When Shay hadn’t awakened an hour later I went over and touched her forehead. She’s burning up. My first inclination had been that she was pregnant. Heaven knows that I sure struggled with smells in the first trimester.
Now, I am not sure at all. Maybe I was projecting something on Shay that wasn’t true, and she is actually sick. I touch her head again and am surprised at how hot she feels. Shay is deathly white, huddled up under the blankets, and she looks miserable.
CHAPTER 10 – Marco POVI didn’t even know where I was going or why I was so pissed. It wasn’t like we were exclusive. I mean, I was, but I’m well aware of what I look like. I have a large birthmark on my face. For as long as I can remember, people have been telling me how ugly it is—I am.When we were kids I thought I had a chance with Gina. Stupid, I know, but I was young and thought that maybe she saw the real me. And then one day I was waiting outside of the locker room and I heard her talk
CHAPTER 11 – ShaySTEP 9: Whenever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.“No, absolutely not,” Will’s jaw clenched, and his eyes flared, “You are not to contact those people, Shay. For all, we know they are behind the hit that’s been put out on you.”I couldn’t help
CHAPTER 12 – WillAfter combing through some of the seedier parts of the city Marco and I were able to drum up Renaldo’s nephew on his wife’s side. It didn’t take long before we were able to encourage Frankie to call his uncle for help.The kid had to be in his late teens or early twenties. He was of medium height and had glossy dark hair that was slicked back in a retro gangster type of way. I half expected him to start breaking out into show tunes from Greece.
CHAPTER 13 – Shay“Who is Emma?”Will stood before me with a clenched jaw and fire in his eyes. He hadn’t seemed this upset since Jamie had struck me.“Emma?” I repeated dumbly. “I used to have a roommate named Emma Graves, but I haven’t seen her in over a year. Somehow when we were all hauled in on the drug charges she was abso
CHAPTER 14 – ShayStep 10: Continuing to take personal inventory and admitting when one was wrong.There wastwo slip ups when I was on the inside. Drugs are rampant in the system. And it isn’t hard to get between the dirty guards and high rollers that walk around the place as if they own it instead of are being confined to it. T
CHAPTER 15 – ShayI was shaken awake by a firm hand. “Shh, Shay, there is someone in the house. We need to leave immediately.”I recognized the urgency in Marco’s voice.“Where are Will and Gina?” I whispered, climbing out of bed, and yanking on some clothes. Then I slipped my feet into shoes without worrying about socks.
CHAPTER 16 – ShayEight and a half hours later we climbed off of Will’s private plane into a long black limousine in Rome. I had never been outside of the United States. So, despite the situation and my fears, I was amazed at everything around us. My eyes were glued to the windows as we passed gorgeous architecture that had stood for thousands of years. It was beyond incredible and I could hardly believe that we were really there.Gina had fallen asleep against Marco’s shoulder on the plane. The way he tenderly held her all of those hours and the tender way he brushed his fingertips across her slightly bulging stomach spoke volumes. I don’t know w
CHAPTER 17 – WillThere are few things in this world I’m afraid of. I can handle snakes, spiders, wild animals, serial killers, and psychopaths—as long as they are directed at me. But I can’t begin to explain the terror I felt when those fuckers broke into my home and almost got Shay.It was the closest I have ever been to completely losing my mind, and I never wanted to be there again. This is the first time I have ever involved my family in a problem of mine. In those short moments when I wasn&rsq