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Masked A Dark Romantic Suspense Club Exposure Book 5 Ivy Nelson Full Chapter
Masked A Dark Romantic Suspense Club Exposure Book 5 Ivy Nelson Full Chapter
Club Exposure 5
Ivy Nelson
Contents
Copyright
NL Signup
Blood
A Note From The Author
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 1
26. Chapter 2
About The Author
About the Author
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 1
26. Chapter 2
About The Author
About the Author
Copyright © 2023 by Ivy Nelson
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording,
or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright
law. For permission requests, contact ivynelsonbooks@gmail.com.
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or
deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Illustrations by [Illustrator]
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording,
or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright
law. For permission requests, contact ivynelsonbooks@gmail.com.
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or
deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Illustrations by [Illustrator]
asked contains depictions of BDSM. This book is the author’s interpretation of BDSM
M fantasies and is not intended to be an educational tool. BDSM is different for everyone, and
this is just one perspective. Everything in this book is fictitious and should be read as such. If you
choose to participate in BDSM, please remember consent above all else and please do educate
yourself with something that isn’t a work of fiction.
I hope you enjoy this creation.
Ivy Nelson
P.S. The following is a non-exhaustive list of potential tw/cw in this book. I hope it helps.
Warnings
Kidnapping; Knife play; degradation/humiliation play; spit play; dirty talk; Dom/sub dynamics;
impact play; discipline/punishment; honorifics; exhibitionism; bondage; contracts
A Note From The Author
asked contains depictions of BDSM. This book is the author’s interpretation of BDSM
M fantasies and is not intended to be an educational tool. BDSM is different for everyone, and
this is just one perspective. Everything in this book is fictitious and should be read as such. If you
choose to participate in BDSM, please remember consent above all else and please do educate
yourself with something that isn’t a work of fiction.
I hope you enjoy this creation.
Ivy Nelson
P.S. The following is a non-exhaustive list of potential tw/cw in this book. I hope it helps.
Warnings
Kidnapping; Knife play; degradation/humiliation play; spit play; dirty talk; Dom/sub dynamics;
impact play; discipline/punishment; honorifics; exhibitionism; bondage; contracts
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Five years ago
Reva
hat the hell is that noise? The annoying sound grew louder in Reva Calhoun’s ears, and she
W pulled the pillow over her head to muffle it. But sleep had already vanished, and the noise
became recognizable. A doorbell.
A very annoying doorbell.
She rolled over in the unfamiliar bed and nudged the man sleeping next to her. “Parker, wake up,”
she hissed when he batted her away.
How was he sleeping through this?
After several more nudges, she got him awake enough that he realized someone was at the door.
“Shit. What time is it?” he muttered as he rolled off the bed and pulled his sweatpants on.
Parker Jasper was her most recent partner, and the first she’d gone home with after a long string of
bad dates. But she didn’t know him that well, and tonight was her first time sleeping over.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Parker shouted as he headed into the hallway of the rather impressive
apartment. Apartments this size weren’t easy to come by in the heart of D.C.
Reva slipped out of bed and looked around for her jeans from the night before. She’d borrowed
one of Parker’s shirts before they went to sleep.
A police officer stood in the living room talking to Parker in hushed tones when she got to him. He
held up a hand for her to stop, so she stayed back. The police knocking on your door at midnight was
never a good sign.
“I’m not that close with my stepfather anymore, so I don’t know where he is. How did you know to
come looking for me?”
“You’re listed in his emergency contacts at his office.”
That seemed to surprise Parker, but he didn’t say as much.
“Why is it so important that you find Noah? Did he do something wrong?”
The officer shook his head. “We can’t give you any details, but it’s very important that we speak
with him. Do you have any ideas for how we might reach him?”
Parker dragged a hand down his face. “Christ. He’s odd about answering the door, so if you came
on strong, he would have just pretended he wasn’t home. Let me call him. I should have his
girlfriend’s number; I can try to call her too.”
“That would be very helpful, Mr. Jasper. We’re sorry to interrupt your sleep.”
Parker squeezed her shoulder as he headed back to the bedroom for his phone. “Sorry about all
this, baby.”
Reva shook her head. “It’s fine. I hope everything is OK with your stepdad.”
he Parker grimaced. “It’s been a long time since I’ve thought of him that way. Him and my mother are
sedivorced.”
Reva bit her lip and looked down at his plain gray t-shirt, unsure what to say next.
“Noah, it’s Parker. Where are you? The police want to talk to you.”
,” A pause.
“Well, answer the door next time, they woke me and my girl up out of a dead sleep.”
Reva wasn’t sure she could be called his girl; they barely knew each other. But now didn’t seem
like the time to correct him.
Parker ended the call and headed back for the officer. “He says he’ll answer the door this time.”
of The officer cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m afraid we’re about to give him
some bad news, and it might be good to have a familiar face available when we’re done. You might
vefollow us if you want to be that person.”
Parker made a face that said the officer was ridiculous. “I’m sure he’s got someone he can call if
edit’s that bad. Or that girlfriend of his that’s entirely too young for him can comfort him.”
The officer shifted uncomfortably, and Reva got a sick feeling in her stomach. “We should go,
HeParker. I understand you’re not close, but the officer is right, having a familiar face when you get the
asworst news of your life is a comfort.”
She wished she’d had someone familiar to lean on the night her worst news came.
to Parker rolled his eyes but waved a hand. “Fine. Get dressed. I can drop you off at home on our way
back.”
