Dirty

By Manning Jordan

It's the summer of 1971, and sculptor Priscilla is commissioned to make a piece for the Mexico City Museum. She travels to Mexico with her apprentice Giacomo and soon meets Ramona, a striking curator for the museum. As they spend time together, they come to the realization they met years before, and the spark has not faded.

Against the backdrop of the Mexican Dirty War, Ramona awakens Priscilla to fighting for justice. Tension builds between them and Priscilla tries to pull away, but they must work together and grow more intimate. What will happen between them when Priscilla's commission is done?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781646568987

Book preview

Dirty

By Manning Jordan

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2021 Manning Jordan

ISBN 9781646568987

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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For Merrill Watzman.

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Dirty

By Manning Jordan

Chapter 1

Priscilla is leaning against the white wall, both admiring and contemplating a sculpture. Around her are a few clay versions of the same marble bodice. It’s a quiet evening in the summer of 1971 inside her studio with its many windows that provides a stunning view of Lake Lugano.

Giacomo, a young man of around twenty, brings Priscilla a cup of coffee. The coffee is accompanied by cream in a small pitcher, and two letters on a polished silver tray.

The mail came late today.

Anything of value? she asks, not taking her gaze from her work.

Giacomo holds out the two letters to Priscilla. Just these. Priscilla takes them and tucks them into her desk drawer. Giacomo stands waiting to be told what to do.

Can I help with anything, Priscilla?

Thank you, Giacomo. I just need to marinate on it.

Giacomo nods and retreats to a bookshelf where he fumbles around.

I’m happy to help. I can sharpen some tools or something, he remarks, looking over his shoulder at her.

Go home, Giacomo.

Priscilla looks at her watch. It’s getting late.

Are you sure?

Yes, I’m sure. Wear that green shirt tomorrow, will you? Priscilla gives Giacomo a friendly smile.

They should be here around lunchtime. Giacomo smiles back at her.

Will they be taking the early train?

Yes. The eight o’clock.

Please make sure we have a nice spread for tomorrow, then.

Yes, Priscilla. Oh, and my father said he’d come by in the morning to fix the bathroom light.

That’s fine. Tell him thanks.

Have you been practicing your Spanish?

Priscilla goes back to her work, chipping away at the sculpture. She blows some dust off the piece and turns back to Giacomo. And get that wine they like…

Of course, he answers, smiling again.

And, no. I don’t want you to get false hope. Now go and get some rest. I promise after tomorrow’s meeting you can have a few days off.

Giacomo puts on his coat. He needs a new one.

Goodnight…Priscilla?

Yes?

Where do you get your work ethic?

I don’t allow for distractions, Giacomo. And if there’s one thing you learn from me, I hope it is that.

See you tomorrow, he says