“Ugh,” I groaned, forcing a limp hand up to meet the harsh beam of light that streamed in through a tall and elegant hotel window, before my palm collapsed to my balmy forehead and rubbed sleep from my eyes, but not the blaring headache.

  I scanned the room through narrowly slit eyes; classy, pristine, a tossed white comforter disheveled all around me. “Oh my god,” I started up, through strained words, “did I...?”

  “No,” Jack said entering from a side room, and looking as good as ever, even in his clothes from the night before, “you didn't. We didn't,” he affirmed.

  “Oh,” I said, lifting the covers to see my dress from last night wrinkled on my person.

  “You were out like a light,” Jack said, bearing two cups of coffee and offering one to me. “Wait,” he added, “do you even like coffee?”

  I nodded, accepting the cup. “Especially in times like these,” I clasped it with both hands and put it to my lips. “Thank you.”

  Jack nodded, still showing some concern twitching at the corners of his eyes. “Something felt off about that whole thing.”

  “I don't usually drink like that,” I confirmed. “Just with everything going on--”

  “No, not that. I'm saying...could you have been drugged?”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I think I'd know if I was drugged,” I scoffed, as my stomach howled in an untimely manner, twisting and writhing in irritation. “Blegh,” I added, putting a gentle hand to it. ”Would anyone try to drug me with you right there?”

  “Our enemies have tried more than that so far. We have to assume they're everywhere, at this point.”

  “Oh no,” a thought popped into my mind, “I forgot to meet up with Maris!”

  Jack looked perplexed, raising a brow as if expecting further elaboration on the name he'd just heard.

  “My new friend.” I followed up, not adding much.

  Jack's expression maintained its suspicion, as he tilted his head in waiting.

  “She's friends with that model Sansa Peguero, works for her too. She fixed me up at the auction after I took Sansa's spot. Something didn't feel right about everything though. I can't put my finger on it.”

  “You think there's more to this Sansa story?”

  “Maybe,” I shook wild thoughts infiltrating my head, and hoped that there was no foul play involved in Sansa's no show. I needed to connect with Maris later as well. “Either way, I would've looked much worse without Maris. She was kind, and funny. Felt like she needed a friend...I guess we both kind of do.”

  A frown stretched across Jack's face. “Are we not friends?”

  “No...I mean...yes...well,” I found myself getting flustered, “we're more than that.”

  “Are we?” Jack sheepishly bore his perfect teeth.

  “Stop,” I threw a pillow at him, which he caught effortlessly and whipped back at me, slapping me gently with it.

  “Hey!” I chuckled, reaching for another pillow and wailing on him as well.

  We laughed heartily as he fell atop me, pinning my hands behind my head, and straddling over my waist. “You started this war, I'm just finishing it. He leaned in close and tenderly kissed me on the lips.

  Warmth radiated throughout my body, as if he'd just given me life, and a healing touch. I went in for more as he retreated, and climbed off of me. “Hey,” I moaned, “where do you think you're going?”

  “We got some business to take care of,” Jack said, adjusting his clothes in all the right places.

  “You can't just kiss me and walk away,” I pouted.

  “I just did,” he grinned and waltzed toward the door. “Besides, we have some new information to discuss back at base. Something you'll want to hear.”