Stories by Claudia

Previous Chapters CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE The Very Bad Day November 14th – 4:30 AM “I’m sorry, Jill. I want to understand, but I don’t,” Jacob said. “Maybe you should try harder.” Jill turned her back on him to look out the window. “Ok,” Jacob said. He went to her side so that he could see her [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER SIXTEEN Alex breath caught. The words – our home is destroyed – ripped through her. Her sanctuary, her one safe place, her home was gone forever. She siphoned out a breath. “Our neighbors?” “The bombs were designed to have full impact on our homes. Your neighbors have some damage but no one [...]

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Previous Chapters   CHAPTER FIFTY Six weeks later October 30 – 3:40 AM Jacob stood near the cash register at Pete’s restaurant while he waited for Jill to appear from the back. When he arrived, she was arguing with a male customer. She slapped at his hand while he fondled and rubbed her butt. Then, [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER FIFTEEN Three weeks later September 8 – 10:15 A.M. Denver, Colorado “I’m sorry to bother you. I’m looking for Alex Hargreaves,” a medium sized muscular man said when Cian opened the front door. “And who might you be?” Cian said. It was the eight of September and everyone was on edge. Well, [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER FORTY-NINE One hour later Her first sensation was radiating warmth. Lazy, easy, happy, drenching warmth. She had no sense of herself as separate, no sense of her own body. Just warmth. Then searing pain. She tried to scream but there was something in her throat. Jerking, her eyes opened to blinding light. [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER FOURTEEN August 20 – 2 A.M. Denver, Colorado Alex crept into the quiet house then stood in the entry. Max gave her one more hug for courage and left her at the front door. Switching off the entry light, she climbed the stairs. Unsure of what to do, she paused at the [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT Tuesday morning, 12:12 AM MJ woke with a start when someone touched his shoulder. He had been sitting in a chair beside Honey’s bed. Raising his head, he saw a man move along the opposite side of her bed. Because Honey’s wasn’t supposed to survive the night, Sam had forced the [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER THIRTEEN Three hours later August 19 – 11:24 A.M. Cherry Hills Estates, Denver, Colorado “Pumpkin, I need to speak with you,” Patrick Hargreaves said. Alex was standing on their back deck of her parents’ Cherry Hills home. When her parents were in town, the family met at their home after Sunday Mass. [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN Monday morning, 5:45 AM “Did we get married yesterday?” MJ touched the gold band on Honey’s finger then tugged on his matching gold band. They were sitting in the back of a limousine on their way to Craig Hospital. They had been so caught up in each other that this was [...]

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Previous Chapters CHAPTER TWELVE August 19 – 6:17 A.M. Denver, Colorado “They are here,” John said. “Cool,” Alex said. She hopped to the entry way of their home where she hugged Raz. “Good morning.” “Still unmarried?” He asked. “Sort of. How was the shooting range?” “We worked on this stuff instead.” Raz caught her eyes [...]

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