Page 104 of Sapphire

“I won’t fight you anymore, no escaping—nothing. I will be your partner, I will happily go and help you get the deals, and I will happily service your friends. But please let my sister go.”

“And if I don’t let your sister go?” He folds his tattooed arms across his chest.

“Then I won’t stop, I won’t stop trying to bring you down till my last breath. I won’t stop searching for your jewels until every single one of them is back where they belong.”

Nikolai just bursts out laughing. “Oh, Zoe, you really think you can take me on? That’s cute. I always love how you have so much fight.” He is silent for a moment as his eyes roam over my naked body. “You are serious about giving up everything and staying with me if I let Gracie go?”

I nod.

Please, please let him go for it.

“And you promise no more escaping?”

I nod.

“And you will belong to me and whoever I need you to belong to?”

I nod again.

Please, please, please.

“And you will make your ex-lovers back off?”

I frown, not sure how I would do that. “I’ll ask Gracie to tell them to back off.”

“And do you think they will?”

How the hell am I going to answer that? So I don’t.

“Exactly, so why would I believe you?” But I can see he wants to believe me.

“I’ll ask Gracie to convince them. I’ll write a note. I’ll send them a video. I will do anything to save her.” A single tear falls down my cheek.

Nikolai looks at me, really looks at me, and that’s when I see that I have him hook, line, and sinker. I watch as he starts to unshackle my legs. They are dead from being in the same position for so long. Then he presses a button that lowers my feet to the floor. My legs are wobbly as all the blood rushes back to my toes. He works at undoing the cuffs around my wrists. He’s standing in front of me, and his hand caresses my cheek as he looks into my eyes.

“I will love you,” he says. “I will make you happy.” And it’s the old Nikolai, the one I did fall in love with all those months ago.

“Thank you.” I wrap my arms around his neck. I just hope he keeps his word and lets Gracie go.

36

TOMAS

“Hello,” Enrique answers his phone. “What? How? Are you sure?” His questions make us all sit up and take notice. “No, of course, we’ll be down at the station in a couple of minutes.” He hangs up. Enrique turns to us his eyes wide with shock. “They have Gracie.”

It takes us all a couple of moments to realize what he is saying.

“Alive?” Sophie asks.

Shit, that is a good question.

“Yes, yes, she is alive and well.” He smiles.

“What about Zoe?” Mateo asks.

Enrique shakes his head. “Only Gracie.”

My heart sinks.

---