The Good Sister (Sister Series, #2) Read online

  Shaking her head, she slowly and carefully rose to her full height. She shucked off her ruined garments, and slid her skirt back into place as she tucked in her crumpled blouse. Her chest hurt. It ached and burned, as well as her lower extremities and left shoulder. She glanced at the decorative mirror hanging over the couch, and gasped at the reflection. Who was that? It could not be she. That woman had tangled, ratty, blond hair, undone from her once neat French twist. Her clothes were all wrinkled and in disarray. Her eyes looked haunted, harried, and vacant. She seemed as vacant inside as her reflection.

  Once, however, she was beautiful. Everyone thought so. She was Lindsey Bains, General Travis Bains’ beloved, adored, and always perfect daughter. She was everything that Jessie was not, and reveled in being so. She loved monopolizing her father’s complete and utter devotion and approval. She learned to disdain her rebellious, trouble-causing, slutty sister. As Jessie quickly deteriorated year after year from the age of sixteen on, Lindsey did nothing but agree with and support her father about the horrible person and sister Jessie embodied. She understood why her father so desperately tried to do right by Jessie with his discipline of her. He had to correct her, and stop her.

  Lindsey refused to acknowledge that her father was ruining her sister. He was habitually using her to repay any debts he owed to a variety of high-powered men with whom her father cultivated long-term relationships. Senators, Army officers, cabinet members, as well as many others were treated to his daughter, teenage Jessie, whom he forced to have sex with them. However, when Lindsey noticed her sister had started acting out, what did she know? Nothing. None of it. She was at college, busily working toward her BA degree and participating in the Army ROTC program. She intended to prolong her military service, and was even set on making it a long-term career, with high hopes of rising through the ranks like her father. Perhaps not as far, but to the highest extent that she could, aiming only to make her father proud. She longed for his shining recognition.

  That is, until the day she learned the truth about Jessie. In the space of one afternoon, her entire life, identity and future were altered and damaged. Everything she previously believed to be true was wrong. Jessie wasn’t “bad” or “insane,” but the tragic casualty of so much violence and brutality, that even to this day, Lindsey could hardly grasp what her sister managed to live through. First victimized by her father, Jessie later underwent three days of unending torture and rape before a soldier, Will Hendricks, rescued her.

  Will saw it all. He was the only one who finally believed Jessie, and helped her by saving her from the monster that their father had become. It was Will, and not she, who finally saved Jessie. What a joke! After all those years when she, Lindsey Bains, was considered the “good sister.” Lindsey wasn’t good at all. She was shit. She was a total and complete chicken shit. She never stuck up for or defended her sister when their father bullied and berated her. Although she did not know then of the physical abuse, she was well aware of his interminable verbal assaults on Jessie. Still… Lindsey was too afraid her father would turn on her if she tried to do anything for Jessie.

  The thing was, she really didn’t know. Not any of it. It was a startling, shocking discovery, and the longer it went on, as she learned more about her father, the more her life was torn apart. Her father had truly become a monster.

  But he never was like that to her.

  Lindsey never knew what to do with that awful knowledge. Why didn’t her father abuse her like he did Jessie? Why was he so gallant, and noble towards her, yet so willing to pimp out Jessie? How could she fail to see what was occurring right under her nose? Eventually, it surfaced that Jessie was not really the general’s daughter, but that did not explain how or why he could raise Lindsey with decency and Jessie with horror. It was impossible for Lindsey to reconcile the two generals she now knew about.

  Denial. That was how to manage it. Perhaps that was why she married Elliot, although she never once witnessed his controlling, rage-fueled, domineering and violent side. That did not emerge until she was married to him. It began the very night he took her virginity in the honeymoon suite of the hotel they were married in. That was her first inkling about who she married.

  Meeting Elliot Johanson when she was just barely twenty-four-years old, she was instantly swept away. He was so much like her father: the way he spoke, carried himself, and interacted with her. He made her feel like she recaptured something valuable that she lost with her father’s estrangement. Elliot replaced the dominating, demanding force in her life that her father established until she learned what he did to Jessie.

