Just a quick note to say that it's 2:30 in the morning here and I've worked a long day and hosted a baby shower tonight, but I felt that I had to write and post this chapter now. Please forgive me for any grammatical and/or spelling erros, I re-read it a couple of times before posting. Thanks.

Chapter 6

Lisa straightened her appearance and opened the door to go only to see the icy blue eyes of Jackson Rippner.

"I was wondering…" he started noticing the words on the mirror.

He pushed her roughly into the tiny bathroom stall and locked the door behind them. He held his hand on her throat and pinned her against the wall with his body; he was enraged.

"Don't fight me Leese," he said two inches from her face.

"Please just stop whoever is at my dad's house."

"I have already twice intercepted these little communiqués. You know if they had fallen into the hands of a by the book stewardess she would go straight to the cockpit and we'd land somewhere else. If that happens Leese our guy in the BMW is gonna know about it so do your dad a favour and stop gambling with his life," he said harshly into her ear.

She looked him in the eyes; his grip had loosened on her throat and both of them were breathing rather hard. He had his face mere inches from her own; the scent of his cologne was intoxicating her. Her eyes had travelled to look at his lips, those lips that had once given her so many kisses; she looked directly into his eyes once more before saying the words that came next.

"It's not just my dad's life that's at risk Jackson…it's your son's also. Or did you miss that in your surveillance over the last 8 weeks?"

He dropped his hand from her throat and looked at her dumbfounded; there hadn't been any child at her place, no sign of any child that he had seen either. She must be lying to him.

"There's no child…and even if there were; he wouldn't be mine. We just met."

"That's a lie and you damn well know it; of course when I knew you before you went by Henderson."

"There was no evidence of a kid at your apartment; so where was he Leese?"

"He spent the summer at my Aunt's place in Montana; if you had really been in every single room in my place you would have found his room. You must not have been very thorough; my dad picked him up at the airport yesterday; which means he is also at the house."

Jackson was now leaning against the sink in the cramped space, the room seeming to get smaller and smaller. He stared at Lisa and then something just under her blouse caught his eye; he stepped forward and gently moved the collar of the blouse to get a better look at the scar. The look in his eyes was a cross between rage and concern.

"Did someone do this to you; who was it?"

"No," she said awkwardly.

"Is that was it is?"

"No," she said more collectedly this time.

"You know what I think," he asked grabbing her by the throat again and pushing her into the sink, "I think that you are not such an honest person. I followed you for 8 weeks and I never saw you once order anything but a sea breeze, and I saw no sign of a kid; not one single picture or anything to say that a kid lives here…you're trying to gain my sympathies and it won't work."

"I can't breathe Jackson, let me go please."

He let her go and she turned away from him.

"You don't have to do this, any of this," she said not looking at him.

"Yes I do Leese, we are both in the business of making our customers happy and when they aren't happy our lives go to shit. That's not going to happen now is it?"

"No."

He turned her to face him.

"Good, because I'm going to tell you that the phones are working again; are you sure we have a deal this time?"

"Yes."

"Peachy; well thanks for the quickie," he said straightening his hair and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

He opened the door and she stepped out of the stall to go back to their seats. She heard the flight attendant behind her tell Jackson that this wasn't a motel, she also heard his smart ass reply and shuddered. As she scooted into her seat her son's face flashed into her mind, as much as it killed her to make the call that would murder Keefe and his family, she would do it to protect him. Jackson slid in beside her and told her to collect herself. He thought back to the time spent in her apartment; what if what he thought to be a guest room really wasn't? What if she did have a son, his son?

1996

It was already July; the first year of University had gone by quickly for Lisa. Back in January she and Jackson had decided to move in together against her parents' wishes; but they let her because she was now an adult and had to make her own choices, and mistakes. They lived in a small apartment 10 minutes from campus and just down the hall from Lisa's best friend Cindy which worked out well when Jackson had to go out of town on business. His Uncle had offered him a job after seeing Jackson's talent for making arrangements happen; he couldn't refuse the offer. It had been either join or risk losing everything he loved.

Jackson had just returned home from one of his 'business' trips; Lisa was sitting on the sofa watching a movie with Cindy when he came in. He barely acknowledged the girls as he went to the washroom to shower.

"What's his problem?" Cindy asked

"I don't know; he's been more and more distant with every trip he takes."

"Yeah well I hope he plans on sticking around a bit more; what with the baby on the way and all."

"I haven't told him yet, it didn't seem right to tell him over the phone Cin; this is something I wanted to tell him face to face."

"Well if I'm not mistaken he's naked, standing under the hot water and probably tense from all the travelling he's been doing. Now might be a good time to give him a back massage, butter him up, so to speak; you know and bring up the topic of kids."

Lisa just stared at her friend and then laughed.

"What! He might be wanting some loving tonight; I'll go home so you two can play alright."

"Yeah like that won't be obvious will it," she said laughing even more.

Cindy stood up and went to the door, Lisa following behind her.

"Go play Leese; it might be the last time for a while," she said hugging her friend and left.

