Lettie

Chapter 4

*Authors warning*- this chapter will contain on page cheating, it will be descriptive, please be aware, and we don't yuck anyone's yum here- thank you.

Collette-age 22- 5 years ago.

Once I reached my car, the plan I had set in place began to unfold, I had a burner phone in my vehicle. New York was big enough I could disappear in it, but I figured it was better I made it out of the city so I could heal. I couldn't risk running into Jackson or someone who knew Jackson through work, his company was popular, and, on the rise. Even though we'd only been dating six or so months-I'd been to a few events here and there, so it wasn't a risk I was willing to take in my state. Normally, the jobs I took were overseas, the ones that required a certain level of discretion. My one request of Mark was to not have me work in New York, I liked living here, and I would have refused to move if something went sideways. It was easier for him to send me away for jobs then to risk what would happen otherwise. I reached for my burner phone in the center consol and plugged it in, as I waited for it to charge, I set my cars GPS to the safehouse I had gotten ready in Philly. I knew I'd need a place to recover before I could go back to New York, 2 hours and 15-minute drive. I could make it; I would make it. With the cell phone powering on, I saw it had been about five days and I breathed a small sigh of relief I'd gone longer without contacting Jackson before on one of my work trips. Even though my first message should have been to the doctor I'd hired to be on standby, it wasn't.

I typed out a text to Jackson instead,

"Hey jacks. Sorry it's been a few days; it took longer to track down a phone I could buy and use. This will be my number for the next few weeks until I return home. I should know more about a timetable in a few days. I miss you."

His reply was almost immediate which gave me hope that he was pining for me as much as I him.

"Lettie, I've been waiting to hear from you. I hope you'll be home soon. My heart is with you."

After that I contacted my doctor at told him to be there within the hour and get ready, even though I knew he would make it with significant time to spare, I didn't know exactly how much damage we were working with.

Seven weeks later-

Seven weeks, it took seven weeks total. Five days in the basement. Six weeks and a few days recovering. Once I reached my safe house, and I knew Jackson was safe my body fully succumbed to all the damage, and I was out for another eight days. After that, I texted with Jackson regularly, not enough for him to be suspicious, a cute good morning text here, a thinking of you text there. I was growing impatient, I had told him it would be eight weeks, but I knew I was healthy enough to make the drive and restart my life in New York no longer being an employee of Kingston Security. I figured I would have to explain some of the still fading bruises and red welts that gave away the new scar tissue, but I waved by worries away, everything had faded enough and like I said, I was impatient. I had spent the seven weeks craving the peacefulness I felt around him, the lazy movies, the quiet Sundays. The way he worked hard to build his company and preferred a night in drinking a scotch to going out. Everything was always so loud unless I was with him, and I relished the quiet.

The entire drive to New York my body vibrated with a nervous hum, I chalked it up to finally being able to see Jackson after weeks apart. I had texted Jackson earlier just to check in and ask what his plans were,

"Just working Lettie, there is nothing else to do until you're back."

Even though it was after 8PM. I knew he was still at the office; I parked on the street and entered the office building through the parking garage, I had the code Jackson had given me months ago in case I ever felt like dropping by. His text was confirmed by his car sitting in his parking spot, and right next to it was his assistants red convertible, for a second this made me pause. I stared at the red convertible and for some reason, I almost turned around and got back into my car. Something was wrong, something was off, I just couldn't seem to place it. I scanned the perimeter again making sure I wasn't followed, even though I knew I wasn't. My instincts and training wouldn't allow me to enter a place without subconsciously marking all my exits and taking stock of those in the garage. It was empty, not a soul to be seen, just me and the two cars. I worried that something was wrong with Jackson, and that had me walking a bit faster, but I couldn't shake this feeling that everything was about to change.