Salvation and Secrets (19 page)

Chapter 21

~ANA~

After finally getting Aunt Betsy off the phone, I went in search of Otis. Aunt Betsy had been pissed that I wasn't going home to spend Christmas with them, but after a summer of me living in my room for the whole time, I think she had finally accepted that Fort Pierce was no longer my home.

“Hmm, Otis, can I join you?” I asked from my position in the doorjamb, rubbing my clammy hands against my jeans.

Otis’ eyes flickered opened and he gurgled something. I didn’t like disturbing him; he’d fallen asleep in his chair pretty much the second Jackson and Velma left, but I needed to talk to him.

“Sure thing, come in.” He rubbed a hand over his tired eyes, shuffling straighter, eyeing me as I sat in the chair opposite from him and rubbed nervously at my wrist. Just feeling the smooth outline of the bracelet soothed me. “I’m not really sure how to ask this, but, hmm, I wanted to ask if, hmm, if—”

“Spit it out, girl.” He laughed, clearly amused by my discomfort.

Sucking in a long breath, I managed to find the words. “What do you think happened to Michael Pierce?”

Otis frowned, sitting forward a little. His mouth opened and then closed like a fish, and I could see he was hesitating.

“He died in an accident.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and something passed over his face. It was subtle but I saw it, the flash in his eyes. He wanted to say more. Maybe he just needed a little push.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I rushed out. "I've been digging up information on them, the Donohues. Nothing adds up about Michael's death. If it was just an accident, there would be police reports, an autopsy report, witnesses, something." I took a breath, letting my words sink in. Otis didn't give anything away, though. He just remained still and silent, watching me.

Frustrated, I continued. "There's nothing. Not one trace of evidence. It's like he was wiped off the face of the earth. Erased. Or covered up. I think—"

Otis' hand shot out, silencing me. "Miss Parry, think very carefully about what you say next. It might be something you can't ever take back."

It was too late. The seed was planted, and I wouldn't rest until I knew the truth. It was just the way I was wired. But I needed to hear Otis confirm it.

With a big breath, I said, "I don't think there was an accident at all. I think Marcus Donohue killed Jackson's dad because he found out that he wanted out." My breath was ragged, but I managed to get out. "He wanted out of that life and it got him killed."

Otis' eyes filled with unshed tears and I watched him age in front of me, like the weight of my words was a burden too much to shoulder.

"Miss Parry." He coughed, clearing his throat and I prepared myself for him to dismiss me. But as he scrubbed a hand over his jaw his eyes softened. "It was a couple of months before the accident and Mick came to me. I knew what he was involved with. I'd watched for years as he became more and more sucked into their world. And then Lucille died and it was like he had nothing tethering him to all that was good in this world."

Otis dabbled the corner of his eye, but I didn't flinch, too eager to hear the rest of the story.

The truth.

"Except Jax. But working for Donohue had its perks and Mick wanted Jax to have everything he never did. I tried telling him there were better ways. But he always was a stubborn ass.

“Anyhow, one day he came to me. I'd already noticed the cracks. Mick was starting to get tired of it all. And Marcus had taken a shining to Jax, favored him over his own. I think that was the final straw. He wanted something better for his son. He had it all planned out, their way out. Even had a house all picked out on the East Coast." Otis paused, lost in the memories.

"Wh-what happened?"

"Mick knew Donohue would never let him walk; you didn’t just up and walk out on Marcus Donohue. So, his plan was to run. Cut loose and head across the state. But a week before he was all set to do it, he went out running a job with Marcus and never came back."

It wasn't quite the confirmation I'd hoped for, but it was too much of a coincidence. Marcus Donohue must have discovered Michael's plan and killed him. But one thing still seemed unclear.

"Michael was his best friend. It doesn't make sense."

"Girl, someone like Marcus Donohue doesn't just let people walk away. Especially not his inner circle. People say they won't talk, but they always do. Even if they don't mean to.

“The moment Mick wanted out, he became a risk. And in Donohue's world, risks have to be exterminated."

A shudder ran through me. Otis made it all sound so normal. But it was crazy talk. Even though I had witnessed—even experienced firsthand—the sick minds of Braiden and Briony, I couldn't really imagining them killing Jackson. Extinguishing his life.

Panic surged up through me, clawing at my insides. "Otis, Jackson has no idea, does he? Does he know the lengths his family will go to protect their secrets? What if the same thing happens to him? Oh God, I couldn't—I can't, I can't even..." Tears stifled my words, and I gripped my bracelet, finding little solace in the smooth metal rubbing against my scarred skin.

"Now there, girl. Calm dow—"

"We're back." Velma's voice boomed through the small house and my eyes widened with horror. Jackson couldn't know about this. Not yet. Not until I knew what it all meant.

"This is between us, for now. Jax isn't ready to know," Otis whispered gruffly, nodding his head at me.

I nodded, gulping back more tears, rubbing my eyes frantically with the back of my sleeve.

"He didn't bore you with his stories too much, did he?" Jackson bounded into the room, dropping a kiss on my head before taking the seat next to me.

I ducked my head, trying to avoid looking at him. "He was just telling me about when you were a boy getting into all kinds of trouble." The slight tremor in my voice rang out in my head, and I shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

"I hope you didn't break out the albums, old man. No one needs to see me half-naked running around in just a diaper."

