Revenge

By Susan K. Droney

Jackson Bridges, released from a court-ordered, two-year stay at a psychiatric hospital for a brutal attack on his wife, blames his ex-wife Zoey’s mother for putting him there in the first place. His own domineering mother who controls every aspect of his and his two older brothers’ lives compounds his bitterness.

Christine Westmiller has spent the past two years taking care of her daughter Zoey who fell into a coma after a brutal attack by her husband Jackson Bridges. When she learns that her former son-in-law has been released from the psychiatric hospital, she is bitter and has trouble coping with her emotions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Oct 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781487400446

Susan K. Droney

Writing is Susan's number one passion. When she isn't writing, she enjoys reading, spending time in her garden, and visiting family and friends. She has many novels, short stories, and magazine articles to her credit. Raised in western New York, she now resides in New Jersey. For information about Susan's current and upcoming titles, please visit http://www.susandroney.com or http://susandroney.blogspot.com

Book preview

When a young man controlled by a domineering mother is released from a court-ordered two-year stay in a psychiatric hospital, he becomes preoccupied with the woman he blames for putting him there in the first place.

Jackson Bridges, released from a court-ordered, two-year stay at a psychiatric hospital for a brutal attack on his wife, blames his ex-wife Zoey’s mother for putting him there in the first place. His own domineering mother who controls every aspect of his and his two older brothers’ lives compounds his bitterness.

Christine Westmiller has spent the past two years taking care of her daughter Zoey who fell into a coma after a brutal attack by her husband Jackson Bridges. When she learns that her former son-in-law has been released from the psychiatric hospital, she is bitter and has trouble coping with her emotions.

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Revenge

Copyright © 2014 Susan K. Droney

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0044-6

Cover art by Carmen Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc or

Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

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www.eXtasybooks.com or www.devinedestinies.com

Smashwords Edition

Revenge

By

Susan K. Droney

Chapter One

I’ll give you your release instructions on your final visit. I’ve already gone over most of it with you. Take your medication as prescribed and report as scheduled to your outpatient counseling sessions. Dr. Gilbert Simpson shifted his heavy body in his large well-worn, stiff wooden chair, as he looked hard at the twenty-eight year old, dirty, blond-haired, blue-eyed, husky, square-jawed man sitting across from him. There was no doubt in his mind that Jackson Bridges was deeply disturbed.

Jackson eyed the doctor coldly. He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. You don’t like me. I could tell from the first day I met you. He shrugged his broad shoulders. That’s okay because the feeling’s mutual, Doc.

Simpson kept quiet as he studied him. Without the proper daily supervision and medication the hospital gave him, he would snap again. It was only a matter of time. However, once Bridges completed his court-ordered outpatient counseling, the doctor couldn’t force him to continue treatment. Bridges, according to the justice system, would have fulfilled all obligations of his court-ordered sentence. A sentence Gil Simpson thought he should have extended, but his hands were tied. The courts made the rules, not him. Only if Jackson had demonstrated violent tendencies while institutionalized, would the courts consider extending his sentence. He hadn’t and it was because of being properly medicated. Once off the medication, Gil Simpson could only imagine the violence the young man could unleash if provoked.

Jackson leaned closer. Why don’t you ever say what you really think? Just once I want you to look me in the eye and tell me what you think and not what your damned books tell you to think. He swept his hand toward the floor to ceiling bookcase crammed with textbooks and journals. He shook his head in disgust. How can you stand to work cooped up in this dump day in and day out? His eyes surveyed the rest of the small office.

There was little furniture in the space. Besides the bookcase, there was a large heavily marred desk, the wooden chair Simpson was seated in, and two vinyl-coated chairs, which sat in front of the desk. A row of filing cabinets lined one dull gray wall. A small window with bars let in little light since it faced a small alleyway, which connected at one end to the main part of the building.

Jackson looked toward the window, then back to the doctor. Nice view, he scoffed. You’d think they’d at least give you a decent office.

Simpson rubbed his chin. I’m used to it. He looked evenly at Bridges as he removed his reading glasses.

Jackson laughed a hollow chortle devoid of any emotion. It must really piss you off. He cocked an eyebrow, his blue eyes slanting. My nose has been clean in here. I did my time. You can’t keep me locked up in here and that’s eating at you. I can see that by the way you look at me. You wanted to find a reason to keep me locked up, but you couldn’t.

I won’t be seeing you again until our final session. He watched Bridges, expecting him to leave. When several seconds had passed and Bridges made no effort to vacate the office, Simpson frowned. Obviously you have something more on your mind.

