Blame It On The Pain Episode 80

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 80 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain EIGHTY:

(Jackson)

Four months later, I’m sitting in a courtroom watching my lawyer, Michelle stand before the jury for her closing argument.

As far as juries go, this one is as versatile as it gets.

Out of the 12 jurors made up of my peers…six are female and six are male. They’re all difference races, ages, occupations, and they all come from different backgrounds.

But only two of them have sisters.

Seven of them are only children. And the remaining three males have brothers.

Michelle told me not to let it get me down and to let her worry about that.

I turn around and look at my family. Tyrone and Ricardo’s eyes find mine. They don’t say a word, they just put their hands over their hearts and nod their heads. I look at Momma next. She mouths the words ‘I love you,’ and I mouth them back to her.

Then I scan the courtroom for Alyssa…but I can’t find her.

She’s been here every step of the way, so it’s disheartening that she wouldn’t be here today of all days.

Then it hits me. She won’t be able to watch them find me guilty. Her heart won’t be able to take it.

Suddenly, I’m glad she didn’t come. It would put way too much emotional stress on both her and the baby. I would never forgive myself if something happened to them because of me.

I feel guilty enough for putting her in the position that she’s in.

But that’s the only regret I feel, still to this day. And the jury knows it because I was honest with them and told Right after Michelle played the video of my confession in court.

That was the only thing that Alyssa and her fought about. Professionally, Michelle was upset because it was going to make finding potential juror’s that hadn’t seen or watched the video that much harder.

However, personally, she understood why Alyssa did it.

I turn back around in my seat. I don’t know whether to face the jury myself or not.

Michelle’s not going to like it, but I decide not to. Even though I know that she wants to get their sympathy and she wants them to witness my pain.

But I don’t want to look at the jurors because I don’t want them to think that I’m purposely trying to intimidate or influence them somehow. And mostly, I don’t want them to lose focus on Michelle during her closing speech.

So no, I won’t look at the jury. Instead, I close my eyes and feel Lilly’s presence around me. I silently tell her that I love her and I tell her that no matter what happens, none of it was ever her fault…because I think she needs to hear it much more than I ever did.

That’s when I hear Michelle start to speak.

“Thank you for your attention ladies and gentlemen of the jury. By now, you’ve formulated your own personal opinion regarding my client, Mr. Jackson Reid. I know there’s nothing that I could say to sway you in either direction at this point.”

She pauses. “You also know that by now, my argument has never been about self-defense. Because let’s be honest; Mr. Reid was never defending himself against his own abuser. So, I’m not going to stand here and claim self-defense for Mr. Reid. Instead, I’ll claim Lilly’s defense.
“I’ll also educate you on some facts regarding the law. To adequately determine the justification of deadly force in defense of a person, in a court of law, one must establish the existence of two main facts, first and foremost. One—you need to determine whether or not my client’s use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself or rather, Lilly. Two— you need to determine if Mr. Reid did something that a ‘reasonable person’ would do in his position.

“And that’s where you come in, ladies and gentlemen. You watched the video, you know the facts, you’ve heard from Jackson Reid yourself. So, knowing what my client knew and being in the same circumstance, would you yourself have had those same beliefs that he did?”

She clears her throat. “But forget all that. I didn’t even need to tell you those things in the first place. That’s not my real argument, here. Because the only thing I needed to do for this case was let the prosecutor’s do their job and let you hear their arguments. The prosecution is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Reid was not justified in doing what he did. And just so we’re clear— justified means having done something for a legitimate reason. It’s an exception to committing the offense. If the prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was justified, then you the jury must find Mr. Reid not guilty.”

She takes a deep breath. “In closing, I just want to leave you with this. If Lilly was someone that you loved. And you found her beaten and mu rdered like Mr. Reid did. Would you feel justified doing what he did?”

The bailiffs take me away while the jury deliberates. I was told it would be anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks.

To say I was surprised to be called back as soon as I stepped foot outside the courthouse in my shackles would be an understatement.

After we rise for the judge, he calls the court in session and he collects a piece of paper from a member of the jury.

A piece of paper that will determine the rest of my life.

A piece of paper that will determine whether or not I get to spend the rest of my life with Alyssa, my future child, and the rest of my family.

The jury’s faces give nothing away.

I wish I could see Alyssa’s face one more time, I wish I could see my child growing in her belly. The thought causes bIood to rush in my ears and vertigo plagues me, I want to sit back down because I’m not sure I can stand anymore.

I don’t know why Michelle’s arms are wrapped around me and she’s telling me goodbye, because I’m too distracted by the sound of Momma shouting at the top of her lungs.

Oh, boy. I really hope Momma doesn’t try to put a hurtin’ on those jurors. Or the judge for that matter, poor guys already frail and old. I turn around to tell her it will be okay, but both Ricardo and Tyrone’s arms are around me next. Their hugging me so tight I almost fall over.

“It’s okay, guys,” I tell them. “I’ll be okay. Just promise me that you’ll take care of Alyssa and the baby for me. Please.”

They pull away and exchange a glance with one another. “Why?” Ricardo says. “You’ll be able to do that yourself.”

“What—” I start to say, but my breath leaves my lungs as Momma herself plows into me.

I close my eyes and hug her back. “I knew it would all work out in the end,” she says.

That’s when it hits me.

I look at Tyrone for confirmation. I don’t even have to get the words out because he looks at me and says, “Not guilty, brother.”

I’m not ashamed to admit, I’m barely holding back tears.

I’m going to be a father to my baby. I’m going to spend my life with Alyssa. I’m going to see my family.

I look at the jury again. And this time, they look at me. “Thank you,” I whisper. I get a few small smiles before they start to clear out.

The bailiffs unchain me, and Michelle informs me that I’ll need to sign off on some paperwork before I’m free to leave.

This time, I’m the one hugging her because I know what’s happening. “Thank you and congratulations on winning your first case.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Jackson,” she says with a grin. “But thank you for being the most memorable client I’ll ever have. Thank you for reminding me why I became a defense attorney in the first place.”

After I sign the paperwork we walk out to the car. It almost feels unreal. The air is fresher, the grass is greener, and I have a sense of peace.

A light breeze flows through the air and I feel Lilly’s presence again. I look up to the sky and blow her a kss.

Then a bird shts on my head.

Tyrone and Jackson burst out laughing. “Yup, that was definitely Lilly. Totally a little sister move.”

I start laughing with them and it’s the greatest feeling because I know that Lilly would find this highly amusing right now.

Momma hands me a napkin and I clean up before I get in the car.

We head back to the apartment complex and I can’t get in the door fast enough.

Apparently, Tyrone and Shelby moved into Lou-Lou’s old apartment so that Alyssa and the baby could have this one. Tyrone wanted his little niece or nephew to have his own room.

I’m surprised Alyssa didn’t want to move to the suburbs to raise the baby but Ricardo said she wanted to be by her family.

I’m running around the apartment looking for her and my anxiety’s through the roof when I can’t find her. Then I notice that the door to the balcony is partially open.

I step outside into the warm July evening air.

I find Alyssa standing there with a mug and she gives me her gorgeous smile, complete with her adorable dimple. I don’t hesitate to cup her face in my hands and kss her like it’s my last breath.

When I pull away her eyes are still closed and she sighs. “God, I missed that.”

“I missed you.” I place a kss on her belly. “The both of you.”

She hands me the mug, I take it with one hand and she grabs my other hand. “Come on, you’re just in time to watch the sunset.”

It’s only then that I take a look at the two rocking chairs she has set up on the balcony.

Along with some bingo boards on the table.

“I didn’t show up at court today because I knew you’d come home to me,” she whispers.

I take a sip of my hot chocolate before I press her hand to my lips and kss it. “I love you.”

She takes a sip of her own hot chocolate. “ And I love you.”

It’s then that I realize.

Without pain, you wouldn’t know happiness. If you let the pain take over, you miss out on the good things, the things that really matter…like love and family.

If you don’t find a way to make it through the pain…you miss out on the best parts of your life.

THE END…!!!

Hurrray thanks for Reading with Siri 🤷💞

Blame It On The Pain Episode 79

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 79 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY NINE:

I walk into the room and I immediately want to turn right back around. This can’t be my new lawyer.

She’s too young. Younger than me. Maybe even younger than Alyssa, who knows.

The one thing I do know is…there’s no way she’s the best lawyer on the East Coast.

“I’m sorry. I think there’s been a mistake,” I say before turning around.

“There’s no mistake, Jackson. My name is Michelle. I know you were probably expecting my father.”

Needless to say, she’s got my attention. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m just—”

She holds out her hand. “Worried? Scared? Nervous?”

I shake her hand. “All of the above.”

She sits down. “My dad is the big wig in the family. The one Ricardo spoke to and hired, actually.”

I take a seat, although, I’m not sure why, but for some reason I feel compelled to. “No offense, Michelle. But if your dad is the lawyer. Then why are you here?”

She smiles and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, I’m a lawyer too, actually.”

“Oh, so I guess you’re just taking care of some of the paperwork for him?”

She pulls out a briefcase. “No. I actually asked my father if it would be okay to take on this case myself.”

I shift in my seat, trying to think of a polite way to decline and tell her that I need her father. “Look, you seem really nice and—”

“I went to school with Lilly.”

I feel the gravitational tug on my heart from hearing her name. Well, that would explain why she looks so young.

She folds her hands on the table. “We had a few classes together at Harvard. I’d like to think we were friends. Your sister was an amazing person.”

“I know.”

“I saw the subtle change in her, Jackson. She went from being happy-go-lucky and so full of life and happiness to being miserable.”

I put my head in my hands. “I should have noticed the signs. I should have—”

“She would have denied it,” she says. “I tried talking to her a few times and it was like talking to a brick wall. The only thing that confronting her did was make her distance herself more.” She holds my gaze. “Abuse victims leave their abusers on average seven times before they leave for good. It wasn’t her fault, but she would have stayed until she found the strength within herself to leave.”

I look down. “But if I knew…I could have saved her life.”

“No,” she says. “And you know why? Because Lilly already knew she could go to you, Jackson. She knew how much you loved her. She knew that if she called you and said that she needed you that you would have been right there. She knew that.”

