Page 25 of Savage Redemption

He continues. “Ethan is considering an extension to his castle. Tasteful, obviously, carefully designed to blend in with the existing structure. He’s asked me to draft some ideas and maybe supervise the construction phase, so I might even follow you out there.”

“You really think this is necessary? That place is at the back of beyond. I won’t know anyone there.”

“The fact that it’s remote is why you’re going there. You’ll be safe, and you’ll have Eva. And Ethan’s wife is very… pleasant.”

A Mafia queen?Pleasant doesn’t seem quite the right word. I’ve met her type before, and they can be more vicious than the men.

“A business associate of mine is married to Savage’s sister. You met him once or twice, I think. Jed O’Neill?”

I shake my head. “I don’t remember…”

“He’s a good guy. He tried to find you when you first went missing, even sent a man to the US when he spotted you there in that biker camp, but you’d disappeared and the man you’d been with was dead.”

“Adam Ricci? Yes, he was murdered. I was sold again and shipped back to Europe. I never realised anyone was looking for me…”

“Hell yes. I was frantic, tried everything I could think of, including asking Jed to help. I knew he had… connections. The Savages were involved in the search, too, you were last seen in one of their clubs. But the trail went dead in London. Jed’s involved with the Irish Mafia, but he does a lot of business in New York. He happened to be there when he spotted you by chance when he was doing business with this Ricci individual. He did follow it up, but as I said, he was too late.”

I shudder. Things might have worked out very differently if Adam Ricci had survived or this Jed had moved more quickly. “How long will I be there? On that island?”

“Just until we’re sure that San Antonio means you no harm.”

“How will we know that?”

He shakes his head. “Sweetheart, I have no idea. For now, though, let’s just make sure you’re safe. And Erin. I’ll be keeping in touch with Bartosz, and as soon as there’s any news, I’ll be in touch.”

“But Eva got me a place, at Manchester.” I’m grasping at straws, but suddenly the prospect of university is much more appealing.

“It’ll still be there when all this is over. So, we’re decided, then?”

Are we?I nod dumbly as my life is upended all over again. “I suppose so, if it keeps Erin safe…”

I can just hearthe drone of the rotors despite the headphones covering my ears. Beside me, Eva gazes out of the window at the churning waves below us. She’s always been a fan of the craggy Yorkshire landscape, so she’ll probably appreciate the bleak Hebridean vista. I wish I could say the same.

A small holdall is at my feet, just a few essentials until my main luggage can be shipped over.

Erin is fast asleep, not even remotely disturbed by the din of the helicopter. I’m fortunate that she’s so placid; she’s slept during most of the journey, first in the back of my dad’s Audi and for the last hour or so while we’ve been in the air.

“We’ll be arriving in about twenty minutes,” the pilot, a woman of about thirty, calls back over her shoulder. “It’s a clear day, so you should soon be able to see Caraksay on the left.”

Oh, joy. My first sight of what’s to be my prison.

“Thank you,” Eva replies. “I hear the wildlife is spectacular.”

“Yes, if you like that sort of thing,” the pilot replies. “Seabirds, marine life. We often see hump-backed whales from the island, as well as seals and dolphins.”

“I’m glad I brought my camera.”

Apparently, Eva doesn’t intend to spend all her time closeted with her academic tomes. I wish I could work up even a fraction of her enthusiasm.

As though sensing my apprehension, she reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “It’ll be all right,” she mouths. “You’ll see.”

Yeah. Right.

I still can’t truly believe that Adan means me or Erin harm. It’s just not his way, but everyone else seems absolutely convinced that he’s violent, dangerous, and bent on revenge. Why I or my daughter would be the target of such venom is beyond me, but I’ve given up arguing. It gets me nowhere. Of one thing I am certain, though. If he sets his mind to it, Adanwillfind us, even here.

“Oh. Is that it?” Eva blurts, pointing to somewhere in front.

“Yes. You should be able to pick out the battlements at the top of the cliffs,” the pilot informs us. “We’ll be landing in about ten minutes.”

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