Levels Of Exposure (Distortion Series Book 2) Read online

  “It’s kinda hard when your back windows don’t open,” Dane complained, tapping his gun against the glass.

  “Here.” Teddy pulled his seat forward as far as he could and collapsed the back forward against him. Dane leaned on the back of the seat and managed to angle himself to get his arm out the window. Dane twisted around in his seat, aiming his gun toward the chasing car.

  “Hurry the fuck up. You’re heavy as shit,” Teddy complained as Dane pushed his weight against him, shoving him into the dash.

  “Hold on.” Jackson made a quick right between two buildings, avoiding large trash bins lined up along the side of the building.

  “Jesus,” Dane cried out. “I won’t be able to shoot anything if you don’t stop tossing me around.”

  “I can’t help it, this fucker can drive,” Jackson said.

  Dane shot off two rounds, blowing out the two front tires of the car. It swerved before colliding with the side of the building. Jackson slowed down and turned around to get a visual. The damage on the front end of the car was extensive but Jackson didn’t stick around to see the condition of the men in the car as he sped off.

  ***

  Jackson pulled the car to a stop in front of a rundown looking motel. The color of the building was a strange shade of salmon, dirtied from years of weather. Mint green shutters lined every window on the two story building with the occasional one missing. The whole building needed a fresh coat of paint to make it more welcoming but it served its purpose.

  “I’m going to call and set up our meeting.” Jackson held up the card Max had given him. “I’ll be right in.”

  “Sounds good,” Teddy said, stepping out of the car. “We’ll go make sure Evan’s still alive.”

  Dane took a few minutes to climb out of the back of the car. Jackson’s driving did nothing to help his injuries and he was looking a little pale. “You gonna be all right, man?” Jackson asked.

  “Just need a beer.” Dane threw him a smile before he climbed out of the backseat.

  He shut the door and followed Teddy up the metal stairwell to the second story.

  Jackson grabbed his phone out of the glovebox and dialed the number on the back of the card.

  “Yeah?” someone answered after two rings.

  “Steven?”

  “The very one.”

  “It’s Jackson.”

  “When do you want me to set it up?” Steven asked, jumping straight to business.

  “ASAP.”

  “I’ll get back to you,” Steven said before disconnecting the call.

  Jackson rubbed the side of his face, taking a deep breath as he leaned back against his seat. He reached over and opened the glovebox and pulled out Lexie’s purse. He took out the diary he had found the day he collected it from the diner. He had read every word Lexie’s mother wrote. He opened to the entry that he had read over and over.

  August 27

  I can’t sleep because every time I close my eyes I see that night replay over and over. I can’t escape it.

  I’ve been hiding in a motel for the last week. I don’t even know where I am. I drove in a complete daze, unable to read the road signs. I can’t even bring myself to write what happened. I’m scared to write the words.

  When I think of my baby I know I would do it all again, but my only regret is that I didn’t figure out who Officer Finley’s partner was sooner. I could have stopped it from happening and he might still be alive.

  Officer Finley was the only officer who didn’t give up on finding the girl with the rose tattoo. I now fear that his death also means that she will now remain missing. No one will look for her and bring her home.

  I keep thinking about his family. He mentioned he had a young son. It breaks my heart knowing his little boy will never know the man his father was.

  Jackson closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the head rest. If Rosh was his father’s murderer, he needed the evidence Mary mentioned. Rosh was a decorated officer that was respected among all his peers. If he did what Mary Connor accused him of, Jackson would make sure that he was stripped and exposed for what he really was. Jackson wanted revenge. His thirst for it had driven him his entire life and he would seek it until his last breath.

  Jackson opened his eyes when he heard someone tap on his window. Teddy was leaning against his car. He tucked the diary away and opened the door. “What’s up?” he said, stepping out of the car and noticing Teddy’s expression.

  “He’s not here,” Teddy said, throwing his hand in the air.

  “Fuck,” Jackson breathed out in frustration. He slammed his door and headed up the steps toward Evan’s room.

  Jackson swung the door open to see the blankets ripped off the bed and Evan’s things scattered on the floor. He looked up at Dane, who was holding up a piece of paper. “Who’s Seth?”

  “Oh shit.” Jackson raked his hands through his hair. “He’s an asshole from my past that has the worst fucking timing,” Jackson bit off.

  “He can’t spell for shit, either,” Dane said, passing him the paper.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Lexie

  Lexie felt something brush softly against her cheek, a whisper of a touch that barely roused her sleepy mind. She shifted and opened her eyes, realizing that against her best intentions she had fallen asleep. She jolted awake when she noticed someone standing in front of her. A surprised gasp spilled from her as she looked up into Flint’s eyes.

  Lexie pushed herself as far back in the chair as she could. She was angry with herself for falling asleep and allowing someone to enter her room without her knowledge, especially with the way Flint looked at her. He seemed completely at ease staring at her like he was slowly peeling away her layers. She wondered what was going on in his dark mind as he watched her squirm uneasily.

