Angel's Redemption

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Note from the Publisher

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Andi Anderson

  Reviews

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  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000."

  Cover Artist: Reese Dante

  Editor: Em Petrova

  Angel's Redemption © 2012 Andi Anderson

  ISBN # 9781614956013

  Attention Readers: This book uses US English.

  All rights reserved.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. The Licensed Art Material is being used for illustrative purposes only; any person depicted in the Licensed Art Material, is a model.

  PUBLISHER

  https://spsilverpublishing.com

  Note from the Publisher

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for your purchase of this title. The authors and staff of Silver Publishing hope you enjoy this read and that we will have a long and happy association together.

  Please remember that the only money authors make from writing comes from the sales of their books. If you like their work, spread the word and tell others about the books, but please refrain from sharing this book in any form. Authors depend on sales and sales only to support their families.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to copyright@spsilverpublishing.com.

  Thank you for not pirating our titles.

  Lodewyk Deysel

  Publisher

  Silver Publishing

  http://www.spsilverpublishing.com

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my very special friend, Zeke. Thank you for all of your words of wisdom, your support, and your amazing friendship. You're the greatest!

  I would like to thank my good friend and fellow author, Freddy Mackay. Thank you for the many hours we spent discussing Jackson and Elijah's story. Your help and undying belief in this book means the world to me. I also would like to thank my amazing editor, Em, for her patience and helpful suggestions. Thanks to her, Jackson's story really came to life.

  To my husband and my family. I love you all and couldn't do this without you!

  Last but not least, I want to thank and dedicate this book to all of you who have fell in love with my Men of Charlestown characters and continue to ride this journey with me. Thank you!

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Nissan Altima: Nissan Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha TA Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

  Jeep Wrangler: Chrysler Group LLC

  Bud Light: Anheuser-Busch INBEV S.A.

  Theraflu: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.

  IHOP: IHOP IP, LLC

  Dr. Pepper: Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.

  Hawaiian Punch: Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.

  Coke: The Coca-Cola Company

  Disney: Disney Enterprise, Inc.

  Razorbacks: University of Arkansas

  Converse: Converse, Inc.

  Prologue

  "Angel, I'm out of cigarettes and beer. I'm just going to run up to the store for a few minutes. I'll be right back."

  His boyfriend, Ken's, deep voice resonated through the closed door. Angel couldn't bring himself to answer, although there really wasn't much to say.

  Angel honestly didn't have much to say about anything anymore.

  When he heard the front door close, Angel slowly slid off the bed and walked to the bathroom. This was the opportunity he'd been waiting for. Ken didn't trust him and he wouldn't leave him alone long, especially since Angel tried to escape a couple of weeks ago.

  Angel was tired of the hell that that had become his life. Everyone he knew—from Ken to his so-called friends—wanted something from Angel, and he was sick of it.

  For years, he had been used and abused by everyone in the porn industry. Even the man who claimed he was his boyfriend, and who also happened to be his manager, really didn't give a shit about him. Ken had proven that time and time again by his refusal to allow Angel to leave the industry. Ken also took every opportunity he could to abuse Angel in some way. His physical abuse and the vile words he would call Angel didn't even hurt that much anymore, because Angel managed to disassociate himself from it most of the time. Now he was numb.

  As long as Angel did what he was asked and was fucked by anyone Ken saw fit, everyone that pushed themselves into Angel's life was happy. It didn't matter that he hated it and often begged for it to stop. As long as he remained the most popular twink and continued to bring in the money, Ken and his goonies were happy. He was nothing more than a cock and ass to everyone he knew. The fact that Angel had a young and innocent-looking, pretty face was just a bonus to all of them.

  Angel thought back two weeks ago, to when he tried to run away. He had saved up enough money to buy a bus ticket to the middle of nowhere. He remembered shaking with fear and excitement while he waited in the dirty bus station. Just the thought of getting away from all the ugliness in his life and starting over made him feel hope for the first time in eight years.

  But just as he boarded the bus and had finally begun to believe he might achieve the freedom he so desperately wanted, he had been caught by Ken and some of his posse and was practically manhandled back into the life he couldn't escape from.

  So they thought.

  He was going to show them once and for all.

  Angel was determined to get away, and this plan would ensure no one could stop him from obtaining freedom again.

  Ever.