I look up. “Why didn’t she?”

That’s the question that will always haunt me. Why didn’t she? I would have done anything for her, anything.

“Because she blamed herself for the pain,” she whispers. “Because he made her. That’s what abusers do. They tear you down piece by piece and bit by bit. Until there’s nothing left anymore.”

She wipes her eyes. “But make no mistake about it. None of this was her fault. It was all him.”

“I know.” I sit up and look at her. “You know a lot about this.”

She nods. “I do.”

There’s a moment of silence between us before she takes out a manila folder. “It’s why I asked my dad if I could take on this case.” She bites the cap of her pen nervously. “But you’d really be taking a huge risk with me.”

“What do you mean?”

“This would be my very first case by myself.”

Oh, that’s what she means.

I sit back and cross my arms. “Okay, Let’s say I hire you. What’s the argument?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Look, I didn’t go to law school. And I’m not nearly as smart as Lilly was…but I do know that defense attorneys should present an argument. You know, like self-defense, insanity, or an accidental ki lling.”

She crosses her arms, stares me down and I immediately feel it. “He wasn’t attacking you, he attacked Lilly. You’re not insane. And you don’t regret it, so I’m not sure that going with an accidental ki lling defense would be the best way to go. So, the way I see it…that only leaves me with one choice.”

“Which is?”

“Telling the truth.”

I stand up and shake her hand. “You’re hired.”

She jumps to her feet. “What? Really? You mean it?”

“Yup. That’s the only way I want to win this case. And I can’t help but think that if it was Lilly herself defending me, she would want the same.”

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 78

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 78 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain Episode 78 💞

(Jackson)

I walk into the recreation room and find a seat. I have no idea what’s going on, but Ricardo insisted I come here.

Since there’s nothing better to do, I decide to start playing cards with another inmate.

“Hit or Stay?”

I eye my cards. “Hit.”

Dmmit. I lost. Story of my life.

“Yo, man. That dude on T.V looks just like you,” some guy calls out.

I pick the cards up and begin to shuffle them.

“Yo, man,” the guy shouts.

My card-mate tilts his head. “I think he’s talking to you.” I turn my head but get distracted by my image on the screen.

Then I hear the words that I’ll never forget. “My name is Jackson Reid. There are two things you need to know about me. The first—is that I’m in love with Alyssa Tanner. The second—is that I’m a mur derer.”

“That is me,” I tell the guy.

Me and my entire confession. On the news.

What was Alyssa thinking? I didn’t even realize she still had that.

“A new video has gone viral,” the newscaster says after my video ends. “It’s sweeping across the nation and has garnered the attention of all social media sites.”

My chest tightens. I don’t know if this is a good thing or bad.

Every inmate in the room and a few of the guards start watching the television with earnest.

The newscaster’s face becomes serious. “We at WKWNY decided to take it to the streets of N.Y with our news correspondent Anne Walley to find out what your opinion is regarding Jackson Reid’s leaked confessional tape. Do you think he should stay in prison, America?”

“Sht, man,” the inmate across from me says. “If that was my baby sis. You best believe I would have done the same dmn thing.”

There are a few nods of agreement around the room, but I don’t get my hopes up. These are my fellow inmates, after all.

Anne Walley holds the microphone up to a woman with short blonde hair carrying her puppy in one of those big designer purses. She looks nice, maybe this won’t be so bad.

“Jackson Reid should spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. What is wrong with you people! He’s a ki ller. He shouldn’t be allowed to roam free. You don’t take the law into your own hands. You do the crime, you do the time,” she bellows, before she pets her puppy.

I close my eyes. This is worse than to..rture. At least, I’ll be well prepared for court. I told Ricardo not to waste his money.

I open my eyes as Anne Walley approaches another person and asks their opinion. A male this time. He’s about 17 or 18 and he’s wearing a baseball cap backwards on his head. “I don’t know,” he says appearing to be lost in thought. “I mean, I don’t really like my little sister all that much.” He looks down. “But, if someone ever hurt her or worse, ki lled her. I can’t say that I wouldn’t do the same, you know? I guess I can understand where he’s coming from.”

Anne approaches another bystander. It’s another woman. She’s in her late 30s and she’s holding a crying toddler in her arms. “I’m a Jackson Reid supporter. We need more men like him in the world.” She looks down at her child. “I don’t want my little girl to live in a world where domestic abusers can get away with hurting or ki lling others. I want her to live in a world where there’s men like Jackson Reid who aren’t afraid stand up and get revenge for women like his sister.”

Anne approaches another woman. She’s in her mid-20’s and has a few shopping bags in her hand. “Well, I have a few ex-boyfriends that I’d like Jackson Reid to take care of.”

Her face turns sad. “But in all seriousness. Have you seen that video? Ignore the fact that he’s good looking and actually listen to the pain he’s in, people. The guy lost his sister. She was ki lled by his best friend. Be..aten to de ath. Can you really blame the guy, Anne? I don’t think he should be serving any time. It’s obvious that he’s already suffered enough.”

Anne approaches another person. A man in his late 40’s this time. He has a beard and a few tattoos. “I don’t have a sister,” he pauses. “But I do have a daughter. And if any—” There’s a beep. And another beep. “Put his—” another beep. “Hands on her or ki lled her, you’d better believe I’d find his—” another beep. “and ki ll him with my bare hands!” he screams into the camera before he briskly walks away.

The recreation room erupts in applause. But then Anne approaches another woman.

Oh, god. It’s Momma.

“Jackson Reid is my son,” she says in her Southern twang.

Anne Walley looks skeptical. “I’m sorry ma’am, did you say your son?” Momma gives her a look and grabs the mic. “That’s right. He’s my boy. And this—” The camera moves and I see Tyrone, Shelby, Ricardo and Alyssa. My heart squeezes.

“Is his family,” Momma continues as they all nod in unison. “We love him. He’s a good man, America. He’s not perfect, but he’s got a heart like no one else and a good soul. Judge not, lest you be judged is all I’m sayin’.”

The camera focuses back on Anne. “Well, there you have it, folks.”

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 77

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 77 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY SEVEN:

“You have visitors, Reid.”

I walk into the visiting room and my eyes immediately connect with Alyssa’s.

As happy as I am to see her, I already told her that I didn’t want her to visit. Visitation at Rikers is practically an all day event and it’s not always safe.

Especially when she comes here looking like that. She’s wearing one of my t-shirts and a pair of jeans. Her still dark glossy hair is hanging loose and she’s glowing.

She looks so beautiful it hurts to breathe. I’m actually thankful that Ricardo and Tyrone came here with her.

My heart sinks when I look at Tyrone. I can’t believe he came all the way here to see me. He has enough of his own problems right now.

Ricardo’s the first one to give me a hug. I didn’t think it was possible but we’ve grown even closer after what happened.

In part, due to the three-hour visit that we had when I first got here. He opened up to me and told me the truth about everything. When he left, we both practically had tears in our eyes. He also offered to do what DeLuca did for me. He offered to pay off the judge and have evidence planted again, but I declined.

He said he would figure something else out, but I told him that unless it was legit, I wasn’t interested.

I want to be free on my own merits, even though a big part of me knows that won’t ever happen.

I hug Tyrone next and seeing him in his wheelchair ki lls me. He gives me that look that tells me he’s doing okay and follows it up with a smile. I smile back because I know that he’s going to pull through this.

Finally, I turn and face Alyssa.

Then I force myself to back away. She looks hurt, and I hate myself for doing that to her. But I can’t kss her. I can’t hug her. I can’t touch her because if I do I’m afraid I won’t ever stop. I’ll unravel and I won’t make it through prison if that happens.

We all sit down at the table and Ricardo’s the first to speak. “I hired a lawyer for you. He’s the best on the East Coast.”

My ears start ringing because this whole thing is all too familiar. “I told you I wanted everything to be legit.”

“It is,” he assures me.

“I wish you wouldn’t waste your money. I’m not getting out of here. The prosecutor’s going to have a field day with me because they know that I don’t regret it. They know that I’m going to accept whatever happens. There’s no point in fighting this.”

Ricardo lets out a frustrated sigh.

Tyrone looks pissed and opens his mouth to argue, but Alyssa stands up and puts her hands on her hips. “Ricardo, do you think you can distract the guards for a little? I need to speak to Jackson alone.”

“You got it,” Ricardo says before him and Tyrone leave.

The sIap across my face knocks me for a loop. “Snap out of it, Jackson!” Alyssa screams.

I stare at her wide-eyed. “There’s nothing to snap out of. I love you but I need you to come to terms with this. I need you to find someone else. Someone who’s good. Someone who can take care of you an—”

She sits back down and points a finger at me. “Shut up. There is no one else, there will never be anyone else. I know you’re scared because of the first time you were in prison. I get it. I know you’ve given up all hope of the system working in your favor but you can’t. I still believe that good things can happen. I haven’t in awhile, but I do now, Jackson.”

“I wish you wouldn’t because it will only hurt you in the end. And I don’t want to hurt you, Alyssa.”

She leans forward. “There’s still some good in the world.” Her brow crinkles. “Now can you do something for me? Please?”

“You know I will.”

“I just need you to believe. Believe in me. Believe in yourself.”

She stands up and reaches for my hand before placing it over her stomach. “Believe in us. Because I do.”

Her stomach feels just like it always has, but for some reason, my heart rate skyrockets and I’ve never felt more nauseous in my life. “Alyssa, why did you put my hand on your stomach?”

She plays with her necklace. “Because I know deep down that you’re scared. And I think you need some extra strength. But I know you can do it. I know you can get through this.” She places her hand over mine. “You’re not getting rid of us. We’re going to be a team for life.”

Tears sting my eyes as I remember everything she told me about the last conversation with her father.

And that’s when I realize.

She said us.

“How? Not that I’m not—” I pause because I really don’t know what I am.

Actually, I do. I’m fking scared out of my mind. This is a different kind of scared that I’ve never experienced before.

But I’m strangely happy, too. Christ, does that even make any sense?

