Dark Legacy

by Jen Talty

  “Fucking pig.” She kicked out with her good foot, landing it right between his legs.

  He doubled over, groaning. “You bitch.”

  She hobbled toward the cabin, snagging the fire extinguisher off the side of the door.

  The hum of an engine caught her attention. She glanced to the port side but saw no lights, even though she knew a boat approached.

  “You’re going to regret that.” Alex stood and inched closer.

  “The only thing I regret is not having the courage to put you and the rest of the men my father sold me to in jail.” She raised the red canister and swung.

  Hard.

  Connected with his head.

  He fell to the right, hitting the side of the boat, his body jerking backward. He laughed as he lunged forward.

  She repeated the motion, this time hitting him under the chin.

  He stumbled back, losing his footing and flipping over the side of the boat with a splash.

  Tossing the extinguisher to the side, she raced to the back of the boat and turned the engine over. She wasn’t more than a few miles from home. She gripped the wheel and came about.

  A light flashed in her face.

  She covered her eyes. “Jackson?” She pulled back on the throttle as a Boston Whaler appeared with Katie at the helm and Jackson standing in the bow. “Thank God. I thought you were dead.”

  Jackson jumped aboard Sweet Freedom. “Where’s Alex?”

  “In the water somewhere.” She fell into Jackson’s arms.

  “I’ll find him,” Katie said. “And the Lake George patrol is on their way.”

  “There’s blood everywhere,” Jackson said.

  “I cut my foot.”

  He lifted her into his arms, carried her to the bench, and sat down. “Are you okay otherwise?”

  She nodded, snuggling against his body. “I am now.”

  “And here I thought I needed to come out here and save you, but it looks like you saved yourself.”

  She glanced up and stared into Jackson’s loving eyes. “I did, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah.” He kissed her tenderly. “Before I get really mushy on you, I want you to know that Lilly and her mom are safe.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “It is,” Jackson said. “I think I have to sell this boat.”

  “Probably a good idea. But maybe you can buy something else. I think I want to take up sailing again.”

  “Good. Because I need someone to teach me how.”

  She jerked her head back. “You bought this sucker with no idea how to sail?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s crazy.”

  “What do you think is crazier? That, or the fact that I’m falling madly in love with you?”

  “Oh. Definitely the sailboat.” She rested her head on his chest. “Falling in love with you is going to be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

  “You can see her now,” the doctor said as he stepped into the waiting room.

  “Thanks.” Jackson stood, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. He hated that Shannon had to be in the same hospital as her uncle and the man who’d raped her, but at least he knew that she was safe and no one was going to hurt her again.

  Not on his watch.

  “What are you waiting for?” Katie asked. “Go. I’ll wait for a report on her asshole uncle when he comes out of surgery.”

  “I don’t know if I want him to die on the table, or live so he can face life in prison.”

  “Trust me, life in prison is the better option. Same goes for Alex,” Katie said.

  “Only, we don’t know if they have enough on—”

  “Stop,” Katie said. “Right now, you should be focusing on Shannon and helping her between her torn up foot, her crazy-ass mother who is MIA, and just being the best boyfriend you can be.”

  Jackson’s heart beat a little faster. He hadn’t expected to find love and it honestly scared him, but not enough to run from it. “Thanks, Katie.”

  “Don’t mention it. I’ll call you when I know anything.”

  Jackson nodded as he strolled down the corridor in search of Shannon’s room. He found it and pulled back the curtain.

  She lifted her head and smiled. “Hey there,” she said. “No sign of my mother out there, huh?”

  “I’m sorry, no. I called and told her what happened, but I don’t think she’ll be coming.” He sat on the edge of the gurney. “But if it makes you feel any better, Annette is on her way.”

  Shannon smiled. “That does help.”

  “How are you feeling?” He rested his hand on her thigh and kissed her cheek.

  “You can do better than that.”

  “Oh. I can.” He pressed his mouth against hers, slipping his tongue between her plump lips. A deep groan vibrated in his throat. “Better?”

  “Much,” she whispered. “What happens now?”

  “As soon as we get your walking papers, I’ll take you home and wait on you until you’re better.”

  “No. I mean with Alex, my uncle, and the sex rings.”

  “Oh. That.” Jackson ran a hand over his face. “Well, they have Alex on kidnapping charges, no problem. And your uncle with breaking and entering and assault with a deadly weapon.”

  “That’s not enough.”

  Jackson nodded. “Alex is facing a plethora of charges, and Westerfield will be able to make them stick. But he does have a lot of investigating to do, and I’m going to be riding his ass every step of the way. Katie and I will be doing a lot of our own, as well. We will make sure these sex rings are closed out, and that Alex and your uncle go to jail for a very long time.”

  “I don’t want you and Katie to spend—”

  “We want to.”

  Shannon nodded.

  “But first, I’m taking a few weeks off to pamper you and—”

  “Where is she?” Annette’s voice bounced in Jackson’s ears.

  Shannon dropped her head on his shoulder. “Do you know she lives farther away than my mom?”

  “I do.”

