Levels Of Exposure (Distortion Series Book 2) Read online

  “I’d be okay with it,” Lexie said flatly. “In fact, I’d be okay with you letting us go.”

  “I can’t do that, Lexie.” John reached across the table to touch her hand but Lexie pulled it away before he could make contact. “What has your mother told you about me?”

  “Nothing. She never told me about you and now I can see why.” Lexie watched him clench his jaw. She was testing his patience but she couldn’t help herself. He had to expect that she wasn’t just going to accept being taken against her will.

  “I understand your hesitance toward me, Lexie. In time you will learn how things work around here. Fighting me will do you no good,” John’s said casually.

  “I don’t like being kept in the dark. I want answers and you want my cooperation. I’m sure we can work something out.” Lexie squared her shoulders, trying to make her small stature seem more imposing.

  John rubbed his chin thoughtfully before pursing his lips. “What do you want to know?”

  “I want to know that Evan and Stephanie are home and safe from all of this.”

  John raised his hands in surrender. “I don’t have your friends, Lexie. As for their whereabouts, I cannot say. I pulled my men out of the area once we left the diner. They were no longer my concern. I already told you this.”

  “I have trust issues,” Lexie said as she tried to hide her relief. She wanted to believe him, she didn’t know if it was because she was so desperate for it to be true or the look in his eye that conveyed his sincerity. “What did my mother take from you that you want so badly?” Lexie pressed on for more information while she had the chance.

  John leaned forward and folded his hands on the top of the table. “Your mother took a substantial amount of cash,” John said casually. “She betrayed me.”

  Lexie narrowed her eyes. “I highly doubt you would go to this much trouble over cash. You’re obviously not hurting in that area, based on what I’ve seen. What did she take that you would hunt my mother down twenty-three years later?”

  “It’s the principle.”

  Lexie shook her head. “There’s something you’re not telling me,” Lexie said as she tapped her fingers on the table.

  The waiter presented Lexie with the first plate, removing the metal cover to reveal a beautifully arranged plate of steak and vegetables. Lexie’s mouth watered from the delicious aroma. Hunger hit her hard and fast now that her body was reminded it needed food.

  A sly smile spread across John’s face. “Eat your dinner, Lexie.”

  “Let me talk to her. I’ll ask her about what she took,” Lexie said hopefully.

  “Eat.” John banged his fist upon the table, startling her. The dishes on the table rattled with the impact and Lexie was surprised their glasses were still upright. Even the waiter jumped back a few feet from the outburst. He grabbed hold of his cart and left quickly.

  John’s scowl quickly melted from his face as he picked up his knife and began carving into the steak upon his plate. “Chef Fortworth makes the most delectable steak. It is so tender that the knife just slides through it beautifully.” He placed a piece in his mouth and chewed slowly before he swallowed.

  Once the shock of his outburst wore off, Lexie picked up her utensils and began eating mechanically, unable to enjoy the flavours of the food as she remained under John’s piercing gaze. His mood changed dramatically and the air around her felt chilled and unnatural. Lexie picked at her food, unable to stomach much despite the fact that she was hungry.

  When John finished, he picked up his napkin, wiped his face, and then sipped his wine.

  “Flint!” he hollered abruptly, causing Lexie’s fork to slip from her hand and tumble to the floor with a loud clatter. She turned to see Flint enter the room a moment later. “Bring in Mary.” John never took his eyes off Lexie.

  Lexie watched the doorway expectantly, sitting on the edge of her seat. She gasped when Flint led her mother into the room. Even at a distance she could see the blood staining the front of her mother’s shirt. “Mom!” Lexie called. She moved to stand but John grabbed her hand across the table and held her firm.

  “Lexie!” her mother called back, struggling against Flint’s hold. Flint pulled out his gun and held it her mother’s temple, ceasing her struggle. She gasped in terror as she stared at Lexie across the room.