  Flint seemed to have a close relationship with madness that made fear spin through her blood. He was unpredictable and in some ways appeared to be more dangerous than John. While John was cold and calculating, Flint seemed more prone to tap into his animalistic nature.

  “What are you doing in here?” Lexie asked as she scanned the room to see what else she possibly missed as she slept. For days she tried to remain alert to her surroundings, sleeping for short intervals or not at all, but she realized exhaustion finally claimed her. She allowed herself to be vulnerable, something she promised herself she wouldn’t do.

  Her room barely resembled the beautifully decorated space it was when she was first brought here. After she had talked to John that first night when she had mentioned the camera and he had responded using camera in the plural sense, it was not missed on her. The first thing she did when they brought her back to her room was tear it apart looking for more cameras. After moving furniture and pulling paintings off the walls, she finally found what she was looking for. A camera pointed directly toward her bed. She didn’t trust John when he said they were inactive. She wasn’t going to take the risk, flushing all the components down the toilet. She wanted no trace left behind.

  “I see you didn’t like your gift,” Flint said, frowning as he looked at the remains of the camera scattered on the floor. The television was leaning against the front of the entertainment unit with the screen completely destroyed.

  “It’s wasn’t the camera I have an issue with. It’s who gave it to me,” Lexie said sadly, looking at the expensive piece of equipment she demolished, but she knew she could never look through the lens without thinking of John.

  “John wants to see you,” Flint said as he walked over to her closet, stepping over debris.

  Lexie pushed herself off the chair. “Why? Is it about the test results?” She had been dreading the moment that John would hear back about the paternity test. She was absolutely terrified about what it meant to be related to him and just as scared to find out what would happen to her if she wasn’t. She was still no further in trying to formulate an escape plan because John kept her locked away without any unnecessary contact with anyone.

/>   Flint nodded his head. The confirmation made a wave of nausea hit her hard and she grabbed hold of the arm of the chair for support. She watched quietly as Flint shuffled through her dresses before selecting a soft blue one. She was completely speechless with the realization she would soon find out the answer to the question in her mother’s diary. Would she be the daughter of the man her mother hated or the man she loved?

  “You should wear this. It’s the same color as your eyes.” He laid it out on the bed and ran his fingers over the fabric before his eyes found her.

  “Can you take me to see my mother?” Lexie asked as a swell of emotion filled her chest.

  “No,” Flint responded coldly.

  “Why? I just need to see her for a moment,” Lexie begged as she rounded the bed. She hoped there was a part of him that was human enough to understand her plea. “I need to see her, please.” Lexie wrapped her fingers around his forearm. She hated the fact that she was trying to find a connection with a man that made her skin crawl, but she was desperate to sway someone to her side. She was not naïve to the way he looked at her. She could see the excitement flare in his eyes when he looked at her hand upon his arm so she decided to take advantage of his attraction to her. She was backed into a corner and would use any angle she had.

  “It’s John’s call when you see your mother, but I may be able to convince him,” Flint said, looking deep into Lexie’s eyes. It made a cold shiver rake through her body, but she tried to mask it by running her hand along his arm.

  “Thank you, Flint.”

  “You should get dressed,” Flint said, walking over to her dresser and sliding the top drawer open. Lexie watched him run his fingers over the rows of underwear before selecting a lacy white thong and matching bra. “I’ve always liked white. It’s so pure,” Flint said, running his finger over the lace detail. He set them on the bed next to the dress. “Change, Lexie.” He nodded toward the clothes.

  Lexie looked down at her night dress and then back at him. “Here?”

  “Yes,” Flint responded with a tone that made her realize his intentions. “I want to see you…all of you.”

  Lexie knew Flint would not make this easy because he was not a man that would play nicely. She wanted to run away from him. Every part of her wanted to shove him and make a run for the door, but she knew she wouldn’t get far. If she was going to survive this hell she was going to have to get her hands dirty. Lexie tried to ignore his sickening gaze as she grabbed the hem of her night shirt and took a deep breath. Her stomach felt like a hard ball that threatened to explode in a wave of nausea but she needed to reel in her emotions. She needed to harden her shell and force herself to move.

  Lexie slowly pulled the oversized sleep shirt up her body and over her head. She was standing in front of him with only her panties and bra. Normally she would sleep without either, but being in this place, she was unwilling to get too comfortable.

  “Look at me,” Flint said, his voice sounded raw and terrifying. “Look at me when you take off your underwear.”

  Lexie looked up into his dark eyes, his arms crossed over his chest. She could feel her hands shaking as she reached around her back and unclasped her bra. Every muscle in her body was tensed and ready to flee should he approach. She would not let him touch her without a fight. She slipped the straps from her shoulders and let the material slide down her arms. Lexie set it on the bed and picked up the white bra.

  He didn’t try to hide his obvious desire for her as it strained against his pants. “Take off your underwear first,” Flint demanded.

