Chapter 17
“Well look at you.” Carl stands from behind the hood of a car. As much as I would love to lay with Lanie all night and day, I still have a business to run. Plus, the insurance adjuster is supposed to come by today for me to sign some paperwork.
“What?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say she finally gave in and gave you some.”
“Fuck off, Carl.” He laughs and I continue into the office.
Wondering how last night went with Ben, I decide to call my sister and see how things are going.
“Hello.”
“Hey sis.”
“Jaxon. How might you be this morning?”
“I’m fantastic. Thanks for asking.” She giggles.
“It was her idea. She wanted something special for you.”
“Sis, it could have been in the middle of nowhere, and it would have still been special.”
“I must say, I’ve never seen you so happy.”
“Never felt it until I met her.” I can’t seem to wipe this ridiculous smile from my face. “ Okay, let’s change the subject. I wasn’t calling to share my love life with you.”
“Oh, I know. I already got the gory details from Lanie. I’m assuming you’re calling about Ben?”
“Actually, yes. How is he?”
“Surprisingly, he’s good. He took it hard last night, but once the shock wore off, Brad was able to explain himself to both Ben and I why he thought it was best to walk away. He said if he had known, he would have come back immediately.”
“I’m glad. It seems like things are finally falling back where they should be. Any word from dad? I was thinking that I would have the loft finished by Friday. Not that he would mind if we stayed around when he got home.”
“No word yet. Last I spoke with him he said he was really enjoying his time with Zane and is girlfriend Laura.”
By this time, I’m not really paying attention to her. My mind keeps drifting back to last night and all the fun we had making love. It still feels like I’ve imagined it all.
“Hey bro, have I lost you?” Sofie interrupts my thoughts.
“Sorry, what?”
“Lanie just got here. I’m going to let you go so you can daydream without dragging me in with you.” She laughs. Lanie didn’t mention anything about going to my sister’s house today. Maybe she wanted some more girl time. I’m glad I left her the keys to my dad’s truck.
“Okay.” I look up and notice the insurance man walking into one of the car bays. He waves to Carl before heading my way. “The insurance guy is here, so I’ve got to go anyways.” I hang up greet the man.
“Knock, knock.” I open the door to my sister’s place. She had sent a text inviting us over for dinner.
“In here.” she calls out from the kitchen.
“Hey, beautiful.” I lift my sister up by the waist and circle her around. Brad comes in from the backyard with a beer in hand.
“Aren’t you hugging the wrong woman?” He questions.
“Nah. I may have landed the love of my life, but Sofie will always be my favorite sis.” I point at him after setting her back down. “You’d be smart to remember that too.”
Raising his hands in innocence, he chuckles. “Noted.”
“Where is that woman of mine anyways?” I pick up a tortilla chip and pop it in my mouth.
“She and Ben left just a few minutes ago. She said she forgot something back at the house.”
“Didn’t she have the truck?”
“No. After she came over this morning, she drove home. I thought it would be easier if we picked her up so you didn’t have to take two cars home tonight.” Brad sits beside me at the kitchen island. We get lost in needless conversation while we watch Sofie prepare supper.
Brad tells me that Lanie was worried about her sister this morning, so he arranged a phone call with her to reassure her worries that her sister was fine. He also mentioned to tell me that she asked about Frank. He told her they haven’t seen any activity yet as to Frank’s wear about. However, he did tell me that there has been some activity at her house, but he hasn’t officially been seen.
About an hour later, Ben comes in and drops his keys in the basket next to the phone. “Hey Uncle Jax.” He pats me on the shoulder before sitting next to me and taking a chip.
“How’s it going kid?” I ask. When he looks up, he focused is on his father. It’s in this moment that I finally realize that he is the spitting image of his father when he was that age. I guess I was blind all along and was more focused on making sure he was well taken care of. “Where’s Lanie?”
“Oh. I left her at the loft.”
“What? Why?”
“When I took her to Grandpa’s house, she said she suddenly remembered that she forgot some things at the garage. So I took her there. Don’t worry. I made sure it was safe before letting her in. She said she would drive the mustang over. What’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”
“She can’t take the mustang over, Ben. It’s out getting painted. She knows this.” Quickly, I get up and run out of the house. When I get to the car, Brad is on my tail and jumps in the passenger seat. “She’s running, isn’t she?” He’s pulls out his phone and makes a call.
“I don’t know. I don’t have a good feeling about this. I’m not going to let you do this alone this time. You’re my brother, we’re sticking together.”
“Thanks.”
When we make it to the shop, Brad checks the office while I head upstairs. I already know she’s gone, but I’m trying to hold on to the smallest shred of hope that she’s sitting on the couch just chilling. Of course, she’s not there.
