“Why don’t we talk about this in my office?” Michael said, as two other medical professionals turned the corner and headed in their direction.
“Fine,” Mena said, following him toward an office on the left side of the hallway. Walking inside, Mena glanced at the desk and two chairs crammed into the tight space. She walked toward the far wall and watched as Michael closed the door.
His eyes downcast, Michael stuffed his hands in the pockets of his lab coat. “I owe you an apology. My behavior the last time we were together was beyond deplorable. I never want to make you feel afraid—”
“Cut the crap, Michael. Explain to me why you are in the Aerie Islands. When did you take a job here and for God’s sake, why would you?” Mena demanded.
Michael exhaled and walked behind his desk, easing down into the leather chair. His eyes bore into hers as he said, “Because I wanted to be close to you.”
“What happened to your practice in New York?” Mena noticed the wedding band on his finger. The same one she’d placed there when they’d gotten married years ago.
“I resigned, sold the apartment on Central Park West and moved here. Mena, you must hate me right now because of what happened at your penthouse. But I swear to you, I’m going to do everything I can to make it up to you. To get your forgiveness. I will prove to you that I would never hurt you. I love you.”
“You don’t know what it means to love someone, Michael. I don’t know how many ways I can say this to you. We are over. Divorce papers or not, I’m never going to be in a relationship with you again,” Mena said.
“Don’t say that.”
“What is it going to take for you to get that through your head?”
“So, you told Julian about us? That you’re still my wife?”
Mena looked away. She planned to tell Julian the truth tonight, while they sailed to Trinidad. On the open seas, neither of them would be able to leave and would be forced to deal with the bombshell she had dropped. Mena hoped he would understand after she explained to him what happened and why it took her so long to tell him the truth.
“I haven’t told him yet, but I’m going to. This secret is not something you can hold over my head any longer. Julian and I will fight you, together,” Mena said.
Michael scoffed. “You think it’s going to be that easy? He’s just going to forgive and forget. The two of you sailing away on your happily ever after. You’re delusional if you think that brute is going to understand that you belong to me.”
“I do not belong to you!” Mena screamed. “You mean nothing to me, Michael. Your claim on me is only on paper. You don’t have my heart or my love.”
“Maybe not right now, but I’ll still be here after Julian can’t find a way to forgive you. All the love you have for him won’t be enough for him to get past your lies. Trust me. I know how it feels to be in that situation. I’ll be able to help you through that pain,” Michael said.
“I can’t deal with you anymore,” Mena turned and marched toward the door. A hand gripped her arm, yanking her backward. She turned and stared up into Michael’s hazel eyes.
“Do not walk away from me,” Michael whispered, snaking his arm around her waist. “You are my wife. Mine! I will not let another man have you. Ever. Do you understand me? I have ways to make sure that Julian walks away from you for good.”
“Let go of me. Julian loves me more than you ever could. Will he be upset? Of course, but not enough to end our relationship,” Mena said, pushing away from Michael.
“Does he love you more than Broman? I’m sure if it came down to his best friend getting his life back and his love for you, he’d choose Broman every time. I could make him choose,” Michael said.
“How do you know about Broman?”
Michael sneered. “I make it my business to know everything about my patients, including how they ended up in a coma. A devastating story, really. One even Broman’s wife doesn’t know. Julian Montgomery, in the jungles of Central Sulawesi, tried to play the hero and hunt down a terrorist. But he never stopped to consider that he was leading the terrorist to the SEAL team location instead. Four SEALs died because of Julian. His best friend in a coma for years. Julian owes that man his life back. I can give it to Broman, but Julian will have to do something for me.”
Mena slapped Michael. Her hand stinging from the force of the blow. “You bastard!”
Michael grabbed her shoulders. “I told you I would do anything to get you back.”
Mena twisted in his grasp.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Mena’s heart stopped as she recognized Julian’s voice from behind her. No. This could not be happening.
Michael released his grip and stepped away from her.
She took a deep breath.
“Mena, why are you in here with Broman’s doctor?” Julian asked, his tone suspicious as his eyes darted between them.