  She once thought she found and married the perfect man.

  Elliot didn’t want her to be in the military. He said it wasn’t lady-like and not something he foresaw his wife doing. Having her father disgraced at the same time her term of service was up, she chose to no longer continue as an active duty soldier.

  She glared at her face in the mirror. Some fucking soldier. Look at her: a beaten, fragile, sad-eyed woman who couldn’t even raise a hand in her own defense to prevent her husband from raping her in middle of the afternoon on their living room floor.

  No doubt, Elliot spontaneously dismissed the entire staff, while probably acting as if he wanted to surprise his wife with a romantic, afternoon interlude. They probably all left the house, smiling in their hands at how sweet Elliot was, and how lucky Lindsey was to have him. Elliot never dared to touch her if anyone else was home.

  She turned away from her pathetic image to upright the table. Picking up the broken lamp, she threw it out, and replaced it with a flower arrangement to fill the hole it created. She slowly made her way around the room, dusting and vacuuming, straightening up the scene of her latest humiliation.

  She quickly showered all of it off her too: her soiled makeup and the semen that streamed down her legs, Elliot’s loving attempts to create life. After five years of marriage, did he really think she would ever allow an innocent under his care?

  The phone rang while she was making herself presentable for tonight’s dinner. It was a fundraising charity event at Georgetown University and Elliot was the guest of honor. Therefore, she had to be at her absolute best.

  “Lindsey?”

  “Jessie! Oh my God! It’s so good to hear your voice!” She collapsed on the floor, being careful not to disturb the covers on their king-sized bed. Tears pricked her eyes again, and she pushed her lids shut. Her heart filled with lead. She wanted to tell her sister. So badly. She wanted to say, simply, he beat me, Jessie. He might have dislocated my shoulder. And it hurts so much. I hurt so much.

  But she didn’t. She couldn’t. She never said a word. Denial. It was what she learned best under the reign of her father. She could keep quiet about anything.

  “Hey, sis, are you okay? You sound kinda weird.”

  Jessie was casual, honest, open, funny and direct. She was everything Lindsey wasn’t. Quiet, obedient, reticent, and willing to accept the unacceptable, that was good, little Lindsey Bains.

  Lindsey licked her lips as she forced a fake smile and tried to make her voice come out even. “No, not weird. Just getting ready for a dinner tonight.”

  “A dinner? What is the latest dinner celebrating Elliot as the golden boy? I swear, you two are royalty. Here, there and everywhere, aren’t you?”

  She bit her lip to repress the cry of anguish. Jessie was teasing her. There was no teasing when it came to what Elliot did to her. “Yes. You know how badly he wants this. So, we do it.”

  Jessie laughed. “Oh, don’t I know it! President Elliot Johanson of the United States of America. I can’t believe I’ll be related.”

  Despite everything against them, their entire fucked-up history, and the serious consequences their childhood caused to both of them, Jessie never lost her sense of humor, her zest, or her spark for life. She could always, even now, make Lindsey smile. How Jessie managed to guess that was exactly what Elliot planned for the long term, Lindsey didn’t know. She nev
er told Jessie. She told no one because Elliot ordered her not to. For the time being, he was, merely running for state governor. But he had many more far-reaching goals than just that. This was only the beginning. “Not there yet.”

  “Oh, you’ll get there. Elliot doesn’t take no, now, does he? So, you’ll be first lady of the United States. And you’re made for that, Lindsey. No doubt in my mind.”

  “You… think he doesn’t take no for an answer?” Lindsey’s voice faltered. Jessie actually noticed Elliot was controlling?

  “Well, no offense, Linds, but Elliot gets his way no matter what. He even tries it with Will.”

  She pressed her tongue on the roof of her mouth to keep from confirming Jessie’s description. “So, what’s up. Any reason you’re calling?”

