The silence begged questions that only gnawed further at my nerves.
Had Jackson seen the video message?And if so, why hadn’t he responded?
After so many months of incarceration and torment, I’d assumed that the breadth of my anxiety had been stretched past its breaking point, but the ambiguity inspired by all the waiting was proving that point wrong.Apparently, I still had a capacity for apprehension, and ostensibly, those feelings could still hold me hostage.
“You’re worrying again.”The weight of his glare burned into me.“Hospital staff or not, I’m going to have to tan that pretty backside again if you can’t stop torturing yourself.”
“If we weren’t here, I’d take you up on that offer in a heartbeat, Sir.”
Pulling in a breath, I could scarcely remember the last time I’d been sprawled over him to receive the brunt of his palm.Between his ill health, the ICC, and being stuck in the hospital, there had sadly been little chance for him to bring me to heel.
“Then we should make time for what you need.”His tone was suddenly serious.“I mean it, little girl.If Fortorus taught us anything, it was that we have to make the most of every opportunity.”
“Yes, Sir.”It had taught me a whole lot more.
“Let’s see if I can’t arrange some private time.”His lips elongated into a smirk.“Then we can both have what we want, and—”
His sensual threat was interrupted by Kaspar, who shoved the door open and rushed into the room.
“What’s happened?”I straightened, knowing immediately that something had to have caused her to hurry.In all the time I’d spent with Kaspar, I’d barely seen her break into a sprint.
“Jackson.”She pushed out his name between gasped breaths, seemingly as unfit as I was.
“What about him?”Harper’s stare drilled into her.“Has he replied?”
Kaspar nodded.“Another video.”Clearly, she’d been running so fast she could hardly get the words out.“But this one was sent directly to the portal we uploaded the last one from.”
“So, it hasn’t been posted publicly?”Harper swung his legs from the bed and rose to join Kaspar by the doorway.
“It doesn’t seem so.”Her gaze traveled from him to me.“The ICC want to meet with you right away to discuss the video’s contents.”
The knot of trepidation in my tummy tightened at the foreboding thought.I couldn’t decide if a private video from Jackson was a good sign or not, and sitting there, I realized there had been advantages to the state of ‘not knowing’, benefits I’d completely overlooked in my haste for action.
“Have you watched the video?”I asked Kaspar as I climbed to my feet.
“No,” she replied.“I came straight here to tell Mr.Harper.”
Harper’s focus darted to me, and he held out his hand as I approached.“Let’s see what the asshole wants.”
