CHAPTER NINETY EIGHTThe sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the opulent city of Chicago.It was the eve of Christmas but you could tell that the Logan’s were in mourning with the way the atmosphere was hushed and the people had their head bowed.Lavish mansions and grandiose estates lined the streets, a testament to the extravagance that permeated every aspect of life for the affluent. Today, the city was gathered to bid farewell to one of its wealthiest and most prominent figures, Mr Logan, the man who had both paved a way for everything functioning in that part of the city.Jackson was glad he had had the announcement of his father burial made because it would seem that the whole city had come out to celebrate him in death and both mourn the loss of the man.Everybody who was anybody was there and it was being well covered by the media spear headed by Natalie who was very much happy to have been giving the lead media covering. She had done as Jackson had a
CHAPTER NINETY NINE“You have to get him out of here first and have all of this sorted out later” Liam told Jackson as they exited the room, leaving it shut behind them“I know but I cannot have him go out right now and have the reporters listen to what he is saying; the man has gone fucking bonkers talking about murdering his wife”“He might be telling the truth and he did kill that poor woman so what are you going to do about it?” Liam asked again“I cannot do anything about it right now when my father is having his day. This should not be happening but leave it to my mother to always figure out a way to get in my fucking way all the time. Stay here, I will be right back” Jackson muttered, walking back into the house and heading for his mother who had managed to surround herself with sympathy and was preening in the attention she was getting from everyone.Her eyes hardened as soon as Jackson approached and she could only surmise that he had probably figured out her plan because she
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED“I know now is not the time and place to ask these question but… who the hell is Damien?” Jackson queried as he met up with Amelia who was by now done with helping out and was standing at the corner of the room with George.His brother had excused himself as he approached and although Jackson knew they were walking a tightrope around each other, he wasn’t in the mood at the moment to confront his brother.His thoughts were on Damien and why Amelia had not deemed it fit to mention a man she used to date.He saw the fear flash in her eyes at the question and watched the way she took a step back, her eyes darting in every direction. Whoever this Damien individual was then he must have messed up with her pretty bad.The anger Jackson was feeling at the moment was replaced by the sudden urge to protect his wife to be from whatever she was afraid of if she could only tell him what she was afraid of.“Where did you hear that name?” Amelia asked, her voice breaking“He cam
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND ONEAmelia's dreams had always been a kaleidoscope of vivid images and emotions, but tonight was different. As she slipped into the realm of subconsciousness, she found herself in a surreal landscape, standing on a vast, desolate beach. The moonlight casting eerie shadows, and an unsettling breeze whispered through the darkened shore. But it wasn't the deserted beach that troubled her; it was the realization that she was alone, with no sign of Jackson, her soulmate, anywhere.An overwhelming sense of dread filled Amelia's heart as she frantically looked around for Jackson. She called out his name, her voice quivering with desperation, but the sound seemed to be absorbed by the emptiness of the night. Panic clawed at her throat, and she felt an urgency to find him, to be by his side.An incredible itch to locate him that made her start walking along the shore, each step sinking into the wet sand beneath her feet. The moon's reflection on the water created a haunti
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TWO“It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Simon” Liam declared, putting out a hand.He was finally back in the estate and had made his way to where Natalie stood with Simon who look bored by the way with the way his hands remained in his pocket.Liam had wanted to have a conversation with the man before the burial ceremony but it was still fine right now.Natalie watched him approach with her eyes sending messages about him behaving himself. He smiled in her direction and winked to tell her he was always on his best behavior but if there was one person that disapproved of her now fake relationship with Simon then it had to be Liam. Another person that disapproved would be his ex fiancé, Eva who was granting interviews to whomever would care to listen and talking about how totally unprofessional Simon was both at their workplace and in their homes. She was however making use of her last play cards as people were no longer interested in her talking a
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND THREE“Are you going to tell or should I?” Jackson asked as soon as he entered the den.He had thought it a proper place to discuss his mother’s treachery and had summoned his brother, George and their uncle who was now sober.Liam had made sure to have him locked up until he was coherent and ready to make whatever confession concerning the act he had displayed the previous night.Jackson had sent Amelia home after making sure she was alright and although she had insisted she was fine and wanted to remain with him, he thought they needed the time away from each other; him to sort out his family troubles and she to get the rest she deserved.He reassured her that there was nothing that would get in the way of their love for one another and he hoped she believed in him as much as he believed in her but he did not think she trusted everything he said.He was going to go back to her as soon as he sorted everything with his mother and his uncle but for now she had to go
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FOUR“You look really sick, Amelia. Is there anything I can get you?” Anna asked as she opened the door to her friend’s room who had not come out in days “I don’t need anything; thank you for asking” Amelia muttered, her eyes drowsing from sleeping too much “I know you don’t but is there not a way or anything I can do to get you out of that bed? You have been like this for days and it is scaring me; when was the last time you had a fucking bath” She questioned, her eyebrows shooting up in concern.Amelia groaned. She did not want to talk about what was bothering her, only that she wanted to be left alone to her misery and fears but if there was one person who would understand seeing as she had accommodated her when she had run out on Damien then it was going to be Anna.Amelia could see that she was waiting for an explanation or a lifeline but she did not know how exactly to begin talking about it without falling apart and she wanted no one to tell her she was e