“I didn’t think to use a backup when I was sick and on antibiotics. I’m sorry. I know it’s not ideal. I know our situation is completely—” she pauses and exhales.

I place my hands on her h ips and move her closer to me. “Scary?” I offer.

She blinks away tears. “Yeah. It is…but I know we can do this. No matter what happens. We’ll get through this somehow. I don’t give a fk what the rest of the world thinks about you. Our baby will know their daddy is a good man, because they will know you.”

She runs her hand through my hair and I place a kss on her belly. “Okay.” A sense of calm washes over me. “No matter what happens, I’ll still believe in us.”

I stand up and give her a hug. Ricardo and Tyrone’s eyes meet mine. They both pat the spot over their heart and I smile.

Our visit ends after that but Ricardo walks over to me right before the guards take me away.

“Make sure you go to the recreation room tonight.”

“Why?”

He starts walking. “Because there’s a television in there.”

“And by the way, you have a meeting with your new lawyer tomorrow,” he calls out before he walks out the door.

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 76

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 76 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY SIX:

(Jackson)

You would think I’d be upset to find myself back in jail again, but I’m not.

I’ve accepted it.

But it doesn’t mean that my heart doesn’t ache for Alyssa every second…or Momma, Tyrone, and Ricardo for that matter.

It was ironic that I ended up back here on Lilly’s birthday. I chose to ki ll DeLuca on that day because I thought it would bring me luck. Obviously, fate thought otherwise.

I took it as a sign that Lilly herself obviously wanted me to pay.

But I still don’t regret it. Even now.

Just like I wouldn’t have regretted taking Ford’s life or DeLuca’s. Although, after Ricardo visited me and explained what really happened between Lou-Lou, him, and DeLuca; I know that the right to ki ll DeLuca definitely belonged to Lou-Lou, and I hope that wherever she is now—she’s happy.

I was beyond pissed at him for having a gvn to my girl’s back, though, but I couldn’t really argue when he explained that if the roles were reversed I would have done the same.

You see, he trusted Alyssa not to ki ll Lou-Lou. H’ll, he even trusted DeLuca not to ki ll Lou-Lou due to his sick obsession with her. But he just couldn’t trust that Ford wouldn’t ki ll Lou-Lou…because he’s a manipulating fktard.

Those were his exact words.

However, I fully agree.

Especially looking at him right now from across the cafeteria in his orange jumpsuit.

The sight is so spectacular, I wish I could snap a picture and send it to Alyssa.

I thought I needed to protect her and make those who hurt her pay, but as it turns out; she got something even better than payback all on her own.

She got her own brand of justice…the way she needed to do it. I’m even more in awe of her and the woman she is.

And I know the man who gets the honor and privilege of spending the rest of his life with her, will be the luckiest man in the world.

I just wish it could have been me.

But for now, there’s one more thing I have to do to settle the score with Ford.

Not only is he serving time for what he did to Alyssa, but he’s also the main suspect in the murder of DeLuca now. He, of course, tried to tell them about Lou-Lou, but Alyssa and Ricardo along with me, are refuting his claims.

Which leaves all fingers pointing to him. The fact that he told Alyssa that he was planning on vacationing after taking DeLuca down and she got it on tape, doesn’t look good for him.

He keeps insisting that he called for backup and was acting as a member of the FBI, though; so I guess we’ll have to see how his defense will pan out in the long run.

And although he could be facing up to 20 years for what he did to Alyssa, the reality is that he most likely won’t serve that much time.

For all we know, he could be out in a few months depending on his trial. The only reason he’s sitting in jail now is because he’s a flight risk and the judge ended up being a friend of Alyssa’s dad.

Oddly enough, that’s the saddest fact of all to come out in all this.

Alyssa’s father really was a stand-up guy…but his worst quality was having Ford as a best friend and partner.

And had Ford not sunk his hooks into Alyssa right after his murder and coerced and scared her into lying about DeLuca…she would have been responsible for bringing him down a long time ago.

That’s the way the world works, though, the bad guys win far more often than the good guys do.

But there’s days like today. The rare exceptions to the rule.

And that exception is staring at me from across the cafeteria looking like he’s about to piss himself.

My guess, would be because rumor amongst us jailers is…that 14 years ago, he pinned the mu rder of a prestigious officer on two rival gang members.

I look at him and give him a great big smile and he flinches. He was so freaked out about sharing a cell with me, he purposely h it his head against the sink and has been hauled up in the infirmary for the past few days.

But he’s out today.

And no matter where Ford turns, he’s up shts creek without a paddle.

The rival gangs want a piece of him. Any man with a teenage daughter wants a piece of him. Even DeLuca’s inside people want a piece of him, now that Ricardo’s taken over.

And then there’s the guards.

The guards who heard the latest rumor. The guards who despise the dirty cop who backstabbed their own partner and set up his de ath. The guards who despise the dirty cop who’s in here for sxually a$saulting their dead partner’s teenage daughter.

That’s the funny thing about perception…sometimes, it really is everything.

He’s as skittish as a kitten when he makes his way over to me.

I manage to keep my joy in check. “Hi, Ford. How are you doing on this beautiful day here at Rikers?”

“Look, Jackson. I’m going, to be honest with you,” he says and I try not to laugh in his face. “I was hoping to bury the hatchet. We’re cellmates and—”

“You set me up.” I turn to face him. “Why in the world would I ever help you?”

His shoulders slump. “I was only trying to do the right thing for her. You can’t blame me for loving her. I know you do, too. And face it, Jackson. You and I aren’t really all that different. You’re a murderer derer. And I’m—”

“You’re what, Ford?”

He looks away. “I set people up for mur ders. The point is that we’re not good people. So don’t act like you’re so much better than me. But I think if we work together in here, we might stand a chance.”

I almost choke on my barely edible food. “I’m doing just fine on my own.”

He makes a sweeping motion with his hands. “Yeah, right now. But sooner or later, you’re going to need a favor. You’re going to need to—”

I stab my food with my fork. “Make a deal?”

He sits closer to me and it takes everything in me not to throw him off his chair. “Yes. You’re going to need someone in here who has your back. You’re going to need someone in here who will take care of you.”

That’s when I laugh. “Are you offering to be my boyfriend, Ford?”

He makes a face. “What? No.”

“Too bad, that’s the way it works in here.”

He looks ho..rrified. “You can’t be serious. For Christ’s sake, we were both in love with the same girl. “

“A girl that I’m no longer going to see…thanks to you.”

He swallows hard. “So, are you saying that you want me to—”

I give him a smirk. “Be my bch. Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

He stays silent. I can see him mulling his options and I’m loving every second of this. I push my tray away. “You know, I’m still having trouble figuring out why you’re here talking to me. What exactly is it that you want?”

The funny thing is I already know exactly what he wants. He has no control, no power, he’s helpless.

Just like how he made Alyssa feel.

He looks around the cafeteria. “I need protection. You know what they’ll do to me in here. I need your help, Jackson.”

That’s when I stand up. “What are you willing to do for it?” I whisper.

He looks up at me and panic flashes across his face. “I’ll do a-anything. Just help me. Please.”

I adjust myself in front of him and raise an eyebrow. “Then get on your knees.”

He looks around the cafeteria again. “Right here? Now?” he croaks.

“Yup. I want everyone to know that you’re my bch.”

To my absolute delight. He slinks down in his chair until he’s on his knees. “Now close your eyes.”

After he closes them I back up and another inmate hands me a crowbar. I’ll have to thank Ricardo for paying off the guard for me.

“Open your mouth for me, wh’re.”

He winces and opens his mouth.

That’s when I thrust the crowbar in his mouth.

His eyes fly open and the look is priceless. Pure fear. I’m pretty sure there’s a puddle of his urine on the ground.

He starts choking and trembling. “Yeah, you like that? Of course, you do, you little sIut.”

He tries to move his mouth away but I don’t let up. “Yeah, you heard me. You worthless sIut.”

There’s cheering around the cafeteria and I give him a megawatt smile. “Figure your own way out of this mess, Ford. I suggest you wh’re yourself around because that’s all you’re good for. Now, get the fk away from me.”

I take the crowbar out of his mouth and hold it above his head because I want him to know what that feels like, too.

He scampers away and cowers.

Just like the vermin he is.

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 75

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 75 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY FIVE:

“I knew you could do it, sugar,” Momma says as she wraps her arms around me.

I hug her back. “I almost tossed my cookies like five different times in there because he made me so sick.”

She gives me a peculiar look but I shift my attention to Tyrone.

It pains me to see him in his wheelchair. Although the damage wasn’t as extensive as the doctor’s initially thought, he did lose the ability to move his legs. With time, they say he’ll be able to drive a car and possibly even walk with special equipment one day. He’s adjusting much better than the doctors expected him to…but then again, they don’t know Tyrone’s perseverance and inner strength.

Shelby’s been by his side the whole time and I know that’s exactly where she’ll always be.

I just wish I was able to get Jackson out of jail so he could be here for him too.

“I know you do,” Tyrone says, while looking at me. “And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the same way.”

I didn’t realize that I had spoken my last thought out loud.

I sit down next to him. “I’m worried about the trial. His lawyer’s good, but he’s not the best. Especially since he refuses to spend any of the money in his bank account because he wants me to have it.”

Which of course, I adamantly declined.

Tyrone closes his eyes. “Too bad people’s perceptions of ki llers is so black and white. I mean, yeah—he murdered someone…but he’s not a bad person. And if everyone knew what actually happened, they would realize that. But even if they did; who knows if the jury or the rest of the world is going to really believe it. They’ll probably think it’s all some kind of act.”

I thumb the goblin on my necklace and think about this for a moment. “I know, I just wish everyone could see the real him.”

The idea hits me like a semi-truck.

I stand up and look at Tyrone. “I know how to do that. I think I figured out a way to help Jackson. It’s a long shot but it’s—” I start to say before everything fades to black.

BLAME IT ON THE PAIN : EPISODE 71 – THE END

---

I wake up to four sets of eyes staring at me: Momma’s, Tyrone’s, Shelby’s, and a man wearing a white lab coat that I vaguely recall seeing once before.

Never mind that though, I have to finish telling them my plan.

