Sweet, Sweet Jewel : An AMBW Romance (Sweet Treats Book 4)

by Nia Arthurs

  Carrie cleared her throat. “Tell us exactly what happened when Jewel ran.”

  He shared a look with Nolan and walked over to the side. The women followed. Finn peered through the window, hoping to see Jewel storming back this way. Even if she were pissed with him, at least she’d be safe.

  There was no one there.

  “When I first came to Belize, I hired someone to… facilitate an introduction between Jewel and I.” That’s a nice way to put it.

  “I don’t understand.” Joana crinkled her nose.

  “I paid someone to steal her purse.”

  “You did what?”

  “Are you crazy!”

  Their words overlapped.

  Finn stepped back before Carrie swung her spatula. “It was just to speed up the process of gaining her trust. But Jewel found out.”

  “She knew you’d only been using her.” Carrie shook her head. “She must have been shattered. You were the first man in a long time that she’d opened up to.”

  Joana raised her hand. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t slap you.”

  “Kross.”

  “What about him?” Carrie demanded.

  “He’s back.”

  Joana choked. “Here? As in… here in Belize?”

  “He broke into my room last night. He was looking for Jewel.” Finn glanced away and ran a hand through his hair. “And their baby.”

  “What?”

  Carrie squeezed the bridge of her nose. “This is too much.”

  Joana stared at him. “Is that true, Finn?”

  “I was about to ask Jewel myself today, but she got angry and stalked off.”

  “She had every right to be angry,” Carrie snapped.

  “I know.”

  Joana staggered back and wiped a hand over her face in horror. “I can’t believe it.” She sucked in a deep breath. “When Jewel met Sky, she wasn’t pregnant. That means she must have had the baby before then.”

  “When did you all meet her?”

  “A year ago.” She stared into the distance. “The baby could be anywhere by now.”

  “Or maybe it’s dead.”

  Joana looked at him grimly.

  “Uh, guys!” Nolan sprang out of the chair he’d dragged to the counter and faced them. “We have a problem.”

  Carrie swung around with a loud groan. “What now?”

  “I got a location on the number you gave me but…”

  “What? Spit it out!” Carrie yelled.

  Finn nodded.

  Nolan faced his computer and a huge map of Belize filled the screen. They strode closer to him.

  Finn glanced over Nolan’s shoulder. “What are you showing us?”

  “See that red dot?” Nolan pointed to the object in question that was pulsing on the screen. “According to my program, that’s where Jewel is.”

  “But that dot’s on the Caribbean Sea,” Carrie hissed.

  “Maybe she’s on a boat?” Joana asked hopefully.

  “I thought so too until I hacked into the Belize Meteorology satellite to take a real-time image of the location.” Nolan smacked his fingers on the keyboard.

  Beautiful, turquoise water filled the screen.

  No boat.

  Joana whimpered. “That can’t be right.”

  “My friend is not dead,” Carrie shrieked.

  “I don’t think she’s dead either.” Finn straightened and looked determinedly at the wall. “But wherever she is, death might be better.”

  Joana and Carrie exchanged fearful glances.

  Finn folded his fingers into fists. “He has her. Kross has Jewel.”

  27

  Jewel finished throwing up in the toilet and flushed it. Still feeling weak, she stumbled to her feet and washed her hands in the sink.

  The reflection in the mirror revealed a slim girl with dark skin, hopeless eyes and gaunt cheeks. Her hair was thick and knotted, in desperate need of a comb and some Eco-styler gel.

  She had neither the energy nor the desire to make herself presentable. At least, in this state, Kross hadn’t bothered with her.

  Looking like crap had its benefits.

  Jewel sighed wearily and shuffled out of the bathroom. She stopped short when she saw her mother leaning on the wall. A cigarette lingered between her two dark fingers. She peered at Jewel with a knowing gaze.

  “Do you know the sex?” she rasped.

  Jewel stuttered. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Miranda pointed to her stomach with the butt of the cigarette. “Is the baby a boy or a girl?”

  Jewel stared at the ground.

  Miranda pushed off the wall and approached her. Jewel could hear her own heartbeat like a drum in her ears.

  “Tell me.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Who’s the father?”

  Jewel kept silent.

  “One of those little boys at your school?”

  “It doesn’t have a father.”

  Miranda threw her head back and let loose a cackling laugh that sounded like a door in desperate need of oil. “So who’s going to take care of it? Me?”

  “I’ll figure it out on my own.” Jewel turned away.

  Miranda dug her fingers into her shoulder and hauled her back. “Don’t think I haven’t seen the cash you’ve been packing this past year and a half. I don’t want a whore for a daughter so you better get married or get out.”

  Jewel swallowed. “I’ll leave. But not now.”

  “You’ll leave when I tell you to. This is my house.”

  “I’m not staying for you. I’m staying for Juney.”

  “You think I can’t take care of my own son?”

  “You couldn’t take care of me!” Jewel slapped her chest. Tears hovered on the edge of her vision, but she refused to let them drop.

  Miranda scoffed. “Is this about Stanley again?” She rolled her eyes. “He swore he didn’t touch you.”

  “And you believe him over me?”

