“I think they are bandits. Oh, my goodness! Do you think they found out about the diamond, and want to take it?” She asked in shock.As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she removed the necklace immediately and placed it in Archer’s hands. He looked at her then. He was about to say something, but his eyes diverted again.The lights from the other car were down, but Clarissa could clearly see four men move toward them. They were holding guns. Then, as they advanced, she saw another man come down from the car.The first four took their position in front of Archer’s car, and then, the other man moved through their midst.Zachary?Clarissa couldn’t believe that her brother was standing right in front of them with guns cocked. She knew he was dangerous, but this was definitely the limit to it all.Taking a deep breath, she decided that the best thing they could do was talk to him and this madness would stop. She looked at Archer and could see he was seething.“I’m so sorry that I dragg

“Come out sore loser!” Zachary screamed for the hundredth time into the cold.He jerked Clarissa forward till he was standing so close to his vehicle. The only surviving man stood with his gun raised. Clarissa thought the man was an idiot. He was risking his life for someone as morally deprived as her brother.“I said come out!” Zachary screamed once more.Clarissa panted. “Just let me go, Zachary. This isn’t right. You know it. Do the right thing,” she pleaded and earned a smack across the cheeks.“Which part do you not get? I told you to shut up. If I hear one more word from you, then you will wish we weren’t related to each other,” Zachary snapped angrily.Clarissa swallowed hard. The blood in her mouth was bobbling at this time. She wanted nothing more, but to spit it out. But, she couldn’t do even that, for fear. If she made one wrong move, there was no telling what Zachary would do. It was better to be safe than sorry.“I said come out! You dumb fucks, step out of the shadows!”

Clarissa sighed in frustration. She wanted to live. She wanted to see Archer for one last time. The urge was intense. It snuffed her senses and made her restless. She tried to move, but at the same time, Zachary turned his face toward her. She could see the cuts on his forehead, which made her gag. It was almost like a deep gash. But, what frightened her the most was that she was trapped, and he wasn’t about to let her go so easily.She tried harder to get herself free but failed.“Stop trying. You’re hurt. I will get us out of here,” he said softly.She shook her head fiercely, causing her head to spin so hard. “You won’t do that. I won’t let you get to me, because this is all your fault. What was the need to do all these?” She cried.Zachary grunted as he tried to bring his legs out from the under-seat, but he was trapped. He couldn’t move an inch. Clarissa could hear his heartbeat surprisingly. She knew then, that he was afraid, but she didn’t care. She only wished she could get o

It’s been two days, and Clarissa wasn’t eating properly. She had been discharged from the hospital and was cooped in her apartment. The hotel manager had been kind enough to give her some days off, and she wasn’t about to take that for granted.But, still, she felt so hollow. Archer had not called even once. She had no idea where he was, and what he was doing. It drove her half mad. She had not expected that she would feel his absence so deeply.She had grown accustomed to being with him and the last two days didn’t feel like they belonged to her. If she knew where she would be able to meet him, she would have gone there. She knew that the hotel was the best place he could, but she wouldn’t go there.She didn’t have the courage. Clarissa stared at the TV blankly. It was nice to have a device at home that took your mind away from certain things, but she wasn’t feeling it so much this afternoon.Everywhere felt clogged, and she was on the brink of losing control of all her inhibitions.

The question hung in the hair between them. It was a good question, but once again, there was tension between them. Archer walked over to one of the benches at the park. It was evening now, and the kids and their families had all gone home. Clarissa watched him closely. He didn’t seem like his normal self.She walked slowly to him and sat down beside him. She wasn’t sure if she should hold his hands or not. It was a weird feeling because they had hugged so deeply moments ago.“I went home,” he said flatly.Clarissa sighed. That one statement didn’t seem to be coming from a place of happiness. What could have happened? Archer always spoke about his people and country with so much love. Then, why did he look so gloomy all of a sudden?Clarissa sighed, and she slowly enclosed his hands with hers. The electricity she felt was so intense, but she didn’t pull her hands back. She didn’t wish to, and she felt so safe sitting there, right beside him.“Tell me, what was the matter? You don’t l