I quickly sit up in bed. “We all know how the media affects people’s perceptions of things, right?”

They all stare at me like I’m bonkers.

“I think she might have a neurological issue of some kind,” Tyrone says while looking up at the doctor.

Momma pats my head. “You do know you’re in a hospital, right?”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I know; I probably passed out again or something. Maybe I’m sick again. Whatever. This is more important—”

The doctor approaches me and cuts me off. “Young lady, I have important rounds to make. So, if you don’t mind I’d like to speak with you.”

I hold out my hand. “Just fork over the prescription for my antibiotics and I’ll be on my way, Doctor. I have important stuff to do.”

He sighs “I think we should probably speak in private, this time.”

“No. I’m fine,” I insist. “I really need to go back home so I can save my boyfriend who’s currently in jail.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “In that case, I really must insist that we speak in private.”

He looks at Momma but she shrugs. “I ain’t leaving if she doesn’t want me to.”

I hold out my hand again. “Put it here, Doc.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose before he reaches inside his lab coat and hands me a large bottle of pills.

I stare at the bottle of prenatal vitamins and blink while Momma gasps with tears in her eyes. I try handing them back to him. “I think this is a mistake.”

He focuses his attention to his tablet. “No mistake. Your HCG levels are consistent with being around 4, maybe 5 weeks pregnant. You’ll need to have an ultrasound to confirm this, of course.” He moves his glasses up his face and looks at me. “By the way, you’re anemic so you really need to start eating more meat in addition to the iron pills I’ll be prescribing you. I think that’s why you fainted. Either that, or you stood up too quickly and your blood pressure plummeted.”

I jump up from the bed, horrified. “I’m not pregnant, Doctor. I’m telling you, there’s been a mistake.” I lower my voice. “I’m on birth control.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that Tyrone appears to be in deep thought before he says, “Did you use a backup method while you were on those antibiotics?”

My hand flies up to my face and I sit back down on the bed.

Fk a duck. That was an entire two week period of unsafe sx. How could I be so careless?

I look at Tyrone and he smiles. I’ve never wanted to st.rangle someone for being so dmned smart and perceptive. Momma starts jumping around the room acting like she won the lottery. “I’m gonna have a grandbaby.”

I can’t share in her glee, though. Shelby’s eyes meet mine and she gives me a sympathetic look.

At least she understands.

Maybe it’s the hormones, but the dark cloud is over my head with a vengeance and I bury my head in my hands and cry. I miss Jackson so much. He should be here with me right now.

“Everyone out. Now,” Tyrone shouts, causing everyone to startle.

Open mouthed, everyone, including the doctor, leave the room.

He rolls his wheelchair by my bed and reaches for my hand. “I’m not going to sit here and tell you to keep this baby or to get rid of it, Alyssa.”

I squeeze his hand. “Thank you. Because right now, I have no idea what to do.”

“What I’m going to tell you, is what Jackson would tell you.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’d tell you that he’d hold your hand the entire time. And he’d remind you that you’re stronger than you think. He’d tell you that he’d respect whatever decision you end up making. He’d also tell you that he loves you.” He puts his hand over his heart. “And that’s what I’m gonna do, Alyssa. Because no matter what happens…you’re not alone and you have me. If you want to cry, if you want to shout, if you want to pun¢h my face in so you feel better. Whether you want to keep this baby or not, I’ll still be there.”

“Me too.”

I look up as Ricardo enters the room.

He looks at Tyrone then back at me. “Tyrone told me you were here. I know I haven’t been around much in the last few weeks. I’ve had to take care of some business. But, I have good news.”

“I’d love some good news right about now.”

Ricardo smiles. “I’ve just hired the best lawyer on the East Coast to take Jackson’s case.”

“How can you afford that?”

“You probably don’t want to know. But, I’m going up to the jail this weekend to see Jackson and tell him. I wanted to see if you wanted to go with me but—” his voice drifts off and he looks uncomfortable.

I look down. “Should I tell him?”

Tyrone considers this for a moment before saying, “It’s up to you. You don’t have to make any decisions right this second. You still have time.”

“How good is this lawyer?”

“Excellent.”

“I hope so, because I want to put Jackson’s video confession out into the world. I want the world to know who Jackson really is.”

Tyrone’s eyes open wide. “You still have that?”

“Yeah. I never intended to use it against him. I just…the video made me fall more in love with him. When he talks about Lilly and how they grew up, how much he loved her and what happened when he found her, you just know that it was raw and honest. Every single word he uttered in that video showed Jackson’s soul. He spoke straight from the heart.”
Tyrone’s eyes are gleaming. “I never thought I’d say this, but we need to use that video. Influence the media, get people to hear what happened. It might not change their minds completely and there will still be people out there wanting him to serve time, but I think a majority will agree that he was justified.”

Ricardo snaps his fingers. “I agree. Upload that su¢ker on youtube right now.”

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 74

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 74 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY FOUR:

(Alyssa)

I learned the world was unfair at an early age. I knew that the bad guys sometimes won and that the good usually paid the price for their sins.

What I don’t understand, is why I was forced to learn the harsh lesson twice in my life and why it had to involve the two men I loved the most.

Ford’s living his life free as can be while Jackson’s sitting in a jail cell.

For mur dering Lilly’s ki ller.

Ford attempted to get him for the mur der of DeLuca but Ricardo and I vehemently fought those accusations without incriminating Lou-Lou.

Besides, it’s not like anyone would be able to find her even if we did give her up. She skipped town right after ki lling DeLuca and no one’s heard from her since. Not even Ricardo.

I have no idea what the story is between the three of them, but something tells me that Lou-Lou needed to ki ll DeLuca way more than I ever did…and that’s saying something.

As luck would have it, the secret wire Ford was wearing in the warehouse didn’t support his claims that Jackson ki lled DeLuca, either.

Ford couldn’t pin that on him no matter how hard he tried.

Unfortunately, the tape didn’t get any incriminating evidence on Ford himself, the tape just magically happened to ‘pick up’ right when Jackson walked in and admitted to being a ki ller. Then it cut off.

And since Ford played both sides of the fence, he claims that he was working undercover at the warehouse. And since he did call for backup he’s not being investigated.

But little did Ford know…I have my own brand of justice that I want to personally serve him.

After tracking down and talking to a few of my dad’s old friends who are still members of the FBI, it was finally going to happen.

Jackson was right…I’m not a ki ller. My soul isn’t tarnished, but my childhood was.

BLAME IT ON THE PAIN : EPISODE 71 – THE END

I make sure that I have everything in place before I walk into Ford’s office. I’m surprisingly feeling calm. The look on his face tells me that he most definitely wasn’t expecting me, but he’s pleased nonetheless.

“Alyssa,” he says.

He stands up from his desk and it’s so reminiscent of that day, nausea overwhelms me.

I fi ght through it, though and take a deep breath.

He walks around his desk and smiles at me. “I knew you would come to your senses. I knew you would realize that I was only protecting you and I knew you would forgive me sooner or later. I love you, Alyssa. Everything I did was for you.”

I just stare at him, dumbfounded. It’s never occurred to me before that Ford might be downright delusional.

Or maybe, he’s lied so much that he just can’t tell the truth from all of the different worlds he’s created.

When I don’t say anything, he takes a step closer to me.

I stand there silently urging him to dig his own hole. “I couldn’t let you be with Jackson, sweetheart. I had to make him go away. You belong to me, you always have.”

He reaches for my hand. “I divorced Penelope for you a few months ago. I wanted to take you on vacation after I got rid of DeLuca and surprise you. We can get married now just like you always wanted. I’m choosing you this time.”

I try my hardest not to grin. This is turning out even better than expected.

“You were really going to get rid of him for me?”

He ksses my wrist. “I’d do anything for you.”

I reach up and touch his cheek. “I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“At what age did I first belong to you, Ford?”

He blinks and makes a face. “Come on, Alyssa. Don’t be stupid. You remember that night in my car by the docks. You promised to be mine forever.”

I lean into him and nuzzle his neck, my nausea getting worse the closer I get to him. “I know it was around my birthday, but I’m having trouble with my exact age. I was hoping you could refresh my memory.”

The look on his face is priceless as he pushes me away. “Nice try, sweetheart. Are you really that dumb that you don’t know the law?”

He walks back to his desk. “Bit of advice, never try to school a federal agent on the law.” He crosses his arms over his chest and gives me that movie star smile that makes me want to hurl. “The age of consent in New York is 17.”

He sits down and props his elbows on the desk. “And I hate to break it to you, but even if that night was illegal; New York’s statute of limitations is only 5 years from the time you turn 18. You’re 24, Alyssa. Your time has run out.”

He props his feet up on his desk. “In other words, you’re s¢rewed. Besides, we never had intercourse when you were 17, anyway. You were 21 the first and only time I fked you.”

I don’t know which is worse, how much thought he’s obviously put into this, or the smug smirk plastered on his face.

A smirk that I can’t wait to wipe off.

I take a step forward and smile sweetly at him. “Hmm. You know what? You’re right. I’m sorry, Ford.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “I’m sorry the night you put your hand down my pa nties and touched me in your car, that I was only 17.” I put my finger to my lips. “Or maybe even 16 depending on the exact time.”

I take another step forward. “On second thought, No. I’m not sorry. Because I was too young to be making the adult decision to let you touch me like that. And we both know, that as the only adult in the car; you should have known better than to touch me like that.”

He stabs his finger in the air. “Save your breath because it doesn’t matter. You’ve got nothing on me.”

He sits up in his chair and snickers. “It doesn’t matter that I was the first man to see and stick my fingers in that innocent, hole, before you became a wh’re. It doesn’t matter, Alyssa…because you’re too late.”

I sharpen my eyes in his direction and reach for the goblin on my necklace. “Does it matter that it was in Jersey, Ford?”

I can see the wheels spinning in his head and I continue, “Because those docks were technically in Jersey territory.”

I open my arms wide. “And you know the great thing about Jersey?”

When he doesn’t answer I proclaim, “There is no statute of limitations for sxual assault. And there is no deadline for filing sxual assault charges.”

