‘Black or white?’ ‘What?’ ‘The coffee, black or white?’ ‘White, two sugars.’ and as an afterthought, ‘Thank you.’ * Konstantin hel... the mobile to his ear as he leant against the side of the car, ‘Don’t worry boss, she can’t be far away. We’ll find her. I’ve got the licence plate of that guy’s car she went off in, and once we trace it, we’ve got her.’ The snarling voice of his boss came down the phone into his ear, ‘You had better fucking get her, and get her quick. I want to see her here. .. My situation... there was just nothing that fit together logically. He said things. I said things. My husband said things. All of it was a confused jumble in my mind. I didn't want to hit him. I didn't want to hurt him. I just wanted him to know what I felt. I hurt. Javon held me tight. Whether it was to keep me from hitting or just to help me calm down soon stopped mattering to me. I went limp in his arms crying softly. "Just love me baby. Please, just love me."When he picked me. There was a stream that is more like a river (you could swim and fish in it), grottos, groves of fruit trees that had fruit year-round, and more outdoor fireplaces than you can count. There were amazing sex parties here, and it was all just the way he wanted it. Everybody understood the message of that place: ?I am large and in charge.?Palace isn’t even a big enough way to describe it.It was a temple.Papi had these guys who worked for him. They were known as ?The Gospel?, which was a bad joke. Emily believed them."Something like that," Emily answered slyly. She watched Michelle's eyes grow big in surprise, but didn't elaborate. She glanced over at Donna, who was sitting on the wooden gym floor ... with a dazed, blank expression on her face. "You okay, Donna?" What?" Donna answered. "Oh, sorry, Emily ... didn't know you were here." Donna quickly snatched away a pair of headphones away from her head, which had been mostly hidden beneath her long curly mane of dark hair, and stuffed.