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“Yes,” she said, her voice shaky.
Juan looked at Sean. “That goes for you, too. Cross me, and I’ll make you wish you were never born.”
Sean didn’t reply.
“Go,” Juan said again.
Taking deep, long breaths, she continued to the door. She was almost there. Freedom was in sight. Three more seconds, and she was on the landing. Another ten, and she burst through the door into the sunlight. Risking a quick glance at the window to make sure Juan wasn’t watching, she quickened her pace. Once she was around the corner, she started running, not stopping until the spa came into sight.
“Asia,” Sean called from somewhere behind her.
She needed to think, to make a plan. She needed to get the hell off this island. When a strong hand locked around her wrist, she uttered a gasp. Panicked, she fought to free herself.
“It’s me,” Sean said, spinning her around to face him.
He opened his mouth to say more, but Leona rounded the bend and headed down the path toward them. When she dropped her gaze to where Sean was gripping Asia’s arm, Sean let her go.
“Hey, Asia,” she said in a chirpy voice when she reached them. “I thought Jeanne cleared your schedule for the morning. Why are you going to the spa?”
The name alone threatened to spark the breakdown Asia felt coming. Dragging in another deep breath, she managed to say in a surprisingly steady voice, “I’m going to tidy up. The treatment room needs cleaning.”
Leona gave her a puzzled look. “Weren’t you supposed to do a private session in Jeanne’s unit?”
“Excuse me,” she said, her heart beating in her throat. Every minute she spent on this island was a minute too long. She needed to get away. Now.
She made to move around Leona, but Leona stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “I asked you a question.”
“The private session is over,” Sean said, his voice harsh. “Juan wasn’t happy with what Jeanne had planned. Take it up with him. I’m sure he’ll fill you in soon enough.”
“Fine,” Leona huffed. “Keep your pants on, Mr. Grumpy. Happy tidying up,” she said to Asia with a sarcastic smirk. “And you.” She pointed a finger at Sean. “I’m expecting you on the yacht at five sharp for the setup.”
The second Leona’s back was turned, Sean took Asia’s hand and led her to the treatment room. He took a moment to lock the door before pulling her against him so hard the air was knocked from her lungs. For a moment, she could only shake in his arms, trying to work through what had just happened.
“He shot her,” she said in a daze.
Sean pressed her cheek to his chest. His heartbeat was loud and erratic. Under the fabric of his T-shirt, his skin was warm. His hand was so big that his palm almost completely covered her head. She wanted to stay like that, taking comfort from his strength, but there wasn’t time. She pushed away. Before she could take a step, he gripped her shoulders.
“Asia, talk to me.”
She stared up at his face. “What do you want me to say?”
“Tell me you’re all right. Tell me what to do to take away what just happened.”
“You were going to do it,” she whisper-cried, her voice shaking.
“Yes,” he hissed, “to save your life. I would’ve done worse too, if it meant preventing you from getting hurt or killed. What else did you expect me to do?”
Honestly? She didn’t know. She hadn’t wanted him to make her come in front of those sick people, but she also hadn’t wanted to die. Maybe she wanted him to care. Not that caring was what her mind should be focused on. The boat was gone. It had been the only way off the island.
“When is the next boat coming in?” she asked urgently.
His shoulders sagged. “The next one isn’t due for two days.”
Two days! “Are you sure?”
“I checked the schedule when we missed the first one.”
She had to think of something. Twisting free of his hold, she paced to the window. “What if I pretend to be sick and say I need to go see a doctor?”
“It won’t work,” he said with regret. “Juan will never let you go alone. He’ll bring a doctor in to see you here.”
She couldn’t breathe. It felt as if she was drowning. Scrubbing her palms over her face, she said more to herself than to him, “What am I going to do?”
“I’ll get Leona to send a boat,” he said, taking a step toward her. “I’ll tell her I have to go to the mainland for supplies.”
She hugged herself as she stared non-seeing through the window. “He called me Marina.”
Suddenly, the reality of the situation hit her. Bile pushed up in her throat. She rushed past Sean to the en-suite bathroom, fell on her knees, and emptied her stomach in the toilet. As dry heaves racked her body, Sean rubbed her shoulders.
