Condemned, Part 2
by Samyah Leighton
Series: Redemption Series, #4
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: August 15, 2017
Innocent until proven guilty… Or guilty until proven innocent?
Jackson and Skylar have their backs against the wall. They’re facing down a vengeful ex, a bias cop, a corrupt CPS Agency and a judge who is threatening to throw Jackson back in jail. The only way out of this mess for the couple depends upon the success of the sting operation the police have set up to catch the crooked social worker and attorney.
They have one shot to get the evidence they need to prove Jackson’s innocence to the judge presiding over their custody case. So much is riding on this one event. If everything goes as planned Jackson will be free from prosecution and they will get Sutton back. However, should they fail, Skylar and Jackson may lose Sutton for the next three years.
What does fate have in store for the three of them? Will Sutton be returned to her parents? Can Jackson and Skylar’s marriage survive this storm? And will Jackson ever be vindicated to the public or will he forever be fighting to clear his name?
His back is to me and he’s naked from the waist up. He’s wearing a pair of black Nike joggers and running shoes. Sweat is running down his back and one hand is resting on his hip. “I can’t believe they are going to fucking do this to me.” He must sense I’m here because he spins around in my direction.
His features are morphed into an angry scowl and it only gets worse when he sees me. Now I’m concerned. Who’s he on the phone with? I watch as he forces himself to relax. He did that for my benefit. “I know,” he says into the phone. “Just do what you can to save the rest.” Ending the call, he puts his phone in his pocket. He doesn’t come closer to me or even speak. A huge valley has opened between us and I’m not sure how to close it. At the moment, I don’t believe there’s any way I can. He stares grows unbearable and it makes me nervous. It’s like he’s contemplating his life. Contemplating his relationship with me.
“Who was that?” I ask timidly. Jackson doesn’t answer me right away. He just keeps staring.
Finally, he says, “My agent.”
“And?”
The muscles in his jaws flex. “And I’ve been dropped from some of my endorsements,” he says, pocketing his hands. Shit. That’s not good. This is what I feared. His reputation is suffering. And now, so is his career.
“Which ones?” He looks down at his feet and rubs the tip of one of his shoes into the carpet.
“Gatorade, Nike and Calvin Klein.”
I gasp. Those are huge endorsements for him. This is so unfair. He shouldn’t lose what he’s worked so hard for because of me. “What about your sportswear and shoe line?”
“They got canceled with the Nike deal.”
“How can they do that?”
He looks up at me, his eyes so cold. “Because of the morals clause in my contracts. I have to represent myself at all times in a manner befitting of these companies.”
“Then let’s set the record straight,” I say.
Frowning he ask, “What are you talking about?”
“Doing an interview.” Jackson immediately starts shaking his head before I even finish my proposal.
“No. Out of the question. I already told Katrina, my publicist, that I won’t do any interviews. She’s looking for other ways to fix my image.”
I sigh, exasperated. He’s in one of his stubborn moods and there’ll probably be no changing his mind but I have to try. “Maybe the public will move on. But what about your career? Do you never intend to work again? Are you really going to be okay with being a pariah like O. J. was?”
His features are morphed into an angry scowl and it only gets worse when he sees me. Now I’m concerned. Who’s he on the phone with? I watch as he forces himself to relax. He did that for my benefit. “I know,” he says into the phone. “Just do what you can to save the rest.” Ending the call, he puts his phone in his pocket. He doesn’t come closer to me or even speak. A huge valley has opened between us and I’m not sure how to close it. At the moment, I don’t believe there’s any way I can. He stares grows unbearable and it makes me nervous. It’s like he’s contemplating his life. Contemplating his relationship with me.
“Who was that?” I ask timidly. Jackson doesn’t answer me right away. He just keeps staring.
Finally, he says, “My agent.”
“And?”
The muscles in his jaws flex. “And I’ve been dropped from some of my endorsements,” he says, pocketing his hands. Shit. That’s not good. This is what I feared. His reputation is suffering. And now, so is his career.
“Which ones?” He looks down at his feet and rubs the tip of one of his shoes into the carpet.
“Gatorade, Nike and Calvin Klein.”
I gasp. Those are huge endorsements for him. This is so unfair. He shouldn’t lose what he’s worked so hard for because of me. “What about your sportswear and shoe line?”
“They got canceled with the Nike deal.”
“How can they do that?”
He looks up at me, his eyes so cold. “Because of the morals clause in my contracts. I have to represent myself at all times in a manner befitting of these companies.”
“Then let’s set the record straight,” I say.
Frowning he ask, “What are you talking about?”
“Doing an interview.” Jackson immediately starts shaking his head before I even finish my proposal.
“No. Out of the question. I already told Katrina, my publicist, that I won’t do any interviews. She’s looking for other ways to fix my image.”
I sigh, exasperated. He’s in one of his stubborn moods and there’ll probably be no changing his mind but I have to try. “Maybe the public will move on. But what about your career? Do you never intend to work again? Are you really going to be okay with being a pariah like O. J. was?”
Also in the Series
Book 1: Deceived
Book 3: Condemned, Part 1
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