by Nia Arthurs
Jewel watched it all as if she’d never seen the sequence before, as if her life hadn’t been riddled with men who couldn’t control their lusts and their zippers.
The man dropped to the rug, caressed Anastasia’s cheek and thrust himself inside her. Jewel listened to Anastasia’s moans, watched them buck against each other—all without blinking. All without moving.
Memories of her own experiences struggled to crowd her mind. But she didn’t have a chance to delve into those dark places. Not because she was strong enough or because they hadn’t scarred her.
It was the man.
Even though his body was connected with Anastasia’s, his eyes were glued to hers. She wondered if he found more pleasure in the sight of her staring at them, than in the fact that he was having sex.
A minute passed.
Two.
Four.
Anastasia let out a howling cry and the man pulled out.
Slowly, reverently, he climbed on top of Anastasia, his hands around her throat. He finally tore his gaze away from Jewel and muttered to the woman shuddering beneath his weight, “Good job, my pet.”
Anastasia’s moans shifted from unabashed pleasure to snorts of horror. As the man tightened his fingers around her neck, Anastasia slapped his hand away. Her scrawny knees trembled; her legs kicked.
Jewel’s nerves skittered with fear as he choked Anastasia harder. Was this a part of their agreement? She’d never seen anything like it before. Should she run? Push him off? Call the police?
Before she could decide on anything, Anastasia went still.
The man climbed off her and threw away the condom. Next, he wiped his fingers on a cloth that had been folded neatly on the sofa. His chest heaved and when he looked at her, a warm, almost friendly smile glittered on his stunning face.
Jewel pushed past her anxiety and demanded, “Is she alive?”
“Let me see?” He pressed two fingers to Anastasia’s neck and cocked his head to the side. After a beat, he nodded. “This one is stronger than the rest.”
This one? Jewel’s head started spinning. She hadn’t signed up for this. Any of this. As beautiful as this guy looked, he was deranged.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
Jewel wanted to go home but, afraid that he would choke her like he’d done to Anastasia, she answered. “Jewel.”
“Jewel?” He offered a tender smile. “Jewel. A precious stone.” He walked over to her, his manhood still hard and taunt. “Do you know who I am?”
She shook her head and wrung her hands together. Fear had taken a while to make an appearance, but it was raging in full force now. She felt tears pricking the back of her eyes. What was this man going to do to her?
He touched her shoulder. She yanked it away from him. His low chuckle coursed over her skin, evoking a strange yet potent mixture of desire and disgust. “I am your owner. You belong to me.”
“N-no.” Jewel had no idea who’d said those words until she saw the man blinking at her, an eyebrow arched.
Did I just say that?
Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed. “I like you, Jewel.” He backed away from her and reached for his clothes. “Go outside and collect your payment from the bar. I’ll tell them to put in extra. You’ve pleased me very much tonight.”
Jewel stood frozen. She didn’t want his money. Didn’t want to touch anything associated with him. But this was what she’d come for. And even if he was crazy, he hadn’t touched her.
She glanced at Anastasia, who still hadn’t woken. Like a coward, Jewel spun and shot out the door.
Chapter 2
Present Day
Belize City, Belize
“Let’s get this pawdy started!” Champagne gushed through the air and skittered across the tiled floor. Jewel ducked out of the way before her head got doused and smirked at her excited friends.
Joana Lee Gregory shoved three champagne glasses over the counter. She was a small, slim woman with light brown skin and the most exotic eyes Jewel had ever seen.
Joana was part black and part Korean but it was her effervescent thirst for life that always made Jewel smile.
Jo laughed evilly as she filled the champagne glasses to the rim and handed it over to a gorgeous dark-skinned woman with long black hair.
Carrie Lockwood.
Most of their group’s crazy plans started right there in Carrie’s pretty head. She was the bar manager of Hidden Reef at night and attended business school during the day. Tonight, Carrie wore jeans and a tight black T-shirt that said, “THIS BRIDESMAID SAW NOTHING”.
