Song for the mood: Fire on Fire by Sam Smith. A snippet of the lyrics (swipe to listen):

Fire on fire would normally kill us
But this much desire, together, we're winners
They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners
But don't let them ruin our beautiful rhythms.

Vera

Friday, November 16

"I love you, Scotty," I whispered into my lover's ear. "I belong to you, just as you belong to me."

"Would you care to show me how?" Alistair teased, placing my hand on his erection.

"I thought I already did that last night," I replied, removing my hand to rub something that needed greater care-my sore ass cheeks.

"Do you need more salve?" he asked, reaching for the ointment on his bedside table.

"Mmm, that would be nice," I hummed, turning on my stomach.

I felt the soothing sensation of the salve rubbed on my cheeks. Alistair's nimble fingers massaged some of it on my swollen labia, which suffered soreness from our rough lovemaking last night. I glanced at the leather whip and the silk scarf on the floor then rubbed my wrists and smiled.

"Shall I make coffee for you, sweetheart?" His green eyes radiated tender passion.

"Yes, please. Before you get up, I'd like a kiss."

"Of course," he murmured, nuzzling into me. He proceeded to tease my mouth, neck, shoulders, and back with his arousing kisses.

Twenty minutes later, after sipping half of my coffee with a dash of Irish cream, I took a naked dip in our private swimming pool while he was on a call with a business associate.

There was no need to hide my skin from my lover. Likewise, he exposed his nakedness and bared his soul for me. There was only one secret that I waited for him to reveal: the scar on his back.

After my morning swim, I towel-dried myself and stared at the stunning city skyline upon the glimmering Arabian Gulf. Just as I thought that life seemed picture-perfect, another knife stabbed my heart-it was a cunning blade that would leave a nasty wound.

Alistair's fingers tapped my shoulder from behind, causing me to turn around. His lips were tight with grimness, and his brows were furrowed, weary with concern. He held my phone in his palm, handing it over to me.

"Sapphire is on the phone and we talked briefly. You need to sit down and speak with her because it's about Julian."

***

"Saph, slow down!" I said, trying to make sense of her words in between her sobs.

"Vee, something has ha-happened to Ju-Julian!" Saph's stammering voice shook my heart.

"Hold on, what? Weren't you celebrating his birthday tonight?" I placed one hand on my stomach, which twisted with anxiety. Feeling my knees bend and lose their strength, I had to sit down quickly.

"He went to his ex-girlfriend Jessie's apartment earlier because she pulled out the suicide card! He said his visit wouldn't take long, and he'd be at the restaurant in time for dinner. He never turned up!"

"Shit," I gasped. I squinted my eyes and breathed out a loud sigh. I always suspected Julian's ex-girlfriend was a nutcase, and he was an empathetic guy who didn't ignore cries for help. I wondered if Jessie was a girl who cried wolf in this instance.

"A video was sent to me later on," Saph said.

"Oh?" My breathing tightened. I feared for Julian's life, and if anything were to happen to him, a part of me would crumble and die. He was my flesh, blood, and family.

"I've just sent it to you. I've got Raphael here with me, and he's revealed that Saira had plotted something this evening to hurt Julian."

"How the fuck does he know?" I shouted. I never trusted that piece of shit when we were in college.

"He was part of this whole charade. It turns out that Raphael was another one of Saira's whores to pay his college debts. He turned up at the restaurant because he was asked to seduce me."

"No!" I gasped, trying to breathe some air. "Hang on, I've got your video now-it's just come through. I need to take a look at it, then I'll call you back. Hang in there, okay? We'll find Julian and get him home safely."

"Okay. I think he's still at Jessie's place. Raphael knows where she lives, and he'll take me there."

"Go there, but don't go there alone with Raphael. I'll talk to Alistair, and we'll make sure you've got someone to protect you, okay? I'll call you back in a minute."

My hands shook with trepidation as I opened the video file and watched it play. Alistair was by my side, holding me firmly as I shut my eyes after seeing the most disgusting piece of real-life film.

The video didn't show Julian's face, but his hands were relaxed. The faint scar on his left hand was from a rough fight we had when we were kids. There was another man behind Jessie as she used her hands and mouth to play with my brother's genitals.

I instinctively knew that this was a forced situation-Julian would never betray Sapphire.

"Did you see that? The man in the background?"

"I did. This damage must be Saira's work," Alistair said.

I stood up, clenching the phone in my hand. "That man in the video-he, Jessie, and Raphael all play a role in this twisted marionette show most likely puppeteered by your ex-wife."

"I know," Alistair answered.

"That clip. Jessie forced herself on him! It was forced!" I shouted, glaring at him.

"This is Saira. I know her, and she's used Jessie to do her dirty work." Alistair rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes as if he had just seen a horror movie.

"The man," I pondered. "Is he the same man who was with Holly when she drugged and kidnapped me?"

"It's not," Alistair replied quickly.

"Oh? How come?"

"The man who abducted you is no longer alive."

"Alistair?" I asked, raising one eyebrow. "How do you know?"

"I'm responsible for his death, and I'm close to finding Holly," Alistair affirmed as his eyes darkened and burned with the flames of hell.