Otis let out a gruff laugh and Jackson joined him. I breathed a sigh of relief. If Jackson caught on to my mood, he wouldn't let it go, and I wasn't sure I could keep this secret if he asked.

"No time for sitting around. This dinner won't cook itself," Velma’s voice called from the kitchen.

Clasping his hands onto his knees, Otis rose from the chair and bellowed, "I'm coming, woman."

Jackson's hands entwined with mine and my body hummed, sinking back into the chair.

"I missed you."

"You were only gone an hour." I laughed, but it was strained, and I hoped Jackson didn't notice.

He grunted something under his breath and twisted in the seat so that his body was turned to me. "Any time away from you is too long. In fact, I've been thinking..." His eyes were speaking to me, pulling me into their ocean. "Maybe I should stay with you more when we get back."

I blinked, and then blinked again. "Like move in? To my dorm? With me?"

His hand reached out for a loose strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear, lingering near my cheek, his fingers barely brushing my skin. "Well, not move in. But yeah, maybe I should have some of my things there, and I’ll have to speak to student housing about getting a dorm room or something. I don't know what to expect when we get back. Things could be…things might turn to shit for a while. I'd feel better if you're not alone."

My mouth gaped and I tilted my head to the side. "I'm not alone, I have Elena."

I didn't know why I was fighting him on this; it was what I wanted—to see him more. To be closer to him. But I didn't want it under these circumstances when he was being forced to protect me.

As if he could hear my thoughts, he said, "Why are you fighting me on this? Elena rarely sleeps in the dorm and I thought you'd like having me all to yourself." His brow arched and my breath faltered as Jackson inched closer to my face, his eyes zeroing in on my lips, desire shining in his eyes.

“I do,” I murmured into his mouth as his lips slanted over mine.

Any thoughts of what awaited us back at Chastity Falls as I melted into Jackson’s kiss.

~

“I can’t believe it’s already time to leave.” My eyes swept over the house one more time, and I let Velma envelop me in a hug.

“Don’t be a stranger, and you keep safe, honey.” She squeezed tighter. “Stay safe.”

The sad tone of her voice sent shudders vibrating through me. Although we had avoided talking about the Donohues, I knew Jackson had probably filled them in on some of what was going on.

“Get over here, boy.” Otis threw his arms wide, wrapping Jackson into them. It was an amusing sight watching a frail old man hug a guy a foot taller and a whole lot wider than himself. “You look after Miss Parry…”

“I wish he’d stop calling me that,” I mumbled to myself, but Velma overheard and replied, “Ana, he loves you as his own. You’ve given our boy reason again. ‘Tis a good thing you've done, child.”

Given him reason?
I couldn’t imagine being anyone’s reason after emotionally shutting down after the accident. But Jackson was mine. He had breathed life back into me. He was my sole reason for wanting to heal. For wanting to ride out whatever the hell was coming our way. I wanted my shot with him.

A future.

“Honey, you okay?” Velma’s eyes wrinkled around the edges as she watched me.

“Huh, what? Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just sad it’s time to leave. Thank you so much for having us. It’s been lovely.”

“Door’s always open.” She gave me one last hug before joining Otis and Jackson.

Leaning against the car, I watched Jackson say his goodbyes to Otis and Velma. He was already shutting down; I could see the tension returning to his broad shoulders and the hardness in his eyes. I’d felt it the minute I awoke to him sitting in the chair in our room staring out of the window.

“I’ll call when we get back.” Jackson slammed the trunk and climbed into the driver’s side.

Mouthing one more goodbye, I climbed in and buckled my belt.

“Ready?” I smiled, trying to hold onto a shred of happiness from our ten days with the Blacks, but Jackson didn’t reply. Instead, he narrowed his eyes on the road and nodded.

With a quiet sigh, I turned my body slightly to the window and touched my head to the glass. It was going to be a long journey back.

Seconds passed and then minutes, and still Jackson said nothing. As we left the scenic road and moved further into the dense forest, the air in the car was sucked out, replaced by suffocating tension that made it almost hard to breathe. And with every mile that ticked by, Jackson’s hands gripped the wheel tighter. More and more color draining from his knuckles replaced with white.

“Jack-”

“Don’t.” His voice sliced through the tension like a knife, but the pit already forming in my stomach only grew wider.

“But maybe we should talk ab-”

Jackson slammed his fist against the leather with such ferocity that I jumped in my seat.

Words teetered on the edge of my lips, but I swallowed them down, sensing they would have failed to penetrate his hostile exterior.

Time ticked by painfully slow, and I noticed that the closer we drew to Chastity Falls, the slower the car traveled. It was as if Jackson didn’t want to return and face reality. I understood that—I had no desire to leave the security of Otis and Velma’s either—but what choice did we have? And besides, part of me was done hiding.

The familiar sight of Lowe Stadium came into view, rising atop the fir canopy. Although a small stadium, it was a sight to behold against the dense green background. But nothing about seeing it this time sparked the usual buzz of anticipation. Instead, a ball of nerves uncurled in my stomach making me feel queasy. And then the perimeter fence of campus appeared and the nerves spread out into my limbs making me tingle—the kind of feeling you get when you know something bad was going to happen.

The car slowed to a halt just on the edge of campus grounds and Jackson cursed under his breath. “We need more time.”

A bitter laugh tumbled out of my mouth. “More time? How much more time? A week? A month? We knew this was going to happen. You knew. It’s time to face the music, Jackson. I’m done hiding.”