Healing Jarrod

By Susan Horsnell

At 38 years old, Jarrod Turner has everything - literally.

A successful chain of hotels in five countries.

Private 727 jet.

Fleet of cars - Rolls Royce, Bentley and Mercedes Sports.

A Harley Davidson Softail.

And, a cruising yacht berthed at the bottom of the garden of his waterfront home.

Yep, he had everything.

So what was it which brought back bitter memories, year after year and prevented him from moving on with his life?

Would he ever learn to live in the present instead of the past?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lipstick Publishing
• Release date: Oct 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223975335

Susan Horsnell

I’m an Australian author who lives in Queensland when not travelling and I write in a variety of Romantic sub-genres, including Western,  Historical, Gay, Mafia, and Contemporary Romance.  I have published over 60 books and novellas, many of which feature strong, independent heroines and rugged, alpha male heroes. Some of my popular series include the Outback Australia series and The Carter Brothers series. My books are known for their well-researched historical details, vivid descriptions of the Australian landscape and real life experiences. My work has garnered praise from readers and critics alike, and I have been a Finalist in both the Rone Awards and Laramie Awards as well as being a multiple times International Bestselling Author and USA Today Bestselling Author. If you're interested in learning more about my books:  Linktree https://linktr.ee/SusanHorsnell   

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Copyright © 2019 by Susan Horsnell

The right of Susan Horsnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed, or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon, or similar organisations,) in any form (electronic, digital, optical, or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental or historical.

The characters and place names are productions of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously.

Written in Australian English.

Edited: Redline Editing

Proofread: Leanne Roger

Published by: Lipstick Publishing

PROLOGUE

The Past

Jarrod

The sun shone overhead, the day was warm, all was right in my young world. I steered the open top sports car around a series of twists and turns as the road wound its way around the side of a mountain which dipped into the ocean at its base.

Lexie, my pesky younger sister, fiddled with the radio knobs even though I’d told her a thousand times, there was no signal to be had in these parts.

Mum and dad sat close to each other in the back seat and I suspected they were probably holding hands. Even after twenty years, they still loved each other dearly and public displays of affection were nothing unusual with them. It was as embarrassing as hell for Lexie and me though. I glanced in the rear vision mirror to find Mum’s eyes looking back. We smiled at each other before I eased the car towards another sweeping bend.

I’d had my license for all of four hours, had phoned Mum, excitedly told her I’d passed the test and was on my way home on the bus. I heard the excitement in her voice and knew she was proud of me. First attempt—I’d passed on my first attempt! Most of my friends had failed on some small technicality on both their first and second attempts. I couldn’t wait to return to school and brag about my superior skills.

When I swaggered up the driveway of our home, flung the front door open and stepped inside, I found not only my Mum was home, but also Dad and my sister.

Everyone hugged and congratulated me before Dad announced we were going to celebrate with dinner at Lassiter’s Lobster, a seafood restaurant about an hour up the coast. It was my favorite place to eat and I loved the drive along the water’s edge to get there.

Mum, Lexie, and I stood in the garden out the front while Dad headed to the garage for one of our cars. I was thrilled when he backed out the black Bentley Convertible. He pulled the car to a stop, pressed the remote to lower the garage door and stepped out.

I was confused when Mum climbed into the back seat and Lexie headed for the front passenger side. I looked over at Dad who held the keys up in the air, he jiggled them and smiled.

Me?

All yours, Son. I promised if you passed your license on your first attempt you could drive it. You know I never break my word.

I know, but so soon?

Get in the car, before I change my mind.

I snatched at the keys when dad threw them skyward and slid into the driver’s seat. Dad leaned in and helped me with adjustments which needed to be made. Standing a little over six feet three inches, I was a good four inches taller than my father.

Once I was comfortable, dad squeezed my shoulder, closed the door, and slid into the back seat beside mum. It felt good to know he trusted me enough to turn his ‘baby’ over to my care.

Take it easy until you get the feel of her. She has a lot more power than you’re used to and is sensitive to corrections.