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FIVE“I need all the information you can get on him” Jackson told Liam when they were alone.“I have already done some digging on him. I started looking into his operations, and it wasn't easy. He is elusive, leaving no traces behind, but I managed to uncover some crucial information."Jackson's eyes widened with surprise. "You investigated Damien already? Why didn't you tell me?" he asked“Of course I investigated him; how would you think I would after hearing all he had to say that evening. I needed to know what we were up against and how best to address the situation” Liam told him“So? What are we up against?” Jackson questioned. “What did you find out?” His curiosity now piquedLiam leaned forward, his voice hushed.“His full name is Damien Lodge and he is a well known drug dealer. It wasn’t hard getting information on him because he is wanted in about nineteen states for different crimes and no one has been able to pin him to any of the crimes. His empire is
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TWELVE“He sent an address… we have to go” Jackson declared, reaching for the gun on the table.Liam and Simon got up with him wondering what the fuck he was on about “What are you talking about?” Liam asked“I was on the phone with Damien, he wants us to meet. Just me and I know it is a trap but there is no way I am going to allow him make good on his threat of sending me Amelia in pieces”“We cannot… I understand what you are saying but we cannot go there alone” Simon told himIt was the first time he and Liam were agreeing on anything “You are right, we aren’t going there alone… I am going on my own. I cannot let anything happen to her”“Nothing will but we have to figure this all out , come up with a plan. We are going to his own turf and he might as well kill the both of you.” Simon argued“He is right” Liam muttered. “We are going to go in with a plan, Jackson if we are going to have any chance of reaching the both of you alive.”Liam made a couple of phone
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND ELEVENDamien stared at the television in front of him, his teeth grating against themselves as he watched the news. It would seem that the man he had asked to do a good job of keeping Jackson off his scent was doing a rather poor one because why the hell was his picture in the fucking news.The fucker had put a bounty on my head, Damien thought as he stared incredulously as the voice of the news presenter droned on. He was hot topic at the moment and he did not need that for his business. It would seem that he had underestimated Jackson. He wasn’t going to let him go scot free; it only meant that he had to kill the guy and the one way to do that was to lure him here to his own tuff.It was going to be easy once he dangled Amelia in front of him like a fucking worm on a hook. He knew the man would come running because he loved her.Damien laughed at this; he was going to enjoy killing Jackson and it was one way to take Amelia if he did it in front of her. She had
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TEN“How could I have let this happen?” Jackson asked for the hundredth time, beating his hand on his thigh.He had contacted the cops about the kidnap and although Liam had spoken to one of them, he had sounded super vague which Jackson found suspicious“You could not have known what kind of asshole he was, Jackson. It is not your fault and the only thing we can do now is figure out a way to make sure we rescue her unharmed.” Liam told himThey were sitting at the table in a bunch with Natalie supplying snacks as they plotted. She had come along with Simon whom Liam still had not taken a shining to but she had said they had been together when he called so she could not refuse when he asked to accompany her.He wasn’t saying anything but he looked contrite as they tried to figure out what was going on and Jackson could not deny that he needed all hands on deck if he was ever going to see Amelia again.“I don’t think the detective is telling us everything we should
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND NINEDamien opened the car door and helped Amelia out who was still unbelievably silent even after all he had told her about Jackson and how he was going to make sure he wiped the bastard from this earth for daring to touch her.She had grown he had to give her that but she had to be aware that he was no longer the man she used to know. The one that tolerated indiscipline and had allowed her enjoy her years while she was running from him.He guessed he had Jackson to thank for making that open proposal. It has made him see his baby again and realized how much he wanted her back for himself.Oh, the things he planned to teach her and make her do to him. By the time he was done, she would never think of fleeing again.He escorted her into the house and straight for the den where he pushed her inside. She collapsed unto the floor, her eyes widening as they happened upon a portrait of her on the wall.He had had it made on the night he had seen the proposal by Jackson
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND EIGHTAmelia remained silent as the car moved, her head buzzing with thoughts and my mind far away. She was unexpectedly calmer than she had thought she would be and she made no move even as Damien touched a hand to her thigh, grinning at her.She had no idea where they were headed and tried to regulate her breathing as much as possible so she did not behind panicking.She knew by now that Jackson would be aware of what had happened and would come for her. She only hoped it wasn’t too late.“You have been specially quiet; aren’t you going to rave and ask me questions?” Damien questioned herHe was surprised at her level of calmness; nay, he was disgusted by it.He wanted her to scream and he wanted to enjoy the terror in her eyes but she wasn’t giving him the satisfaction he craved.She was nothing like the fiery girl he used to know who would scream and curse even as he hit he countlessly.“I promised to do whatever you want; do you want me to ask you questions?”
