Saving Us (Blackstone, #4): Blackstone, #4

By Nickie Nalley Seidler

Life takes a terrifying turn, threatening to change Jack Blackstone's entire future. A package arrives at the door with familiar eyes, and the hope he had been searching arises.
Desperation from an evil man sends Jack in a spiral to make sure that William, goes away for a very long time.
Just when Jack thinks he succeeded, the battle breaks out.
Jack discovers he has to choose between love and war.
Will Jack Blackstone save us? Or will everything he worked so hard to protect, shatter before his very eyes?
This book contains mature content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nickie Seidler
• Release date: Mar 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393767565

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Stacy

The loud, curdling, screams woke me from my nightmare. The boat moved fast, full speed as my body shifted until I fell off the mattress to the floor, giving my head even more of a beating. The sound of bullets ricocheting off the boat made me crunch into a ball, while the boat hauled ass somewhere far from where I suspected I needed to be.  The motor roared, and water crashed alongside the boat that masked the sounds from up above. Who screamed? What did he do?

My head thrashed and I tried to keep still, hoping, praying the pain would subside. Likely, I had a concussion, that was the easiest thing to guess, but I assumed I fared worse than that. How long had it been now? A day? Two days? Whatever William drugged me with blurred any sense of time from reality. Completely drained, I was losing my will to fight. My body slowly shut down from the trauma. Why hasn’t my knight in shining armor come to my rescue?

The boat wasn’t slowing down any, if anything it was increasing speed, or so it seemed. My chest constricted taking my breath away, tightening, squeezing it all out of me, while my head throbbed. Was this the end? Fighting for air, I sat up real slow trying not to jar my head. I refused to eat, not that he offered much. I didn’t drink, except when he washed the pills down my throat and held my nose and mouth shut like a dog being forced to obey. With my fight being weak, I tried hard to stay awake and figure out what the hell was going on up above.

My eyes fought the battle with my brain. My brain convinced me to stay awake to hear everything going on, but still my eyes drifted, fluttering closed as I began to lose focus trained on the dirty, cold, floor of the boat. Unable to move and dreaming of my rescue, maybe I hallucinated the scream?

Fading.

Fading.

Fading.

My eyes won the battle.

My brain took me on a journey to a fond memory. One of my brother laying in the cool grass with his hands behind his head staring up at the star lit sky. The crickets chirped loud in our ears, the bull frogs croaked off in the distance too. His hands flew in the air pointing to all the constellations and teaching me about it all. It was his thing. Mom and dad sat on the patio chatting away with friends. Just Liam and me, counting the shooting stars in awe. Then everything crept in turning dark, like a page crinkling up, black vines ripped through the grass toward us as the house diminished. Loud rumbling noises exploded my ear drums as Liam and I lay there looking at each other like we were in some sort of nightmare, definitely not a happy dream. Almost like in the movie Jumanji where we get sucked out of our world and thrown into another. Then the scene changed again. Now I was dressed in black, mascara running down my cheeks, barely able to walk in these Prada heels. Moving around people all centered at the room looking at a casket, my heart could barely stay in my chest it beat so wildly. Now there were two caskets. Liam was looking at me, with worried eyes, my heart hammered, and my breathing labored. Liam ran to my side and held me before I fell. Our parents lay lifeless there in front of me and in that moment, my life was swept out from underneath me. Then there were my grandparents, mourning their child, offering Liam and I sympathizing looks. People’s eyes all focused on us with tears, like we became their responsibility somehow, a burden.  Why was I reliving this memory? Was I dying?

A sudden noise disturbed my thoughts as I once again heard the sharp scream too close to my ear. Opening my eyes warily, barely able to move, I saw a woman that looked... holy shit! Jessi!

Oh my God! What are you doing here? I mumbled, probably sounding a little drunk, but I couldn’t help it with all the drugs he had me on.

This wasn’t the plan. Where is Alex? What happened to you?

I shook my head confused at her bewildered look. She scanned the room taking it all in or lack thereof.

Nobody besides me.

Your head, Stacy, it looks bad.

