Chapter 23
Lani
A week has passed since I found out for sure that I was pregnant. I’m waiting to tell Evan because he just landed a major case and can’t afford to be distracted right now. To be honest, I don’t know if I’m ready to tell him. I just know he’s going to freak the fuck out. He may have taken it pretty well when he found out about Harper, but I’m not sure how he’ll feel about having another child. I have no clue how to even begin telling him that he’s going to be a father again.
Since I’m having trouble concentrating at work worrying over the baby situation, I decide to call it a day. Wrapping up the only case I have right now, I start packing up my stuff to leave. Business has been slow so I’m not making much money, but it feels good to leave home each day and go to work. It definitely beats being holed up in Evan’s penthouse all day. As I step out into the hallway and turn to lock my office door, I’m approached by someone in an electrician’s uniform.
“Ma’am, I just need to get in there and check on something real quick,” he informs me, keeping his head tilted down slightly so that his face is partially hidden by his hat. I’m immediately on guard, but since this man is too short, I know it’s not Jackson. Dismissing my paranoia, I open up the door again. Once it’s open, he shoves me inside and demands, “Sit down.”
“Not again,” I mutter, doing as I’m told. Where the fuck is Alex?
“Alani, it’s me,” he says, taking off his hat. It’s Dylan. I brace myself for what’s about to come, preparing to go down kicking and screaming.
“Where’s Alex? What did you do to Alex?” I question. Shit! How did Dylan get to me? Evan’s going to be pissed. He’s going to be right, and if anything happens to me, he’ll blame himself. Dammit! All I ever do is hurt him !
“I’m not going to hurt you, Alani. But you need to come with me,” Dylan informs me.
“Where’s Alex?” I repeat, looking around and trying to gauge my options.
“He’s taking a nap. I promise, I didn’t hurt him.” He almost sounds apologetic. I take a couple of deep breaths and look up at him again.
“I know you’re with Jackson, and I know what you’ve done. You’re crazy if you think I’m going anywhere with you!”
“You don’t know what I’ve done! You only assume things about me, but you have no idea!” he protests defensively.
“I know you raped Missy and another girl who wound up dead. God only knows how many other women you, Jackson, and Michael victimized! I also know you helped keep me hidden along with Missy’s son when Jackson took us,” I lash out at him.
“You have it all wrong. Yeah, I was there the night Missy was raped, but I never touched her. I was in the room when you stumbled in, but I swear to God I didn’t rape her. Only Jackson did. I was young...and drunk...an...and stupid, but I never raped anyone! I was afraid to tell anyone what I’d witnessed because of who Jackson was. Who’d believe the punk who had an arrest record for shoplifting over the governor’s son? I tried to help Missy that night, but I couldn’t convince Jackson to stop,” Dylan confesses, sounding so distraught. Seeing the tears in his eyes, I almost feel sorry for him. And I might have fallen for his bullshit story if I didn’t know about the other girl.
“I saw you at the bar that night with Jackson and Michael. There was a girl with the three of you that reported being raped that night. She later wound up dead,” I remind him.
“I tried to warn her...when we were leaving. I thought she was safe when we all left in our separate cars. I figured everyone was going home, but I should’ve known Jackson would be able to talk his way into meeting up with her,” he says regretfully .
“You helped hold me the night of the party. Why?”
“Because I was seventeen and had been already in trouble with the law. Jackson said we’d all be thrown in jail if you or Missy went to the police. I didn’t know any better and I believed him. I was so scared that I just did whatever Jackson told me. I hate that I was such a coward back then. I’m married now and have a little girl. I would never want anything like that to happen to my daughter, and I’m sorry to have had any part in it. But Alani, I’m telling you the truth when I say I never touched Missy. I tried to help her back then, but I couldn’t. I want to make things right, but you need to come with me now!” he insistently pleads. Call me crazy, but for some reason, I actually believe him.
