by Ashley Jade
“I had no idea that any of this was gonna go down, Jackson. I got him a meeting, yeah. But I wasn't privy to their discussion. It was a closed meeting. Tyrone wouldn't tell me why he wanted the meeting either, he just said it was important. If I had known, I would have talked him out of it,” he screams, his voice cracking with emotion.
“You guys are like my brothers. You both are the closest thing to a real family I've ever had. I would never be okay with someone taking either one of you out, ever. I don't care who might have issued the order.”
Order? Taking them out? What is he talking about?
Jackson eases up on his grip and bangs the wall beside his head. “I swear to god, Ricardo; you better be telling me the truth. Because if I find out that you knew about this...we're fucking done in every way you can think of.”
The dangerous intensity in Ricardo's eyes is replaced by sadness. “I didn't know. I swear. I'd let him take me out before I'd ever let him do it to either one of you.”
What should be a somewhat comforting statement, instead forces the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.
Jackson pulls him into a hug. “I don't know what I'm gonna do if he doesn't pull through this.”
My eyes water because the thought of losing Tyrone is heart-wrenching, but the moment turns tense again when Jackson fixes himself and his eyes darken. “Actually, I do.”
Ricardo shakes his head. “No, man. Get that thought out of your head right now. He didn't order it. It wasn't him. I'm telling you.”
Jackson slams him up against the wall again, but Ricardo deflects it and now he's the one slamming Jackson up against the wall.
“It was. I know it was,” Jackson screams. “And you can tell him I'm fucking done.”
Ricardo's hand wraps around his throat. “Don't be stupid. You'll get yourself killed. You can't be done with him. That ain't the way it works and you know it.”
Two thoughts hit me simultaneously at that moment—what else is Jackson keeping from me? And more importantly...what kind of dangerous situation is he involved in?
Jackson lifts his arm and maneuvers out of the choke hold. They face one another again, but this time, it's clear it's not going to end in a hug. Jackson's fist flies out but Ricardo blocks it at the last possible second. Jackson jabs him again, though and gets him right between the eyes.
Lou-Lou and I start screaming our heads off, trying to get them to stop, but they ignore us completely.
“You're not out,” Ricardo says before punching Jackson across the face. “I'm not gonna let you kill yourself,” he screams before he throws another punch.
Jackson has that wild look in his eyes when he issues a kick straight to Ricardo's side. My hearts in my throat because I know that once Jackson gets started and he's in this mindset, the only one who can make him stop is Ricardo, but since he's fighting Ricardo right now—I'm terrified of how this is going to end.
Ricardo spits blood on the ground and motions for Jackson to come at him again. If Jackson's eyes are wild, Ricardo's are purely menacing and downright murderous.
My stomach drops and my hands shake because this time, I know I've seen that look and I'm not mistaken like before.
And I think I might just know what, or rather who Jackson is involved with. But my god, I hope I'm wrong.
Before I can focus on that, though, I have to stop this fight. My instincts are taking over and I surge toward them. Lou-Lou tries pulling me back but I twist away. She lets out an ear piercing whistle but it still doesn't stop me or them.
Both of their arms are pulled back and I know it's the last possible second that I have before they both strike each other again.
Lou-Lou screams my name when she sees what I'm about to do, but I do it anyway.
There's no way to describe how it feels to be punched full force by two massive men at the same time.
Well, except one. It really fucking hurts...a lot. Way more than I thought it would. Enough to almost make me regret doing it in the first place. It's literally the complete opposite of 'double your pleasure, double your fun.'
Jackson's fist lands on my cheek, and Ricardo's fist lands somewhere in my stomach region. Seeing as I'm 5'3 they were both obviously going for some low blows.
I let out a sound somewhere between a cry, a yelp, and a scream before hunching over and falling to the floor. That's when I hear Momma's voice. “Oh my god. Look what you boys did! How could you?” she screams.
