SANTIAGO
I’m fucking nervous.
Sitting beside Ciara in the back of the SUV, we’re driving from the airfield to Puerto Aguirre, where the yacht is anchored. We still have a four-and-a-half-hour boat ride ahead of us to get to the heavily guarded island where the alliance meets at least once every two months.
That’s why Dominik and Grace have chosen to live there. It’s the safest place for them until Kristian is old enough to go to school. I think once he’s older, they’ll live in the house in Chile I bought for them.
My thoughts return to Ciara, and I lift my hand to rub my fingers over my jaw as I stare out of the window.
I had the ring resized, and I’m now wearing it on a chain around my neck. I want to give it to her on her birthday, even if she never wears it on her finger. I also got her a bunch of other gifts and plan to make the entire day as special as possible for her.
If Ciara decides to stay with Grace, I’ll have no choice but to let her. Even though I love her and consider her mine, it doesn’t matter. She has the final say.
It’s fine. I’ll stay on the island with her. It’s not like I’m losing her.
The words don’t make me feel any better, and I blindly reach for Ciara’s hand, linking my fingers with hers.
She gives me a squeeze, and when I keep staring out the window, her tone is cautious as she asks, “Are you okay?”
I force a smile to my face before turning my head to her. “I’m fine. How are you holding up? Excited?”
She nods, but I can see the anxiety written all over her face.
“Everything’s going to go well,” I assure her. “And I’ll be there.”
She places her other hand on top of mine and grips me tightly.
Static comes over the radio, then Samuel, who’s in the SUV in front of us, says, “Check the road to the left up ahead.”
I tilt my head so I can see past the seats, and the instant my eyes touch on the beaten-up cars idly parked on the side of the road, I reach behind me and pull my gun out of the waistband of my pants.
Pedro radios back, “Get off the road in case of landmines, and be prepared for anything.” His eyes flick to me before he floors the gas while maneuvering the SUV onto the opposite side of the road.
“Wish I had the beast here right now,” I mutter. I had a truck rigged with a multi-barrel missile launcher. It would take out the three cars without us having to break a sweat.
We speed past the cars that have three passengers each.
“Here we fucking go,” I mutter, and looking at Ciara, intense anger pours through my body when I see the fear on her face. “Don’t worry, mi vida. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I’ve been calling her my life ever since the day I realized I love her.
“What’s going on?” she asks, her voice filled with vulnerability.
“Just an inconvenience,” I say as I glance over my shoulder in time to see the SUV behind us turn sharply before stopping to block the fuckers.
My men are giving Pedro time to get away.
I watch as they open fire on the beaten-up cars, but one of the vehicles clips the back of the SUV and makes it past my men.
Samuel slows down and lets Pedro pass, and for a moment, my eyes lock with his before he pulls hard on the steering wheel, turning the SUV around before speeding toward the other vehicle.
The fuckers chicken out, and when they try to avoid colliding with Samuel, they hit the side of the bumper and flip into the air before coming to a rolling crash on the side of the road.
Samuel’s SUV spins wildly before he regains control, bringing the vehicle to a stop.
I shove my gun into Ciara’s lap and snap, “Stop the SUV. Pedro slams on the brakes and quickly reverses a few yards back before coming to a stop.
“Stay with Ciara,” I order before I shove the door open and climb out. I open the trunk, and pulling a machine gun from it, I check the clip before I jog to where two of the fuckers are crawling out of the wrecked car. Only needing one of them alive, I fire a few rounds into the man, who’s trying to crawl through the back window of the wreck.
Samuel takes out a man I didn’t see on the other side of the car, then shouts, “Only the one on your side is left.”
I keep the machine gun aimed at him as I stalk closer, and just as I reach him, he tries to lift his hand that’s gripping a pistol. I kick the weapon from his hand, then crouch in front of him and press the barrel to his head.
Seeing the tattoo on his neck, I don’t have to ask who he works for. “Bring me a knife, Samuel.”
When my soldier holds his K-Bar out to me, I rise to my feet and hand him the machine gun. “Keep it aimed at him.” While Samuel carries out the order, I pin the fucker down into the dirt and keep his head in place with my knee before I begin to slice the tattoo from his neck, making sure not to hit an artery. I don’t want him to bleed out.
“Tell that fucking coward you work for I’m coming for him next,” I give him the message, and getting up, I toss the slice of skin in front of his face.
Stepping away from the groaning man, who’s stopping the bleeding with his hand pressed to his neck, I glance down the road and ask, “Did we lose anyone?”
“No. Eladio took a bullet, but we can take care of it on the yacht,” Samuel informs me.
I hand him the knife, and taking the machine gun from him, I mutter, “Let’s get out of here.”
I walk to the SUV, and place the weapon back in the trunk, then search for a cloth so I can wipe my hands clean.
