Chapter 28
Jackson
James didn’t speak a word as he drove us to his father’s house, where only the day before, he’d attended with the sole purpose of murdering his father. I’d wondered at the time how he felt about killing his old man, but now I knew.
It wouldn’t be long until I was doing the same.
The rigid set of James’ jaw told me that he was silently thinking over everything he’d learned in the last few hours, and like me, he was no doubt second-guessing himself, wondering if he could have done something sooner to protect Kiera.
She’d told him almost everything, including our relationship ten years earlier, but omitting the details of how we’d become reacquainted in recent times.
For that, I was grateful. My best friend was having a difficult enough time looking at me without seeing me as the son of a rapist. If he discovered everything I’d done to his sister over the last few weeks, I’d be on the receiving end of his blade.
And rightly so.
It was the least I deserved, and if Kiera allowed it, I’d spend the rest of my life making sure she knew how damn sorry I was for not just recent treatment, but for all the hatred I’d harbored toward her over the years.
Lost in thought, I didn’t pay attention to where James was driving until we turned into a familiar street, one I’d driven down hundreds of times in my life. A heavy rock landed in my stomach.
“This isn’t the way to your father’s house.” James' jaw clenched in response, but he didn’t speak, nor did he deviate from the road taking us toward my parent's house. “James, this can wait. We need to find Billie.”
“This can’t fucking wait,” he hissed, refusing to look at me. “He raped my sister.”
“I’m aware,” I bit back, attempting to rein in my temper. “But he isn’t going anywhere. We stick to the plan and call a meeting-”
James slammed on the brakes, the car squealing to an abrupt stop. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he stared ahead. “Do you really think I can concentrate on anything but murdering that cunt? He. Raped. My. Sister.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I know what he did. You don’t have to keep saying it. Believe me, what he did to Kiera will haunt me for the rest of my goddamn life.”
He continued to stare ahead, his nostrils flaring. “I want him dead.”
“So do I,” I replied, my heart constricting. “And I told you, I would kill the fucker for what he did to-”
“See, here’s the thing,” James snapped, his venomous gaze shooting to me. “I don’t think you will. You’re too close to him-”
“Fuck you, don’t fucking patronize me. He hurt Kiki-”
“Oh yeah, my sister, whom you were madly in love with, but pretended didn’t exist for years. You’re telling me you’re choosing a childhood crush over the man you’ve spent your life looking up to?”
My fists clenched in my lap, a snarl forming on my lips.
“Let me make this abundantly clear to you, James. Kiera wasn’t a fucking childhood crush.
She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, and the only woman I will ever love.
I loved her then, and I fucking love her now, and I will do everything in my power to keep her and Billie safe, including from my cunt of a father.
And if that means I have to end his life, then I’ll fucking do it. ”
James glared at me, animosity radiating from him in huge waves. “Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard. Prove it to me. Prove just how much you love my sister by going into your parents' house right now and murdering that son-of-a-bitch.”
My hands twitched with the need to wipe the smug look off his face. Never in my life had I hated James. He was my best friend, we knew everything about each other, and we always had each other’s backs. But right then, I couldn’t fucking stand the sight of him.
“You know I can’t do that,” I replied through gritted teeth. “We need to do it the right way, call the other board-”
“Legion can go to hell,” he growled. “Isn’t that what you said back at my place? What’s more important to you, Jackson? The society or Kiera?”
It wasn’t a decision I needed to think about. She’d always meant more to me than anything, and she always would. “Kiera.”
A tense silence descended between us, and my gaze dropped to my lap as my heart stilled in my chest. I would kill my father for what he’d done, and I wouldn’t regret it. But would it be easy?
No. It was going to be the hardest thing I’d ever have to face.
Feeling James’ gaze burning into me, I opened my eyes to find pity written over his face rather than the venom I expected to see.
“You know he needs to die, but you don’t have to be the one to do it.
” The acid in his voice had vanished, and he sounded like my best friend once more.
“Two days ago, you offered to kill my father on my behalf. Now I’m offering you the same. ”
I shook my head. “It needs to be me.”
“It needs to be now.” Swallowing the lump in my throat, I reached into a compartment in James’ car where I knew he kept a gun.
