He gently squeezed her hands. "I'm about to call my team. I'll get an update. But I wanted to tell you first that we're driving back to The Mandeville right now, not toEmil's yacht. Let me check in with my team. We'll plan from there."
He dragged his thumbs across the backs of her hands.
Deep down, she knew he had a point. But part of her still wanted to pull Cassidy off that oversized yacht—by the hair, if necessary.
Probably wasn't a wise plan.
"Okay," she whispered. "Let's go."
He spent the car ride back to The Mandeville talking to Knox, or maybe Jason. Or both. Relating the events of the last hour. Lena was just grateful not to be part of the conversation. She didn't want to describe what she saw. Or discuss what it meant.
Nash ran through the details with impressive professionalism. Which reminded her that this sort of thing wasn't new to him. His job was certainly interesting. And without really understanding everything his job usually entailed, she got the feeling he was very good at it.
Every minute or so, during the exchange with his team, he'd glance her way. Worry for her tightened his jaw and lowered his brows.
She wanted to say, "I'm fine." But she didn't want to lie.
She was still trying to process everything.
The body. Emil's men. And Cassidy.Oh, Cass. Why?She wanted to hug her cousin and not let her go. Then scream and shake some sense into her.
She looked out the window at the gorgeous tropical paradise that looked like it had no comprehension of the evil taking place in its midst.
Rushing back to The Mandeville to pick up a Maltipoo from his aromatherapy heat wrap felt bizarre after hiding in a cave and witnessing a dead man thrown into the ocean.
Everything in her life felt surreal at the moment. Cassidy running back to Emil's yacht—back into the lion's den—determined to fix everything. Two murders in the last twenty-four hours.Two. Murders.
Also . . . the stoic protector sitting next to her—and her growing feelings for him.
Everything she'd experienced the last few days felt completely foreign. And yet, completely real.
Anxiety from trying to process all the confusing feelings and fears constricted her chest. She leaned her head against the window, watching the ocean, sand, and palms fly by.
This is all too much. I can’t. I just can’t anymore.
She wrapped her arms around herself and willed her tears not to fall.
Until finally, a still, small voice whispered into her bone-deep weariness. She wasn't alone. She never had been.
Dear God, I . . . I don’t know what to pray. Please, just help. I know you’re there. Just . . . help.
When they arrived at The Mandeville to retrieve the efficiently pampered Nutmeg, all the same problems still stood in front of her. Nothing was solved.
But a fresh peace cradled her frazzled heart. And the sharp edges of her panic softened.
She walked into the pet salon feeling a little lighter.
She still had a lot to process. And her circumstances were no less dangerous than minutes ago.
But maybe . . . maybe she was done fighting her fears alone.
Chapter 15
Aweight lifted from Nash's shoulders. He'd called Jason again while Lena was talking to the pet groomer and discussed a plan for the night. One that was safer for Lena.
The clear desperation behind both murders was particularly concerning. Lena needed to be protected. And they both needed a good night's sleep without worrying about Emil's men—and whoever the late arsonist worked for.
The party tomorrow night was their best bet to find the jewels or at least root out the information they needed and make long strides toward tying everything up. They just needed to survive until the party.