  “Oh, thank God you’re okay.” Annette raced around to the other side of the bed and hugged them both. “I was so worried about the two of you.”

  “You didn’t have to drive all the way up here,” Shannon said.

  “Of course, I did.” She kissed Shannon’s forehead and then Jackson’s cheek. “Now, I’ll leave the two of you to continue your little kissy-kissy.”

  Jackson laughed. “No reason for you to leave,” he said. “I think Shannon and I will have plenty of time for that later.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Shannon set her foot on the pillow. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours, she wasn’t sure her head was on straight, and seeing her mother wouldn’t be easy.

  “There, now. That should help,” Annette said. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “My mom is going to freak when she sees you here.”

  “I can leave if you want me to.”

  Shannon shook her head. “If I can face down Alex, I can do this.”

  The sound of Jackson’s feet stomping down the stairs made Shannon’s heart swell.

  She smiled.

  “How’s the patient?” he asked before bending over and giving her a kiss that should have been done in private—but who was she to complain?

  “Better now,” she said.

  “What’s the ETA on your mom?”

  “About twenty,” Annette said. “Are you going to stay?”

  “If Shannon wants me to, of course.”

  “I could use all the moral support I can get. I mean, I am the morning news, and my mother didn’t sound too happy that our skeletons fell out of the closet, to quote her.”

  “Too bad,” Jackson said. “Besides, all a story like this does is help other people.”

  “Agreed.” Annette folded her arms as she glanced out the window. “She’s early.”

  Shannon adjusted her bangs and smoothed the front of her sl
acks. She told herself that, no matter what happened, she would be kind to her mother, but she’d realign her boundaries, depending on what came out of her mouth.

  Annette opened the door. “Melinda, it’s good to see you.”

  “I can’t say the same,” Melinda said. “Why are you here?”

  “I asked her to come.” Shannon waved her mother inside.

  Melinda set her purse on the coffee table and glanced at Jackson. “I didn’t realize we were having a little party. I was hoping to talk to you in private.”

  “I hoped you’d show more concern for my well-being.” Shannon couldn’t expect her mother to change her stripes in one day. And maybe she never would.

  And that would have to be okay.

  Melinda sat on the edge of the sofa, resting her hand on Shannon’s leg. “I’ve been worried sick about you all night.” She swiped at her cheeks. “This isn’t easy for us. I wasn’t even married to your father when…when…you got pregnant.”

  “But you knew. And you’re my mother and did nothing.”

  Melinda gasped. “That’s not true. I had no idea your father was into any of that stuff, and I have a hard time believing everything being reported now. Your dad might have cheated, but he wasn’t a monster.” She raised her chin. “If Alex hurt you when you were young, I’m sorry.”

  “If? Mother, he raped me. As did many of Daddy’s friends. And if you’re not going—”

  “I’m not going to have this conversation with her,”—she looked at Annette—“or him,”—a glare at Jackson—“in the room,” her mother said quietly.

  “Then we’re not going to have it at all.” For the first time in Shannon’s life, she felt strong enough to do what she’d always thought was impossible. “I love you, Mom. I really do. But if you can’t acknowledge what happened to me, what you know deep down in your heart of hearts, then please leave.”

  “You had me drive all the way here just to humiliate me? It’s bad enough you can’t go to your fitting for your sister’s wedding. Why are you so selfish?” Melinda stared at her with blank eyes.

  “I think this discussion is over,” Jackson said. “Your daughter said it was time to go, so I’d appreciate it if you honored her wishes.”

  “And who are you to my daughter?” Melinda stood with a scowl.

  “The man who loves her and is willing to stand by her, no matter what. That’s who.” He pointed toward the door.

  “If you ever want to really talk about what happened when I was a kid, Mom, I’m always willing. We could even go to therapy together. I don’t want to shut you out, but if this is how it’s going to be, then our relationship will be confined to family gatherings when my sisters have me over.”

  “This is your doing, not mine.” Melinda, as graceful as ever, took her purse and left.

  “You are an amazing woman. I wouldn’t have been so kind.” Annette closed the door.

  “I’m with her on this one.”

  Shannon wiped the tears that she couldn’t hold back. “I gave her a chance. The rest is up to her.”

  Jackson lifted her feet, making himself comfortable at the end of the sofa, then resting her legs on his thighs. “Annette, could you give us a few minutes?”

  “Absolutely. I need to call my husband anyway.” Annette stepped outside.

  “What’s going on? You look so serious.” Shannon didn’t like when Jackson rubbed his temple.

  “I wanted to talk to you about your daughter.”

  Shannon’s heart jumped to her throat. “You found her?”

  “I think you should put your name in the registry and let her decide if she wants to meet you or not.”

  “You really did find her, didn’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “And?”

  “I only know where she is. With everything that’s happened, I got sidetracked with making sure you didn’t die.”

  Shannon clutched her pendant. “Why do you, of all people, want me to do that?”

  “Because I know you. And I know you’d want it to be her call. But if you don’t give her the option, she’ll have a hard time finding you and might not go to the lengths I did to find her.” He pulled out his cell. “I have some information about her if you want it.”