She blinked. “I thought we were going to get breakfast.”
Then again, if Parker’s stepfather was about to be in crisis, her being at home might be for the best,
so she didn’t wait for him to respond. She just headed for the bedroom to search for the rest of her
akclothes.
Five minutes later, they were climbing into Parker’s BMW.
me “I can’t say I was prepared to introduce you to my family,” he said with a forced laugh. “Especially
hisnot to Noah. He’s… different.”
Reva put a hand on his arm. “It’s fine. Something tells me he’s about to get some really awful
allnews.”
Parker gave a terse nod, and they spent the rest of the drive in silence. She wondered how badly
the marriage to his mother must have ended. Then again, if Noah still had Parker in his emergency
recontacts, it couldn’t have been that bad, right?
It took nearly forty-five minutes to get to their destination, and Reva was awestruck by the size of
the house they parked in front of. She knew Parker was well off just by the apartment he had and the
car he drove, but this house screamed filthy rich.
The police officer asked them to stay back while he knocked on the door. It took a full two minutes
before a man in his early to mid-forties answered the door. He wore dark denim pants and a black
msweater that stretched across his broad shoulders, and there was a look of irritation in his dark eyes.
“Can I help you, officer?”
His voice nearly made Reva gasp. It was deep but not booming. There was a comforting richness
mto it, and she wanted to hear him speak more.
ght “Mr. Jasper, may we come in?”
So, Parker shared a last name with his stepfather? Interesting.
if “I’d rather you didn’t. What’s going on?”
“Does Elise Bricker live here?”
o, Noah blinked, and a chill raced through Reva as the man realized what he was about to hear.
he “Where is she? What happened to Elise?” His voice was still powerful, but there was a tremor in
it that gave away the panic that was likely bubbling inside him.
“I’m afraid Ms. Bricker was found dead a few hours ago.”
ay Noah’s fists clenched, and Reva’s stomach lurched as she watched his world come undone.
“That’s impossible. She was on her way home from a business trip. I just got a message from her
two hours ago saying her plane was delayed.”
st, The officer straightened and held up a hand. “Are you sure about that? She was found dead in a
erfriend’s apartment several hours ago and we believe she was killed sometime between Friday
evening and Saturday morning. That message may have been from her killer.”
Something shifted in Noah, and he backed away. “Come in. I’ll get my phone.”
ly “Sir, we had to contact your stepson to find you, and we hope you don’t mind, but he followed us.”
Noah blinked in confusion and then his eyes landed on her. Reva locked eyes with him for several
seconds before he shook his head and jerked his gaze to Parker.
ul “You didn’t have to be here. But come in.”
“Noah, I’m so sorry,” Parker said, heading for the entrance. “We didn’t know what they were going
lyto tell you, and Reva insisted we come. I’m glad she did.” Parker smiled her way as they stepped
cythrough the door.
Noah looked pained for a moment, then he turned on his heel and disappeared further into the
ofhouse.
he “Come on,” Parker said, reaching for her hand. “The living room is this way.”
The officer followed them, and a few minutes later Noah returned with his phone.
es “We’ll get this back to you as soon as possible, Mr. Jasper. Can you tell us more about when you
cklast saw Elise?” The officer asked as he put the phone into an evidence bag.
Noah launched into a monotone recollection of his weekend. He’d worked late, and Elise asked if
she could go on a last-minute trip for a charity she fundraised for. He’d agreed but told her to be home
ssby tonight because they had things to do tomorrow.
Reva found it odd that it almost sounded like Elise had been asking for permission to go on a trip
and was given a curfew, like some teenager. But that wasn’t important. Someone was dead. Killed
gruesomely from the sounds of it.
Reva wasn’t sure how much longer she could handle sitting here listening to this conversation.
There were too many parallels to the conversation she had with police six years ago.
She leaned over and whispered in Parker’s ear. “Where’s the bathroom?”
in He nodded to the door. “Down the hall, past the kitchen. Want me to escort you?”
Reva shook her head. “No. Stay with him.”
In the bathroom, she splashed water on her face and tried to tamp down the emotion that felt lodged
in her throat. After several minutes, she stepped back into the hallway and willed herself to head
ertoward the living room. When she reached the entry to the impressive kitchen, she stopped. Maybe
everyone could use some coffee. How hard could it be to find the coffee maker?
a In the kitchen, the island was set with two plates and a bottle of wine was open on the counter.
ayHe’d been expecting her home and was going to feed her. Another wave of sadness washed over her,
and she turned toward the wall of cabinets to search for coffee supplies.
“You didn’t strike me as the type to snoop.” The deep voice made her jump, and she whirled with a
mug in her hand.
al “Sorry. Coffee seemed like it would help right now, so I was going to make it. But I don’t see the
coffee maker.”
“Making yourself at home? You must really like my son.”
ng Reva shrugged. “I just met him a couple of weeks ago.”
ed “And yet, you were in his bed when the police arrived.”
This conversation was getting uncomfortable fast.
he “I’m sorry. I’ll just go back to the living room.”
For the first time, Noah smiled, and her heart twisted at the sight of it. It was a sad smile, but it
made him even more handsome, and she fought the urge to hug him.
“The coffee maker is here.” He reached around her and pressed a button on the wall. The
oucountertop split and a fancy machine rose.