Both Jackson and Ricardo drop down to the floor, their expressions horrified. “Alyssa? Fuck, baby. I'm sorry. I...god,” Jackson says. He cups my face and I wince. “I'm so fucking sorry.”
“Me too,” Ricardo says. “I had no idea you were even here. What the hell were you thinking getting between us?”
“I just wanted you both to stop fighting. I didn't know how else to make you stop.”
“What is going on here?” another voice calls out. I look up to find Penelope standing over us concern splashed across her pretty face.
“It was an accident,” I say. When she raises an eyebrow, I stand up. “Honest, Penelope. I was the one who got in the middle. They didn't even see me.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “I'll get you a few ice packs.” Then she looks at Jackson and Ricardo. “Gentlemen,” she scoffs that word. “This is the intensive care unit of a hospital. This is not a zoo. Keep your hands to yourself. If it happens again I will have security escort you out,” she snaps, before she turns on her heels and storms out.
“What were you boys thinking?” Momma whispers, her voice shaking.
She looks so heartbroken and devastated right now, I feel myself break.
Jackson and Ricardo stand up. “We're sorry, Momma,” they say at the same time. “It will never happen again,” they promise.
Then they walk over to her and wrap their arms around her.
I hear her sobbing softly and I lose it. I'm not the only one though, Lou-Lou's also weeping quietly in the corner. I don't miss the look Ricardo gives her. For a moment, I think he's going to walk over to her, but instead, he gives Momma and Jackson one last hug and leaves the waiting room altogether.
I look at Jackson at I want to confront him, but with everything else happening, I don't have the heart to just yet. I don't want to accuse him of lying to me and committing the ultimate betrayal until I have absolute proof and I know for a fact that it's DeLuca he's involved with. I'm going to need a little more to go on than just a gut feeling about Ricardo.
That doesn't mean that I'm not still pissed to know that DeLuca or no DeLuca he's obviously been keeping something from me.
He walks over to me and holds out his arms. I take a deep breath and look down before he hugs me. He senses my hesitation and says, “I'm so sorry, Alyssa. I would never hurt you on purpose. Please forgive me.”
The tears fall harder then...because if he's lying to me about DeLuca...I'm not sure that I can.
Hell, for all I know, Jackson could be the one setting me up for DeLuca.
Oh, god. What if he is?
That thought sends a chill right through me and I have to push myself away from his embrace.
The look he gives me breaks my heart, but I can't stand the thought of being in his arms right now.
I slowly back away from him and he looks both crushed and stunned.
Luckily, Lou-Lou comes to my defense by taking my hand and saying, “I think she's in a lot of pain, Jackson. Probably not the best time to be hugging her. She did just get punched by two huge guys, remember?”
He winces and rubs his face. “I'm gonna go get those ice packs for you.”
Momma looks at us. “I'm gonna go see if there's any news.”
Before she leaves, I run over and throw my arms around her. “I'm so sorry, Momma. I know he'll make it through this. Because he's tough just like his Momma.”
She hugs me tight and gives me a kiss on the cheek before leaving the room.
That's when Jackson's eyes connect with mine. There
're so many emotions in those eyes of his right now, I have to force myself to breathe.
He walks over to me and hands me two ice packs. “Here.”
Then he turns and walks out the door.
“I'm being a real bitch, aren't I?” I ask Lou-Lou, because let's face it, who would know better than her?
She considers this for a moment before saying, “It's probably not the best time to be so angry with him seeing as Tyrone's still in surgery and we don't know the outcome.”
She shrugs. “However, you can't really control how you feel when someone you love hurts you. And the fact that you can't even stand being touched by him combined with that look you gave him...tells me that whatever Jackson did to you was unforgivable.”
I turn around and face her. “Like what Ricardo did to you?”
