Hostage

The Bright Side

Jase' POV

"Why did you go to his house that night? "

"Was it to kill him?Was it part of your plan all along? "

"Andre Monroe and Sam Levine were never best of friends. Did you do it for him? Did he make you do it? "

I watched Maece push her way through the swarm of desperate reporters. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. She looked so... so helpless. It was the third day of her trial in court and it killed me that she was going through this all alone.

"Where is he right now?" Another reporter pressed on. "Why are you going through this alone?"

Good question. Where on earth was Dre ?

She said nothing, but anyone could tell that their words were really getting to her. She looked like she was about to break down. The guards around her were doing a good job protecting her physically, but she was wrecked emotionally.
I had known Maece since I was a little boy. She was a lot of things but a murderer was not one of them.

The TV went off. I whirled around quickly.

"You have got to stop watching that." Roxi dropped the remote control on the bedside table. I rolled my eyes. I knew Roxi never liked Maece but right now, she was going a bit overboard. Now was not the time to spread hate.

"Good morning to you too Roxi . To what do I owe this pleasant visit? "I lifted an eyebrow. She scowled.

"The test results are out, and seeing that you're all good, we're getting out of here before word about what happened gets out."

"So? I fell off a bridge. Big deal." I shrugged.

"Of course." She bat her eyelashes. "It's completely normal an eighteen year old "fell off a bridge". Like the entire world is going to believe that. "

She didn't.

"Oh my God, was that sarcasm?" I grinned. She frowned.

"Shut up."

"I can swear I sensed sarcasm in there. Come on, try it again."

"Jason Alexandria Monroe." She grinned. Now, it was my turn to frown. She knew how much I hated it when she called me that.

"Alexander." I mumbled.

"Gets to you every time." She threw her hands up in victory. I looked at her for a while.

"Well, isn't that exciting? "I smiled and then let it fall. Her smile fell too.

"Jerk." She threw a pillow at me. I ducked and then chuckled. She did too.

"I'm still mad at you." She said after a moment of silence.

Yeah right.

"I know." I pursed my lip. Awkward silence filled the room for a moment. "How's she? My saviour?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Ruby?" I didn't miss the rise In the pitch of her voice. "She's great. Went home yesterday." She paused. "Kennan called for a family dinner tonight." She said slowly.
I rolled my eyes. I hated family dinners, everyone did. "Said he has something important to share with the family." She continued. I frowned. "I know what you're thinking - "she started.

" I'm not coming." I cut her off before she could finish.

"Kennan called, Jase." She paused. "Honestly, I don't think you have a choice"

Kimberly's POV

"You have got to be flipping kidding me!" Isabel exploded. "How on earth could you be so dumbass stupid? How-" She lowered her voice "Why did you? "

" I don't know - "

"We talked about this, Kimmy. You deserve so much better than this. You are so much better than this - " I could tell that Isabelle was upset. Very upset.

But she needed to understand that I didn't really have much of a choice.

"What was I supposed to do?" I rose my voice a bit, Demanding her attention. "Do you think I want this?"

"You tell me Kimmy."

I rolled my eyes.

Unbelievable

"You see, this is exactly why I didn't want to tell you. You're always so...unreasonable." I ran my fingers through my hair angrily. "Do you think I planned to be a drop out at twenty five? Living the life my mother wished she could?"

"I did not just sell myself to some rich billionaire I don't even know so I have the right to think I'm the only reasonable person here right now. "she snapped. "You have no idea what you're getting into by getting involved with that family. Y-" She paused and then placed a hand over her mouth.

Obviously, she'd said more than she intended to. Not like any of this was her business.

"I would do anything for you Kim. You know I would." She reached for her purse. "But I can't pretend I'm okay with you getting married to some guy you don't even know, because I'm not."

" What-" I stammered. "Izzy what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I need some time to get my head together. To get my life back together." She inhaled deeply." Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we can't be friends anymore. I'm just saying I need space and time to take all of this in because the past few days have been-" Her voice shook. "I need space Kim.

She grabbed her purse.

"Izzy-" I called after her.

"I'll call you, okay? "She hurried towards the door. I stood up too.

" Isabel-"

"Don't follow me." She reached for the door knob and then turned it open. "I'll be fine." She walked out and then shut the door after her. I raked my hand through my breath, telling myself to calm down, and that everything was going to be fine and back to normal.

But they weren't. And things were far from being okay.

Isabel was mad at me, and she had every right to be but there was something else. I saw it in her, I saw it in mum too.

Fear....