His jaw practically hits the floor. “And just so we’re clear here, Special Agent. You did just fully admit to sxually assaulting me and penetrating me with your fingers when I was a teenager. And given your position of power and authority as an officer and the fact that you had a gvn on you…do you know what that means?”

He slams the desk with his hand. “Knock this sht off, Alyssa. You wanted it. You dressed like a little wh’re and you begged for me that night. It was all you.”

I ignore him. “It means that it’s technically aggravated sxual as sault. And do you know what that’s punishable by?”

I look up to the heavens and smile. “Up to 20 years in prison.”

I start unbuttoning my shirt. “And there’s plenty of proof, including phone records. And let’s not forget that you gave me a car when I was 17. In addition to your ex-wife who’s willing to testify.”

I undo the first 3 buttons and I open my shirt. “And there’s the fact that I’m wearing a wire and just caught every disgusting thing you said.”

He charges after me, but the door opens and in walk a few men in uniform. I wave to my dad’s former friend who now lives in Jersey and is an officer there.

“Ford Baker you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent…” the officer’s start to say as they handcuff him.

I walk over to him and put my hands on his cheeks.

“How could you do this to me?” he whispers.

I look at him hard and say, “You only did it to yourself, Ford.”

“But why?”

My grip tightens around his cheeks. “Because sometimes in life, sweetheart. The good guys win.”

I let go of him but he leans his forehead against mine. “Do you know what they do to cops in jail, Alyssa?”

I grab his face again and stare into his eyes. “I’m not sure. I imagine it will be harsh, though. Given they don’t take kindly to cops who commit sxual as sault on children.” I wrap one hand around the back of his neck. “And with that handsome face of yours…you’re probably going to be passed around like a little wh’re.” I lower my voice and whisper in his ear, “But if I were you, I’d be even more worried…because I hear that you’re going to be sharing a cell with Jackson.”

When I back away his face pales and he starts trembling.

I kss the goblin and look at him one last time. “I think my father would be really proud of me right now.”

And then I slam the door.

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 72

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 72 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY TWO:

When we get out of the car he says, “By the way, I’m not letting DeLuca ki ll you. So, just know that whatever happens, I got your back.”

I guess Ricardo’s been armed the whole time after all.

We begin walking toward the warehouse and I place both my gvns to their heads again and have them walk in front of me.

Seeing as I didn’t notice DeLuca’s car anywhere, I almost piss my p ants when I look down and see a pair of metal tipped shoes.

“Back the fk up,” I command in his direction, surprising myself.

He takes a few steps back and the look he gives me could burn through glass. I take in his jagged scar, which still hasn’t faded much over the years and his ev’l eyes and my stomach recoils.

How can a single person be the source of every nightmare? I can’t help it, I start sweating and breathing erratically.

Before I can say another word, he looks at Lou-Lou. “Are you okay, Bambina? Has she hurt you?”

Clearly, he really doesn’t give a fk about Ricardo.

“I’m fine,” she replies icily.

“Don’t take that tone with me,” he barks, almost causing me to jump. “You know I worry about you, Lucianna.”

Lou-Lou looks up at him and it’s like she transforms into a servant right before my very eyes. “I’m so sorry, mio amore. It’s been a long day.”

I see Ricardo’s entire body tense in front of me and I gotta say, my heart goes out to him.

I haven’t taken much Italian…but I do know what ‘mio amore’ means- ‘my love.’

It’s obvious DeLuca and Lou-Lou are in a relationship of some kind.

Wow. That’s just…sht balls.

Not to mention…odd and kinda gross.

Lou-Lou’s my age. DeLuca’s in his late 50’s, at least. Not that I should really be one to judge. But now her statement about me and Ford makes perfect sense.

Poor Ricardo.

I can’t focus on that right now, though. I have a ba$tard to ki ll first.

“Sit over there,” I tell them, motioning to the wall.

They do as I say, but I don’t miss the look in Ricardo’s eye, telling me to get this over with.

I have to take a long deep breath when I realize that it’s just DeLuca and I facing one another.

It’s surreal. I don’t know whether to pinch myself because it’s finally happening or scream because a part of me is petrified.

“Alyssa,” he says.

I internally shiver because hearing him say my name sounds like nails on a chalkboard. “So we meet again.”

He gives me an ev’l smirk. “Only much closer this time.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” I say, my voice surprisingly strong.

He puts his hand in his pocket but I point the gvn toward Lou-Lou and he pauses.

Dmmit, I should have done this earlier. Stupid fker already showed his cards. “Stand by me, Lou-Lou,” I order.

“No!” DeLuca shouts. Ricardo narrows his eyes at me, but I ignore him.

Lou-Lou ignores DeLuca, stands up and walks over to me—staying true to her word. I don’t miss the look DeLuca gives her. He’s pissed.

I pull her in front of me. “It’s safe to say that you might not want to make any sudden movements again. I specifically told you to come unarmed.”

I glare at him. “Granted, it’s not a crowbar, but I swear you’ll feel every second of the impact when I ki ll her.”

Lou-Lou’s lower lip trembles and I don’t know if it’s an act or the truth, but either way, it makes DeLuca remove his hand from his pocket.

“You’ll never get away with this,” he says.

I laugh at him. “I beg to differ.”

That’s when I hear the sound of someone’s footsteps and see a large shadow walking through the back entrance of the warehouse. My heart and my stomach reel when I see a gray suit come into focus and I look up into a pair of blue eyes.

Then I notice the barrel of his gvn is pointed at me. “Drop the gvn, Alyssa,” Ford sneers.

My 10-year old heart breaks all over again. “You gonna ki ll me, Ford? That’s what it’s come down to?”

I hate that there’s a small part of me that can’t ki ll him because he’s the tie to my dad and my dad loved him.

His eyes waver and he sighs. “You know I could never do that. But I can’t let you ki ll DeLuca, either.”

“Why not?”

“Because then how would you find out the truth, Alyssa?” DeLuca sneers behind him.

I hear a gvn co¢k and DeLuca laughs and says, “I appreciate you volunteering to be my bodyguard, Ford.”

Ford ¢urses under his breath and closes his eyes.

“However, I suggest you stay right where you are, special agent. There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell Alyssa.”

Ford moves the gvn toward Lou-Lou. “If you do, then I’ll take out Lou-Lou.”

That’s when Ricardo stands up. I breathe easy because I know he’s on my side.

Or at least, I thought he was.

Ricardo co¢ks his gvn and stands behind me. “And I’ll take out Alyssa,” he says to Ford.

Over Ford’s shoulder, I see DeLuca smile. “Good job, son. I’m proud of you.”

“Sht,” I mutter as Ricardo jabs the gvn into my lower back.

“Sorry, Alyssa,” Ricardo says. “But I’m not letting him ki ll Lou-Lou.”

It’s safe to say, my plan has officially gone to h’ll in a hand-basket. Everyone has a gvn pointed at them except for DeLuca. Everyone’s going to die, except the one person who should. This situation is completely messed.

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 71

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 71 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY ONE:

(Alyssa)

“Alyssa’s been shot. Come quick,” Ricardo shouts from the backseat of Lou-Lou’s car before he hangs up the phone.

I point my gvn at his chest. “Really, you couldn’t have done better than that?”

“It got the message across. He won’t be with Ford anymore.”

I dig the gvn into Lou-Lou’s temple. “Now it’s your turn.”

BLAME IT ON THE PAIN : EPISODE 71 – THE END. Thingscouplesdo

She pulls up Ford’s contact information and hits send. He picks up right away. “Lou-Lou?”

“Hi, Ford. Alyssa’s holding me hostage and she knows what you’re up to.”

“I don’t believe you,” he snarls.

I grab the phone from her. “Hello, Ford. Or should I say—special manipulating ba$tard agent Ford?”

His breathing becomes uneasy but he stays silent.

“I’m going to make this deal easy for you. Meet me down at the docks. Leave Jackson alone. This is between you, me, and DeLuca. If you bring Jackson, I swear on my father’s de ath…it will be the last thing you ever do.”

“Alyssa, no. Don’t do this,” he whispers. I don’t respond.

“Alyssa,” he screams.

That’s when I hang up and look at Ricardo.

“You still have one more phone call to make.”

I see his adam’s apple bob and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Ricardo look nervous.

He puts the phone up to his ear. “Yeah, it’s me.”

I hear some murmuring on the other line.

“I know you’re busy. But something’s come up.”

Just knowing that it’s DeLuca on the other line makes me want to vomit. I have to force myself to breathe and not pass out.

“I’m being held hostage,” Ricardo says before he adds, “I know you don’t care.”

Uh-oh. This is not the way I saw this going. I counted on Ricardo being my advantage.

“Tell him who’s holding you hostage and tell him he better be unarmed when he shows up or I’ll ki ll you.”

I wish I could see the look on his face when he hears that it’s me behind all this.

Ricardo looks at me before he says, “Listen, you need to meet us at the docks near Jersey. Alyssa Tanner’s holding a gvn to my face.”

There’s more mumbling on the other line.

Ricardo closes his eyes and lets out a frustrated sigh. When he opens them, he gives me that murderous look before he screams, “I know you don’t give a fk about me, Babbo…but she’s got Lucianna! And she will ki ll her. Make sure you come unarmed!”

There’s silence on the other line and my stomach lurches. My plan is going downhill, fast.

“Okay. I’ll be there…unarmed. Make sure that bch doesn’t touch a hair on Lucianna’s head or I’ll be bashing hers in just like her father’s,” DeLuca’s gritty voice shouts before he hangs up.

I look over at Lou-Lou in shock. And to think, I almost didn’t want to drag her into this. I was only holding her hostage as a way to get Ricardo to cooperate. I was going to have her drive us to the docks and let her go.

She’s the last person I ever expected to be DeLuca’s soft spot.

“Dmn, Lou-Lou. I sure as fk underestimated you.”

She looks up and gives me a wink. “Yes you did, bch. And if you want DeLuca brought to his knees, I’ll be glad to help you do it. But if you hurt Ricardo; trust me—I’ll make your life even more of a living h’ll than it already was.”

I’m not sure if I have a newfound respect for her…or if she’s just managed to scare the crap out of me.

