Fair Play (13 page)

The tight clamp that had gripped his heart released. “Are you okay?” At her nod, he said, “I need some details to see what we’re up against. Did you know the man that killed your mother?”

“I’m going to tell you the whole story in detail. Afterwards, you might see that jail is the only place for me.”

He started to protest, but she placed her fingers against his lips. “Please, I need to tell you everything.”

Dani sat on the edge of the bed, allowing her mind to travel back to her past, then began. “I was born in Chicago, raised solely by my mother. Being a one-income family, she worked long hours trying to make ends meet. When she was gone, I’d busy myself helping around the house, instead of playing, because the neighborhood where we lived was laden with crime. I really didn’t mind because my mother filled my life with happiness. On her days off, instead of resting, she’d devote her time to me. We’d cook for the coming week, play games, act silly, and sometimes dance around the house. She made everything we did, fun.” Her voice broke and she swallowed the knot of pain.

“Abruptly, everything changed when I was almost fifteen. My mother married a bartender by the name of Henry North, a huge man standing about 6’4” tall with a booming voice. It didn’t take us long to find out he didn’t like me, and I didn’t like him. I think the only reason he tolerated me was because I was a package deal when he married my mother. I don’t think they ever loved each other, though, because I never saw him show her any affection or kindness. And I think my mother married him to make a better life for me.

“For about six months, life pretty much stayed the same. After that, Henry’s true personality emerged. He became a mean and abusive drunk. His dislike of me quickly progressed to hatred. He ridiculed me, as I was slow in developing into a woman, and would call me a scrawny boy.”

Horror and hate rose up, gripping her insides. She gasped, and Jace handed her a bottle of water, which she took then drank quickly before continuing. “After I developed, Henry used to stare at me, making me uncomfortable, but I learned to ignore it. He usually was drunk most of the time anyway. Since my mother worked late, my stepfather and I were alone most evenings, making it my job to cook and serve dinner. One evening, my mother ended up working a little later than normal, because of her workload.

“That night, Henry came home more drunk than usual and more abusive. He yelled for me to serve him dinner as he sat in his chair in the living room, then threatened to beat the laziness out of me if I didn’t move fast enough. When I brought him dinner, he was staring at me strangely. My skin crawled and I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise. Frightened, I decided to go to my room to study to get away from him. He grabbed me as I bent to get my books off the floor, then he pulled me onto his lap. I tried to get away, but he slapped me. He started ...”

A soft sob escaped. Damn it. She thought she’d dealt with this. Compartmentalized it to keep it from tormenting her.

Her breath hitched as tears flowed like rivulets down her cheeks. “He started kissing me and squeezed my breast. With every ounce of strength, I fought him, but he was too strong. Angry, he slapped me over and over, then punched me in the face. Dazed, I fell to the floor, giving him time to jump on me. His fetid breath slammed into my face as he tore my clothes off and raped me. It-it hurt so much. I was still a virgin. But I cursed him as he ripped me apart, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing my pain. As he thrust his vile body inside of me over and over, all I thought of was that I wanted to die. I’ll never forget the crazed lust in his eyes before he bit my breasts, or his savage words telling me how I was going to love it. Dear God, I thought it would never end. He stood up when he finally finished, spat on me, then called me a filthy whore.”

Her heart thundering in her ears, she closed her eyes as she tried to leash the hatred. Hatred turned to fear as she held her breath, then sorrow drowned her soul. She released it quickly and continued. “As Henry was zipping his pants, my mother walked in the door, and saw me lying bruised and bleeding. She hurled herself at him, her face twisted with fury, punching, kicking, screaming. He smacked her, making her fall to the floor, then straddled her and started strangling her. I dragged myself up, fear giving me strength, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, then rushed back into the living room. I launched myself at him then stabbed him in the back, over and over, and over again until he was dead. I yanked his stinking body off her, but it was too late.” Dani took a quivering breath. “She was already dead.” She swallowed. “I cleaned myself up, packed a bag, then stole the money from Henry’s wallet. I ran that night, not knowing where I was going, realizing that it didn’t matter, and haven’t stopped since. From there you know the rest.”

Dani glanced at Jace to gauge his reaction, noting the tightness of his mouth and the anger in his face. Dear God, was that revulsion she saw in his eyes? A sob escaped when her heart shattered into a million pieces. Did she really expect anything less? No, but she’d hoped. Henry’s filth stained her body, his blood stained her hands, and the consequences of her actions stained her life.

