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“Please. You can trust—”
“Stop! Just stop, okay!”
Sky’s jaw dropped. Hurt pooled in her deep brown eyes. Jewel bit down on her bottom lip and lowered her head. All her anger crept away, leaving nothing but shame in its wake.
She had no idea where that rage had come from, but it definitely wasn’t supposed to be aimed at her friends. “Sky…”
“No. You’re right.” Her voice a tortured whisper, Sky climbed to her feet. “I’ll be downstairs in the banquet hall. Join us whenever you’re ready.”
Jewel winced as Sky strode toward the door and slammed it behind her.
Running a hand through her hair, she flopped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. The silence prompted whispers from the past. She heard his voice hissing in her ear, You’re nothing without me.
Her shoulders tightened.
Rumbling laughter echoed as if he were standing right there in the room. You’re mine. I’m your owner.
Jewel launched out of bed and paced the floor, trying to outrun the twisted memories. Even if her head was messed up right now, she shouldn’t have screamed at someone who was only trying to help her.
It was Sky’s wedding day, yet she’d left her doting husband to make sure Jewel changed into something clean and dry.
“I’m an idiot.” She moaned and jumped on the bed to stuff her face in the pillows.
How much longer would she live as his puppet, trapped in a prison?
Everyone has a voice. Finn’s words echoed in her ears. It was a sentiment Jo, Carrie and Sky had shouted since she’d known them.
Jewel dragged herself off the bed and limped to the bathroom. The strappy stilettos she’d worn had grated against the back of her heel. She needed to find a band-aid, but first… a shower.
Jewel locked the bathroom door and checked it twice.
Next, she pulled her dress off and let it shimmy down to her hips.
Standing there in her white bra, she stared at her reflection. The dark chocolate skin. The wide, frightened eyes.
Like a child.
Like a mindless, soulless robot.
“Are you happy with yourself,” she hissed at her reflection. “Do you like hiding out like a criminal?” She curled her lips in disdain. “You’re pathetic.”
Whirling away from her reflection, Jewel stripped the rest of the way and jumped into the shower.
As the warm water kneaded her muscles and melted away the mud, she slapped her hand against the wall and tried to calm herself.
Kross was gone. It had been a year and she hadn’t heard a word from him. Maybe he’d found some other girl to torture. Maybe he’d died.
If only.
Either way, she didn’t care. That chapter of her life was closed. It was time to move on. Follow her dreams. Finally start the cooking show she’d never had the courage to.
And maybe, just maybe, she could find a man who’d love her, scars and all. They’d fall in love and get married. She’d find her own happily-ever-after.
For some reason, Finn’s face popped into mind.
Jewel had never felt so at ease with a man. He was attracted to her. Made no attempts to disguise it. But she wasn’t afraid.
Not anymore.