“FUCK!” I end up kicking that stupid dog statue across the room in an attempt to release some stress. It hit’s the side table next to the couch and a piece of paper falls to the floor. I pick it up and begin to read it with shaky hands.
“Hello.” The flight attendant nods at each of us while we board the plane. When her eyes meet mine, they look sad. Maybe it’s because of the tears that haven’t stopped falling since I left the shop. If it wasn’t the tears, then I’m sure my blotchy face is a dead giveaway.
I find my seat, tuck my backpack under the seat in front of me and wait. My phone vibrates and I see Jax’s name. I’m guessing he read the letter. Silencing the call immediately wasn’t the best choice, because now he knows I have it in my hand. Moments later, a text comes through.
Lanie, please tell me where you are. ~Jax
I can’t. I need to do this. I can’t put you all in danger again. ~Lanie
Baby, don’t. Let me help you. Let me be there for you. I’m begging you. Please, Lanie. I love you. ~Jax
Tears stream down my face reading those three words I’ve craved to feel for so long. He tries ringing again and I silence it. I can barely see the screen when I type the final text I’ll ever send to Jaxon Montgomery.
I need to do this for myself. Please stay where you are so I know you will forever be safe. I know Frank all too well. I know that he will eventually be back to find me and believe me when I say that the next time he does, he will finally kill me. But at what cost? I couldn’t live with myself if he hurt you or your family. I meant what I said in that letter. I love you Jax. I think I loved you before I met you. Thank you for not giving up on me. Goodbye… ~Lanie
I shut the phone down and tuck it away in my backpack.
“I knew you would finally come to your senses.” Just the sound of his voice sends chills down my spine. “This better not be a set up.”
“It’s not. I’m alone.” I step outside into the warm air and wave down a cab. “I’ll be home in an hour.” I hang up on him before I lose the courage to go home. I call my sister.
“Where are you?”
“If I told you, you would try to talk me out of it anyways.”
“Will you come and see me?” I know what she’s doing.
“Laura, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Especially since I’m back on his turf. “I couldn’t live with myself if I knew something really happened to you. It was hard enough faking it.”
“But Lanie… So much has happened.”
“One day, we’ll meet up again. Just remember, I’ll always be thinking of you.” I bring my hand to my mouth to try to hide the sobs. “I love you Laura. Be happy.”
“Wait… Lani…” I cut the line and tuck the phone in my pocket. My head is pounding, so I’ve decided to take this time to try to clear my head before going to the house. I need to make one more stop first.
The lights are on when the cab pulls into the driveway. I pay him a hefty tip before exiting. I stand in the driveway and watch him leave. This is it. This is the last time I will stand freely. I know what I have to do. It’s a matter of me dying or the ones I love dying. The latter isn’t even an option in my book.
I dig down deep inside my soul and take the deepest breath I can before heading to the front door. Without even knocking, I push it open. It’s my house after all. Sitting in the arm chair in the formal living room is my husband. His right leg is crossed over his left and he’s holding a glass of what I can only assume is bourbon.
“Hello.” I drop my backpack on the ground by the front door. I really don’t know why I even packed anything to bring with me. Knowing Frank, everything will be burned and I will be scrubbed until I lose a few layers of skin. “How’s the leg?”
“Are you really going to go there?” He leans forward, placing his glass down on the coffee table before standing. “You do know that eventually, I would have found you, right?”
Knowing the outcome of this horrible event, I give him all I got. I stand steps away from him, open my arms up like a cross and look him straight in the eye. “I am right here, Frank. Go ahead and do what you wish. You have left me with no choice but to end this once and for all.” He takes one step towards me and back hands me right across the face. I fall back, but catch my balance to prove to him that I am strong enough to handle what he has to give. “Awe, c’mon Frank. Is that all you got? Are you getting weak in your old age?” I know I’m poking the bear, but I don’t care. The quicker this is over, the better.
“You want me to kill you, don’t you?” He stands nose to nose with me. “I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction. You see. I told you if you left me, I would kill you. Now that you’re back. I’m going to make you suffer. Don’t worry, wife. Before morning, you’ll be begging me to kill you.” He pulls out a knife from his back pocket. When I take a better look at it, I realize it’s Jax’s. “Look familiar?” He waves the sharp blade in front of me. “Did this belong to your little lover?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.” I answer with pride in my voice. I refuse to hide the fact that I finally found out what love truly is. “What’s the matter, husband? Jealous?”
“Me? Jealous?” He chuckles before taking the blade and driving it in my leg. I bend and scream as the sharp pain pierces through my skin. Shrieking when he draws it out, he takes me by my hair and begins to drag me down the hallway towards the bedroom. “Shut the fuck up. You’ll wake the neighbors.”
He throws me onto the bed. I sit up and try to crawl away from him, but he takes hold of my leg and flips me over. Straddling my body, he reaches back and with full force, his fist meets my face. Everything goes black.