Stone: The Ties that Bind (The Forbidden Love Series Book 4) Page 12

  “I don’t know. But, I’m going find out.” I said.

  I grabbed Gen. Danny and Madison followed. We got in the car and I drove as fast as I could through steep hills and mountain roads until we reached a cabin in the woods an hour later. Danny was silent the whole ride and Madison cried.

  I walked into the old log cabin. The scent of pine and wood filled the air. A reminder of my past as a child. A place where Andrew, sly and I ran to get away from the beatings our father used to give us. We slept there many nights, alone and hungry, afraid to face my father the next day, we would stay there for days sometimes weeks. I’d sneak back home for food. My father never called the cops. He didn’t care if we lived or died. I stood staring at the white linens that hovered over the furniture. Mrs. Henry owned this summer home. When she found us one morning, she was surprised, but wasn’t angry. She took us home and that was the week my father almost killed me, then killed my mother and I left Andrew and Sly and ran away. The worst mistake of my life.

  “What’s going on?” Gen asked. I glanced away from her. “I just asked you three times and you still haven’t answered me, Jacks.”

  “I haven’t answered you because I don’t have an answer.” I said.

  “Jacks, if you’re not honest with me, I can’t help you.”

  “You can’t help me at all, Gen. This is serious. I put everyone in danger seeking revenge for my brothers. I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted Madison to pay for what she did.” I turned around, balled my first and punched the wall.

  “Jacks, baby, please. It started off that way, remember? But, you love Alyssa. She’s the only family you have left. If you hurt her mother, she will never forgive you.”

  “I thought I could, until I saw Alyssa.” I tried to close my swollen hand and closed my eyes in pain. “I’ve been angry for so many years. But…it’s different now, Gen. Especially, since I met you.”

  I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. She held me by the waist.

  “I love you, Jacks; like I’ve never loved anyone before. Why the hell would I be here in this mess, If I didn’t?” she kissed me slowly and I grabbed her with an unbinding passion.

  We kissed deeply for a moment and then I broke the kiss. I could see it in her eyes how much she loved me. But I didn’t know how much I loved her, until the kiss was broken. Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes. I held her as I let the tears fall against her hair. She didn’t know. She held me tighter. Her body against mine was the most comforting feeling in this world until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around quickly.

  “We need to find her.” Danny said. “We can’t do this alone.”

  “How can we trust him?” Madison turned to Daniel. “He’s a cold-blooded killer.”

  “coldblooded killer, me? You need to take a long hard look at yourself. She’s my niece Madison and I love her. No matter how much I hate you for what you’ve done to my family. I love Alyssa.” I walked away from Madison and into the foyer.

  “I want to know where my sister is. Please help us.” Danny ran behind me.

  “Look, I understand you’re worried and you have every right to be, but if your mother doesn’t understand what I’m trying to do for her, I won’t help you anymore. You’re free to go.”

  “Just like that?” Daniel asked.

  “I’ll find Alyssa on my own. I don’t need the two of you.”

  “You know if you let us go, they’ll kill us.”

  “Who?”

  “Your people.” Danny replied.

  “If you don’t want my protection. They will kill you and your mother.” Daniel turned to Madison.

  “Momma, you need to stop.”

  “Danny, don’t you understand, he’s responsible for the death of your father.”

  “That’s not true. We are all responsible. It’s over Madison. It’s over.” I said walking away.

  “It’ll never be over.” She shouted. I stopped and turned towards Madison. “You’ll never know what’s it’s like to love someone and have them taken away from you; ripped from your arms and killed in front of you.” I tried to walk away from her and she walked in front of me and stopped. “I held him in my arms while he was dying. I looked into his eyes, when he could barely form the words on his lips to say, I love you, but he did, with his last breath, he did.” I stared into her eyes and I saw her soul. I felt her pain as if it were my very own. She grabbed my hand. “He loved me, me when no else did…ever. No one ever loved me, Jackson. No one.” She held my hand and wept. “and I knew no one loved him either. That’s why I sat and waited until he died in my arms and kissed his lips. Lips that were forbidden in his eyes, but never in mine.” She let go of my hand. “How can it be over when he died in vain? I died the day he did. My brother and sister have kept me alive all these years. They have been the light at the end of this dark tunnel that is my life. We could’ve been together. We could’ve been a family, so don’t tell me that it’s over.”

