"h.e.l.lo?"

"Jackson, it's Giles. I'm calling from a secure line. My phones were tapped."

"s.h.i.t." Jackson rubbed his hand down his face. "Rosh. How much does he know?"

"He knows we suspect him of his involvement. Though, the tape is not enough to convict him. Any judge is gonna throw it out because there's no way to prove it was him."

"Where's Rosh now?" Jackson asked.

"No one has seen him since yesterday. I sent a couple of officers to his place this morning and they said it looked like he left in a hurry. I'd say he knows what Mary had on him and he's lying low for now. Any idea where Mary would have stashed the evidence?"

"No." Jackson sighed. "I'll call on this number when I have something."

"Good...Jackson?"

"Yeah."

"Be careful how close you get to that girl. This might not end well for anyone," Giles said solemnly.

"Too late, Giles." Jackson ended the call.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

Lexie When Jackson pulled up in front of her mother's house, Lexie didn't move. She saw her grey Honda Civic parked in the driveway and remembered when she had parked there. It was just when everything was beginning to fall out beneath her. Her mother was still alive then. It was the first time being here knowing that her mother would never be again. It made her body feel heavy and her heart swell with emotion until it felt as if it would burst. She felt as if she could cry for the rest of her life and it would not lesson the pain of loss.

Jackson opened her door for her and she looked up at the grey sky that reflected her thoughts. The air was heavy with moisture, ready to start falling to the dry earth. Jackson held out his hand and Lexie looked up into his face. She wished she could throw herself into his arms and forever stay in his embrace where she would be safe, but she needed to stand on her own feet. She needed to face what had become her life. Hiding would not change the fact that John Stodden was her father or the doom she felt inside. Her life was forever thrown off course and she had no idea what direction she was headed.

When Lexie approached the door, she noticed yellow tape across it from when the police investigated the break-in. Lexie ripped it off and hastily threw it aside. Walking inside was just as painful as she imagined it would be. John's men had torn everything apart. All of her mother's belongings were scattered on the floor. Lexie covered her mouth with a gasp as she looked at all the things her mother loved strewn around carelessly.

"It looks like they really wanted to find what your mother had hidden," Jackson said despondently.

"s.h.i.t, sorry, Lexie," Teddy said, walking behind them, supporting Evan.

Lexie walked over toward the kitchen island. Broken dishes crunched under her shoes as she set her purse on the counter.

"Bring Evan into the guest room," Lexie said, waving for Teddy to follow her. She headed toward the hall off the living area to the bedroom. Other than the furniture, the room had mainly been bare, so it looked better than the rest of the house. Lexie straightened the sheets for Evan to lie down. She grabbed the bathroom garbage bin that had been lying in the hall and set it beside Evan's bed.

Evan collapsed on the bed and Lexie pulled the sheets up over him. He was shaking now as chills began to rack his body.

"Dr. Cherry is coming!" Cherry called out as she came into the room with a bag in her hand. She smiled brightly at Lexie. "I'll get him comfortable enough to sleep in no time."

"What's all this?" Lexie asked when Cherry began taking out the contents of the bag and setting it on the night stand.

"It's a do-it-yourself weaning kit, doll. It's gonna get him through the next couple of days without him wishing he was dead."

"I wish I was dead now," Evan mumbled into the pillow.

Cherry shrugged. "Well, you get what you pay for."

"Thank you for your help, Cherry. Evan told me you took a risk helping them. I just wanted to let you know I appreciate it," Lexie said sincerely. She walked up to Cherry and wrapped her arms around her.

"Oh," Cherry replied. She seemed taken back by Lexie's show of appreciation. "Of course." Cherry patted her arm. "I'm not used to having people hug me. Maybe you could throw in an insult so I don't think the world is ending."

Lexie laughed and shook her head.

"Okay, fine, I'll just take some wine. This girl needs it after taking care of this big baby," Cherry said.

"Sure, I'll see what I can find," Lexie said with a smile.

When Lexie walked into the main area, Jackson was sweeping the broken dishes into a pile on the kitchen floor. The ones that had survived where piled up on the counter. He had already righted most of the furniture in the living room and replaced the chairs around the dining table.

