One Simple Memory (8 page)

“I understand.” She looked up at him with a small smile.

They both packed up their bags and loaded them into the car. One quick stop at a gas station, with the gas tank full and a few snacks and drinks bought, they hit the freeway to their next destination.

They had been driving for an hour. Sean noticed Jenn was quiet, she wasn’t paying much attention to where they were heading. But when he drove past a familiar place, the Shark Reef Aquarium, she spoke up.

“Vegas?” She turned towards him and asked. “You think your father won’t find us here?”

He glanced at her, “Dad’s associates don’t reach this far. So, I don’t think we will be recognized. But we will still change up our looks. Plus, we need a big city to blend in with.” He grinned playfully at her. “And while we are here, maybe we can have a little fun.” His eyes sparkled in the sunlight, making him look like an innocent angel, something she knew he was not. He faced back toward the road and continued to drive. They drove until they reached the Freemont. Sean pulled into an underground parking garage across from the hotel.

“Seriously?” She looked at him wide eyed. She shook her head, unbuckled and descended from the car.

Sean chuckled. “Relax, I know you think I am crazy, but this is a great place.” He walked around the car, grabbed the bags from the popped trunk and led Jenn out of the garage. Sean nudged her and gave her a grin. He wanted to get her smiling again. He knew bringing her to Vegas would bring back childhood memories, and even though they were supposed to be in hiding, what would be the harm in making new memories.

Even though they were pretty booked solid, the hotel still had one room left, the honeymoon suite. He hoped she wouldn’t freak out about the bed situation again. Especially when they had the opportunity of using all the luxuries at a very cheap price.

Once checked in and situated in the room, Sean told Jenn he was going out. That he was going to the store to grab some supplies for changing their looks.

He wasn’t gone long. Returning with a few bags containing hair dye, coloured, temporary contacts and sunglasses. Setting everything on the bed, he called Jenn over. Looking at her, he spoke. “So I tried to think of things that would change us the most. I got hair dye, brown and black. Choose which you would like. And I got us green and brown contacts.” He looked up at her with a grimace.

Biting her lip and browsing through all the products, Jenn looked to him and responded. “I think I will take the black dye and the green contacts.”

Sean nodded and handed her her chosen products.

Jenn took the dye and contacts and headed to the bathroom.

Sean ded the same when Jenn was done.

An hour later, both of them were sporting new hair and eye color. Neither could believe how different they looked.

Sean thought that it was about time they went and got something to eat. He needed to keep his strength up, just in case. But, with traveling the distance they did and making it out of his father’s region alive, he held his fingers crossed that they could try and relax a little.

“Hey Jenn, do you feel comfortable enough to leave the hotel to get something to eat?”

“I don’t think that’s a great idea.” She bit her lip with a look of indecision. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

“Yes, my father’s dealings don’t reach this far. We should be good to at least get some dinner.” He answered as he headed towards the door with the key card. “So, you ready to eat?”

Jenn chewed on her lip for a minute, then she nodded. “Okay, sure. Let’s do this. I am starved.” They left the room, and hit the elevator.

Connor Green knew he couldn’t trust his son. He wished he could, but when it came to that little woman, he knew his boy would be weak. Sean and Jenn were on the move. The tracking system on his computer was showing a little red blip on the screen, they had just left the house. He had hoped his son would not be stupid. He had explained what would happen if he disobeyed him. He supposed the hunt would be on for not just one head but two. He loved his son, but he just never learned. Convincing that young lad, Joey, two years ago to seduce little Jenn and gift her with a locket that contained a tracking device was one of the smartest things he had done. Now he could find them wherever they decided to run. The thought made him smile widely.

Connor had given them a few days of respite. He thought it was time to check if they had settled anywhere. He booted up his computer, opened the application that was connected to the tracker in the locket and waited for their location to be found. Las Vegas. “Fucking figures.” He mumbled. If his dim wit son thought that is far enough away, he was wrong. Time to send some re-enforcements out. He wondered if Jake would suffice. He knew what the girl looked like, and he had a take-no-prisoner’s attitude. He picked up his phone. “Jake, they are in Vegas. Get on it.” He listened for a moment to see if his son would disagree, which he did not and hung up. Sean had fucked up, so now the body count would increase.

Jake arrived in Vegas on his father’s orders, but he was not alone. He brought along Simon. Simon was one of his father’s more fierce and unknown lackey’s. He knew that his brother fucked up. Jake didn’t want to be the one to deal with him, but he had no problem dealing with the girl.