  She walked away, and Daniel followed her, placing his arm around her shoulder and reassuring her she was going to be okay.

  I looked to my side and saw Gen staring at me. I was tired of all the drama, but I knew in my heart, if something happened to Gen, I would feel the same way Madison did.

  I needed to get my head together and form a plan to save Alyssa. But, everything and everyone seemed to be falling apart around me. Madison and Daniel went to their rooms and Gen and I went to ours. I was frustrated, I couldn’t think and all I wanted was gen. All I needed was Gen.

  “Hey,” I whispered as Gen sat on the bed. “You need to sleep comfortably. You don’t need to wear anything at all.”

  “Are you trying to tempt me, Mr. Turner?” she smiled.

  “I am, and I hope this time, you’ll give in to me.” I grabbed her by the waist.

  “Do you really think this is the right time?” she whispered.

  “This is the perfect time. I need you Genevieve. I’ve needed you for years. We just never crossed paths.” I kissed her lips gently.

  “I love you.” She said as she unbuckled my belt.

  “I love you, too.” I said as I lifted her red dress over her head and threw it gently on the bed.

  “Make love to me, Jacks. Right here, right now.” Her eyes met mine.

  I kissed her as my pants slowly slid down my thighs and hit the floor. I shook myself out of them grabbing on to her shoulders for support. We both laughed. I stopped for a moment and admired her beauty. She was naked and simply beautiful. Her hour glass figure and beautiful full lips made my mouth water. I was breathless just staring at her. She didn’t cover her body with her hands. She just stood there, staring at me. I slid my hands down the sides of her arms, then reached around her back and pushed her up against me. She moaned, and I went in for the kill. I kissed her and slid my tongue into her mouth. She kissed me back and I felt every hair on my body stand on end. My fingers raked her body, from her sweet breasts to every delicious curve. I lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around me. I placed her gently down on the bed.

  “You seem to be very excited, Jacks.” She giggled.

  Her green eyes gleamed. They sparkled like emeralds. So seductive. So beautiful.

  “I am. Do you know what happens when I get excited?” I said.

  “Nope,” she smiled.

  “This.” I whispered.

  Our bodies finally connected and ignited with a fiery passion I’ve never shared with any other woman. It was more than I could handle. An overwhelming feeling of love that made my body tremble. She was everything I thought she would be and I loved every inch of her. The moment we shared that night lasted what seemed a life time. I knew the few hours we made love and laid next to each other would be short lived. Soon, the light of the sun would peek through the window blinds, when all I wanted was to keep seeing the moonlight. I wanted this moment to last forever, but forever wasn’t something I could be sure of. She snuggled into my chest and fell asleep in my arms. I hadn’t slept in peace in over
eighteen years, but tonight, I did…with her.

  *****

  The morning announced itself with the warmth of the sun on my cheek. The movement of small hands caressing my chest woke from me from a well-deserved sleep.

  “Morning,” Gen whispered in my ear, giving me a kiss on my nose.

  I grabbed her playfully and flipped her on the bed on her back.

  “Mmm…I knew there was a good reason for me to get up.” I kissed her lips.

  “Oh no…there’s no time to play. We did enough of that last night.” I grabbed her and began to tickle her on the waist.

  She laughed so hard she snorted.

  “Oh my…what was that? You want more, don’t you?”

  “Stop that! No!” She shouted.

  A bang on the door stopped the laughter between us.

  “Who’s there?” I shouted.

  “It’s me, Jacob.”

  I stood up from the bed quickly. My first instinct was to get my gun; and I did. I whispered to Gen to get dress and go into the bathroom and hide in the tub.

  “I’ll be right there.” I yelled.

