LOGIN"How was it possible for her to escape? Nobody can walk by me in the room without me noticing them. Not even a roach." In between his words, he took a step and killed a roach. He looked around the room, but there was no broken roof, wall, or window through which she could have fled."Do you think she might have passed..." Jordan gave a headshake. "Just forget it."The man yelled, "Speak up, boy," and Jordan pointed to the covered hole that Jessie had just earlier passed through."Find her. She wouldn't have traveled very far." Jordan sprinted away after he yelled.The man walked up to the hole and placed his hand there. He raised his hand to his nose and smelled the oily substance after noticing it. An ointment. He'd been deceived by Jordan.He got to his feet, reached for his gun that was hanging from his pants, and then left the room to look for Jessie. If the person who had ordered him to kill that woman discovered that she had escaped, he would be dead.***Jessie had removed a to
It's too late! He'd overheard her. Why had she screamed in the first place? She had squandered precious seconds and attracted unfavorable energies to herself."Well, well," a confident voice droned.His posture exuded strength. His big shoulders were raised to the sky. He loomed ominously in Jessie's face, his Doc Martens legs astride."Who are you?" She cried. " Why have you brought me here?"There was no response."I'm talking to you!" Jessie said angrily, raising her arms. His arm swung like steel and collided with hers in an instant. He grabbed both of her hands and lifted her up, her eyes bulging with fear. Her feet were dangling in mid-air."Don't irritate me, Lady. People who make me angry irritate me." He tossed her to the ground like a sack. As her damaged knee crashed to the concrete floor, Jessie winced, a white light of pain flashed across her face. He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her behind him, her hair stiff in his vice grip, like a hunter dragging his prey.Jess
"So now he's approved of both of you and wants you to marry each other?" Jessie finally chimed in. She was uncomfortable about the two of them speaking to one another. "Yes." Kimberly smiled warmly at Din, then turned to Jessie. "And I'd love it if you both could attend my wedding."Din looked at Jessie. She gave him a small nod. At least this way, Kim would stop bringing up the past.After breakfast, Kim and Din continued to talk. Jessie sat quietly again, listening to stories of their childhood—things she hadn't been a part of."Do you mind if I borrow your wife for a few hours?" Kim asked as she rose from her seat. She checked her wristwatch. "It's time, Jessie."Din shrugged. "You certainly can." He needed time alone anyway. Jessie's absence would give him a chance to rest, and maybe get some work done."Come on, Jessie." Kim took her hand. "Your husband has released you to me." She grinned at Din. "Don't miss your wife too much.""I'll try not to." He smiled at Jessie—a strange,
Din was drenched in sweat.Jessie reached out and tried to wake him. Suddenly, his body went rigid, then he started shaking. His mumbling grew louder than it was before. He was crying for help, his voice cracking with a fear she had never heard in any grown man before.He was having a nightmare.Was it about his parents? Or something else entirely? She assumed the former—it was the only childhood trauma she knew of.She sat beside him and gathered him into her arms, cradling him the way a mother would comfort a frightened child. His body trembled against hers.Then his eyes sprang open.He was drenched in cold sweat, shivering violently, his heart slamming against his ribs. He looked around the room—wild, suspicious, terrified—as if the horror from his dream had followed him into waking life.He sat up slowly, rubbing his head, his eyes. Trying to fully wake. Trying to shake it off.Then he noticed Jessie beside him.His face twisted. He frowned, pushed her away—harder than he meant t
"That is why." The man pointed to the book on the table. "It is against our policy for couples to use two separate rooms." He raised his voice. "Come on! You're both here for your honeymoon. Enjoy it. Make babies." He teased them.Din leaned toward Jessie and whispered, "Can he talk to people like that?"Jessie gave him a look that said ‘don't fight it.’The man extended his hand toward Din and handed him a wristband. "There," he said. Then he pointed a bony finger toward a set of steps in the corner. "First floor on the left. No keys. You'll have to use that." He nodded at the wristband after seeing the confusion on their faces.They walked up the staircase and emerged into a long corridor with doors on either side. Din placed the band where it belonged and pushed the door open.The room was beautiful. Painted in soft white, with a king-sized bed placed carefully in the center. A convertible sofa bed sat against the far wall.Din's face fell. "I can't believe there's only one bed in
Both of them shook their heads as Jessie smiled. They were puzzled. Din and Jessie were getting along—which was unusual. Bev had assumed Jessie had put a potion or something on him to make him nicer. They had fought just last night. He had insulted her. And now they were acting like friends?"How was your night, Jessie?" Bev asked.The question popped out of her mouth. She had never asked her sister anything like that before. They were close, but not that close. Bev didn't express emotion. She didn't show care. She hated butterflies. She hated hugs."My night?" Jessie's smile softened as she exhaled. Her gaze met Din's. "Splendid." She served Din first, then handed the food to Sierra."You seem to be in good spirits," Sierra said.Jessie nodded. "I just had a really lovely dream." She lied smoothly. "And I have a feeling today will be a great day."Din observed Sierra's expression as he ate. "Sierra, I told you we're fine. Stop staring at her like that."Sierra shook her head. Her bro







