I know that I can trust them with my life, so I spill everything.
“During our session at Pure Sin, Jackson changed.”
“What do you mean, Chas asks?”
I open my robe and twist around as it falls. They gasp!
“What the fuck!” they both shout.
The cool air soothes my wounds, so I keep the robe off. I continue.
“Normally, when I use my safe word, Jackson immediately stops, but this time, he kept going. He dropped the flogger, grabbed me by my neck and choked me while he fucked me. I begged him to stop, but it was like he didn’t hear me. I could see his face and he had this crazed look in his eyes. It seemed like the more I cried and begged, the harder he fucked me. When he finished and he realized what he had done, he started apologizing. He unhooked me from the restraints and just held me while I cried. When he saw my back, he asked me why I didn’t use my safe word. I screamed at him that I did. I had to get out of there, so I left and told him not to follow me. I don’t know what to do. Tell me what I should do?”
April and Chas are staring at me in stunned silence....
After a few moments, the dam breaks and Chas is the first one to speak.
“Where the fuck is he?” “I’m going to beat his fucking ass and show him how it feels to get slashed across the back.”
She’s pacing back and forth like a bull and the rage is coming off of her in waves. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this angry.
“Give me his fucking address right now!”
“Chas you know I can’t do that, besides, I don’t need you getting into trouble for assaulting a detective.”
This doesn’t soothe her one bit, if anything she seems angrier.
“Please calm down Chas.”
“Calm down! I’ll calm down when I punch that fucker in the face for hurting you.”
Finally, April chimes in. Always the voice of reason, she says.
“Have you noticed Jackson acting weird or anything? Is there something going on that could’ve set him off? I’m only asking because this doesn’t sound like him at all. He loves you and would never hurt you, so this doesn’t make any sense.”
I’m surprised at April’s calmness. Knowing her past, I can imagine the things going on in her head.
“I did notice he was on edge all evening and he was kind of short with me when we talked. I love him and I do want to know what’s going on with him. I want to give him a chance to explain.”
Chas stops pacing and stares daggers at April.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? I’m not in the mood for your love is love bullshit! Look at her back? Do you not see the blood?”
“Yes, I see it, but do you honestly think Jackson did that on purpose or do you think that maybe something is going on with him? Be honest Chas, you know he loves her and would protect her with his life. Remember how he was in the hospital?”
I listen to them go back and forth. They both have great points, and this helps me make my decision. I hold my hand up to stop them and say.
“I know what I need to do. I need to give him a chance to explain and if it’s complete bullshit, you can have at him Chas.”
This seems to quell her anger, so I give her a wink and she gives me a light hug. The girls stay with me the entire night. April rubs aloe on my wounds and Chas keeps our glasses filled with wine. They sleep with me, knowing I need their comfort and love. Jackson called and sent texts, begging me to talk to him. I will contact him tomorrow. For now, I just want to relax and think. When I talk to him, I want my head to be clear. I do want to hear him out, but I’m not sure that there’s anything he could say that would make me trust him again.
Chapter 20
Jackson
What the fuck have I done? I know in my heart that Crystal will never forgive me for this, but I have to try. I love her too much to not try and explain. I can’t believe Mina has been here right under my nose and working with Crystal. Then, she showed up at the club right outside our room. I’ve called and texted Crystal so many times that I feel like a stalker, but she never answered. What I did to her sickens me and hearing her sobs wrecked my soul. I would never intentionally hurt her, she has to know that. I try to call her one more time. To my surprise, she answers.
“What do you want Jackson!”
“Baby, please let me explain. I am so sorry I hurt you, but I wasn’t in my right mind. I know that’s not a good excuse, but there’s something I need to tell you. May I come over and pick you up?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. You scared me so bad last night and I don’t trust you anymore.”
Her words break my heart. I’m not sure I can handle it if she doesn’t give me the chance to explain.
“I promise, I won’t do anything. I just need to see your face and explain things to you. Can you give me that?”
“Alright, you can pick me up, but don’t think this means that I’m giving you another chance. I’m not sure there’s anything you can say that will help me understand your behavior last night.”
“I understand. I’m on my way.”
She’s waiting on the porch when I get there, and I see April and Chassity staring out the window giving me the evil eye. I smile a little and wave, but they both give me the double finger. I can’t blame them after what I did. I reach my hand out to help Crystal up, but she ignores it and walks to my car. We drive in silence and when we get to my house, the door is ajar. I curse inwardly because I know that bitch is fucking with me again.
“Stay here.”
I order Crystal to stay outside while I go inside, but she doesn’t listen. I can hear the agitation in her voice when she says,
“You don’t get to tell me to do anything, but you can explain to me what happened last night and who the fuck is Mina?”
Before I have the chance to answer her, a voice in the dark menacingly says,
“I’m Mina!”
As if things couldn’t get worse, this crazy bitch breaks into my house again and now, instead of the calm talk I was hoping to have with Crystal, all hell is about to break loose.
Crystal
I do a double take because the woman standing before me resembles Charlene. Her hair is short, and her eyes are blue instead of green.
“Charlene, what are you doing here? And I’m sorry, did you just say that you’re Mina?” Can someone explain to me what the fuck is going on here!”
“Wow, you are so fucking annoying! Yes, my real name is Mina. Before you try to put this together in your little mind, Jackson and I were in a relationship until you came along and fucked everything up!”
“We had a one-night stand and that’s all we had!”
I’m speechless and I’m confused. That confusion turns into anger. Thoughts of everything that’s been happening to me lately, from the break in at my house, the shadow of a person in my backyard, getting hit over the head in the parking garage. It crashes into me like a tidal wave. I stalk over to her and I deck that fucking bitch! She goes crashing back into the wall and slumps to the floor. I pounce! I’m on her delivering blow after blow to her face. Jackson grabs me from behind, to yank me off, but I have a hold of her hair. I can’t believe this bitch is laughing with blood pouring from her nose. That makes me even more angry. I break free from Jackson’s hold and I slap her so hard that my hand stings. Jackson finally gets me away from her and holds me until I calm down.