Heir to Terror (Torn between two loves) Book 2

By Darlene Gibbs

Sixteen year old Jessica is completely in love with Joshua Cartel, but how can their love grow when her brother, Mario, whom she has been totally devoted to all her life, refuses to accept Joshua as the right man for her. Can she convince him of the honesty of their love, and was she even totally convinced about it herself? After all, Joshua Cartel needed her to reclaim his title and defeat his evil uncle, could Mario be right in saying that Jessica was just a pawn in Joshua's plan to regain his title - could she ever be sure about Joshua's love ?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peaceful Valley
• Release date: Sep 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465715319

Darlene Gibbs

My name is Darlene Gibbs. I'm Barbadian and a hopeless romantic. To learn more about me and my ebook specials follow me on my website. www.darlenegibbs.org I hope you read and enjoy my work

Book preview

Prologue

My name is Jessica Harrison...well actually, my name is Jessica Cartel, you see, although I’m only sixteen years old I’m a married woman. I know, that sounds really strange right? Yeah, what’s stranger is that my husband, Joshua is sixteen years old as well, although he’s going to be seventeen in like four months, but still pretty young to be a husband. The thing is; that’s not all. I was kind of forced into an arranged marriage with him in order for him to claim the ruler’s title in his country – but things didn’t work out. Well, first of all he was this great big jerk that I absolutely hated, and then he had this really evil uncle that totally stole the title from him and then tried to kill us! If it hadn’t been for Joshua and his fifteen year old bodyguard Kaleel – we would have been dead for sure. Amazingly, all of that happened in just one week!

Now – everything is completely different. Yeah, we’re still married – and we need to stay married for at least three months if Joshua is to get a shot at claiming the title. Yeah Joshua is still totally focused on claiming the ruler’s title, and yeah his uncle – Glen Taylor – is still trying to hunt us down and kill us, but now we’ve left his homeland, and now we are in Barbados, my homeland, and we are all living at my parents. And did I mention that even though my parents were the ones who arranged my marriage, they and my brother now totally hate Joshua for all the mean things he had done to me when he was being a jerk? That wouldn’t be so bad if I still hated Joshua, but, I don’t! I am now completely in love with my husband and just last night he told me that he loved me too.

And even though I am completely thrilled at the fact that he’s in love with me, my brother has always meant the whole world to me, and I know it will be hard for me to go against my brother’s feelings of anger and hatred towards Joshua. I guess the question is, will our love be strong enough to not only face the continued threat of Glen Taylor, but will it be strong enough to weather the family hurricane that was likely to strike?

*****

Chapter 1

I was completely elated; previously, I had not even had so much as a boyfriend before, now I had a boyfriend – who was also my husband! I couldn’t wait to share the fact that Joshua had told me he was in love with me with my family, I guess I knew the news was not going to be as happy to them, because they hated him, but I couldn’t help but hope that they would love him for my sake. When I heard Mom and my Brother Mario’s voices outside in the main house I hurried outside to speak to them. They were carrying a few of my favorite snacks – clearly designed to buy back my affections after Joshua’s revelation that my parents had received money from his mother to marry me off to him. I was still sort of peeved about being treated like a piece of property that they could sell for their own benefit, but part of my anger had disappeared now that I knew that Joshua was in love with me. That one bit of information seemed to make everything better.

I wanted dad to be there as well when I told them, I knocked on his bedroom door and he came out, his face still looking a little guilty at the way he and mom had traded me, but I was smiling, because even their shameless behavior couldn’t get me down.

You okay sis? Mario asked, suspiciously and I nodded energetically. Joshua and Kaleel were outside in the patio in what looked like a pretty intense discussion. I figured this was the perfect time to share my feelings about Joshua with Mario and my parents.

I’m glad you’re feeling better, Mom said, resting her hand on my hair gently, You must know we love you, darling.

I need to talk to you guys about something. I said, chewing on my lower lip, why was I so nervous?

What sis, are you okay? Mario asked again.

I’m fine – in fact better than fine. I said, and bit my lip nervously again.

What is it? Dad asked.

I took a deep breath.

I know that you guys don’t really like Joshua… I began slowly.

You don’t like Joshua either! Mario added vehemently and I blushed.

Well… I leaned back against the wall, it so felt as if they were all closing in on me, Actually, I do like Joshua…a lot… I bit my lip, In fact… I was speaking slowly, I’m in love with him!

Hell NO! Mario yelled.

