AJ's Salvation

by Sam Destiny

  This time, it was obvious Aly wouldn’t find out unless she inquired the answer. “How?” she croaked out.

  “You were the only woman Jamison ever loved. I was there the night my daughter decided that you were her next project. By project, I mean victim. Jamison said something about you, and Collene stared at you. I realized it, he realized it, we all did. I saw how she bumped you into tables. And then, from one second to the next, she stopped, and Jamison was with her. I think she forgot you the moment he decided to be with her. When my grandson was gone, I remembered. Who could be a better choice than the woman you could never have?”

  With that, Mrs. Karmison left, taking Aly’s whole life away. Her hope about Jam returning to talk to her was down the drain, too. Alessandro had made it pretty obvious that Jam was gone. Aly hated herself then and there. If she had waited just one more night to confront Jam, he’d still be here.

  As it was, she had no idea what to think or do. Eventually, she reached for her phone and called the only person who came to mind.

  Faintly, she heard the back door open and close, but she was too numb to react. She sank down to the floor while she waited for someone to pick up.

  “Aly?”

  “Greg, they took my son, and I can do absolutely nothing about it,” she sobbed, choking on the pieces of her broken heart.

  Jam had driven all night. The moment he had walked away from Aly, he had gotten into the car and left. He had a hole where his heart used to be, and finally, he needed to stop the car in the middle of nowhere. His hands were shaking so hard that he no longer trusted himself to drive. Stumbling out of the car, he fell to his knees and allowed himself to sob. They were dry and choked and even though Jam had known a lot of pain in his life, nothing came close to what he was feeling there at that moment.

  “God, Aly, I’m so sorry,” he mumbled, knowing she couldn’t hear him. His phone started blaring, and he cursed. Not many people had his number, and it was exactly right that way, but that usually meant whoever was calling was important.

  “Loane?” he croaked clearing his throat.

  “You sound like my sister does, Loane.” Jam wasn’t sure he’d be able to sit through a sermon now.

  “Greg –”

  “I don’t care what went down between you two. Okay, that’s a lie because she’s crying, but we have bigger problems. Much bigger problems.”

  Jam didn’t think there could be anything worse than this.

  “Thea Karmison took your son back home to Townsend. She threatened Aly. At least that’s what I gathered between her gut-wrenching sobs. She told Aly never to show her face in Townsend again, so I guess you need to move your ass back here, and … I don’t know. I can’t believe she knew all this time. She waited until she knew Collene was gone and then went to get him back. Aly’s a mess, Jam. Maybe you should call her up and ask what exactly that woman said. I …”

  “I will not call your sister, Greg.” He couldn’t because hearing her voice would push him over the edge.

  “You will, Jamison Loane, because you need to know everything that hateful woman said! Then you move your ass back here and solve this problem. I can’t walk in there and take Alessandro back. Please?” Jam knew he was right because, even though he was sure Aly was screwed either way, he needed to know what he was up against.

  “What if she refuses to talk to me?” That was probably what scared him more than hearing her cry. He had walked out on her while she’d been crying, so maybe he could make it through that.

  “Someone took her son, and excuse me for being harsh, but that puts everything else in perspective. I don’t think she cares about anything you said to her right now.” It was harsh, but Jam had to agree that most likely Greg was absolutely spot-on.

  “See you in three hours. I’m almost home,” Jam promised then he hung up, thinking for a moment. Aly needed someone by her side, and even though he couldn’t reach Philomena, that friend Aly had talked about, he’d be able to call Dorly.

  It had taken a few rings before the old woman picked up, sounding out of breath. “Rome?”

  “It’s me,” he said, wanting to add more, but she already interrupted him.

  “Jamison. You should be here. I’ve never seen the girl like that. It’s terrible. You –”

  “Dorly, I can’t be with her and get back her son at the same time. I know she most likely won’t be able to make you understand how someone could just take her son, but -”

  “She told me.” It almost tore the ground from under Jam’s feet. The more people they told, the higher the risk would be that Aly might end up in prison. “I saw that old hag taking her boy away and went over. I don’t think there’s much Aly cares about right now. I called Phil, too. Boy, how are you?”