  I got dressed quickly and told Gen to lock the door. Jacob was my best friend, but the way he was acting with Madison, I figured he had a different agenda. I needed to stay calm and pretend I was on his side to find out the truth.

  I opened the door and he barged in.

  “Seems like you had a romantic night in the midst of all this chaos?” he grinned.

  “What’s up?”

  “I got a message from Jordania.”

  “And?”

  “She’s got Alyssa.”

  “Where?”

  “That’s where I’m headed now.”

  “You came to get me?” I asked suspiciously.

  “I need your help jacks, we’re in this together, right?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Look, we both know you want Madison dead. I figured, I’d help you keep your hands clean.” He said with a grin.

  I was shocked at what he said. The blood from my face drained. I swallowed hard.

  “I do. But, I didn’t want to hurt you Jacob.” I said calmly.

  “Hurt? Me? That bitch is not my daughter. I’m a sperm donor, that’s it.”

  I didn’t blink. I was stunned.

  “Exactly.” I stuttered. “So, what’s the plan?” I asked pretending to go along with him.

  “Look, we don’t have too much time to get Alyssa away from Jordania. We need to leave this location and get down to the city. We can…kill Madison by accident.”

  I literally felt sick. Jacob destroyed the little bit of happiness Madison ever had in her life, now he wants to kill her in cold blood.

  “Let’s do it.” I agreed.

  His cell phone rang.

  “I’ll be back to pick you guys up. Change of plans.” Jacob said. “Be ready when I get back.” He said.

  He walked out, and I locked the door behind him and ran to the bathroom.

  “Gen open the door.”

  “No…” She whispered.

  “Baby?”

  “Why? Why are you doing this?” she cried.

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “Killing Madison,” she whispered.

  “Listen to me. I had to say that. If he thinks I’m not on his side, he’ll kill all of us.”

  The door knob turned slowly.

  “Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Jacks. I’m so sorry.”

  I held her in my arms.

  “For what?”

  “For not trusting you,”

  “Gen, I’m not the man I used to be. I love you and when all of this is over, we’re going to be together forever.”

  “What about Madison and Daniel.”

  “I’m going to protect all of us. But I have to play it cool. I never imagined my best friend would betray me like this. I have to be prepared. We’re all in danger.”

  Chapter 25

  Alyssa

  I awoke with pain all over my body. I could barely open my eyes. I was groggy and felt bile rising slowly from my stomach into my mouth. I struggled to open one eye and glanced around and noticed I was in a bedroom. The broken-down dresser to my left confirmed it. I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I reached out with my hands to the side of me and felt a wet spot on the bed. I pushed my body up slowly on my elbows and looked to my right.

  “Jesus Christ!” I shouted.

  The right side of the bed was soaked in blood. The shock woke me up and I sat up staring at the saturated linen then looked down at my thighs. I was drenched in blood. I jumped out of the bed and jumped right on top of a body that lay sprawled on the floor. I covered my mouth with my hands and gasped. I checked my body with my hands to see if I was bleeding out. I looked around the room frantically to find what looked like Ana’s mother, Mel, tied to a chair with her mouth covered with duck tape. I recognized her from a picture momma had in a box in the attic.

  “Mel?” I asked as I ran towards her. I slowly took off the tape from across her mouth. “Mel? what are you doing here?”

  “Who the fuck are you?” She barked.

  I noticed some blood trickling down the side of her head.

  “It’s me, Alyssa?” I turned to look to see if there was a bathroom in the room. There wasn’t.

  “Alyssa who?” she said staring at me.

  “Alyssa, Ana’s daughter?”

  Her expression hardened.

  “Ahh, you’re the Alyssa that agent was looking for. Can you untie me?” She said without blinking.

  “What?”

  “Look, I need to get the fuck out of here. It’s obvious it’s your fault I’m here.”

  “My fault? What do you mean? Where are you going?” I asked nervously.

  Can you take me with you?”

  “Hell no. If they see me with you, they’ll kill me. You’re on your own kid.” She said as she wiped the side of her mouth.

  “You’re going to leave me here?” My heart broke.

