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All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Table of Contents

Chapter One

Right after the bomb explosion, Bruce immediately went back to the hotel and packed everything. Jennifer was too shocked and destabilized to even know what to think. She had no idea what to do and simply followed Bruce. At least, he seemed to know what he was doing.

Her ears were still whistling from the loud detonation and she could see flashes of light and colors. Her head was spinning and her heart was racing. She knew she was panting and looked completely distraught when Bruce took her by the arms.

“Jen,” he said. “Jen, we have to move. We have to go right now!”

She felt her legs pulling her inside the reception where people were screaming and running in all directions. She wasn’t the only one to be panicked: everybody was. Except for Bruce. She glanced at him and noticed that he looked calm and collected. He didn’t look drunk anymore. He seemed pretty much in control of himself and the situation.

How could he?

Once in their room, she saw him calling someone and making gestures with his arms, as if the other person on the phone could see him. She took a good look at him and she changed her mind. He was scared too. Of course he was. He was just human. But he hadn’t freaked out and had reacted almost instinctively, the way an alpha male was supposed to.

Jennifer felt a sudden admiration for him. She already admired him in many ways but this was totally different. Bruce was a city guy and a businessman. He wasn’t a well-trained military or special agent. And he wasn’t someone from the streets either. But he knew what to do in such a dangerous situation and Jennifer grew even more attracted to him. She was lost but somehow, she felt completely safe and protected around him. It was a warm and delicious feeling and she felt grateful to be his girlfriend.

Jennifer lost track of time. She and Bruce waited in the hotel room but none of them talked. They didn’t exchange a single word. Then, Bruce received a phone call. She had no idea if it was ten minutes later or three hours later. She just heard the ring tone and saw him pick up the phone. Bruce said something, nodded and hung up.

It almost felt like a dream. Less than twenty-four hours later, they were boarding his private jet and back in New York. They were at home, safe and far from any danger. At least, that’s how she felt about it but Bruce didn’t seem to think the same.

Actually, Bruce was paranoid but who could blame him? He was supposed to be in that car when it exploded and who knew what was really supposed to happen? He hired a private security company to protect him twenty-four seven and his mansion was now packed with men in black.

Jennifer didn’t mind but having all these armed men all around felt unnatural. She was supposed to feel safe but instead, she felt threatened. This wasn’t how life was supposed to be. The atmosphere was tensed and Jennifer wasn’t sure if Bruce was doing the right thing or not. Was it necessary? Was it reasonable? Was he in danger in New York?

All she could say was that Bruce was shocked and much more affected than he was willing to admit. She saw him take long walks alone for hours around his property, not saying a single word to anyone. Jennifer felt worried about him and about them. Their relationship could be affected over the long term if he kept acting that way. Not because of her, though. Indeed, she would never let him down. She was worried about what he would do, if he ever decided to
clean
everything in his life.

She knew that he was in a state of trauma and who knew what he was thinking? Wondering what she could do to improve this unbearable situation, she joined him in his office. He was sitting in the dark, completely naked.

“Is there anything you need, Bruce?” She asked.

He said nothing and didn’t even look at her. She approached his desk and grabbed his jacket on the wall.

“You’re going to be cold,” she said, wrapping his naked shoulders. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”

Again, Bruce kept silent. She took his hand and rubbed it. He was cold.

“Bruce, you need to say something. Let it go. Don’t keep everything to yourself. What are you thinking? Tell me,” she said.

He was livid. She knew he hadn’t slept much since they were back and he looked like a ghost. He opened his mouth and finally whispered something.

“I feel... terrible,” he said.

“It wasn’t your fault, Bruce. You did nothing wrong.”

“I feel so guilty...”

“Please don’t. There was nothing you could do.”

“I was supposed to be in that car, Jen. Not him.”

Jennifer paused and thought about June. Yes, Bruce was supposed to drive that car and June was supposed to take the bus to see his family out of town. She couldn’t admit it out loud but deep inside, she was glad things had happened that way. If not, June would be alive to see his daughter but Bruce would be dead. And she wouldn’t be here, talking to him and caressing his hand.

“Things happened that way for a reason,” she said. “You were meant to stay alive. You are meant to keep living to accomplish big things. You’re someone special Bruce.”

“A human life is a human life. June didn’t deserve to die. I’m not special,” he said. His eyes were wet.

“You’re special to me,” she said. “Doesn’t it count?”

Bruce kept silent and closed his eyes. Tears rolled down on his face. “I’m so sorry for him and his little daughter,” he said, crying. He leaned forward and rested his head against her chest. She bit her lips and felt her eyes getting filled with tears as well. She released his hands, grabbed his head and hugged him close to her heart. Bruce had never shown that sensitive part of him. He looked so fragile and vulnerable. Yet he was strong and felt responsible. As always, he felt that he had to be in charge when actually he didn’t have to.