“Noted, now start driving.”

I adjust myself in the passenger seat of Lou-Lou’s car. I have one gvn pointed at her head and one gvn pointed at Ricardo in the backseat. “Either one of you try and pull something, I’ll be reenacting my own version of Romeo and Juliet, got it?

They both nod and I gesture between them with my gvns. “So, what’s the story between you two? I gotta hear this.”

Ricardo lifts his chin and glares at me. “None of your business,” he grits through his teeth.

I crinkle my nose at him. “Well, seeing as I’m the one holding a gvn to your face, call me crazy but I’d say it was.”

“Oh, I’m calling you crazy alright,” he mumbles.

“Seriously,” Lou-Lou chimes in. “You got a set of cajones, Alyssa. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks, I think. But I’m not crazy,” I say softly. “I’m just protecting Jackson and getting my revenge.”

We stay in silence for the better part of an hour. And all I can think is—what makes Lou-Lou so important to DeLuca? Even more important than his own son?

She can’t be his daughter. That would make Ricardo and Lou-Lou’s relationship beyond twisted, especially if it was mostly based on sx.

Unless? Well, I’ll be dmned.

“Are you guys like step-brother and step-sister or something?” I wiggle my eyebrows. “I’m not judging, that’s kinda hot.”

“Fk off,” Ricardo barks.

“He’s not my step-brother,” Lou-Lou whispers.

“Why are you so important to DeLuca?” I ask. She grips the steering wheel and winces. “Probably the same reason you’re so important to Ford.”

I have no idea what she means by that, but I have to put it on the back burner because we start pulling up to the docks.

My eyes automatically look at the spot where my father died and I start dry heaving. For a moment, I feel just like that little girl trapped in the car who watched it all happen.

Surprisingly, both Ricardo and Lou-Lou put a hand on my shoulder. “Breathe, Alyssa. DeLuca will be here any minute; if he’s not here already and you’ll make one h’ll of an easy target if you’re passed out. Then all of this will be for nothing,” Ricardo says.

“It’s true,” Lou-Lou whispers. “It’s time to get your payback. DeLuca deserves everything that’s coming to him,” she says before she gets out of the car.

Ricardo looks in her direction before he closes his eyes and sighs. “Go big or go home, right?”

“I don’t think I can do it out here. Not in the same place my father died. It just feels…wrong.”

“I get it.” He gestures his head to a small run-down building. “There’s a warehouse over there.”

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 69

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 69 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SIXTY NINE:

(Alyssa)

“Ford, it’s me again. I need you to call me back, please. It’s important,” I say before I hang up.

I never thought I’d find myself in this position again. However, I know it’s the only way. We can’t beat DeLuca on our own and he’s the only resource I have.

Despite how much of an asshole he is, I know that Ford wants to nail DeLuca. And now that I know for a fact that it’s his club…I’m going to help him come up with a plan to do it.

I’m going to have him use me as bait like he originally intended. Then, Ford will take care of him and Jackson and I will be free.

Well, that’s what I’m hoping will happen, but Ford has yet to call me back.

It’s been almost a week since I first reached out to him. It’s strange that he still hasn’t contacted me.

I was hoping to see him and finalize a plan before Jackson has to fight again tomorrow night. There’s no telling what will happen in that cage after Tyrone’s last fi ght.

Since Jackson’s currently at the hospital visiting Tyrone, I’m taking the opportunity to slip out and go to Ford’s house myself.

It’s too close to Jackson’s fi ght and I can’t take the chance of him getting hurt, I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect him.

The cab ride to Ford’s is over an hour away, so I take the time to formulate the start of a good plan. I know that going to the club won’t work since DeLuca never shows up there himself. Not to mention, setting up some kind of meeting there would harbor too many witnesses. There’s no way Ford would take him out with that many people around.

I have to find a way to get DeLuca secluded and completely alone, but I don’t know how to go about that.

My mind’s on the verge of figuring out a way to do it, but every time I get closer, I hit a mental block and I can’t work my way around it.

The cab finally pulls up to Ford’s house and what I see causes me to freak the h’ll out.

There’s a red Mustang parked in his driveway.

Ricardo’s here.

What the h’ll is Ricardo doing here?

“Miss, are you getting out or not?” the cab driver grumbles. “Not,” I tell him. “Take me back home.”

With a cusse, he starts to drive away.

I’m more confused than ever now. It’s obvious that Ford and Ricardo are doing business together, but what?

I sit up straight in my seat when I realize. They’ve got to be trying to take down DeLuca? That’s the only tie those two have to one another.

My cell phone starts ringing and I almost want to ignore it because I don’t want Shane to ask me to work tomorrow night. My life is hectic right now and there’s no way I’m going to be able to focus on working at the bar while Jackson could be getting ki lled in the cage.

I rub my temples and answer the phone anyway. “Hey, Shane.”

“Do you have a twin?”

Okay, that’s not what I was expecting him to say.

“No, I’m an only child,” I say, pushing down sad memories.

“I was joking, Alyssa.” He laughs. “Besides, the chick I’m staring at is hot but she looks like an older, more sophisticated version of you, no offense.”

“None taken.” Then it dawns on me. “Does she have blonde hair?”

“Yup. And she just asked to speak to you. Hold on.”

Why is Penelope sitting at Finnley’s right now?

“Hey, Penelope. Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know. You tell me?” she replies in a snarky tone.

“Um…you’re the one sitting at my job. What’s going on?”

“I thought you learned your lesson when it came to Ford?”

Sht…she must still be checking his phone records.

“I did. I only reached out to Ford because I’m having a personal problem that I need to involve the police with. I figured calling him would speed things along, but he still hasn’t called me back.”

I can practically smell the wood burning from her thinking so hard on the other line.

“Don’t lie to me, Alyssa. Look, I’m not jealous. I don’t want him back, but I am concerned about you going back to him because you and your current boyfriend are having problems.”

I blow out a breath, trying my hardest not to go off on her for sticking her nose in my business. “Penelope, I’m never going back to Ford. I’m in love with Jackson.”

“Then why the h’ll did I find plane tickets and passports with both your names on it?”

Say what?

“I’m sorry. I think I misheard you.”

“No, you didn’t. I went there to pick up my mail yesterday—since the id!ot insisted on keeping the house that he bought in the settlement. He wasn’t home so I used my key and out on the coffee table were two tickets to Mexico along with two passports. One for you and one for him.”

“Oh my god. That’s crazy.”

“Exactly—” she starts to say.

“I’m not leaving the country with Ford. I have no idea what’s going on or what he’s planning. But I need you to promise me that you won’t mention a word of this to him. Don’t tell him that you know me and please don’t tell him that we had this conversation, okay?”

“Sht, what’s going on, Alyssa?”

“I don’t know,” I answer, before I hang up.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I look out the window and see city buildings.

I quickly take into account all the things I just found out—Ricardo and Ford have some kind of dealings going on together. My guess, is that it involves DeLuca. The only thing that doesn’t make sense— is why the h’ll Ford’s planning on whisking me off to freaking Mexico.

The only thing I can think of, is that Ford probably doesn’t know that I’m with Jackson because we haven’t had contact for months. He knows I’ve never kept boyfriends in the past and he probably just assumed I’m single.

On the plus side, Ricardo and Ford must be gearing up to take DeLuca down. And if my suspicions about Ricardo are correct, who better than him to help do it?

On the negative side, Ford’s going to attempt to woo me and take me on vacation. Clearly he has another thing coming, but I’ll gladly accept him getting rid of DeLuca for me and Jackson.

What I don’t understand is why the heck he never picked up his phone for me if he’s planning on doing all this? But then again, it’s Ford. He’s about as predictable as a tidal wave.

I pay the cab driver and walk into the apartment. Now that Jackson gave me a key, I don’t have to knock on the door anymore.

“Hey,” a deep voice says.

I turn around and practically have a heart attack when I see Ricardo standing before me.

How the h’ll did he make it back here so fast? Then again, he does drive a mustang.

He looks at me and makes a face. “Look, you’ve been acting a little strange around me ever since that fi ght. I hope you know that I really didn’t mean to pun¢h you. You don’t have to be scared of me, Alyssa.”

“Yeah,” I squeak.

He scratches the back of his neck and it’s only then that I notice he’s wearing a sweat stained t-shirt and a pair of shorts. His hair is wet and his skin is glistening. He looks like he just finished working out, not driving back from Long Island.

“Where did you just come from?”

“The gym. Why?”

“Are you sure?”

He leans in and gives me a peculiar look. If he wasn’t so intimidating, he’d be ridiculously good looking. “Am I sure I got back from the gym?” He smirks. “Yeah, I’m positive. So, I’ll ask you again. Why?”

“No r-reason.” I turn around and attempt to get my key in the door as he walks across the hall to his own apartment.

Then it occurs to me. He could have let someone else borrow his car. Or, maybe it wasn’t Ricardo’s car in the driveway after all?

There’s only one way to find out. “Hey, Ricardo? I was wondering if you would mind giving me a ride.”

“I would, but I don’t have my car.”

Before I can question him further he says, “But you should already know that Jackson’s borrowing my car until tomorrow morning because he’s going to Boston.” He shrugs. “Kind of surprised you didn’t go with him actually.”

“Going to Boston?” I whisper.

Jackson definitely never mentioned going to Boston this morning.

No. This can’t be happening.

I open my mouth to cover my fumble but Ricardo says,“He’s going to Boston to visit Lilly’s grave. Today’s her birthday.”

He takes a step forward and gives me an odd look. “Did he not tell you?”

“Of course, he did.” I laugh nervously. “I just forgot is all.” I give him a big smile. “I am naturally a blonde…we do have our moments.”

He co¢ks an eyebrow. “Yeah. Okay, then. I’m gonna take a shower. Talk to you later.”

I give him a wave before closing and locking the door behind me. Then I start hyperventilating.

Now it makes sense. It’s not Ricardo and Ford working together. It’s Jackson and Ford.

Which means that Ford does know I’m with Jackson.

But those plane tickets and passports…they can only mean one thing.

Ford is setting Jackson up to ki ll DeLuca and Jackson has no idea.

