Page 85 of Death

Dr. Alvarado gestures at the chairs. “Would you like to sit?”

I shake my head. “No, we can’t stay long. I just wanted to show Ciara where your office is for when she’s ready to talk to you.”

Dr. Alvarado smiles warmly at Ciara. “Unless I’m busy with someone, my door is always open. I also have group meetings every Tuesday and Thursday at six in the evening. We get together at the school.”

“There’s a school?” Ciara asks, her eyes filling with surprise.

“It’s situated in the first cottage as you leave the villa.”

“Oh. I didn’t notice.”

“School ends at one,” I explain. “We just missed the kids, but some of them are probably playing by the field.”

Ciara nods, then turns her attention back to Dr. Alvarado. “I’d like to make an appointment with you so we can talk alone.”

The doctor moves back to her desk and checks her schedule. I can meet with you tonight at eight or seven tomorrow morning?”

I give her a grateful smile because I know she’s giving up her personal time so she can start the therapy sessions with Ciara as soon as possible.

My woman looks up at me. “Uhm…Tonight? The sooner the better, right?”

I’ll hopefully be busy with Nolan, so I nod. “That sounds good,mi sol.”

“Great, then I’ll see you at eight tonight,” she tells the doctor.

“I’ll have her here on time,” I say, before asking, “How are things with the other women?”

“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” she gives me the same answer as always.

“Keep up the good work,” I murmur before we walk out of the office.

Ciara says goodbye to Eden and Dr. Pires on the way out, and when we’re heading back toward the villa, she says, “Dr. Alvarado is beautiful, and she seems very nice.”

Hearing the unspoken question in her voice, I chuckle, “Dr. Alvarado and Dr. Pires are in a relationship.” I give her hand a squeeze, then add, “I don’t want you to ever worry about the other women here. You are the only one for me.”

Her cheeks flush pink, and she turns her head away, but not quick enough to hide the smile tugging at her mouth.

Chapter 25

SANTIAGO

After leaving Ciara with Dr. Alvarado, I head to the back of the property and open the trap door before taking the stairs down into the cellar.

Jorge hasn’t arrived yet, but he’s on his way.

I find Pedro busy hanging meat hooks from the metal rings attached to the ceiling, and I see that he’s already brought the embalming table, which has a section for blood to drain through.

To the side stands a table, and I inspect the reciprocating saw, ax, and knives that are lying on display.

Samuel comes in with a first aid kit, and he sets up everything he’ll need to cauterize arteries so the fucker doesn’t bleed out on us too quickly.

“Wait. Fuck. Why are you doing this? Waitwaitwait,” I hear an Irish accent.

Turning to look at the stairs, I watch as Jorge shoves Nolan Walsh down into the cellar.

I don’t know what I expected, but the pasty and freckled boy-man was not it.

He comes to a stop, and holding his hand out in front of him, his terrified eyes snap from Samuel to Pedro, before landing on me.