Cut by Emily Duvall

on the other side of her. The one directly behind her to be exact. Each time she moved her back she brushed against his. She grumbled and huffed. They both readjusted so as to not touch. Brent couldn’t get comfortable for reasons not having anything to do with Jessica. His diamonds were gone. They should have been the safest at Luke’s. Now they could be anywhere, with anyone. Yes, he’d sold them to another client. But that was before he’d known he needed them back. He didn’t think the father of his ex-girlfriend would come looking for them and demand them back. He didn’t want to think about the deal because he shouldn’t have been in this situation in the first place. Now he was stuck in the middle. It felt like standing in quick sand. Everything seemed to get worse, not better. Nothing felt certain or easy. Brent made a tight fist with his hand and let out an onerous breath.
    Where the hell are my diamonds?
    Brent needed to do something. He couldn’t sit and wait. He texted Daniel. Jessica shifted and her back rubbed against his. She scoffed and moved seats.
    â€œI see you finally graced us with your presence,” Luke said, holding a cup of coffee.
    Brent stood and motioned to Jessica. “Ahem.”
    She looked up. “Luke,” she said with a chill in her eyes.
    â€œWe meet again,” he said, and drank his coffee. “Unless you can’t remember meeting me last night.”
    She skipped the bait and changed the subject. “Where’s Melanie’s doctor?”
    â€œI’m not sure.”
    â€œOkay, I’ll ask another question. What was my sister doing out alone at a tourist place late at night?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    Jessie’s lips curled in satisfaction. “You don’t know where your wife was late at night? Where were you? With some other woman?”
    Luke didn’t budge.
    Brent grabbed Jessica’s hand and yanked her to his side. “This isn’t the time.”
    â€œYes it is. He needs to answer my question.” She allowed Brent to keep his hand on hers.
    â€œI don’t owe you anything. Not even an explanation.” Luke shook his head. “I have nothing to hide.”
    â€œWe’ll find out, won’t we?” Jessie took a step forward. “What about my nieces? I want to see them. They need family around.”
    â€œThey have family.” Luke’s lips twisted into a grin. “The kind Melanie wanted her children to be around.”
    â€œI’m still her sister.”
    â€œOn paper.”
    The low blow hit Jessie. Brent saw the glitch in her confidence. He swore she held back tears. It’s the first humanness he’d seen in her since they met.
    She wrenched her hand free from Brent and ran over to the man holding a bouquet of flowers at the entrance to the waiting area. The force of her body collided with his and almost knocked over the figure with the lanky body. A man all skin-and-bones with a gaunt face and thinning hairline. Brent watched Jessie wrap her arms around this other man.
    Brent looked away. A frustrated breath skimmed past his lips.
    â€œChrist, she fights worse than Melanie,” Luke said, and ran his hands through his hair. His gaze followed Brent’s. “Who’s that?”
    Brent waited to see if she’d looked back at him. Eyes don’t lie. Their kiss didn’t either. She’d felt that kiss every much as he had. The guy ran his hand down the length of her elegant back. Her demeanor perked up and she hugged him again. Aggravation ran down Brent’s chest. Selfish desire ran through him coupled with an irritation he couldn’t quite place. “My guess is Carl, her fiancé.”

Chapter 5
    Carl’s breath reeked of caffeine and mint. It’s all he drank. The sharpness of his bony body she’d gotten used to over the years. To let him hold her was like hugging a telephone pole. There was no warmth or