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She nodded, not taking her eyes off the middle distance.
“That whole island… it’s yours?”
“It is.”
Emily shook her head in disbelief as we drew closer. The estate was visible before too long, the multibuilding complex causing a feeling of relaxation to wash over me just at the sight of it.
“Let me tell you about the place,” I said, putting the boat on autopilot and turning to face Emily. “It’s more a complex than a house. It’s eight buildings in total, but three of them are for logistics—bedrooms for the staff, a warehouse for supplies, and a garage. The main building has ten bedrooms and twelve baths, a pool, and just about everything else you could possibly want. There’s a path that makes its way across the entire island, with a branch that leads to the very top. The island isn’t huge—about three square miles in total, a little over twice the size of Central Park. But that’s more than enough space for my needs.”
I pointed toward the center of the island, a tree-covered rise smaller than a mountain but bigger than a hill.
“Very nice views up there, and the perfect distance from the house for a hike or jog. There’s a hot tub, live-in chef, private grotto… plenty to keep you busy. I also have a private arrangement with Amazon, so whatever you need can be delivered nearly as quickly as anywhere else in the country.”
Her mouth hung open as the estate grew larger, the sandy strip of private beach cutting under the palatial form of the main building.
“There are rules, however,” I went on.
“Rules? What kind of rules?”
“You’re mine for the next month,” I said. “In case you needed a reminder. While you’re allowed to go anywhere you like on the island, you’re not allowed to leave without my permission.”
She laughed. “Well, duh. Where would I go? I can’t even drive a car, let alone steal a boat.”
“That makes matters a little easier, then. Anyway, you’ll have your own bedroom, and free rein of the house. You can go wherever you like,aside from my private office. It’s locked, so you won’t be able to enter. Even so, you’re not allowed inside under any circumstances without my explicit permission.”
She said nothing, but I could tell her mind was racing with possibilities of what might be in there. Fine with me, she could wonder all she wanted.
“The head of household matters is a woman named Pearl Shepard. She’s worked with me since I’ve owned the island, and she’s about as capable a manager as they come. You need anything, she’s the one to talk to. Roberto Sanchez is the head of security. Barring any unforeseen happenings, you won’t need to speak to him. Just know that there is a staff of four security guards on duty at all times. If anything strange happens, or you feel unsafe for any reason, he’s the man to inform.”
I considered my words after I spoke. Charles was planning something for certain. For all I knew, Emily was in on it with him. Nothing to be done about it at that exact moment in time, but I’d need to have a meeting with Roberto sooner than later.
The boat brought us closer to the shore, allowing a better view of my yacht.
“This is insane,” Emily said, rushing over to the side of the boat to get a better look at the massive vessel.
“She’s just over three hundred feet long, three stories high, and like the estate, has just about every amenity you could want. There’s a helipad, a pool and hot tub, and eight bedrooms below.”
She said nothing, her silence letting me know just how impressed she was.
“Where can you go in that?” she asked. “I mean, it’s like a floating palace.”
“Wherever I want. She stays in the Caribbean, mostly, though I’ll take her up and down the east coast quite often. We’ve even gone all the way to Europe once. Let me tell you, if you’re going to spend two or three weeks at sea,Endeavoris the way to do it. Don’t worry—we’ll take her out for a spin during your month here.”
Just the sight ofEndeavorwas enough to put me in a relaxed frame of mind. Nothing back in New York required my attention to be onsite, so it was more than feasible to do a little work at sea.
I turned my focus to the dock, spotting a tall, imposing figure awaiting me. By his height and powerful frame, I could tell right away that it was Roberto. He waved me in, and within a few minutes I was moored.
I hopped off the boat and onto the deck, turning to assist Emily.
“Roberto,” I said, offering my hand for a shake. “Good to see you.”
“Likewise, my friend.”
We shook, his big mitt about as large as mine.
Roberto Sanchez was one of my most trusted employees. A former lieutenant in the Mexican Special Forces, I’d used my contacts to scoop him up within a month of his retirement when I had need for a head of private security. He was forty-three, built like a brick wall, his hair long and curly, the same ink-black color as the thick moustache under his nose. He was all angles, built like an action figure. He did good work for me and was one of the few people I trusted with my life. As such, he was one of the most well-compensated members among the thousands of men and women on my payroll.
He was gruff as they came, too. Roberto crossed his arms over his barrel chest, furrowing his brow at the sight of Emily.
