“Think about what?” he balks. “That fucker needs to pay. Smartin’ up.”
“No, you need to smartin’ up. Murder is a life sentence!”
That’s when I notice Jack’s eyes snap down and flicker.
I’m still half-dressed.
“Oh my word!” I say and cover my crotch with my hands. “My clothes.”
Jack is already snatching them off the floor. He tosses them my way and looks at the ceiling. His jaw is clenched tight. I can’t tell if he’s being respectful, or if he’s repulsed.
Quietly, I begin to dress. It’s difficult to get a pant leg on because my whole body is shaking. My foot won’t cooperate.
Once finished, I clear my throat.
He turns around. “You alright?”
I nod.
I’m not.
He walks over and studies my face. “He hurt you?”
I shake my head, feeling just as powerless under Jack’s intense gaze as I did with Gabe, but in a very different way.
“Why are you here?” I whisper.
“The guy at the front desk said you were in a room down the hall. I heard screaming, then broke the door open.”
I draw in a long breath because I can barely keep from passing out.
All I can say is, “I can’t believe that just happened.”
He hesitates, and asks slowly, “You can’t believe a pastor would try tofuck you?”
I pause, thinking about that loaded question, but ultimately disregard it. Doesn’t matter. I’m too frazzled.
I pace in short strides, reality sinking in faster. My stomach twists, and I feel nauseated by the horror of it all. “How could Gabe do that? I trusted him with my whole heart.”
Jack must see my distress building because he lowers his voice.
“Morgan, chill. You’ll be alright.”
Tears pool in my eyes.
Don’t cry in front of him. Never cry. Keep it together.
Desperate to salvage my last thread of dignity, I ask again, “But why are you here? Eugene sent the check.”
“I got it. Thanks, but I’m here to talk to you about my brother.”
I can barely focus, my mind spinning and body still trembling.
He hesitates, but I need him to talk. Say anything. Anything other than the thing that is about to make me break.
“Go on. About your brother.”
“Um, okay... My brother, Noel, he’s a good kid. He has this fascination with you, and it got out of hand.”