Where’s Jack? I groaned. Talking took an effort I didn’t think I had.

Probably a very mad man right now since my father took me too. This wasn’t the plan. We were trying to get you back, and Alex. You haven’t seen him at all?

I shook my head unable to breathe the words out.

We need to get you to a hospital. This is like déjà vu. Jessi looked around, her hands were tied, and it didn’t appear he had drugged her, yet. Time was critical I knew. The state I was in, would be crucial to wait days without having permanent damage. We were still riding the water, full speed. There was no escape plan. No way would I survive it. I started to lose hope. I knew Jack had to be a train wreck with Jessi now on the boat too. He was the FBI for fucks sake, he would find us. He would save us. I knew it. There was no other option.

A strange fidget of the doorknob warned us before the door opened, sending Jessi lunging toward the man stalking inside. He grabbed her in an instant and kneed her until she flew on the bed backwards.

What the fuck did I ever do to you, you piece of shit? Jessi spat, while he held the cup of pills in his hand. He planned to drug her, too. His own fucking blood. Her body shook, and her eyes grew dark. The image before me disgusted me, yet it hurt deep to see him disown his own daughter like that. The pain evident in her eyes just showed me how much it affected her.

You are not my daughter.

No, not anymore I’m not. Where is my son?

Jessi, you’ll need to understand one thing.

Her eyes scanned his arms then as if a light bulb flicked on, her face reddened with anger coursing through her.

You’re the one who gave me those drugs. You tried to kill me by giving me drugs, knowing I would overdose? You knew I was at the shelter too, didn’t you? You burnt it down in hopes to kill me. Answer me! She screamed, sending a chill down my spine. A side of Jessi I had never seen, but this girl was kicking ass. She was owning it and William would falter.

You were going to ruin me. He grabbed her, pinning her down to the bed, I closed my eyes unable to watch. I heard her gagging on the pills he shoved down her throat. Was this all true? Did he start the shelter on fire to kill her? Her own father gave her drugs to OD on? My mind spun with the malicious facts swirling inside of me. My heart hurt, and I only imagined how much more Jessi must be hurting.

Fuck you! I survived asshole and now your own son will ruin you, mark my words. Jessi seethed through her teeth. Then everything went black.

CHAPTER 2

Jack

My eyes did a double take looking at the scrawny kid standing in front of me. Fear blanketed his eyes, mixed with his body violently trembling, his clothes soaking wet. My mouth opened and closed trying to find the words. I was flabbergasted when Jessi walked in like a ghost, and now I stared back into the eyes of a boy I couldn’t deny was hers. He waited for me to answer his question. Yeah, I’m Jack. I have an idea of who he was, and a part of me was slightly scared also. I didn’t want to fail him, too.

I’m Jack. I said barely audible.

I’m—

I cut him off. Alex, get in here. I grabbed him inside, looking around the hallway before closing the door and locking it. My God, you are freezing. Come on, let’s get you warm buddy. I quickly rushed to the couch grabbing a fleece blanket Stacy had folded nicely. Unraveling it, I wrapped it around his shaky body.

Holy shit. Liam mumbled looking him over.

Oh my God! Mom covered her mouth.

Everyone out. Now. I roared.

Dude, we’re not leaving.

I lead Alex over to the bathroom. Let me get you some dry clothes, ok?

He didn’t speak, just nodded his head up and down. I gently closed the bathroom door and he screamed at the top of his lungs. My hand fumbled with the knob and I couldn’t get it opened fast enough.

I’m sorry! Are you ok?

He shook his head, holding the blanket over him, eyes watering. The kid looked traumatized.

Hey, buddy. I am just going to walk in the other room real quick to get you some of my clothes, and then you can get dressed and warm up ok? I’m not going to hurt you.

His weary eyes nodded with permission and I slid into Stacy’s room at the same time Liam and Mom did.

Look, he needs clothes. I’m giving him some of mine, but they won’t fit. Can you take her to get some clothes, warm ones? Please. Give me a moment with him, he’s scared, and I don’t need you knuckleheads making him uncomfortable.