Carrie hiked her champagne glass. “To a new chapter. And to Joon who’s getting the shorter end of the stick. I hope he’s prepared to have a wife who’ll spend all his money on charity cases.”
Sky Johnson—the blushing bride—shot a quick, anxious look at her before shoving Carrie away. “That’s not true.”
Jewel’s smile was tinged with sadness. Yes it is.
Jewel should know. She was one of those charity cases.
Sky had found her struggling to sell fudge in the market and plucked her out of the tropical heat to work in Sweet Treats Café. Not only had Sky given her a job, but also a makeshift family.
Jewel would do anything for these women.
They’d saved her and they had no idea.
“Here, Jewls.” Carrie used her nickname and shoved a champagne glass filled with orange juice toward her. “I know you don’t drink, but we should still clink glasses anyway.”
“To Sky!” Jo yelled, thrusting a slender hand in the air. Champagne sloshed over the rim of her cup.
“To Sky!” Everyone met her glass.
Their smiles were contagious and Jewel found herself laughing without restraint. She’d never experienced such warmth and genuine friendship. To be honest, she hadn’t thought she could smile this hard after… everything.
“Thanks, guys.” Sky tossed a short, bouncy curl away from her cheek. Warm, brown eyes sparkled. “I can’t imagine celebrating my bachelorette party with anyone else.”
“I still think we should have gone clubbing,” Carrie said, draining her glass.
“We go dancing every month, Car.” Jo rolled her eyes.
Carrie snorted. “We hang out at Sweet Treats way more than that.”
“It’s fine. I love this place.” Sky smacked Carrie’s arm. “Stop complaining.”
Jewel slinked to a corner and sighed. Last week, they’d batted around bachelorette party ideas. Jo and Carrie toyed with going dancing, hiring a party bus with strippers or relaxing at a spa.
Sky had knocked them all down, claiming she didn’t want to do anything special. But Jewel knew why she’d rejected those ideas.
It was her fault.
Jewel couldn’t stand to be touched, so dancing in a crowd or hiring male strippers wasn’t an option for her. Going to a spa would be a nightmare. She’d been prepared to quietly back out of whatever plans were made so she didn’t spoil anyone’s fun.
Sky hadn’t even given her the opportunity.
Jewel had never met a soul as pure and good-hearted as Sky Johnson. Her boss didn’t know the details of her past, but she’d protected her anyway and looked out for her so Jewel could avoid uncomfortable situations.
They were all in danger just by knowing her. Sticking around had been a selfish move, but Jewel had never felt such acceptance. Just the thought of moving away from these women was akin to torture.
Last year, she’d broken down and shared a glimpse of her past with Carrie, but what she’d revealed hadn’t even scratched the surface.
This past year had been a beautiful dream. Jewel was… happy. She didn’t want anything to taint the treasure that she’d found at Sweet Treats. Especially not her past.
“Jewel, what are you doing over in the corner!” Carrie yelled.
“Here.” Jo pulled up a chair. The legs scraped against the ground, moaning in protest. Jo slapped the seat and tucked her legs under her, head ti
lted toward Sky who lounged in the chair across from them.
“So, I’ll ask the question on everyone’s mind,” Carrie said, munching on one of Sky’s savory chocolate brownies. “How are you and Joon holding up with the no-sex rule?”
Sky’s light brown skin reddened.
Jewel pulled her lips in and tried to hide her amusement.
Jo wiggled her eyebrows. “Have you caved yet?”
“No.” Sky rolled her eyes. “And neither has he. We both agreed that staying abstinent until the wedding night will make it even more special.”
“I doubt you ‘both’ agreed to that,” Carrie snorted.
Joana burst out laughing.
“A relationship is built on more than just the physical,” Sky said like a teacher to a pack of misbehaving students.
