Jack and Mike send me questioning expressions, but both eventually make for the door. Jack doesn’t take his eyes off me until the door closes.
“I’d like to report something,” I say. “I’ve been scared to since it happened, but now I feel a bit safer knowing they are locked up.” I go over everything that has happened during the last few months—Austin’s bullying, David’s attempt to rape me, their harassment.
When I finish, one officer stops taking notes and looks up, a grave expression on his face. “Thank you for reporting these things. It was brave of you to come forward. This is what’s needed to get people locked away for a long, long time. Unfortunately, you aren’t the only one who’s mentioned this sort of thing with them. I think your testimony and the others’ will be enough to add additional charges. We have zero tolerance for targeting the innocent.”
I cry tears of relief. Is this nightmare finally over?
CHAPTER 68
JESSI
The first thing I notice when Jack and I pull up to the house is my dad’s car sitting in the driveway next door. I wince. I shouldn’t have diverted his calls to voicemail or swiped away all of his texts. But I did, so of course I’m surprised he’s back.
Jack and I get off the bike. “What should I do?” I ask.
He rubs my back. “I can’t answer that. But I can go over and talk to him first if you want, or we can go together?”
I pace around the garage, wringing my hands together.What the hell am I going to say?“No, I should go alone.”
He hugs me. “Okay, baby. Call if you need me, and I’ll be right there.”
I walk over to the house I lived in for six months and open the door. It still feels foreign, but at least it isn’t a garbage heap. The scent of pine polish and laundry detergent air freshener puncture the air.
My dad sits at the ridiculously extravagant table Shannon bought when we moved in, his head in his hands. I glance at the monochrome walls, the color scheme that reminds me of a chessboard. After enjoying the warmth of a real home, this place feels so cold.
“Hey, Dad,” I say as I step closer.
He jumps up and rubs his eyes. “Good God. Where have you been? I’ve called ten times.”
“With Jack.” I try to hide my shaking hands and even out my voice.
He sits back down and runs his hands over his untucked shirt. His disheveled appearance is a cry for help. “Sorry I . . . I’m happy you could go over there after everything that’s happened. Can you believe this shit? They are trying to destroy two kids’ futures. What the hell reason would they have to do that to the club? Shannon is ballistic. She’s trying to get a flight home.” His eyes skim over me. “Jack rides a motorcycle. Do you think he knows anything about motorcycle clubs? Maybe he can talk some sense into the people framing Austin.”
I sit beside him and place my hand on his forearm. “Dad, I need to talk to you. Please don’t interrupt me or stop me. Can you do that?”
Concern flashes across his face. “Jessi, what’s going on?”
“I don’t want to get into the fine details of everything, but Austin and David aren’t the good guys you think they are.” I purse my lips as his eyes find mine. “They threw a party the night you left. After I went to bed, David tried to assault me. I fought him off and ran to Jack’s for help. I panicked and didn’t know what else to do. Austin charged over. He didn’t believe me and blamed me for everything. Jack stood up for me and protected me.”
My dad’s face turns shades of red and purple the longer I speak.
“Jack gave me a safe place to stay. Austin and David harassed me repeatedly, and that led to Jack putting David in the hospital and Jack getting arrested.”
“I can’t believe all this was happening while I was gone,” Dad says when I pause long enough for him to speak. “I knew Ishould have put an end to Shannon’s extended trips. When I am away, it’s because I’m working to support this family, not to play and forget my responsibilities. I’ve told her that she needs to be home with you two. I married her so that you could have stability and support. I can’t believe it backfired so badly.” Dad doesn’t look me in the eyes, but his voice drips with regret.
“Dad, Austin and his friends jumped Jack.”
Dad deflects, pain and guilt seared into his expression. “Do you think they really targeted the motorcycle club?” he asks.
“I know they did, Dad. I saw the video.”
A storm cloud settles over him. “I don’t understand. How didyousee the video? None of this makes sense. Why would they target the club?”
“Dad, let me finish. So, after all that happened, Jack wanted to give them a lesson. He told them that if they didn’t leave me alone, he was going to make their lives hell—and call in favors to make that happen.”
“What do Austin and David have to do with a motorcycle club at all? Why the hell would Jack want to teach them a lesson?”
I shoot my dad a sympathetic look. “Dad, Austin and David are in some bad shit. Really bad. If you don’t believe me, talk to the police. Austin and David have been helping MCs with all sorts of tech stuff—hacking, code development, security.”
