Page 1 of Jackson

PROLOGUE

Serenity

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Water trickles down from a leak in the ceiling and drips onto the floor as I stare up at the dark nothingness, my chest tight, my hands curled by my sides. I’ve tried everything to get comfortable, but it doesn’t seem to matter what I do; I’m just fighting a losing battle.

I’m not meant to be here.

I was so sure I made the right call going after Gerard—I thought I would end it all and we could all go back to our lives—but instead I made it all worse. Now I’m in here, being accused of things I didn’t do, with him running free somewhere. My daughter is alone. I think that hurts the most.

She shouldn’t have to be without me.

Not now.

Not ever.

What if Jackson doesn’t get me out of this? What if this is something we can’t undo? A perfect plan that has been orchestrated so well that we won’t find a single loophole. That thought has my chest clenching as I turn to my side, staring out the cell door where it seems to be constant chaos.

It’s never quiet in here.

I don’t sleep—I’m too scared to close my eyes.

Being alone in this cell seems to be more trouble than it’s worth. I’m constantly snickered at and insulted for being a princess. I didn’t choose this. Hell, I’d do just about anything togo back and change what happened. It’s an endless cycle of panic and dread that swirls around in my chest, over and over.

I want to go home.

Jackson is beside himself, and I’m afraid he’ll do something stupid just to get me out of here. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping he would go tosomeextreme to free me, but I also don’t want this to follow us around for the rest of our lives. So, for them, I keep a smile. When he visits, I tell him everything is okay.

It’s the biggest lie I’ve told in a long time.

I’m not okay.

I’m terrified.

I have to trust that they’ll find Gerard and prove that he is a psychotic killer before I’m in here for too long.

Ava.

She is the only thing that truly has my heart clenching.

My baby.

This isn’t fair.

“It’s time for lunch.”

I stare at the guard at the door, a woman who is round and angry. She hates me, just like everyone else in here. Too pretty. Too precious. Too perfect. Princess. Baby. Dolly. I get called everything. They have no idea the life I lived before I met Jackson.

“I’m not hungry,” I tell the guard, shifting my eyes to the ground.

“I wasn’t asking you. Get up, or I’ll get you up.”

She will, too.

Biting my lip, I push to my feet and stand before her, my eyes still cast down.

“Come on, princess. There are many people waiting to see your pretty face today.”

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