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Prologue
Chalisa Anderson wandered along the quiet, mile-long beach running north and south of the Barcelo resorts near Playa del Carmen. In the daytime, it offered a gorgeous view of teal-blue water, but night had fallen and she couldn’t see much out on the ocean besides the reflection of a sliver of the moon and a yacht cruising by.
It was the week after Christmas, she was on a dream vacation, and she was lonely. Her dad had died of bone cancer a year ago. Her mom, younger sister Reagan, and niece Hope had moved to the island of Magna, the Hidden Kingdom over six months ago when Reagan had married the General Prince Kingston Magnum. Chalisa was thrilled for her sister’s happiness. Who wouldn’t want to live in a castle and be married to a handsome and devoted prince?
She had tried living on Magna, but she hadn’t been able to get her charity out of her head. So she had moved back home, returned to the hospital emergency room, and filled her free hours beyond capacity with her charity, Nursing Kindness. Reagan’s best friend Jenn lived close by and they did a lot together. Jenn was the one who had prodded Chalisa to come on this vacation to an all-inclusive resort an hour south of Cancun.
Of course Jenn had found a handsome single businessman here for a work retreat. Chalisa had only seen her friend during the day when he had work commitments. She smiled to herself. She wouldn’t expect any less from Jenn.
And once again, Chalisa found herself all alone.
She heard movement and glanced over her shoulder. A man was approaching from behind her. The security on the resort was top notch—her protective brother-in-law General Kingston had checked into it before she and Jenn had booked the trip—so she wasn’t worried about being alone on the beach at night. Slowing her pace, she willed the man to walk past her and not talk to her.
It was no surprise to anyone that Chalisa was lonely. Jenn would’ve been checking if the man had any redeeming characteristics, and flirting with him if he did. Chalisa had many friends with the hospital, church, and her charity, but she stayed in the background in social settings and had no ideas, or a natural affinity, to flirt or pick up men. She focused out on the ocean as the man grew level with her, hoping he’d leave her alone.
“Hola,” the man greeted her.
“Hola.” She glanced at him but kept walking. Something tingled in her mind. She’d seen this man around the resort. He was darkly handsome, a local, and always in an expensive business suit. She’d noticed him having drinks or dinner with other wealthy-looking people of different nationalities, his two burly guards always close by.
“I’ve noticed you,” he said, running his fingers along her arm. His accent was rich and much too smooth for her comfort.
Chalisa edged away as apprehension traced through her. She’d noticed him, too, but not in the way he was intoning. He was the type of person who wanted people’s attention, expected it.
“Where are you from?” he asked.
“California.”
“Ah. And do you like my country?”
The way he phrased that sentence made it sound as if he owned the entire country. Maybe he did. She’d heard the drug cartels owned a majority of Cancun and the surrounding resort towns. This man being a drug lord would not surprise her one bit.
“It’s beautiful.”
“As are you. Tú eres impresionantemente hermosa.”
“What does that mean?” she asked. Kingston would tell her to stop being cordial and get away from the guy. She agreed but continued to walk along the packed sand by the shore, debating how to dissuade him. Should she angle up to the pool area and hope the pool decks weren’t completely deserted? She didn’t like being alone with him. Power and darkness radiated from him, even more evident than his wealth.
“You are breathtakingly beautiful.”
“Oh. Um, thank you. Excuse me; I need to meet my friend.”
“I don’t think so.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and turned her to face him. She cried out in surprise, and his smile broadened.
Chalisa tugged backward to free herself, but his grip tightened. He yanked her against his chest, his arms becoming a vice grip around her.
“Let me go,” she demanded. Chalisa never wanted to offend or injure anyone. It was her nature and training as a nurse to be understanding and kind, but Kingston had explained that could make her a target. She had to be feisty and stronger in her response to entitled jerks like this guy.
“No,” he said. “We are going to get to know each other better.”
“I am not interested,” she said clearly, trying to dredge up Jenn-type feistiness. Chalisa dealt with life-threatening emergencies all the time, but she had never felt this uneasy. “You will release me and never bother me again.”
His eyebrows arched, but he only held her tighter. “Ah, mi belleza. You appear so sweet and innocent, but you are even more interesting than I imagined. You and I are just getting started.”
Chalisa shoved hard at his chest but couldn’t break free of his embrace. Slamming her hands down on his forearms only made him grunt and smile bigger.
Kingston had taught her, Jenn, and Reagan self-defense moves. At the time, Chalisa had tried to pay attention but mostly prayed she’d never have to hurt someone else. Now she prayed for strength and the right moves to escape.
She jabbed her right hand at his throat. He caught it and laughed at her failed attempt. She brought up her left hand to dig her fingernails into his eye, but he grabbed that hand as well and yanked her in close. He crossed her arms, his hands a vice grip on her wrists.
