by Nia Arthurs
“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 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.
Sticking around Sweet Treats 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.
It was better if they thought she was just a strange, socially awkward woman who’d been abused as a child. In fact, this past year had been so perfect that she’d started to believe her own lie.
“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 tilted toward Sky who lounged in the chair across from them.
Jewel jogged over and took her place in the circle.
“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 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 cup 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 her mistakes, she would never find love. Truth was, Jewel didn’t deserve it.
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 feeling 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 his beer to knock it back. After guzzling the alcohol, Finn slammed the can 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. “I 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.
“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 deal 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 throu
gh his clothes. “Give me a name.”
“Finn—”
“I need a contact!” he yelled.
Nolan went quiet. Finn could hear his friend’s hesitation, his regret. He felt a flicker of guilt, but squashed it with a grunt. Finn 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.”
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 to the computer monitor. 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’d saved enough to rent the shanty she now called home.
“…and that’s when our teacher got up and yelled, ‘who drew a moustache on the skeleton?” Juney threw his head back and laughed. “Everyone lost their minds.”
Jewel sighed contentedly. “That’s great. 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.”
“It’s okay, you know,” Juney whispered, his eyes revealing wisdom beyond his years. “I had to get away from her too. If you don’t want her around, I wouldn’t blame you.”
Jewel forced a smile. “Don’t be ridiculous. I love Mom.”
“Okay.” Juney stretched out the word as if he wasn’t convinced. “Well, I should get back to studying. Love you, sis.”
“Love you too.” Jewel signed off.
As soon as the screen went dark, she collapsed into the chair and let out a frustrated groan.
Her mother was a sore subject.
Miranda Blake gave birth to Jewel when she was only fifteen, barely a child herself. Jewel had never known her father. She doubted Miranda knew much about him either.
Her childhood had been riddled with darkness and hunger. Her mother hadn’t protected her, hadn’t even cared. If she never saw that woman again, she’d be fine.
Jewel tugged at the hem of her over-sized sweatshirt and meandered to the counter. The clerk raked his gaze over her, beady eyes lingering on her sweatshirt.
“You alright, baby?” he asked, ringing up her total. “Isn’t it hot in that thing?”
Jewel shook her head and glanced at the windows to avoid looking at him. Waning sunlight slithered through the blinds and covered the floor with shadows. A man in a hoodie stood outside the door.
“That’ll be ten dollars,” the guy said. She handed over the money. He counted it slowly, his eyes unwavering and his smile growing by the minute.
Why wouldn’t he stop staring at her?
“You don’t talk much, do you?” He winked. “I like women like that.”
Was he hitting on her?
No, no, no.
Did men still find her attractive? She’d done everything she could think of to avoid their attention. Baggy clothes. Turtlenecks. Showing not an inch of skin. No makeup. Hair always in a bun.
What am I doing wrong?
She panicked and launched out of the store, thrusting the door open. The sunlight blinded her. Jewel stumbled to the sidewalk and bent over, struggling to catch her breath.
Footsteps pattered close.
A hand shoved her in the back.
Jewel took a dive, spilling to the hard concrete and landing hard on her side. Her purse strap latched against her armpit as someone tugged on her bag.
“Hand over the purse, lady,” a man growled.
Her eyes widened as she stared up into the face of the guy with the hoodie. Jewel trembled and hurried to free herself of the bag. There was nothing of worth in there anyway. She’d hate to get hurt over a few dollar coins and a buss pass.
“Hey!” a deep voice yelled. “What’s going on here?”
The purse strap went taunt as the mugger froze.
Another man stepped toward them. She couldn’t see his face, but he wore a white shirt pulled tight across broad shoulders and blue jeans. He was so tall he blocked the sunlight.
A smoky voice raked her ears. “Miss, are you alright?”
Jewel glanced up and saw the mugger fleeing, black hoodie flapping against his back. She inhaled stiffly and looked into the face of her rescuer.
The sight of him made her lose her breath again.
His irises were a sharp hazel. Thick, black brows slanted over narrowed eyes fringed by the longest lashes she’d ever seen. High cheekbones. A chiseled jaw. Short, brown hair brushed away from his forehead.
He was gorgeous.
But a dazzling face no longer blew Jewel away. She knew, more than anyone, that beauty could disguise a monster.
“Miss?”
She stiffened as his eyes slid over her with concern. Pushing herself up to her feet, she ignored the hand he extended and brushed herself off.
The man smiled and a corner of his lips tilted higher than the other. It wasn’t a flaw so much as it was a physical quirk that made his attractive face even more interesting. “Should I call the police?”
“No,” she blurted. Realizing the word had exploded with too much force, she ducked her head and mumbled, “No co
ps.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks for your help,” Jewel mumbled and spun to leave.
“Wait.” The man reached out to touch her. Jewel shirked back and he let his fingers curl in the air before falling back to his side. In the same charming manner, he asked, “Are you sure you’re okay? You took a nasty spill.”
She jerked her chin down.
“I’m Finn.” He tilted his head. “And you are?”
She wrapped her arms around herself. More than anything, Jewel wanted to disappear from sight. Conversations weren’t her forte, but he had stepped in to save her from a thief.
“Jewel,” she said finally.
“Jewel.” He repeated her name, hazel eyes sparkling so hard she couldn’t even look straight at him. “Do you know where I could get a decent cup of coffee around here?”
Her mind flitted to Sweet Treats. She cleared her throat and pointed up the street. “There’s a place a few blocks ahead.”
“Do you mind showing me the way? I can give you a ride. If we’re going in the same direction, I mean.” He quirked an eyebrow, leveling her a smoldering look that would have made a normal heart flutter.
Hers was too twisted and gnarled to even beat properly so there was no reaction there.
Well, not much of one.
Jewel shook her head. “No, thanks.”
“I’ll walk with you then,” he said.
Jewel shrugged and turned on her heels, starting out toward the bakery. Finn kept up with her easily, his long-legged strides eating up the pavement.
Jewel studied him from the corner of her eye. He was tall and broad-shouldered with a massive chest that could stop a Mack truck, but he was also friendly and warm. He seemed like the type of man who would never have noticed her if not for the mugging.
Not that she was particularly pleased to be in his line of sight now.
They walked in silence.
After a few minutes, they neared the café.
“It’s here,” she said quietly, pointing to the building. Sweet Treats was painted pink and orange. A large white sign swung in the wind.