Jackson’s jaw tightened. All that mumbo jumbo and those fancy diplomas hanging on the walls don’t mean a damned thing. He removed his hands from his pockets and pointed a finger at the doctor. Nobody can really get inside somebody’s head. They can try, but they can never know everything in there. He placed his hands palms down on the edge of the doctor’s desk and glared at the older salt and pepper haired man. You never believed me even after I told you everything on what that bitch put me through. That constant nagging would drive any sane person over the edge. His eyes slanted. You never acted like you believed a word I said.

Simpson casually leaned back in his chair silently observing him.

Zoey always brought out the worst in me. I lost it that day. You tried to get in my head, but I still couldn’t remember much about that day. You kept trying to get me to remember something I couldn’t. He exhaled loudly. I don’t remember anything except that Zoey kept nagging at me more than usual and wouldn’t stop. I blanked out after that.

Simpson’s forehead creased. She was brutally beaten. You’ve said you don’t remember doing it.

Everybody else said I did it, but I don’t remember touching her. What does it matter now anyway? She lived.

* * * *

Jackson slipped into the front passenger seat of the beat up dark blue car. His foot pushed a pile of discarded fast food wrappers and soda cans out of his way. Free at last! He grinned and then leaned over and planted a kiss on his mother’s plump cheek. I’m sure in the mood for some of your home cooking, Ma. The crap in there tasted like shit.

There’s plenty of that, honey, Donna Bridges replied. I was up half the night cooking. Fried chicken…your favorite. The whole family is at the house waiting to see you. She placed a pudgy hand on his shoulder. You’re too skinny. We’ll fatten you up in no time at all.

Thanks, Ma. I don’t know what I would have done without you coming to see me these past two years. He ran a hand through his hair. I never thought I’d ever get out of there. I missed you, Ma.

I missed you, too, Jackson. I tried to get here as much as I could for visiting hours, but this four hour round trip has messed up the car. I was worried it would break down on the way this afternoon. Chase and Hudson keep fixing it, but it won’t take.

Jackson’s eyes lit up. I’ll get it running as good as new, Ma. That’s what I think I missed most. Working on cars.

Well, now, you’ll have all the time in the world.

He frowned as he swept a hand through his hair again. I can’t wait to grow my hair out again. They made me keep it too short. They had all these rules and it was hard to keep track of everything. I hated being cooped up inside so much, though. That’s what I hated most of all.

Donna’s eyes narrowed. Well, don’t you think about any of that now. You’re out of that God forsaken place. You should have never been there to begin with. She grimaced. It’s the fault of that damned wife of yours. None of us ever did like Zoey. She never fit in with us. She always thought she was too good for us, Jackson, Donna said, maneuvering the car onto the busy highway as she shifted her heavy body in the seat. She kept her eyes on the road as she peered over the steering wheel. She was a short, obese woman who stood barely five feet inches tall, with long, graying, dirty, blond hair. I’ve been on this earth for sixty years and I never met the likes of her before. She thought her shit didn’t stink, she continued. Always putting on her high and mighty airs. No wonder it drove you over the edge. The whole family knew that, too. She took a hand from the steering wheel and tousled his short-cropped hair. Yeah, I like it better long, too.

Jackson watched the familiar scenery whizzing by. I never thought I’d ever get to see any of this again. I was afraid they’d make something up and make me stay. You don’t know what it’s like in there, Ma. He gulped. Always gotta watch your back. Some of those crazy bastards are huge and they’ll kill you with their bare hands if they think they can get away with it. I saw it happen with my own eyes to some puny guy they brought in a couple of weeks ago.

Donna’s hand trembled on the steering wheel. You saw someone get murdered, Jackson?

Yeah, but they tried to cover it up by saying the guy was fine, and was going to get transferred to another hospital. I knew different. They didn’t want us to know the truth.

What happened to the other guy?

Nothing. But I always made sure to stay out of his way anyway so I’d be safe.

Donna’s features hardened. That bitch and her tight ass mother did that to you. If it weren’t for them, two, you would have never had to go away from home. Christine Westmiller always had it in for you trying to cause trouble and break your marriage up. Zoey believed her mother instead of obeying you. Someday they’ll get theirs. She gripped the steering wheel tightly. You can count on it. She reached over and gave Jackson’s hand a quick squeeze. Do you think you can forget about that place, Jackson?