  “I want you to come over here. It’s been a really long time. And I may need to go on bed rest soon, but I want nothing more than to hang out with you.”

  “Bed rest? Is there anything wrong?” Jessie was seven months pregnant, and said from the very beginning how she wanted Lindsey to stay with her for a few weeks after the baby was born. Will, her soldier/rescuer-turned-loving-husband, thought it was a good idea. For obvious reasons regarding Jessie’s history, Will secretly worried how she’d deal with their baby. She had to give her first baby up for adoption, since it was the result of rape when she was kidnapped.

  “No, but I have gestational diabetes, and was told to slow things down. I don’t really know; I just have a feeling.”

  “You know I’d love to, but there is so much going on here. And isn’t it a little early yet for me to come?” And my husband won’t let me.

  “I know. But the election isn’t for a year and you said Elliot has all that traveling to do before he really starts campaigning. I thought we could hang out before it all gets crazy. For both of us. And won’t it look good to the public if you’re off to help the hero’s baby? After all, isn’t Will Hendricks being his brother-in-law part of Elliot’s appeal?”

  Jessie was sharp. She saw that too, huh? She realized Elliot liked the national hero that Will Hendricks became after he saved, then married Jessie. Will finally took down her father that so publicly destroyed Jessie. Elliot, however, did not like Will personally, mostly because Will was quiet, honorable, courageous, brave, kind, gentle and… well, everything that Elliot lacked in character. Will used his strengths like a super hero, and would never think to leverage his position to do whatever he wanted, as Elliot did.

  But… maybe, just maybe, Elliot would let her go if she presented it properly. He had traveling to do on business before he started really campaigning.

  “I’ll discuss it with him and let you know.”

  “You mean ask him?” Jessie’s tone was light, as if she were kidding. But she sensed there was something Jessie wasn’t saying.

  “I mean, I’ll let you know.”

  There was a pause over the line before Jessie sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sounded so bitchy. I’m full of rocketing hormones. I just hope you’ll come. Even if it’s for only a week. Whatever time you can get. That’s enough.”

  She shut her eyes and gulped down her sob. She wanted to come right away too.

  “I’ll try,” she whispered.

  “Sis, you know, there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for you.”

  We, being Will and Jessie. She knew. She did. But they couldn’t help her. Or save her. They’d have to know everything first.

  “I know. I’ll come soon.” Lindsey didn’t know if that were true; but for a few moments, on today, of all days, she needed to believe it.

  Chapter Two

  Ellensburg, Washington

  Noah Clark looked up from the iPad he was rapidly scrolling through when his very pregnant assistant slammed down his reception phone and grimaced as she muttered, “Asswipe.”

  He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, waiting for Jessie to explain. She was often swearing at any customer who pissed her off, only so long as it was just the two of them and no one else could hear her. She was unfailingly polite otherwise.

  “My brother-in-law. He is such a scum bag. I don’t know how Lindsey can stand him.”

  “Lindsey is a kind, gentle, well spoken woman who manages to stand him by not calling him things like ‘asswipe.’”

  She made a face and stuck out her tongue at him. He smiled in return. She knew he didn’t actually want her to be soft-spoken and gentle. “I know, I know. She’s all sugar and spice and everything nice.”

  “No, she just has different tastes in men than you. But what did the esteemed asswipe do this time?”

  “He won’t allow Lindsey to come stay with me.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You know that for sure?”

  Jessie glared and pursed her lips before she finally shrugged. “No, not yet. But he will say no. Just because she has to ask him. He treats her like a five-year-old who needs his permission to do anything. I’ll bet she has to raise her hand and ask before she can take a piss.”

  “Jessie…”

  She sighed. “I know, no foul language at the office. But he just infuriates me.”

  “Do you think Lindsey notices? She never says anything, does she?”

