Kingston reminds me of that volcano. If you don’t look beyond his surface beauty, if you ignore the warning signs, you’re putting yourself at risk. He’s dangerous—perhaps even deadly—and I’d be a fool to forget that.
“Are you guys gonna come get me on Sunday?”
My heart aches, seeing the hope in Belle's eyes. There's no way I'll be healed by then, and I don't want her to see me like this. Plus, until I'm sure Kingston isn't a suspect, I don't want him anywhere near my sister.
“Oh, honey, not this Sunday, but maybe the next one.” If I’m well enough to see her by then, I’ll have Frank drive me.
She frowns. “How come? Don’t you wanna see me?”
"Of course I want to see you," I assure her. "But...I've been in the hospital for a whole week, and I have lots and lots of homework to catch up on for school."
At least that part isn’t a lie. The first thing Ms. Williams said to me when I got home was that my father expects me to keep up with schoolwork while I convalesce.
“Homework is stupid.” She punctuates her statement by sticking out her lower lip.
I laugh until my stitches pull, causing sharp pain. I have to fake sneeze to cover up my yelp, but that motion makes it even worse. Damn it.
I take a moment to breathe through the pain. “It really is, but you know what’s pretty awesome?”
“What?” I can see the wheels turning in her head as a little crease forms between her eyebrows.
"You can see me anytime you want before then. You just have to hit that green camera button on your iPad, and we can video chat."
“That’s super-duper awesome!”
God, I love her smile.
I cover my mouth as a giant yawn sneaks up on me. Having the shit beat out of you really zaps your energy. I don’t recommend it one bit.
“I think I’m going to take a nap before I get started on all that homework. I have to go now, but call me when you get home from school tomorrow, okay?”
Belle nods. “’Kay! Love you, Jazz!”
“I love you too, sweet girl.”
Her face disappears as I hit the button to end the call. Carefully crawling under the covers, I rest my head on the pillow and close my eyes. I only remember taking a few deep breaths before I’m fast asleep.
CHAPTER FIVE
JAZZ
The persistent knocking on my door wakes me up. I carefully sit up in bed, swinging my legs to the side.
“Hold on a sec.”
I slowly make my way over there, turn the lock, and open the door. Ms. Williams is standing in the hallway with her resting bitch face firmly in place.
"Miss Jasmine, you have a visitor waiting in your theater room. Would you like to meet him there, or shall I send him in here?"
I sigh. “Neither. Please tell Kingston I’ll call him when I’m ready to talk. Just like I’ve told him every day in the week that I’ve been home.”
“It’s not Mr. Davenport.”
Huh?
"Who is it, then?"
“Bentley Fitzgerald.”