Just as I was about to grab it, James stopped me by putting a hand on my arm.
“I’ll smooth things over with Harrison and Gabe.
They won’t object once they know that your dad hurt Kiera when she was part of Legion,” he said, referring to the other two board members.
I gave him a grateful nod. At least James still had my back.
“When this is done, you’ll take your father’s place,” he continued.
“And we put it to a vote to reinstate Kiera back into Legion.”
My brows lifted. “We can do that?”
A small smirk lifted James’ lips. “I’m the head of the board. I can do what I want.” I snorted, grinning back at him despite the somber atmosphere, before he turned serious again. “You really love her?”
“Yeah.”
He bobbed his head. “Then do what needs to be done, and you’ll have my blessing.”
My heart raced like a galloping horse as James stopped outside my parents' house. The home I’d grown up in, the place filled with love and laughter throughout my childhood. After today, I’d never step foot inside ever again.
“I’ll wait here,” James said, pulling out his phone. “I’ve got a few favors owed to me from several members who might be able to start tracking Alec and Billie. I’ll get the ball rolling while you’re inside, and hopefully we’ll have something to go on by the time you’re finished.”
“Promise me that when we find Alec, we’ll take our time to murder the son-of-a-bitch?”
A vicious smile creased James’ mouth. “You better fucking believe it.”
Leaving him to make his calls, I headed up the driveway and the four stone steps to the front door. I usually had a key to let myself in, but leaving James’ place in a rush, and not thinking I’d be here yet, I’d left it in my car.
I banged my hand against the door several times, taking deep breaths as I waited for it to be opened. I didn’t know how I would feel at seeing my dad. Would I want to plant a bullet into his head as soon as I saw him, or would I change my mind like a coward and beg James to take my place?
Either option was a strong possibility.
The door flew open, and I was met with my mom's curious gaze, which quickly turned into a beaming smile at seeing me. “Jackson, honey. What are you doing here?”
She stepped aside to let me in. Like I always did, I pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head, only this time, I held onto her a little tighter. Her world was about to be shattered, just like mine had been.
“I need to see dad. Is he here?”
Oblivious to what was about to happen, she pulled free of my arms and patted my cheek. “He’s in the games room having a cigarette, but he’s been in a funny mood since yesterday. Maybe seeing you will perk him up.”
A streak of white-hot fury rushed through me, although I didn’t know if it was the mention of the games room or if knowing my father's mood was likely because he tried to attack Kiera again and got a swift knee to the balls.
I kissed my mom on the cheek, telling her that I’d find her shortly before heading toward the room where he’d raped Kiera. Ironic that the room he’d violated her in would be the room he’d die in.
Not bothering to knock, I pushed the door open and slipped inside. Much like my mom when she opened the door, his brows pulled together before an affectionate grin spread across his face. “Jackson, my boy. What brings you here?”
Closing the door behind me, I balled my hands into a fist to stop the tremor residing in them from spreading. James’ gun was tucked into the back of my waistband and hidden under my jacket, pressed against me, a constant reminder that it would be the cause of my father’s death.
“Can I get you a drink?” he asked, waving to the rows of spirit bottles lining the wall behind the bar.
“No, I’m good. I want to talk,” I gritted out.
“Sure, take a seat.”
He pushed the stool opposite him with his foot, nodding to it.
I didn’t move, unable to bear being that close to him.
Now that I was in the same room as him, I wanted nothing more than to reach out and snap his neck with my bare hands.
I wanted to pour gasoline over him, set fire to it, and watch his body burn until there was nothing but ash.
I guess I didn’t have to worry about running to James like a little pussy and asking him to do my dirty work after all.
Leaning back against the doorframe, pain speared my chest as I stared at him. Everything I thought about him was a lie. He wasn’t a good man with a kind heart. He wasn’t a man who cared about his family.
He was a stranger disguised as the man I once loved.
“What’s on your mind, Son?” he asked, tilting his head to the side, worry coating his voice.
His faux concern added to the acid bubbling in my stomach. If he genuinely cared about me or my mom, he wouldn’t have done something that would eventually tear us apart.