“That thing looks like it cost more than my car,” she muttered as she stepped up to it and tried to
ifsort out how to turn it on.
me “Alexa, make a pot of coffee,” Noah said.
Then he turned and headed for the living room. Before he stepped into the hall, he said, “I like mine
ipwith cream, no sugar. Parker doesn’t drink it.”
ed Reva blinked and shook her head. What a strange interaction. But she was glad to have something
to do other than dwell on the sadness in the other room. Noah seemed unfazed, but grief would hit him
n.soon. There were little touches around the house that said he loved Elise.
A few minutes later, she carried a tray laden with coffee mugs and cream and sugar into the living
room and set it down.
“Jesus, Noah. You asked her to make coffee. Elise isn’t even in the ground yet.”
Reva picked up her own coffee and sat next to Parker again. “He caught me in the middle of doing
edit. He didn’t ask.”
ad Parker looked at her skeptically before casting a glare at his stepfather.
be Noah remained quiet throughout the entire strange exchange. It left her with even more questions
about this family. All of them incredibly rude to ask.
er. The officer had dozens of questions for Noah about where Elise had been and who she was with.
er,Some of the names that popped up surprised Reva. Bradley Givens was the son of a presidential
candidate. Carrie Davenport-Mercer was a fairly well-known investigative journalist. Just who was
h aNoah Jasper that he rubbed shoulders with these people?
When the officers left a half hour later, Parker stood to leave as well. “We should go get that
hebreakfast,” he said with a smile.
Food was the last thing Reva wanted right now, but she nodded and stood.
“Stay. I’ll cook.”
Parker raised an eyebrow. “Do you even know how?”
Noah gave a sad smile. “Elise and I cooked together all the time. Breakfast is the easiest meal of
them all.”
Now Reva felt obligated to stay, so she sat back down on the couch and picked up her coffee. “That
itsounds nice, Mr. Jasper.”
“Noah. Call me Noah.”
he Reva nodded. “Can I help, Noah?”
Noah shook his head. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”
to “We didn’t have to stay.”
Reva touched Parker’s shoulder. “It’s important. Trust me.”
He didn’t seem convinced, but pulled out his phone and sat back against the couch and tucked an
nearm around her.
After several minutes, the silence became too much to cope with, so she jumped up. “I’m going to
nghelp anyway.”
m Parker gave a grunt of acknowledgement and kept scrolling his phone. In the kitchen, she found
Noah leaning against the island with his eyes closed.
ng An open carton of eggs sat out, and oil was smoking on the stove. She moved quickly and turned the
burner off as she moved the pan away from the hot coils.
“I said I didn’t need help,” he said gruffly.
ng “Trust me, you do. You’re going to want to hide from everyone over the next few weeks and you’re
probably the type that thinks it’s poor form to cry, but it’s not. Answer the phone when your friends
call to check on you and don’t turn down offers to make your life easier. Because someday soon
nsyou’re going to break, and when you do, it won’t be pretty. Right now, you’re probably pretty annoyed
with me because you don’t know me and that’s fine. But you should go talk to your son and I’ll finish
th.breakfast.”
al His knuckles were white as he gripped the marble counter behind him, and his eyes flashed with
asanger. But then his lips quirked up in a half smile.
“You’ve got spunk. I’ll give you that. That’s nothing but good for Parker. There’s a slab of ham in
hatthe fridge. If you’re going to be in here, you might as well help.”
She blew out a breath, thankful she hadn’t completely pissed him off, and opened the fridge. Along
with the ham, she grabbed mushrooms, a bell pepper, and an onion and set up a workstation on the
opposite side of the island.
She slid him the onion and pulled a knife out of the block.
of “Trying to force me to cry?”
“So, he’s got a sense of humor. I’m willing to bet that’s one of the things she liked about you.”
hat He sliced the onion in half and put one piece aside. “No one has ever accused me of having a sense
of humor, Reva. Even when I’m not grieving, I’m an asshole.”
She cocked her head and studied him. “Probable. But you cared about her, and she saw something
in you.”
“Stop.” His voice was hard. “I can tell what you’re doing, and your one semester of psychology
101 is nothing up against my PhD.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Well, Dr. Jasper. I’m not sure what you think I’m doing, but I’m trying to
anbe the friendly face I wish I’d had on a night similar to this. Nothing more. But I’ll be sure to tell my
dissertation adviser that you don’t think I can hack it in the PhD program anymore.”
to For a split second, she thought he looked impressed, but he schooled his features and went back to
prepping the food.
nd “Psychology?”
She shook her head and pushed the diced mushrooms to the side so she could start on the ham. “I
hedid a double major in undergrad in psychology and political science. Now I’m in a dual track Masters
and PhD program where I’m studying public relations and human sexuality.”
Noah stopped chopping and leaned forward. “Now that is intriguing. What made you want to study
resuch an interesting combination?”
ds She blushed but didn’t look away from him. “That’s complicated. But ultimately, I have my eye on
onhelping improve sex education in this country. Whether that’s by working with a board of education,
edor working with a federal branch of government, I haven’t figured out yet. I could end up teaching at a
shuniversity and conducting research, or I can run a non-profit. It’s a niche field of study, for sure, but
it’s actually quite versatile.”
th “I’m impressed. If you ever need a contact at the ACSL, I’ve got a few.”
“They are an excellent organization. But we really don’t have to talk about me.”
in He cracked several eggs into a bowl and pulled out a whisk. “Talking about you keeps me from
thinking about her.”
ng “You’ve only known she was gone for a couple of hours.”
he “Which means I have a lifetime to mourn.”
