing her fists so tightly they hurt.
“I want the fucker humiliated. I want him to feel like I felt,” Dennis hissed. “So you better figure it out!” He took a step closer.
“Isn’t it enough if I just leave?” She took a deep breath. “I only moved here for you, and since we aren’t together—”
“Yet.”
“Pardon?”
“We aren’t back together yet. When this is all over, you’re going to come back. People will know you lied and that that’s the reason you didn’t testify. And I, being the compassionate, forgiving, and understanding boyfriend, will take you back.”
Her eyes wide, she nodded in agreement.
“You’ll be at your parents’?”
She nodded.
“I think you’re making the right decision, Jessica. You don’t want to be with that loser. You need a man who takes charge and takes care of you.” He took a few steps closer to her and cupped her face with his large hands. “I love you, Jessica. This will be over soon, and I’ll personally go pick you up and bring you back from your parents’ when this is all over. We’ll move into my house.” Then he kissed her lips so hard she was sure they would bruise. His hand cupped the back of her neck, his nails digging into her flesh. It took all the strength she had not to gag or flinch. The man was delusional. It was best he believed whatever he wanted to believe.
He released her and started to walk toward the door. But then he stopped and looked back at her. Suddenly she saw something in his eyes she’d never seen before…something nefarious, something that sent chills down her spine. This man was crazy. She’d known that for a while, but it seemed as if he was really out of his mind now.
He took two long steps toward her, grabbed her ponytail, and pulled her head back.
“You better not fuck with me, Jessica. Remember what I told you. I will hurt you and everyone you know if I see at you the trial.”
She swallowed and tears spilled down her face. He released his grip, and she nodded.
“Good girl.” Then he left.
She nearly collapsed onto the floor, but she pulled herself up and without hesitation picked up the phone to call the only person who could possibly help her.
—
“Daniels.” The authoritative voice said through the phone.
“Jack, this is Jessica. Jessica Cross.”
“Oh, hi, Jessica. Everything okay?”
“Actually, no,” she said shakily. “Everything isn’t okay. Can we meet up? I need to talk to you. Alone.”
“Uh…yeah, sure. How about you come down to the station and—”
She knew that wasn’t possible—there were eyes on her. She felt it. She had to be very discreet.
“No. Meet me in thirty minutes at the Pier. There is a back door—most people don’t know it exists. Use that, and meet me in the office. It’s the first door on the right as soon as you walk in. No one goes in there except the accountant on Monday afternoons.”
“You’re kind of scaring me, Jessica. What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you when I see you.”
“Okay. See you there.”
“Please don’t tell anyone you’re meeting me. Please.”
“Of course. See you soon.”
She got dressed and drove to a small strip mall that was less than a block from work. She parked and walked inside one of the stores. She stayed for a few moments before asking the saleslady, whom she’d met a few times over the years, if she could exit through the back door.
She crossed the scrubby, trash-filled lot to the back of the building that housed the Pier. Once there, she used the keys she had forgotten to return to open the back door, which was rarely used, and left it unlocked for Jack. She snuck in, unnoticed, and went straight to the rarely used office.
Jessica sat in the leather chair behind the old desk, her fingers twisting a paper clip until it was deformed beyond recognition.
The door opened and in walked in Jack. He wasn’t in uniform. His large frame in the tiny office, combined with her nervousness, made her feel as if the walls were closing in on her. He closed the door behind him and locked it. She rose, but suddenly felt dizzy. She gripped the desk, willing the spots swimming in front of her eyes to subside.
He rushed over and helped her back into the chair. “Hey. Talk to me,” Jack said, his voice concerned.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing as he smoothed her hair soothingly. It felt brotherly, and she really appreciated it.
“Better?” he asked.
She nodded.
“What’s going on, Jessica?”
He pulled a chair around, placed his forearms on his lap, and leaned forward. He didn’t rush her. He was patient and listened as she began her story, all the while hoping that telling Jack was a good idea. She told him how she felt someone constantly watching her. She told him how Dennis had threatened Slade and her friends, about the sunflowers, and how he’d been following her.
“I am so humiliated. I can’t believe I’m in exactly the same place I was before I was in the hospital. A prisoner to Dennis,” she concluded sadly.
“No, Jessica. You are not in the same place, and you have nothing to be humiliated about. I am upset you didn’t tell me about this earlier. I can’t believe the son of a bitch put his hands on you again. And I really can’t believe he’d have the nerve to threaten Slade.”
“What am I going to do, Jack? I didn’t know who else to tell.”
“Is this why you broke it off with Slade?”
She nodded. “Dennis said if he saw me near Slade again, he’d kill him, then me. This isn’t Slade’s problem. I can’t have him hurt because of me.”
“Jessica, listen to me. Men like Slade protect their women. It wasn’t up to you to make that decision. You’re his and that’s more important than anything. Men like Slade don’t love easily. But when they do love, they love hard and they love forever.”
Jessica used her palm to wipe her nose and dry her eyes. “What made you so smart?”