Carrie shook her head, clicking her tongue in disagreement. “I admire you two. I really do, but I can’t imagine holding out for so long. Benson tortured me for three weeks before we got to business. Now we can’t keep our hands off each other. Let me tell you, we’ve soiled every part of that club…”
“Ew! TMI!” Sky lolled out her tongue.
“That’s the honeymoon phase.” Jo tapped her fingers on her leg. “Eventually, those crazy hormones fizzle. That’s when you figure out if you’ve chosen someone who’ll stick around or not.”
“Are you suggesting you and Sun Gi have cooled off?” Carrie asked with a mischievous smile.
“Oh, I didn’t say that.”
Sky cackled. “You’re horrible. All of you. Let’s change the subject before we pollute poor Jewel’s mind.”
Jewel just smiled innocently. Sky, Jo and Carrie had no idea how dark her experiences had been. In fact, Jewel wished she could talk about relationships and intimacy with such lightheartedness.
You’re in a good place. Don’t think about him.
She shook her head and focused on Sky. “Are you nervous?”
Carrie and Jo quieted down to hear the bride-to-be’s reply.
“A little.” Sky wrapped her arms around herself. “But I trust Joon. We’ve been together for two years. I’ve tried my best to seek out his heart, make sure he’s the kind of man I can trust the rest of my life with. I’m confident that, unless he suddenly changes, he’ll be a loving husband and a caring father.”
“That’s so romantic,” Jewel whispered.
“You deserve it, Sky.” Carrie lifted her glass.
“Hear, hear!” Jo reached out and knocked her glass against Carrie’s.
Jewel smiled shyly and ducked further into her seat. Sky was a good person. They all were.
But she wasn’t.
And because of all her mistakes, she would never find love. Truth was, Jewel didn’t deserve it.
Chapter 3
“Check this out, bro.” Courtney tapped her foot and swayed her arms in the air. “I’ll do great at the audition right?”
Finn threw a thumbs-up over the rim of his laptop. “Yeah, you look great, sis.”
“You didn’t even watch.” Courtney flounced into the seat across from him, her long blonde hair splaying past her shoulders and glittering like wheat in the sunlight.
“Whoa. What’s with all the sighing?”
“I’m scared.” Courtney shook her head, button nose scrunching. She wore jean shorts and a T-shirt with one sleeve hanging off, exposing her pale shoulder. Way too inappropriate for his tastes, but he couldn’t tell her anything.
“Of what?”
Courtney shrugged. “That I’ll suck.”
“No way.” Finn slapped his laptop closed and looked at her, reaching for his beer. “Start from the top. I promise I’ll pay attention this time.”
“I can’t. I have to leave now or I’ll be late.” Courtney blew him a kiss and jumped out of her seat. “Wish me luck.”
As he watched her disappear, his heart panged.
Thick clouds shaded the sunlight and turned everything grey. Urgency pounded in his head, skittered up his veins.
He needed to go after her. It was dangerous alone.
“Courtney!”
She didn’t hear him.
The bottle slipped out of his hands and crashed to the concrete.
Finn shot out of his seat and yelled, “Wait, Court! Let me take you—”
A chirp shattered the air. Finn’s eyes burst open. He blinked rapidly, struggling to reacquaint himself with reality after being sucked into a far-too-realistic dream.
His mouth dry, he reached for the glass of water he kept on the nightstand. It took a moment to sit up without feel like his head was about to explode.
Pills. He had to find the pills. Fingers trembling, he picked up the bottle of medication he kept close by and grabbed the cup of water to knock it back. After guzzling the water, Finn slammed the glass down and stared at the ring mark it had left on the cheap, plastic nightstand.
Another chirp.
His phone. Finn patted around his muscled torso, searching the sheets for the device. He finally found it after unraveling the blanket and peered at the name on the screen.
Nolan.
Still suffering from the aftereffects of his dream, he slapped the phone to his face and grunted. “What do you want?”
Nolan’s thin, dry voice cut through the noise in his head. “We got a lead.”
“You got a”—Finn’s eyes widened and he scrambled to the edge of his bed, fully alert. “Where is he?”