  “You chose to be someone’s sugar baby on your own. Don’t try to blame your choices on me and my ex.”

  Fury filled her heart and she hissed, “I hate you.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not feeling particularly loving towards you either.” Miranda took another puff of her cigarette. “I’m not taking care of no baby, you hear me? Either get rid of it or give it away.”

  Jewel pulled her fingers into fists and slammed them against the wall, screaming her head off.

  It wasn’t fair. None of it was fair.

  Time was a distant concept here in the darkness. Kross hadn’t just locked her in a windowless room. He’d trapped her in the prison of her memories.

  Her stomach grumbled.

  How could she be hungry in a situation like this?

  The window in the door opened. Light flooded her tiny prison. Jewel shaded her eyes with a hand. The light hurt.

  “Jewel? You hungry?”

  Kross.

  She stumbled to her feet and saw the microwavable dinner he’d placed on the shelf. Next to the food was a fresh cup of water.

  “I’m not hungry,” she snapped.

  Her stomach’s low moan chastised her for the lie.

  “You need to eat. I can’t have you dying in there.”

  She didn’t move.

  Kross sighed and wound his fingers over the bars. “Jewel, stop being stubborn and trust me. I’m trying to help you.”

  “Trust you?” She scoffed. “I’m not that gullible anymore.”

  “Is this about me or… that man who took you to his hotel room?”

  Jewel’s nostrils flared. No way. She was not discussing Finn with Kross.

  “Baby,” Kross sighed, “I’m not angry that you had feelings for someone else. We can’t control our lusts. We were never meant to. Very few animals stick to one partner and humans are no different.”

  “Then why do you want a family with me? Why don’t you just follow your lusts to someone else?”

&nb
sp; “There are exceptions.” Kross cleared his throat. “We’re the exception.”

  Fine. New strategy.

  Jewel scrambled to her feet and stumbled to the door. “Why don’t you let me out of here? I can give you another baby. We can make our own family.”

  “Tempting.” Kross backed away from the door. “But you’re still not a good liar. You, Jewel, reveal everything you’re thinking with these.” He pointed to his eyes. “That’s why you were such a good little partner in crime. I saw every position you liked, every move that turned you on, every touch that made you curious…”

  She backed away and closed her ears. “Stop it.”

  “You liked it. You were the only one who truly did.”

  Her chest heaving, Jewel spun away. Trembling, she pleaded, “Why are you doing this to me? Why?”

  “Because I choose you.”

  “I don’t want to be chosen. I want to go home.”

  “Home to what?” He taunted. “A mother who ignored the predator who visited you every night?”

  Her chest heaved. “How did you…?”

  “You think I didn’t know about that?” Kross shook his head, a deranged smile on his lips. “I know everything about you, Jewel.”

  A thought dropped into her head. “Anastasia. She told you. That’s why you picked me.”

  “You were broken. I wanted to liberate you. Show you another way to experience pleasure without pain.”

  She pressed her face against the bars. “Why would you care about the comfort of sexual abuse victims unless… you were one…?”

  Kross turned away so she couldn’t see his face. “Eat up. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

  “What’s happening tomorrow?”

  He twisted his neck so she could only see his profile. “I’m gonna find our baby.”

  28

  “Did you find Juney?” Finn asked, striding into the room at the back of the bakery. He and Nolan had set up shop in the spacious kitchen while Joana and Carrie reluctantly carried on with business as usual outside.

  “Yes. He’s online now. Do you want me to call him?”

  “No.” Finn shook his head. “I just wanted to make sure he’s not with Kross too. I’ll call the school and ask to speak with him officially.”

  Nolan stretched. “What time is it?”

  “A few minutes to six.”

  “Really?” He rubbed his eyes and squinted. “Feels like I’ve been sitting at this computer for weeks.”

  “It’s barely been a day.” Finn took out his headache pills and shuttled two into his hand.

  Nolan studied him. “Hey, man. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t look fine.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Focus on locating Jewel.”

  The door to the main room swung open and Carrie and Jo trotted through.

  “That was the last of the customers.” Carrie glanced at him. “Any luck?”

  “None.”

  “Why aren’t we going to the police again?” Jo asked.

  “We are.” Nolan fiddled on his keyboard and immediately, voices shrouded in static blared through the room. “They just don’t know it.”

  Carrie pointed to the screen. “Is that a police scanner?”

  “Yup.” Nolan nodded proudly. “A few hours ago, the police received a tip that William Kross was back in town. They’re on the prowl for him now. Anything they learn, I’ll learn.”

  Joana’s brows furrowed. “Jewel said that Kross was a drug lord’s kid and that the police were on his side?”

  “They were, but that was before Kross’s father got pinned. Now he has nothing and no one to back him up. As soon as the police get a read on him, we’ll know and we’ll move.”

  Carrie folded her arms over her chest. “I’m still not convinced we can trust you two.”

  “Let’s find Jewel before we turn on each other,” Finn growled, striding forward. He felt caged in this little bakery. He’d wanted to run out and look for Jewel the moment they realized she’d disappeared, but Nolan convinced him to stay put.

  “There’s no use running around wasting energy when you don’t even know where to look.”