His father told him the last location the tracker placed Sean and Jenn was somewhere just off the strip, so they drove around for a bit until they decided to just hit up each hotel in the surrounding area until they found them.

It took longer than he expected. Jake was thankful that his stupid brother didn’t even seem to try to hide; he used his real name. The damn Freemont for god sake’s, at least he would blend in with the crowd.

Now that he knew where they were, he needed to make a plan to eliminate the targets. He and Simon didn’t want Sean knowing they were found, so they left to bunk out in an even cheaper hotel down the way.

Sean

It had been two days since they hit Vegas and there hadn’t been a single sign that Sean’s father’s men followed them. He knew they couldn’t stay in Vegas for too long. His father would send someone after them at some point, there was no doubt about that. For now he needed to open up to Jenn and give her a few days to grasp the reality of everything, then he would make plans to move on. Finding a way to get new identities was on his to do list, but it would wait for now.

By being able to breathe a bit better and somewhat relax, Sean thought Jenn would able to try and piece together the puzzle of the past and understand why her father would betray his family.

That morning they were sitting by the open window having coffee, taking in the sites of tourists milling around the area. Sean knew by the look on her face that Jenn had something to say, he sat patiently and waited for her to open up.

She set her mug down and looked over at him, and smiled. “So Sean, you say my mother was murdered by your father?” She questioned him, a casual tone to her voice.

Sean set his cup down, turned his body in his chair toward her, and grinned. He wanted to be honest with her. He wanted to tell her all that he knew of the situation. Taking a deep breath and blowing it out he started, “Yes, Jenn, my father killed your mother. Well, truth be told, he had her killed.” Sean tipped his head down with a defeated look. He knew she needed some closure or at least answers to come to terms with this. He hated knowing what the answers would mean for her. “Apparently your father got a little close,” he looked up, into her eyes, “too close to the drugs my father was selling. And my father didn’t like that.” Sean leaned into the table. “Dad gave him several attempts to come clean about it, but when your dad began to use the drugs, stealing them and lie about it, I guess dad wouldn’t tolerate it anymore. Your father was warned but didn’t heed that warning.” Sean put his head in his hands and sighed.

Jenn listened, she seemed to not believe what she had heard. “He ignored a warning? A warning that could have saved my mother?” She whispered.

Sean could only nod in response. He knew she was going to break soon. If she was anything like she was when they were kids, she would snap any time. Her heart was big and soft, and he knew it.

She suddenly stood up from her chair, grabbed her mug and threw it against the wall by the patio door. It smashed and crumbled to the ground. “Why?” She screamed. “Why the fuck did he ignore such a thing?” She began to pace. “I fucking hate him!” She gritted out. Falling to her knees, she began to sob. Her hands in her hair, she pulled. She was trembling, her emotions fully overwhelming her.

Sean wasn’t sure if she would accept his touch, his comfort, but he went to her anyways. He knelt down to her and wrapped his arms around her. Well, at least he tried. She pushed him off and sprang up.

“And you...” She cried. “Why are you doing all this?” Pacing once again. “Why did you kidnap me? Why now?” She began to cry as she paced.

Sean leaned against the wall with his arms crossed against his chest. He felt helpless in consoling her, so he guessed, answering her questions would have to do.

“Can you please try to calm down Jenn.” He wanted her to relax, he needed her to see reason.

“Fuck you, Sean!” She stopped and spat at him. “Tell me what the hell is going on.”

Sean wiped the spit off. “Jenn, please.” He begged.

“Please what, Sean?” She growled. “You fucking break into my home, drug me, kidnap me and lock me up.” She walked by the table with a vase of flowers on it, grabbed it and whipped it him.

He barely managed to duck from the flying vase; it just missed his head. She still had good aim, he thought. He had taught her well. “You don’t understand. I had to take this job.” He slowly followed her around the room, attempting to reason with her, wanting her to understand.

She stopped, turned and stared at him. She was breathing heavy. “You had to take the job?” She gritted out. “Please explain why you had to take this job, enlighten me, Sean!” She crossed her arms over her chest.

He almost bumped into her when she stopped, so Sean backed up a bit to give her space. He sighed. “Yes, I had to, Jenn. I already told you.” He slumped his shoulders in defeat. “If I didn’t, my father would have sent one of my brothers or one of the other men and lord only knows how things would have turned out.” He pleaded. “I took the job to protect you. My father may have killed you.”

She laughed. A full out laugh. “To protect me Sean? How is kidnapping me protecting me?” She turned and went to the bathroom.

Sean began to follow and Jenn realized this. She turned and spoke. “I need a fucking moment.” She turned back, went in the bathroom, slammed the door and locked it.