She closes her eyes in agony and I feel bad for even asking the question. “No,” she says, opening her eyes which are now glassy. “Let's just say that I've been right where Jackson's standing. I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of that look and have the man you...” She pauses and wipes a tear. “The man you love, look at you like the thought of touching you is unbearable and he'd rather die.”
She clears her throat. “I'm gonna go grab some coffee. You want anything?”
I want to know more about what happened between her and Ricardo, but I know she's not going to tell me.
I sit down in one of the chairs. “No, I'm good. Thanks.”
She leaves and I curl my arms around myself while saying another prayer for Tyrone.
A moment later, I look up to find one of the most gorgeous women I have ever seen in my life staring at me. Her eyes are bloodshot and there's a look of utter despair on her face, but that does nothing to diminish her beauty.
Her skin is smooth and mocha colored, her dark hair falls around her shoulders in soft curls, and her bright green eyes are mesmerizing.
“I'm sorry. The nurse told me this was where everyone was waiting. But I must have been mistaken, seeing as there's hardly anyone in here,” she says in a southern accent.
The accent gives her away and I immediately know who she is.
“Shelby?”
She blinks and looks surprised. “Why yes,” she says. “I don't believe we've ever met before. I'm not from around these parts. How do you know my name?”
I stand up and hold out my hand. “I'm Alyssa. I'm Jackson's—”
I don't have a chance to finish that statement because her arms are around me and she's hugging me so tight I have to force myself not to yelp.
“I've heard so much about you, Alyssa,” she says. Then she starts sobbing. “Have you heard anything? Is he still in surgery?”
“The last I heard he was. I know a nurse who works here, she's my—” I pause because I'm not entirely sure what to refer to her as at this point. “Friend and she promised to update me as soon as she can.”
“Thank you, tell her I appreciate it. I'm so scared, Alyssa,” she sobs. “I won't be able to go on if I lose him.”
“He's a fighter, Shelby. He's going to make it.”
She pulls away and wipes at her tears with a tissue. “I can't believe this happened.”
Then her green eyes turn angry. So angry I become alarmed. “I swear, if that son-of-a-bitch DeLuca did this to him. I will raise hell.”
My heart constricts and I'm pretty sure I make a choking sound from somewhere deep in my throat.
There's a world of a difference between suspecting something and having it outright confirmed.
Because now I have to face facts, I have no choice but to acknowledge what's happening.
I have no choice but to realize that DeLuca wants his revenge.
I have no choice but to accept that Jackson was setting me up.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I recall Jackson telling me not to go to the club. But before it can hit the surface of my thoughts, I stuff it down. He has to be setting me up, this is the only reason I can come up with for him lying to me. Why else would he be actively working and fighting for a man who he knows brutally killed my father?
The room spins and I'm struck with the feeling of wanting to call Ford for some kind of protection, but I force myself to stay strong. Despite my father, I already know that I can't trust Ford, he's already shown his true colors to me. There's no way in the world I would ever put myself at his mercy again.
“Alyssa?” Shelby calls out.
Her name sounds so far away now but I don't know why. It's only when Jackson's face appears right in front of me and I let out a scream that I realize I'm on the floor.
“Talk to me, baby. What happened?” Jackson says, searching my face.
I quickly crawl away from him and stand up. I look up just as Lou-Lou walks in the room.
The face Jackson's makes when I walk over to her and reach for her hand is unlike any I've seen.
As messed up as it sounds, it's my way of letting him know that I'm on to him. It's my way of telling him that I'd rather hold Lou-Lou's hand than ever touch him again, the traitorous motherfucker.
He steps closer to me, but to my surprise, Lou-Lou lifts her chin and glares at him. “Leave her alone, Jackson. I have no clue what you did but she doesn't want you near her for the time being. You need to respect that.”
His eyes narrow and he opens his mouth, but the look I give him halts him and he looks taken back.
I thought I'd break down over his betrayal. But I'm not, far from it actually. I'm straight up seething. I'm so outraged I want to put my hands around his neck and strangle the shit out of him. I want to eliminate him and wipe his beautiful face off the planet.
