A large flock of local birds suddenly took flight from the thicket of trees, squawking and shrieking at us interrupting their wilderness. I instantly felt better. I didn’t want to change a thing, but one thing was a must—an airstrip—so I never had to step foot in a boat again.

“I’ll go make sure the house is still standing.” Franco gave me a look as he strode off. He knew where the path was, hidden by foliage leading toward the large six bedroom dwelling the previous investor had built for his family. Franco had been here with me while I worked, and the original home was well built if not a little rustic. It would be spotlessly clean thanks to a regular maintenance crew who came once a month.

Tess spun around in awe. “This place…it’s…”

I smiled; tension siphoned from my muscles. Blue ocean surrounded us, hemming us in like a wall-less cage. Intruders would have a hard time touching shore without the security cameras noticing them first. Tess would be perfectly safe. I would be untouchable for any bastard who wanted revenge.

“Q, I had no idea it would be like this. I visualized a tiny sandy island with one palm tree.”

I chuckled. “It has a fair bit more than one.” Moving closer, I ignored Bill and his hellish boat. “You don’t find it underwhelming…more suited for a boy’s fishing weekend rather than a wedding?” After all, from here it looked as if we’d need a machete and dynamite to make our way through the undergrowth. She didn’t know the house in the centre had manicured gardens and metres of idyllic paradise.

She laughed. “No. It’s perfect. More than perfect. Untamed. Animalistic. Completely untouched and unruined.” Her eyes dropped; she whispered, “Just like you. It fits you perfectly.”

I looked again at the thick palm trees, trying to see it through her eyes.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s the home of a beast.”

I glared. “You think I’m a beast?” Fuck, what else did she think of me? What did she suspect I’d done while trying to get her back?

She came forward, taking my hand. “No. But you’re unpredictable and dangerous and protect those you love fiercely. You should be proud. To me you’re more than a knight in some stupid shiny armour. You’re the monster who no one can tame but the woman he loves.” She moved to leave, but I went with her, stomping a few metres away from the captain.

I grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face me. “You’re right.” Wanting to share a part of myself she didn’t know, I murmured, “Do you know the moment I fell for you? The exact moment you tamed me?”

Her eyes grew heavy, glazing with overpowering love. “No.”

I let my mind skip back to the night I knew I’d found the one. The woman I hated to want. “When you offered to massage my migraine away in the conservatory. You didn’t have to do that—you should’ve hated me for what I’d done to you. But you offered to soothe me. You let me find peace under your fingers even while I was a fucking bastard.”

She sighed, raising her hand to rest over my heart. Her fingers irritated my brand, making me wince. “That was the first moment I let myself give into the overwhelming confusion inside. I wanted you so much, Q. I wanted you even then. I’d hoped by showing I cared, you’d be kinder, gentler.” Her eyes shadowed, remembering how the rest of the night played out. The police arriving. My drinking. The mind-blowing sex in my room.

“You’ve taught me so much. I’ve grown so much. I can’t even recall the girl I was before I was sold to you.”

I bristled. “Don’t use that word. You weren’t sold. Fate just brought us together a little unconventionally.”

Linking my fingers with hers, I said, “Come on. Let me show you the island.”

Tess stood on tiptoes and kissed my cheek. “I’d love that.”

We traversed the small jetty, only for Tess to freeze as a loud boom echoed from the centre of the island. Birds flurried from trees while leaves cascaded into the sea.

Her fingers turned to pinpricks of ice in mine; her entire body went from supple to trembling.

The noise was a backfire on the generator. Franco must’ve turned it on while preparing the house for us.

Tess lost all colour. “No,” she breathed.

I shook her, looking deep into her vacant eyes. “It’s okay. Juste le générateur.” Just the generator.

She didn’t respond. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as the ghosts she battled with every night swarmed her. Panic and fear glowed like black horror in her eyes.

Grabbing her cheeks, I snapped, “Tess. Stop!” Her panic attacks had to fucking end. This one was so similar. Almost identical to the way she looked in my office when she’d been taken.

The last time I’d slapped her to get her to return to me. This time, I kissed her. Smashing her lips with mine, I gathered her close, willing my energy and heat into her frozen form. I forced her to grab onto the present, dragging herself from her nightmares.

Her slack lips suddenly responded below mine, and she wobbled in my arms. I pulled away, never looking away from her. “Are you alright?”

She looked strung out and quivery but she nodded. “Yes.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Q, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

The way she trembled pissed me off but worse, it made me remember. Remember why she’d had the panic attack in my office. Why she’d shut down. She’d sensed the fucking bastards who’d come to steal her—somehow she’d known. There was no way anyone could be on this island, so the only other conclusion was an overload—a complete bombardment of new locations and people.

Shit, I’m a grade-A asshole.

Tess pushed me away, moving on unsteady legs to get some air.

“Come here, Tess.” I stormed toward her, capturing her shoulders again. “I didn’t think. I’m a fucking idiot.”

She blinked. “Think about what?”

I’d been so stupid. “Being here—in a completely new place. The last time that happened—” I couldn’t finish. I wouldn’t remind her. Not that she needed reminding—it lived in her mind, suffocated her lungs, itched her skin with memories.

“I shouldn’t have brought you somewhere so far from where you’re used to.”

Tess shook her head, clasping my hands on her shoulders. “That’s what you think? Q, it wasn’t the office that upset me. It isn’t a new place I’m afraid of. It was them. I knew. Somehow I knew.”

“And now? Do you sense them here? Are you afraid?” I wanted to yell at her to never be afraid again—unless it was of me. But I kept my temper tightly controlled.

“This wasn’t a full attack—just a memory.”

I would’ve killed for her to admit exactly what memory haunted her. “So being somewhere new isn’t filling you with fear?”

She pressed a finger against my lips, hushing me. “No. If anything, it’s helping. My instincts knew evil was close by that day. I should’ve listened instead of brushing them off. That’s twice I’ve ignored my sixth sense. And I promise on both our lives I will never ignore it again.”

I glowered around the island, seeing threats where there were none, suspicious of the swaying palm trees, contemplating annihilating them just for existing. I didn’t believe her—now I suspected everything and everyone.

Maybe it’s the fucking captain. I glanced over my shoulder. At the end of the jetty, Bill had on a headset talking through the radio. He looked innocent enough. If he wasn’t, I would break his neck in a second.

Yet more violence to protect the woman I’d dragged into the darkness to be with me. The guilt layered more rocks in my chest. I looked back at Tess. “That day in the office. I should never...I was an idiot to leave…I’ll never be able to tell you how sor—”

Tess’s residual fear morphed into hot temper. “Stop it. It wasn’t your fault. You need to let go of your guilt, Q.” Cupping my chin, she ran a thumb over a thicker cut that’d needed stitches. She lacerated my heart just like she lacerated my body.