Page 398 of Under Her Skin

“This is Dr. Harris,” Jackson said shortly. “He’s here to helpyou.”

Ama nodded and tried to smile at the doctor. “My wound isinfected.”

Dr. Harris sighed and looked at Jackson. “I told you, Mr. Gallo. That wound is deep. I tried my best, but I’m not a surgeon. She needs to be in thehospital.”

Jackson’s face was blank. “Not going to happen. Dr. Harris, I assume you realize what will happen if Ama dies of thisinfection?”

The doctor looked sick, but nodded. “I will have to take some blood, though. I will try to get them processed quickly and anonymously. In the meantime, I’ll clean up the wound and give Mrs. Gallo someantibiotics.”

“You dothat.”

While he worked, Ama looked at Jackson. It had been three days since that first time they had slept together, and Jackson had demanded sex multiple times a day ever since. Ama had tried to act as if she enjoyed it, while dying inside, and Jackson had responded. He’d brought her extra blankets and pillows, extra food and drink, and some books. She wondered if, now, she could ask for the thing she wantedmost.

“Jackson …may I see my sister, please? Even for five minutes? I’ll …make you happy later.” She flushed scarlet as the doctor gave her a strange look, but Jacksonnodded.

“Fine. Fiveminutes.”

She was locked up alone while Jackson took the doctor out, then he returned to her. He tied her hands behind her back. “Just in case you decided suicide is an option and try to attack me,” he said. “I’ll untie them when you’re with Selima. You can have an hour with her today, but I expect you to be ready for me with a smile on your face this evening.Understand?”

Ama nodded, nothing but the excitement at seeing her sister in her mind. Jackson led her through the corridors of the facility. Ama couldn’t see any windows anywhere and quickly realized they were underground. The thought made her miserable. How the hell was anyone supposed to findthem?

As they walked, the corridors began to look more polished, and by the time they reached Selima’s room, they could have been in a four-star hotel. Jackson opened the door, and Selima turned, the shock on her face when she saw Amaobvious.

“Ama!” Selima burst into noisy tears as Jackson untied Ama’s hands and left the room. Both of the sisters heard the lock click, then they were in each other’sarms.

“I can’t believe he’s got you here,” Selima said. “Whathappened?”

“He had someone on the inside, I think. God, it’s good to see you, but I wish I weren't, if you know what I mean. How are you? HasJackson…?”

She couldn’t get the words out, and Selima, seeing her distress, shook her head. “No. He hasn’t touched me, I promise.” She looked bleak. “He killed Chase, Ama. He killed myboyfriend.”

Ama shook her head. “No. Chase is alive, Selima. I swear. He’s in a bad way, yes, but he’s a fighter, and god, he loves you. He’s a greatguy.”

Selima’s tears returned, and Ama hugged her while she cried with relief. “Oh, thank god. Thankgod.”

Ama buried her own tears in Selima’s hair. “I’m so sorry, boo, about all of this. It’s my fault. I should never have married him …we could have found another way to get you away from that disgusting ex ofyours.”

Selima sniffed back her tears and wiped her eyes. “You know that’s not true. He would have killed me rather than let me go if Omar’s men hadn’t made sure he couldn’t findme.”

“God,” Ama said, fierce now. “What the fuck is wrong with these men? We’re not objects to own,assholes!”

She yelled it out loud, and Selima smiled. “That’s more like it.” She sighed. “I’m glad Chase is okay. At least no one else gothurt.”

She must have seen something in Ama’s face, then, because she paled. “Who?”

Ama hesitated. “Inca. Jackson had her attacked. She almost didn’t makeit.”

Selima looked sick. “Inca? Why thehell?”

Ama’s mouth hitched up in a small smile. “Jackson doesn’t like it when beautiful women piss him off and treat him like a child. He is that petty and that dangerous. He hired two men to stab Inca to death and it’s a miracle she survived …again.”

“She’sokay?”

“I wouldn’t say that, but she’s out of danger. I think, anyway. I’ve been here for three days and I’m not sure how long I wasunconscious.”

She told Selima of the circumstances of her abduction, and then her confusion about Lena’s involvement. Selima listened with a grim expression on herface.

“That fucking bitch,” she spat. “I don’t think there’s any doubt, Ama. That two-faced…”