Yeah, alright. Liam nudged my mom. They looked worried, but ended up leaving like I asked.

I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt and took a deep breath before I hobbled back over to the bathroom. He stood still in the same exact spot glued to the floor, clutching the blanket.

I’m going to call my nurse friend, she’s going to come here and look you over. She won’t hurt you, but I need to know you’re ok. You can trust me, Alex. I handed him the clothes and hesitantly, he took them. Grabbing the phone out of my pocket, I dialed the only friend I knew that I could count on.

Blake, yeah, um, can I borrow Joanna? I have the eagle.

What? Why didn’t you call me dude?

Joanna? I pressed.

We’re on our way.

I ended the call and slid the phone back into my pocket.

Where’s my mom? His voice soft as a mouse, I knew he must be terrified. I feared telling him what happened, not knowing how he would take such news at a young age. Lying didn’t seem to be an option either, he needed to trust me. Asking him all the questions that were spinning in my head while I fully took in my nephew. Almost as if in a dream, I wasn’t sure it was real. I wanted to lean over and pinch him.

I’m looking to get her here, ok? Not the whole truth, but it would help hold me off until we found them.

I’m going to leave you some privacy to change. I’ll be right over there in the kitchen ok? Then maybe you can tell me where you have been?

He nodded his head up and down. I could tell he was unsure of what he could tell me. Part of me wanted to question how he even knew I would be at Stacy’s apartment.

Within minutes Blake and Joanna were knocking at the door. Before I let them in, my phone went off. I glanced at who was calling and it was Kent.

What’s up? I answered.

Yo, coastguard hasn’t found the boat yet. Any ping on the GPS?

Nah. Nothing. I did receive a package, hoping it’s helpful.

I’ll let you know when I hear of something.

Any hour of the night you call me.

I ended the call and swung open the door for my friends waiting patiently on the other side. Joanna rushed in with her medical kit as I pointed to the bathroom. The door wasn’t fully closed and I saw her knock, asking if she could come in. Once he said yes, I let out a sigh of relief. He looked in bad shape, freezing, traumatized, and his arm looked pretty bruised. Blake looked at me and I looked back at him. I pointed to the balcony and he followed me out on it.

He just randomly showed up? Blake asked.

Yeah, asked if I was Jack. How the hell did this kid know where I was? Think he knows what I need?

I don’t know, man. He shook his head.

He’s scared out of his mind. I’m afraid to even ask him anything.

Blake chin lifted me to look behind me and I saw Tim barreling toward the patio door. I opened it up for him.

What’s going on in there? Tim asked.

Alex showed up.

What does he know?

I haven’t asked him yet. This literally happened like twenty minutes ago.

The three of us circled around the questions, scenarios, and evidence. We had minor facts to go off of, otherwise we were clueless. My brain rummaged through word after word my father said over the phone. Something, anything, to go off to locate his location or what the fuck the problem was. I needed to know what he was really doing this for. The root of the problem. Every minute that went by were seconds that ate me alive, knowing I was that much further away from Stacy and Jessi.

I contemplated the questions to ask Alex while Joanna spoke with him. From what I could see from the balcony, it looked like he was freely speaking to her. That needed to be my luck too. I had to be extremely careful. The kid has been through some fucked up shit I presumed during his time away from his mother and I can’t even think of all the shit over the span of his entire life.

The thing that kept blurring my vision and haunting me was the possession my father had over the only person in the world I didn’t want to live without. The ring, still eagerly waiting to grace her petite finger. If my father harmed another hair on her body, he would pay the ultimate price.

Jack? Joanna tapped my shoulder. 

I spun around and she smiled. Other than some bruises, he seems to be ok. No fever, his body temp is back to normal, but he’s terrified and hasn’t said anything to me. Please be gentle with him. Remember that he’s only nine and even though he may have the answers to their whereabouts, be really sure you want to ask him those things knowing the impact it will have.

I leaned in and half hugged her. Thank you so much for everything.

A friend of Blake’s is a friend of mine.