  “I wasn’t there when the woman came. You knew that. I’m okay.”

  “How can you be?” It dawned on Jam then that Aly had told her really everything.

  “Please, Dorly, I don’t have time to think about it now, and I’d prefer not to do it anyways. What I do worry about, though, is my son and Aly. Please, don’t leave her alone and call me as soon as the police show and pick her up.” He wanted to pull out his hair. This just couldn’t be happening.

  “I will stay with her. I just came to turn my heating off and get some of the chicken so I can make some chicken soup for that girl. She loves you, Jam. You know that, right? Even if she maybe pushed you too far too soon, this girl always had her heart on her sleeve where it concerned you.”

  Jam didn’t need to hear that after the way he had treated her. God, the way he spoke to her … he shook his head because he knew he couldn’t change it now. They had to deal with more pressing matters.

  “I have to call her now, and then I need to get back to … I don’t know. I don’t know what to do, but I need to do something. I need to un-break Aly, and the only way to do that is to get Alessandro back to her.”

  “She needs both of you back. Call her now.”

  “What if I say something stupid? I’m not sure I can say the right things around her,” he admitted, and then bit his lip.

  “Follow your heart. Bye, Jam, and be careful.”

  He told her bye and then hung up before dialing. He worried that if he waited too long then he wouldn’t ever make the call.

  For the first time ever, Jam had Aly’s name on his screen. Her number had been in his phone since shortly after she had left back then, but he had never before called her.

  “Rhyme?” Her voice was a shadow of what he was used to, and it hit him deep.

  “I’ll get him back,” he whispered because he knew that was the only thing that really mattered to her. “Alessia, I’ll get him back to you. I swear even if it’s the last thing I do.” And since he was up against a family like the Karmisons, it might even be true.

  Aly felt another tear running down her cheek while Phil went through her hair. “Can you please eat something?” she asked, and Aly shook her head, holding on tighter to the pillow she was hugging. The house was silent, but she knew she heard many noises; Dorly was cooking, Phil was watching TV, and the voices were in the background, but Aly didn’t hear those. They weren’t the right noises. She waited for her son to come running down the stairs; she waited for him to call out to her; she waited to hear a Matchbox car tumbling down the stairs. She waited for all those noises made by a child in the house and none came.

  Worst of all, she wouldn’t ever get him back.

  “Alessia, it’s been a week,” Phil pleaded, and Aly wiped away another tear. It felt so much longer than a week.

  “Has she been eating anything at all?” she heard Dorly ask and then felt how Phil’s body slightly moved. Aly had her head in her lap, and she still knew Phil had shaken her head.

  “I ate,” Aly croaked out. She remembered she had some steak some time ago. “I had steak.”

  “You didn’t, Aly. You probably wanted to make them, but I threw them out a few days ago because they looked spoiled,” Dorly explained
gently.

  “Oh.” What else could Aly say to that?

  “I made some spaghetti and Bolognese,” Dorly went on, and Aly took a deep breath, sitting up.

  “Sounds like heaven,” she whispered, trying to smile.

  “That’s scary, Aly. Stop the smiling,” Phil instantly said, trying her hardest to draw a real smile from Aly. She just didn’t think she had it in her. She moved until she knelt on the floor next to the coffee table and tried her best to ignore the scrutinizing glances Dorly and Phil were throwing her. Somewhere deep down, she still couldn’t believe she had told those two she had kidnapped a child and now was mourning him as if he had died. And somehow, for her, he had. More surprising, though, was the fact they hadn’t called the police. They even told her she had done the right thing.

  “Kidnapping’s a felony,” she mumbled while twisting some noodles around the fork.

