Dark Legacy by Jen Talty (reading books for 4 year olds .txt) 📗

“Hey, kid, what’s up?”

“Why would Alex and Ned be hanging out together as if they’re old friends?” Jackson often believed in cutting to the chase.

“They wouldn’t.”

“Except I’m staring at them, and it looks like a friendly conversation.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Ned has been sort of working with me, like I told you.”

“It’s the sort of that bothers me,” Jackson said. “Is there anything else I should know about these two men?”

“They didn’t travel in the same circles. Ned was out by the time Alex came into the picture. But if they are talking, maybe Ned is gathering information.”

“I don’t think so. I better get back to Shannon.” He ended the call and tucked his cell into his pocket. The more he learned, the more he realized that Shannon was in grave danger.

“I don’t know what to say.”

Shannon glanced between her long-time friend, Cameron, and Jackson’s boat rocking in the breeze. “There’s nothing to say.” Shannon leaned forward in the chair and took her friend’s hand.

“I knew you didn’t have a good relationship with your father, but I had no idea.”

“Most people didn’t,” Shannon said. “It’s the kind of skeleton you keep buried.”

Cameron nodded. “I wouldn’t have ever judged you for what you did, you know that, right?”

Shannon smiled. “I do. I’ve thought about telling you about what happened and about the daughter I gave up a hundred times, but I often didn’t believe it was real. I mean, my own mother made me pretend that it never happened, and for a long time, I think I tried to believe that, too.”

“God, I’m sorry. But I really don’t like your mom.”

Shannon opened her mouth, but Cameron held up her hand.

“You make a ton of excuses for her. You always have. Like when she went to your stepsister’s graduation over yours. Your mother has not once put you first, and that’s not right.”

Who was Shannon to argue with that logic? “I know. But she’s the only mother I have.”

Cameron smiled. “You have Annette. She’s stood by you through all of this. I know she’s a whackadoodle at times, but she loves you.”

“Yeah. She does. And I appreciate her standing by me all these years.” Shannon squeezed Cameron’s hand. “As I do you. I know I didn’t tell you any of this, but I couldn’t have gotten through college or my PhD program without you. There is no way I would be the woman I am today, or have the courage to ask Jackson to find my little girl, if it wasn’t for you.”

Cameron wrapped her arms around Shannon. “You’ve done the same for me. And no matter what, I’m always in your corner.” She leaned back and wiped her cheeks. “You really don’t want to meet your little girl?”

“I don’t. I let my mother put lies into my head that she didn’t exist, and I need to know she’s real. That’s all.”

“I can understand that,” Cameron said. “And I support that.”

“Thanks. You have no idea what that means to me.”

Cameron nodded. “Now. Tell me about Jackson. What’s going on there?”

It was impossible not to smile. “I’m not exactly sure, except I really like him. A lot. More than any man I’ve ever dated.”

“So. You’re dating now?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but I hope that’s where we are headed.” Shannon’s heart swelled. For the first time in her life, she felt like she might have gotten a taste of what sweet freedom might actually feel like.

“Oh, crap.” Cameron tapped her Apple watch. “I’ve got to go. Call me so we can go on a double date.”

“Absolutely.” Shannon stood, hugging her friend. She watched Cameron slip behind the steering wheel of her vehicle and drive away before stepping into her cottage and putting on a pot of coffee.

She settled at her kitchen table, unable to concentrate on all the paperwork staring her in the face. Her mind kept wandering to Lilly and her mother and worrying about what might have happened to them. She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

Three in the afternoon.

Jackson had stepped out. He had some lead on Lilly and her mother and wanted to handle it personally, and Shannon appreciated everything he and his partner were doing to help her with a variety of problems. She just hoped he made it back before her uncle Ned came knocking on her door in half an hour.

Her cell rang, and she jumped.

“Hello?”

“Shannon Brendel?”

“Yes?”

“This is Kent from the hospital.”

She pushed her computer to the side. “Hi, Kent. How are you?”

“I’m okay,” he said. “I thought I should call to tell you that I saw that guy who visited Gretchen the night she killed herself.”

Shannon sat up taller. “You did? Where?”

“He was here talking with some of the staff. He said he was Gretchen’s mother’s boyfriend, and I overheard him asking about you. I thought you’d want to know.”

“Me? Do you have a name?”

“Only a first name. Alex.”

Shannon’s heart dropped to her gut. “I appreciate you calling me.” She ended the call and stared out at Sweet Freedom.

When her father died, Alex had felt as though he’d been abandoned by a man who loved him, only Dwight had no feelings for anyone but himself. Alex blamed Shannon for him losing what he thought was his best friend as well as his connection to the club.

Of course, Shannon had no idea what’d happened to it after her father passed, but she constantly looked over her shoulder for a good year. It wasn’t until all the men had left the area that she finally felt safe. Even though she lived a half-hour south, and her mother never brought her to Lake George, that didn’t matter. She still worried that she’d run into them or they’d come after her, expecting the same favors her father had promised. And she didn’t think she’d be strong enough to say no.

The door rattled, and she gasped. “Shit, you scared me,” she said as Jackson stepped into her kitchen.

“You look like