“I need to call Evan. He’ll go crazy if he doesn’t know where I am.”
“You can’t call Evan,” he says worriedly.
“Then I’m not going,” I state firmly.
“Shit. Hurry up—Jackson is back in Chicago and he knows where you work. I’m supposed to get you on a plane that he has waiting, while he picks up some money from his dad.”
“Where? Where are we going?” I ask.
“To the airfield. I confessed everything to my wife. I told her that I had to make things right and that I might not make it back, but I have to do this. When Jackson sees you, he’ll be distracted and I plan to shoot him.”
“You’ll go to jail,” I state as a matter-of-fact.
He hangs his head and acceptingly replies, “It’s what I deserve for my part in what happened to you girls.”
“How did you try to help Missy that night? When I walked in, you were zipping up your pants.”
“I told Michael and Jackson that I’d take my turn with Missy, but I wasn’t about to have two staring at my dick while I did it. I unbuttoned my pants to make them think I was seriously going to do it. But once they left the room, I was going to get her dressed and get her out of there. I planned on waiting for her to sober up so that I could tell her what happened. I wanted to explain to Missy that I didn’t rape her so that when she went to the police, I wouldn’t be arrested for something I didn’t do. But then you barged in while my pants were undone. I know what it must have looked like and without being able to talk to Missy—I knew I was screwed. When you said you were calling the police, I got scared and just did whatever Jackson said.”
“The statute of limitations has run out and Missy can’t press charges. What she needs is justice, but more than anything, she needs answers,” I tell him.
“I’ll do whatever I can to answer her questions. But please, we have to go now,” he begs.
“Let me call Evan first.” Before I can dial Evan’s number, there’s a loud banging on my office door.
“Lani! Open up!” Alex urgently shouts, continuing to bang on the door. Relief washes over me to know that he’s safe. I walk over to open the door without Dylan making an attempt to stop me. Once the door opens, Alex rushes in, aiming his gun at Dylan.
“Did he hurt you?” Alex questions me without taking his eyes off Dylan.
“No, he didn’t,” I answer. Not wanting Alex to hurt Dylan, I add, “It’s ok, Alex. I’m fine, just calm down.”
“Get down on the ground!” Alex orders Dylan.
“Wait! He’s here to help. He has a plan,” I quickly explain. Alex ignores me and heads over to Dylan.
“Help?? You believe this rapist?!” Alex disgustedly asks, roughly forcing Dylan to the ground. Alex puts his knee on Dylan’s back to hold Dylan down.
“Alex, stop,” I plead.
“I’ll let Evan deal with him,” he says, pulling out some zip ties from his pocket. Zip ties??? Who carries zip ties around with them?! I guess when Evan is your boss, anything is possible. I would laugh if the situation wasn’t so intense right now. I nearly shit myself when another hulking figure crashes through the door with a gun drawn. I realize it’s Evan and I rush to stand between him and where Dylan is lying on the ground.
“What the fuck, Alani?” Evan questions, lowering his weapon.
“Can everyone just please calm down? I need to explain what’s going on,” I say, trying to diffuse the situation. Having tied Dylan’s hands, Alex brings Dylan to his feet.
“We’re running out of time, Alani. We need to go,” Dylan calmly says. I don’t know how he can be so calm when there’s two armed men ready to shoot him if he makes a move.
“Shut the fuck up!” Evan demands, pressing his gun into Dylan’s temple. Dylan closes his eyes and his presses his lips together in a grim line as he braces himself for the bullet he knows is coming.
“Evan, stop! He’s here to help! I don’t have time to explain, but I need to go with him. He’s taking me to Jackson,” I hurriedly say, panicking.
“Have you completely lost your mind?! Do you even know what you’re asking me to do?” Evan questions, looking at me like I’m insane. Before I could respond, he angrily continues, “I’m not about to let you go anywhere with this asshole!”
“Sir, should I get Lani out of here and let you handle this?” Alex asks in an emotionless, professional tone.