Keep your voice down. Mom said, clearly not willing for Joshua to inadvertently become a party to the conversation.

And he loves me. I finished, biting hard on my full lower lip as Mario’s face turned red with rage.

Calm down. Mom insisted.

I could almost see Mario mentally counting to ten in his head and trying to calm down.

He is trying to use her! He wants to make her committed to staying married to him! He knows she’s naïve, if he tells her he’s in love with her she’ll be all gooey eyed and she’ll do whatever he tells her to do! Mario said, clearly fighting to keep his voice down. And of course – the horny bastard would be only to glad that some free sex would be sharing out in the bargain!

I wanted to slap his face, why was he talking like that? Joshua was in love with me, I knew it. Mario had no idea what we shared when we kissed, he didn’t know Joshua, Joshua would never use me like he was saying!

That’s not true! I said, glaring at Mario angrily, I knew my parents would believe what Mario said over any thing I said.

I think Mario has a point! Don’t encourage him sweetheart, you’ll only get your heart broken. Dad said.

Calm down everyone. My Mom said, clearly trying to bring the situation under control, You two Neanderthals are not going to achieve anything by trying to force Jessica to do things your way! If she believes she in love with the boy and he has convinced her he’s in love with her – they will find a way to be together, whether we like it or not.

Dad grunted angrily.

Over my dead body! Mario exclaimed.

Maybe we can make a compromise. Mom suggested.

I glanced up at her, I loved Joshua, and nothing they said could stop me from loving him! I could feel my heart wrenching and twisting inside of me. Family had always been everything to me! Now it looked like I was being forced to make a choice between the love of my life and my family. I should hate them for what they had done to me, that made it easier, but then there was Mario, a brother that had stuck with me through thick and thin. He had put his life on the line, when none of it really had anything to do with him, his only connection to this mess was me, and he had never once talked about getting out and leaving me. I sighed; I would listen to the compromise, but only for Mario’s sake.

Fine. I muttered, and noticed that Mario breathed a sigh of relief.

Get to know Joshua, you’ve been through hell and back with this boy, it’s natural that you might have certain feelings for him.

Yeah, him looking like all that and we having to depend on him, a girl might naturally get infatuated with a guy like that. But here in civilization, when all those ninja skills aren’t necessary, you’ll see he’s just the same jerk we always said he was. Mario pointed out.

I… I loved Joshua, no amount of time or change of situation was going to change that.

Just use these three months and date him – like a regular guy. Mom suggested.

Two months and three weeks. I corrected.

Fine – but no sex! Dad insisted, I blushed bright red.

Mario grinned.

You’ll hate him just as much as you use to, I know you will, sis. He said.

I won’t Mario, I love Joshua and he loves me.

No he doesn’t, and the more time you spend with him, the more you will see he doesn’t. As soon as he doesn’t need you, you’ll be history! Mario insisted.

I sighed.

Do we have a deal? Mom asked, No sex, you must date at least one other guy – you can’t commit to this relationship unless you’ve at least been exposed to some other guys out there, and if it’s still going strong at the end of the two months and three weeks…you have our complete blessing.

Mario and Dad glared at her.

Well? She glared back at them, Do we have a deal or don’t we?

Fine. Mario muttered and Dad agreed.

What about you, Jessica. Can your love last for two months? She asked.

Of course it can! I snapped and she looked at me knowingly. Fine, you have a deal. I said, and flounced over to the couch, I was completely confident about Joshua’s love – wasn’t I?

Half an hour later Joshua and Kaleel strolled in, both looking a little peeved.

I’m beat! Joshua said, and Kaleel nodded.

What about sleeping arrangements? Mario asked.

Mom looked thoughtful.

Perhaps I can share the room with my wife, it would be safer for her, and Kaleel and Mario can share Mario’s room. Joshua suggested.

You’re sleeping with my sister over my dead body! Mario exclaimed. Joshua was about to say something but I glared at him and he refrained.

Perhaps you three boys can share a room. Mom suggested.

And have Mario kill me in my sleep? I’ll take the couch, Mario and Kaleel can share the room. Joshua suggested.

Mom nodded,

Fine with me. She muttered, Its been a long day, we can all use some sleep.