  “Beating a kid to death is a felony. You saved that boy’s life,” Phil replied, her tone making it clear she should never ever meet Collene on the street. Aly had shown them the photos she had taken back then of Alessandro’s bruised and battered body. If she hadn’t taken him, he most likely wouldn’t be alive anymore. Now, though, he was back, and if Jam’s skin was any indicator, Aly wasn’t sure if being dead would have served her boy better. Then she reminded herself that Collene wasn’t there anymore and Thea Karmison would keep her son safe. Hopefully.

  She raised the fork to her mouth but dropped it the moment her phone announced an incoming text message. It was a number she didn’t know sending pictures. Aly opened the first, and it was titled ‘In case you thought there was anything left here for you,’ being followed by six photos of Jam and a pretty redhead. He was smiling at her, and she touched his arm. One actually showed him hugging her; another one showed her reaching out to touch his lip in a gesture that made Aly want to throw up. She couldn’t believe that her heart, in its shattered state, still had the capability to hurt more.

  She brought her hand to her mouth, trying to keep the sobs from slipping out. Her son was in the hand of monsters; she shouldn’t care about Jam meeting another woman. Especially not after everything they had shared for less than seven days. Obviously, it had been just a nice escape for him.

  “Alessia Rhyme, do not, for one second, believe what that number tries to make you believe. Philomena and I both have seen Jam around you. This is a lie. Maybe they're older. He’s bound to have a history with women. He’s a good-looking man,” Dorly tried to soothe her.

  “I don’t care if he fucks her in the middle of the street but shouldn’t he be worried about his son? After all, he knows best what this family can do.” She shook her head and flung the phone across the room, unbidden anger making her wish she could get in a car and go down there herself. She wanted to take care of Alessandro if his father didn’t even bother to help him.

  She couldn’t help all the terrible pictures that flooded her mind: Alessandro bleeding in a corner; him crying for her; him thinking she had stopped loving him.

  With a new resolve, she got up.

  “Alessia, what are you up to now?” Phil carefully asked.

  “I’m gonna shower, then I’ll eat, and then I’ll go and find my son,” she announced, running up. It was a surprise how refreshing the cascading water was for her body and soul. With new resolve, she dressed coming down the stairs where Phil waited, Aly’s phone in hand.

  “Greg called, Aly,” she said quietly, and Aly pressed her lips together.

  “What now?”

  “He said that a friend at the station told him the Karmisons called in favors. If any officer sees you setting foot in Townsend, you’ll be brought in for questioning.” Aly’s jaw dropped.

  “What for? They hardly told them I kidnapped their grandson!”

  “I asked the same. They want to bring you in and question you because of Jam’s injuries. Greg said his friend put emphasis on questioning. Your brother is sure that you’ll be locked up, and they’ll find a reason if they need one. Don’t return, Aly. You don’t know what they’ll do to you,” Phil pleaded, and Aly sank down on the stairs, all resolve gone. If she were locked up, she wouldn’t be doing anything to help Alessandro, so her only hope was the guy who now dated instead of saving his son’s life.

  The doorbell rang and Alessia shook her head. She was over unannounced visitors. “It’s probably the police,” she mumbled, not even bothering to get up.

  “It’s not, Aly,” Phil whispered sheepishly. “It’s Spencer, and before you say anything, listen. We need someone by your side while we are gone.” Dorly joined them, and Aly lifted a brow. “You can’t go there and see your son, but we can,” Phil explained, and Aly sighed. She wanted to go.

  “You make sure the café is okay, and Lesso has something to return to,” Dorly interrupted. It was a plot to get Aly out of the house again, but she decided not to comment.

  “What exactly did you tell Spencer?” she wanted to know, and Phil shrugged a shoulder.

  “I told him that you needed a friend. I know that he’s head over heels in love with you, but trust me, Aly, the moment he sees you, he’ll just be your support. I won’t leave knowing you are staying here all the time. We’ll get him back, but you need to be strong for him,” Philomena insisted and Aly got up, opening the door. It surprised her, but she actually was glad to see Spencer. He hugged her, and even though it didn’t feel anything like being in Jam’s arms, it was nice to be able to almost hide from the world. Especially since the guy who held her heart was with another girl.