  John’s hold on Lexie’s hand was painful as she watched her mother being held at gunpoint. Lexie covered her mouth with her other hand, trying not to make a sound. John was showing her that he held all the power. She had no choice but to fold—for now.

  “I will decide when you talk to your mother,” John’s words dripped with malice. When he released her hand, lingering pain radiated up the length of her arm. “I decide what becomes of you, remember this.” John stood up and grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair. “That will be all, Flint.”

  Lexie stared after her mother as Flint led her out of sight, but her mother’s haunted expression never left her.

  “The moment I discovered you existed was the moment you lost your freedom,” John said heartlessly. “You will learn to accept this.” The two men that had ridden the elevator with her and Flint appeared and approached their table. Neither of them could pass as anything but criminals, with their tattoos and harsh features. Everything about them built a case that they were less than upstanding citizens, unlike John, whose evil lurked under the surface—dark and vicious. “Take Lexie back to her room,” John said, his eyes never leaving hers. Lexie never thought she would be relieved to go back to that room, but she was.

  Lexie had been confined to her room since John’s men brought her back here, staring at the gift that had been left on her bed. It had been waiting for her when she returned. A beautiful red bow was tied perfectly around the decorative box but she refused to touch it, scared of what it might contain. The only time she saw someone was when food was delivered or when Flint stopped in and checked on her. She never paid attention to the time, drifting in and out of sleep, on edge waiting for something to happen. She wasn’t sure what to expect or if this was her new life, existing in this box, waiting for everything and nothing at the same time.

  All she had was the fear that boiled away in her stomach minute after minute with no idea what was happening to her mother. She wanted to claw through the walls and break free of this place. Emotions swelled so deep it was hard to keep them contained without feeling her sanity slipping.

  Lexie stared at the perfectly wrapped gift box still sitting on her bed. She hadn’t touched it. She hadn’t slept on the bed. Instead, she curled up on the oversized chair in the corner of the room, as far away from the door as she could manage. She couldn’t let her mind relax enough to fall into a proper sleep. Her nights were filled with restless dreams and she would jolt from sleep with the slightest sound, terrified someone would enter her room without her knowledge. She couldn’t let her guard down. There were too many dangers lurking in John’s world.

  Lexie collapsed in the chair. She could no longer see anything else in the room except for the blood red bow, sitting there mocking her.

  She walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. She grabbed the ribbon and pulled it closer. She pulled the cover off before she lost her nerve and looked inside. Lexie was surprised to see a beautiful camera. It was the exact model she had been saving for. She ran her fingers over the letters spelling Olympus on the top of the camera. A jar sat on the middle of her table in her apartment with a picture of this very camera. She had fallen in love with it since she had seen it in the display case at her favorite camera shop.

  Now it was tainted, John had taken that dream from her like he did everything else. Lexie pulled it out of the box and felt it in her hands. She missed the rush of taking pictures but she refused to immortalize any moment of this hell she was currently living. Anger burned hot in her stomach, threatening to melt her. Lexie reeled her hand back and threw the camera into the television as hard as she could. The screen of the television exploded upon i
mpact with a deafening crack.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Jackson

  Jackson pulled into the narrow driveway of an old, decrepit brick building. It was located in the part of the city he would otherwise avoid. Necessity was the only reason he stepped back into the part of Belhaven that housed his dark past…a childhood he couldn’t seem to shake. It followed him like a living shadow. Jackson could already feel the change in the air; it tasted different and coated his throat, making it feel tight.

  He pulled the car around back where the driveway opened up into a small parking lot hidden from street view. A couple of boys were playing basketball on the far side of the lot. Their net was a plastic garbage can with the bottom removed that they had secured on the metal bars of the fire escape.

  Jackson turned off his car and looked out the window at the wary faces observing their arrival. An older gentleman stood on a small balcony a few floors up with a cigar hanging from his mouth. They man’s oversized stomach was exposed and pressed against the railing, molding around the bars. He cast them an accusatory glare. He had seen far too many illegal transgressions happening in his building to be anything but suspicious of new faces.

