Page 75 of Moonlit Hideaway
“What about Hank?” Her speech was slurred, as if it was hard to pull words from her mouth. “And Emma?”
“Hank is in the next room with his family. Emma and Mabel are with him. He’s going to be okay. You were found washed up on the beach and suffering from hypothermia.”
“Can I see him?”
“Let’s first examine you properly.” The doctor patted her shoulder. “We need to monitor your internal temperature and check for any signs of frostbite. You’ll also have bruising and skin abrasions but no broken bones. I know you want to see them, but let’s get you checked out first; make sure there’s no lingering damage from the cold.”
“He saved me…” she muttered through thick, numb lips. “He swam out to sea for me.”
“Both of you are lucky to survive. The wild Atlantic is unforgiving.” The doctor listened to her heart and asked her to cough. “Lungs are clear, but your throat might be raw for a while.”
“Can you move me to Hank’s room? I want to be near him,” she asked when he concluded the exam.
”You’re going to make a full recovery. I’ll see if we can move your bed next to Hank’s so you two can be together.”
“Thank you,” Sierra whispered, grateful that Hank was alive—that she hadn’t lost him yet. However, there was still Marco and his henchmen to deal with. Had they continued to the Caribbean without her? What would he do once he discovered she’d jumped?
Her mind replayed the harrowing events—the helicopter flight, being forced to marry Marco and the terror of watching Hank capsizing. She settled back against the warm pillows, aching to see Hank’s face and know for certain he wasn’t harmed—but fear struck her with the realization she was married to Marco. It was the only way she could keep them safe. Except her disappearance meant Marco would return to Hattokwa, and this time, he’d be seeking revenge.
Too exhausted, her body begging for rest, she drifted off to the memory of being in Hank’s arms, huddled together on a sand dune underneath the beam of light that had guided them home.
“She must not be disturbed,” Sierra heard the doctor talking as she blinked the sleep from her eyes.
“I understand.” It was Sheriff Ruth Davis. “But I need a short word with her. It’s concerning the yacht.”
Sierra bolted from her sleep and jerked her head toward the doorway. “What about the yacht?”
“Oh, now you’ve woken her.” The doctor wiped his forehead. “She’s still exhausted, but if you must, please make it short.”
“I will, thank you.” Ruth advanced into the room with her crumpled hat in hand. “Sorry to wake you, but I have confidential questions that are better asked before you’re moved to Hank’s room.”
“Sure. I’m happy to help.” She struggled to sit up. Her body felt like she’d gone ten rounds with a prize fighter.
“I need the basics of what went down. Emma goes missing, and you immediately suspect Marco?”
“Yes, because he’s the one I’ve been running from,” Sierra said, not knowing how much Ruth knew about the arranged marriage. “My father provided me with several businesses to be given to the man I marry, and he chose Marco, his second-in-command.”
Ruth scribbled in her notepad. “So that’s the reason you came to our island?”
“I’m so sorry I brought trouble.” Sierra swallowed back a tremor in her voice. “I should have known I couldn’t escape my fate. Men like Marco don’t like being denied.”
“Hank’s safe, dear, you both are.” Ruth’s words gave her no comfort.
“You don’t understand. It’s not that he cares about me. It’s all about winning and honor. And the businesses my father tied to my hand.” Tears leaked from her eyes, and the lump grew bigger in her throat. “Once I knew he had Emma, I had no choice but to go with him to protect her. My life for her life.”
Ruth pondered this a moment, then asked, “And did Marco force you into marriage against your will?”
“He didn’t hold a gun to my head, if that’s what you mean. But he made it clear Emma and Hank would pay the price if I said no.” Sierra trembled despite the warm blankets.
Sheriff Ruth tapped her pen against her notepad. “That means there’s no crime of kidnapping, though the extortion is implied. But we must understand the reasons behind your decision to marry Marco.”
“I suspected Marco’s men, Russ and Linc, targeted Emma to get to me. When I got Emma’s message, I knew by the hashtag that he meant to threaten Emma unless I turned myself in. He called me and made veiled threats, so I traded myself for Emma’s safety. Not only Emma but Hank and this island. It would be a horrible life, but I went through with it and married Marco on the boat with the priest officiating. I hoped that it would keep him from harming Emma and Hank.”
“That’s very commendable,” Ruth said. “What happened after the priest left the yacht?”
“Marco was taking the yacht to the Caribbean when Hank’s skiff chased after us. The yacht was faster and made it outside the inlet when a big wave capsized the smaller boat. Marco refused to turn the yacht around to try to save Hank. He told the crew to speed up, so I went down to the swimming platform and jumped.”
“He didn’t push you into the water?” Ruth asked. “Because Hank thought that was what happened.”
