by Ashley Jade
I grab his face again and stare into his eyes. “I'm not sure. I imagine it will be harsh, though. Given they don't take kindly to cops who commit sexual assault on children.” I wrap one hand around the back of his neck. “And with that handsome face of yours...you're probably going to be passed around like a little whore.” I lower my voice and whisper in his ear, “But if I were you, I'd be even more worried...because I hear that you're going to be sharing a cell with Jackson.”
When I back away his face pales and he starts trembling.
I kiss the goblin and look at him one last time. “I think my father would be really proud of me right now.”
And then I slam the door.
***
“I knew you could do it, sugar,” Momma says as she wraps her arms around me.
I hug her back. “I almost tossed my cookies like five different times in there because he made me so sick.”
She gives me a peculiar look but I shift my attention to Tyrone.
It pains me to see him in his wheelchair. Although the damage wasn't as extensive as the Doctor's initially thought, he did lose the ability to move his legs. With time, they say he'll be able to drive a car and possibly even walk with special equipment one day. He's adjusting much better than the Doctors expected him to...but then again, they don't know Tyrone's perseverance and inner strength.
Shelby's been by his side the whole time and I know that's exactly where she'll always be.
I just wish I was able to get Jackson out of jail so he could be here for him too.
“I know you do,” Tyrone says, while looking at me. “And I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the same way.”
I didn't realize that I had spoken my last thought out loud.
I sit down next to him. “I'm worried about the trial. His lawyers good, but he's not the best. Especially since he refuses to spend any of the money in his bank account because he wants me to have it.”
Which of course, I adamantly declined.
Tyrone closes his eyes. “Too bad people's perceptions of killers is so black and white. I mean, yeah- he murdered someone...but he's not a bad person. And if everyone knew what actually happened, they would realize that. But even if they did; who knows if the jury or the rest of the world is going to really believe it. They'll probably think it's all some kind of act.”
I thumb the goblin on my necklace and think about this for a moment. “I know, I just wish everyone could see the real him.”
The idea hits me like a semi-truck.
I stand up and look at Tyrone. “I know how to do that. I think I figured out a way to help Jackson. It's a long shot but it's—” I start to say before everything fades to black.
***
I wake up to four sets of eyes staring at me: Momma's, Tyrone's, Shelby's, and a man wearing a white lab coat that I vaguely recall seeing once before.
Never mind that though, I have to finish telling them my plan.
I quickly sit up in bed. “We all know how the media affects people's perceptions of things, right?”
They all stare at me like I'm bonkers.
“I think she might have a neurological issue of some kind,” Tyrone says while looking up at the doctor.
Momma pats my head. “You do know you're in a hospital, right?”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I know; I probably passed out again or something. Maybe I'm sick again. Whatever. This is more important—”
The Doctor approaches me and cuts me off. “Young lady, I have important rounds to make. So, if you don't mind I'd like to speak with you.”
I hold out my hand. “Just fork over the prescription for my antibiotics and I'll be on my way, Doctor. I have important stuff to do.”
He sighs “I think we should probably speak in private, this time.”
“No. I'm fine,” I insist. “I really need to go back home so I can save my boyfriend who's currently in jail.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “In that case, I really must insist that we speak in private.”
He looks at Momma but she shrugs. “I ain't leaving if she doesn't want me to.”
I hold out my hand again. “Put it here, Doc.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose before he reaches inside his lab coat and hands me a large bottle of pills.
I stare at the bottle of prenatal vitamins and blink while Momma gasps with tears in her eyes.
I try handing them back to him. “I think this is a mistake.”
He focuses his attention to his tablet. “No mistake. Your HCG levels are consistent with being around 4, maybe 5 weeks pregnant. You'll need to have an ultrasound to confirm this, of course.” He moves his glasses up his face and looks at me. “By the way, you're anemic so you really need to start eating more meat in addition to the iron pills I'll be prescribing you. I think that's why you fainted. Either that, or you stood up too quickly and your blood pressure plummeted.”
I jump up from the bed, horrified. “I'm not pregnant, Doctor. I'm telling you, there's been a mistake.” I lower my voice. “I'm on birth control.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that Tyrone appears to be in deep thought before he says, “Did you use a backup method while you were on those antibiotics?”
My hand flies up to my face and I sit back down on the bed.
Fuck a duck. That was an entire two week period of unsafe sex. How could I be so careless?
I look at Tyrone and he smiles. I've never wanted to strangle someone for being so goddamned smart and perceptive. Momma starts jumping around the room acting like she won the lottery. “I'm gonna have a grand-baby.”
I can't share in her glee, though. Shelby's eyes meet mine and she gives me a sympathetic look.
At least she understands.
Maybe it's the hormones, but the dark cloud is over my head with a vengeance and I bury my head in my hands and cry.
I miss Jackson so much. He should be here with me right now.
“Everyone out. Now,” Tyrone shouts, causing everyone to startle.
Open mouthed, everyone, including the doctor, leave the room.