  “Something tells me we’re not going to get a warm welcome here,” Teddy said, looking at the few grim faces that were now looking out their windows, or closing their curtains.

  “What are you talking about? This place reminds me of home sweet home,” Dane said in a flat tone. “At least here you know what you’re walking into.”

  “Let’s get this over with,” Jackson said, opening his door. He walked around the back of his car and opened the trunk to retrieve a backpack. He swung it over his shoulder and slammed it shut. Teddy was quick to follow, while Dane took his time climbing out of the back of the car, trying not to agitate his injury.

  “Come on, old man,” Teddy pestered. “The vultures will start circling if you don’t move faster.”

  “Fuck you,” Dane said, joining them at the door. “Let me shoot you in the stomach and see how fast you move.”

  The interior of the building smelled sour and musky as they walked toward the elevator. The walls were stained and damaged in areas. Property upkeep was not a priority for the owner of this building, it was deteriorating like the people that lived within. A few gaunt looking females were lingering in the lobby, desperation cast upon their features. A little flare of life sparked in their dull eyes but was quick to fade when they were ignored. “Ah…shit, Jackson. What floor are we going to?” Dane asked as they neared the elevators.

  “The very top, man,” Jackson said apologetically.

  “Guess you’ll have to ride the death trap with us ’cause your sorry ass won’t make it up all those stairs.” Teddy laughed at Dane’s obvious discomfort with the situation.

  “No fucking way I’m getting in that box. This building is as old as shit. It will probably get stuck. I’ll stay right here,” Dane insisted. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

  Jackson and Teddy stepped into the elevator. “We won’t be long,” Jackson assured him as the metal doors closed.

  The top floor was in the same condition as the first, the entire interior needed to be gutted and sanitized. From the smells permeating into the halls, this place would be a good location for a drug raid. They passed a man slumped against the wall, snoring loudly. His shirt was torn and stained and he held a can of beer that had tipped over and saturated the carpeted floor. They stepped over him as they continued warily down the hall.

  A small child, no more than three years old, was wandering toward them from the opposite direction. Her tear-filled eyes looked up at them with a curious expression. She was wearing pajamas and bare feet, her face was dirty and her hair needed to be brushed. The poor thing was the picture of neglect. She picked up an old discarded coffee cup off the floor and looked inside before dropping it and kicking it across the hallway.

  “Hey there, sweetheart,” Jackson said, kneeling down a few feet from the girl. “Where is your mommy?”

  Her big brown eyes stared up at Jackson and Teddy. She sniffed and wiped her nose before pointing down the hall. “Can you show us where she is?” Teddy held out his hand.

  She looked hesitantly at Teddy’s hand and then up at his bigger than life smile. Teddy had a way with people that made them trust him. Unlike Jackson and Dane, who scared more people than not, Teddy could win anyone over with no more than a simple gesture.

  The little girl’s face lit up and she slid her little hand into his. They followed her lead down a few doors until they came to a door that was left open. They could hear a heated argument between a man and a woman. Jackson knocked hard enough to be heard over their voices. A moment later the door swung open, revealing a woman with narrowed eyes. “What?” she barked at Jackson and Teddy. When she noticed her child, her mouth fell open in shock.

  “What’s going on here?” the woman gasped, grabbing for her child’s hand and pulling her inside.

  “Try taking care of your kid,” Jackson bit off coldly. The woman scoffed at Jackson’s words.

  “Bye princess.” Teddy waved to her. The little girl smiled and waved back before her mother slammed the door in their faces.

  “You’re welcome,” Teddy said sarcastically. “Some people should never have children,” he said in disbelief.

  “Ain’t that a fact,” Jackson said, shaking his head. “Let’s go.”