Probably not. At least not for a while. He grunted as he drew a deep breath. It does feel good to be free, Ma. No one looking over my shoulder, watching my every move, and telling me what to do and when to do it. The nights were the worse. All the screaming and crying. He gritted his teeth. I’ve been looking forward to the peace and quiet. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time. He grinned at his mother. No place like home, Ma.

You’ve got that right. Donna turned off the highway and down a rural two-lane road. Why anyone would want to live in a big city like Pittsburgh is beyond me. Zoey was raised here in Porter, but she always wanted to be somewhere else, and her mother agreed with her. No mother wants her kids to be far away if she really loves them. Don’t forget that, Jackson.

I won’t, Ma.

Donna filled her nostrils with the clean air. Give me the country any day. Nobody to nose around in your business either.

He smiled. Pittsburgh isn’t exactly a real big city, Ma. Not like New York City or Los Angeles or one of those places.

Well, it looks like it to me with all the houses cramped up close together like that. Hardly any back yard to speak of. Thank God your daddy had the sense to set us up far out in the country away from everybody. Peace and quiet, and total privacy. No one to complain when you boys played outside.

Jackson cringed at the mention of his father. He didn’t want to think about what that bastard had done to his mother and him and his brothers. A real man didn’t walk out on his family. He didn’t want anything to ruin today. He had disobeyed his mother when he started sneaking around to see Zoey, but he was relieved that she hadn’t brought that fact up. She would eventually, but today she was letting him enjoy his long awaited freedom.

She took her eyes from the road for a second and glanced at him. I don’t know how you stood living in Pittsburgh as long as you did.

I hated every minute of it. He smiled at his mother and gave her plump arm a squeeze. Well, at least it wasn’t Philadelphia. I heard Zoey talking to her mother once about wanting to move there. She said there were more opportunities for her and me. I told her if she thought we were moving, to forget it. She always seemed to forget her place. She was damned lucky I even let her talk to her mother so much.

You tried to tame her, honey.

He clenched his teeth. She just wouldn’t listen.

Well, you reminded her, Donna grunted. With a little push from me. I was worried about you, Jackson. There were times it looked like she was walking all over you and getting the upper hand.

I know. He looked shamefaced at his mother. Like when I let her talk me into moving to Pittsburgh in the first place. She started meeting people and pushing me to get a better job. I hated the job in that canning factory. Stuck inside all day, then going home to that little apartment and listening to Zoey bitch because she wanted to go back to college, but I made her work at that grocery store at night so I could keep an eye on her.

But she had all day while you were working to do her dirty work and make friends that you didn’t approve of and to talk to her mother. She let her breath out in a huff. Your brothers and I were livid when you told us what was going on. They were ready to come and beat your ass and drag the both of you back home, but I told them to wait. I knew you’d come to your senses. If you didn’t, then I would have sent them after you.

I can’t believe I ever moved to that cramped little apartment on the third floor. He shook his head. No yard and nosey neighbors. It got on my nerves.

The whole family could hardly fit in that shoebox you called your home. Donna snorted. Well, I would have had something to say for sure if you would have moved to Philadelphia. I’m sure your brothers would have, too. That’s why Zoey refused to put a trailer on the piece of land I gave you for your wedding present. She wanted to get you far away from your family so she could change you. You soon found out she never did make any of your family feel welcome, especially when her hoity toity mother was around. Those two always thought they were too good for us.

Well, I wouldn’t have moved to Philadelphia, Ma. He scowled. I was wrong moving to Pittsburgh in the first place. I don’t know how I let her talk me into it.

Donna grunted. You were only thinking about what was between her legs. I told you the bloom would rub off. I and your brothers knew you’d come to your senses and want to move back to the country where you belong.

Jackson knew he’d let her down, and he’d tried to rectify his lapse in judgment. After we moved back home and you made us move into the trailer with you, I showed her who was boss, didn’t I? Just like you taught me, Ma.

Yes, you did and your brothers and I were proud of you. She patted his knee. Things will be different now that you’re back home.

Jackson scratched his jaw. Yeah, I told her we were moving back home to live with you until I got us our own trailer near yours. He snorted. "That’s when she really started nagging me even more about moving even further away. I warned her she had to learn her place and I didn’t allow her to talk to her mother anymore. It’s her own fault that she wouldn’t listen."

And don’t you let anybody tell you different, his mother said firmly. She got what was coming to her.

Yeah, I know. He settled back in his seat as his mind drifted back to that day. The day that changed his life forever.

* * * *

He’d really thought Zoey had finally cut off ties with her mother. His family was now Zoey’s,