Page 100 of Savage Beauty

“All right, man,” he says, concern etched on his features as he no doubt evaluates the two of us.

He’s joined by a man in a matching uniform, two tattoo sleeves, a silver hoop earring, and a shaved head.

The two men work in concert, and in less than sixty seconds, William is on a gurney and they’re attaching an IV while wheeling him to the back of the ambulance.

The man with dreadlocks calls out to us as he’s jumping into the driver’s seat. “Wait here. The police will be here shortly to ask you questions.”

“Yes, sir.” I answer, but the ambulance is backing away before I finish.

We could leave and easily make it to the tarmac to get out of here before anyone connects our identities with the two knife attacks. But we’re working with the law. Not against them.

The siren becomes more distant. I’m certain other sirens will come our way soon.

I text the team, letting them know what’s happened and we’ll be heading to the police station after they arrive on the scene. Erik texts that Matteo should be here in about an hour. I let him know we won’t need him now. I’m not leaving Sloane’s side.

Sloane’s muscles are tight. Her body is like a board pressed against mine. “So, you’re a knife thrower, huh? And you didn’t think to share that with me when I asked about your hobbies?”

“I didn’t want you to think I’m weird.”

“Yeah, well, I kind of love your weird.”

She sniffles and buries her face into my shirt. “Shh.” I press my lips to the top of her head and hold her as tightly against me as I can. Emotion is good. She needs to feel it. Taking life is hard. You’ve got to do it a lot before it doesn’t faze you, before that piece of humanity is wiped away.

“I can’t believe I was a part of something like this. How could I have been so stupid?”

“Doesn’t sound like you were a part of anything. You had the misfortune of discovering what’s going on.”

She sniffles. “I just keep seeing those faces. The people in the compound.” She presses the side of her face hard against my chest. “They need to be rescued. You know that, right?”

The compound situation is a political shit show. But whoever is in charge made some serious missteps, because by going after the Watson sisters, they brought the sordid mess under scrutiny instead of brushing it under the rug as intended. “Interpol’s following this. The crimes cross borders. This is their jurisdiction. They’ll get involved.”

“That meeting in D.C. I’ll tell them whatever they need to know.”

“I’ll be there with you.” My hope that the meeting will ultimately lead to US involvement in affairs in Asia isn’t great. My guess is back in D.C. they just want intel.

“I don’t need protection. You can go home.” Her clipped words are bitter, but her body’s saying something else. She’s leaning into me, and damn if I don’t love it.

“You may not need protection, but I’m still gonna be there. There’s no one else like you, Sloane. You’re going to have a hard time getting rid of me.”

“You’re the only person who says I’m different and makes it sound like it’s a good thing.”

“For someone who is so incredibly brilliant, you can be slow on the uptake.”

“I know.” She sniffles. “I should’ve figured out earlier what was going on. I should’ve refused to do anything they asked in Cambodia?—”

“Sloane, I’m not talking about that.”

I cup her chin and gently urge her to tilt those dark eyes upward. “I’ve fallen hard for you, Sloane Watson. You’d better believe I’m going to be by your side. Sure, Sam taught you well. But you’re a better team player than anyone gives you credit for.”

“Only with you.”

“Exactly. And that’s how it should be.”

CHAPTER32

Sloane

The Bodden Town Police station features spacious windows in a one-story building. They delivered us to this branch of the Royal Cayman Islands police service due to proximity and, as Officer Bogle explained, because of the serious nature of the incidents, the Criminal Investigation Department, or CID, must investigate them.

---