I will, dad.

I backed out of the driveway and by the time we turned onto the highway leading north, I had a better feel for the car. She almost floated down the road and glided around sharp twists and turns with next to no effort. I finally knew what they meant in car reviews when the writer would say driving it felt like I was floating on air.

Lexie continued fiddling with the radio controls. Loud static, the only thing which could be heard since leaving suburbia, was beginning to irritate me. Why was it, fourteen-year-old girls refused to listen to what their older and wiser brothers said?

With one hand gripping the wheel as we approached another sharp bend, I reached down and knocked my sister’s hand away from the radio. I glanced up, checked the road was clear and glanced down again to locate the off button of the noisy appliance.

That was all it took to completely destroy my world—

Dad yelled. Mum let out a blood curdling scream and my eyes returned to the road in time to see a large truck barreling towards us on our side of the road. Fear gripped me, I had nowhere to go and disaster was approaching rapidly. I started to panic.

Being in a car which was far too powerful and sensitive for a new driver with my inexperience, when I wrenched the steering wheel with ferocity to take us away from the path of the oncoming vehicle, I completely lost control.

The car spun in a circle, clipped the front of the truck and we were sent, at speed, crashing through the barriers at the edge of the road. The vehicle bounced, flipped end over end as it careened down the steep, rocky embankment. We finally came to a rest where the mountain met water and waves lapped at the tires. What kept us from sliding into the water completely, I didn’t know.

When the car came to a stop, smoke, or steam wafting from under the front hood, I was unable to move. My legs seemed to be pinned beneath crumpled metal. I sat dazed, deep in shock, mesmerized by waves crashing before us. Reaching up, I brushed at liquid which dripped into my right eye. When I lowered the hand, it was smeared with blood. Pain throbbed through me with the slightest of movement.

Hey, you down there. Hold on, we’re coming.

I had no idea who was calling out, who it was to, or why. I didn’t have the energy to answer. Someone appeared at my side a moment later and placed their hand on my shoulder. I glanced up to find a large man, concern etched across his face, peering down at me.

Don’t move. Where do you hurt?

I didn’t answer. Pain. Shock. Disbelief. I was being torn apart by all three and felt myself slipping into unconsciousness.

Leo, these three are gone.

Gone? Who was gone? Who, three, gone? His words got my attention. I fought to drag myself back into some form of alertness.

I turned my head frantically to the side, remembering now that I had the rest of my family in the car with me. Lexie’s lifeless, blood-covered body was slumped in the seat. I searched her chest for evidence she was breathing and it looked worse than it was. Tears burned my eyes. I shook her violently by the shoulder, refusing to believe my baby sister was gone.

Lexie! Lexie!

Nothing. The man was right—she was gone.

I attempted to free my legs, ignoring the bone numbing pain which speared through me. I needed to reassure myself, our parents were fine. The twisted metal refused to release its grip on my legs so I twisted in the seat until I could see mum and dad.

Calm down, kid, you’ll make your injuries worse.

I ignored the man, focusing on my parents. Like Lexie, they were whiter than the foam on the ocean waves, covered in large cuts which oozed blood. So much blood.

I knew in my heart they were dead. I shook as unbearable grief crashed over me and screamed out my anguish before blessed darkness engulfed me.

The date: March 4th, 1998. The day my entire world as I’d known it, came to an end.

I was seventeen years old—

***

Beeping sounds, the stench of hospital and a whole world of pain were what I woke up to. I glanced down to find both my legs in casts and clear fluid was being pumped into me by way of a needle inserted into my arm.

Jarrod, good to see you back with us.

A hand rested on mine and I looked up into the face of my dad’s Operations Manager and best friend—Bob Carmichael. He pulled the chair he was seated in closer to the bed.

How are you feeling?

Like shit.

Do you remember what happened?

Tears filled my eyes but I met his without flinching. Yeah, I killed my whole fucking family.

Jarrod…

"What, you think differently? How the fuck would you