The next morning, Jasper went back to the garage. He prayed that a miracle would happen which would expedite his movement out of N'Goko. Unfortunately, his prayers were not answered. Idris reiterated that the repairs were going to take a considerable number of days. Jasper was frustrated. He shuffled his way towards Victoria's villa to inquire whether her offer still stood. Victoria was surprised to see Jasper in front of her door. She welcomed him inside her home. She immediately noticed that something was wrong. Jasper walked with a slight slump in his shoulder. “What would you like to drink? I have cold beer.” Victoria offered kindly. Jasper waved her off. “Thank you. I'm fine.” He stated. “Does your offer still stand?” Jasper inquired. Victoria's eyes were furrowed. She was confused. “What offer?” She asked.“You said you had a chartered vehicle which was coming tomorrow to take you to Bamako International Airport. My transportation option fell through. I need to know if I ca
Jasper tried to even his breath as he crouched. He glanced at Malik and Victoria, who were also crouched like him. He could see the fear in their eyes and he imagined that his was also the same. The voices of the gunmen were now unbearably close. Jasper signaled to Malik and Victoria to maintain their cool. The last thing he needed was for any of them to start hyperventilating, thereby putting them at risk of exposure and capture. The gunmen stopped moving and started conversing in Arabic. Jasper couldn't understand what they were saying, but he knew Arabic when he heard it. The voices were rising in crescendo. The gunmen were arguing loudly. There was clear confusion and anger in their tone. “They are probably angry because they've lost their cash cows.” Jasper thought to himself. It was common knowledge that foreigners were targets of rural terrorists and militias. The captured foreigners were used as bargaining chips for ransom or some other demands. Victoria and he were the high
Jasper and Malik swapped positions throughout the night till dawn. As the sun peeped over the horizon, they were already ready to move. “We have to assume that they searched throughout the night. Therefore, it's very possible that they have narrowed down our positions. That being said, we need to be stealthy and quick. No sudden or loud moves. No talking. We need to survive this.” Jasper explained, trying to stoke their morale. Malik and Victoria nodded in unison. With that, they moved out. Jasper was at the fire, Victoria in the middle and Malik at the rear. Their heads were on a swivel. They walked for four hours. There were telltale signs of their fatigue but still, they pressed on. At noon, they had covered considerable grounds. They heard the sound of rushing water and they hurried towards its source. They located the river and were glad. They scooped water in their hands and drank. The water tasted funny but they had no choice. They had not eaten or drunk anything since the m
“Do you think they’ll let us board?” Victoria asked, her voice low as her eyes scanned the endless stream of travelers moving like ants around them. Victoria exhaled sharply, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. “Not without documents.” They walked towards a bench and sat on it. Jasper was out of options. He looked beat. In that moment of calm, the weight of the gruesome escapade that they survived hit him. The forest was still fresh in his mind– the narrow escape, the shots that rang too close and the good Samaritan who emerged like a miracle to save them from what would have been a horrific fate.“I have an idea!” Victoria suddenly announced. Jasper jerked from his reverie. He turned to look at Victoria and gestured to her to continue.Victoria closed her eyes as she tried to calm her breath. “ I know someone. A friend … of a friend. He might help us.” Victoria said, uncertainty clogging her voice. Jasper stared at her for a moment. “ Who's this person? And how do you i
Jasper slipped in and out of consciousness as the taxi sped towards his house. His body was finally feeling the exertion caused on it. The adrenaline had worn off and he felt like an empty shell. The car came to a stop. “ I am sorry sir. There's a hold up. I think there was an accident at the intersection ahead. I'd take a detour.” The driver explained as he turned the car around.Jasper just hummed in reply. He just wanted to get home. About forty five minutes later, the car came to a stop again. Jasper was roused out of his light sleep. He stared out of the window and tried to recognize where he was. He couldn't acquaint himself with his surroundings. The sounds of a police siren slowly filtered into his ears. “Don't be alarmed sir. It's just a regular routine check because of the accident that happened at that intersection.” The driver explained to Jasper. Jasper nodded his head and watched as a police officer walked towards their taxi with a walkie talkie in his hand as he com
The world blurred as Luke tore down the streets at the behest of Jasper. Jasper's hands gripped his knees, guilt cutting through him like a blade. His chest felt hollow as Ariel's words rang in his ears.She collapsed“Luna,” he whispered under his breath, his voice cracking. “Please hold on.”The sirens from a police cruiser jerked him out of his reverie. Jasper glanced at the rearview mirror above the car's central console. He could see a patrol car, its lights blinking and its sirens ringing. A signal for them to pull over the car. Without warning, Luke pulled the car off the road, towards the curb and parked, with the engine idling. The patrol car parked behind them and a bulky police officer got down from the car. The officer fiddled with his utility belt for a few seconds before approaching the vehicle. As he approached, Jasper realized that the man's face looked familiar. Unfortunately, he couldn't place the face; at least not yet. The officer walked up to the driver's door w
