Chapter Sixteen #2
“Unfortunately, no. He did try to escape once.” Victoria chuckled.
“Foolish man. I endured seventeen years of humiliation and degradation while I planned his demise. Your mind can go to places that even shock you. In the end, one of the guards noticed James losing weight, and I ordered a doctor to examine him. The physician diagnosed him with cancer. When I came to visit him, he begged me to let him die. Cancer can be a bitch. I asked the doctor to treat him. He let us all suffer, and he thrived in our misery as we prayed for death to take us. In those last days, I think he realized a lot about human suffering and how it felt to die alone.”
“Does Kassie know you took him?”
“Yes. We’re family. She only asked not to know what happened to him. She put her past behind her and has a wonderful future with her husband and children. She’s made us grandparents,” Victoria said proudly. “I have an entire mountain full of them.”
Caroline absorbed everything Victoria told her. “What about Jameson?”
“What about him?” she asked.
“He used to work in Serenity. The leader sent him here. Why does he seem bitter about it?” she asked carefully.
Victoria walked over to the fence post and leaned against it.
“When Ivan rescued me, he killed James’ mistress after learning she taunted me cruelly and caused me even more misery.
Phillip, my son, followed James’ path, and they plotted to kill me and take over the empire I never knew I owned.
When Phillip died, I had already mourned the loss of my child.
James, however, didn’t take it well. Thinking I died, he never connected his mistress’ death to Ivan.
Jameson became his new protégé. James convinced the poor man Kassie destroyed his business and cut off all his contacts.
He owed more money than he could repay.”
“Jameson doesn’t seem foolish enough to believe James,” Caroline said thoughtfully.
“Poor Jameson became a product of a mother who didn’t care for him, and a father who never acknowledged him.
When he finally got the attention he craved, he desperately wanted to believe James.
When he reached out to Matthew for a position on a security team watching Kassie, they did a background check.
Jameson already anticipated the move, and his record appeared stellar,” Victoria said, frowning at the memory.
“Jameson fooled him, too,” Caroline whispered.
“Yes. James assigned Jameson to enter Kassie’s circle and bring her to him.
While the security team got ordered to another mission, Matthew and Jameson watched over Kassie and my granddaughter Emma.
The two of them unknowingly showed Jameson the true meaning of family.
When Jameson learned James’ plan to kill Kassie on her wedding day, he rushed to her friend’s house to help. James shot him in the stomach.”
Caroline struggled to breathe, thinking of the bitter pain of betrayal.
“If he risked his life for them, why didn’t they keep him?” she asked, confused.
“A team can only be as strong as its weakest link. Leo knew if he kept Jameson, his men would never trust him. Kassie and Samantha insisted they do something to help him. Leo made the right choice in giving him a position here. As you know, Jameson grew bitter in his hospital bed. He embedded himself deep into the trafficking ring before Leo got wind of it and stopped him. Julio became a neutral party, and they worked together. Jameson feels betrayed, but it was for his own good.”
Caroline nodded. “So, thanks very much for saving our lives, but see ya later?”
“No. Jameson lied. He intended harm to our family. After James, no one trusted him. Yet, he seemed lost. He got a second chance,” Victoria explained.
“Maybe because no one chose him,” Caroline said, piecing everything together.
“But you did,” Victoria surmised. “Then why does he seem desperate to prove himself? Ask yourself why he called me here when he knows the story?”
Caroline thought for a moment before replying, “Because I haven’t accepted him. I can’t. His father took me away from my family. I can’t bear to hear the name Stanton without cringing and thinking of how much I lost.”
“Exactly,” Victoria agreed. “No matter how good his intentions are, Jameson will always be judged by his father’s sins.”
“It’s not fair,” she whispered.
“Life’s not fair,” Victoria replied candidly.
“If it were, you and I would never have met today. I’ve considered Jameson’s request about telling you my story and what happened to James.
He robbed me of my life as he did you. Nothing good will come out of rehashing the finer points.
He asked me to help you heal. There’s only one way I can do it. ”
“How?” she asked, more curious than ever.
Victoria tapped her fingers together as she grinned slyly.
