One Simple Memory Page 3

  Sean was seriously starting to struggle with everything he had done over the years. With his demons, his wrong choices. He really wanted to tell Jenn everything. His deep feelings for her were starting to surface, and she only asked for a hint, what could it hurt? Well, it could hurt him if his father found out. He had already gotten a warning hadn’t he? But how would he find out? He had to shake that thought.

  Down the hall, he heard the phone ring. He took his mask off, and went to answer it.

  “Hello.” He answered.

  “Do you have her?” The voice asked. He could never forget that voice, no matter how hard he tried. He’d heard that voice his entire life. Very seldom was it a happy voice. He hated it.

  “Yes, dad, I do.” He spoke with a flat tone.

  “Can you handle this? I don’t want your prissy emotions getting in the way with this job.” He hissed out.

  “I got it, dad. I got it.” He huffed back, “When do you want her?” He was struggling. He hated talking to his dad, but seeing him was worse.

  “I am sending your brother, Jake, over there. I need you to go to her place and pick some things up. I have a list of what you need.”

  “Why can’t Jake go get the shit?” Knowing that his father was up to no good, he had to at least ask.

  “This is your job. Don’t fuck it up.” It was not a request, it was an order. That meant he had to face his father sooner rather than later. The last time he saw him was when he got his warning.

  He remembered going to his father’s home. Entering his father’s den, he saw his smug face and felt all the hate fill the room. His father had tossed a folder at him, and his fate was signed right then. If he could go back and do things differently, he would. When his father took his fists to him as usual, he made his point clear, and now here he was.

  He didn’t want to leave her here with his brother, but he had to trust that nothing would happen while he was gone. What the hell was he talking about, trust his brother, yeah right. But what choice did he have?

  “All right, send him. When he gets here, I will be on my way.”

  As usual, his brothers knew things long before he did. Just as he hung up the phone with his father, Jake waltzed into the house. Now he had to play nice with his fucking brother, oh joy. He gritted his teeth.

  “Hey Sean.” Jake nodded at him. “So, how’s the chick?” Of course Jake would refer to Jenn as a chick, all women were chicks to him. Jake was a ladies man when he was on the prowl. Standing six foot four, and built like a UFC fighter, Jake could attract any woman he wanted, and he took what he wanted, too. The women loved him. He prayed Jenn would be safe with him, and Jake stayed out of her room. He really hoped nothing happened while he was gone. He prayed that his brother had some shred of the man he once knew inside of him.

  “She is fine. Just leave her alone.” He grunted out. Shit, Sean shouldn’t have said that. He may think something is amiss with the situation. Best better cover his butt now, so shit doesn’t hit the fan. “She’s sleeping, should stay that way until I get back. I won’t be long.” He tried to give warning, but that never usually worked with his brothers. He could never forget the night Jake over stepped Sean’s direction during a job. A thug was shot, drugs went missing, the outcome didn’t work out in his favor. His father kicked the shit out of him for it, and his brother just walked away as if nothing happened. He knew he couldn’t trust Jake, but he had to hope. No. He could beg the lords above that he wouldn’t do anything stupid to screw this up. Sean got his shoes and jacket on and left to head to his father’s home.

  After a twenty minute drive, Sean pulled his ’69 Camaro up front of the large ranch style home that his father currently lived in. It was nothing like the home the family grew up in. This one was newer, more modern, compared to the old fashion plantation style home he loved and grew up in. It wasn’t until his father felt he needed a smaller home that he bought the ranch. The rest of the family had already moved out, no need for all the extra space. Sean got out, rounded the car, stepped up the three stairs to the door and entered. “Dad!” he yelled, “Where you at, old man?” He knew he wouldn’t leave without getting hit at least once, so why not throw one jab at his father.

  While walking through the small, bright main entrance to the home that contained a large wooden coat rack against one wall and on the opposite wall was a tiny key rack that contained two sets of keys, he heard his father bellow “In the den, Sean.”

  Time to put his game face on, Sean knew his father could read him like a book, so one wrong look or wrong answer and there would be hell to pay. Especially after the ‘old man’ jab. After a few deep breaths, he trudged toward the den. He was nervous; he knew what his father could do to him.

  His father hung up the phone grumbling. “Stupid detectives won’t leave me alone. Always harassing me about my business. Trying to nab me on something.” He started right in on Sean. While sitting forward in his chair, a dark glare in his eyes and sneer on his face, he simply spoke. “Did you tell her anything?”

  “No.” Why couldn’t his father just trust him? He was never the one to screw him over at any job. It was always his brothers, but he was always the one to get the blame. Was his father that hateful towards him?

  His father observed him, his gaze hard enough that it was like he was looking right through him. He looked angry, like he was ready to pounce. “You are lying to me.” He spat.

  Sean knew this was coming. His father had major trust issues since some employees started stealing from him. Even though he was family, he still didn’t trust him. The trust issues had built over the years. His father stood from his chair and came towards him. Fists clenched, he had sneer on his face.