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SEVENAnna could the loud screams that was hers as she watched the car drive away with Amelia.Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she clutched the phone, her trembling fingers struggling to dial the numbers. Fear and panic gripped her as she attempted to call Liam. She was finding it hard to breathe and unable to form coherent thoughts as she waited for him to pick up “God please” she muttered to herself.She wasn’t much of a prayer person but at the moment, she hoped Amelia would be safe and they find her before Damien did something to her or worse killed her.The phone rang once, twice, and on the third ring, Liam's voice finally filled the line. "Hey, Anna, what's up?" he asked casually, unaware of the turmoil brewing on the other end.Anna's breath hitched, her voice barely a whisper, "L-Liam, it's Amelia. She's... she has been kidnapped. Damien came and he… oh my God, I am sorry for leaving her all alone in the house but I had to. I don’t know
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND SIX“You don’t have to keep watch over me like a hawk, Anna. I will be fine and you did say that the meeting is quite important for work; do not let me be the one to keep you here” Amelia declared“I know you will be fine on your own but I still think I should stay back and maybe reschedule the meeting for…”“For when? Whenever Damien is not chasing after me? Don’t think about doing that and just go for your meeting. I will be fine and he has absolutely no idea that I am here so what could go wrong” she interrupted“Fine, I will be back in a jiffy so don’t go anywhere” Anna warned, taking the stairs in twos so she could prepare for the meeting.It was impromptu but it was important and although she wanted to stay home to watch over Amelia, she also had to consider her job and it is as Amelia had said. Damien had no idea where she was and even if he was looking for her, he would have eyes on either her house or Jackson’s and definitely not hersShe soon was ready an
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FIVE“I need all the information you can get on him” Jackson told Liam when they were alone.“I have already done some digging on him. I started looking into his operations, and it wasn't easy. He is elusive, leaving no traces behind, but I managed to uncover some crucial information."Jackson's eyes widened with surprise. "You investigated Damien already? Why didn't you tell me?" he asked“Of course I investigated him; how would you think I would after hearing all he had to say that evening. I needed to know what we were up against and how best to address the situation” Liam told him“So? What are we up against?” Jackson questioned. “What did you find out?” His curiosity now piquedLiam leaned forward, his voice hushed.“His full name is Damien Lodge and he is a well known drug dealer. It wasn’t hard getting information on him because he is wanted in about nineteen states for different crimes and no one has been able to pin him to any of the crimes. His empire is
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FOUR“You look really sick, Amelia. Is there anything I can get you?” Anna asked as she opened the door to her friend’s room who had not come out in days “I don’t need anything; thank you for asking” Amelia muttered, her eyes drowsing from sleeping too much “I know you don’t but is there not a way or anything I can do to get you out of that bed? You have been like this for days and it is scaring me; when was the last time you had a fucking bath” She questioned, her eyebrows shooting up in concern.Amelia groaned. She did not want to talk about what was bothering her, only that she wanted to be left alone to her misery and fears but if there was one person who would understand seeing as she had accommodated her when she had run out on Damien then it was going to be Anna.Amelia could see that she was waiting for an explanation or a lifeline but she did not know how exactly to begin talking about it without falling apart and she wanted no one to tell her she was e