  Lexie let the material of the bra slip through her fingers and dropped it back on the bed. She tried to let her mind wander from the situation at hand so she could get through this. Her thoughts found Jackson, his image filled her mind. She desperately sought to remember the feeling of elation she had felt in his arms. Despite the fact that he had deceived her, what she had felt in those moments was real to her. Then thoughts of Alex quickly followed and she found anger burning through her other emotions because her heart hadn’t found his memory first when she needed comfort. She was no better than Jackson. She had betrayed Alex and he was far more deserving of loyalty than she was.

  “Slowly,” Flints said, lowering his hand to his erection pulsing against his pants.

  Lexie bit her tongue, distracting her mind with pain instead. She slid her fingers under the material of her underwear and slid them down her legs, until they dropped to the floor.

  “Turn around.”

  Lexie took a deep breath and forced herself not to cover herself with her arms as she slowly spun around, trying not to look as terrified as she felt. Her play toward his desires would not work if she allowed him to see how she really felt. It was taking all her energy to make her expression not reflect the emotions that brewed inside her.

  “Does John know you’re here?” Lexie asked, trying to make her voice project confidence.

  His eyes snapped to hers and she almost thought she saw a flash of fear. “I’ll leave you to finish getting ready and come back for you shortly,” Flint announced before he left. Once Lexie heard the door close and the lock engage, she grabbed her underwear and frantically pulled them on. Tears flooded her eyes but she made no attempt to hide her feelings now that she was alone. She needed to release all the pent up emotion. She hated Flint for making her feel the way he did and she hoped eventually she could turn the tables.

  Lexie pulled her dress over her head and darted into the bathroom to wash her face. She needed to scrub away her tears and ready herself to face John and the truth of who her father was. Lexie grabbed a towel off the counter and dried her face. Looking in the mirror, she squared her shoulders. “I will not break. I will be strong.”

  Lexie put on a fresh face of makeup, covering the dark circles under her eyes, and searched through the lipsticks, hoping to find one labeled “Fuck you, John Stodden, and all your demented minions.” She gave up looking at the names and just grabbed one. She ran the color across her lips and was satisfied. She looked put together enough to hide the fear lingering so close under the surface of her skin. This was the first chance she had the opportunity to leave her room since the first day and she was going to take full advantage.

  True to his word, Flint returned only moments after she finished getting ready. He walked into her room without any warning. “You look lovely,” Flint said, his eyes skimming her curves. Despite the fact that she was now dressed, she still felt completely exposed.

  “Thank you,” Lexie said politely.

  “John is waiting.” Flint offered his arm. Lexie forced a smile and took it. The only way she managed to hold the smile upon her face was envisioning clawing his eyes out with her fingernails.

  ***

  “Sit.” John held out his hand toward a club chair facing an ornate wooden desk. The room was a large suite consisting of multiple rooms. The décor was similar to her room but this one was more luxurious with extra attention to detail. Double doors leading into the bedroom were left open to reveal a large poster bed. Another door that led off the main area was closed and Lexie could only assume it led to another bedroom.

  Lexie sat her shaky legs down before someone noticed how nervous she was. John rounded the desk and took his own chair. He was dressed as immaculately as always, without a hair out of place. He picked up a cigar sitting on an ashtray and placed it in his mouth, twisting it slowly in his lips. He leaned back in his chair and reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter. “How did you like your gift?” John asked, holding the cigar over the lighter and twisting the end over the flame.

  “It’s smashing. You were too kind,” Lexie said tightly before she glanced at Flint, who was standing off to the side of the room. A hint of a smile played on his lips. Three other men stood around, the embodiment of intimidation, and she felt like a mess of emotion in the middle of it all.

  John brought the cigar to his lips as he continued to light the end, white smoke tendrils twisting from his
mouth. He flipped the lighter closed and looked at Lexie. The smell of the cigar reminded Lexie of the old man that owned the little corner bookstore near her apartment. He was always sitting outside smoking his cigar but John’s smelled heartier, like a spice mixed with a woodsy scent.

  “Are you planning on keeping me locked up forever?” Lexie blurted when she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. John seemed completely content with his cigar as he filled the air with his rich smoke.

  “No, not forever,” John said. “But it is in my best interest to do so for now.” John picked up an envelope on his desk. Lexie dropped her gaze to it and suddenly it was the only thing she could see.

  “What’s that?” Lexie asked with wide eyes.

  “It’s exactly what you think it is.” John ran his fingers over the white envelope before he looked up at Lexie and all the air left the room. “I’ll let you do the honors,” John said, passing the envelope over the desk toward her. Lexie didn’t move as she looked at the envelope. The rest of the room faded away. She was terrified of what it would reveal.

  “Lexie,” John said with warning.

  Lexie took a deep breath and snapped her attention back into focus. She took the envelope and stared down at the white rectangle of paper in her hands. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, waiting for her to open it. Lexie lifted the envelope up in front of her and tore it in half, continuing to tear the remains until the pieces were too small and she let them flutter to the floor. She looked up at John defiantly but he seemed unfazed as he puffed on his cigar.

  “You already know the answer, don’t you?” Lexie asked suspiciously.

  “Yes, I do, but it seems you are not ready to know.”