Pedro meets me at the back, holding out a bottle of water. “It’s old, but it will do the trick.”
I quickly rinse the blood off, and grinning at Pedro, I pat my hands dry on his shoulders.
He just stares at me, then asks, “Rojas’ men?”
“Yes. Keep an eye on Javier’s houses in Colombia and Puerto Rico. He’s next on the list.”
“You know someone else will just take his place,” Pedro says.
I shoot him a scowl before slamming the trunk shut and walking to the back door. Getting in beside Ciara, it’s to see her cowering between the seats, her hands covering her face, and my gun lying on the seat.
“Ciara,” I say, keeping my tone gentle. I take hold of her hands and pull them away from her face. Seeing the blank expression she gets when she checks out, I grumble, “Fuck.” I take hold of her and pull her out of the tight space before settling her on my lap.
I engulf her with my body, and pressing my hand to the side of her head, I say, “You’re safe. It’s over.” I begin to rock her gently and keep repeating the words until I hear her breathing change.
I duck my head to the side to see her face. “Better?”
She yanks away from me, then accidentally touches the gun and jerks her arms to her chest.
I quickly grab the weapon and shove it back into the waistband of my pants before holding my hands up in front of me. “You’re safe, Ciara.”
Her eyes dart to my hands, then her head whips around to look out the window, but I grab hold of her to stop her. “There’s nothing for you to see out there.”
“You…you…you,” she stammers, fear tightening her features. “You killed him. You cut that man’s…”
Her breaths start coming too fast, and I lean closer. “Just breathe with me. Deep in. Slow out.” It takes a moment for me to calm her down, then I say, “They’re cartel members. It was either them or us.”
She nods, showing that she understands what I’m telling her, then she darts forward and plows into my chest. Wrapping my arms around her, I glance at Pedro. “Let’s go.”
When he steers the SUV back onto the road, I pull Ciara back onto my lap again and cradle her against my chest.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” I apologize.
It’s the last thing I wanted.
Ciara frees her arms from between us and circles them around my neck, pressing her face against my neck.
Instantly, my eyes drift shut, and I’m overcome with intense emotions. I move a hand to the back of her head and grip a fistful of her hair, my body shuddering from how good it feels to hold her like this.
She’s mine. She just has to be.
“We’re at the harbor,” Pedro says.
Having lost track of time, it feels like I come out of a daze as I open my eyes and glance out the window. Keeping an arm around Ciara, I shove the door open. As I climb out, I place my arms beneath her back and knees and carry her toward the yacht.
She lifts her head and glances around. “I can walk.”
“Let me carry you,” I say, not ready to let go of her yet.
She rests her cheek against my chest, and when I press a kiss to her forehead, the corner of her mouth lifts slightly.
I jump onto the yacht and head to the seating area, where I sit down. Pulling my arm from beneath her knees, I cup her cheek while tilting my head so I can see her face. “Feeling better?”
She nods, but her body tenses as all my men board the yacht. When Eladio is dragged below deck, I ask Ciara, “Can I leave you with Pedro for a while? I just want to check on one of my men.”
Pedro tips his head in the direction of the controls. “I’ll show you how to steer a boat.”
She climbs off my lap, and keeping a safe distance between her and Pedro, she follows him.
I quickly get up and hurry to the room where Samuel has Eladio lying down on a bed.
“How are you holding up?” I ask.
“Fine,” he grinds the word out when Samuel inspects the wound in his side.
Miguel, one of my other men, brings a first aid kit, and while Samuel gets everything ready to extract the bullet, I move to the side of the bed.
Eladio’s only twenty-two, and even though he’s trying to hide it, I can see he’s in a lot of pain. He was thirteen when I found him, and he’s only been a guard for a year. I practically raised him and hate seeing him in pain.
Samuel quickly gives him an injection, and I say, “You’ll feel better soon.” I pat his forearm. “Just hang in there.”
Eladio grabs hold of my hand and grips it tightly, his eyes locked on my face. I lean over him and brace my other hand beside his head.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I assure him. Fear tightens his features, and I say, “You’re doing well. When we get to the island, you can take two weeks off and get some rest. Okay?”
He nods shakily, but then his grip on my hand tightens, and he clenches his jaw, a groan tearing from him.
I glance at his side and see Samuel’s digging for the bullet, then meet Eladio’s scared gaze.
“Almost done.” I move my hand from the pillow to his forehead to wipe off the sweat, then tell Miguel, who’s standing by the foot of the bed, “Get me a washcloth and cold water.”
When Miguel returns, I say, “Squeeze all the water out of the cloth.” He carries out the order and passes it to me. I wipe Eladio’s face, then pass the cloth back to Miguel. “Rinse it out.”
Eladio’s grip on my hand becomes painful as his body strains.