I wish he didn’t shut me out when I tried to tell him everything that happened between Ford and I. Then he would already know not to trust him.

I pick up my phone and dial Jackson but it goes straight to voicemail. I leave the longest message I’ve ever left detailing everything that Ford did to me, including what happened that day in his office.

I also dial Ford, it rings a few times before going to voicemail. I close my eyes. In the back of my mind, I always knew this day would come. I used to be ashamed that I was so terrified about my date with DeLuca.

I mean, who doesn’t want vengeance for the de ath of their father?

I thought I would cry and fall apart when it happened. But surprisingly, I feel like I’m finally thinking rationally.

It’s time to have my dance with the D’vil.

It’s time to protect the man I love and inflict retribution on DeLuca for the one that I lost. Even if it’s the last thing I do.

I walk into the bedroom and start going through the boxes that I moved in over the past week.

Covered in a pile of old clothes I find my lock box. I take it out, punch in the combination and open it. I eye my revolver and my semi-automatic p!stol. The one good thing that came out of my relationship with Ford was him teaching me how to shoot a gvn and taking me to the firing range when I was younger.

I make sure they’re both loaded and ready to go before throwing a sweatshirt on and tucking both gvns into the waistband of my jeans.

It’s funny how a plan formulates itself when you find out the person you love is in danger.

I knock on Lou-Lou’s door and wait for her to answer. I know her and Ricardo have some major problems and still haven’t worked any of their sht out.

But quite frankly, I don’t really give a fk at this point. I just need someone to use as leverage against Ricardo and that someone is Lou-Lou.

She answers the door and although she looks surprised to see me, she invites me in.

As soon as the door is closed, I take out the revolver and put it to her head. “You crazy ch!” she screams. “I thought we were friends now? What the fk are you doing?”

“We are. This is nothing personal, Lou-Lou. I just need a hostage.”

I pull her hair and position her in front of me. Given she’s so tiny, it’s easy to push her around. “However, feel free to think of this as payback for being such a bch to me.”

She starts screaming, but I dig the gvn into her head. “Scream and I’ll ki ll you. Trust me, you don’t want to fk with me right now.”

She takes a deep breath. “Can you at least tell me why you’re doing this?”

“Jackson’s in trouble with a certain mob boss.”

“Bruno,” she whispers.

“Ah, I see you’re on a first-name basis with the id!ot. Good to know, that might come in handy.” I shove her in front of me. “Now open the door and start walking down the hall to Ricardo’s. If you run…I swear I’ll ki ll him.”

She opens the door with shaky hands and starts walking. She knocks on his door but he doesn’t answer. That’s when I remember. “Sht, he’s in the shower.”

“I have a key,” Lou-Lou offers. “It’s in my back pocket.”

“I’m not falling for that.”

“Then you can get it,” she insists.

I dig the gvn into her temple as I get her keys out of her back pocket and hand them to her. “You attack me with those and I’ll shoot.”

“I know.”

Part of me is wondering why she’s being so cooperative, but I don’t have the time to question it.

We walk into Ricardo’s apartment and I walk us to the bathroom, with Lou-Lou as my hostage.

Since there’s no point in knocking on his bathroom door. I have Lou-Lou open it.

The look on Ricardo’s face when he see’s that I’m holding a gvn up to Lou-Lou’s head is one for the record books.

He reaches for a towel and quickly wraps it around his waist before he steps out of the shower.

That’s when I silently pat myself on the back because the fact that he’s nked as the day he was born means that he has no weapons on him.

However, what bewilders me is why he isn’t more freaked out about this. I know he’s worried about Lou-Lou, that’s more than evident by the way he looks at her. But the fact that he’s not puzzled by his current predicament is unnerving.

“How did you find out?” he says, his tone solemn.

I open my mouth, but Lou-Lou cuts me off by screaming, “I didn’t tell this bch sht, Ricky.”

I wha ck her head with the gvn. “No talking.” I look at Ricardo. “You have his eyes. I’ll never forget his eyes. They haunt me in my dreams.”

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 68

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 68 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SIXTY EIGHT:

“Ten years in his underground fi ght club. Which is a load of bull if you ask me, because I’ve seen law enforcement officials there before. H’ll, they place some of the highest bets. Anyway, the terms were one fight every two weeks, to ensure I could recover from any potential injuries.”

I grab a stool to sit down on. “I’d be appointed a coach to ensure I never skipped town and to keep me on a leash.”

“Ricardo,” she whispers.

I nod. “Yup. I’d also have to win at least 99% of my fi ghts.”

Her mouth hangs open. “That’s impossible. No one’s that good.”

“You are if it’s your life on the line.”

“You can’t be that good for 10 years straight Jackson! Your body will start to deteriorate, it will break down from all the constant wear and tear. There’s no way you can stay number one for 10 years straight. I’ve seen the guys you’re up against, they’re nothing but freak shows on steroids ”

Her lower lip trembles and I can see the tears in her eyes. “Oh, god. DeLuca knows this. He knows that you’ll most likely die in the cage before your contract is up. H’ll, he’ll probably make sure that it happens.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much what happens. The only one who’s ever made it through his 10 years alive is Ricardo. The reason Tyrone and I are the best right now is because there’s no one else to compare us to. For the most part, guys usually die in the cage around the first year.

If he senses you’re weak, then he matches you up with an opponent he knows you can’t take. If you prove to be worthy, well, then you usually get the honor of dying in the cage around the 7th or 8th year. DeLuca likes to up the stakes by then. Trust me, it’s some real fked up sht.”

I look up to the ceiling because I can’t look at her when I say this. “And by your 7th or 8th year, it’s probably bittersweet because you’re so close to being out. You can taste it.

But, at the same time, the mentality of being nothing but a machine has gotten to you, so unless you have something on the outside that grounds you, something to go back to…there’s really no point in fi ghting anymore.

Sometimes I think the guys don’t make it because they just give up. They get tired of feeling the pain that fuels them to survive. I know I am.”

“Lilly’s mu rder is how you survive, isn’t it? That’s the source of all your pain.”

“I have to relive every second of it every time I’m in that cage. It’s the only way.”

I want to tell her that she was the one who grounded me, who made it better for me, and that she was my something to look forward to, but there’s something more important that she needs to hear.

“I wanted to protect you, that’s why I didn’t tell you about DeLuca. I tried to let you go a few times, but I couldn’t do it. I need you like I need my pain to win my fi ghts.”

“What are we gonna do, Jackson?” A single tear falls down her cheek. “How do we make it through this?”

I don’t answer her, instead, I tear the tape off her wrists and hold her in my arms. She buries her face into my chest and sobs her heart out.

“I agree with Ricardo. Don’t go after DeLuca. It’s too risky and you’ll end up de ad. We’ll have to find another way. There has to be another way. I can’t and I won’t lose another man that I love to him.”

I stay silent because there is another way; the only way to stop him. I could care less about my own life, but I’m not letting him take hers.

She tilts her head up and I don’t even hesitate to crush her mouth against mine.

There are so many emotions filtering the energy running through us, there’s only one way to exert it right now.

I lift her up, place her on the counter and she wraps her Iegs around my waist. I wish I could be more gentle with her given the fact that I know she’s probably feeling sore from what happened earlier, but when she sits up, takes off my shirt and scratches her nails down my back, I lose my composure.

BLAME IT ON THE PAIN : EPISODE 61 – 70

“Thank you,” she breathes. “You have no idea how much I needed that. How much I needed to lose myself in you.”

I almost laugh because I’m pretty sure I should be thanking her for that experience. I pick her up and carry her into the bedroom. “You never have to thank me for that. Besides, I needed it just as much, maybe even more.”

I pull back the covers and curl up beside her. “I love you,” she whispers before she drifts off to sleep.

I kss the spot over her heart. “I love you,” I say before I stand up and reach for my cell phone.

I step out into the hallway and dial Ford’s number. He answers on the third ring. “I want to talk about that deal.”

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 67

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 67 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SIXTY SEVEN:

(Jackson)

I’ve thought about having Alyssa bound and ga gged quite a lot since I first met her.

I just never thought I’d be partaking in it to get her to stop screaming such god awful, vile things to me in the middle of a parking garage.

And the fact that she actually thinks I would hurt her? Or worse, ki ll her?

I just don’t have the words to express what that does to me.

I wanted to bash my own head through a wall right after I saw what Ricardo and I did to her when she jumped in the middle of our fi ght. I’ve never felt like such an id!ot but I didn’t even see her. H’ll, I didn’t even know she was standing in the room because I was too worked up about Ricardo and his possible involvement.

And of course, the fact that my best friend was in the middle of surgery and the doctors had just told us there was a chance he wouldn’t make it.

Then that sht happened.

Then she looked at me the way she did.

I figured she just needed space because of what happened but when I came back, she was different.

I saw her talking with Shelby and then she just collapsed.

I thought she was having a reoccurring symptom due to still being sick. Then she walked over to Lou-Lou and held her hand. Fking Lou-Lou, the girl she basically hates. She’d rather hold her hand than mine while I’m going through all this sht.

I knew something wasn’t right.

And when she gave me a different look—a look that could have ki lled me dead right where I stood and threatened to have me hauled off to jail over an accident…I knew I was fked.

I knew that somehow…she had figured out the truth.

Then I heard the news about Tyrone and although I’m beyond relieved that he’s alive…I know that when he wakes up and processes everything, he’s going to be inconsolable. I’m inconsolable for him but I’ll be there for him and whatever he needs.

The last thing I wanted to do was have it out with Alyssa, I wanted to stay by my best friend’s side. Momma told me to go and said he’d probably be out of it until sometime tomorrow, but I still wanted to stay.

Then Alyssa mentioned going back to her own apartment and I knew this sht had to be dealt with tonight. She wasn’t cutting me any kind of slack and I sure as h’ll wasn’t losing her without a fi ght.

However, when she said those things to me in the parking garage? Spewing such hurtful things, things like I was the one who ki lled Lilly and she wanted to know where I buried her body. That was the closest I’d ever come to wanting to h it a female.

I settled for throwing her in the passenger seat and covering her vicious mouth with duct tape, instead.

