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“She took a nap downstairs and had a nightmare,” Valik said. “Just resting now.”
“Ah, good. You’ve been watching her take her pills? And the tea every night, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Valik cleared his throat.
I didn’t dare open my eyes, just tried to make my breath come out evenly.
“Good. I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me. Bring her down for dinner at seven. We’ll dine on the patio tonight.”
The door shut, but I waited another moment before opening my eyes.
Valik’s face was twisted with concern. And something else. Anger. Fear. His fists were balled up like he was ready to attack.
“Just get through dinner like normal and we’ll check the shack tomorrow on our walk. OK?” He reached over and placed his hand on my foot over the blanket. “I’ve been a fuck-up my whole life, Nova. But I promise I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
“I know,” I whispered.
Chapter Nineteen
Ryzen had a huge fire going in the firepit outside by the time I went downstairs for dinner. He stood with his hands stuffed in his pants pockets, eyes glistening as he stared at the fire. A part of me was dying to know what he was thinking. The other part wanted to push him into the flames.
I’d been practically hyperventilating when Valik said I had to go downstairs. Now that my memory was coming back, things were completely different. It had been easier to face Ryzen when I didn’t know that he was actually trying to kill me. But now? How was I supposed to look at him without trying to murder him?
He did this. All of this. He’s trying to hurt me. Well, I’m not going to fucking let him.
I sat across from him, my leg bouncing uncontrollably under the table. The knife was tucked inside my cast, and I was prepared to use it if I had to. But that was a last resort. I had to keep calm and not let on that I was getting my memory back. As much as it pained me, I reached across the table and patted his hand.
“You’re in a good mood?” I smiled, gritting my teeth together.
“Things are working out wonderfully now.” He grinned and his dimple showed, making me want to gag. “I heard you had a bad dream earlier. You’re still not remembering?” He leaned forward, his eyes searching my face.
I shook my head, keeping my face as neutral as possible. “No, nothing,” I muttered.
“That’s too bad.” He leaned across the table and kissed my cheek, but not before I saw a hint of a smile on his face.
You dirty, rotten scumbag.
“I have to make a few calls. Why don’t you go get ready for bed?” He pushed his chair in and held his hand out to me.
“Do you mind if I sit by the fire for a little longer? It’s so warm.” I batted my eyelashes, hoping that would have some kind of effect on him.
“Of course. I’ll have one of the guards come get you in a bit.” He strolled off up the back steps, whistling as he went.
I moved to a cushioned seat closer to the fire and sank down. The sky was completely clear and it would have been a wonderful night if I wasn’t trapped on an island with an insane person. One of the guards—Lindell, I thought—sat down on the back steps and lit a cigar. The smoke drifted over to me, and I turned in the other direction, my nose tickling. I had seen Glenda place a stack of magazines on the side table earlier that day, and I reached over, grabbing one.
It was one of those interior design magazines, the front covered in cool furniture with vibrant colors. I rolled my eyes as I flipped through the pages. There was a four-page spread on how to pick the best velvet for your upholstery project.
Crushed velvet. Embossed velvet. Cisele velvet. I stared at the magazine, something screaming in the back of my mind. The flames danced around the fire, growing bigger and stronger, as if the universe was trying to tell me something at that moment. Cigar smoke wafted over to me, and I sneezed, glaring at the guard. Cigar smoke always irritated my nose. My father loved to smoke them, and thought it was funny when I would go into a sneezing fit.
The wind blew the page of the magazine over, and I blinked rapidly at the words. Plain velvet. Patterned velvet. Velvet.
A chill ran through me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Operation Black Velvet is a go.
My whole body froze, the magazine falling from my hands as I stared into the fire. Images flashed through my mind like a picture book. My warehouse burning down; the FBI threatening me; snooping around Ryzen’s house. And Cian. My hands flew to my mouth, trying to cover the gasp trying to escape. Oh, God, Cian. My love. My heart. The man who would do anything for me, including putting out his freshly lit cigar because it made me sneeze uncontrollably.
I remembered.