“I’m teaching you how to take back your power.
I can’t be gone long. Nick has his studies, and I promised to help him with his midterms,” she said proudly.
“When we finish, you won’t be helpless anymore or be at the mercy of any man.
I think once you realize the strength inside you, then you’ll see other things more clearly. ”
“Thank you, but I’m not sure it will help me. I’m attending therapy and moving in with my father. We have six years of catching up to do, and I don’t want to waste any more time.”
“Good. Then we’re on the same wavelength,” Victoria said, turning around and heading toward the house.
Caroline hastened her step to catch up. “I don’t think you understand. I don’t need your help. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing.”
As they reached the porch steps, Victoria ignored her.
“I’m an early riser, darling. It’s best if you’re staying in Corpus Christi.
I plan to shop for all my grandchildren.
They all need a pair of cowboy boots and a hat while I’m here.
I do hope they come in purple, Nugget, Saint’s daughter will be disappointed if I must reduce myself to bringing her a dreaded pink and brown, which seems terribly gauche for a young girl while her friends get their favorite colors… ”
“Victoria, I appreciate it, but nobody can do anything for me,” she insisted.
“I’ll meet you at your father’s home. I understand you have a pool there?
You’ll need it. I’ll be there at 4:00 a.m. Get to bed early so we don’t waste any time.
Do you have workout clothes? If not, have Rachel take you into town and get some.
Goodness knows she’ll be happy to spend the money,” Victoria said, already sounding bored with the conversation.
Caroline realized this woman never took no for an answer.
She stopped in her tracks, wondering what the woman planned to teach her.
Shrugging her shoulders, she returned to the little blue car and got in.
If she hurried, Caroline might have time to pack up her meager belongings and drive to her father’s.
Her mind drifted to Jameson, and she pushed him away.
It’s not like the team guarded every survivor.
She’d text Rebecca, letting her know she vacated the cabin and where she planned to stay.
Her stomach dropped as she thought of leaving behind her new friends and the safety of the ranch.
Guilt plagued her concerning Jameson. They’d never be anything more than acquaintances, and she needed to accept the inevitable.
Jameson shot from the couch as Victoria entered.
“How did it go?” he asked anxiously.
Shooting him a disgusted glance, Victoria continued on to the kitchen.
“Well?” he asked urgently.
“Jameson, you knew Matthew planned to contact me about the girl. Not once during your middle-of-the-night conversation did you happen to mention your feelings for the woman,” she chastised.
“It doesn’t matter. Did you talk to her?” he asked, getting irritated.
“Yes, I did.” Victoria poured herself a glass of iced tea and took a sip, regarding Jameson. “It seems your name has dug you in again.”
“Done me in,” he corrected, knowing her habit of using the wrong sayings. “Did she feel better after you explained what happened to James?”
Sighing, she sat at the table. “Even you aren’t na?ve enough to believe me flying all the way here would cure her overnight. James used the girl badly. I see the same haunted expression in her eyes as I did in mine. What did you really want from me?”
“I wanted her to feel safe. It’s important to me she gets a second chance at life. You did. Why can’t she?” he asked desperately.
“No matter how hard you try, you can’t heal her,” Victoria said softly. “I’m here for two weeks. I’ll do what I can. What about you?”
“She wants to move in with her father,” he said, raking his hand through his hair. “I love her, Victoria. It kills me what my father did to her. How do I repay her for the lost time with her parents, what they subjected her to, and the life she lost?”
Victoria took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “When Ivan found me and took me to Russia, the nightmares plagued me for years. He became my only source of comfort even when I pushed him away. Ivan became my anchor in the storm, refusing to budge or walk away. How far will you go?”
“I’ll stand in the fucking middle of the hurricane, and I won’t let go,” he growled.
“Then be prepared. Debris will hit you. It might cut and make you bleed, but you must remain steady. She must discover herself before she can see you in the wind. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he murmured.
“If she can’t forget, what will you do then?” she asked. “There’s a chance she’ll want to leave all of this behind her.”
Jameson let out a heavy sigh while he scratched the scruff along his jaw. “Then, I’ll have no choice but to let her go.”