88. Panic attack Zach's POV A small breath burst on her trembling lips. She bit them reluctantly and tried to raise herself from the bed. "No, don’t do that. You are not strong enough to support yourself to sit." She smiled still, "I want to be able to... To look into your eyes when we talk." I sighed. She was attempting to make this not be awkward. I wanted to tell her that nothing about this was awkward. But maybe her hard nipples from our touch and her shivers made her skin crawl. I didn't protest and helped her slant the bed so she could face me without straining her body. She pulled the white thin sheet on her chest with a wince and forced a smile, "Thank you." I watched her face. She had become pallid. Veins like the intricate distribution of branches on a bald tree filled every part on her skin and eyelids. Her whites were now reddish yellow. I couldn't stop brushing my hand on her forehead, hoping to make the lines disappear. "Luke told me you wished to see me." She sh
89. Souvenir Zach's POVSomething hit me in the chest when I met Gianna's gaze. She seemed like a different person now. Like half dead. Gone was the woman I was talking with. Now she appeared so frail and weak that she would slip into the pit of death if she so much as tried to suck another breath. "Zach," She spoke my name in the barest of whisper, her face a mess of sweat and teetering muscles. "Bow down." I only stared at her as I heard that, all the wrong thoughts whirling in my head. When I didn't move a muscle, her cold fingers grabbed my face. I held back my breathing as she lowered my face down until our foreheads touched. I opened my mouth to counter and also scolded her to cooperate. But then, seeing her lips so close the urge to kiss her replaced all my thoughts. Before I acted on the desire, she spoke again in the same weak barely-audible tone, "Close your eyes, Zach." As I obeyed, I saw a cloud of white smoke unfurl in my mind. Then it took shape... Of people. Of Gi
90. Mission: Rescue momJade's POVI got out of the cab after paying the driver in front of Stanley Archibald's mansion. As my eyes absorbed the view of his abode, I recalled how easy it was to sneak out of Salvay mansion. Not even sneaking out, I should call it proud leave because there was no one to stop me.My guards seemed to have evaporated like vapor. I didn't hear from them after I discovered Zach's true face. They just left me on my own. From an overly protected Jade I was back to being self prepared Jade. I was on my own again without any guards having to watch over me like a mother with her five year old child.If you think I am sad about it. No, I am not. In fact, I am dancing in delight for I didn't have to come up with ideas to escape them. I'm glad that Zach terminated them from being my guards. This way I can work my way to rescue my mother with unmitigated attention. I will have to follow no one's fucking rules and once I am successful saving my mother, I can quietly t
91. A reasonable bargainJade's POVMy heart skipped a beat as I stepped in. Sweat covered my forehead and I felt my arms burning with sweltering goosebumps. The door was a portal to yet another corridor— a dimly lit, ominous-looking, colorless corridor with an iron door.The first thought that plummeted into my awareness was that I stepped onto the sets of a horror movie set in an old mental asylum. There were cobwebs adhered to the ceiling, plaster coming off the walls and two or three lights in the corridor were working— out of which one flickering on and off, giving it a horrible look.I hugged my purse to my chest and gulped the knot of fright below my throat. This was insane. This corridor was unexpectedly hiding behind a door that seemed to belong to a room. Bloody hell, I dragged my feet forward as I pressed my lips tighter to hold back my cries of fear.Every door has a small window, just big enough to pass a
92. Meeting Lelah Zach's POV The tips of my fingers charred with searing warmth as I hesitantly extended my hands to touch the little bundle of curiosity grazing me with an inquisitorial look. She lowered her eyes at my hands, then came up to blink her thick long lashes at me. I was nervous around her. My body acting out of my reserved accords. As soon as I came to Denver and told Richard's mother about his death along with Gianna's, she swooned and wept over losing them. I was glad I avoided the kidnapping part or else the old lady would have taken the trauma to her brain and fell into fatal oblivion. Just like Lelah, she had nobody to call family. She was alone. Orphan as she called herself. It took a hug and a kiss to her sweaty and strained forehead to ensure her of the good that's to come. That I was not a bearer of bad tidings even though my visit only brought her terminal affliction. I had to hold her to my chest like I would have done to my mother in such a strung out cir
93. Where is Jade Zach's POVMom squatted to my left, gazing at Lelah who was stuck to the side of my leg. "Hi, darling." She was nervous and it was obvious in her greeting as she forwarded a hand toward Lelah."Hello." My heart swirled, listening to my toddler's response full of excitement, but with an edge of surprise and little fear.She was doing better than other kids her age. She didn't cower away when mom slid her hands around her to pick her up. Lelah happily went to her and did what she did to me when I picked her up— licking her chin.Mom was taken aback, she grasped and stared at me in confusion. I gave her an assuring grin and explained to her that it was Lelah's way of showing love and excitement toward people she liked."Hey, baby," dad joined mom. He caressed Lelah's head while a gleam of possessiveness sparkled in his eyes. "I am your grandpa.""Gwandpa?" Lelah blinked her eyes, making them pout in adoration and kiss her head while she's gotten everyone gathered aroun
94. Ensnared Jade's POV Please, stop it! I beg you. Please. No, it hurts. Please don't do it. The words echoed in my head. I moved a hand and a wave of excruciating pain slid through my body. As my senses started to fall back in its place, I realized myself lying on my stomach. My eyes were heavy, feeling like two stones had been tied to my lashes, thus making my endeavor to force open my eyelids fail. Noo! Please, no. Ask them to stop it, Master. I beg you. The words reverberated again. The pain in the voice, the heart-stirring sobs, and the eerie edge to the sobs overwhelmed me. I wanted to see who it was and why they were weeping so helplessly. I hissed and attempted to get up but prostrated back on the ground harshly. A persistent ache gnawed at my head. Like a blacksmith was hammering nails in my head. My body was trapped in an unrelenting grip of discomfort, too, as I was forced to pull myself up again. There was no blindfold on my eyes yet I couldn't see an
95. Tyranny Jade's POV "Nobody dared to hit me before." "What a pity!" I scoffed. "But as I said if all those women had done it with you the— NO!" A man I hadn't seen approaching mom thrusted a knife, hilt-deep, in her stomach. He let her fall to the ground, the knife still inside her. I took a jump in her direction but a hand came around my waist and yanked me back. "Where are you going, whore? Won't you pay for the sins of your boyfriend!" I froze at the sound of his words. My boyfriend? Nobody knew about us. How did he.... I was whipped out of my thoughts by my mom's cry. "No, pl-please..." She begged, her voice barely audible. She was held flat on the muddy ground. Both her hands and legs were held apart and clipped down by four different men. Another one murmured something, his eyes searing into mine as he knelt down with another knife. Fear engulfed me. My mom was already into shreds. Her blood was more on the ground around her than what she might have left