She frowned but slid the ham, bell peppers and mushrooms his way. “If you insist. What now?”
He motioned to the pantry behind her. “There should be some good bread in there. We’ll keep it
simple and have omelets with toast.”
“Can you talk to your toaster too?”
se He smirked. “I could. But my son might have me committed and his mother would try to come after
my money again.”
ng She winced, and he frowned, shaking his head. “Sorry. That was inappropriate. Parker and his
siblings are my adopted children, but Parker doesn’t think too highly of me anymore and his mother
gyoutright hates me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I would give anything to see my parents again so I can’t relate to Parker on
tothat, but I hope the two of you figure out how to be close again someday.”
my After that, they worked in silence, and soon they were in the living room eating with Parker who
wrinkled his nose at the mushrooms.
to “Sorry. That was me.”
“Noah knows how I hate them. He just didn’t correct you because he’s a dick.”
Reva frowned and tried to reassure him with a hand on his shoulder. That was a harsh thing to say
“Ito his grieving father. “We can get something else on the way back to my place.”
rs He shrugged and pushed his plate away. “I got a last-minute meeting with Monica Parrish, and I
should really try to get a bit of sleep beforehand, so I should get Reva home.”
dy Noah shoved his own plate away and stood. “Now who’s being a dick? I’ll walk you both out.”
Reva’s head was spinning from the speed at which things shifted between these two. What was
ontheir problem? But she stood and followed the two men to the front door where Parker shifted
n,awkwardly. “I’m sorry about Elise. I’ll have Mandy and Jacob check on you this week.”
ta Noah nodded and extended his hand for a firm shake before he turned to Reva and smiled. “It was
utlovely to meet you. Perhaps you can bring my son around more often.”
She opened her arms for a hug.
A mistake she shouldn’t have made.
The way his scent enveloped her had her pulse racing and her mind going places it had no business
mgoing.
“I can come sit with you if you need me to,” she heard herself saying against his chest.
Then he kissed the crown of her head and gently pushed her to the door. “Go. You don’t need to sit
with a sad old man. I’ll be fine.”
Nothing about Noah made her think of him as an old man. If anything, he screamed sex and danger.
itShe had to get out of there before her thoughts got entirely too inappropriate for the circumstances.
er
his
er
on
ho
ay
dI
as
ed
as
ss
sit
Nothing about Noah made her think of him as an old man. If anything, he screamed sex and danger.
She had to get out of there before her thoughts got entirely too inappropriate for the circumstances.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Five Years Ago
Noah
oah stared in the mirror and straightened his stark black tie. Black was his go-to color, so
N getting dressed today was no different from any other day.
Except it was.
The coroner released Elise’s body, and today was her funeral. It would be a closed casket service,
and friends had talked him out of seeing her body because of the gruesome nature of her death. She
wasn’t supposed to die before him. She was supposed to get bored and leave the way most women
with their arrangement did. But after two years, Elise had shown no signs of wanting to leave. They
loved each other in every way possible. That didn’t stop him from believing she would leave one
day. He just never expected it to be like this.
His phone buzzed on the dresser, and he picked it up.
Noah’s relationship with his son was strained and had been since the divorce. Even though Parker
didn’t share his blood, he still thought of him as his son and even adopted the boy and his two siblings
after his birth father died tragically. The marriage to their mother, Melinda, had been a mistake. They
were about as different as two people can be. But he loved her kids as his own, and all three of them
still used his last name even though they weren’t as close as he would like. Mandy, the middle child,
would be getting married in a little less than a year. He was invited to the wedding, but so far, she
hadn’t asked him to walk her down the aisle. Noah wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He didn’t feel
entitled; it was her wedding after all. But he could picture himself in that role.
He read the text again and thought of Reva Calhoun. She’d been there the night the police told him
about Elise. Gorgeous but uncomfortable in her own skin even though she was brilliant and had a
spunky side. Not the kind of girl Patrick usually went for. But that might be good for him.
Noah: Bring her. I appreciate her being here the other night.
It was kind of her to want to come. Something told him Patrick wouldn’t have even attended the
funeral if his new girlfriend didn’t insist. But it meant he would have all three of his children in the
same room with him for the first time in nearly a decade. He was grateful for that, despite the reason
for them coming together.
He clutched the locket Elise wore as a collar and tucked it in his pocket. “Miss you too much,
princess.” His voice cracked, and he hated the sound of it in the empty bedroom.
so On the front steps of his house, he waited for the car to be brought around. His phone rang, and he
scowled when he recognized the number.
“Noah. We could use you in Poland next week.”
e, “Seriously, Jared? I’m burying my girlfriend today, and you’re trying to call me into the field?”
he Jared cleared his throat and had the decency to sound remorseful. “You know we wouldn’t ask if it
enweren’t absolutely necessary. You’re the only one with the skill to negotiate with these people. The
eypresident himself is asking for the great Dr. Jasper to lend his profiling expertise.”
ne Fuck.
“Yeah. OK. Give me the rest of the weekend. I’ll get on a plane Monday.”
Getting back into the field might take his mind off the grief.