"I didn't know where the dishes go," Jackson said. "None of the dishes look the same to put together."

Lexie laughed half-heartedly. "Mom didn't like sets. I don't think anything actually does match."

"That explains it," Jackson said as he bent down to pick up another plate and set it on the stack he made.

Lexie reached down and picked up a wooden carving her mother had kept on the mantle and placed it back into position. "Thank you, Jackson, but you really don't have to clean up."

She could hear him stop moving. She knew he was watching her as she stood staring at the piece of wood like it would bring her mother back.

"I want to help," he insisted. "It's the least I could do."

"Where are Teddy and Dane?" She looked up at him and knew he was trying to read her.

"I sent them to pick up some food." Jackson set the broom against the counter and walked toward her. She fought the urge to open her arms and seek his comfort. When he stopped, he was so close to her, she could feel the heat of him against her back. She found herself leaning back; wanting to close the distance.

"I'm here for you." Jackson wrapped his arms around her stomach and Lexie didn't resist anymore.

Jackson gave her a gentle kiss on the side of the neck and Lexie sighed in contentment. She didn't realize how much she needed this, but the truth clawed at her and wouldn't let her completely submit.

"Jackson, I need to tell you something." Lexie turned around in his embrace, taking his hands in hers and giving them a gentle squeeze before she let them go and looked up into his dark, tormented eyes. He already knew what she had to say was important; she could see it in his expression. Lexie noticed a bandage peeking out from under his sleeve. "What happened?"

"It's just a scratch," Jackson dismissed. "What do you want to tell me?"

"The baby is finally down and Momma needs her wine," Cherry said as she sauntered down the hallway, coming to a standstill when she noticed Lexie and Jackson's serious expressions.

"Coming right up, Cherry," Lexie said, forcing a smile. She took the opportunity to flee the difficult conversation with Jackson.

"Lexie," Jackson said as he reached for her. He wasn't as inclined to drop the conversation.

"I could really use a gla.s.s of wine myself," Lexie said as she walked into the kitchen and stood on her tip-toes to open the cabinet over the fridge.

"Here," Jackson was suddenly behind her. He placed a hand on her lower back and his heat scorched through her clothing. His height easily allowed him to reach one of the bottles. He leaned down so he was only a breath away. He was only inches away and his heady scent filled her nose and made her body ache for him. "This conversation is not over, Lexie. We need to talk," he whispered.

Lexie could only bring herself to nod as she accepted the wine he held out for her.

Luckily a half a dozen wine gla.s.ses still remained intact on the shelf as Lexie set three out and filled the gla.s.ses.

"It's already looking a lot better in here. We should have it cleaned up in no time," Cherry said optimistically.

Lexie pushed a gla.s.s toward Jackson. He seemed reluctant as he picked it up and smelled the contents.

"Don't tell me that you drink whiskey straight but don't like the taste of wine?" Lexie asked in disbelief.

"I've never tried wine before," Jackson answered honestly.

"He's a bit of a barbarian," Cherry said as she rolled her eyes and Lexie laughed.

Lexie set Cherry's gla.s.s in front of her before joining her at the table.

"I, on the other hand, enjoy the finer things in life." Cherry raised her gla.s.s. "If life gives you s.h.i.t, drink wine." Cherry raised her gla.s.s.

"Cheers to that." Lexie clinked her gla.s.s to Cherry's.

Jackson pulled up the chair next to Lexie, sitting close enough that their legs touched under the table. "Cheers," he said before tipping the gla.s.s to his lips and downing half the gla.s.s.

"Well?" Cherry asked.

Jackson shrugged with a frown. "I guess."

Jackson's lack of appreciation for wine had Cherry raising her brow. "Well, we still have time to fix you," she said, giving his hand a pat.

It wasn't long before Teddy and Dane returned with armloads of grocery bags.

"Pop tarts?" Lexie questioned as she picked up a box of strawberry flavored treats with icing and sprinkles on top. "Do people actually eat these?"

"Yes, of course," Teddy said defensively. He grabbed the box and cradled it lovingly to his chest. "She doesn't know what she's talking about, baby "Oh G.o.d." Cherry shook her head. "What the f.u.c.k is all this?" Opening the bags, Cherry pulled out microwave dinners, frozen pizzas, boxes of macaroni and cheese. "Gummy bears?" She held up a bag in disbelief. "How are you still alive if this is how you idiots eat?"

