Page 8 of Pervade Montego Bay

I faked a smirk because I’d already let her know I’d frozen all the funds in her bank account to immobilize her movements.

“When does it start?”

“When does what start?” I wanted to hear how she saw our arrangement.

“Us.”

“There’s no us, Emily. It’s just you on your knees before the man who holds all the power.”

Emily

Ipressed a hand to my chest, trying to lessen the ache in my heart.

Xavier wasn’t here. There wasn’t even a message from him…a sign that we were still together. Even after all this time apart.

Our love was broken.

Seeing him again had been all I could think about since we’d parted weeks ago. It was all I could do to hold back sobs.

There’s no us, Emily.

My eyes prickling with tears, I reached for my suitcase and violin and then hesitated at the bottom of the staircase. I’d been told how to find my room—turn right at the top of the stairs, third door down.

James’ words that we were not in a relationship of any kind pierced my heart and made my breathing thready. What was I to do? How could I continue knowing all this time it had been Ballad who had lured me here for this purpose? The invitation to Montego Bay had been from him and not fromthem.

Xavier had given me this new violin after I’d been forced to destroy the precious Stradivarius he’d gifted me. Even though I’d saved a life by bashing it over the head of a KGB agent, Xavier wouldn’t forgive me for what had happened to it. The beautiful instrument was worth millions, though it had been worth so much more to me…an extension of my being.

Maybe this violin represented a goodbye gift. Because that was the kindness that Xavier always showed even when he was angry.

After what Ballad had done to me in his castle, I was crazy to think he had suddenly morphed into a good man. Yet my body pined for what he was offering. He knew the art of pleasure in all its forms. I quivered with the memory of the way James had once ravished me. The affection he’d shown, the kind words he’d spoken, and even those rare times we snuggled in bed.

At least he’d not locked me in this time like he’d done at his castle in the middle of nowhere. To be sure, I walked over to the front door and pulled it open—proof I could leave if I wanted to.

A sound from somewhere in the house made me close it.

I had nowhere to go and yet I couldn’t proceed up those stairs either. My body trembled with uncertainty.

A hand brushed against mine and took the suitcase from me. “I’ve got it,” said James as he took the first step up and turned. “Violin.” I handed it to him and he carried them both upstairs.

Leaving here was still an option, though I didn’t have enough money to buy a ticket for the flight home. I’d not thought this through. I’d assumed the invitation meant the three of us would be reunited. Now I was stuck here…with him.

Until Xavier came for me;ifhe came for me.

Following James up the steps, I rallied my courage to at least stay overnight until I could think up my next move. I didn’t want to ask Mum for the money because that would scare her. Maybe I’d do the unthinkable and “borrow” James’ credit card. I’d never stolen before, but then again, I’d never been put in a situation like this. If he really had frozen my funds, the same ones he’d given me, then I was going to have to be cunning to find a way to leave Jamaica.

Even after Ballad’s harsh greeting and cruel words, it was impossible for my gaze not to sweep over his tall, toned body as he moved up the stairs with an elegance that equaled domination. Masterful and yet worldly.

Don’t love him anymore; he doesn’t deserve it.

James gestured to a door on our right. “This one.”

I went on ahead and looked around at the sparseness. It was pleasant enough with its burgundy and gold-patterned wallpaper. A white spread covered a king-sized bed. A couple of still life prints on the wall and there you had it—the guest bedroom.

James placed my suitcase on the bed and lay my violin beside it.

“Enjoy the house,” he said, as though he’d invited me here on friendlier terms. “However, you will not leave without my permission.”

As if I’d stick to that order.