  “I am not lying. I told her nothing.” Sean told him as calmly as he could. His muscles became tense, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. The fear of his father was beginning to rise. He knew what was coming, and as usual, it did. His father took his swing and made first contact. A right hook, square to Sean’s jaw. It nearly knocked him down. But Sean kept himself steady. He could taste the coppery like flavor; he didn’t dare spit the blood out. Never would he give his father the satisfaction. He was not going to give him another reason to smack him around. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Dad, I didn’t tell her anything!” He gritted between his still blood soaked teeth. He was trying to contain his own anger.

  “Well, you fucking better not, if you know what’s best for you.” His father turned and returned to his chair. He reached over to a small table and grabbed a small piece of paper and handed it to Sean. “Go to her place and retrieve these items. They should hold her over until I need her.” He ordered. “Now get out of my face. I have other business to tend to.”

  Sean clenched his fists, turned and swiftly left the room and the house. He spat out the blood that was pooling in his mouth on the driveway and took a few deep breathes. He got in his car and sped away. Relief set in once he was out of the house, away from his father. He hated being held responsible for shit he didn’t do, but running was so hard to do. Maybe it was time. Every job he did for him was getting harder and harder to do. It was like his father had a hate on for him and was trying to push his limits. He’d met his limit for his fathers hatred, it was time to make a plan.

  Jenn

  She heard a phone ring somewhere. That meant there was a form of communication in the house. Until she could figure out a way to get to the phone, she supposed she should just lay back and let the pain medication kick in. Then she could try to figure things out.

  She managed to relax enough to fall asleep. She was just starting to dream about those mysterious, but familiar, sexy gray eyes, when suddenly the door to the room was thrown open, and startled her awake. She shot up in the bed and looked over. A man stood there. He wasn’t the same man from earlier. This guy was bigger, taller and he didn’t have a mask on. He was built, broad and thick. He looked like a fighter. He reminded her of the sexy, famous UFC fighter, George S
t. Pierre, one good looking fighter. He had on a pair of tight black jeans, and a white muscle shirt. His hair was dark brown, styled in a sort of a buzz cut. He had a set of deep gray eyes, and he was grinning at her. The grin was evil looking, like he had something on his mind, and she really did not like it. His nose was sharp and slightly crooked, as if it had been broken once or twice. He had a well chiselled jaw covered with a five o’clock shadow, and he was sporting a single diamond stud in his left ear.

  “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Spoke the brute man, sending chills through her. “Looks like we have a sweet piece of ass, sitting all alone on the big ol’ bed here.” The man winked at her.

  She shivered from the fear starting to rise from deep inside. “What do you want?” She whispered, gripping the blanket tight to her chest. A sudden sweat broke out on the back of her neck, and her pulse began to accelerate.

  The man closed the door and sauntered over to the bed. “Don’t worry little thing, I won’t do anything you won’t like.” He smirked and sat on the edge of the bed.

  Jenn pushed her body as far back on the bed as it would allow her. She did not want him to touch her. He was good looking, in a scary kind of way, but the way he was leering at her didn’t sit right with her. He stared at her like a ravenous lion, and she was a piece of raw meat. She was not prepared to be his meal. “Please, don’t touch me.” She pleaded innocently. Shivers ran through her. She wasn’t sure if she had the strength to fight, but she sure would do her best to try.

  The man who was making her feel more scared by the minute smiled at her, and reached his hand forward towards her leg. “Come on now sugar, big daddy isn’t going to hurt you.” He smirked. “Unless you ask him to.” He leaned further into her and grabbed her ankle. “We’re just going to talk.” He winked.

  She kicked her leg at him.

  He laughed. He reached and grabbed again, strengthening his grip.

  “Let go of me, you big ape!” She cried out, and tried to kick him away again.

  Her struggle only seemed to urge him on, as he moved closer and reached with his other hand. He grabbed her other ankle and pulled her down the bed, removing the blankets covering her in the process.

  She screamed and started to fight him.

  Again her thoughts ran frantically, how was she going to get out of this? Was he going to hurt her? Was he going to rape her? Was he going to kill her? He was too big to fight compared to her much smaller body size, and screaming just urged him on. Fuck! The day couldn’t get any worse. She continued to struggle, kicking her legs. The man laughed as if he enjoyed the fight. She started to swing her arms, anything to get her out of the position she was in. Luck decided to be on her side, and she could hardly believe it. One of her swings actually made contact. She hit him in the side of his face and pretty hard. Hard enough that it hurt her hand.

  “You stupid bitch!” He growled, and he released her ankles. His hand full out smacked her across her face.

  Damn that hurt, she thought.

  He pinned her by her arms and used his body to hold the rest of her down. “You hit me, bitch.” He spit out.

  The man did not look that sexy when he was mad she thought. She could feel the blood drain from her nose, and her lip was starting to throb. He had hit her good. She had never been hit before. She didn’t like the feeling at all. “I’m sorry.” She covered her face and turned it to the side with the hope he wouldn’t hit her again. Her body shook once again, her nerves in overdrive of the unknown. “You were scaring me. I wasn’t thinking.” She grabbed at straws, anything to get the man to back off. Her eyes filled with tears, but she tried to hold them back.

  “You fucking better be, bitch.” He sat back on his heels with a grin. “So, where were we?” His hand grazed her upper arm and then down her abdomen to her thigh.