“I’m the same kind of man as Slade. And I know how I would react if this was Chrissy.”
“But you love Chrissy.”
“And Slade loves you.”
“I don’t think that—”
“Jessica, I’ve known Slade longer than practically anyone else. When he wasn’t begging for you to go out with him, he was a wreck. Then when you finally agreed to date him, he was like a stupid pussy-whipped teenager. And then when you friend-zoned him and told him you were moving, he was like a man on a mission. Slade wouldn’t put in that kind of effort if he wasn’t in love. Trust me.”
Jessica wasn’t sure what to say.
“I will fix this, I promise you. I will take care of Dennis. Do you believe me?”
Jessica nodded, the first inklings of relief beginning to seep into her mind.
“But there’s something I need to know, Jess. Do you love Slade? Because Slade’s like my brother. I don’t want him to be hurt over some wishy-washy woman who isn’t strong enough to stand by his side. And, as you know, I love Chrissy, and Chrissy loves her brother, and therefore I have an even greater obligation to Slade, more than
just my friendship. You get me?”
“Yes, Jack. I get you. I know I should’ve told him, but I swear I wanted to protect him. I love him, Jack. I love him so much. I did this to keep him safe. Knowing he was hurting nearly killed me. But I didn’t think I had a choice.” Her voice was shaky but pleading.
“I believe you, Jessica. Now, from here on out, you do exactly as I say. Okay?”
She nodded. “But what are you going to do? If you tell Slade, he’ll kill Dennis, or at least try to, and Slade can’t fight. Remember the brain damage? It’s one of the reasons I didn’t tell him.”
“I can’t keep this from him, Jessica.”
“No!” Jessica panicked. “You can’t tell him!”
He snorted. “Not ten seconds ago you said you’d do whatever I tell you.”
The tears were streaming down her face. “I’m just scared for Slade. If you tell him, Slade’ll go looking for him. They’ll fight. Slade’ll end up in jail again. Or even worse, he’ll get hurt. You can’t tell him. Please!”
“Jessica—”
Before she could think much about it, Jessica blurted out, “I’ll tell Chrissy!” Chrissy wouldn’t allow her brother to fight. No way in hell. She wouldn’t allow anyone to risk her brother’s life. And Jack wouldn’t do anything to hurt, sadden, or anger Chrissy. It was a low blow but a necessary one.
“You play dirty, woman.”
“Sorry.”
“The trial is scheduled for next week, right?”
Jessica nodded.
“You have to testify, Jessica. It’s the only way.”
“But—”
“No, listen. You have to testify. If you don’t, the charges against Dennis will be dropped, and he’ll be free to terrorize you for God knows how long. Or, Jessica, he will eventually hurt someone else.”
“I want him in prison. I don’t want him hurting anyone else.”
Jack continued to pace around the small room. “I have an idea. We’re going to do what Dennis wants. We are going to have to deceive a few people, and they’re going to feel hurt, but you have to stick with the plan. It’ll only be temporary. You have to do exactly what I say. You understand?” Jessica nodded. “And you cannot tell anyone. Not one soul. Okay?”
Jessica nodded again.
“Today you’ll go to Slade somewhere public, so that if someone is following you they will hear. This needs to get back to Dennis. You’ll tell Slade that you’re leaving for Charlotte tonight.”
“But—”
“Let me finish. I can’t tell anyone from the station, since I am still investigating half of the precinct for possible corruption and I don’t know who’s on the mayor’s payroll. Fill your car up with the shit you packed up. Make it look like you’re leaving tonight. At midnight I want you to start driving as if you are headed to Charlotte. I am going to be following you. When I’m sure no one is tailing you, I’ll pull you over and we’ll head back toward Tarpon Springs. There’s a motel on the edge of town, and you’ll stay there until the trial. Got it?”
She nodded.
“Make him believe it, Jessica. If he doesn’t believe it, whoever is listening will not believe you either.”
“Will this work?”
“Yes, it’ll work. The morning of the trial, we’ll file additional charges based on what happened at your house when Dennis came over, both the first time and now today. He’s violated his restraining order twice, not to mention the conditions of his bail. Plus, he hurt you; all that’s enough to send him back to jail. I’ll let the state’s attorney know that I have you in protective custody, but only right before we go to trial, just in case someone at that office is a friend of the mayor’s. I want Dennis to think he’s in the clear for the time being so we can make sure he spends a long time in prison.”
“Jack…” She swallowed, trying to control her tears. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say.”
He nodded. “Stick to the plan and be safe, Jessica,” he said before walking out the door.
Jessica sat at the desk a while longer, just staring at the closed door. Again! Again, she had to hurt Slade. She only hoped he’d take her back when the nightmare was all over.
Eventually she left the Pier the same way she’d come in, locking the back door on the way out and making her way back across the vacant lot to the store and then into her car, hoping no one had seen her.