After he met Elise, Noah had taken a break from the field and spent most of his time working from
D.C. Occasionally, his work for the state department would still take him out of town, but he’d
limited his dangerous activities because he enjoyed coming home to Elise on her knees. They were
er
always pushing him to get back to full-time status, though.
gs
In the back of the limo, he thought about what he would say to her parents. They’d never been huge
ey
fans of Noah’s. Not that he blamed them. If Mandy brought home a man nearly twice her age, he
m
would look at him skeptically too. That made him a hypocrite, he knew that. But Elise was special.
d,
She was a ball of energy, but she wasn’t flighty. She could drink like a fish with her girlfriends, but
he
she never took it too far and always came home to him and his dominance. Maybe it’s because he
el
spoiled her. Spoiling her was his favorite pastime. After he’d completely defiled and used her in the
bedroom, he would shower her with whatever she wanted.
m
“We should bring you in through the back of the church, Dr. Jasper. The press is already pretty
a
heavy despite our best efforts.”
It didn’t surprise Noah that Elise’s funeral garnered media attention. The murder made the news
since it was one in a string of gruesome deaths. Plus, the son of a presidential candidate was wrapped
up in all of it and his girlfriend Darci had been kidnapped by the murderer. There was little he could
hedo about the press, since Darci would be at the funeral.
he
on His role at the state department was secret, and he wanted it to stay that way. So he didn’t hide
from the press, but he didn’t linger when they were around either.
h, Actively hiding meant they would seek him out and ask more questions than he was prepared to
answer.
he So he adjusted his tie and shook his head at his driver. “I’ll go in through the front. Let them see
me. That should satisfy them. I won’t be making a statement, though.”
The driver scowled but didn’t argue.
At the church, he kept his head down as he climbed the stairs and made his way inside. His
itexpression remained stoic, and he was careful to keep his eyes devoid of emotion.
he Inside was another story. The room was thick with emotion that nearly smothered him.
“Noah, I’m so sorry.” Darci Sanders wrapped her arms around him and cried against his chest. He
hugged her back and let her cry. Elise had a lot of friends who were hurting today. He needed to be
strong for them. If he wanted to, he could fall apart at home.
“It’s not your fault, Darci. I want you to hear me say that.”
m She lifted her head and wiped at her eyes. “Thanks, Noah. I can’t stop seeing her like that and I
’dmiss her so much.”
re “How are you? Have you seen a therapist?”
Elise was murdered in Darci’s apartment, and she’d walked in on the gruesome scene.
ge “Yeah. I’m seeing my regular therapist weekly for a little while.”
he “Good girl.” He kissed the top of her head before she walked away to join her boyfriend, Bradley.
al. Noah turned to find Parker and Reva standing behind him.
ut Parker offered his hand for a handshake, but Reva came at him with a hug.
he He was struck again by her beauty, and he hoped his son was treating her right.
he “Noah, I’m so sorry for your loss,” Reva said as she stepped away from Parker. “I didn’t know
Elise, but I know she meant a lot to you, and the crowd here today is a testament to how wonderful
ttyshe must have been.”
Noah smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “Thank you, Reva. And thank you again for being
wsthere the night she died. It meant a lot to have you and Parker there.”
ed Parker moved closer and laced his fingers with Reva’s. “Mandy and Jacob are already inside. The
ldfuneral director put us on the front row with you. I hope that’s OK.”
Noah smiled. “I’d like nothing more.”
de The service was as gut wrenching as Noah expected it to be, but he kept it together enough to say a
few words.
to At the cemetery, it was harder to keep himself together. Her friends, Darci, Carrie, and Olivia were
in tears the entire time, and Noah noticed Reva stayed misty-eyed as well. But she was observant, and
eeat one point during the service, she put a hand on his arm and leaned close.
“It’s OK not to cry until later.”
Noah grimaced and patted her hand. “Thanks.” Her words gave him the strength to get through the
Hisrest of the burial.
After the graveside service, those closest to Elise came back to Noah’s house for a small
reception. Playing host was the last thing he wanted to do, so he’d hired staff for the day and locked
Hehimself in his study after greeting everyone. Her parents were too grief stricken to attend and had
begone back to their house, but he promised to check on them often.
Two scotches in, the grief hit him like a ton of bricks in the form of anger, and he hurled his drink at
the wall. “God damn it,” he bellowed, unable to keep it inside any longer.
d I “Dad?” a voice from the hallway said.
Only Mandy called him Dad. Guilt flooded him when he realized she’d heard his outburst.
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Just leave me be.”
“Jacob and I have to leave. We just wanted to say goodbye.”
He swiped at the tears he didn’t realize had fallen and stood to unlock the door.
“Thanks for coming,” he said, pulling her into a hug.
“Of course. I’m so sorry she’s gone.”
In the entryway, he hugged Jacob and Mandy goodbye and told them to drive safe. Unable to face
the mess in his office, he headed for the kitchen, intent on getting a cup of coffee.
w He found Reva sitting at the island crying.
ul “Reva?”
She jumped and whipped her head around as she grabbed a napkin and dabbed at her eyes. “Oh
nggod. I’m sorry. Look at me being a mess over someone I never met.”
Noah smiled and slipped onto the barstool next to her. “She was pretty amazing, but I get the
heimpression the tears are for someone else.”
Reva cocked her head. “What makes you say that?”
“Just a sense I’m getting. Want to talk about it?”
“Today is about you.”
ya He put a hand over hers. “And I’ve had enough of people feeling sorry for me.”
