“How are your ribs?”
“They aren’t nearly as bad. I think I’ll live.” I laughed. “At least, until the end of the week.”
We both awkwardly laughed, but I was seriously freaking out.
“Do you think if I just give him back the black book he is going to let me go?” I asked.
“No.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it for me or anything, Jordan,” I joked.
“I think he’s going to kill you no matter what you do. Even if you pay him back all the money and give him his book back.”
“Great.”
We sat, hand in hand, and looked out over the countryside. I was the man, the husband. I was supposed to be able to keep us both safe and make Jordan happy. I had to think of something.
“We could go stay with my brother Jack in Italy. He’s got a little woodworking business. I’m sure I could pick something up to do for work.”
“Italy is beautiful this time of year, I’m sure,” Jordan said.
She didn’t sound convinced that running off to Italy was a good idea. I didn’t really think it was, either. The second I left town, Escabar would go after my father, and I couldn’t risk that. As much as we had struggled in our relationship over the years, he was my father and I loved him.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“About Italy, or everything else?”
“Everything,” I said as I turned to look at Jordan and held both of her hands in mine.
“I think we should go to the police. Things are too deep now. There’s no way out. When there’s no way out, you have to involve the police.”
I just sat silently and took in what she said. She was right, and I knew it. I desperately wanted there to be another way out of the problem. I wanted to solve it on my own. I wanted to just take over my father’s company, give Escabar his money and book, then move on with my life.
Jordan lay back onto the blanket and looked up at the sky.
Her smile was amazing to me. Even in the midst of everything I had put her through over the last few days, she was smiling.
My hand moved up and down her leg as I watched her face. She seemed so happy right there in that field. She appeared as if she didn’t want to be anywhere else but right there. I decided I didn’t want to leave.
“We could just stay here forever. I’ll build a little cabin. We can live off the land. No one would ever look for us here.”
“Yes.” She laughed as she pulled me down on top of her.
“Ugh,” I moaned, as my ribs moved in pain.
“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. I forgot.”
“It’s too late now. I’m on top of you. I’m going to have to stay here until I feel well enough to move.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yep,” I said as I started to move my hips between Jordan’s legs.
“You seem to be moving just fine to me.” She giggled.
“I’m testing myself,” I said, as I continued to thrust my hips. “Yep, I think I can.”
Jordan reached down and unbuckled my pants as our lips touched. Her sweet taste radiated through my body, and I wanted all of her. I wanted to taste her sweetness, but I knew I couldn’t have it all, with my ribs hurting so badly.