Was she just being paranoid? Perhaps she wasn’t being followed. But Dennis, his uncle, and half of the town’s cops could be trying to help Dennis, for all she knew. It was at that moment she realized how someone she had thought she had loved for five years was a complete stranger to her.
How had she become a statistic? She couldn’t wrap her head around it. She’d thought she was a strong, intelligent woman, but Dennis had held a weird and toxic grip on her, and she had wound up in the hospital, alone and broken, thinking her life was completely shattered.
And then Slade had walked into her room. She would remember forever the way he looked at her when he saw her lying there. Then he’d taken charge and helped her heal, and really, he hadn’t stopped since. But how had she repaid him? By repeatedly pushing him away. Even though it had been for his own good, it felt like a betrayal not having told him the truth.
As she pulled up in front of her house and opened the back of her car to start loading up the boxes, she thought sadly, This time, he may not be as forgiving.
—
The little bell indicating that someone was coming in through the Academy’s front door rang, annoying the shit out of Slade. He put down the electric drill and the speed bag he had been trying to hang and made his way to the front of the gym. It was late and he wasn’t expecting anyone, and he couldn’t wait to finish and head over to Jessica’s house. They had a lot to talk about. He was glad that she’d finally put this just-friends business to rest. He had been an ass, using her drunk and horny state to coerce her into dating him, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
He was surprised to see Jessica there, wearing a summery green dress that fell way above her knees, coupled with some high-as-fuck shoes that tied around her sexy ankles and looked like they were made of straw or some such shit.
“Wow, Slay. The gym looks great. Looks like you’re all done,” Jessica said as she ran her fingers against the new smooth black granite countertop of the receptionist’s desk. “I came by to see if we could talk, maybe grab some coffee across the street or something.”
“Sure, but I want to show you something first. The carpenters came in yesterday and the last of the equipment was installed this morning. I’m just finishing everything up for the grand reopening, since it’s in less than two weeks.” The beat of a techno song played low through the new high-tech built-in speaker system he had installed last week.
She continued to walk slowly around the gym, while he followed behind. Her eyes moved up to the renovated ceiling, where the dilapidated, noisy old fans that had always made her feel as if one of the blades would come flying off at any moment had been replaced with eight new stainless-steel fans. The old fluorescent lights that had made a constant humming sound were no longer there; in their stead were modern-looking indirect lights that reflected off new reinforced wooden beams. The roof remained industrial-looking. It was still a fight club, but now it was a badass, high-class fight club with top-of-the-line everything. The two old boxing rings had been renovated, the threadbare ropes replaced with new thick red and blue ropes. The floor displayed the name of the Academy in big bold white letters, contrasting dramatically with the black background. On the far end were rows of heavy bags and speed bags. There was a big section of blue mats on the opposite side of the bags, and there was also a section with free weights, two treadmills, an elliptical machine, and three brand spanking new stationary bikes. But the highlight of the gym—what Slade was most proud of—was an enormous and intimidating cage, right in the middle of the building. It was on a three-foot-high circular platform lined in red canvas, also
bearing the name of the Academy in bold letters. Enclosing the circular ring was a six-foot-tall chain-link fence.
“Holy crap! You got the cage in!” Jessica shrieked, her fingers clutching the links of the fence.
“Yep. Like it?”
“It’s…it’s…wow! It’s huge,” she said.
Slade smiled, his chest swelling with pride.
Jessica’s head whipped back to look at him. “I meant the cage, Slade.” She laughed. “Geez, be careful your head doesn’t explode one of these days.”
“Come here, I want to show you something.” He reached for her hand and led her to the far end of the gym, where the blue mats were.
“I swear to God, Jess,” he began. “This is it. I’m pretty sure you’re here to tell me you’re still leaving and that last night didn’t count because you were drunk. So this is my last attempt. I’ve said it a hundred times and I am starting to feel like a stalker, but this is it. If this doesn’t show you how I feel, I seriously don’t know what will.” He pointed proudly. “This was supposed to be a surprise. It was meant for your yoga classes.”
Jessica didn’t say anything for a moment. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
“Jess? You okay?”
Jessica shook her head. “I noticed that this area was empty and full of boxes for weeks. I just thought it was because you hadn’t received some equipment or something.”
“You wanted to start teaching yoga, right? Well, I’m giving you this space. When the guys aren’t using it for jiujitsu training, it’s all yours. We can work around the schedule—”
“Wait! Stop! You can’t just give me a huge space. I don’t…I don’t…This is too much. It’s overwhelming.”
“Why are your panties all in a fucking twist, lady? I’m not giving you a diamond ring or anything. It’s just a space you can use to teach yoga. You told me that was your dream. You wanted to open a yoga studio. So, here.” He pointed to the mats. “You can start here. Stop saying you’re leaving and take what I’m giving you. Leaving is a cop-out. You have no reason to leave. You don’t have to spend one cent, so the money issue is bullshit now.”
Jessica looked at him, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. Slade stood waiting for her to say something, his arms crossed over his broad chest, legs shoulder-width apart.
Full Contact (Worth the Fight #2) Page 21