  Angel turned on the bathroom light and deliberately avoided looking at his reflection in the mirror. Many people would say his face and body were his fortune. At the moment, he hated both. He grabbed the large container of body wash off the shower shelf. As he unscrewed the top, he smiled at his ability to actually fool Ken and the
cronies who surrounded him. They knew he had been going through a depression and thought they were so fucking clever when they removed the sharp objects from the house.

  Or so they thought.

  Little did they know he had been preparing for this moment. He managed to sneak a small paring knife from the kitchen without anyone noticing. It had been hidden safely out of sight for over a week, and now it was calling Angel's name.

  He dumped the contents of the body wash into the sink. He shook it until the small knife fell out with a loud clank. Angel hummed his favorite song as he turned the water on and washed away the thick soap that coated the knife. Soon the soap was all washed away, and the knife wasn't as slick to the touch.

  Angel wanted this to be perfect. He had been waiting to do this for so long. It was time to leave all of the pain and suffering he had in this life and sink into a blissful nothingness for eternity. His hands shook with nerves as he firmly grabbed the wooden handle of the knife and raised it over the greenish-blue vein on his wrist.

  Taking a deep breath, he pressed the blade against his skin. The sharp pain felt good as he scraped it down his vein, and warm, wet blood quickly eased out of the wound.

  In the distance, he heard the front door slam.

  "Angel! Where the fuck are you? I'm hungry; fix me a sandwich, will ya?"

  Ken's voice sounded as if he wasn't that far away.

  Angel clumsily switched the knife to his other hand and swiftly slid it across his skin. He tossed the knife into the sink and leaned his back heavily against the door. His legs suddenly didn't have the strength to hold him up any longer, so he slowly slid down.

  It's happening. I'm finally going to get some peace.

  "Angel! Is that blood? Fuck! Open the goddamn door!" Ken's voice sounded angry and frantic as he banged against the door, but Angel didn't care.

  It would be over soon, and that was all that mattered.

  As Angel drifted in and out of consciousness, a smile formed on his face.

  They couldn't hurt him anymore.

  He would be free at last.

  Chapter One

  The bright sunshine falling across Jackson's face woke him from his deep slumber. He blinked his eyes open as he tried to gather his thoughts. He reached his arms overhead and stretched. A sleepy groan escaped him as his glanced over to the clock on his nightstand.

  Seven o'clock.

  Damn.

  He had really been hoping to get a little more sleep, but the sunlight streaming through the windows and his natural instinct to get up early always seemed to prevent that.

  The faint aroma of coffee wafted from the kitchen. He looked to his companion and grinned.

  Thank God for automatic coffee makers.

  "Good morning, sleepyhead. Are you ready to get up?" Jackson asked.

  His dog's brown eyes blinked at him sleepily.

  "Come on, boy, it's time to face the day." He pushed the covers off and hopped out of bed. He slid his feet into his favorite pink bunny slippers and walked toward the kitchen yawning and stretching as he went.

  The clinking sound of toenails across the wooden floor followed closely behind him. He grinned as he felt a slight tug on his foot. Glancing down, he saw his dog, Shep, nipping playfully at one of the bunny's ears. He laughed as he moved his foot around, causing the huge bunny ears on his slippers to flop. Shep barked and pawed at his slipper.

  Most men wouldn't be caught dead wearing pink bunnies on his feet, but Jackson didn't care. He'd received them as a gag gift from Ben right before he died, and he couldn't part with them, even though they were given to him as a joke.

  After a few moments of playing around with the German shepherd, he walked over to the sliding glass door and opened it. "Go on, Shep. Go outside, boy."

  Shep ran past him and immediately started checking out the yard to make sure there weren't any trespassers leftover from night before.

  Jackson's slippers scuffed the gleaming tiles and his mouth watered for a cup of French roast. The only thing missing was his favorite red Razorbacks mug. Yawning, he opened the kitchen cabinet and was soon pouring his first cup of goodness for the day.

  Just as he started to take a sip, the phone rang and he inwardly groaned.

  Only one person would call him this early on a Saturday morning. He gazed at the caller ID, and it confirmed his suspicion.

  It was his mother.

  He picked up the receiver, knowing if he ignored the call, she would call back until he answered.

  "Good morning, Momma."

  "Good morning, Jackson. How are you?" His mother's sweet voice drifted in his ear.

  "I'm fine. How are you?" He took a tentative sip of his hot coffee.

  "I'm good, sweetheart. I didn't call you too early, did I?"

