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

He cut the engine and sat next to her, resting his hand on her thigh.

She brushed it away. “Don’t ever mistake my passivity for willingness.”

“You forget about the times we held each other after, and how you always smiled at me.”

“I didn’t hold you. You laid on top of me. Big difference.” She tried to stand, but the pain in her foot forced her to the fiberglass floor.

“Oh. All fours. I can be talked into that position.”

“Fucking pig.” She kicked out with her good foot, landing it right between his legs.

He doubled over, groaning. “You bitch.”

She hobbled toward the cabin, snagging the fire extinguisher off the side of the door.

The hum of an engine caught her attention. She glanced to the port side but saw no lights, even though she knew a boat approached.

“You’re going to regret that.” Alex stood and inched closer.

“The only thing I regret is not having the courage to put you and the rest of the men my father sold me to in jail.” She raised the red canister and swung.

Hard.

Connected with his head.

He fell to the right, hitting the side of the boat, his body jerking backward. He laughed as he lunged forward.

She repeated the motion, this time hitting him under the chin.

He stumbled back, losing his footing and flipping over the side of the boat with a splash.

Tossing the extinguisher to the side, she raced to the back of the boat and turned the engine over. She wasn’t more than a few miles from home. She gripped the wheel and came about.

A light flashed in her face.

She covered her eyes. “Jackson?” She pulled back on the throttle as a Boston Whaler appeared with Katie at the helm and Jackson standing in the bow. “Thank God. I thought you were dead.”

Jackson jumped aboard Sweet Freedom. “Where’s Alex?”

“In the water somewhere.” She fell into Jackson’s arms.

“I’ll find him,” Katie said. “And the Lake George patrol is on their way.”

“There’s blood everywhere,” Jackson said.

“I cut my foot.”

He lifted her into his arms, carried her to the bench, and sat down. “Are you okay otherwise?”

She nodded, snuggling against his body. “I am now.”

“And here I thought I needed to come out here and save you, but it looks like you saved yourself.”

She glanced up and stared into Jackson’s loving eyes. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Yeah.” He kissed her tenderly. “Before I get really mushy on you, I want you to know that Lilly and her mom are safe.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“It is,” Jackson said. “I think I have to sell this boat.”

“Probably a good idea. But maybe you can buy something else. I think I want to take up sailing again.”

“Good. Because I need someone to teach me how.”

She jerked her head back. “You bought this sucker with no idea how to sail?”

He nodded.

“That’s crazy.”

“What do you think is crazier? That, or the fact that I’m falling madly in love with you?”

“Oh. Definitely the sailboat.” She rested her head on his chest. “Falling in love with you is going to be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

“You can see her now,” the doctor said as he stepped into the waiting room.

“Thanks.” Jackson stood, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. He hated that Shannon had to be in the same hospital as her uncle and the man who’d raped her, but at least he knew that she was safe and no one was going to hurt her again.

Not on his watch.

“What are you waiting for?” Katie asked. “Go. I’ll wait for a report on her asshole uncle when he comes out of surgery.”

“I don’t know if I want him to die on the table, or live so he can face life in prison.”

“Trust me, life in prison is the better option. Same goes for Alex,” Katie said.

“Only, we don’t know if they have enough on—”

“Stop,” Katie said. “Right now, you should be focusing on Shannon and helping her between her torn up foot, her crazy-ass mother who is MIA, and just being the best boyfriend you can be.”

Jackson’s heart beat a little faster. He hadn’t expected to find love and it honestly scared him, but not enough to run from it. “Thanks, Katie.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll call you when I know anything.”

Jackson nodded as he strolled down the corridor in search of Shannon’s room. He found it and pulled back the curtain.

She lifted her head and smiled. “Hey there,” she said. “No sign of my mother out there, huh?”

“I’m sorry, no. I called and told her what happened, but I don’t think she’ll be coming.” He sat on the edge of the gurney. “But if it makes you feel any better, Annette is on her way.”

Shannon smiled. “That does help.”

“How are you feeling?” He rested his hand on her thigh and kissed her cheek.

“You can do better than that.”

“Oh. I can.” He pressed his mouth against hers, slipping his tongue between her plump lips. A deep groan vibrated in his throat. “Better?”

“Much,” she whispered. “What happens now?”

“As soon as we get your walking papers, I’ll take you home and wait on you until you’re better.”

“No. I mean with Alex, my uncle, and the sex rings.”

“Oh. That.” Jackson ran a hand over his face. “Well, they have Alex on kidnapping charges, no problem. And your uncle with breaking and entering and assault with a deadly weapon.”

“That’s not enough.”

Jackson nodded. “Alex is facing a plethora of charges, and Westerfield will be able to make them stick. But he does have a lot of investigating to do, and I’m going to be riding his ass every step of the way. Katie and I will be doing a lot of our own, as well. We will make sure these sex rings are closed out, and that Alex and your uncle go to jail for a very long time.”

“I don’t want you and Katie to spend—”

“We want to.”

Shannon nodded.

“But first, I’m taking a few weeks off to pamper you and—”

“Where is she?” Annette’s voice bounced in Jackson’s ears.

Shannon dropped her head