A Blackstone Christmas

By Nickie Nalley Seidler

 

Christmas in the Blackstone house has been the same every year. The kids decide they want it to be special and different. 

Jack and Stacy are on board as they desperately desire to reignite their love. 

So a trip to Fairbanks for Christmas is exactly what Greta would have ordered.

Little did they know, the ghost of Christmas past arrives with them to destroy Christmas's present and future for the Blackstone's. 

Will Santa pull back the reigns on scrooge and save Christmas?

*This is a companion novella to the Blackstone Series. It is recommended you read the Blackstone Series*

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nickie Nalley Seidler
• Release date: Nov 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393105091

Book preview

DEDICATION

To my Blackstone series lovers, this is for you!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Gosh, I never know where to start with these things. I really need to thank Tina and Megaen with all my heart for the constant love and support in making these visions in my head come to life and really putting them on paper. Your brainstorming, and help is so very appreciated I’ll never be able to explain my thanks to you.

To my readers, my Blackstone Series fans, this is for you! I can’t wait till you see the ideas I have for you coming up next. Enjoy this little Christmas story with the Blackstone crew. To Glenna for creating this amazing cover, I am so very thankful lady.

Thank you to all of my readers!

Prologue

Figured you’d still be here. Blake entered my office and plopped down in the oversized leather chair. He shifted his neck forcing it to crack multiple times.

You look like shit. I put my pen down giving him my full attention.

Blake was my best guy, he worked his ass off for this company and always took the odd jobs that nobody wanted. I knew it took a toll on him, but not as bad as I was witnessing while glancing at the man sitting directly in front of me with a full beard, droopy fucking eyes, hair thick and long way past the need for a cut, yet still smiling sipping his water.

Comes with the job, he laughed.

What’s up, man? How is Jo? I went personal with him because I could see through his soul how off he seemed. Something bothered him, which was likely why he sat in this leather chair in front of me at this late hour, while everyone else was home with their families.

Jo’s good. But, I need to talk to you about something regarding this Chancy case.

Rubbing my head trying to think of the contract. It was an odd job, but I just couldn’t remember the details.

I’m listening. Sitting in my swivel chair, I kicked back, all ears to the man.

They hired us on to watch the building, but something fucking weird is going on. Started doing some digging, but, I really could use another man on the job.

Exhaling, I ran my hands through what little is left of my aging hair. I don’t have the manpower, Blake. With the holidays being here, people taking off, we’re just short. What’s going on?

Nothing, don’t give it a second thought, I’ll back down and do the job.

My phone rang on the desk and I saw it was Stacy. I have to take this, hold on.

Yeah, baby, I answered.

Blake looked flustered, a look I hadn’t seen often from him. The phone call distracted me from our chat. I knew something shook him and for him to ask for my help, meant something. Figuring out what and knowing that I didn’t have the extra help was going to be a challenge.

Jessi what? Alright, alright, I’m on my way.

Blake gave me the nod and wave and disappeared out of my office. With my phone still glued to my ear, Stacy rambled off on me things that were going on with my sister. My heart pulled in two directions because I knew Blake needed me for something if he came and sat in my office looking for help at one in the morning. However, the more I listened to Stacy, I knew I had to go home to my family.

Grabbing my keys on the desk, I flew out of my seat.

I love you, Stace. I’m on my way there.

Jack, please help her.

My mind was racing as the call ended. My fucking sister took a bunch of pills. I truly thought we were past these days. My heart stammered knowing that I needed to get there quickly being my only chance to help.

Pressing the button, my truck started, pedal to the floor, it tore out of the lot. My hands gripped the wheel with so many emotions stirring within. The truck read the temperature to be ten degrees, but the rage running its course through my body quickly warmed me up.

Work was five miles from the house my sister and Liam shared. Alex was off at college which was a relief to know I at least didn’t have to worry about him seeing this shit. What the fuck was she thinking?  Grabbing the phone, I quickly dialed Liam.

She’s fine, I’ve got most of them out of her, but I can’t tell how many she’s taken. She’s refusing to go man. She’s just having a bad day.

Slamming my fist down, I tried to control myself slightly, before realizing I couldn’t hold back from saying something.

A fucking bad day, Liam? People have chocolate over a fucking bad day, they don’t go and down a bunch of pills in hopes they don’t wake up.  You need to wake up from this dream and let reality sink in. I’ll be there in two minutes at which time I will be taking her to the hospital as an attempted suicide to be watched.

She’s my fiancé, dude.

You called my wife, your sister, at one am to tell her this and you expect us not to react? Jessi is my sister. I am not going to sit still when you said yourself you have no idea how many she actually took.

The call ended before he could even respond. Anger boiled into a fiery pot and I wasn’t stirring shit, there was no other option for me. She attempted to kill yourself, basically begging for the attention and when it is given people like her backed away from it. Nope, not this time. Not on my watch. If she didn’t want the consequence, she should not have involved the agent brother. One who has been dealt his fair share with addicts. The last person to tolerate it, was me. The brother she may not have had most of her life, but I’d be damned to not do something now to try to help her.

I skid my truck into the driveway and knew we didn’t have much time to get her to the hospital and get her stomach pumped before who knew how many she took started to take effect.

Running up to the door, Liam let me in. Alex sat on the floor next to Jessi. What the fuck.

Alex, what are you doing here?

Holiday break, I’m home.

Help me get your mother up.

As I hurried to Jessi, she just looked at me with tears streaming down her face. Her own son was witnessing this and I'd hope that was a fucking reason in itself to get help.

Tears flew down her face like it was agony to see me.  I’m so sorry, Jack.

Now is not the time for I’m sorry sweetie. And it’s definitely not me you to need to apologize to.

I grabbed Jessi’s arm and Alex helped me with the other as her legs sluggishly moved upward and she stood. Liam took over for Alex and helped me get her in my truck. After I shut the door, Liam looked at me with a sincere unspoken apology. He squeezed into the backseat in the middle of the children’s car seats and Alex waved bye closing the door.

I tore out the driveway and sped to the nearest hospital, right into their emergency department drive up. Liam helped her out and I went to park. I took a deep breath as Liam texted me.

Liam: Go home, Jessi wants some privacy. Thanks for taking us.

Looking at the clock it was now close to two am. I was fucking beat and knew it. Jessi would be fine without me as long as Liam stood by her side. Happy I could help, yet sad it happened in the first place. Just proved the happiness a person puts out on social media or even to straight to your face doesn’t mean it’s the truth. You never can tell the demons people battled behind closed doors. I