Free Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Piñeiro

company.”
    She patted Mary’s hand. “He was a good boy for you, then.”
    “Always,” his mother replied with vehemence and met Liliana’s gaze. “He never gave us any trouble until…”
    Until he started playing pro ball and everything changed, Liliana thought. Sin had been stronger than the values with which
     he had been raised.
    Liliana didn’t want to stir up any more painful memories. Rising from the coffee table, she said, “If you can think of anything
     else—anything—please call me.” She took a card from a pocket in her journal and handed it to her.
    “I will, only… Do you think you could do me a favor?” Mary asked, her voice suddenly soft and timid in contrast to her earlier
     outburst.
    “Sure,” Liliana said.
    With a nod, she left the room and then came back holding a large black garbage bag that clanked loudly as she carried it along.
    “When you find Jesse, could you make sure he gets this?” She handed it to Liliana.
    It was heavier than Liliana had thought and filled with hard, oddly shaped objects. As she opened the top to peer within,
     she realized it was packed with trophies and awards.
    Jesse’s accomplishments being tossed out like yesterday’s rubbish.
    “I’ll make sure your son gets his things if we find him,” she said, her voice tight with the emotions she suppressed. She
     carefully carried the bag, not wanting to damage the contents.
    Anger rose up as she left the Bradford home. While there was a lot about Jesse’s past of which she did not approve, nothing
     she knew about Jesse so far warranted the kind of harsh judgment his father dispensed. If anything, there was more to Jesse
     than she had expected, but still so much she did not know about him.
    Her one hope for later was that she would be able to deal with the consequences of presenting Jesse with his mother’s package.

CHAPTER 6
    T he overload of sensations buffeting Jesse’s mind had gradually subsided through the course of the night and morning. A long
     night where he had battled back the rage building at his center, stronger now because of the effects of the drugs. In the
     year of his captivity, he had discovered that finding something on which to focus helped contain that emotion. Whether it
     was physical exertion like his workouts or a person, place, or thing, concentrating on it restored balance.
    Liliana had been the object of his attention through the night and morning. Her gentle touch against his body and the soothing
     tones of her voice. The feel of her against him, so feminine and enticing. He replayed scenes of her in his mind, over and
     over, using them to hold back the overwhelming sensations created by the drugs.
    Desire. Sadness. Hope. Need, since the petite doctor seemed to have made an indelible impression on his psyche.
    Jesse heard Liliana’s voice again, stronger this time. Not in his brain, he realized.
    She had returned, and within him came a surge of excitement.
    He half opened his eyes and waited for her, listening to the lilt of her voice and noticing for the first time a slight singsong
     quality that came from another language. With her looks and name, he guessed she was either Latina or Italian.
    The sound of her voice became stronger, more forceful as she came up the stairs. The clink and clank of something metallic
     seemed to keep pace with her steps. Then he heard Whittaker’s voice, just as powerful and raised in outrage.
    Jesse forced away the remaining cobwebs in his brain and finally eased his eyes open. As he turned toward the door, he experienced
     a twinge of pain. Stiffness had set into his muscles from the lack of mobility created by his restraints.
    Liliana hurried in, carrying an oversized trash bag. The odd metallic noises on the stairs had come from something inside
     that bag.
    Whittaker was hot on her heels, his body visibly vibrating with rage.
    “What don’t you get about ‘need-to-know’?” he shouted at her and scraped a hand across his