“Yes. Take her downstairs and wait for me,” Evan orders, his voice sounding cold and distant. Dylan is the only one who knows where Jackson is going to be, and Evan is making a decision that would ruin the chance to get rid of Jackson once and for all. It will only send Jackson back into hiding, and who knows if we’ll ever get this opportunity again.
“Copy that. Call me for the clean-up when you’re done.” Realizing the meaning of Alex’s words sets me off. I charge at Evan, screaming.
“Don’t do this, Evan! You’re killing an innocent man. Please listen!” Before I can get to Evan, Alex grabs me from behind and picks me up like I weigh nothing. I struggle against his hold as he starts to carry me towards the door. I kick back at him a few times, but he keeps walking. Trying to reach Evan one last time, I shout, “If you kill him, you’ll go to jail! Think of your kids, Evan! Please don’t do this!”
I don’t know if Evan heard me because Alex has me out the door and into the hallway. I continue to struggle and protest as Alex carries me out of the building. When we get to his car, I wonder why he parked in the back alley.
“Get in,” Alex demands, finally putting me down. I turn to see him pointing the gun at my head and once again taking out the zip ties.
“No!” I scream, kicking him as hard as I can on the shin. The last thing I remember is the butt of his gun meeting the side of my head.
Evan
I try to process what Alani was screaming at me, but I don’t have time to think it through clearly. I need to act quickly because Senator Morgan is meeting with Jackson right now. As promised, the senator contacted me as soon as Jackson reached out to him to ask for money. I look at Dylan, who’s standing very still in front of me with his head down. It’s as if he’s resigned to his fate. Deciding I can’t kill him in this office building, I put the gun to his back and nudge him towards the door.
“Let’s go,” I command. It surprises me to find him willingly follow my instructions as we head down to my car. He doesn’t make a sound of protest or attempt to escape, allowing me to walk him towards my car with ease. I wonder where Alex and Alani are since I parked behind Alex’s vehicle. I look around for Alex in case someone got the jump on him and has taken Alani—I doubt anyone would bring him along, knowing he’d pose as a threat. I notice a couple of zip ties lying on the ground along with Alani’s keys. A sinking feeling sets in as I realize that the man I’d hired and trusted is in Jackson’s pocket. I quickly turn to Dylan and ask, “Where are they?”
“A small airfield about thirty miles from here,” Dylan answers, offering up the information without hesitation .
“Get in,” I order, opening the passenger door for him. He quickly does as he’s told without a fight, as if he realizes the urgency of the situation and is aiding my need to move fast.
“Head north towards Rockford,” Dylan instructs once I get in and start the car. He’s being so helpful that I consider the possibility that Alani was right when she screamed that I was about to kill an innocent man. Once I’m on the freeway, I try to process everything that I can. I have no idea what’s going on. When I couldn’t reach Alex, I was worried that something had happened to Alani, so I left work and headed straight to her office. I don’t know what happened there and I need answers now.
“Why were you at her office?” I question Dylan.
“I just wanted to stop Jackson to make up for what I didn’t do to help back then. Yes, I was going to take her to Jackson, but it was so I could kill him. Without her, I’d never be able to get close enough to Jackson.”
“Why should I believe you? You kept Alani’s location hidden from me all those months she and Cade were missing. Why are you just doing something about Jackson now?”
“Like I told you back then, I didn’t know where she was. I tried to find out where she was by reaching out to Jackson. But I didn’t know how to contact him other than through an old email I had. He never made contact until this morning, when he asked if I could pick Alani up and take her to the airfield. He said he has a reward for whoever gets her there,” Dylan explains.
“So it’s possible that he has more than one person with the means and motivation to do it,” I state. Knowing without a doubt that Alex is hoping to get paid, I press on the gas and the car takes off. I expertly weave in and out of the multiple lanes and even use the shoulders of the road, cutting through the Chicago traffic that would otherwise be impossible to get through.