Page 67 of Risking it All

“He’s a soldier, Zenia. Don’t count him out,” Nicholas assured me as he climbed into the cockpit.

My head hurt so bad that I didn’t even feel like processing the fact that he was about to fly the freaking helicopter. Stranger things had happened. Just moments ago, I was being auctioned off to be a sex slave before being rescued by my brand-new man.

Sawyer and I were still new. I had just realized that I loved him, and now he might be gone. It was too much. My head pounded as the chopper lifted off the ground.

“Nicholas, don’t leave him!” I demanded.

“I’m following his instructions, Zenia. He’s not coming with us.”

“I can’t leave without him, Nicholas. This isn’t right.”

“I love him too, Zenia, but this was the plan. I get you out.”

“Fuck this plan.”

“He’s going to be OK, Sis,” Zora said, pulling my head back down in her lap.

“I love him, ZoZo.”

“I know, baby.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.” I sobbed.

There was no use in arguing; we were already in the air and moving. Through the agonizing headache and the possible loss of the man I loved, something occurred to me.

“Where is Zara?”

Everything was a blur as we moved from the helicopter to a small airplane. The seats were cozy and luxurious, but none of that mattered. I needed Sawyer. So far, no one had an answer about where the hell Zara was. That possibly meant that she didn’t make it out of the building.

I tried to focus on being grateful that the twins were there instead of beating myself up about not being able to save Zara. I didn’t realize how relieved I would be that Nicholas wasn’t flying the plane until he sat in front of me.

“You drink?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“What would you like?”

“Something dark, no chaser.”

He chuckled before waving a woman over. “Yes, Mr. King?” she asked.

“Bring over a bottle of scotch and a couple of glasses. You sure you don’t want any chaser?”

I simply shook my head.

“Coming right up.”

“Don’t count him out, Zenia.”

For years, I’d wanted to return to Italy and go on a shopping spree. I told Sawyer exactly that, so I wondered if that was why he sent us there. As I sat out back listening to the water on day three in the villa that Nicholas brought us to, I wondered if I would actually be able to enjoy myself. The visit was bittersweet at best.

He and his wife and kids had been gracious enough to take Zuri and Zora out for dinner at some restaurant they had been bragging about. I didn’t have an appetite, so I begged him to let me stay there. There were armed guards out front, and we were in a whole different country. For what it was worth, I felt safe. Happiness was a different story.

I felt someone’s presence and jumped to my feet as the leaves behind me rustled under someone’s footsteps. My heart stopped for a full beat when I laid eyes on Reed Fuller for the first time in seven years.

“Zenny, I’m so sorry,” he declared.

I swallowed as he moved closer.