She closed her eyes and fingered the handle of her mug for several seconds before she spoke. “My
reparents and older sister died in a horrible accident my junior year of high-school, seven years ago.”
nd Noah did the math. That made her no more than twenty-three now. Elise died at twenty-six.
At forty-two, most people thought he was too old for her, but they made it work.
“I’m so sorry, Reva. That’s a lot of loss in one night.”
he “Tell me about it. My entire world turned upside down. Sitting through the police talking to you the
other night, brought back a lot of memories I’d suppressed.”
all He squeezed her hand before pulling away. “Thank you for being here. I hope you’ll bring Parker
edaround more often. Of all my children, he’s the one who hates me the most.”
ad Reva frowned. “I don’t know him very well. We’ve only been going out a couple of weeks. But I
don’t think he hates you. I just think he doesn’t understand you.”
at Noah brows drew together in confusion. He wasn’t that difficult to understand.
“Still, I appreciate getting to see him more often, and I can’t thank you enough for insisting he
come.” He stood and pulled a card out of his pocket.
“This is my personal information. You don’t know me, but I can fix just about any problem you
might have. So, if you ever find yourself in trouble with no one else to call, reach out. I want to help.”
And he meant it. Parker would accuse him of hitting on her. But something about Reva just
screamed that she needed protecting.
As long as she was dating his son, he would do what he could to do just that.
She tucked the card in her pocket. “I should go find Parker.”
ce He watched her for the rest of the evening. She spent time at Parker’s side, but he usually spotted
her picking up someone’s trash or carrying empty dishes to the kitchen.
She looked at home in his house. He liked that. Hopefully, it meant he would see Parker more often.
When she disappeared from the living room and stayed gone for longer than usual, he went in search
Ohof her, worried she might be overwhelmed with emotion again.
Instead, he found her in the doorway of his study with a dustpan, cleaning up his mess.
he “I have a cleaning staff. You don’t have to do that.”
She jumped, then laughed. “You seem to have a habit of scaring me.”
“And you have a habit of being places you don’t belong.”
Her face turned red. “Sorry. I just need to stay busy.”
He took the dustpan from her and bent to finish sweeping up the glass. “No need to apologize. I’m
Mysorry I made the mess to begin with. Pretty sure I scared my daughter with it.”
Awkward silence hung between them, and he cleared his throat. “I should take this to the kitchen.”
“I should go find Parker.”
Later, when everyone said goodbye, he hugged her for a little longer than he should have, but she
returned it and stepped back with no hint of awkwardness.
he “Just call if you need anything, Noah,” Parker said, before offering his own hug.
The house was empty, and he had a hard time sleeping. Living here without his Elise seemed
erimpossible. Getting back into the field might be for the best. Poland was a long way away and didn’t
hold the memories that this place held.
t I The next day, Noah stayed in his office and drank the pain of missing Elise away. By Monday, he’d
hardened his heart and was ready to get back to work.
he
ou
.”
ust
ed
n.
ch
He took the dustpan from her and bent to finish sweeping up the glass. “No need to apologize. I’m
sorry I made the mess to begin with. Pretty sure I scared my daughter with it.”
Awkward silence hung between them, and he cleared his throat. “I should take this to the kitchen.”
“I should go find Parker.”
Later, when everyone said goodbye, he hugged her for a little longer than he should have, but she
returned it and stepped back with no hint of awkwardness.
“Just call if you need anything, Noah,” Parker said, before offering his own hug.
The house was empty, and he had a hard time sleeping. Living here without his Elise seemed
impossible. Getting back into the field might be for the best. Poland was a long way away and didn’t
hold the memories that this place held.
The next day, Noah stayed in his office and drank the pain of missing Elise away. By Monday, he’d
hardened his heart and was ready to get back to work.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Nine Months Later
eva
R “Reva!” Thank you so much for coming on such short notice.
Mandy Jasper pulled her into a hug, and Reva patted her back. “Of course. I’m so sorry about
Sarah and Jay.”
Tomorrow, Mandy would get married to her long-time boyfriend, Liam, and they were all in a
Château in the south of France for the big day. Except, one of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were
stuck in the United States because they didn’t realize their passports were expired.
“It’s fine. We’ll miss them, but these things happen. I’m just glad you were here to step in. And now
I’m glad I didn’t go for having all the bridesmaids in the same dress. The design team brought extra
dresses with them. Let’s go pick the one you like so the designer can get started on the alterations.”
Reva was so glad Mandy didn’t want her to go on some crazy shopping trip. She hated shopping
and avoided it. Even fancy shopping in France. Or maybe especially fancy shopping in France.
“So, how are things with you and my brother?” Mandy asked as they walked down a hall and up a
flight of stairs to get to the sewing room.
Talking about Parker with his family made her uncomfortable. She liked him, but she didn’t know
what kind of future they had. They had fun together, and he wasn’t a douchey guy. But did she see him
as her forever relationship? She didn’t know. So far, though, all the pro-con lists she liked to make
worked out in his favor.
“Good. We’re still getting to know each other.” It seemed like the safest response.
They entered the sewing room where four dresses were hung neatly on a rack. “Oh wow. These are
gorgeous.”
The dresses were probably worth more than her entire wardrobe. She’d learned that the Jasper
family had billions. But she didn’t care about the money. In fact, it made her uncomfortable. The fact
that attending this wedding would cost over four months of her bills and she could never afford it on
her own made coming awkward, but she was going to do her best to enjoy the adventure.
