Jung is seriously considering tossing her in front of a train. Her high-pitched giggle is grating on his nerves, but he needs the anonymity she provides. The police are searching for a single male, not a young couple, so he walks with her as if she were a treasure towards the baggage pickup area.
Plans have changed his vengeance will have to wait, for now, he needs to survive. “Miss Olivia, I should be happy to escort you to your home…”
“Olivia!” A female voice calls. They turn towards the voices and Oliva squeals before running into her mother’s waiting arms. Two young men flank her mother, and Jung sighs in relief. He steps backward melting into the departing crowd.
“Mother, I should like to introduce you to... Dr. Aston… where did he go?”
Jung takes the opportunity to leave and follows a group of four soldiers through the crowd. He needs a change of clothes and identity. Time for me to disappear! These young men are out for a night of fun, Jung grins. The first stop is a gambling saloon, where they drink and throw away their money. Of course, the next stop is a brothel, where they drink more and satisfy their basest desires, and finally on to a saloon. By now the hour is late, and the alcohol has rendered them stupid.
Jung waits in the alley after paying a whore to go inside and lure one of the young men outside. He pays her well, and she performs her job. In a few moments, they crash through the door, and Jung walks up behind him as he is burying his face in her large white, powdered breasts. The whore watches Jung approach with a red painted smile as he strikes the man on the head. For another coin, she helps him strip the soldier and search him for weapons and papers.
With a double-breasted blue union coat and red sash, blue matching hat and pants, Jung is ready to disappear. The bullet to the back of the soldier’s young head and resulting exit wound messes up his face enough that identification will be difficult. The whore waits for him at the entrance to the alley and leads him to a hotel. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough, for tonight he will practice his techniques on her until he can satisfy himself with the real Summer Denning.
Chapter 28
Summer sleeps with the help of her medicine for nearly twelve hours straight. She wakes up groggy, and to her surprise, Victor and Jonah have gone off for the day. He arranged for Caroline to stop in and assist her. After breakfast and her bath, Summer sleeps again.
When she wakes up, she hears the whispers and smells something delicious in the air. Carefully, she sits on the side of the bed and supports her ribs as she walks into the bathing room. She takes a big breath and pain explodes through her body. Her muscles and every movement reminds her of the trauma her body has been through. Anger simmers in her soul as she continues limping through her routine. By the time she's finished Summer returns to her room in serious pain.
Victor paces outside her door, telling himself to give her privacy, but he hears the sound of soft weeping, and his heart can't take it. When he pushes the door open with a light knock, he sees her standing up and naked to the waist, highlighted in the afternoon light. Summer covers her breasts and glares at him.
“Just once, I would love to see your beautiful body with no bruises on it,” he steps over to assist her.
“I don't need you in here!” She snaps at him, “I'm trying to get a clean gown on.” Victor snags her gown and kisses her softly on the neck.
“So you keep telling me, but I need to help you, so shut up and let me,” he retorts.
Summer lifts her arms baring her body to his eyes. As the gown slides on she smiles through her pain and whispers, “You realize my brother is going to kill you now.”
He kisses her on her forehead, “Then I will die with the vision of your perfect breasts burned in my mind, and it will be worth it.”
Summer begins to laugh and doubles over in pain. He grabs the morphine and gives her a couple of drops on a spoon, followed by water. He settles her back on the bed and tucks the blanket around her. “Where 's Jonah?” Pain rolls through her hip, and she fights back the tears.
“Roll on your side, Summer,” she does as ordered. He climbs into the bed beside her and begins to rub her shoulder and neck.
“Oh, thank you,” she moans. The morphine is warming her empty stomach, and she welcomes the peace of it as it sweeps her pain away. Summer buries her hands into his shirt and inhales his scent.
“You smell so good, Victor.”
“Thank you. Jonah is playing with Caroline's little boy and girl. She's a gem.” Victor says softly running his hands up and down her arms.
“That’s nice, so tired Victor.”
“Sleep, my love.” Her blue eyes open and she looks into his eyes so close to hers.
“Tired of hurting,” she yawns and curls into his heat to sleep.
“I know, Summer. Soon I promise to fill your days with joy and your nights with passion. No more pain.” Her lips curve up, and she smiles as her eyes drift to sleep.
“What a beautiful dream.”
Victor slips from her bed and goes to collect his son. “Caroline, I need to run some errands. Will you check on her in a little while?” Victor asks.
“Of course, we will