"What the heck?" I blurted, feeling confused and bewildered.

"I'll tell you all about it later, but right now, let's focus on your brother. I'm calling a friend in the police department to help Sapphire find Julian."

The next few minutes were a scramble of phone calls-first with the police, then with Saph.

"Okay, Saph. You should go to Jessie's apartment straight away, but not without the police," I instructed her.

"Do I need to go to the police station first?" Saph asked.

"No. Alistair's arranged for an officer to meet you and Raphael outside Jessie's apartment. Her name is Constance Fraser. She's on the way there now."

"How does she know where the apartment is?"

"It's dead simple. Jessie Caruso's address was in the online phone catalog," I said.

"Thank you, Vee."

"Go there now! I pray you'll find Julian in one piece!"

That day, I wept in Alistair's arms. There was only one other time I cried helplessly in someone else's arms; it was when Saph and Julian rescued me from the violent hands of my ex-boyfriend, Ace.

Now, I was with a man-who was a far cry from perfect, with a multitude of sins-but he would do everything he could to care for my family. Alistair was going to help my brother.

"Vera, we are going to get through this, do you hear me?" I heard Alistair's voice as I sobbed and clung to him.

"Scotty, I need you."

"Vera, you have me," he said, kissing my forehead. "I've booked a flight out of Dubai first thing in the morning. We're going back to Lester Harbor to fix this mess. You're never alone because I'm here with you."

I nodded, blowing my nose into a tissue Alistair had given me. My eyes were blood-red, and I shook like a leaf hanging onto its stem in a storm. That stem was my inner strength, supported by Alistair's love.

We were going to get through this mess.

***

While we waited at the airport for our flight out of Dubai, Constance Fraser called Alistair to confirm that she was with Sapphire and Raphael.

"Is Julian okay?" I asked, frantically shaking Alistair's arm. He glanced at me and nodded, holding one thumb up, while he continued speaking with the police officer.

I paced back and forth inside the airport club lounge as Alistair continued his conversation with Constance.

"Your brother was drugged, but he is safe," Alistair confirmed after the call, rubbing my shoulder. "Julian and Sapphire went to the hospital, and a doctor has checked him. A medical report was sent to the police department."

"Thank God!" I cried, wiping the tears from my eyes. Alistair had ensured that my brother and his partner were safe. "What happened to Jessie and the man?"

"The man left the apartment before Saph and the others arrived, so the officers are tracking him down. Jessie, on the other hand, was arrested and charged with sexual assault," Alistair replied. "She's too scared to admit that Saira is behind it, but I don't doubt that this is my ex-wife's work."

"I know it's Saira!" I sneered in hot anger. "She sent Raphael to toy with my best friend while my brother was sedated and raped!"

"When we get home, love, we are going to deal with this," Alistair assured me. "Anyone who fucks with you fucks with me."

***

Alistair

Lester Harbor, a few days later

"How is Julian?" I asked, watching Vera remove her shoes in our apartment foyer. She had just returned from visiting Julian and Sapphire at their home.

"Physically, he's recovering," she said, glancing up at me. "Mentally and emotionally, it's hard to tell because Jules keeps to himself. He said he's getting professional help. Do you have any news from the police department about Saira?"

"I've talked to a few friends on the matter," I replied. "Julian's written statement confessing everything he knows about Saira's activities should be sufficient for a judge to issue a warrant to search her home."

"Julian doesn't want any more trouble, Scotty."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm part of your family, aren't I?"

"You are," Vera affirmed, tilting her head as her hands touched my hips. "I like that."

"I'll do what it takes to keep Saira away from your family. She may be Damian's mother, but she's dangerous, like a rabid dog," I reminded my lover, slowly undoing her shirt's collar and top three buttons. I had a good glimpse of her cleavage now.

"Scotty, the man who helped Jessie...You mentioned that it wasn't the same person who-"

"No," I groaned, looking up to the ceiling. I had hoped to avoid the conversation.

"Tell me, Scotty," Vera demanded. "I won't judge you. I love you."

"I hired a fellow to find the people who hurt you. He and his buddies tracked down the man who helped Holly abduct you."

Vera's dark eyes searched mine. "You said you were responsible for his death. Did you ask them to kill him?"

"No!" I barked. "I asked them to get information from him. Unfortunately, he refused to speak."

"So-they killed him?"

I nodded.

"What kind of guys did you hire?" she scoffed, running her hands through her hair.

"Guys who you don't fuck with," I muttered, breathing in the floral scent of her untamed hair. "I've learned to show no mercy to the wicked because of what happened to me at a young age."

"Are you ready to tell me about what happened to you? About your scar?" Vera asked.

I bowed my head, sighed, then stared into her eyes. She deserved to know the truth.

"You'll need a strong stomach, sweetheart. Are you ready for this?"

Vera nodded, holding my hands. "I need to know the truth about you."

I tightened her grip and straightened my shoulders. "Very well, then. I'm ready to disclose what made me the man I am today."

A/N: Phew! Only eight chapters to go-with a spine-tingling twist for Vera-and it's a wrap!

What do you think happened to Alistair? How did he get his scar?

Have Vera and Alistair come a long way since they met at the club?