He rolls his wheelchair by my bed and reaches for my hand. “I'm not going to sit here and tell you to keep this baby or to get rid of it, Alyssa.”
I squeeze his hand. “Thank you. Because right now, I have no idea what to do.”
“What I'm going to tell you, is what Jackson would tell you.”
“What do you mean?”
“He'd tell you that he'd hold your hand the entire time. And he'd remind you that you're stronger than you think. He'd tell you that he'd respect whatever decision you end up making. He'd also tell you that he loves you.” He puts his hand over his heart. “And that's what I'm gonna do, Alyssa. Because no matter what happens...you're not alone and you have me. If you want to cry, if you want to shout, if you want to punch my face in so you feel better. Whether you want to keep this baby or not, I'll still be there.”
“Me too.”
I look up as Ricardo enters the room.
He looks at Tyrone then back at me. “Tyrone told me you were here. I know I haven't been around much in the last few weeks. I've had to take care of some business. But, I have good news.”
“I'd love some good news right about now.”
Ricardo smiles. “I've just hired the best lawyer on the East Coast to take Jackson's case.”
“How can you afford that?”
“You probably don't want to know. But, I'm going up to the jail this weekend to see Jackson and tell him. I wanted to see if you wanted to go with me but—” his voice drifts off and he looks uncomfortable.
I look down. “Should I tell him?”
Tyrone considers this for a moment before saying, “It's up to you. You don't have to make any decisions right this second. You still have time.”
“How good is this lawyer?”
“Excellent.”
“I hope so, because I want to put Jackson's video confession out into the world. I want the world to know who Jack
son really is.”
Tyrone's eyes open wide. “You still have that?”
“Yeah. I never intended to use it against him. I just...the video made me fall more in love with him. When he talks about Lilly and how they grew up, how much he loved her and what happened when he found her, you just know that it was raw and honest. Every single word he uttered in that video showed Jackson's soul. He spoke straight from the heart.”
Tyrone's eyes are gleaming. “I never thought I'd say this, but we need to use that video. Influence the media, get people to hear what happened. It might not change their minds completely and there will still be people out there wanting him to serve time, but I think a majority will agree that he was justified.”
Ricardo snaps his fingers. “I agree. Upload that sucker on youtube right now.”
Chapter 40 (Jackson)
You would think I'd be upset to find myself back in jail again, but I'm not.
I've accepted it.
But it doesn't mean that my heart doesn't ache for Alyssa every second...or Momma, Tyrone, and Ricardo for that matter.
It was ironic that I ended up back here on Lilly's birthday. I choose to kill DeLuca on that day because I thought it would bring me luck. Obviously, fate thought otherwise.
I took it as a sign that Lilly herself obviously wanted me to pay.
But I still don't regret it. Even now.
Just like I wouldn't have regretted taking Ford's life or DeLuca's. Although, after Ricardo visited me and explained what really happened between Lou-Lou, him, and DeLuca; I know that the right to kill DeLuca definitely belonged to Lou-Lou, and I hope that wherever she is now—she's happy.
I was beyond pissed at him for having a gun to my girl's back, though, but I couldn't really argue when he explained that if the roles were reversed I would have done the same.
You see, he trusted Alyssa not to kill Lou-Lou. Hell, he even trusted DeLuca not to kill Lou-Lou due to his sick obsession with her. But he just couldn't trust that Ford wouldn't kill Lou-Lou...because he's a manipulating fucktard.
Those were his exact words.
However, I fully agree.
Especially looking at him right now from across the cafeteria in his orange jumpsuit.
The sight is so spectacular, I wish I could snap a picture and send it to Alyssa.
I thought I needed to protect her and make those who hurt her pay, but as it turns out; she got something even better than payback all on her own.
She got her own brand of justice...the way she needed to do it. I'm even more in awe of her and the woman she is.
And I know the man who gets the honor and privilege of spending the rest of his life with her, will be the luckiest man in the world.
I just wish it could have been me.
But for now, there's one more thing I have to do to settle the score with Ford.
Not only is he serving time for what he did to Alyssa, but he's also the main suspect in the murder of DeLuca now. He, of course, tried to tell them about Lou-Lou, but Alyssa and Ricardo along with me, are refuting his claims.
Which leaves all fingers pointing to him. The fact that he told Alyssa that he was planning on vacationing after taking DeLuca down and she got it on tape, doesn't look good for him.
He keeps insisting that he called for backup and was acting as a member of the FBI, though; so I guess we'll have to see how his defense will pan out in the long run.
And although he could be facing up to 20 years for what he did to Alyssa, the reality is that he most likely won't serve that much time.
For all we know, he could be out in a few months depending on his trial. The only reason he's sitting in jail now is because he's a flight risk and the judge ended up being a friend of Alyssa's dad.
Oddly enough, that's the saddest fact of all to come out in all this.
Alyssa's father really was a stand-up guy...but his worst quality was having Ford as a best friend and partner.
And had Ford not sunk his hooks into Alyssa right after his murder and coerced and scared her into lying about DeLuca...she would have been responsible for bringing him down a long time ago.