It was ironic. Telling her story was cathartic, but that release had come at a high price. It had cost her the only man who ever loved her. An acute pain pierced her heart, like the plunge of a dagger, as she felt her emotions drain out of her body and the emptiness flow in. A state of being, one she’d lived with before she met Jace, one she was familiar with.

With a purpose for which she felt no enthusiasm, she wiped her face and stood to get dressed. Her decision had been made. Tonight she’d stay with Julie. Tomorrow she’d turn herself in. No matter what she had to admit to, she swore to exonerate Jace, no matter the cost.

Jace placed his hand on her shoulder. Startled, she stopped, then swung around.

“Why are you dressing? We need to talk.”

Drained and emotionally destroyed, she sighed. “I can’t run from it anymore. I am what I am. I’m a killer and need to be punished for what I’ve done. I want you to know it’s all right to hate me.”

“What are you talking about? You had no control over your rape or the stabbing of your stepfather. You were trying to save your mother. How could you even imagine I’d hate you for what happened? My feelings are unconditional and constant, and that will never change. You’re stuck with me because I’ll never let you go.” He hugged her tight.

In that instant, she felt her heart knit. She held on to him as tears coursed down her cheeks. Tears of sorrow, for the mother she lost, and tears of joy, for the man she cared about.

Dani woke up and touched her face. Damn! It felt like someone had tap danced on it. She was sure she looked like hell. Amazed that she could feel so exhilarated on the inside, while feeling like an eighteen wheeler had run over the outside, she dragged her body out of bed and trudged to the shower. She swiped the fogged mirror with her hand, then started when she glimpsed her face, swollen from her crying jag the night before. Shit! She looked like Rocky, from the movie
Mask
. Jace! He couldn’t see her like this. She rushed into the kitchen, grabbed an ice pack, then laid down until the swelling was gone.

Later, deep in thought, Dani stared sightlessly at the vista before her as she stood in front of the living room window, feeling the tentacles of her past trying to draw her back. Blind to the sunlight warming her face, she held a coffee cup, replaying the events of last night, Jace’s faith in her in the forefront. Disbelief still lingering, she mentally shook her head, knowing nothing could be done to help her situation. Whatever happened, she knew that with his love she could endure anything.

“How are you feeling?” Jace’s arms snaked around her waist as his cheek slid next to hers.

“Terrific.” She let the sarcasm drip from her words.

“I did a little anonymous checking today to find the particulars of your arrest warrant, but couldn’t find one.”

Quietly, her voice almost a whisper, she answered, “You won’t.” Two words, though spoken softly sounded like a shot to her ears. “I changed my name the day I left. I used to be Debra Thomas.”

“I’ll check under that name.” He drew her near then kissed her forehead. “I also need the names of your stepfather and mother. If I could spare you this, I would.”

She reached up, smoothing the crease on his forehead. “You shouldn’t frown. It makes you look fierce.” Her finger outlined his nose, then lips. “My stepfather’s name was Henry North, and my mother was Maureen Thomas North.” She felt the sting of tears, but blinked, refusing to let them fall.

“I’ll let you know what I find out.”

A chill crept up her arms. Whatever Jace discovered would determine her fate. She only hoped it wouldn’t harm him.

What a busy day. Dani, emotionally drained, took a minute to rest. Tired from dealing with fussy whales, with no time to stop and eat, had made for a difficult several hours. To make matters worse, she hadn’t heard from Jace. Maybe he was just as busy. At least tonight would end the turmoil she’d been under for the last two days. He hadn’t mentioned one thing about her arrest warrant. The time had come for him to face reality. There was nothing he could do to change her situation. Tired of thinking about it, she wanted it over.

She glanced at her watch. 4:00 p.m. Why hadn’t he called? Usually by this time they’d made plans for dinner. He’d be calling soon, she was sure of it.

6:00 p.m. and he still hadn’t called. Irritated, she tapped her foot, then opened her cell phone to call his office.

“Hi, Maria. This is Dani. Is Jace around?”

“Hi, Dani. No, he’s been gone all day. I don’t expect him back until tomorrow. Didn’t he tell you?”

“Sorry, I forgot he had that business meeting. Didn’t mean to bother you.” She closed her phone, a strange sensation stirring in her stomach. Funny, that wasn’t like Jace to forget to tell her he was going out of town.

Tired, she dragged herself to the apartment, then stared when she spotted Jace on the living room couch studying some papers.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Jace. I called your office and Maria told me you’d been gone all day. Since you didn’t call about dinner, I assumed you’d be gone until late this evening.” On her way to the couch, she stepped out of her shoes, and left them where they fell. She plopped down on the couch. “It’s been such a long day, and my feet are killing me. What did you do today?”