  Jackson grinned. As if they hadn't gone through this every Saturday morning for the past four years.

  "No, Momma. As you know, I'm always up early on Saturdays, so you're not bothering me," he answered right before he took another sip of coffee.

  She sighed. "I know honey, and I'm not sure how I feel about that."

  Jackson set his mug on the counter. How many times were they going to have this conversation?

  "Momma, I don't want to get into this again."

  "Honey, it's been almost four years. It's time to get out there again. You're still young and in your prime. Ben wouldn't have wanted you to be alone."

  Jackson leaned his hip against the dark green, marbled kitchen counter and ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. Gazing out the patio door, he continued to half-heartedly listen to his mother go on about getting out more and not closing himself off to the possibilities of meeting someone else.

  Shep chased a squirrel up the big oak tree and barked excitedly. He ran around the tree in circles, daring the squirrel to jump down from its safe perch onto the lowest limb, as if the helpless squirrel was stupid enough to do so.

  "…need to get out more with your friends and maybe find a boyfriend…" she continued in her soft, Southern accent.

  He took another sip of coffee and set his mug on the counter.

  "Mom, stop, okay? We've been through this many times before. I'm fine. Just because I don't date a lot or—"

  "At all," she interrupted.

  Jackson cringed and started pacing back and forth, from the counter to the patio door. The pink bunny ears on his slippers flapping furiously against the tile floor with each step he took.

  "Okay, at all. Not only do I not have the desire to date again, I haven't met anyone I've wanted to date. Ben was it, Mom. He was the love of my life. I don't know if I'll ever date again. If I don't, that's okay. I had my great love. I'm not expecting to find it again."

  She gave a long-suffering sigh. "Oh, Jackson. Sometimes you break my heart with your cynical attitude about life and love. You know I loved Ben like a son, but he's been gone for a long time now. He loved you, and there is no way Ben would have wanted you to spend the rest of your life alone. You have so much love to share, honey; you just don't give anyone a chance to get close to you again."

  Jackson stopped pacing and fought the urge to hang up on his mother just so the conversation would stop. She never understood where he was coming from. No one did. Ben was everything to him; his heart, his soul, and his happiness. When the teenaged kid accidentally ran through that red light and took Ben away from him, Jackson thought he would die too. Somehow, despite the grief that nearly ate him alive, Jackson survived.

  He had a nice home, a good job, and Shep.

  That was enough.

  "Momma, stop worrying about me. I'm fine. You've got to accept that I'm content with my life now. It may not be your idea of a happy life, but it's mine. Can we drop it for now?" Jackson grabbed his coffee mug and took another sip of the strong, black brew, hoping the welcoming burn of the coffee would keep him from being disrespectful to his mother.

  There was a brief silence before she answered.

  "Of course, honey. I just
worry, which is what mothers do best."

  "I know, Momma. Look, I'll talk to you later, okay? Have a good day. I love you."

  Jackson was cutting her off, but how many times had they rehashed this in the past? The longer they were on the phone, the bigger the chance that she would bring it up again. After all, it was her favorite subject–when it came to him anyway.

  "Okay, baby. I'll talk to you later. Love you."

  It took Jackson a minute after he hung up the phone to shake off the conversation. How many times would she keep pushing him like this? He was a middle-aged man for Christ's sakes! Jackson was definitely old enough to know what he wanted and didn't want out of life. He wished his nosy but loveable family would just butt out.

  That's just wishful thinking.

  Jackson walked through the spacious living room to the front door. After he unlocked it, he reached down and grabbed the newspaper lying on the front porch. He eased the door closed and tossed the rolled-up newspaper on the foyer table before he headed toward his bedroom to change.

  Jackson didn't think he would ever be attracted to someone like he was to Ben. They grew up together and had been best friends since kindergarten. Ben was the first person Jackson talked to in the morning and the last when he went to sleep. They had no secrets from each other.

  After they graduated from high school, Jackson somehow managed to get the nerve up to tell Ben how much he loved him. Jackson remembered how excited and surprised he felt when Ben smiled that special smile just for him. Ben's eyes crinkled at each side and there was a dimple in his left cheek that made him look youthful, no matter what his age. Then he leaned over Jackson for a gentle first kiss and told him that he felt the same. It was that night they made love for the first time, and from then on they were inseparable. They got part-time jobs, went to college, and lived together.