BlackJack (A Standish Bay Romance Book 1) (26 page)

“No, I wouldn’t,”
he said with strong conviction and kept walking.

“Mr. McKenzie,
is it true your son, the son you had with the writer, Shannon Gallagher, ran
away and that’s why he was on the bus that crashed?”

“I have nothing
to say.”

“Mr. McKenzie?”

Cole turned and
stared at the reporter, stone-faced, rage barely under control and shoved the
large burley man back, nearly knocking him down in the process and sorry he
hadn’t done just that. “Leave
him
alone,” Cole said in a frozen, icy
tone. “His son was seriously injured in an accident, and he’d like his privacy.”
The reporter tried to interrupt and Cole stared him down. “Shannon Gallagher’s
publicist will be issuing a statement tomorrow. Goodnight.”

Cole turned,
grabbed John’s arm and dragged him inside the hotel doors. The reporter
wouldn’t dare enter, but they could hear him cursing Cole and vowing to sue for
assault.

“Thanks,” John
mumbled, somewhat stunned.

“Don’t mention
it. I’ll see you later.”

Cole put the
do
not disturb
sign on the door and took a long hot shower. He stood
underneath the water as it pelted his naked body, the same body that shook
uncontrollably as he cried over AJ’s death once again. Being busy today with
Shannon and Cameron kept his mind off his grief, but now being alone it consumed
him. It swallowed him up, and he didn’t know if he could find his way free.

If the running
water hadn’t turned cold, he would have stayed there all night. The heat from
the shower soothed him, but now as he climbed into the empty bed, he felt the
tension crawl up his body one muscle at a time until he could hardly move, and
he prayed for sleep to take over. But Cole soon found out, there would be no
peace in his sleep tonight.

He kept seeing
the video of AJ over and over again. Seeing the life slowly drain from his body
as he passed from this world to the next. His dreams took him to their first
meeting and through all the years on the road, from Lindsey’s murder to his
conviction. He dreamed about the years of loneliness and destitution behind
iron bars to his release from prison to his love for Shannon, which brought him
back to seeing AJ’s death. Cole tossed and turned all night, never coming fully
awake nor sleeping deeply. And when the sun rose and extended its fingers into
his room, he was glad to get up and begin a new day.

Cole didn’t
want to be alone. He didn’t want thoughts of AJ plaguing his mind. His grief
was so strong and powerful right now, it overwhelmed him. He needed to be busy.
If he dwelled on AJ and the circumstances surrounding his death and the lie
that was AJ’s life, nothing good would come of it.

Chapter
Twenty

At seven in the
morning Cole noticed few people in the small café downstairs. He chose a seat
facing the window, which happened to face the street. He gazed endlessly, not
really seeing as the blur of people and cars passed by the window. He barely
tasted his coffee, although the waitress had refilled it twice. A short time
later he stared at his empty plate, not remembering eating his French toast. He
existed in solid form, but not really living inside.

“Jackson, mind
if I join you?”

Looking up, he
saw John standing before his table, his hair still damp from his shower, and
Cole gestured toward the seat opposite him. “Be my guest.”

***

John
contemplated Jackson’s aloofness this morning and decided the man had been
through the axe grinder lately, and maybe he needed a friend to talk to. A
friend, now that was something John, never in a million years, thought he would
call Jackson.

“I want to tell
you how sorry I am about AJ and everything that has happened.”

Jackson inhaled
deeply and cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

“His wife and
kids must be torn up?”

Jackson snorted.
“Yeah, I imagine they are.”

“What’s going
to happen to the band now?” John asked, hoping to keep the conversation
flowing.

Jackson
signaled to the waitress for more coffee. “I don’t know. I don’t mean to be
rude, but I can’t talk about it now.”

“I understand.”
John could to a point, but to completely understand he’d have to be in
Jackson’s shoes. No thank you. His were crowded enough at the moment.

“I would like
to tell you something that happened to Shannon while she was in Chicago,” Jackson
said seriously.

“Please do.”

“Before I do,
you must promise me you’ll not fly off the handle. She didn’t want anyone to
know, but I can’t stop worrying about it, about her.”

John’s heart
pounded, not liking the sound of Jackson’s voice. “I’ll try not to.”

“I visited her
in Chicago. We spent the night dancing at the hotel lounge. I left her shortly
after one in the morning.” Jackson swiped his hand through his loose hair.
“Someone broke into her room and he had a knife…”

“What,” John interrupted,
not at all caring if people stared at him. “Why am I just hearing about this
now?”

“There’s more.
He said he was going to kill her, so I would go back to jail for murder.
Fortunately, a hotel employee saw the masked man enter her room and security
arrived, but the man escaped. As far as you not knowing, she didn’t want you
to. After that night she hired a bodyguard, but with all that’s been happening
with Cameron, she never got around to hiring a new one when she got home. I
don’t think the threat to her life is over. I don’t believe AJ killed my wife.
I think the killer’s still out there and wants to send me back to jail by any
means possible.”