  Jam wrapped his hands around the hot cup standing in front of him while watching the redhead in front of him. She was young, no doubt about that, but everything he had heard from her so far had proved very well that she was amazing and devoted.

  “Did I say thank you today already?” he asked, giving her a smile. She actually looked serious, giving him a pointed look.

  “Don’t thank me, Jamison. We will need to touch up on tough topics today. I did some research on the Karmisons, and this is not gonna work. We need something to prove they are what you say they are,” she explained, and instantly, his smile left his face. “I’ll be honest. The scars on your body won’t be enough. People have seen you play all kinds of sports. I found reports on you being in fights back when you were still in high school. I don’t say I don’t believe you, but I’m saying it’ll be tough to prove she did it. Besides, it’s quite a while back that all this happened and –”

  “I don’t want to talk about all that she did to me. I want my son away from that family. Is there any chance?” he inquired, and Shannon looked down at her papers. She was a year younger than he was, and he had found her through Greg. She was a lawyer, damn fresh, too, but that didn’t matter. Greg swore that she had the heart it would take to make this all right.

  “That depends.” He knew his face showed his disappointment at her announcement, but she reached out and touched his arm with an encouraging smile. “Don’t lose hope. This is a unique situation. After all, your son was gone for ten years. Alessia Rhyme kidnapped him,” Shannon reminded him, and Jam gritted his teeth,

  “She didn’t kidnap him. I gave him to her for safe keeping. He would be dead if she hadn’t given in. Or I’d be on the run with a ten-year-old.”

  “Then you would've kidnapped your son.” Maybe involving Shannon wasn’t such a good idea after all, Jam thought.

  “Okay, Shannon, thank you for having met with me again, but I don’t think –”

  She interrupted him by reaching out, her expression soft as she touched his lip. He knew that the scar was as big as Texas to him, when, in truth, it was nothing more than a faint line.

  “This is one of the scars you carried away from the years you’ve been with her, isn’t it?” He took her hand, pushing it away because he was okay with Aly touching it, but he felt as if he should make this a privilege to Aly.

  “Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”

  “You’re try
ing to avoid permanent marks on your son, Jamison. Please, try to remember that. All I’m saying are the things people in the courtroom will be saying. What we need is a plan to make it so you have a chance at taking him away from the Karmisons again.”

  That made him actually stare at her since he knew that tone. “You actually have a plan!” That was something he liked.

  “I do. But first, I need to know what you plan to do with him once you have full custody of him,” Shannon remarked, and Jam just shook his head in disbelief. With everything she knew, he hadn’t thought that this was still a question.

  “Aly gets him back.” There was no doubt about that decision.

  “Jamison, you can’t do it like that,” she said carefully, and he almost laughed. Why were they sitting there again?

  “And why would that be?”

  “We need to make this legit so no one ever can take your son away again.”

  He got up, not caring that they were in a public café. He had stopped caring what people thought about him long ago. “What are you saying?”

  A mischievous grin came over her face, and she pointed for him to sit back down. “I'm saying I have a plan, and all we need is someone to back it up.”

  He sat again, and she took out a picture of him and Alessandro from a few days ago, as well as one from Aly and his son. “Alessia and my boy.”

  “There’s nothing juries hate more than people who abuse children. We will go to court, but until then, you need to stay away from the Karmisons, and as much as I hate it, away from your son. We need to make this all official. We’ll try to make it look as if you were only hiding your kid because you feared for his life. Alessia needs to support your story that you’ve been over there quite a few times. Seriously, as long as we plan it well and create a heartfelt story, our chances are good you’ll get your son back and Alessia won’t have to go to prison for long.” He liked the plan until she said her last words. Before he could say something, though, his cell chimed.