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CHAPTER FOUR

I was assigned to shadow my roommate Marcie for half of the day, and then I’d take over and jump right in to helping guests get situated with their stay. “Essentially, the couples come through and check in. The bell boys will collect their luggage and put it in their separate rooms.” Marcie was walking rapidly, and I was jogging to keep up. Her blonde hair shook with every turn as she pointed at buildings. “This is for our female guests. Do you want to peek into the room to familiarize yourself with it?” I shrugged and nodded as she scanned her badge and a door slid open. Repulsion grew in my body as it resembled the doors at the Ivory estate back in Charlotte.

Except there was no small all-white twin bed or white brick walls. Instead, it was a beautiful room with ocean views and a large bed. A towel crafted into a bird was sitting on the end of the bed, while a bottle filled with blush-pink liquid, along with a unique set of products, sat on the nightstand.

“What is that?” I pointed, knowing it was the same ‘champagne’ we had toasted with just a mere hour ago.

“Infused-sparkling water, and the Ivory-exclusive skincare.” Marcie walked to the balcony and slid the door open. Something buzzed in her pocket.

Marcie lifted a phone-like device in the air. “This will warn you anytime your assigned guests open their doors.”

“Why would we need to know that they opened their door?” I walked over and joined her on the balcony. The scent of sea salt as the sunshine warmed my skin was comforting.

“So they don’t escape.” Marcie was staring straight at the ocean without a hint of humor on her face.

“Are you…” I started, but she jerked her body toward me, and I walked backward into the white brick wall.

“Oh, Demi. Sweet, sweet Demi…stop asking questions. If you’re so concerned, why did you choose to work here?”

I exhaled as Marcie’s warm breath brushed against my face. “I didn’t choose, per se. The couple who helped me when I was stranded in the ocean brought me to this island, and Alister allowed me to stay and recover in one of the rooms, and then he offered me a job.”

“The couple that so-called rescued you knew exactly where you and Bradley were. Alister always wanted you to work here, especially after your brilliant performance.” Marcie brushed her finger against my neck.

I knew the boat had to have been tracked. I knew there was no easy way out of this life from the Ivory family. I was going to end them all, one way or another.

“I want to know what this resort is really doing, Marcie. You might as well tell me.”

Marcie squinted at me and then looked away before turning and walking to the balcony railing. “Do you know what happens to your body when you drown?” She turned and gripped the railing from behind her. Her collarbone protruded as her eyes glossed over.

“No,” I whispered.

“Your body first goes into fight-or-flight mode. Then, your airway begins to close. Afterward, you lose consciousness, and then…cerebral hypoxia, which is the final stage before death. All this happens mostly when you are aware that death is right there waiting.”

“Okay, why are you telling me this?” I crossed my arms and watched as the waves crashed into the shoreline.

“You survived in the ocean once, Demi. Stop asking questions and doing whatever you think you are planning, because I can guarantee you won’t survive again.” Marcie began walking back into the hotel room with no sound coming from her footsteps. The damn shoes would haunt me forever.

“The main thing is to not discuss their husbands. These couples are in a fragile state of their marriage, and your goal is to let the wife focus on herself, her needs, and feel free…” Marcie guided me down the hallway until we reached the in-house spa. “Many of our guests are eager to become new mothers or simply women who have been neglected in their marriage. Our goal is to let them heal, rest, rejuvenate, and then reunite with their spouse for two days. I’ll be honest, many of these couples haven’t had sex in months, some even years. They want to have sex; they want to be loved and wanted by their spouse. These are couples fighting for their marriage and families, and La Gabbia is that bridge to turn that dream into a reality.” Marcie pointed to one entrance of the spa. “Nails, massages, and facials are that way, and then the other side is buia sessions. Got it?” She tugged out a stack of papers and handed them to me.

“It’s a required minimum seven-day stay. No one leaves at any cost without checking out properly.” Marcie was speaking so quickly that my heart was racing.

Putting my hand up, I blew out a breath of air and asked, “What are buia sessions?”

Marcie shook her head and swiftly turned on her heels. “Demi, buia sessions are dark sessions. That’s all you need to know as a dove; you aren’t a nightingale.”

Crossing my arms, I continued following Marcie to the front of the resort where I could see couples being welcomed by other women wearing all white with their perfectly cut blonde hair.

The same blush-pink sparkling water was being served and fresh peonies decorated the trays. Death was here. Now, I knew it was here. Those peonies only thrived and grew on mortality.

“What if I want to be a nightingale instead of a dove?” I whispered quickly before we approached the front desk.

Marcie’s eyes widened and her hand dropped to mine. Digging her nails into my flesh, she whispered, “Don’t ever wish that on yourself, Demi.” Wincing, I tugged her hand off me.

“Jamie, the girl at the front desk, will help you find your first couple. Have a good day, and hopefully I’ll see you back in the room tonight.”

“Hopefully?” I looked down at the crescent shapes embedded into my skin from Marcie’s nails.

“If you survive and don’t mess this up. Alister Ivory doesn’t allow room for mistakes, Dem.” She shrugged before reaching into her small pocket. Tugging out a tube of nude lipstick, she swiped it against her lips. “Just don’t do something stupid where you’ll wish you were dead… I’ve heard it’s a common issue around here.”