Jennifer had a burning question that she was dying to ask. She didn’t know if it was the right time or if it was better to wait. She hesitated but finally decided it was better to raise the subject sooner rather than later.

“Bruce,” she said. “Do you really think you’re in danger? Is there anyone out there who hates you so much they wanted to kill you?”

“I’m not in danger, Jen.”

She looked at him, puzzled. What did he mean? What about all these security people then?

“What’s going on then?” She asked.

“Kenichi called me yesterday,” he said. “He wanted to know if we were okay. He also apologized for what happened.”

“That’s nice of him. There was nothing he could do either.”

Bruce kept silent with an empty look in his eyes. Jennifer knew he was thinking about something.

“It was supposed to be him, Jen,” Bruce said.

Jennifer frowned then raised her eyebrows, her emotions going from incredulity to surprise. “What do you mean?”

“He told me the bomb was for him. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. You and I were too shocked to realize that this had nothing to do with me or June. It was Kenichi’s car after all...”

She nodded. “That’s true. So what happened? Did he tell you why there was a bomb?”

“No.”

“You didn’t ask either?”

“No. He said it was personal so I didn’t insist.”

They both remained silent for a few minutes. Jennifer had to process that new piece of information and was slightly confused. What was she supposed to think about it? Bruce was involved with a man who seemed more and more suspicious to her. She didn’t know much about Asian culture and how it worked over there but without a doubt, if someone was trying to kill Kenichi, there was something to be careful about.

“So what do you think?” She asked, unable to guess what Bruce thought about this situation. “What have you been thinking during all this time alone?”

“I’ve been thinking about my dad and his death. I almost joined him in the cemetery. It’s a weird thing to realize that it almost happened.”

“I’m so glad you’re safe. I don’t want to imagine how life would have been if you were gone...”

She caressed his hair and kissed his head but Bruce didn’t react. It was as if he didn’t know she was there and was completely lost in his thoughts.

“Do you know that I wanted to kill him?”

“Kenichi?”

“No, the man who destroyed my father’s life and pushed him to commit suicide.”

“Cliff Hansen.”

“Yeah. I wanted to crush him, not just financially but emotionally and physically.”

Jennifer said nothing. She knew that Bruce hated that man and was ready to do illegal business in Thailand just to avenge his father’s death. But she had no idea how far he was really willing to go.

“Bruce, this is serious. I’m not going to lie to you, I’m shocked. You wanted to kill a man? You? After all you’ve achieved, you still entertain that kind of thoughts?”

“It doesn’t matter what I’ve achieved, Jen. It’s not about my money. I’ve been forced to be an orphan very young and I’ve missed a lot of things with my father because of Hansen. He took my dad. He stole my childhood!”

Jennifer couldn’t argue with him. She totally understood and couldn’t blame him, but she couldn’t encourage him to pursue vengeance all his life either. She took a deep breath and sighed.

“Okay, Bruce. I understand, I’m not blaming you. What really matters is what you’re going to do now. Do you still want to scam Hansen? Are you still willing to risk everything for something you cannot change? I’m sorry for your dad but scamming or even killing Hansen won’t bring him back.”

“I know. Things are very different now. I almost died... My perspectives have changed.”

“Are you still going to do business with Kenichi then? In Thailand?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t know.”

That wasn’t the answer she expected to hear. Jennifer wanted Bruce to give up any plan to do business with Kenichi in Asia. It was dishonest and simply too risky.

“I don’t want to lose you, Bruce. I don’t want to see you dead but I don’t want to see you in jail for the rest of your life either. What can you really expect? You’ll either end up murdered or you’ll be caught and locked up until you die. Don’t do it, Bruce. Please...”

Again, he said nothing and stared in front of him. He seemed very stubborn and distant, as if Jennifer’s opinion didn’t matter. She began to feel upset and annoyed. Her patience had its limits and she gave him a slap. Not a strong one, but firm enough to wake him up.

“Bruce!”

He seemed to snap back to reality and blinked several times. His eyes were alive again.

“Bruce, are you going to pursue this path? Do you still want to do business with Kenichi in order to ruin Hansen?”

He turned around, looked at her and gave her a sad smile. “No, I won’t. I don’t want to do it anymore...”

Chapter Two

J
ennifer spent the next few days at home. She needed to do some housekeeping and to pay the bills, but most of all, she needed time for herself. Bruce had given up the idea of doing business in Asia and had promised he wouldn’t try to scam Cliff Hansen anymore. As much as she wanted to believe him, she was still careful about it. Bruce originally wanted to kill the man and that was something Jennifer had a hard time accepting. She did understand the anger he felt towards Hansen but she didn’t approve his willingness to go that far. She couldn’t imagine Bruce murdering someone, even if he didn’t actually do it himself.

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