Page 158 of Cavern of Silence

Hunter moves my seat so it's flat and puts a pillow under my head. "Get some rest. It's a long flight."

"Sleep,"Maureen says and caresses my head."It's time to live now."

For the first time since being abducted, I sleep. Andre wakes me up. "We're going to land soon. You should look out the window. It's an awesome sight."

I sit my seat up and lift the window covering. Pink sand beaches and sparkling turquoise water stretch for miles. I turn to Andre. "Julieta—"

"Blaise is with her. She's safe."

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths.

We land and get in the car. A woman named Sloane drives Hunter, Dirk, Andre, and me to Blaise's house. I hardly notice the landscape. All I can see is Julieta's face while telling me to let her die.

When we pull into the driveway, she runs out of the house. As soon as I step out of the car, she's in my arms, crying.

And only then do I completely lose it.

27

Julieta

So much timepasses as Ryker sobs into the curve of my neck. And I don't know how to take away his pain.

"He needs you now but will need you more later."

I hear the Irish woman's voice, but it no longer feels as if she's standing next to me.

When he finally lifts his head, he cups my cheeks and pushes his forehead against mine while closing his eyes. "Baby, are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine. Now that you're here," I assure him.

"I thought..." He lets out a breath and kisses me, and the fire we always had ignites.

"I want Sloane to look at you."

"Sloane?"

"Yes, she's a doctor. Well, a therapist, too, but I want her to examine you. I heard your ribs are broken?"

"How did you know that?"

"There was a man named Gustave who helped me get here. He knows Malin and Andre. He was there, the night you killed Miguel."

Ryker's eyes widen. "Julieta, I need to tell you something about Miguel."

"I know who he was. He came to my apartment in Costa Rica and told me. He made me tell him all my secrets. He said if I didn't, then you would die. I'm sorry. I had no clue, and I don't know how I could not have known."

"Shh. Nothing is your fault."

"But—"

"No. We aren't doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Living in the past with guilt. We need to concentrate on our future, and that's it."

I kiss him again, feeling whole, as if the missing piece of my soul has returned. "I missed you so much." I sob again.