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“He has work to do before he can return. And he will. I just know it.”
My heart lifts when he smiles reassuringly. “Then wait here for him. I only came to check that you’re okay.”
“Do you mean it?” I can’t stop smiling. “I can stay. Thanks, Troy, I really mean it and I’ll make sure I’m back when they discharge mom.”
He nods, but I can tell he’s unhappy about it and yet I have an urgent desire to stay. To help Apollo because I wasn’t kidding when I said as much to Ariana. If they need a billionaire, one is in front of me now and if he can’t help me, I’m guessing it wouldn’t be difficult to find someone who will. Julian Jones as one example.
One of the guards steps forward and says deeply, “The boat is leaving.”
Troy sighs and after one last hug, I watch him leave and wonder if I made the right choice.
CHAPTER 29
MELISSA
Igo back to the house and Serena meets me as I head inside, and she glances past me and grins. “So, you’re staying.”
“It looks that way.”
She cocks her head to one side. “Do you really want to help?”
“I do. More than anything.”
“Nonna told me what you said, and I must say, I’m impressed.”
She drags me over to one side and whispers, “If you’re serious, I can help you.”
“How?” My heart beats with excitement as she says quickly, “Not here. Come to my room.”
I follow her upstairs and as soon as we close the door, she locks it with a sly wink.
“Nobody can disturb us now.”
She pulls me over to the bed and we sit side by side as before.
“So, here is my plan.”
The animation in her voice is infectious and I stare at her eagerly.
“So, Alexei can get us the invitations. I told you that. Well, Mikhail is the best one to go and you would make the perfect companion.”
“Mikhail?” My heart is racing so fast I can’t keep up with it and she nods, the gleam in her eye infectious.
“I’ve run it past Killian, and he thinks it’s a good plan. It will take some time to organize, but when we learn the date, you will travel to the island with Mikhail as his plus one. When you get there, you can pretend you’re unwell or something and unable to participate in the well, I don’t know what, but I can kind of guess.”
Her eyes are wide and full of excitement as she says gleefully, “You can observe and, if you find Phoebe, suss out the situation. Talk to her and help her, if that’s what she wants. Mikhail will handle the escape. Just make sure you are there for her.”
“I’ll do it.” My breath comes faster than my words, but this is perfect.
She says quickly, “You’ll be safe with Mikhail. He won’t let anything happen to you, and I pity the poor bastard who even tries.”
“He sounds scary.” I’m not even lying, he does.
Serena grabs her phone.
“Program in your number and when I have it all in place, I’ll call you. You can change your mind at any moment. Mikhail will arrange for another woman to accompany him, but you said you wanted an adventure and to help, so I thought of you first.”
She grabs my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. “I would love to do it myself, but Alexei wouldn’t hear of it. We’ll be in Europe anyway for the next month or so, but I would do it in a heartbeat. I envy you.”
