PHOENIX

18| I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP

Jackson woke up early the next morning, his resolve steeled. He knew that to move forward with his plans, he needed to ensure Sue and Ethan's safety first. If the Roy family was involved in something nefarious, he needed to be free to act without constantly worrying about his sister and little brother. His meeting with Melissa the day before only proved that he was moving in the right direction. The Roy family was up to something and it was his responsibility to stop them.

After a quick breakfast, he drove to Claire's office. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the city. As he parked his car and walked into the building, he couldn't help but feel a mix of anxiety and determination. This apartment was more than just a place to live; it was a safe haven for his family, a strategic move in his battle against the Roys.

Claire greeted him with a smile as he entered her office. "Good morning, Mr. Stone. Ready to finalize everything?"

Jackson nodded. "Good morning to you too, Claire. Yes, I’m ready, let's get this done."

"Just a few more signatures, Mr. Stone, and you'll be all set," Claire said with a professional smile.

Jackson nodded, forcing a smile of his own. "Thanks, Claire. I appreciate all your help."

They went through the final paperwork, and Jackson signed on the dotted lines. Claire handed him the keys with a congratulatory handshake. "Congratulations on your new apartment. I'm sure you'll be very happy there."

"Thank you, Claire. You've been a great help." Jackson replied, trying to muster enthusiasm. "Sue and Ethan will be thrilled."

Claire's smile widened. "I'm sure they will be. This complex is a wonderful place to call home."

Leaving Claire's office, Jackson felt a sense of relief wash over him. The apartment was secure, and now he could focus on the next phase of his plan.

Jackson smiled at the thought of his younger brother running through the new apartment, exploring every nook and cranny.

He called Sue on his way to the apartment, letting her know that everything was ready for their move.

"That's great news, Jackson!" Sue sounded genuinely relieved. "When can we start moving in?"

"Today, if you can manage it," Jackson replied. "I want you and Ethan settled in as soon as possible. I'll help with the move."

Sue agreed, and Jackson felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Knowing they would be safe made it easier for him to concentrate on his next steps.

Once he reached the new apartment, he began making arrangements for the move. He called the moving company he hired to help with the heavy lifting and started preparing the place for Sue and Ethan's arrival.

The apartment was spacious and well-secured, with modern amenities and a reliable security system. Claire had assured him that the building's security was top-notch, and he believed her.

As the day progressed, Jackson's thoughts returned to the Roy family. He needed to figure out what they were involved in and how he could sabotage their plans. He remembered the guarded estate, the mysterious farm visit, and the private property they had driven to. There were pieces to the puzzle, but he still did not have the full picture.

He decided to dig deeper into the family's business dealings. If he could find a weak link, something he could exploit, it would be the key to his revenge. He knew it was risky, but he was willing to take that risk to bring them down.

By evening, Sue and Ethan had moved into the apartment. Jackson helped them settle in, making sure everything was in place. As they sat down for dinner, Ethan's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Is this our new home, Jackson?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with wonder.

"Yes, buddy. This is our new home," Jackson replied, ruffling his hair. "And we're going to be safe here."

Sue looked at Jackson, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Jackson. I know this wasn't easy."

"We're family," Jackson said firmly. "We stick together."

******************

The smell of creamy mashed potatoes and sizzling steak filled the new apartment as Sue busied herself in the kitchen. The warmth of the homey meal contrasted with the tension that had been hanging over him for weeks. Jackson set the table, glancing occasionally at Ethan, who was engrossed in a book.

"Smells great, Sue," Jackson said as she brought the plates to the table.

"Thanks, Jackson," she replied with a smile. "I wanted our first meal here to be special."

They sat down, and Jackson took a moment to appreciate the normalcy of the scene. It had been a long time since he had a peaceful family dinner without the shadow of fear looming over him. Heck, it had been a long time since he had family.

"How was your day, Ethan?" Jackson asked, cutting into his steak.

"It was good! I read a lot and helped Sarah pack some things," Ethan replied, his eyes bright with excitement.

Jackson smiled, then turned to Sue. "I found a new school for Ethan. It's close to home and, more importantly, it's safe."

Sue looked relieved. "That's great news, Jackson. I've been so worried about his schooling."

"I did some research, and this place has excellent reviews. They have a strong focus on both academics and extracurricular activities," Jackson continued. "I think Ethan will thrive there."

Ethan looked up from his plate, curiosity piqued. "What kind of activities do they have?"

"Lots of things, buddy. Sports, music, art. You name it," Jackson said. "I think you're going to like it."

Sue reached over and squeezed Jackson's hand. "Thank you for taking care of this. It means a lot."

"I told you, we’re family and that means we're a team," Jackson replied. "We have to look out for each other."

