Free Secrets and Scars: A Gripping Psychological Thriller (Fatal Hearts Series Book 3) by Dori Lavelle Page A

He glanced at Owen. “You’re brave for stepping in to help her.”
    Owen inched forward in his chair. He twisted his body to face me. “I’m not the type of man who tries to take another man’s wife. But I won’t lie to you. I love her; I’ve loved her since the first time we met. Saving her comes naturally to me.”
    His words formed a delicate thread between us, strengthening our connection.
    “You’ve been so kind to us. I feel bad asking for anything more than what you’ve already given. My yacht is not too far from here. We just need a little more food and water for our journey there.”
    Jeordi leaned forward, his brow creased with worry. “This is what we’re going to do. I suggest you stay here tonight to get your energy back. You’re safe here.” He tightened his grip on the gun. “If he steps one foot on my land, he’s a dead man.” He chewed his gum silently for a moment. “If you are ready to continue tomorrow, I’ll personally escort you to the yacht. In the meantime, my men and I will go and have a look around to see if he’s still alive.”
    “I don’t know what to say.” I pressed my palm to my chest. “You’re so kind. We’ll take your offer.”
    Owen placed a hand on my knee. “Chloe, are you sure about this?”
    I rubbed the back of my neck. “We need a break. I don’t think I can go on without proper rest. Exhaustion makes us easy targets.” My stomach rolled at the thought of having to spend another night in the jungle. Jeordi and Ingrid were offering their help freely, expecting nothing in return, unlike Miera and her brother.
    My gaze slid to Owen’s feet. “It’s not a bad idea to rest that ankle either.”
    Jeordi cleared his throat. “Once you’re off my land, I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect you.”
    Owen nodded. “The decision is made, then. We’re staying.”
     

Chapter Seventeen
     
    An hour had passed since we accepted Jeordi and Ingrid’s kindness. After Jeordi and his men—except for Rodell, who stayed back to watch over us—left to look out for Alvin, Ingrid tended to our needs.
    As promised, she provided us with water to wash ourselves inside the hut that served as a bathroom, and gave Owen a pair of Jeordi’s jeans and a faded t-shirt. He chose not to wear shoes, as Ingrid had bandaged his ankle.
    The green-and-brown patterned wrap dress Ingrid gave me was more than just a cover. It was a new layer of safety and comfort.
    Clean and refreshed, my newfound strength brought me closer to feeling normal again.
    Ingrid had been horrified at the healing wounds on my back and spat out a string of German curse words as she helped me dress. I couldn’t hold back the tears when she asked me to tell her more about what had happened to me on the yacht. Her genuine kindness drew me in, and I told her more, going deeper into my childhood, tearing my invisible wounds open for her to see the extent of the damage. She did not judge, but simply drew me in a hug.
    “You’ve paid enough for your mistakes. You’ve paid enough.”
    ***
    Dusk fell, and Jeordi and his men still had not shown up. For a flicker of a moment, I worried that the same thing that had happened to me in Haiti would repeat itself, that Jeordi would show up with Alvin. Or worse, that Alvin had hurt them.
    “I hope they’re okay,” I said as I helped Ingrid remove clothes from a clothesline.
    “Don’t worry about them.” Ingrid dropped a bed sheet into a woven basket. “I’m sure they’ve stopped somewhere to play. Men can be like kids sometimes. And the farm is big, they could have gone far.”
    Anna’s giggles floated on the wind and reached us. A smile tugged at my lips as I glanced at her, sitting at the entrance of the dining hut playing rock, paper, scissors with Owen. He’d make a great dad one day. My heart squeezed at the thought.
    I returned my attention to Ingrid with a forced smile.
    “How long have you had this farm for?” A few minutes ago, Owen had reminded me