John’s mouth
hung open as his blood boiled inside his body. “I can’t fucking believe this.
She can’t be alone for a minute until bodyguards are hired. If someone so much
as looks at her, I’ll be on them like handcuffs on a criminal.”

“I don’t know
what I’d do without her? She saved me,” Cole said, his body visibly trembling.

John didn’t
want to think about admiring the guy, but he was close. “I don’t know what I’d
do without her either.”

Then he texted
Shannon because he didn’t trust himself not to yell at her. He told her to stay
in Cameron’s room, that they would be there shortly and they needed to talk.

***

Bill Sullivan
took a steady breath as he stared at Amber, his beloved daughter. He curled his
fingers around her delicate, lifeless ones as stabs of guilt pierced his heart
and he cried.

What the hell
happened to his life? Two years ago everything was grand. Amber was a sophomore
in high school, an honor roll student and getting all the leads in the school
plays. She resembled a happy, healthy and blonde teenager. Amy, his wife, had
begun a new and exciting career in real estate. He almost smiled as he
remembered how excited she was to join the work force after being a
stay-at-home Mom for many years. Oh, she loved being home with Amber, but Amber
had grown up, and Amy needed something to make her feel wanted again.

She loved
people, loved houses and loved Rhode Island. She made a terrific real estate agent
until the news came, the news about breast cancer, and not just any breast
cancer, but Advanced Stage IV Breast Cancer. She was tough through the double
mastectomy and chemotherapy. Everything looked good for two months. Bill would
never forget the day the doctor told them the cancer cells had spread to her
lungs and her brain.

The chemo
wasn’t working to control the spreading—eight weeks later she drew her last
breath.

Bill wiped his
tears with his free hand and stroked Amber’s smooth cheeks. “Your mom loved you
baby with all her heart. Her only regret had been leaving you at a time in your
life when it was so important to have a mother,” he groaned. “I tried to be
there. I know I wasn’t. I was so consumed with grief I neglected you. I broke a
solemn vow I made to your mother on her deathbed. I promised to take care of
you.” He shook his head from side to side and sobbed. “I’m sorry. Please
forgive me and come back to me. You’re all I have.”

***

When his dad
and Cole arrived in his room that morning, Cameron’s eyes bugged out of his
head when he saw the guitar his dad carried. “Wow, Dad. Thanks. It’s great.”

His dad
shrugged. “I figured I owed you. You have more color on your face today, and
you seem more alert. How do you feel?

“My body’s
sore, but my head hurts less.”

“Thank God,”
his dad said with a grin.

Cameron glanced
over at Cole who stood close to his mom. “Hey Cole, would you play something? I’m
so hung up with tubes and casts it’s going to be a while before I can.”

Cole stepped
forward, took the guitar from the foot of his bed and settled down into a chair.
He began to play without hesitation. He held and played the guitar so naturally
it was like an extension of his body.

Cameron watched
and listened to a song he never heard before. The words rang sad and haunting
but beautiful at the same time. When Cole finished Cameron suddenly had an idea,
and he thought it was a good one.

“Cole, Amber
loves music, especially yours.” He paused not sure what Cole would think about
his idea. “Do you think if you played for her, it would help pull her out of
her coma?”

***

Cole’s heart
clenched at the look of both sadness and hope shining from Cameron’s eyes. At
this moment Cole would do anything for him, including play for a comatose girl,
one who clearly meant an awful lot to him. They would have to have a little
heart to heart about Amber later. Cole wanted to know everything. And he wanted
to make sure if things had progressed quickly, as in sex, Cameron had used
protection.

Cole smiled. Christ,
he was already assuming the role of stepfather. His heart suddenly swelled with
love and pride for Cameron and damn, it felt good.

He finally
answered Cameron’s question. “Anything to help.”

Cameron beamed.
“Thanks.”

Shannon took
Cole’s hand in hers. “I’ll take you to her and introduce you to Bill, her
father. I had a nice long talk with him last night. My heart goes out to him. How
tragic it is that his wife died last year and now his only daughter’s hanging
precariously to life.”

They left Cameron’s
room and walked quietly down the hall. “You’ll like him. Even though he’s
immersed in grief, I can tell he’s a straight shooter.” Shannon stopped outside
Room 327. “Here we are.”

Cole stood
riveted just inside the doorway and took in the depressing scene staring back
at him. The pale, frail looking girl lying motionless in bed, tubes everywhere,
the constant whoosh of the oxygen helping her breathe. She looked like she
slept peacefully, only Cole knew she slept anything but peacefully. She had
crossed over to a land where she slept in an unnatural state, and Cole prayed
her brain was healing and she would wake up soon. The alternative was too gut
wrenching to contemplate.

The tall, lean,
slightly gray haired man stood looking out the window, his back toward Cole,
his head and shoulders hunched forward looking defeated. Although Cole couldn’t
see his face, he could well imagine the pain, worry and anguish it would show,
not to mention the haunted look in his eyes.