***

I laid back on the couch, not one of my better sleeping spots, but it sure beat the forest, although Jessica’s bed would be a whole lot more comfortable. I smiled to myself; someone up there really likes me. I could hardly believe that Jessica was in love with me, I had been such a jerk to her from day one. I slid my hands under my head and stared up at the ceiling allowing my imagination to run wild. I wanted her so much I could almost taste it. Things weren’t perfect, there were problems, and this was probably the worst possible time to be falling in love, Kaleel certainly thought so. Loving Jessica, feeling the way I felt about her could get pretty distracting, I really should be focused on getting back the title, if only you could decide when you would fall in love. But strangely, I wouldn’t change the way that I felt about Jessica for anything, it was like…I tried to think of words that would describe what I was feeling. I sighed, I should have known, there are no other words to describe true love. All this thinking of Jessica was getting me pretty hot, the thought of her, lying there, alone, in her bed was a huge turn on. I wanted to be in there, holding her in my arms, and kissing her.

The lights were out, I slid off of the couch and made my way quietly to Jessica’s room, I tested the knob, it wasn’t locked and I slid in shutting the door behind me.

Jess… I whispered and a bright light flashed on in my face, Mario was standing next to the switch in Jessica’s room.

I thought you would try something like this. He said.

Like spending time with my wife you mean? I asked.

Jessica was stretching and sitting up; she must have been asleep when Mario came in because she looked surprised to see both of us in her room.

She raised two eyebrows as she looked over at me.

Josh?

I thought it would be nice to spend some time together. I said and she nodded as if she was agreeing with me.

Jessica doesn’t need to spend any time with you; she’s had more than enough time with you, Jerk! Mario said.

Why don’t you just back it off Mario! Jessica’s my wife, I love her and I want to spend time with her. What the heck is so wrong with that? I demanded.

He glared at me with all the hate he could possibly muster.

You? Love? Her? He yelled incredulously, Really? You expect me to believe that?

I don’t expect you to believe anything, because I’m not in love with you. What Jessica believes is all that matters to me. I responded.

No, Joshua, that isn’t all that matters to you – all that matters to you is getting back your stupid title, and if fooling Jessica that you’re in love with her is going to get her to stick with you during the three months and risk her life – well yeah, then all that would matter is that she would believe your load of crap!

Guys! Jessica interceded jumping up, so that she was standing on her bed, Lets not get carried….

But it was way too late for that, Mario had already flown forward at me and had stuck a gun right in my stomach.

Get the hell out of my sister’s room, or I’ll shoot you! He swore.

I figure, a guy like Mario wouldn’t be accustomed to carrying a gun, he just didn’t strike me as the shooter type, I decided I would take the chance.

I knocked the gun with my hand; side stepped and then swept Mario’s feet, taking him down to the ground, the gun skidded across the room and Jessica screamed.

It’s mock! I shouted to her, but then I heard Mr. Harrison’s voice behind me.

This one ain’t mock boy, and I ain’t afraid to use it. If you don’t get out of my daughter’s room by the count of ….

His voice was cut off suddenly, I spun around and realized that Kaleel had snuck up behind him and was now holding a knife to his throat – Mr. Harrison allowed his gun to drop to the floor.

I groaned, running my hand through my hair. What I had hoped would have been a romantic rendezvous with Jessica seemed to have stirred up world war three.

Josh… Jess looked at me so discouraged. I sighed; this was going to be complicated.

Stand down, Kaleel. I muttered collecting Mr. Harrison’s gun from the floor and putting it back in his hand.

I strolled out to the couch and lay down in the midst of all the noise and debate I could hear going on in Jessica’s room. I am so not going to do that any more!

‘I must never go into Jessica’s room when I’m at the in-laws who hate me!’ I repeated that twenty times before I finally drifted to sleep.

*****

Chapter 2

I woke up next morning to the face of Kaleel, he was sitting right in front of me on the floor. I stretched and nodded a good morning at him.

Why are you out here? Staring at me? I asked.

After last night, I figured a little extra guard duty might be in order. Kaleel explained.

I smiled.

I’m quite capable of taking care of myself against any threats inside this house. I pointed out.

Kaleel grinned.

I would rather be safe than sorry, Master Joshua.

He always resorted to the formal stuff when he was being overprotective.

Suit yourself. You can consider yourself officially off the clock – I am completely wide awake.

He didn’t move, and I knew he had something on his mind. Kaleel wasn’t the real talkative type, more an action kind of guy, but when he spoke he was usually worth listening to.

Out with it. I muttered I was pretty sure I knew what he wanted to say.

I don’t get involved in your business, Master Joshua, yep, here it comes, but I think this thing with you and Jessica is a first class bad idea.

Et tu Brutus? He looked puzzled, he hadn’t had much time to do a lot of reading so