Page 28 of Death

No one questions me as I climb into the back seat of the SUV, and only when we’re driving again does Pedro ask, “Is that her?”

“Yes,” I answer, unable to tear my gaze away from her breathtakingly beautiful face.

Christ, there are no words to describe how I feel as I take in every inch of the woman in my arms.

“Mi sol,” I whisper with absolute awe, brushing my fingers over her cheek again. My eyes drift down her body, and it’s only then that I see the severe scarring around her ankles.

Intense rage pours like ice through my veins.

I know from experience how long a person has to be shackled to have scars like the ones she has.

Months. Years.

I fucking knew I was running out of time to find her.

My eyes snap back to her face, and I cup her cheek with my palm. Leaning over her, I say, “You’re safe now,mi pequeño sol.”

“Should I find a hospital?”

“No. Go straight to the airfield. Dr. Pires can look at her once we’re home.”

After I had to send my doctor and nurse to the island to run the hospital there, I hired a new doctor and nurse for the clinic on my compound. It has actually worked out for the best, as the new doctor is female, and the women feel more comfortable with her.

My second-in-command glances at me in the rearview mirror. “You’re just going to kidnap her?”

“Yes.”

He nods, then focuses on the road ahead.

When I glance over her again, I notice faint bruises on her upper arms and the side of her jaw.

She was running from someone.

My eyes snap to Pedro. “She was held prisoner and shackled.”

“Want to turn back so we can look for whoever had her?”

I think for a moment, then shake my head. “Have two of the men stay behind at the safe house. Tell them to check nearby houses for anything out of the ordinary. Once she wakes up and tells us who had her, they can find the fucker. Have the pilot of the other private jet come back to Ireland once he’s done refueling in Switzerland. He can be on standby for the guards and whoever they find.”

Pedro nods and issues the order over the two-way radio.

I turn my attention back to the woman in my arms and stare at her face.

I’ve been searching for a year, and now that I’ve finally found her, nothing will ever take her away from me.

Chapter 9

SANTIAGO

The woman regained consciousness only once during the flight home. She was hysterical, and I was forced to sedate her.

Due to saving so many people over the years, I always travel with a medical kit so we can treat wounds on the go. After I cleaned the severe lacerations around her ankles, I wrapped them with bandages.

I’ve already notified Dr. Pires that I’m on my way, so she can get everything ready, because I want to have a complete check-up done.

After climbing out of the SUV, I hurry into the clinic and carefully place the woman down on the stretcher. “Check everything,” I order. “I’ve given her the sedative.”

Dr. Pires nods while her nurse, Emma, pushes the bed down a hallway.