“It’s not a sure thing,” Nolan answered.
“Where the hell is he?” Finn hissed. The rage building inside was instantaneous and powerful, sweeping every nerve so it felt like he’d turned to pure fire.
“They’ve got a case in Belize that fits the M.O.”
“Belize?”
“It’s a little country in the Caribbean, but listen to me, Finn. There’s just a couple coincidental similarities here. The authorities aren’t making a big about it and they wouldn’t take kindly to some white guy storming in and making a mess.”
Finn stalked to the closet and rifled through his clothes. “Give me a name.”
“Finn—”
“I need a contact!” he yelled.
Nolan went quiet. Finn could imagine his friend seething at the other end of the line, cursing himself for bothering to relay the message.
Finn felt a flicker of guilt, but he squashed it with a grunt. He didn’t care how many bridges he had to burn to get his hands on the prick who murdered his sister.
Sitting back and watching the wheels of justice turn hadn’t brought results.
The cops had let him down. Bureaucracy had laughed in his face. He’d heard a whole lot of bull about diplomacy and red tape before he’d decided that justice was a joke and the only people who got crap done were those who were willing to do it themselves.
“You don’t have to keep running down this path,” Nolan said worriedly.
Finn rubbed his temples. The pills still hadn’t kicked in yet. Based on experience, they’d take at least half-an-hour. He’d need to amp up the dose or something. This wasn’t working. “Are you my therapist or my friend?”
“You’ll get yourself killed.”
“The name, Nolan.”
“It’s Jewel.” Nolan paused and then let it all out in a rush. “According to my contacts, she was his last voyeur before he went missing a year ago.”
“Jewel.” He tasted the name on his tongue.
“Finn…”
“I know. I know.” He shrugged into a shirt. “Stay safe.”
“I wasn’t going to say that.”
“What then?” He pulled on a jacket and grabbed his passport from the rickety cupboard in the kitchen.
Nolan’s voice was deadly sober. “The girl, if it’s really him then… he’s coming back for her.”
Finn pulled his fingers into fists and growled, “I’m counting on it.”
Chapter 4
Jewel slapped dusty headphones over her ears and logged into the computer at the internet café
near the bakery. Her stomach churned with excitement and she punched her information into the video chat app, waiting impatiently for Juney’s face to appear.
The bubble on screen expanded, revealing her brother.
A cry of joy tumbled from her lips.
“Jewls!” Juney waved, his hand turning into a blur in front of the camera.
“Hi, baby.” Jewel pressed her fingers on the screen. Juney’s rich brown skin and bright brown eyes peered at her. His hair was closely cropped and it suited his handsome face.
Juney moved closer to the camera. “Are you crying?”
“No, I’m not.” Jewel swiped away a tear. “I’ve got coconut oil in my eye.”
“You’re still dunking your hair with coconut oil?” He smirked.
“Yes. It’s cheap, natural and healthy.”
“You should go and buy some real hair products,” Juney said, talking like a forty-year-old man instead of a twelve-year-old boy. “Instead of spending all your money on me.”
“Maybe later.” She shook her head. “Tell me everything that’s happened this week. Don’t leave anything out.”
Juney dove into a spiel about his classmates at the academy for gifted children. Jewel hung on every word.
A year ago, just before she’d saved enough to run away from him, Juney was offered a scholarship to study in San Pedro. She’d used her savings to send her brother to the island and then ran away on her own, living off the streets for a while until she saved up enough to rent the shanty she now called home.
“…and that’s when our teacher got up and yelled, ‘who drew whiskers on the skeleton?” Juney threw his head back and laughed. “Everyone lost their minds.”
Jewel sighed contentedly. “That’s great, Juney. I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Thanks.” His smile dimmed. “Have you talked to Mom?”
“Not recently.”
“She called me a few days ago. Said she hadn’t heard from you.”
Jewel glanced away. “Mom must have lost the address I gave her.”