They always say there's a thin line between love and hate and right now, I'm standing on it, planting my fucking flag, ready to build a goddamned house on my newfound land made out of pure wrath.
“Touch me again and you'll be in a jail cell,” I say deadpan while pointing to my cheek.
Shelby's eyes open wide and she gasps.
Jackson takes a step back and shakes his head. “That was an accident and you know it. I would never, ever hurt you on purpose. You stepped right in the middle of a full-on fight between two grown men, Alyssa. I didn't even see you until it was already too late. You have to know that I would never hurt you! I love you!” he screams, his voice thick with emotion.
He looks completely wrecked right now and part of me wants to take back what I've said, but then Momma and Ricardo walk into the room and announce that Tyrone's out of surgery and the doctor will be updating us on his condition momentarily.
Any altercation brewing between Jackson and I goes on the back burner as we wait for the doctor to enter the room.
When he finally does, we all hold our breath, until he says, “He made it through surgery.”
There's tears, shouts of happiness and smiles.
Until the Doctor's face falls. “He's still not out of the woods quite yet, but we're hopeful about his recovery from the surgery.” He pauses and looks at Momma. “But there was extensive damage inflicted to his spinal cord. Specifically his thoracic vertebrae region, and more specifically, his T11 and T12 thoracic nerves.”
Momma shakes her head, confused. “I don't understand what that means, Doctor.”
Beside me, Jackson closes his eyes. “It means he's paralyzed, Momma.”
Momma gasps and Jackson walks over to her and envelopes her in his arms.
The Doctor nods sadly. “Yes. Although we won't know the full extent of the damage or his injury level until he wakes up, recovers from surgery and we can do further testing. And now that the surgery is over, I'll have to ask that only immediate family remain here to see him. The rest of you can come back tomorrow during scheduled visiting hours.”
The Doctor leaves after that and no one says a word, but there are sniffles and sobs from both Momma and Shelby.
Jackson and Ricardo look like they're about to lose it but are trying to remain strong. Lou-Lou looks down and her lower lip trembles.
My heart just breaks for poor Tyrone. I'm so happy he's alive, but this is devastating in its own right.
A few moments later Momma and Shelby hug everyone goodbye. Jackson didn't want to leave but when he heard that I was going back to my own apartment and not his, he said he'd be back later.
The four of us walk down the hallways in a clusterfuck of awkwardness.
Lou-Lou and I walk side by side huddled up together, the tension between her and Ricardo and Jackson and me is so visible that even the nurses stop and give our group strange looks.
“You need a ride back to your apartment, right?” Lou-Lou says after we walk out of the elevator and make our way toward the parking garage. Fortunately, Ricardo and Jackson went out a different way.
“Yeah, if you wouldn't mind. I'd really appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
Far behind us, I hear both Ricardo and Jackson's footsteps.
Lou-Lou and I exchange a glance wondering why they're still following us, but we soon find out when we look over our shoulders and Ricardo tosses his keys in the air before Jackson catches them.
“Don't wreck my baby,” he warns.
“I won't. I appreciate the favor.”
“You owe me,” he says before he begins walking closer to Lou-Lou at the same time Jackson walks closer to me.
“Oh, shit,” Lou-Lou whispers.
“What?”
“Alyssa, I suggest that if you don't want to be manhandled by Jackson—you start running, now.”
She doesn't have to tell me twice. I start running like there's a fire up my ass. I have no idea where I'm running, I just know that I'm toast if Jackson gets his hands on me. Especially knowing what I know now about him.
I'm not in the least bit turned on like I was during our last cat and mouse game at the bar. My brain and my body are fully aware that this is for survival. I'm sprinting so fast I'm surprising myself.
However, I'm still no match against Jackson. In a flash, his arm wraps around my waist and his large hand covers my mouth so I can't scream as drags me in the direction of some red mustang.