  Jackson knocked on room 926, placing his hand on the door frame as he waited for an answer.

  “Maybe he’s not home,” Teddy said after a few minutes of silence on the other side of the door.

  “He’s home,” Jackson said with certainty. He knocked again, harder this time. They waited a few more minutes before the sound of multiple door locks released in close succession. A short man, with long wayward hair and wire-framed glasses, opened the door enough to glance out in the hallway. He gave the entire hallway an entire sweep before his eyes settled on Jackson and Teddy.

  “Let us the fuck in, Max. We’re alone and no one is following us,” Jackson said impatiently. Max pushed his glasses up his nose before stepping back and opening the door just wide enough for Jackson and Teddy to squeeze through. Once inside, Max closed the door and began to secure his multiple locks.

  “You know if someone wants in those locks won’t keep them out, right?” Jackson shook his head, looking at all the strange locks that Max had installed along the back of the door.

  “Only two of them are actual locks. See this one?” He pointed at a red wire that was twisted through a chain. If someone breaks this wire, it triggers this little unit…” Max pointed to a canister in the corner that had some kind of box mounted to the top. “…to release a gas that will knock out even big guys like you two. Bam!” Max smacked his hands together hard. “Out like little babies.” He grinned madly, showing his crooked teeth.

  Jackson could see Teddy’s eyes light up as he walked over to the canister. “Don’t touch it,” Max warned. “It’s a little finicky. It’s already gone off a few times and put me out. You wake up with one mother of a headache, let me tell you.” Max shook his head.

  The warning did nothing to deter Teddy, who was leaning over the unit examining the setup of the gas discharging device.

  “If that thing goes off, Teddy, you better fucking hold your breath, because I’m not dragging your ass out of here,” Jackson warned. Teddy only ignored him and continued his exploration. Anything mechanical was like drugs to an addict for Teddy. He needed to know how everything worked, even if it meant pulling it apart and putting it back together piece by piece.

  Max’s apartment was a stark contrast to the dingy interior of the building. His apartment was spotless and smelled of bleach and pine. Max ran an unofficial crime and trauma scene decontamination company and his cleanliness didn’t stop with his job. Every inch of his apartment was sterile and resembled more of an operating room than a home. The entire room was bare, with minimal furniture except for a lar
ge wall of computers, and electronics that put Jackson’s simple laptop to shame.

  Max not only made bodies disappear without a trace, he was also in the business of knowing important information that people paid significantly for. Jackson had come to know Max when he had ran in Black’s circle on the streets before Giles had pulled him from this life and directed him toward earning a badge. Black was a drug trafficker on the streets of Belhaven and had been before Jackson had started testing the other side of the waters when he was only thirteen years old. Jackson found his way into his circle when he met Nate, a fellow orphan that foster care dumped into a home that was scarier than the streets. Nate had brought Jackson into Black’s fold shortly after they had met.

  At first Jackson couldn’t believe his good fortune. Black’s organization seemed like the greatest thing his young mind could fathom. He felt empowered by the connections and the rewards the life offered until he discovered how Black rose to power. Black’s men dealt on street corners, snatching the scraps John Stodden tossed away. While Stodden ran his empire with the elite of Belhaven, Black ran it from the bowels of the city. Jackson’s life became darker than ever, his boundaries pushed so far he knew there was no going back no matter how many oaths he now took to uphold the law.

  Max had a twisted view of the world but Jackson knew he would never intentionally hurt anyone. Jackson had earned Max’s trust long ago and Max knew that Jackson’s badge didn’t change the person he was. They had a trust that had never swayed over the years and didn’t pass judgment on one another. They both knew how warped life had made them and they understood each other. Max would give Jackson the truth and never led him astray.

  Jackson looked up at the multiple screens Max had positioned on the two large desks placed side-by-side. One of the screens showed a woman in the shower, lathering soap in her hair. The angle of the camera was positioned perfectly to capture her entire figure.