"I like to believe I'm invincible," Teddy said with a smirk.

"Dear G.o.d," Cherry said with a shake of her head. "We ain't eating this s.h.i.t. Baby doll, I'll whip us up something that actually has some nutritional value. May I?" Cherry looked at Lexie and waved toward the kitchen.

"Please do. Whatever you can find, feel free to use," Lexie offered.

Lexie refilled her gla.s.s and returned to the mess at her feet. Jackson and Dane took to work as well while Cherry and Teddy continued to playfully argue in the kitchen. Lexie picked up her mother's music player and set it back on the hutch. It looked to be undamaged as she turned the power on and hit play. Her mother hadn't changed her playlist since Lexie had made it for her five years ago.

Lexie closed her eyes and listened to the song start to play, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. She closed her eyes and tried to remember when last she had heard this song. The last time she listened to it she was standing in the kitchen with her mother and they both had sung along as they washed dishes. She could still hear her mother's off tune voice faintly in her memory.

By the time wonderful smells began filtering from the kitchen, the main area had been straightened up. It had sustained the most damage of any area of the house and she was grateful it was back in order. A lot of her mother's things were unsalvageable, but enough remained that the s.p.a.ce still felt the same.

Lexie stood back and observed their hard work. "What would've I done without you guys?" Lexie said appreciatively. "Thank you."

"I'll take payment in kisses," Teddy piped up. He was tying the last of the garbage bags when Dane walked in the back door.

"Hit him for me, Dane," Jackson said from across the room.

Dane backhanded Teddy on the face as he grabbed the garbage bag from his hand.

"Hey now," Teddy said, placing his hand on his cheek. "You didn't even know what the reason was."

"Do I need one?" Dane smirked.

"Apparently not," Teddy sulked.

"Supper is ready, children," Cherry called from the kitchen.

With the exception of Evan, who was in a drug-induced sleep, they had a delicious meal thanks to Cherry, who showcased her talent in the kitchen. Cherry had an ability of making the light shine in the darkest of places. Lexie couldn't help but be drawn to her. She wasn't sure exactly how she got pulled into this whole mess, but Lexie was grateful she was with them.

The group of them sat down at the table and Lexie couldn't help but smile as they all carried on. Nothing about any one of their situations were ideal; they had all dealt with tragedy in one form or another, but here they were sitting down to a fabulous meal.

Cherry had rifled through the cabinets, freezer, and her mother's herb garden, and came up with the most delicious pasta dish Lexie had ever eaten. Lexie couldn't remember the last time she laughed so hard; her face hurt.

Lexie grew quiet and it didn't go unnoticed as everyone's attention was drawn to her. "Everything all right?" Jackson asked, b.u.mping her shoulder.

"I was just thinking how much my mother would have loved to be here sitting at this table and getting to know all of you. Though, she probably would've insisted on cooking and it wouldn't have been anything near as good as this. She had a habit of burning everything," Lexie said thoughtfully. "She loved people who were outside the box."

"Is that a nice way to say we're weird?" Dane asked playfully.

Lexie laughed. "There is nothing wrong with weird. My mother always used to say normal is boring."

"Well then, she would have loved me," Cherry said. "It don't get more outside the box than me. Most people can't get past the fact that they don't know what's between my legs. It boggles their f.u.c.king minds."

"What do you have going on there, anyway?" Teddy asked curiously.

"Ha. Haven't you figured out by now that girls like their secrets? Let's just say it's more impressive than yours." Cherry smiled mischievously and everyone laughed.

Teddy's phone began to ring and they all quieted as he looked at the screen. "It's Giles," he said before picking up the call. "Yeah."

They all remained quiet as Teddy spoke on the phone.

"Giles needs me to look into something for him. Dane and I are gonna stay at a hotel so I can set up my office."

"Why don't you use my apartment? There's a desk in my studio."

"You sure?" Teddy asked.

"Positive," Lexie insisted.

"Nate called earlier. He's bringing Stephanie here. He said she needs a break from her parents."

"I was wondering how long it would take." Lexie smiled knowingly.