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I took a deep breath, scrubbing my hand across my face. The air in the room was stale as if the air conditioning unit was no longer working. At least both Tank and Juliette were still sleeping.

After throwing back the covers, I remained sitting on the side, dropping my head into both hands. I still couldn’t understand why I’d allowed my guard to fall. I’d prided myself in having much better control. It had been easy in the beginning. I’d felt nothing but agony for months, both physically and mentally.

Then the emptiness had settled in, years of feeling nothing. That had remained exactly the same until two fucking days ago.

Until she’d crashed into my life.

Chaos.

Destruction of everything that I held tightly wrapped around myself. Getting involved was the last fucking thing I needed.

I lifted my head, half expecting to find her staring at me.

She wasn’t.

Something drew me to her more than I’d felt with any other woman. With a single exception. That had been a lifetime ago. I was now an entirely different man, the kind of man who’d shut down everyone in his life out of necessity.

And she’d brought the past back to me all over again. The dream had continued, something that had stopped happening at least four years before.

My phone buzzed. At least I wouldn’t be locked into some shitty pity party. That also wasn’t me.

I grabbed it, immediately heading for the door. With a single look back into the room, I realized Tank was now awake, thumping his tail as he always did. All I needed to do was to lay my finger across my lips and he laid his head back down.

“Yeah?” I answered.

“Oh, you’re in a good mood,” Stone said by way of announcing himself.

“Not a good time.”

“Did I catch you in the throes of fucking some honey?”

I gritted my teeth while he laughed.

“Jesus, buddy. Just making a joke. I know it’s tense as shit down there. Been awhile.”

“Just tell me you have the goddamn plane.”

“I do. Arriving tomorrow with yours truly as the captain and flight attendant. Are you ready to order your onboard meals?”

“Cut the crap. The fucking place is surrounded. I swear to God, they’re fucking military.”

“Not necessarily surprising given the longitude and latitude of the island.”

“Then how in the hell do you think you’re going to get us out of here, brilliant guy?” I threw at him. Stone could be a court jester, but he was also a dangerous fuck of a man. Someone I trusted at all costs.

“Well, let’s just say I’m dropping off some supplies. Mutual favor with a buddy of mine.”

“A cargo plane?”

“You got it. Since pretty much almost every piece of food, hardware, appliances, and clothing is shipped in, it’s the best cover I could think of.”

It was a brilliant plan. “Nobody knows about this?”

“No. Nobody. Who is this chick again?”

“Randolph Carver’s daughter.”

“Wow. You’ve come up in the world,” he chortled. “I heard he’s in deep with the defense department.”