  She cringed, and he laughed.

  “Get off of me, you asshole.” She yelled, unaware of how it slipped out. It was like she had Tourette’s and super mood swings all at once, but she knew it felt good to say. Gaining some strength to fight back, angry and scared, it took everything in her not to spit at him. She really needed to get her shit together.

  “A feisty one, eh?” The asshole of a man laughed out and continued on his excursion of touching her body. He cupped her breasts in his hands. “Oh, I like these.” His eyes had an evil glint.

  She didn’t like his touch. She needed him to stop. “Fuck off!” She swore and in a flash she swung her fist again, and luck was still with her. Contact again.

  “Fuck!” He yelled, and in quick response punched her back. He grabbed at her shirt, and he began to tear it off her.

  Adrenaline surged and even with tears running down her face, Jenn fought with everything she had. She managed to get her leg in the position to her advantage and nailed him in the balls.

  He screamed and grabbed his crotch. “Bitch!” He yelled at her and crawled off of her and the bed.

  She tucked herself up in a defensive position, shaking slightly with tears on her face. She wasn’t letting him get to her again.

  “Ah, fuck woman! Tears? You think that shit works on me?” He shook his head, adjusted his balls and began to walk away. “Fucking women! Nothing like busting the mood. Literally! You ain’t worth it, bitch.” He mumbled as he walked out the door, shut and locked it.

  It was getting dark outside by the time Jenn was able to stop crying. Almost an entire day had gone by, and she had not eaten a single morsel of food. The only water she had was with the pills. Why would he starve her when he was nice enough to give her medication for her migraine? Where was he, and who was that other man? Why was he so much scarier than the man in the mask? She felt weak from the lack of food and was sore from the abuse she took from that man. She wasn’t sure how much more she could handle before she completely unraveled. She was going to have to dig deep within herself and break down those walls that protected her and fight for her life. She was not ready to die, not today, not tomorrow, not any time soon.

  Sean

  Sean arrived at her moderate sized, two bedroom house, and entered the front door with the key he had on his key chain. The key he took from her key chain. He wasn’t going to break in this time when there was no need. He took his time to look around. Taking in every smell in each room. Natural or flower scented, he accepted it all.

  With the sunlight shining in her sheer draped windows, he was able to take it all in. He noticed the black leather furniture set organized just so in the living room. The oak coffee table and end tables with doilies on top, which made him smile. Always the girlie girl she was, he thought. A not so small flat screen TV hung on the wall, and shelves full of pictures and knick knacks were scattered about.

  Just left of the very large open living room was a door leading to a bedroom and off to the right was a door to a fairly spacious modern bathroom. Her kitchen was big with an island separating it from the living room. The color scheme of the home was of bold dark colors, and the floors were all hard wood. As he searched her place, he found photos of family, and it made him think of the days of their childhood together. The good and the bad. It also made him remember the day he told her he just wasn’t good enough for her. He could see the love in her eyes that day.

  It was a typical Saturday for them. They had made plans to hang out and go to the movies that night. It was actually pre-planned. Routine for them, but one of his father’s jobs that he did that day set him on an emotional roller coaster. It had him changing his mindset, and he knew he had to push Jenn away. He didn’t want her in the crossfire, didn’t want her getting hurt. That day, Sean had made his first kill.

  With what was still blood on his hands, he met up with Jenn at a coffee shop to break the news. She was her chipper self. Full of smiles and love in her eyes. They ordered their coffee and sat in silence for a few moments.

  Jenn couldn’t contain herself in the silence. “So what was so important that we are here now Sean?” She smiled big at him. It hurt hi
m to see that smile, knowing what he was about to do.

  He reached across the table and grasped her hand. “Babe, there are things happening, feelings are changing.” He squeezed her hand and took a deep breath. “You know I love you babe, but I’m no good for you.” He looked deep into her eyes and waited with baited breath.

  Her eyes watered. “What do you mean Sean?” She pulled her hand free from his and wiped her eye. “I thought things….” She began to mumble. “I mean I thought…” She couldn’t finish, she was so confused and upset.

  “Babe.”

  “Don’t babe, me, you jerk.”

  He sighed. “Jenn, you don’t understand.” He slumped back in his seat. “Shit is happening and you just, you just… I don’t want you to get hurt.” He crossed his arms across his chest. He was getting frustrated. He hated having to do this. He truly did love her, but he needed to get away from her, for her safety. He didn’t want her to know what he was doing, what he had done. She would hate him, just like he hated himself.

  “Hurt? The only person hurting me is you Sean.” She reached for her purse and pulled out a Kleenex. “I don’t understand. I love….”

  Sean couldn’t hear her say it, he knew he would buckle. He had to get out of there so when she started to say those words, he up and ran out.

  There were photos of her and her father, old and new. Some with her and her mother when she was a child. No recent ones with her mother since she passed away when Jenn was just thirteen. A robbery gone wrong, they said. Sean knew that was just a cover story. Her father didn’t want Jenn knowing what kind of side business he was running. The kind of business that had gotten him in deep shit and ended up causing the death of his wife.