  “No, but Lindsey wouldn’t. She never says anything about anyone or anything. She… well, she’s always been the indisputable queen of denial. My father trained her well at holding in secrets, and denying what is literally right before her nose. It’s her coping mechanism. It’s something that so tore us apart when we were younger. And now? Now, I fear, she uses it to rationalize what her controlling, dominating husband does to her.”

  Noah frowned and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Does to her? What do you think he ‘does’ to her?”

  Jessie fiddled with the appointment book in front of her. “I guess, nothing. I just could never warm up to him, or him to me. I know he disapproves of me. Then again, so do a lot of other people. But he seems to disapprove of Will, too. I mean, who could disapprove of Will? No one. Ever. But Elliot does. He masks it behind his cool, calm, too nice, and too generic mask. I see the annoyance and anger bubbling behind his eyes. But Lindsey probably doesn’t. She spent so many years being so good, and blindly obedient to my father, that I fear she has traded one domineering asshole in for another.”

  “Thus, your persistence in getting her to come here?”

  “Yes, I’d like to see her. I’d like to gauge for myself how she really is. I can’t tell over the phone. But the photos I see online of them making the D.C. social rounds, always make her look like she might blow away. She’s always been thin, but now she looks as if she’d fall over. That strikes me as… worrisome.”

  He nodded in sympathy. “You’re a good sister.”

  Jessie raised her eyebrows and paused, before she shook her head and laughed strangely. “No one’s ever accused me of that before.”

  Noah met her gaze and a slow smile spread over his face. No, probably no one had ever accused Jessie of that. Since he met Jessie, he considered her a nice, lovely, quiet, young girl who lived in an apartment over a barn, belonging to one of his clients. They ran a ranch a few miles out of Ellensburg and Noah saw to their horses and other livestock veterinary needs. They once asked him to take on Jessie as an intern. She had no training, but quickly took to the animals; and had a rare and genuine abandon that couldn’t be learned. He gladly gave her a part-time job, and even harbored feelings of a sort for her at first. But after he met her husband, Will, and learned of their history that was mind-blowing in its extent of tragedy and conflict, his feelings changed. He also learned Jessie wasn’t really known for her manners, elegance or sophistication. He was there for Jessie at a point in her life when she needed him, but nothing more. They remained good friends and he happily offered her the part-time position when she and Will moved back to town after Will left active duty.

  “If you met Elliot, you’d understand what I’m talking about. It’s like this unholy chill surrounds the air wherev
er he steps. Actual goose bumps break out on my skin. He’s that cold and chilling. And on top of it all, he’s a big, fat, scum bag.”

  “You describe him like he’s a zombie.”

  “Maybe he is.”

  “Who’s a big, fat, scum bag? Not me, I hope.”

  Noah glanced backwards. “Will, how goes it?”

  Will had recently been hired as a production manager by a new manufacturing plant that produced component parts for HVAC systems. The job was light years from what Will spent the majority of his adult life doing in the Army Special Forces. He was overqualified and certainly capable of handling any kind of stress this civilian job could throw at him. After all, he was militarily trained to handle life-threatening situations, so learning the details of this job and what they manufactured was pretty easy for Will Hendricks, Super Soldier. He stayed in the Army Reserves, but abandoned active duty after his contract was up. It shocked everyone. No one ever expected Will Hendricks to retire. But he did. For Jessie.

  Jessie, meanwhile, began taking classes at Central Washington University in town where she was studying for a pre-veterinary degree. Their developing child was a true blessing and a long time coming for a couple Noah could truly say he never saw another equal to. Their lifestyle and choice to live in a small, little town were far removed from the one her sister and husband opted for in Virginia.

  Will smiled at Noah after first seeking his wife’s gaze before she blushed and ducked her head. It amazed Noah whenever Jessie ever acted bashful. Only Will could bring such things out in her. “No, not you. Elliot.”

  Will’s mouth tightened. “Oh, him. Yeah, can’t argue there. What was his reason for not allowing Lindsey to come?”