They continued their meal, talking about the move and their plans for the coming days. Jackson felt a sense of calm he hadn't experienced in a long time. For the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to relax, even if just for a moment.

After dinner, they cleared the table and settled into the living room. Ethan curled up on the couch with a book, while Jackson and Sue talked quietly.

"How are you holding up?" Sue asked, her voice soft with concern.

"I'm managing," Jackson replied. "But there's still a lot to do. I need to figure out what the Roy family is up to and how I can stay one step ahead of them."

Sue nodded. "Just be careful, okay? I've already lost so much. I can't bear the thought of losing you too."

"I will," Jackson promised. "But I have to see this through. You know that."

As they sat in comfortable silence, Jackson couldn't help but worry that his sister hadn't dropped the idea of going after Melissa's family on her own. Even though he could see that she was worried about him, he knew her well enough to sense that her determination hadn't wavered.

Sue had always been fiercely independent and protective of their family. The loss she had suffered and the betrayal he had suffered had only strengthened her resolve. Jackson glanced at her, noticing the furrow in her brow as she absentmindedly twisted a strand of hair around her finger. He decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Sue," he began softly, "I need you to promise me something."

She looked up, her eyes meeting his. "What is it, Jackson?"

"I know I’ve been asking you the same thing over and over again but I don’t have a choice. I need you to promise me that you won't go after Melissa's family on your own," he said his tone firm. "It's too dangerous, and we can't afford to take any risks right now."

Sue sighed, leaning back into the couch. "Jackson, you know I can't just sit here and do nothing. They need to be held accountable for what they've done. But, you’re right,” she admitted. "I don't want to put Ethan at risk."

"Then promise me," Jackson pressed. "Promise me you'll stay out of it for now and let me handle it."

Sue nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I promise. But you have to keep me in the loop. I want to know what's going on."

"Deal," Jackson agreed. "We'll face this together, but we'll do it the right way."

Jackson was relieved that Sue had agreed, even if reluctantly, to let him handle the situation for now. He could still see the flicker of dissatisfaction in her eyes, a sign that she wasn't entirely happy about being left out. But knowing she was willing to listen to him provided a small measure of comfort. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly as he realized she trusted him enough to let him take the lead on this.

He stood up and went to the sink to wash the dishes, hoping the mundane task would help clear his mind. Sue joined him, and they worked in companionable silence, the earlier tension easing slightly.

"Thanks for dinner," Jackson said, breaking the silence. "It’s not just your cooking that improved, now know how to make a meal feel like home."

Sue smiled faintly. "It's the least I can do. We've been through a lot, and it's nice to have a moment of normalcy."

Jackson nodded. "Yeah, it is. And we'll have more of these moments. I promise."

As they finished washing the dishes, Jackson checked on Ethan, who was playing quietly with his toys in the living room. The boy looked up with a bright smile when he saw his older brother approaching.

"Hey, buddy," Jackson said, ruffling Ethan's hair. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good," Ethan replied, holding up a toy car. "Look what I built!"

Jackson smiled, kneeling down to inspect Ethan's creation. "That's awesome! You're getting really good at this."

Ethan beamed with pride, and Jackson felt a surge of protectiveness. He was going to do everything in his power to keep that smile on Ethan's face. He had to keep him safe. He didn't have any blood relatives but the one family he has now, he was going to protect it.

"I've been thinking," Sue said, breaking the silence later, as they settled on the couch with a movie. "About what you said earlier. You're right. We need to be careful. But I still want to help. Maybe there are other ways I can support you without putting myself in danger."

Jackson sighed and nodded, appreciating her willingness to compromise even though she had just promised not to get involved not long ago. "We'll figure something out. I just need you to be safe."

"I know," she replied softly. "And I trust you. We'll get through this together."

As the movie played in the background, Jackson's mind drifted to Melissa and the enigmatic events of the past few days. Her behaviour had been erratic, swinging between the woman he once loved and someone he barely recognized, a woman who he was pretty sure was dangerous. The fact that she had gone to such lengths to protect him, despite their history, added another layer of complexity to his feelings.

The next morning, Jackson woke early, his mind already racing with plans. He had a lot to do, starting with keeping tabs on someone else other than Melissa and her family's activities. He couldn't afford to lose any more time and following Melissa was taking up his time and he was getting nothing out of it.

As he prepared breakfast, Sue joined him in the kitchen, her expression determined. "I've been thinking about how I can help without getting in the way," she said. "Maybe I can do some research, and dig up information that might be useful."

Jackson considered her offer. "That could work. Just promise me you'll be careful. We can't afford any slip-ups."

"I promise," Sue replied. "You just have to try and trust me. I'm good with digging up information."

Jackson wanted to remind her that she had kissed Tom to try to get information but then he decided against it. He wasn't going to give her another reason to go back to that fucker.