That's the way the world works, though, the bad guys win far more often than the good guys do.
But there's days like today. The rare exceptions to the rule.
And that exception is staring at me from across the cafeteria looking like he's about to piss himself.
My guess, would be because rumor amongst us jailers is...that 14 years ago, he pinned the murder of a prestigious officer on two rival gang members.
I look at him and give him a great big smile and he flinches. He was so freaked out about sharing a cell with me, he purposely hit his head against the sink and has been hauled up in the infirmary for the past few days.
But he's out today.
And no matter where Ford turns, he's up shits creek without a paddle.
The rival gangs want a piece of him. Any man with a teenage daughter wants a piece of him. Even DeLuca's inside people want a piece of him, now that Ricardo's taken over.
And then there's the guards.
The guards who heard the latest rumor. The guards who despise the dirty cop who backstabbed their own partner and set up his death. The guards who despise the dirty cop who's in here for sexually assaulting their dead partner's teenage daughter.
That's the funny thing about perception...sometimes, it really is everything.
He's as skittish as a kitten when he makes his way over to me.
I manage to keep my joy in check. “Hi, Ford. How are you doing on this beautiful day here at Rikers?”
“Look, Jackson. I'm going, to be honest with you,” he says and I try not to laugh in his face. “I was hoping to bury the hatchet. We're cellmates and—”
“You set me up.” I turn to face him. “Why in the world would I ever help you?”
His shoulders slump. “I was only trying to do the right thing for her. You can't blame me for loving her. I know you do, too. And face it, Jackson. You and I aren't really all that different. You're a murderer. And I'm—”
“You're what, Ford?”
He looks away. “I set people up for murders. The point is that we're not good people. So don't act like you're so much better than me. But I think if we work together in here, we might stand a chance.”
I almost choke on my barely edible food. “I'm doing just fine on my own.”
He makes a sweeping motion with his hands. “Yeah, right now. But sooner or later, you're going to need a favor. You're going to need to—”
I stab my food with my fork. “Make a deal?”
He sits closer to me and it takes everything in me not to throw him off his chair. “Yes. You're going to need someone in here who has your back. You're going to need someone in here who will take care of you.”
That's when I laugh. “Are you offering to be my boyfriend, Ford?”
He makes a face. “What? No.”
“Too bad, that's the way it works in here.”
He looks horrified. “You can't be serious. For Christ's sake, we were both in love with the same girl. “
“A girl that I'm no longer going to see...thanks to you.”
He swallows hard. “So, are you saying that you want me to—”
I give him a smirk. “Be my bitch. Yeah. That's exactly what I'm saying.”
He stays silent. I can see him mulling his options and I'm loving every second of this. I push my tray away. “You know, I'm still having trouble figuring out why you're here talking to me. What exactly is it that you want?”
The funny thing is I already know exactly what he wants. He has no control, no power, he's helpless.
Just like how he made Alyssa feel.
He looks around the cafeteria. “I need protection. You know what they'll do to me in here. I need your help, Jackson.”
That's when I stand up. “What are you willing to do for it?” I whisper.
He looks up at me and panic flashes across his face. �
�I'll do a-anything. Just help me. Please.”
I adjust myself in front of him and raise an eyebrow. “Then get on your knees.”
He looks around the cafeteria again. “Right here? Now?” he croaks.
“Yup. I want everyone to know that you're my bitch.”
To my absolute delight. He slinks down in his chair until he's on his knees. “Now close your eyes.”
After he closes them I back up and another inmate hands me a crowbar. I'll have to thank Ricardo for paying off the guard for me.
“Open your mouth for me, whore.”
He winces and opens his mouth.
That's when I thrust the crowbar in his mouth.
His eyes fly open and the look is priceless. Pure fear. I'm pretty sure there's a puddle of his urine on the ground.
He starts choking and trembling. “Yeah, you like that? Of course, you do, you little slut.”
He tries to move his mouth away but I don't let up. “Yeah, you heard me. You worthless slut.”
There's cheering around the cafeteria and I give him a megawatt smile. “Figure your own way out of this mess, Ford. I suggest you whore yourself around because that's all you're good for. Now, get the fuck away from me.”
I take the crowbar out of his mouth and hold it above his head because I want him to know what that feels like, too.
He scampers away and cowers.
Just like the vermin he is.
***
“You have visitors, Reid.”
I walk into the visiting room and my eyes immediately connect with Alyssa's.
As happy as I am to see her, I already told her that I didn't want her to visit. Visitation at Rikers is practically an all day event and it's not always safe.
Especially when she comes here looking like that. She's wearing one of my t-shirts and a pair of jeans. Her still dark glossy hair is hanging loose and she's glowing.
She looks so beautiful it hurts to breathe. I'm actually thankful that Ricardo and Tyrone came here with her.
My heart sinks when I look at Tyrone. I can't believe he came all the way here to see me. He has enough of his own problems right now.
Ricardo's the first one to give me a hug. I didn't think it was possible but we've grown even closer after what happened.