Blake excused himself to walk her out. I turned to Tim and nodded for him to follow me into the other room. Alex sat on the stool at the kitchen island, swimming in my clothes.

Hey, buddy. I joined him across from him. This is my friend Tim.

He nodded.

This might take awhile.

I am so glad to finally meet my nephew. You look just like your mom.

Thank you, He said softly.

Can I ask how you found me?

Uncomfortably he shifted on the stool and his eyes scattered from me and Tim, to the floor, and around the room. He was leery of me, I understood that. Frankly, I was weary, too. I knew essentially nothing about him, other than who he was. He grew up probably never knowing I existed. Not that I blamed Jessi for that. She needed to do what she had to do to survive.

I—I—memorized this address.

From who? I spoke calm and gently.

Robert was talking to someone on the phone and he wrote this address down and he repeated it back to them to be sure it was right. He sounded very angry.

I sucked in a breath and released it, trying not to envision my father’s anger with Stacy or Jessi. Then my mind registered that Alex said Robert. Fucking pathetic man using his alias on his own grandchild. What a coward.

I’m really tired. Can I go to sleep now? Alex yawned, he looked beyond beat. Blaming him for wanting to sleep would be like blaming him for wanting to breathe. Irrational. I needed him at his best and who knew the last time he had a sound sleep.

Come on, you can sleep in the bedroom and I’ll sleep on the couch. That ok?

He nodded and I gestured for him to follow me. He slid his feet across the wood floors into the bedroom while he looked at me with puppy dog eyes, scared, sad, and desperately wanting the only person he knew, his mother. I pulled the covers back on the bed and turned on the lamp on the nightstand.

Goodnight, we’ll figure everything out in the morning. If you need me, I’ll be on the couch, ok?

Thank you. He kindly said, as he jumped up on the bed.

Of course, you’re family, Alex. Anything for family. I’ll have some clothes for you ready when you wake up.

I turned the overhead light off and closed the door gently behind me. Moving into the living room, I collapsed with exhaustion on the couch.

Man, it’s fucking one am and you have to be more than exhausted, why don’t you get some sleep, Tim added.

There is no sleep until I get my woman and my sister back.

I figured, but thought I’d try.

Alex said he memorized this address. I can barely memorize what’s needed sometimes and this nine year old just memorized it? Then somehow escaped my father? I mean he admitted he was with him. He said Robert. That has to be the infamous alias he introduced himself as?

He threw his hands in the air behind his head. Smart kid, man. Seems like maybe he’ll have the answers tomorrow that may help us.

I hope so. I gazed around the apartment thinking. Where the hell is my mother and Liam?

With an eerie sensation, in walked Liam.

What the hell took you so long? Where is my mother? I asked.

Took us awhile to find a twenty four hour Wally World near here and she had me drop her off at the hotel she is staying at. She was tired. Said she’d be back here tomorrow. He tossed a bag of clothes on the kitchen counter, reached into the fridge and made himself at home by popping off a top to a beer, making his way into the living room with us.

It’s like you know the way to my heart, bro. Thanks. I snatched the beer out of his hand and took a swig, as Tim let out a laugh and I joined him.

Hey, where’s mine? Tim choked out a laugh.

What the fuck man? Liam snickered with us before going back to the fridge and grabbing two more beers.

Blake's name illuminated the screen on my phone. I just realized that he never came back.

What’s up? I answered.

Coastguard found a boat. I’m on my way there now to see if it’s the same one.

What? No, dude, don’t go alone. We’re meeting you there.

I have Austin meeting me there, stay home, Jack. Until we find out, if it’s the boat, we need a damn plan.

Let me know right away, man.

Has Alex spoke up?

Nah, just that he memorized this address and was so exhausted he went to bed.

Interesting, alright I’ll be in touch.

I ended the call. The thought of finding that boat and it not being the right one, frightened me. The docks were dark and we already knew there were no markings on the side of the boat, only a description. The gps was still dead. What the fuck good that did us. Again, the haunting question, why the hell was he doing this?

We need to find the root to all of this.

How? Liam asked.