  He regretted giving in. He needed to punch something. Now.

  “Just because we decided to use your resources doesn’t mean we trust you,” Carrie said firmly. “When you find Jewel, we’ll call the police and get real backup.” Her eyes slid to his side where the butt of his gun was still apparent. “Jewls needs more than one man on a crusade.”

  Finn gritted his teeth.

  Nolan popped out of his chair. “Why don’t we all calm down? It’s only been eight hours. I’m sure something will pop up.”

  Carrie glanced at her watch and huffed. “I’ll call Benson. He needs to take care of the bar alone tonight. Lord knows if he knew about this mess he’d probably bust a vein.”

  “Didn’t you tell him?” Joana asked.

  “Did you tell Sun Gi?”

  “Good point.”

  Nolan rubbed the back of his neck. “So both of you ladies are taken?”

  Finn shot him a glare.

  Nolan slunk back to his chair.

  Finn strode to the other end of the kitchen and put his head in his hands. Jewel was out there with Kross. He could be doing… who knows what to her. The man had gone full insane.

  What if he hurt her, forced himself on her?

  He squeezed his eyes shut, struggling to veer his thoughts away from the worst-case scenario. Jewel was stronger than she looked. There was a warrior buried underneath all the layers of hurt, fear and pain.

  He knew it. But he hadn’t had the time to convince her of it too.

  Someone knocked on the shelf. He glanced up and saw Joana striding toward him. She wore a contemplative expression as she hiked herself up on the counter across from him.

  He glanced at her, noticing the way she was studying his face. “Something I can help you with?”

  “No, I just came to check up on you.”

  “That’s surprisingly kind, considering…”

  “Yeah.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Carrie’s being hard on you because she’s worried about Jewel. That’s all she can focus on right now. Plus you did lie to us, which resulted in Jewel running away and right into Kross’s clutches.”

  “Thanks for the reminder.”

  “I didn’t come to throw more salt on the wound.” Joana leaned her head back. “I wanted to say I was sorry. About your sister I mean. Nolan told us about it when you left earlier.”

  Finn dug his fingers into the counter. “It was a long time ago.”

  “But you’re still tormented by it.”

  He kept his mouth shut. Wasn’t like he could deny the truth.

  “Even if you made some dumb decisions while you were here, it was to find the man who’d killed your sister. There’s a part of me that thinks I’d do the same thing if I were in your position.”

  “I appreciate that, but I don’t deserve forgiveness. Like you said,” he turned and faced her, “it’s my fault Jewel is with Kross.”

  “You and Nolan will also be the reason we get her back.”

  “How are you so sure?”

  “It’s just a feeling.” She shrugged. “Jewel’s going to survive and we’re going to find her. There’s no other option for me.” Joana glanced down. “But I’m curious,” she tilted her head, “are you worried about Jewls because you think you’re responsible or are genuine feelings there?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I get that you were only acting when you showed up for the wedding, but Jewel said you rescued her that night when Kross called. You made her feel safe and protected. That’s tough given she doesn’t feel safe around men.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Do you like her?”

  “I—”

  “Guys!” Nolan called from the front.

  Finn exchanged a worried look with Joana. She popped off the counter
and followed him as he hurried back to the kitchen where Nolan had set up his temporary workstation.

  Nolan spun, his eyes wide. The police scanner was screeching loudly in the background. He hiked a thumb over his shoulder and said, “They found something.”

  “Where?” Finn swiped his keys from the counter, already moving toward the door.

  “At one of Kross Sr.’s old houses.” He paused and listened. “Sounds like they’re dispatching patrol to check it out.”

  Finn firmed his jaw. “Then I have to get there first.”

  “I’m coming with you,” Carrie said.

  Finn shook his head. “It’s dangerous.”

  “I’m coming.” Carrie soared past him and left through the door without another word.

  He glanced back and found Joana looking at him. She dipped her chin down encouragingly. “Bring our girl home.”

  Finn nodded and followed Carrie into the night.

  29

  She stumbled to the emergency room, the crotch of her pants soaking wet and water dripping down the leg of her jeans. Everyone in the ward stopped and stared at her.

  Jewel clutched the counter and shrieked. “HELP!”

  Nurses rushed forward, descending like a mob of concerned aunts. A wheelchair was rolled out of a corner. Male orders lifted her up and thrust her into the seat. She rocked with pain.

  Screams shattered the air.

  Her screams.

  She saw people ducking their heads and covering their ears in her periphery. Jewel was in too much pain to care.

  Sweat dotted her forehead, ran down her cheeks. She tasted blood and knew she’d bitten down on her lip so hard that she’d pierced through the flesh.

  A woman rushed toward her. “How far along are the contractions?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Her water broke.” One of the nurses pointed to the stain on her jeans.

  The doctor stared with wide eyes and then jumped into action. “Okay, we need to get her into the delivery room. Stat.”

  As a flurry of activity ensued, Jewel closed her eyes and focused on breathing like the nurses were telling her to. Even though their movements were chaotic, she was in good hands.

  The nurses hauled her into the delivery room and set her on the bed. She screamed from another contraction and listened to the voices reeling around her head.