Since she had no choice but to remain silent throughout the drive, I took the opportunity to put myself in her place.

That only made me feel like a shthead. Of course, she would think I was setting her up, regardless of the fact that she was the one who walked into his club. The fact is, DeLuca’s been the metaphorical boogie man to her ever since she was a child. She knows first-hand what he’s capable of.

No wonder she didn’t push further after I said it wasn’t his club. She completely dropped it and never asked me again. A part of me thinks that she didn’t want it to be his club, because he scares the absolute sht out of her, with good reason.

I can’t help but think that if she knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was his club, then a big part of her would feel like she’d have no choice but to avenge her father’s death…even if it ended up in her murder.

Which let’s face it…it most definitely would.

That’s one h’ll of a demand to put on yourself, especially after going through everything that she already has. Not to mention Ford’s own method of brainwashing that he did.

She was probably relieved when I told her that DeLuca wasn’t the owner. Grateful that she had a few more minutes on the clock before her time was up.

Putting myself in her place puts it into perspective for me.

She’s still trembling and I wish that I could hold her, but I know she needs to hear about my involvement with DeLuca before she’ll let that happen.

If she’ll ever let that happen.

“Everything I told you about Lilly is the truth. With the exception of me getting off on self-defense.” She looks confused so I continue, “I was going down for both Mike and Lilly’s mu rder,” I say as her eyes open wide.

Maybe now she’ll realize how much those things she said hurt me. “I didn’t ki ll Lilly, Alyssa.”

“I know,” she whispers. “I know that now. I just don’t know why you would lie to me, Jackson. I loved you. I trusted you. Why would you set me up?”

Her voice is so small and broken my chest squeezes.

“I’m not setting you up, baby. I would never do that to you.”

“Tell me why you’re working for him then. Tell me why you’re continuing to work for him after you know what he did to me.”

“Because he’s the reason I’m out of jail.”

“How?”

“He was my deliverance. He paid off the judge, planted evidence to ensure that I’d walk, and hired the best defense attorney on the East Coast. H’ll, DeLuca did such a good job it didn’t even make it to trial.”

“What was the catch?”

“The catch is that I figured out that the devil doesn’t offer you deal’s, Alyssa. He only offers you an arrangement with a steep pay off. And he prefers his payment in bIood.”

She looks down and shivers. “Well, you know what they say—the d’vil was once an angel.”

“I don’t think this one ever was.”

“What arrangement did you make with him?”

Time to tell her everything.

TO Be Continued

Blame It On The Pain Episode 66

Thank you for choosing Siri as your online beautiful sweet story reading partner. Today we have “Blame It On The Pain Episode 66 Of Blame It On The Pain by Authoress Zion Stories Or Novels To Read with Siri.”

🧏 Blame It On The Pain SIXTY SIX:

A few moments later Momma and Shelby hug everyone goodbye. Jackson didn’t want to leave but when he heard that I was going back to my own apartment and not his, he said he’d be back later.

The four of us walk down the hallways in a clusterfk of awkwardness. Lou-Lou and I walk side by side huddled up together, the tension between her and Ricardo and Jackson and me is so visible that even the nurses stop and give our group strange looks.

“You need a ride back to your apartment, right?” Lou-Lou says after we walk out of the elevator and make our way toward the parking garage. Fortunately, Ricardo and Jackson went out a different way.

“Yeah, if you wouldn’t mind. I’d really appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

Far behind us, I hear both Ricardo and Jackson’s footsteps.

Lou-Lou and I exchange a glance wondering why they’re still following us, but we soon find out when we look over our shoulders and Ricardo tosses his keys in the air before Jackson catches them.

“Don’t wreck my baby,” he warns.

“I won’t. I appreciate the favor.”

“You owe me,” he says before he begins walking closer to Lou-Lou at the same time Jackson walks closer to me.

“Oh, sht,” Lou-Lou whispers.

“What?”

“Alyssa, I suggest that if you don’t want to be manhandled by Jackson—you start running, now.”

She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I start running like there’s a fire up my as s. I have no idea where I’m running, I just know that I’m toast if Jackson gets his hands on me. Especially knowing what I know now about him.

I’m not in the least bit turned on like I was during our last cat and mouse game at the bar. My brain and my body are fully aware that this is for survival. I’m sprinting so fast I’m surprising myself.

However, I’m still no match against Jackson. In a flash, his arm wraps around my waist and his large hand covers my mouth so I can’t scream as he drags me in the direction of some red Mustang.

In the distance, I see Ricardo doing the same thing to Lou-Lou; only he’s shouting, “Give me your keys,” in a dark tone that makes me incredibly nervous for her.

Then I have that moment, that moment where I say to myself— ‘Fk this sht.’

I’m not letting him manhandle me. He’s not taking me out of this parking garage without a fi ght.

I start kicking my legs and twisting as hard as I can against him. I even go as far as to b!te his hand which causes him to cusse.

Then I go limp and will my body to become a ferret. This way, I’ll be able to slinky myself right out of his hold.

He seems to sense what I’m doing because he gives me a sinister laugh and says, “Nice try, Damsel.”

The fact that he’s using that name with me again makes me so mad I lift my head and spit in his face.

That’s when he lifts me up and puts me right over his shoulder. “Why don’t we save the exchange of bodily fluids for after we get home, baby?”

I grunt and smack my hand against his back. “I’m not going to your apartment, Jackson,” I scream. “I know who’s fi ght club you work at. I know how you betrayed me.” I ki¢k him. “And most of all, I already know that you’re either going to ki ll me yourself or you’re handing me right over to DeLuca himself to do it.”

At this, he stops moving entirely. “Jesus Christ, you’re crazy. You know that!” he roars.

“Tell me, Jackson. How much are you getting paid to be his lackey? To do his dirty work for him?” Then I give him a sinister laugh of my own. “You really had me going with that whole Lilly story. How long did it take you to come up with that? H’ll, there probably is no Lilly, is there?”

His entire body starts shaking and his hold on me tightens, but I keep going. “Or maybe there was. Who knows? Maybe she was a disgruntled ex-girlfriend of yours? Maybe you were the one who really ki lled her. Tell me, Jackson. Where did you bury Lilly’s body right after you mur dered her, huh!”

“Shut the fk up! You have no idea what you’re talking about!” he screams so loud I jump.

He opens the door to the Mustang and throws me in the passenger seat. The vein in his neck is bulging and there’s sweat pouring down his face. I’ve never seen him this upset before, not even in the cage.

I open my mouth again, but he opens the dashboard and pulls out a roll of duct tape. Then he slams it across my mouth. I roll my eyes and proceed to peel it off but then he forces the seat all the way back, crawls on top of me and before I know it, both my wrists are being bound behind my back with the duct tape.

This action only further confirms my suspicions regarding his intentions with me.

I kick my feet up and try to kick out the windshield. He sighs and says, “Please, sit still. I know you know about my involvement with DeLuca. But there are some things that you don’t know and I would like to explain them to you. Will you let me do that?”

I ignore him and kick the windshield again, until his hand slams down on my thigh and he gets close to my face. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to ki ll you. But I swear on all that is holy, if you don’t cut this sht out, I will throw your as s in the trunk, Alyssa.”

At this, I finally stop kicking and relax in my seat.

He starts the car but points a finger at me. “I’m warning you right now, do not try and do something that will run us off the road.”

I want to tell him that since it’s New York City, there really would be no point. At most, we’ll be going 20 miles per hour before he has to slam on the breaks again. He should worry much more about me making a run for it during one of those stops.

Provided I ever get this duct tape off that is.

He starts driving in the direction of his apartment complex, which throws me for a loop. Doesn’t he know that Momma could walk in at any time? Last time I checked, it’s bad to have a witness when you commit a mu rder. It’s just one more loose end that you’ll be forced to take care of.

Oh god. Would Jackson actually ki ll Momma?

When we reach his apartment, he pulls in the back and parks in a hidden spot I’ve never seen before. All I can think is. This is where he’s going to do it.

But to my surprise, he gets out of the car and opens my door. My eyes dart around contemplating where I can run to, but he anticipates this because he picks me up and it’s back over his shoulder I go.

On the bright side, at least the surveillance footage will catch him carrying me into his apartment building like this.

My mu rder will be solved. I’ll get my lifetime wish and be headlining the 6’o’clock news after all.

I lift my head as we begin walking and spot Lou-Lou’s car parked across the street. Since her windows are tinted, I can’t see them…but I definitely hear all sorts of shouting.

The door to the complex shuts behind us and Jackson begins making his way up the staircase.

When we get inside his apartment he heads for the kitchen and sits me on a stool by the counter. He cracks his knuckles and rolls his neck. I can’t help but stare at him, that is totally a mob guy move. He notices my face and pinches the bridge of his nose before reaching for the tape across my mouth and tearing it off.

I don’t waste the opportunity, I start screaming my head off. Mariah Carey has nothing on my vocal chords right now.

Jackson grunts and covers my mouth with tape again. “Fine, I guess I’ll go first,” he says. “First of all, I love you—despite how batsht crazy you’re acting right now. Secondly, I would never hurt you or ki ll you. It ki lls me that you would ever think that. And lastly, yes I do technically work for DeLuca, but it’s not because I want to…got it?”

I shrug because I’m not really sure what he means by that. New York is an ‘at will’ state, if you don’t want to work for someone you don’t. Not that the mob really adheres to bylaws and regulations, but still. If Jackson didn’t want to work for him, he wouldn’t. Besides, why would DeLuca want to keep an employee on the payroll that didn’t even want to work for him in the first place? That’s just bad business.

Unless DeLuca is holding something over his head? But what the h’ll could DeLuca use for leverage?

Jackson begins pacing the floors. “Every single thing I told you about me is the truth, Alyssa. I know a small part of you has to know that. I mean, I put it all on video tape for you for crying out loud. You think I would confess to a mur der that I didn’t commit?”

He has a point, I guess.

I shake my head and he walks back over to me and removes the tape. “Don’t scream. Just let me explain. Okay?”

I nod my head because maybe things aren’t what they seem after all.

TO Be Continued