  She nodded. “I do. Please, tell me about her. Tell me I did the right thing.”

  “From what I can tell, she’s had a normal childhood. She’s got an older brother and a little sister—both adopted. She’s a freshman in college now, studying psychology.”

  Shannon smiled. “Really?”

  Jackson nodded as he scrolled through the report. “Wow. She looks just like you. Do you want to see?”

  “I was always so afraid she’d look like one of the men, and then I’d know who he was, and that was something I couldn’t deal with.”

  “All I see is you.”

  “You’re biased,” she said, holding out her hand. “I want to see.” She took the cell, and it was like staring at herself in a mirror. “Oh, my. She even has bangs.” Shannon covered her mouth. “She looks happy.”

  “Katie said she is.”

  “I don’t want to intrude on her life.” Shannon handed Jackson the phone. “I don’t need to know her.”

  “What if she needs to know you?”

  “What about your rule?”

  Jackson laughed. “I think I’ve learned that’s a stupid rule. Put your name in the registry and just remember that if she doesn’t ever come looking, you loved her enough to give her better than what you had.”

  “You’re right. I should give her that opportunity, if she wants it.”

  “That’s my girl,” Jackson said. “Now, I have a hard question for you.”

  “Oh. Because nothing about the last few days has been hard.”

  “How do you feel about having more children?”

  She cocked her head. “I’ve never thought about it.”

  “I swore after Jasmine and I divorced that marriage and kids were off the table. But I’m starting to think differently. I know we’ve barely started being a couple, but I want to know where you stand on the subject.”

  Shannon pressed her hand over her stomach. She hadn’t wanted to even think about doing that to her body again. During her pregnancy, she’d felt alone and lost. Even worse while she gave birth and for years after. She felt empty and lonely. Now, being with Jackson made her wonder if family might be something she could do. “I think it’s something I’m open to in the future.”

  “Cool. Now, how about you make more room on this sofa, and we watch a movie? Annette brought over a dozen.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  He snuggled in behind her, holding her close to his chest and kissing her neck.

  She belonged in his arms, and it would be forever where she remained.

  No longer was she a hostage to her family’s dark legacy.

  Epilogue

  Three years later…

  “Sweetheart, relax.”

  Shannon shook out her hands and paced. “Easy for you to say. Your daughter didn’t just call you out of the blue and ask to meet you.”

  Jackson patted Max’s back as the four-month-old fell asleep in his father’s arms. “It’s going to be fine.”

  “What if something is wrong? Like she has some horrible disease or something.”

  Jackson arched a brow. “You really need to stop thinking the worst when it comes to Erica.”

  Erica Gladstone.

  That was her daughter’s name, and she was twenty-two years old now—a grown adult.

  Shannon glanced at her watch. They had agreed to meet in the park ten minutes ago. “Maybe she changed—”

  “Shannon?” a female voice said.

  “Yes.” Shannon turned and came face-to-face with a young woman who looked very much like her, though she was about an inch taller, and her hair was a little darker.

  “Hi. I’m…um…Erica.”

  “Oh. Well. Hi.” Shannon fought the tears stinging her eye
s. “This is my husband, Jackson. And that’s our son, Max.”

  Erica nodded, resting her hands on a small baby bump. “My husband is sitting in the car over there. I was going to have him walk over with me, but I didn’t know if that would be too much or not.”

  “We’d love to meet him,” Jackson said as he bounced up and down. “Please. Have him come over.”

  “Yes. I’m sure Jackson would love a guy to talk to.”

  “How long have you been married?” Erica asked, glancing over her shoulder.

  “Almost two years now,” Shannon said.

  “Why don’t I take this little guy for a stroll? I can go grab your husband. What’s his name?”

  “John. I’m sure he’d like that. He wasn’t sure if he should stay or go.”

  “I’ll get John, and we’ll go grab some coffee or something. We’ll be right back.”

  Shannon nodded. “Shall we sit?” She waved to a park bench. “I really don’t know how this works.”

  “Me, either.” Erica laughed nervously. “Thank you for meeting me.”

  “I’m glad you reached out.”

  Erica took a seat, wiping a tear. “I have to be honest with you. When I found out I was pregnant and decided to dig into my adoption, I did a Google search when I got your name to see what I could find out on my own.”

  “I see.” Shannon knew all too well what Erica had found. “I can only imagine what you saw on the internet. I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong.” Erica reached out and took Shannon’s hand. “I have to admit, when I first called the adoption agency, I didn’t think I wanted anything but my records. When I read the article about what those men did to you—my birth mother—I knew I had to find you. My parents, siblings, my husband, and even his parents all agreed.”

  A guttural sob escaped Shannon’s lips.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to tell you, in person, how much it means to me that you loved me enough to give me this life and how I wish I could have loved you back.”

  Tears dribbled down Shannon’s cheek. “That’s not what I expected to hear.”

  “You’re a brave woman for what you did, and while I have loving parents who raised me, I’m hoping we can be friends. I want to find a way for you to be in my life. In my baby’s life.”