Page 78 of Moonlit Hideaway
As if oblivious to the tension, Mayor Winston crowed, “Well, now, it looks like we need to roll out the red carpet for Mrs. Marco Garrison and her esteemed husband. Where is he, by the way? I want to give our new power couple the key to the city.”
Linda’s gaze was calculating. “As Marco’s spouse, you have full ownership rights over that prime real estate. Perhaps we could discuss development plans…”
“Right, your husband has grand plans for an eco-friendly resort,” Mayor Winston said. “Well, Sierra, we are truly honored to have you here on Hattokwa Island.”
“Let’s have tea.” Linda sidled up to Sierra as if they were best buddies. “Between us girls, I say, that’s quite a catch. I never expected someone from our little community would land such a big fish.”
“Enough!” Sheriff Ruth’s authoritative voice silenced the room as she entered. “Everyone, out. Doctor’s orders. These two need their rest.”
Sensing his need to speak to Sierra alone, his mother herded Emma and her friends out while the rest of the villagers filed out, gossiping and speculating at the shocking news.
Sierra’s eyes filled with tears, a silent plea for forgiveness. “Please give me a chance to explain. I never wanted any of this to happen.”
Hank sighed heavily and held her hand. “I’ll hear you out, but I won’t lie. This is a lot to take in. You should have discussed it with me. Maybe there could have been another way.”
No matter how she explained it, she couldn’t fix what she broke. His trust and his heart.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sierra clung to Hank’s calloused hand, drawing what strength and comfort she could. Nothing else existed in her world other than that connection, seemingly so strong and solid. She’d never been accepted as unreservedly as she had with Hank, and as the room cleared out, her world was solely encompassed in those focused gray eyes. Eyes that saw right through her but were now marred with uncertainty and the pain of betrayal.
Silently, she pleaded with him to believe her, to love her through this ordeal, but it was such a big ask. She was the monster’s wife, and like Sheriff Davis pointed out, she had responsibilities—not that she cared about Marco—but she had to speak to his doctors and plan his affairs.
“You still love me,” Sierra whispered, more a plea than a statement.
He nodded so slightly that she might have missed it. The pain of betrayal radiated from his demeanor and the stiff way he held her hand—unmovable as if the slightest twitch would shatter the fragile bond between them.
“I’m not sure there was another way…” It sounded like an excuse, but she knew the mob and the mentality. “He would never lose anything he wanted—other than by force.”
“I’ll never stop loving you, but I can’t live this way.” His stormy eyebrows lowered with growing mistrust. “I can’t accept your marriage to a man you hate. Is there a way to get it annulled?”
Would he ever accept what she’d done? How could he ever trust her again? Her entire purpose in coming to Hattokwa was to escape marrying Marco, and here she was, fallen in love with Hank and doing exactly what she’d vowed not to do.
“It’s not consummated, if that’s any consolation. I jumped from the yacht to get away from him. He wouldn’t turn the yacht to save you.”
“I wouldn’t have accepted his help.” His left eyelid twitched, and he looked gut-punched. “I’d rather drown.”
“Hank…” Sierra lifted his battered knuckles to her cheek, caressing them with her face. “Please understand. I have to keep you safe—not just you, but Emma.”
“But you didn’t have to be a hero about this. Go off on your own. What about Agent Patterson? You should have called her.”
“They would have had Emma on a private jet as soon as they landed on the mainland. She would have been classified as a runaway. Trafficked to the Middle East or Eastern Europe. I had to make the deal. I know these men. I know what they do to runaways. There wasn’t going to be a tour or a singing gig. Marco only left Emma on the helipad because he knew me. He knew I’d tip off his enemies if he hurt Emma—not because he was repentant or afraid of Sheriff Davis or even the Feds. They wouldn’t have been able to pin anything on him. He did it all through appealing to Emma’s innocence, and then he could claim he lost her—that she ran away again. No one would have looked into it. No judge would have thrown the book at him. Do you have any idea of how many women and children are trafficked at the highest levels?”
Hank looked taken aback at her tirade, but it had to be told. If he, for one moment, thought there could have been an alternative… He pressed his lips into a thin line, considering. “I owe you for saving Emma, but I can’t see a way out. For you… for us. Marco will keep turning up the pressure.”
“Not if he’s incapacitated.” She bit her tongue at every word. “Sounds harsh, doesn’t it?”
“Where’s Marco? Is he circling back on us right this moment?” Alarm registered on Hank’s face, showing he didn’t have the latest news.
“Ruth says he’s in a coma at an ICU. She advised me to contact my attorney.”
“In a coma? What happened?”
Sierra relayed what Ruth had told her, adding, “I need you to be strong and hold it together. I have some difficult decisions to make, depending on whether he regains consciousness or not. I know Emma is looking forward to Harvestfest, but I might have to take a trip to visit Marco. Go back to my life and pick up the pieces. Play the dutiful wife until…”
He swallowed hard, the lump in his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Until what? What if he recovers? Then what? Why can’t you get the marriage annulled? You signed under duress. Why are you playing along?”
“Because it’s the only way to end it. Marco might be brain-dead, and they’re waiting for my decision.”