  I knew she didn’t know me, but she didn’t even try to help me. I was her granddaughter for god’s sakes.

  “Well, look at this, a family reunion.” I heard her voice as the door creaked open. “Grandma and granddaughter. How sweet.” She said.

  I recognized her from the first time I was kidnapped at the apartment.

  “Alyssa, nice to see you again. I see your grandpappy saved you from the man who was going to tear your virgin flower last night.” She giggled and walked towards me.

  I swallowed hard. I glanced over at my so-called grandmother. She was wiping her bloody nose. The blood sliding down toward her lip.

  “So,” she turned to Mel. “You liked the coke I gave you. Prime shit. I could’ve killed you last night, but I figured you would want to meet your granddaughter before you die.” She said smiling.

  “Why am I here?” Mel said.

  “Melanie, or Mel, which do you prefer?”

  “Listen bitch, I’m not afraid of you. I’ve been through more shit in my life than you can count on your pretty little finger nails. I’m not afraid of dying. I should’ve died a long time ago. So what else do you have?” Mel said sternly.

  “I’m glad you feel that way, Melanie. I think you’ve done enough damage to your daughter…and grandkids. I’m not one to judge. I hated my father. I wished for his death day in and day out. But, the motherfucker never died.” She sat on the edge of the bed.

  “I don’t understand what’s going on?” I whispered.

  “You wouldn’t little girl. You’re really just collateral until we get your so-called mother in here.”

  “Collateral?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How do you fit into all of this shit, Jordania?” Mel said.

  “Andrew was my savior from my father. That fucking bastard beat me every day. Captain of the police department? That was a fucking joke. I ran away, and Andrew found me. Took me to Chechenia and took care of me. I was younger than you Alyssa. I h
ad no one, then I met him. Then he fell in love with Madison and he broke my heart. I was his sloppy seconds. He didn’t love me anymore. She took him away from me.” Her lips began to tremble. The tears trundled down her cheeks. “Then, Stone blew his fucking brains out and I was left alone.”

  I watched carefully as she reached behind her back. Then Jacob walked in and grabbed her hand.

  “What are you doing Jordania?” he asked.

  I stepped back as he took the gun from her hand.

  “Ahh…Mel. How do you feel?” Mel stared at him and didn’t say a word. “Speechless, are we?” I glanced over at her. “Jordania, I’d like you to sit right there.” He pointed to the chair next to grandma. “I want you to witness this, so you’ll feel that Andrew’s murder wasn’t in vain.”

  “Wait, what are you going to do?” I asked nervously.

  “I’m going to talk to Mel. You should listen Alyssa. Listen carefully. Sit.” He motioned towards the side of the bed that was filled with blood. “Sit, here.”

  “Please, don’t do this.” I pleaded.

  “Sit the fuck down, Alyssa.” I did as I was told.

  “Do you remember when you sold your daughter for drugs and money, Mel?” Mel glared at him. “I asked you a question, you old bitch.” He said calmly.

  “Yes.”

  “Do you remember when she got pregnant with Madison?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you remember when I told you to terminate that pregnancy because I was undercover?”

  “Yeah,” she sneered. “And do you remember when I told you I would have your badge if you forced her to abort?”

  “I do.” He glared at her. “Do you remember, detective McGuiness?”

  “No.”

  “Yes, you do. He was Annette’s old man.”

  “Why are you bringing him up?”

  “You know why I’m bringing him up.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Tell Alyssa the truth about Stone.”

  “What? That he was his father?” she shrugged her shoulders.

  “and?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Let me refresh your memory then.” He walked over to Mel and dragged a chair to sit in front of her. He pulled out a cigar from his suit pocket and lit it. Jordania stared at him cautiously. “Listen carefully, Alyssa. McGuiness didn’t know that he had a son. Annette and he were having an affair. Annette got pregnant. He was a very unhappy detective. Annette was a junkie and well detective McGuiness was well-known in the community. He often helped get small time drug dealers off the streets. She needed to keep her mouth shut. Am I getting this story straight so far, Mel?”