My scumbag father took my girl and my sister, for what purpose? All because he thought I was going to take him down? A bargain? He can’t possibly think he’s getting away with this. I know damn well it ain’t for the money.

It’s revenge, Tim added.

CHAPTER 3

Stacy

The engine cut off and the water sloshed against the side of the boat. You could hear the choppy water as the boat rocked side to side. Jessi was still passed out on the bed from whatever he drugged us with. He forgot my dose when he shoved the pills down Jessi’s throat, so I woke still on the floor and in excruciating pain. My head with this nasty headache throbbing so hard it felt like it was split in my head in half. And poor Jessi. She seemed so peaceful on the bed, but I can’t even put into words how she must feel.

The key to the door unlocked from the outside, and he pushed in. Quickly closing my eyes, hoping he thought I was asleep. The thoughts entering my head right now were that my energy left my body for good. Even if I stayed awake, I was useless. The pain overtook me. Where was Jack? I needed Jack. Imagining his charming face standing in front of me, offering his hands to get me off this cold crusty floor. Carrying me like a child out and safely to a hospital to get looked at. He never leaving my side while the doctors fixed whatever the hell was wrong with me. The vision felt so real. Maybe if I envisioned it hard enough, it would come true?

As fast as it appeared, my vision quickly disappeared as a shoe slammed into my stomach causing me to cough and crouch into a ball. Like it would make a difference if I could rub the pain and it wouldn’t still hurt, my brain wished I was able to move my hands to hold where it hurts.

Get the fuck up, bitch! William spat, grabbing for my already sore, weak arms. My head spun as he moved me slightly, making that splitting feeling even more pronounced.

I cried out. Stop! Then, feeling the sharp pain from my head, it all sent me back into the past reliving the nightmare of abuse Nolan used to dole out to me. The very abuse that lead me to meet Jack. Oh Jack, God how I missed him.

Get the fuck up! Now. William roared.

I tried to move my legs and failed. Weakness taking over me. God, I needed Jack. I didn’t have time to reminisce, because another blow to my stomach made me dry heave to the side of me. He gripped my shirt and dragged me up to the side of the bed.

Sit on the bed. Time to make a fucking phone call. He pulled me up as I tried to fight the tears. He held an old flip phone in his hand. You listen here bitch. You made me do this! This wasn’t the fucking plan. You hear me? This is your fault! Says a true narcissist. We’re going to call your little boyfriend and you’re going to do as I say. Any funny business and I’ll kill you, I swear! I knew if he planned to kill me, I would be dead. He needed me to bargain with, but now he had Jessi. Would he kill me? I had to get something across to Jack. My mind hurt too much to fucking think. To even open my eyes posed difficulty.

I guess I don’t have a choice, I mumbled.

Not if you want to live! He flipped the phone out and dialed a number. I could hear Jack’s voice on the line.

You’re going to give me that money and you’re going to act like I never existed, he spat.

Fuck you. I want to talk to Stacy!

I figured your fucking pussy ass would want to talk to her. He threw the phone in front of my face, his eyes dared me while the evil seared right through my brain that if I fucked up, I would pay for it.

Jack, Jack, it’s me, baby, I cried out.

Stacy, are you ok? Are you hurt badly? I’m coming for you, baby.

I’m hurt badly. Instantly up ahead I heard a noise. This was my chance. My second to try to save us. The boat stopped a helicopter is over me and— he punched me in the mouth sending me backwards, and the phone flying, but I was too far on the edge of the bed so I went barreling down to the floor. My nose bled, and lip stung from the blow. Licking my swollen lip, I cried, curling myself into a ball as blood dribbled down from my nose. My hands were tied. I couldn’t help myself.

You fucking bitch! He seethed before grabbing the phone and storming out of the room. I could sense his fear, I was sure he was terrified of what might happen to him. William might have been some bad asshole, but my guess was he always had someone to do his dirty work. He never had to get his hands dirty. Now they were filthy, and no amount of scrubbing would get them clean.

As the boat started again, the engine sputtered to life. He must be contemplating his next move.