Love Me If You Dare

Chapter 75

Justin could be the person that is behind all this. 

“Hi Jack.  I have a gift for you.”

Jackson is sitting on the sofa.  He is reading the “Washington Economic Times”.  In the classified section, he finds a message.  he is overjoyed.  He quickly walks down the stairs to the cellar where Lisa is. 

This is a villa in the countryside of a small town.  The house was used as a warehouse during the civil wars.  Now it’s his little playground.

He hurries downstairs and finds Lisa still tied up in the same position where he left her.  

“Oh…” He sighs.  He puts the newspaper in his hand on the sofa.  He releases the locks on her limbs and carry her in his arms.  

She coils up into a ball. Her face is as white as a sheet of paper, and her hands and feet are cold.  She tries hard not to move at all. She is not sure if she can take any more threats and intimidation. She might collapse.  

Jackson is very gentle.  He puts her down on a big comfortable sofa.  Then he takes off his suit jacket and places it over her body.  He sits down besides her and wraps his hand around her shoulder.  He leans over and gives her a kiss on her cheek.

His actions frightens her.  She stiffens her body even more. But he doesn't seem to notice her rigidness.  He picks up the newspaper and says to her : “Good news and bad news.  What do you want to hear first?”

Lisa tries hard to control the shake in her voice.  She answers softly in a coarse voice : “…bad news.”

He smiles and shows her the classified page : “Our little Jhope is back.” 

Lisa looks at the part of the paper he is pointing at.  Her heart sinks.  This must be the usual way of how they communicate to each other.  It’s obviously a secret between the two of them.   Others have no way of knowing or imitating it. 

Jungkook… you have enemies in front and behind you at the same time? 

What are you going to do?  

Jackson knows what is going through her mind.  He says with a smile : “Don’t be discouraged.  I have not shared the good news yet.” He throws the newspaper onto the coffee table.  Then he leans back onto the sofa again.  Lisa doesn't dare to move, not even a tiny bit.  She waits for him to speak.

“The good news is…” he says slowly: “Justin might be behind all this.” 

Lisa is startled by his comment. Jackson continues : “Jhope cannot defeat Justin.  Perhaps he thinks he’s escaped, but Justin is watching his every move.  That’s possible too.” 

He picks up her hand.  He examines and admires his own handy work for a while.  Then he says : “Relax.  Do you know what I am going to do next?”

Lisa keeps quiet. 

He laughs : “I am not going to reply.  No matter what happens to Jhope, they won’t get a word out of me. Justin takes a risky step, but his efforts will be futile.  What a waste.”

—————-

After ‘sharing’ the news with her, he sits at the sofa to watch a bit more television.  Then, like a gentleman,  he says good night to Lisa and leaves.  

Lisa hears the noise of a closing door from a distance.  She is still sitting on the sofa.  He must be really happy.  He forgot to lock her back in the cage. 

But it doesn’t make much difference.  

Lisa picks up a box of tissues from the coffee table.  She walks over to the sink and starts to rinse the dried blood off her wounds.  A round of pain comes over her.  She is used to it.  She looks into the mirror.  She sees a woman that is pale and thin. Is that her?