She turned and peered at him. “You haven’t said a word since I came in.”

Jace gave her a quick kiss on the lips, pulled her feet to his lap, then started massaging them. Closing her eyes, she moaned. “Oh, that feels so good. I’ll do anything you want, you name it, just don’t stop what you’re doing.”

When he didn’t comment, she opened her eyes, then sat up.

“Okay, what’s wrong? You’re never this quiet.”

He drew her hand to his. “I need to discuss something with you.

“Okay,” she said slowly, a sense of dread coming over her.

“I did some checking, and I did find something.” He started playing with her fingers.

“How bad?”

Jace squeezed her hand, his eyes dark and serious. “I didn’t find an arrest warrant for you.” He blew out a breath. “Dani, you didn’t kill your stepfather. He’s still alive.”

Her stomach plummeted and her breath caught in her throat. She shot from the couch and faced Jace who rose slowly to his feet. “No. He can’t be alive. I stabbed him. There has to be some mistake. I saw him lying there dead.”

Jace shook his head, his voice low. “There’s no mistake, Dani. He went to the hospital, but he didn’t die from the stab wounds. He did go to prison, though, for rape ... for raping you. He got out of prison last week after serving his sentence.”

She covered her heart with her hand, feeling it beating through her chest, then paced back and forth nervously. “Oh my God ... He’s a monster. What if he comes after me? He knows I witnessed him killing my mother. What am I going to do?” She stopped, turned toward Jace, then stared as Jace’s words sank in. “Wait a second, how did they know he raped me? I left and never told anyone except you?”

He came toward her, then placed his hands on her shoulders. “The police knew about the rape because your mother told them. In fact, her testimony not only put him away for your rape but also attempted murder.”

Her pulse accelerated as hope blossomed. “Attempted?”

“Your mother didn’t die, Dani. She’s alive.”

Chills ran up her spine and her breathing became shallow as she felt the blood drain from her face. Slowly she brought the question to her lips. “My mother’s alive?”

“Yes. I don’t know the how or why. The only thing I found out is she’s alive and living in Chicago.”

“All this time I thought she was dead.” Fear, disbelief, dread, happiness, and confusion, all mixed together, tangling in her mind. “Oh my God. What does she think happened to me? I need to see her. Please, you have to take me.”

“I know she searched for you for a long time, but I think she believes you’re dead. We can’t just drop in on her, though. We’d scare the hell out of her.”

“Jace, we have to phone her then. I need to let her know I’m okay.”

“I have another idea. We could fly there, and she can see for herself that you’re okay.”

“Perfect.” She spun around and headed to the bedroom. Speaking over her shoulder, she uttered, “Hurry, get your things so we can go.”

“There aren’t any flights tonight, but we can go in the morning if you’d like. I have one more little thing to tell you.”

Her heart rate accelerated, causing her to place her hand over her chest. “I don’t know if I can handle any more. Is it good or bad?”

“That depends on how you look at it. I think it’s good.”

“Jace Diamond, I’m going to kick your ass.” She was an emotional wreck and losing patience fast.

He hugged her. “It’s something good. Your mother is married.”

“Married?” Dani took a tiny step back. “Who did she marry?”

“A man named Charles Stanley.” He stared into her eyes. “Apparently, he’s your biological father.”

“How could she marry that snake?” Dani shook her head slowly, trying to inch backward, but Jace wouldn’t let her. “She worked so hard to try to make ends meet after he deserted us, and now she’s married to him?” A wave of heat rose from her toes to her head. “Is she out of her mind? Why would she do that?”

“I don’t know, honey. You’ll have to ask her yourself.”

“You’re right. But if he hurts her again, I swear I’ll beat him silly.” Realization swept over her and she broke out into a huge smile and hugged Jace. “Oh my God. I can’t believe it. She’s alive. I can’t wait to see her.” She pivoted toward their bedroom. “I’m going to go pack.”

Jace laughed, then circled her waist with his arms. “How about we eat dinner first?” He lowered his mouth and kissed her long and soft. “Maybe make some love before we fall asleep? You’re like my personal sleeping pill. I can’t sleep without you,” he teased.

She drew away, then turned to go into the bedroom. “Great, tell a man you care, and you change from being a lover to a sleeping pill. What is this world coming to?”

He picked her up, then threw her on the bed, pressing her down with his body. With a smoldering kiss, he demanded a response. When he got what he wanted, he deepened the kiss, then whispered into her ear. “Change of plans. Dessert first, dinner last. I have to show my lover she’s more than just a sleeping pill to me.”