Page 71 of Wired Strong

Day 27

Sophie descendedfrom the private jet when it landed at the remote airport in Palawan. The tropical heat hit her like a wave, and she was glad she had dressed for it in a lightweight, spaghetti strap dress. She had left the dogs with her father, and Bix in charge of Security Solutions. Her heart fluttered at the sight of Connor, standing in the shade of the tin roof of the airport building.

Her backpack bouncing, Sophie sped across the hot tarmac to meet him. She hugged him hard, and paused, pressing him close.

There was something different about him. He felt like a stranger in her arms.

Sophie pulled back, gazing into his sea-blue eyes. Connor stared down at her, his expression somber. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

“I had to come.” It was as simple as that. So much had happened since Connor and Nine had flown in by chopper with Raveaux to rescue her and Jake from the volcano. They’d disappeared so quickly afterward that she hadn’t even been able to say goodbye.

Sophie eyed Connor up and down. He wore a white cottongiand loose pants, the summer uniform of the Yam Khûmk?n. His blonde hair, bleached by the sun, was long enough to curl over his ears, but he was as honed and fit as ever.

She hugged him again, trying to press away the sense of something alien that lay between them like an invisible barrier.

“You can’t make it go away,” he said softly. “Things have changed. I am the Master now.”

Sophie stood back, frowned. “You will always be Connor to me.”

His lips curved in a humorless smile. “I’m counting on that.” He extended a hand. “I promise you will like this island, and this house, just as much as Phi Ni.”

“Nothing could be as wonderful as Phi Ni,” Sophie said, but as they headed towards a van parked beside the airport building, the door opened and Nam stepped out.

“Nam!” Sophie ran forward to embrace the houseman. They had become close during the time Sophie had spent on Phi Ni, getting in shape after the birth of her daughter, and on vacations since. Shy Kupa stepped down from the van as well. Nam’s wife looked lovely but unfamiliar, and Sophie remembered Connor had told her about Pim Wat’s makeover of the woman. Sophie embraced her, too. “I couldn’t be happier to see the two of you.”

“And we to see you, Mistress,” Kupa said.

“Please don’t call me that. I’m Sophie to you, and always will be. We are friends.”

Kupa embraced her again. “You are so different from your mother,” she said into Sophie’s ear.

Sophie touched the woman’s long, silky hair. “You look beautiful, Kupa.”

“Pim Wat wanted me to look beautiful.”

Sophie felt sick as she stepped back. “I’m so sorry. I cannot imagine what she did to you.”

Kupa smiled. “Those days are over. I am filled with gratitude that we are away from that place, and that woman. Let us not speak of her again.” She tugged Sophie’s hand and led her into the van. They sat on the bench seat together. Connor got in the passenger seat, and Nam took the wheel. Soon they were bumping down the road, headed for a harbor where a transport boat to Pali Island awaited them.

Sophie enjoyed catching up with Nam and Kupa and updating them on the situation with Phi Ni. “I have a very good lawyer, and he’s working on it. The chain of ownership of the property is well established, but, since charges against Connor are still pending, the Department of Justice is saying that the island is still a part of the case, and confiscated as such.” Sophie met Connor’s eyes as he looked back over the backrest of his seat. “Once you get your immunity deal, this whole thing will go away.”

Connor tightened his jaw, and turned away.

Kupa patted Sophie’s hand. “I hear congratulation blessings are in order.”

Sophie turned to her, smiling. “Yes. I just had a sonogram, and I’m pleased to tell you that I’m expecting a boy.”

Kupa clapped her hands, and Connor echoed the congratulations from the front seat.

Sophie placed her hand over her abdomen. She was still slim, but that low, hard bulge was growing. “I’m calling him Sean. Sean was Jake’s middle name. This pregnancy has been a great comfort to me after losing Jake.”

“Words cannot express how sorry we were to hear of his death,” Nam said from the front. “We know how much you loved him.”

Sophie nodded. There was nothing more to say. She gazed out the window of the van, as they drove through the heavily jungled countryside. The country road wound around bluffs and through valleys and over ridges, and she took in the gorgeous views.

They reached the harbor and the transport boat. That journey was just as enchanting as the van ride had been. As they pulled into the bay at Pali Island some hours later, Sophie couldn’t help clapping her hands. “Connor, this is so beautiful.”

“The Master always had good taste.” Connor’s eyes were sad.

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