“Now. I hope you don’t mind, but you’ll be walking down the aisle with my dad. We asked him to
step in to fill the other groomsmen spot.”
Reva’s eyes grew wide. Why not Parker? And why wasn’t her dad walking her down the aisle.
“Monica and Parker are almost identical in height; I didn’t want to switch that up at the last minute.
And my dad needs a role in the wedding. I’m just not having anyone escort me down the aisle and I’m
sure he’s hurt about that. This will be good for him. And also, he hates Monica, but I don’t have the
details on why, so I can’t cause drama by making them walk together. Planning a wedding is a lot,
Reva.”
She gave a little laugh at Mandy’s rapid-fire explanation despite the small bit of panic bubbling on
utthe inside. “Don’t worry about it, Mandy. It’s your wedding. I’ll walk with whoever you need me to.”
If she was honest, she was nervous about seeing Dr. Noah Jasper again. They hadn’t spoken since the
afuneral, but his voice often appeared in her dreams.
re “I really appreciate this. We considered not replacing Sarah and Jay, but Liam’s mom insists we
need to have a big wedding party for the pictures we release to the public. It’s a whole thing. You’re
wreally doing me a huge favor.”
ra The bride-to-be clapped her hands together, changing the subject. “So, which dress do you like?”
Reva studied the dresses for a few seconds before choosing the halter style neckline with a flowing
ngwaist. “This one. The others don’t seem like they would hang right on me.”
“Excellent. I loved that one when the designer brought it to me.”
a God, how much were they spending on this wedding? Something told her she didn’t want to see the
accounting. It would just depress her, given the fact that she was facing the prospect of losing funding
wfor her graduate program soon.
m “What’s your shoe size? I’ll get you a pair to match.”
ke “Seven.”
“Great. Let’s get Jasmine in here to get your measurements and then you can get out of here and find
Parker. I’m sure this was not how you planned to spend your day.”
re To be honest, she was planning to curl up in hers and Parker’s room—which was bigger than her
entire apartment back in D.C.—and read a book all day while he spent time with the other
ergroomsmen.
ct A gorgeous older woman came floating into the room with a tape measure around her neck and
onReva swore birds should have been following her. She looked familiar, but Reva had no idea why.
“Oh, goody. She picked one of my designs,” the woman said as she approached Reva and started
toturning her this way and that.
“It’s beautiful, Jasmine. Thank you so much. I’m so excited you were free to be here this week,”
Mandy gushed.
te. “Your mother was very insistent. And my Simon has been after me to take another vacation, so
mwe’re staying an extra week after the wedding. I should thank you, darling.”
he She turned to Reva and ordered her into the dress with such confidence that she didn’t hesitate. As
ot,she slipped it over her head, Jasmine whispered, “No offense to Sarah, but I’m rather glad her
passport was expired. You were simply made for one of my dresses.”
on It was a struggle to keep the smirk off her face as the fabric fell over her body. It was luxurious and
.”fit her just the way it was. But Jasmine threw the tape measure around her anyway and pulled on the
hefabric.
“We hardly need to alter this at all. It’s as if I made it for you. When I was designing it, I had a
wefeeling someone special would wear it. I just didn’t realize how special. My muse did though.”
re Was she serious?
“Jasmine is one of the best designers in the world. She designed for six people at the Oscars last
year. How lucky am I?” Mandy said, excitement in her eyes.
ng Reva didn’t care who made the dress she was wearing, but there was something about Jasmine that
she liked. And she had to agree that the dress was a near perfect fit as it was.
After the older woman poked and pulled on the dress for several minutes, she declared her
hemeasurements done and ordered her to take the dress off.
ng “You need some diamonds. I’ve got a few gorgeous pieces with me. You can try them in the
morning.”
“Oh, That’s unnecessary. I’m sure I’ve got something in my jewelry bag.”
“Nonsense. Enjoy the pampering, darling. I see in your eyes that it’s been a while.”
nd Reva frowned. What the hell was that supposed to mean? But she didn’t have time to think about it
because the woman gathered the dress she’d just taken off and floated out of the room again.
er “Wow, that was a lot,” Reva said as she stared after her, stunned.
er “Jasmine Darlington.” Mandy said in a dreamy voice. “I still can’t believe my mother tracked her
down. She’s so picky about who she works with. Now get out of here and enjoy the island. Rehearsal
ndisn’t for hours.”
ed
k,”
“Ms. Calhoun, how is your graduate program going?”
Reva sucked in a sharp breath and turned at the sound of Noah Jasper’s velvet voice. His smile
so
was breathtaking, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He looked tired. There was a hollowness about
him that hadn’t existed when he opened the door for the police all those months ago. Parker had
Ascalled him a few times, but to her knowledge he hadn’t visited. And she would not nag him about it.
erTheir relationship was too new for her to become the nagging girlfriend.
“Dr. Jasper, how good to see you again. It’s going well. Thank you. And how are you?” It didn’t
ndfeel right to give him the honest answer that her department was on the cusp of having to make some
heserious funding cuts.
“I’m surviving. My daughter tells me I’ll be escorting you tomorrow. I hope this means you’ll save
ame a dance at the reception.”
Dance with Noah Jasper? She could imagine herself tripping all over her own feet.
“I’ve never been a superb dancer. But I’ll think about it.”
ast Before he could say anything else, someone called for him and he put a hand on her shoulder.
