Her mother stops with her hand going under her elbow, the cringe on her face shows that she has just found out that wasn't supposed to say that. The only reason that she said it in the first place was that she thought that maybe Duke mentioned it to Melody, but now she can see that she has put herself into trouble. The wild look in Melody's eyes pushes her so much that she wants to run out of the room. Melody stands up slowly and walks toward her with her eyes looking like they have settled on a prey. " Mum, what did you just say?" Melody asks. " Um, what?" She laughs, trying to hide her fear. " I didn't say anything. "Melody grabs her mother's arm so roughly that she yelps in pain. Melody's fingers dig into her skin. " Ouch, you are hurting me. " She winches and tries to snatch her hand back, but Melody has an iron grip. " You slapped Duke?" She demands to know. " Answer me, right now!" " Let go of me, you silly girl. " She yells at Melody. " Or have you forgotten that I am
If Duke is being really honest with himself, Melody is the first girl that he has loved with his whole heart. Yes, their union wasn't just too long ago, but he can literally take a bullet for the girl. And there is Renee, she is the closest thing Duke had ever had to love. She was this fragile girl who came into the army even when she looked like she didn't have any business in the place. She aced the tests, but couldn't keep up with the physical demand and that made her to be mocked and resented by many. He took it upon himself to protect her and became her only Friend. She picked up and she has made a good name for herself in the army. Last he heard of her, she was a captain. She was a sweet girl and gave him stress-relieving sex when they were in the army, but his priority has changed. Melody is now his priority. " Duke?" She repeats as if she can't believe her eyes. Before he could find his tongue and say something to her, she got up and jumped into his arms. He wasn't exp
She hugs him very tightly and squeaks in delight. He gives her a little squeeze and calls her name. It brings back memories of when they sat alone in the garden on their own. After that terrible accident that left her with a burnt face, he was one of the people who still remained her friend. When she insisted on wearing a mask, he wore one too and that way, she didn't feel weird around him. His father had to move to Italy for work and Jace left with his family and that left her depressed for a long time. Now, she can't believe that he is in her arms now. How much she missed this old friend of hers. They let go of each other, but their hands are still entwined in each other. He is peering into her face, she holds her breath and waits for the usual question. " Melody, your eyes haven't changed. " He touches her face and at that instant, she lets go of her breath with a relieved smile. She thought he would say something about her hideous face gone and how he is more than glad, but
Bloom follows her into the house. The men are walking out of the room with the broken television and he moves aside for them to use the door first. He follows after her, she is touching the new chairs and rubbing her fingers against each other. " This feels expensive. " She hums and looks at him. " Where on earth did Duke get the money to buy these?" " Insurance. " She reminds him. His answer doesn't make total sense, but as long as she doesn't push it, he is not going to have to give any further explanation. She drops her bag on the new chair and walks into the kitchen. He is still in the sitting room, thinking about the best way to bring up that " friend" of hers. She returns with two cups in her hands. The scent of coffee reaches his nostrils. " Coffee?" It's not really a request as she is already handing the cup to him. He thanks her as he takes it, but he only watches her sip from her cup. " So this friend of yours. " He hopes he isn't coming off as too weird. " What's bet
Melody is biting her nails even though she knows that she isn't supposed to do that. She can't help as her anxiety soars through the roof. She has been calling Duke, but he hasn't been picking up and she has ended up going straight to voicemail. She tries a number of times and soon she is at the edge of losing her sanity and she wants to cry so badly right now. She breathes in and out and then tries to call again. All her hope is hanging on this last try, but her heart shatters to the ground when he doesn't pick up again. It takes her to voicemail once again and she decides to leave him a message, he is going to get back to her as soon as she can. "Hey, Duke, it's Melody. I know that this is probably nothing, but I was just worried that you haven't picked up your call and I decided to leave you this message. Please get back to me as soon as you can so that I will know that you are fine, okay? I love you. " She may be even bothering herself for nothing. Maybe the meeting has t
Melody wants to get up and leave, but the room is turning around her. She has attempted to set a foot on the ground, but she falls and has to find her way back to the bed. She grabs the glass and blinks at it. She can see some white undissolved particles in the glass. It slips from her hand and crashes to the floor. She sees dancing images in front of her and hears the walls laughing at her. She grabs a handful of her hair and pulls it, maybe it's going to clear her head, but it doesn't work. "Jace.." she calls him. Her voice isn't hers at all. It's hoarse, it's slow, and not like that of a human, what's happening to her?She hears her phone ringing and she turns to it. She sees it through her terribly blurry eyes, but she can't even reach for it. " Jace..."She blinks and then the dancing letters start to settle together, it's Duke, he is calling her back. "Jace..." Her voice is croaky with tears. She can't pick up the phone and Duke is calling. She hears it rings, she doesn
Beep. Beep. Beep. That's all that is coming from Melody's hospital room as she lays very still on the bed. Bloom has his chin in his hand as he looks down at his body. Of course, the doctor won't let him in, but he is here. She is sleeping peacefully, and that's a relief, but he can't stop thinking about what happened. Who was that and what the hell did he do to her? She almost died, and the doctors won't tell him anything, but he knows that she would have died if he hadn't brought her to the hospital. She tightens her eyes, stirs, and blinks open. She sighs like she is just getting up from a long sleep and her eyes fall on Bloom. He drops his hand from his chin and walks closer to her. "Hey, Melody, you are okay. " He breathes in relief. " How are you feeling?""Mike?" She squints. " What happened to me?"He stops, wanting to correct her for calling him the wrong name, but then he remembers. He forgot that Duke calls him Mike and that's what she knows him as. His head was I'm
Even if Bloom wants to answer Duke's question, he can barely breathe from his throat as Duke is literally strangling him. " I can't answer you right now, boss. " Bloom manages to say. " I can't breathe, sir. "Duke contemplates if to let him go immediately or not, but he lets him go. Bloom falls to one of his knees and clutches his chest as he coughs violently, gasping for air. " You had better start talking if you don't want my arm against your throat again," he warns him. " I tried to protect her, boss. I did. " Bloom explains. " I was only being careful so as not to get her suspicious of me. "" If those are the answers you think you have for me, you had better be joking!"" She has this old friend, a man named Jace. " Bloom quickly adds to save his life " He invited her over to his house and he drugged her. "" What?" Duke squints. " I got there in time and took her away, he may have had intentions to rape her. "Duke groans and grabs him by his shoulder and pins him against