Fracture

Part 14

I immediately demanded the driver to take me to the one person I knew I couldn't trust, but could help me, anyway: Jack. Walking up to his house, I took each step with precision and care, rapping on the door loudly. My eyes widened in shock when my mother answered the door.

            "I need to see Jack. Dad- he- he took James." She wrapped her arms around me comfortingly before escorting me into a large wet-bar where Jack was enjoying a whiskey on the rocks.

            "Ah, Sarah, to what do I owe this pleasure?" My eyes narrowed.

            "I don't know what the fuck is going on here," I said, gesturing between them before continuing. "I need your help right now, so I'm going to ignore it. My father took James to his cabin in Alaska. I need your help getting there. And, I need people. I can't do it alone. I need your help. Please." I begged.

            "What about Lex?" His head cocked slightly.

"I left before he could join me. I can't risk losing both of your sons. I can't. I need your help." My soft sobs clung to my lungs.

"You have it, Sarah. You've always had it." I smile at his gesture. Before he could extend his hand, Josiah walks around the corner.

            "I'm in. That dream was fucking wicked, I want to see what happens." I nodded. In a flash, however, I felt warm hands, hotter than an iron, wrap around my shoulders and turn me around. A furious Lex stood before me, peering through me.

            "I don't know what the fuck all that bullshit 'I need to leave' was about, but you're not doing this alone. For fuck sake, do you really think I'd just sit in my house while my woman goes on a wild goose chase looking for her piece of shit dad?" He started swearing in a foreign language and whipped his head back to me. "What kind of douchebag do you take me for? And, leaving me after that, Like I wouldn't come after you? What the fuck is this a lifetime movie? Jesus, what is fucking wrong with you?" His anger boiled over as he began to string together lines of obscenities.

            "Then, let's go." I said calmly. He turned, slowly, leaning on one heel, walking painstakingly slow. The clap of his shoes knocked softly on the tile floor. He stood close enough for me to smell his cologne, leaning down to whisper in my ear, his frustration seething from each word.

            "Don't ever walk away from me like that again. This is not just your burden. If we are going to work, we are partners. Clear?" His voice was gruff and annoyed.

            "Crystal." I whispered back, grabbing his hand to hold him steady. "Just so we're clear, darling, let me make it crystal to you that no man talks to me like you just did. I'll chalk this up to stress, partner." I was pissed and I wanted him to know it. He chuckled lightly, the tension lifting almost immediately.

            "Noted." Is all he said before he grabbed my hand and walked through the house. "We're taking the jet." He nodded to his dad before gesturing for those joining us to follow. "Come on if your coming." His eyes widened when his father stood.

            "I have unfinished business with your dad, Sarah, so, if you don't mind, I'll be joining you this evening." I nodded, barely giving him recognition before walking behind Lex, his arm snaked around my waist protectively.

            "The more the merrier, but, don't expect us to wait for you if shit goes wrong. I'll be the first to leave you and your weird-ass-brother behind." A full blown laugh ripped from Josiah before he turned back and looked at me.

            "I completely underestimated you. After our little incident, I thought for sure you'd play the damsel in distress. You, Sarah, have surprised me. Not many do that." I rolled my eyes.

            "I thought I told you to let sleeping dogs lie. Don't think that I would hesitate to put a bullet in you, too." I chuckled. I tolerated Josiah, we wouldn't be friends and we both knew that. He'd burned that bridge when he treated my mother like livestock. We could, however, set that aside for an evening. For his nephew.

            "I'll keep that in mind." He looked to his nephew, "Lex, if you don't marry her, I will." He added.

            "Fuck- then, I'd really put a bullet in you." Another laugh was his only response before we boarded the jet. I leaned into the window and watched as the twinkling lights of my city disappeared into the sparkling abyss of a night sky.

After several minutes, I was alone with my thoughts, completely unaware of the building clouds covering the windows. The plane rocked firmly to the right and I was thrown from my seat. Turbulence. The plane kicked another harsh jolt and I landed into Lex's lap, his arms instinctively wrapping around me. I stood again and began to walk to the bathroom when a final slam of the plane sent me lurching forward, right into restroom sign near the overhead cabin. As my face slammed into the hard plastic, my eyes rolled back, blood flowing freely from an open gash above my brow. I focused on my thoughts in an attempt to keep myself conscious, several hands dancing over my face and arms.

Tonight I find the truth.

Tonight, I find my father.

Tonight, I find myself.

Tonight: I lose the right parent.