The ride to the station was quiet. Chatters from the cruiser's radio were the only occasional silence breaker. Officer Sutton navigated through the busy traffic. At long last, the county station building loomed in front of them. Officer Sutton parked his cruiser and helped Jasper out. He guided him towards the station's door. As they stepped into the station, Jasper was hit by a wave of cold air. The station was busy– officers escorted arrested people to and from the holding cells. Officer Sutton directed Jasper to a particular table where another plain-clothed officer sat. “Good day Detective Jones.” Sutton greeted.Detective Jones, a burly man with a shaved head, raised his head up– a look of disinterest in his eyes. “Who do you have there Sutton?” He asked wearily.“Just a civilian without a means of identification. Struck me as weird. My sixth sense was blowing off the roof. So I decided to bring him in. At least we can dot the Is and cross the Ts.” Sutton summarized. Detective
In an instant, Jasper was at her side, falling to his knees. He grabbed her hand, cradling it like it was the most precious thing in the world. “I’m here,” he choked out, pressing her fingers to his lips.Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at him. “I thought I lost you. You left out of the blue…. I … I was only left with a letter Jasper. I don't know why…But I thought I was never going to see you again.” she whispered, her voice faint but filled with raw emotion.“You almost did,” he admitted, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. “I was trapped… in Mali. I barely made it out alive. They—” He stopped, swallowing hard. “They nearly had me, Luna. I thought I’d never see you again.”Lunas gasped. Her lips trembled. “What happened”?” She asked. Jasper shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it. It would be too troubling and he didn't want to worsen Luna's condition.Luna understood his hesitation. Her hand tightened weakly in his. “When did you return?” She asked weak
Luna crawled slowly, sizing Jasper up as she went. She was like an entirely new being. She felt powerful, she felt invincible. She wanted to imprint her insignia on something, someone. She watched Jasper, enjoying the look of panic that was evident on his face. He tried his best to mask his emotions, but she could read through. Like a primal beast, she could smell it.He was unnerved. As she got closer to him, she could smell his musk, stimulating and erotic. She could see the tent in his pants. He looked uncomfortable and she knew the effect that she had on him at that moment. She felt powerful indeed. She climbed onto his laps and straddled him. His member poked at her butt. It was hard and ready. She gently and rhythmically moved her butt over it, stimulating herself and him. A throaty moan escaped Jasper's lips as he grabbed her butt, his fingers digging into the fabric of her shorts. He pulled her close, squeezing her butts aggressively.Jasper attempted to flip her over, but sh
"Who is Victoria?" The question was repeated. Luna’s voice was soft, but there was an edge to it.Jasper studied her closely, her arms were loosely crossed, eyes searching his face. She wasn’t angry. She was… concerned. That made it worse."Victoria is the CEO of Frontier Space, a tech firm that I recently signed a contract with. Her firm embodies the qualities that I need in order to propel my firm to greater heights." Jasper explained. "We have a team meeting tomorrow and she just wanted to check in."Luna nodded slowly. There was a look of hurt on her face, but she quickly straightened up. “Okay. That's all?” There was no accusation in her tone. But Jasper felt it like a weight on his chest. He walked toward her, reaching for her hand, but she didn’t take it immediately."It's strictly business.” He stated. “ And I wasn't entirely forthcoming with the truth. Remember the whole Mali situation? The attempted kidnapping? Well, she was also a victim. We managed to escape together. Her
“Jasper” Victoria said with a seductive tone. “I was beginning to think that you were avoiding me.” She stated.Jasper sighed. “Victoria, now's not a good time.” He said, rubbing his forehead.“Oh?” She hesitated. “You sound off. Is everything okay?”Jasper exhaled. He didn’t want to explain. Didn’t want to open that door. “It's personal. What do you need?”“Well,” she huffed, “your secretary hasn't contacted mine about the team meeting. I've been waiting, Jasper.”Jasper shut his eyes. He tried to steady his breath. His emotions were almost overwhelming. “I'll look into it.” He stated flatly.Victoria could feel the gloom in Jasper's voice. “Jasper, what's the problem?” She inquired softly. There was silence on Jasper's end of the call. Victoria could hear his attempt at stabilizing his breaths. After a moment of tense silence, Jasper replied. “My wife's mother just died. Today has been a rollercoaster of a day.” “My condolences to your wife.” Victoria stated, remorse evident in he
The hospital air was thick with antiseptic and grief, a suffocating combination that made Luna’s chest tighten as she and Jasper hurried down the long, sterile corridor. Each step felt heavier than the last. The beeping of machines, the hushed murmurs of nurses, the distant sound of someone sobbing—it all blurred together as she approached the ICU. Jasper was right beside her, his hand firmly holding hers, his grip strong yet gentle. But even his warmth couldn’t stop the dread curling in her stomach. As they reached the nurses' station, Elizabeth, her mother’s caregiver, stood waiting. The sorrow in her eyes was enough to send Luna into a panic. No. No. No. Elizabeth stepped forward, her hands trembling. “Luna…” she started, voice thick with emotion. Luna’s breath hitched. “Where is she?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Elizabeth’s lips quivered, “I’m so sorry. She’s gone.” The world around her tilted. “No,” Luna whispered, stepping back, shaking her head.