Bill must have
sensed someone’s presence because he turned around and locked gazes with Cole.
Cole had been right on the mark, he was devastated and looked even worse than
he’d imagined.

Shannon spoke
up, “Bill. I’d like you to meet Cole Jackson. Cole, this is Amber’s father,
Bill Sullivan.”

Cole took
Bill’s outreached hand and said, “I’m sorry. I hope Amber recovers soon.”

“Thanks,” Bill
mumbled back

“Bill.” Shannon
gently laid a hand on his arm. “Cameron was wondering if Cole could play some
music for Amber. He told me how much she loves music.” She paused and swiped at
her tears. “Maybe it can help.”

Bill placed his
large hand on top of Shannon’s and squeezed. “Thanks.”

Then he turned
to Cole. “Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to help. Especially when I
know you’re going through a rough time yourself.”

“I’m glad to do
anything I can.” Cole kissed Shannon’s cheek quickly. “Go be with your son. I’ll
be along shortly.”

Shortly turned
into several hours as Cole zoned out to his music, so intent on playing for Amber,
he lost all track of time. Never noticing the hunger pains, or the ache of his
arms, or the numbness of his fingertips, all he could do was play, and play he
did. He played everything and anything he could think of.

He prayed to
God his presence and his music were helping this girl. She was too young to die.
She had her whole life ahead of her, a life that hopefully would include love,
marriage, children and happiness. When, not if, she came out of this coma, she
would have a long healthy and prosperous life.

When Cole heard
Bill calling Amber’s name, he stopped playing.

“She squeezed
my hand.” Bill looked at Cole, his eyes filled with hope and excitement as well
as tears. “She actually squeezed my hand. My God, maybe she’s going to come out
of it after all.”

Cole’s spirits
soared as he walked back down the hall to Cameron’s room. He stepped inside,
his eyes scanning the room. John slept in a chair in an awkward position
destined to bring on a sore neck. Shannon lay in bed next to Cameron. They both
slept, snoring lightly, like mother, like son, and his heart skipped a beat. Another
man occupied a chair, staring at his cell phone. He glanced up as Cole’s boots
squeaked on the floor.

“Hi, you must
be Cole Jackson. I’m Mitch, Shannon’s brother.”

He stood up and
shook hands with Cole.

“Nice to meet
you Mitch,” Cole said as he glanced again to Cameron and Shannon on the bed. “I
only wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Yeah, I know
what you mean, but hell, my nephews a fighter.”

Cole smiled. “Yeah,
he is.”

“My two sisters
and my parents are down in the cafeteria, would you like to grab a bite to
eat?”

Cole’s stomach
flipped at the thought of eating with Shannon’s parent and her sister Bridget. “I
don’t know.”

“Come on, I
heard you playing nonstop for the past three hours. You must be starving, if
not thirsty and needing water. Besides, my parents don’t bite, Rachel either,
now Bridget...” Mitch threw his head back and laughed. “She’s got mighty sharp
fangs, but I promise I’ll protect you from her blood sucking ways.”

Cole found
himself laughing and relaxing as he walked toward the elevator with Shannon’s
brother. He liked him. He seemed decent and friendly and nonjudgmental. Cole
tried to remember what Shannon told him about Mitch. Oh yeah, he used to be a navy
pilot, now he flew a private jet for a large international company. Not a bad job,
probably came with plenty of perks.

The hospital
cafeteria looked crowded, but Cole spotted Shannon’s family immediately. Even
if he hadn’t met Rachel and Bridget before he would have known Shannon’s mother
instantly, the resemblance was uncanny. Cole’s legs turned a little rubbery the
closer he got to the table as four sets of eyes stared at him. Was his
imagination running wild? He didn’t think so, they were staring and he could
physically feel Shannon’s dad sizing him up. Oh shit!

“Mom, Dad, this
is Cole Jackson. Cole, these are my parents, Edward and Alberta

Gallagher.”

Edward
Gallagher stood up to his full six-foot-something height. So that’s where
Shannon got her height from. They shook hands. Alberta Gallagher stood to an
incredible height of maybe five-feet and to Cole’s surprise, she hugged him. “It’s
nice to finally meet you, Cole.”

He didn’t know
what to do or say. Thankfully Mitch spoke up. “You remember Bridget and
Rachel?”

Cole smiled at
both sisters. “Yes, how could I forget?”

It was a
stressful lunch for him, but he muddled through, and when they all piled into Cameron’s
room later, claustrophobia set in. He excused himself and went outside the main
lobby entrance. Relief washed through him immediately when he eyed no reporters
anywhere. Maybe Shannon’s press release had done the trick, and they would get
some much needed peace.

“Hey.” Familiar
arms wrapped around his waist, and a warm soft body pressed up against his back.

“Hey yourself.”

“I spoke with
Bill and he told me about Amber squeezing his hand. He wanted to know if you
would play again tomorrow.”

Shit. He had to
go back to Chicago tomorrow. “I can play first thing in the morning. My flight
is in the late afternoon.”