Lisa had found out she was afour weeks pregnant a few days ago and had been waiting for Jackson to get home so she could tell him. She was happy and scared at the same time; her mother had her when she was Lisa's age and she knew that her parents were not going to be happy about this right away. She was standing in front of the bathroom door and knocked poking her head into the room.

"Yeah?" she heard him ask

"You want some company in there?"

"What about Cindy; isn't she here?"

"No, she left."

"Not tonight Leese, I just want to get cleaned up and go to bed."

"Oh; okay," she said disappointed.

She closed the door and went back into the living room and sat down. Jackson had been becoming more distant lately and she didn't know why; he never talked about his work with her; she wondered what he might be hiding from her. She heard the shower turn off and heard him step out into the hall to go to the bedroom. A few minutes later he walked down the hall and leaned down to kiss Lisa on the head; he knew she was upset with him and rightfully so.

"Come to bed with me?" he asked

She looked up at him and then to the hand he held out to her. She placed her hand into his and stood; following him down the hall she turned out the living room light. She was still upset with him but she had been raised to believe that any relationship worth holding onto took a great deal of work; she just wished it wasn't her who did all the work.

They climbed into bed and Jackson wrapped his arms around Lisa; he didn't want to let her go. As Lisa went to sleep he thought about what his Uncle/boss had told him.

'Apparently your girl has gotten herself pregnant Jackson; heard it from the doctor himself.'

'Why would the doctor tell you anything?'

'He knows she's with you and you're with us. Let me give you this advice Jackson, not as your boss but as your Uncle. In this line of work a family is a liability, this is no life in which to raise a child; I should know. I wasn't always an asshole you know, things were good before the kids came along. Take my advice and leave her before this goes too far, unless you think you can convince her to get rid of it.'

'Lisa would never agree to an abortion.'

'Then get out while you still can, before someone can use her against you. If you really love her you'll leave.'

Jackson saw that this was a not so veiled threat and decided then that he would do whatever it took to protect Lisa; even if it meant leaving her. While he was in the bedroom getting dressed that night he looked in the once place he thought she might keep the home pregnancy test, knowing full well that she would want to show him, and saw the two pink lines saying that she was indeed pregnant. Once she had fallen fast asleep he quietly got out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and got redressed. He placed a note for her on his pillow and grabbing his suitcase he left the apartment; never to see Lisa Reisert again, or his unborn child. He drove away and for the first time since his parents had left him, he cried.

"I'm sorry Leese, I Love You," he said as he drove away into the night.

2005

"What was that?" Lisa asked Jackson

He hadn't realized that while he was remembering he had said those last words aloud ever so quietly.

"What! Nothing; it's time Leese, make the call and save your dad's life."

"And your son's," she said again as he dialed the number for the Lux Atlantic.

When she had Cynthia on the phone she told her to change Keefe's room with some bullshit reason; but coming from Lisa who was Miss Dependable, Cynthia believed every word. She hung up the phone and then handed it to Jackson.

"What now?" he asked

"You know what, your end of the deal; call off your guy."

"Not yet; I'll make the call once I have confirmation that the Keefe's are dead."

"His family is travelling with him? Oh God Jackson what did you just have me do?"

"If someone wants to send a big brash message that's their problem; mine is making sure all the pieces are in place."

"What if that was your son?"

"Enough with that bullshit," he hissed at her, "You lost the baby. Quit trying to play the baby card, doc said you lost it at 3 months."

"They thought I lost it but I found out a couple of weeks after the 'miscarriage' that I was in fact still pregnant, it was false bleeding. He obviously didn't know because I switched doctors; he creeped me out. Now I know why," she said to him.

Jackson looked at her and she was sure she saw the colour drain from his face with the realization of what had just taken place. Everything she was telling him was true; he saw it in her face. She wasn't trying to deceive him; she just wanted to save their son. 'Their son' the thought hit him like a tonne of bricks. He looked away, he didn't want her to see him lose control, even if was only for a moment.

"What's his name?"

"Jaden; he just turned eight on March 10th," she said quietly.

"And the scar?" he asked placing his hand on her chin to face him

"One thing at a time Jackson; is this why you left me that night?"

"What's that?"

"This job; is this what you were doing then too?"

"Yes; it's complicated Leese and you're right. One thing at a time."

He leaned his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes.

"I promise you this Lisa; your father and Jaden won't be hurt."

"Are you even sorry for what you've done to me tonight? You deceived me, threatened me and forced me to make it easier to have a good man and his family murdered."

"I really am sorry hon," her old nickname slipping out as he spoke, "but I think I'm starting to put together why it was this way."

"Why is that?"

"Give me a few minutes to think it over; then I'll tell you."

Author's Notes WOW over650 hits so far but only a handful of reviews. Please tell me if you are liking this story and if I should bother to continue…I really want to and despite my busy schedule I'm trying to stay on top of it. My muse is getting sad too so please cheer her up and leave your thoughts behind…it will help her to stay inspired. This story doesn't feel like it's reached it's ending quite yet. Thanks.