Luna was finally discharged from the hospital. Jasper was there to pick her up himself. He spent a few minutes listening to the doctor drone about the need for her to get enough bedrest. Jasper thanked the doctor and promised to calm him if any complications arose. Jasper helped Luna get into the car. After that, they drove off towards Jasper's mansion, home.The drive home was quiet and uneventful. Occasionally, Jasper had to glance over at Luna to make sure that she was okay. The silence in the car was unnerving. Jasper sighed. Knowing Luna, Jasper had an idea of what was eating her up. “Bunny. Is it Mali?” He asked gently and he reached for her hands with his free one. Luna turned to face him. Tears were welling up in her eyes. She nodded her head and the tears dripped down her face. She was shaking. “ You said you almost didn't make it out of Mali… I'm trying to come to terms with my life without you… I know ……I don't …I…I …” she broke down in tears. Jasper parked the car, jer
Jasper adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit, taking a deep breath before stepping out of the car. He stood at the entrance of his building's door. It felt strange being back after so long. He chuckled silently to himself. “Damn. I can't believe that it's only been a week of absence but it felt like decades.” Jasper whispered to himself.He pushed the door and stepped in. The moment he walked through the glass doors, a wave of applause erupted."Welcome back, boss!" someone called."Good to have you here, sir," another added.Jasper was surprised. He wasn't expecting any form of rehearsed welcome. He had only been gone for a week. Nevertheless, he smiled and nodded in acknowledgment at his employees. The welcome was reassuring. The company had survived without him, but now, it was time to thrive. Jasper walked towards the elevator which was going to convey him to his office floor. Beverly, his secretary, stood up as he walked through the door.“Good morning sir. Welcome back. I hav
Luna blinked at him, struggling to gather strength. “I heard… Mali… terrorists…” Her voice was hoarse, her breathing shallow. “You could’ve died, Jasper.”Jasper squeezed her hand gently. “But I didn’t. I’m right here.”Tears welled in her eyes. “What if you don’t come back next time?”He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Luna, listen to me. I’m not going anywhere. Mali was an impulsive decision which left a sour taste in my mouth. But moving forward, I promise to be more open with you” His voice softened. “I won’t let anything take me away from you.”Luna swallowed hard, her grip tightening around his fingers. “Promise me, Jasper.”“I promise.” His voice was firm, unwavering. “Always.”A soft sigh escaped her lips as exhaustion pulled her back into sleep. Jasper watched her for a long moment before looking up at Luke.Luke exhaled. “You really scared her, man.”Jasper nodded, his expression solemn. “I know.”And as the beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence once m
In an instant, Jasper was at her side, falling to his knees. He grabbed her hand, cradling it like it was the most precious thing in the world. “I’m here,” he choked out, pressing her fingers to his lips.Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at him. “I thought I lost you. You left out of the blue…. I … I was only left with a letter Jasper. I don't know why…But I thought I was never going to see you again.” she whispered, her voice faint but filled with raw emotion.“You almost did,” he admitted, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. “I was trapped… in Mali. I barely made it out alive. They—” He stopped, swallowing hard. “They nearly had me, Luna. I thought I’d never see you again.”Lunas gasped. Her lips trembled. “What happened”?” She asked. Jasper shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it. It would be too troubling and he didn't want to worsen Luna's condition.Luna understood his hesitation. Her hand tightened weakly in his. “When did you return?” She asked weak
The ride to the station was quiet. Chatters from the cruiser's radio were the only occasional silence breaker. Officer Sutton navigated through the busy traffic. At long last, the county station building loomed in front of them. Officer Sutton parked his cruiser and helped Jasper out. He guided him towards the station's door. As they stepped into the station, Jasper was hit by a wave of cold air. The station was busy– officers escorted arrested people to and from the holding cells. Officer Sutton directed Jasper to a particular table where another plain-clothed officer sat. “Good day Detective Jones.” Sutton greeted.Detective Jones, a burly man with a shaved head, raised his head up– a look of disinterest in his eyes. “Who do you have there Sutton?” He asked wearily.“Just a civilian without a means of identification. Struck me as weird. My sixth sense was blowing off the roof. So I decided to bring him in. At least we can dot the Is and cross the Ts.” Sutton summarized. Detective