“Got it!” Samuel exclaims.
Eladio gasps through the pain, his eyes feverishly on me.
“You did so well,” I praise him. “I’m proud of you.”
A tear rolls from his eye, and his grip on my hand begins to ease. I brush my hand over his hair. “Sleep, Eladio.”
His eyes drift shut, and I wait a moment before I pull my hand out of his. Looking at Samuel, who’s stitching up the wound, I say, “We need better pain meds. That shit didn’t help at all.”
“I’ll check with Dr. Antonio once we’re on the island.”
“You’ll stay with him?” I ask.
Samuel nods, and Miguel says, “I’ll stay here too, boss.”
Miguel is three years older than Eladio, and I know how close they are.
Walking to Miguel, I pat his shoulder before I leave the room. I head to the main cabin, which has a bathroom, and quickly wash my hands. I splash some water over my face and all the shit I’m dealing with flashes through my mind.
Searching for Nolan.
The Rojas Cartel.
All the traumatized women.
Ciara and the fact that she might never love me the way I love her.
Letting out a growl, I swipe my arm over the counter, sending the handwash, lotion, and bottle of cologne flying across the floor.
My chest heaves, and I stalk up and down like a caged animal.
Calm down. Too many people depend on you.
I come to a standstill and suck in deep breaths, focusing on getting my shit together, and once my emotions settle, I check my reflection in the mirror before I leave the cabin.
Stepping out onto the deck, I head to the control room and see Ciara sitting with her hands clenched together, her eyes locked on Pedro, who’s whistling while steering the yacht toward the island.
Sensing me, he glances over his shoulder, then worry tightens his features. “Eladio?”
“He’s resting. Samuel got the bullet out.”
Pedro’s eyes narrow on me. “You okay?”
I nod and hold out my hand to Ciara. She quickly darts to her feet, and her fingers wrap around the side of my palm.
I lead Ciara out of the control room and head toward the front of the vessel, where there’s a seating area. Pedro will also have a clear view of us, which will put him at ease.
Letting go of her hand, I take a seat and try to relax. When she sits down beside me, I lift my arm and rest it on the railing behind her.
Her eyes dart over my face, then she scoots closer and leans into me, wrapping her arm around my waist.
I engulf her and press my face into her hair, taking deep breaths of her soft floral scent.
“I’m sorry one of your men got hurt,” she whispers, and I realize she’s trying to comfort me.
Drawing a little back, I meet her worried gaze. “I’m fine.”
I’m surprised when she lifts her hand to my face and cups my jaw. “You take care of so many people.” She tilts her head, her eyes drifting over me. “But who takes care of you?”
“Pedro currently fills that position, but if you’re willing to take over, I’m sure he’ll be happy,” I say, my tone playful.
It actually looks like she’s thinking about it, and then I’m in for one hell of a surprise when she nods. “Okay. From now on, I’ll take care of you.”
Then she stands up, and as she starts to walk away, I ask, “Where are you going?”
“To get you something to drink. You must be thirsty after everything.”
I let out a chuckle. “Come back. A server will bring some fruit and juice.”
“Oh.” A smile curves her lips as she walks to me, quickly sitting down again.
The wind blows her hair over my hand, and I catch a few silky strands. Staring at Ciara, I grin. “So, you’re going to take care of me?” A blush creeps up her neck. “I’d like to hear more about that.”
Turning her head away from me so I can’t see her face growing red, she mumbles, “I’m just going to make sure you eat and drink and rest and…you know, things like that.”
Another chuckle bursts from me. “I’d like that very much.” I tug at her hair. “But I’d like it even more if you looked at me.”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m looking at the view.”
“There’s nothing but water. I’m a better view,” I tease her, feeling completely relaxed.
“Stop,” she mutters, turning her back to me.
I wrap my arm around her front and pull her backward so she can lean against me.
She takes hold of my arm and rubs her cheek against my bicep.
I press a kiss to her hair, then I ask, “Have you thought about your future?”
She nods.
“Want to share those thoughts with me?”
Ciara’s quiet for a while before saying, “Grace just had a baby, so she must be very busy.” She pauses for a moment, then adds, “And she’s married. I don’t know Dominik. When I met him, the marriage was arranged between him and me, and he was terrifying.” She falls silent, and I patiently wait for her to continue. “I don’t think I’ll be able to live with them.”
“You can always use one of the apartments in the main building. It’s right across from Grace’s house,” I tell her, wanting her to be aware of all the options available to her.
She shakes her head, and turning in my arms, she presses close against my side and rests her cheek against my chest. “I’ll see how things go with Grace. She’ll probably insist that I stay with her.”
I lean my head closer to hers, my lips a breath away from her hair. “Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know,” she admits.
When she says nothing else, I drop the subject and stare out over the water.
