(Winona)“You and me, no strings attached. Just fun. You’ve got a hall pass, right? No one would be better at showing you what you’re missing.”I laugh, shaking my head, though the alcohol is making everything seem lighter, less serious than it should be. “You’re insane.”“Think about it,” Lance presses, his voice smooth, persuasive. “I’m not talking about love. This isn’t about some emotional thing.”He’s joking right?“You deserve someone who can take you places you haven’t been yet. Someone you already know you trust.”“Lance…” I start, trying to form a response that will shut him down without making things awkward.“Come on, Winona. You’re curious, I can see it in your eyes. You and I both know we’re not made for a relationship, but I can give you a damn good time.”I’m about to brush him off again, but something in the way he says it makes me pause. The words are sliding into my brain, coaxing thoughts I probably shouldn’t be having.Lance is, well, Lance—sexy, confident, and mor
(Winona)The sun creeps in through the drapes, harsh and uninvited. My head feels like it’s been hit with a sledgehammer. My body is heavy with the familiar ache of too much alcohol and dancing. And orgasms.Okay, maybe too many orgasms aren’t a thing. I know I sure hit my quota.I feel the heat rise to my cheeks and there’s a twinge deep inside me. I think I crossed every line there is to be crossed. Never say never, I guess. I smile.Anyway, it’s done and guess what? I know marrying Jayden is right for me.I shift slightly under the soft sheets, taking stock of my week of freedom.And as much as I want to forget it, the memory of last night comes crashing back. The drinks, the dancing... Lance, that man, there were women, the things that happened afterwards.I groan, pulling the sheet up over my head. My bed is now empty, and for that, I’m grateful. There's no need to deal with the awkwardness of morning-after conversations. No regrets to address, no apologies to make.I had fun l
(Cass)I wake up feeling like I’m sinking, caught in a daze that I can’t quite shake off. The drum beating from somewhere deep inside my skull won’t let up.It’s like I’m stuck halfway between sleep and waking.No matter how hard I try to drag myself to the surface, something pulls me back under.My eyes flutter open, but my vision’s blurred, and everything is dim, like the curtains in the hotel room are still closed. Cancun... right? I’m still in Cancun.I blink slowly, trying to focus. The bed beneath me feels wrong though, harder than I remember. No pillow. I squint, trying to make sense of it all, but it’s like my brain is wrapped in cotton wool.I lift my hand to my forehead—at least, I try to—but nothing happens. My arm doesn’t move.What the hell? Am I paralyzed?I groan, my throat dry and scratchy, as I try again to move. My body feels foreign, disconnected, and everything inside me feels... off. Like I’ve been drugged or something.But I haven’t done drugs. I don’t use now. I
(Jayden)Henry’s been in isolation for hours now, hooked up to every machine imaginable. The sight of him behind that glass, with tubes in his tiny body, knocked the wind out of me. My son. My tiny boy. He’d been doing so well.And there’s nothing I can do to help him. I can’t hold him. I can’t even touch him. All I can do is stand there and pray the doctors figure out what’s wrong.They think it’s a virus or some type of infection, something that hit him hard and fast, but they haven’t ruled anything out yet. His heart—there’s always a fear that the genetic defect that runs through our family might resurface.I can’t even think about that possibility.“Jayden, I don’t understand how this could happen so quickly,” Winona says, breaking the silence, her voice shaky, barely above a whisper.I stop pacing and go to her. Her eyes are red-rimmed, and I know she’s on the verge of breaking. I put my arms around her shoulders. “I don’t know,” I admit, my voice hoarse. “But they’re doing ever
(Winona)I stand in front of the mirror, watching as Lisa adjusts the delicate lace on my wedding dress.Cass isn’t here. I know something’s wrong, but I’ve told them all that her flight has been delayed and she should be here by the end of the day. I wish that were true.I try to smile as Anne walks over, handing me a glass of champagne. “You’re getting married,” she says softly, her eyes gleaming with happiness. “You should be smiling.”“Thanks, Anne, I’m very happy,” I lie, lifting the glass to my lips and taking a small sip, trying to settle the nervous flutter in my chest.The kids are running around the room, Bobby has come up to visit, so I know Jayden and his groomsmen are down there waiting.Bobby is chasing Sarah and Abby with a bubble gun, meant to be for them to make bubbles for us to walk through once the service is done.Cass. I should’ve told Jayden, and I will, but I need to know more.I’ve tried to keep myself from losing it, but it’s getting harder. There were no fli
(Winona)I zip up my duffel bag, tossing in the last few pieces of jewelry, cash, and anything of value I can scrounge up from home and the office safe. My mind is racing, heart pounding, as I move in autopilot—getting everything ready to leave for Cancun.Getting everything ready to save Cass.But all I can think about is Jayden. The look on his face when he realizes I’m gone. How do I justify this? How do I explain why I’ve left, why I’m keeping him out of the most important thing happening in our lives?I can’t. This is wrong. I want him to know the truth.I grab the burner phone I picked up on the way back, with a new SIM card. Clearly Gus already knows something because he has a chopper ready and waiting. How? If Gus knows then surely I can be honest with Jayden.He has a right to know. We’ve spent too much time hiding things, avoiding the hard conversations. I owe him this.I reach for a pen and paper, my hand shaky as I write the note.JaydenBy the time you read this, I’ll
(Winona)The hum of the helicopter blades above is relentless. I look out the window at the views beneath me, but I can’t enjoy any of it. My mind spins, from everything Gus said. Jayden might be the real target.The first stop is coming up soon. I have to change helicopters, according to the pilot, something Gus arranged. But the stops, the precautions, only makes me more anxious. What’s really going on here?My mind drifts back to what Gus told me. Jayden might be the real target. Cass is just bait. I’m bait. Maybe part of a bigger plan to lure Jayden.But why?I try to make sense of it, piecing together the scattered puzzle Gus has laid out in front of me. If Cass was taken to lure me and then me to lure Jayden, then her being in Cancun at all can’t be a coincidence.And if Jayden is their real target, why go through so much trouble to get him to South America? Just get him to go there and grab him. Grab him from anywhere. It doesn’t make sense. Maybe Cass is really just a victim
(Jayden)I stand at the altar, my hands clenched into tight fists, trying to keep my cool as time ticks by. She’s late. But Lisa said that Winona said she needed some time alone.No big deal.I shift on my feet, adjusting my tie for the hundredth time as I glance at the door and back at Lisa.It’s been almost thirty minutes.Still no sign of her.I force myself to breathe slowly. She’ll be here. We’ve been through hell and back to get to this day, and I know Winona. She loves me. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.So, I wait, forcing the nervous energy coursing through my veins to settle down.But as each second passes, the tension in the room thickens. People are whispering now, shifting in their seats. Anne gives me a reassuring smile from the other side, and I nod, trying to stay calm.But where the hell is she?“Bro…this isn’t looking good,” Lance whispers.“Shut up. She’ll be here. Unless you know something I don’t?”He holds up his hands in protest and steps back. “No, I do