“Excuse me. I’ll see you when rehearsal starts.”
hat She stared after him until Parker came and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“Are you glad you came, babe?”
er She smiled at him and nodded. “Of course. Is it weird that I’m walking down the aisle with Noah
and not with you?” She learned not to refer to Noah as Parker’s dad. He definitely didn’t see him like
hethat. Not like the other two did. Though even Jacob called him Noah, he at least still seemed to like
the man that adopted him when his own father died.
Parker frowned. “Why would it be weird? It’s a wedding. You have to walk with the person you fit
the best with, or the photographers get weird, or the bride starts crying.”
it Reva laughed at his characterization of weddings. He thought she would fit best with his dad? Or
did he think Monica would look best with him? She had to admit she was kind of jealous that Monica
Parrish was walking with Parker. They’d met a few times, and she didn’t care for the woman. But she
erwas a friend of the family and important to some aspect of Parker’s work, so she didn’t say anything.
al A half hour later, rehearsal started, but Noah wasn’t there. Had something happened?
“Reva, can you walk by yourself tonight and just give my Dad the notes in the morning? He had to
take an important work call.”
Ever the agreeable one, Reva walked down the aisle by herself, pretending to be on the arm of the
handsome older Jasper. His looks were rugged, and she got the sense he’d seen some things in his line
of work—whatever that was, Parker wasn’t exactly clear on it—but he was still nice to stare at.
Halfway through the ceremony rehearsal, Noah slipped into his spot on the groom’s side of the
le
wedding party and Reva swore he winked at her when their eyes met.
ut
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FIG. 57.
15 M. A. Starr, “Sensory Tract in Central Nervous System,” Journ. Nerv. and Ment.
Dis., July, 1884, pp. 396-398.
17 Ibid.
18 See Tyson, “Diabetes Mellitus,” Pepper's System of Medicine, Vol. I. p. 195; Edes,
“Diabetes Insipidus,” ibid., Vol. IV. p. 30.
19 Tarchanoff, Pflüger's Arch., viii. p. 97; Ross, Diseases of the Nervous System, vol.
i. p. 225.
33 Vol. V. p. 205.
35 Vol. I. p. 221.
43 See p. 1263.
44 See p. 1257.
Symmetrical Gangrene.
54 Weiss, Wiener Klinik, 1882, “Symmetrische Gangrän;” also Zeitschrift für Prac.
Heilkunde, 1882.
(1) The fingers may look pale and dead, presenting the appearance
of the so-called digiti mortui, and may be cold, painful, and
anæsthetic. If this condition is moderate in degree, a certain amount
of blood will continue to flow through the contracted arterioles, and
then it corresponds to the description given by Raynaud of syncope
locale. If it is extreme, the part may be wholly deprived of arterial
blood, and then a true local asphyxia is present. In this stage the
patients usually suffer considerably, although some do not complain
of pain until the next stage. The ischæmia is attended with an
impairment of sensation to touch, temperature, and pain, and finer
motions become clumsy on account of the subjective numbness and
actual anæsthesia. At the same time, the fingers look shrunken, the
skin being thrown into folds, as if the hand had been soaked in hot
water, or they may appear as if frozen, the skin being hard and
immovable.59 The secretion of perspiration may be increased, and
the fingers feel damp as well as cold, or it may be suspended. The
local temperature is lowered. If the part is cut, little or no blood will
flow. At this stage the arterial spasm may suddenly relax and the part
return gradually to its normal condition, the cessation of the
constriction of the arteries and the return of blood being usually
accompanied by burning pain, which may last for some hours. The
duration of such an attack may vary from a few moments to several
days. If it continues longer, this stage is usually succeeded by the
second stage, of cyanosis.
59 Finlayson, Medical Chronicle, 1885, No. 4.
(2) The stage of cyanosis results from one of two conditions: either
the arterial spasm is so complete that no blood passes into the part,
in which case venous blood from lack of vis a tergo or in response to
gravitation regurgitates into the capillaries, distending them and
producing a state of blueness; or a venous spasm occurs, preventing
the exit of blood from the part, which then becomes actively
congested, and the blood in the capillaries, from want of renewal,
soon becomes venous and produces the cyanotic appearance. The
stage of ischæmia may be so short that it is hardly noticed, so that
the patient's attention is first attracted by the swollen, blue, and
extremely painful condition. The skin may be stretched, the tissue
infiltrated with products of exudation, which can be pressed out, as
can also the venous blood, and the surface may itch as well as be
painful. Anæsthesia is rarely present in this stage, and there may
even be hyperæsthesia. The part is cool from the increased radiation
of heat and cessation of the processes of metabolism, the local
temperature being lowered. The small vessels on the surface will be
visibly injected, and capillary ecchymoses may rarely be seen. There
is less liability to difficulty in movement in this stage than in the
former one, as the sensations of the part are not benumbed, but if
present it is due to the swelling. This condition, like that in the former
stage, may cease suddenly, the recovery of the normal appearance
being, as a rule, slower than after a simple ischæmia. The duration
of this stage has varied from a few seconds to several days. It is
usually followed by gangrene.
Among the rare symptoms which have occurred in some cases are
great impairment of temperature, pain, and electric sensations in the
affected extremities; swelling, pain, redness about, and effusion into,
the joints; considerable loss of motion in the muscles of the hands
and feet, with diminution of electric excitability, but no qualitative
change; and oculo-pupillary changes ascribed to an irritation of the
cervical sympathetic fibres at their origin in the spinal cord.