Page 94 of Captured

As I peered at the email, I had to read it over a couple of times, my mind spinning with possibilities. And I knew I’d been duped for years. “Tell the fucking pilot to hurry. We need to get to the island before it’s too late.”

Talon had returned.

This time, there would be blood spilled.

CHAPTER 25

Two hours earlier

Emily

The sensations were incredible.

As I spiraled up from the deepest part of the pool, breaking through the surface of the warm, salty water, I finally took a deep breath after holding it for what seemed like minutes while swimming. I hadn’t believed the moment could be refreshing, bringing back a sense of peace. I was so glad I decided to allow myself to enjoy some time on the island.

All the while, I’d been thinking of nothing but the brooding, dangerous man who’d captured me, taking me to parts unknown. My stalker. My lover. And the most handsome man on the face of the earth.

It was still ridiculous to think of him as anything but a monster, but seeing the various sides of him, including how protective he was of me, had altered my opinion of him.

Slightly.

That didn’t mean I’d fallen madly in love. I wasn’t a fool, nor did I think leopards could change their spots, but sharing the horrible moments regarding his wife and son had allowed the window to his soul to crack wide open.

And I’d walked inside, tethering myself to him. It wasn’t about fixing him or changing his mind about his profession. My intentions were merely to make him have a reason to enjoy life, to want to change from being a killer to something else.

Was it too much to ask that he return to being a healer?

That was a question that wouldn’t be answered quickly or without some powerful thinking on his part. I did another few laps before the bottle of wine I’d opened the night before called my name. The late afternoon sun was warmer than it had been, the various colors streaking across the sky painting a beautiful picture of the estate’s setting.

Styx had only been gone a couple of days, but it seemed like a lifetime. I was lonely, missing him, which told me one too many things such as I enjoyed spending time with him. I could easily get used to the life of luxury, at least for a little while. However, the music was in my blood like being a killer was in his.

I headed for the wide stairs, walking up slowly as I raked my hands through my wet hair. Instead of feeling tired, I felt invigorated. I grabbed a towel, drying off as I glanced around the pool area. The man had everything at his disposal, the area also comprised of an outdoor kitchen, spa, and an entertainment area where at least one hundred people could feel relaxed. And another bar. The man did enjoy his liquor.

Laughing, I grabbed the robe I’d brought out with me, tying the sash tightly before padding into the house and the kitchen. “Hello, Celine,” I said, greeting her with a smile.

The young woman immediately brightened, her eyes twinkling. “Hello, Miss Martin.”

“Please. Call me Emily.”

“Yes, Miss Emily. I made a little dinner tonight. All you need to do is pop it into the oven for fifteen minutes. I hope you do not mind.”

“You didn’t need to do that.”

“I take care of you when the master of the house is gone.”

I’d easily been able to tell how much she adored Styx, which added to the crazy way I felt about him. “You like him, don’t you, Celine?”

She nodded before her face flushed. “Not in that way!”

“Don’t worry. You can like him any way you want. He is very handsome.”

The sound she emitted was akin to a growl before she laughed, placing her hand across her mouth almost immediately. “As we say, hubba, hubba.”

“Oh, I say that too.”

We laughed together, which felt damn good after the events of the last week.

“May I say I have never seen Mr. Saint so happy.”

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