Then I black out.
50
CRISTIAN
“Why isn’t she waking up?” I ask Natalia for the umpteenth time since she arrived last night. Perched on the side of my bed, I gently brush strands of dark hair off Sloane’s brow as she sleeps, oblivious to everything that’s happened in the past few hours or the torment I’m in, waiting for her to resume consciousness.
“She was given a strong sedative.” Natalia squeezes my shoulder. “Her vitals are all good. Try to relax, Cristian. She’ll wake when she’s ready.”
Thank fuck for John Angelo’s quick thinking. That prick Alvaro was seconds from shoving Sloane through the air vent when my men arrived. My fists twitch with an urge to beat the shit out of him and the other prisoners waiting in the interrogation center on Staten Island. No doubt Caleb is having fun, but he knows to keep them alive for me.
“You should sleep,” I tell her. “Take the spare guest room.”
“You should sleep too.”
“There’s no point even trying.” Lifting Sloane’s hand to my lips, I kiss her warm flesh. “I shouldn’t have left her. I almost lost her again. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to let her out of my sight.”
Compassion is etched upon her face. “I understand, but you can’t be everywhere for everyone all of the time, and you’re no good to anyone if you’re exhausted.”
“Watch me.” There is nothing I won’t do for Sloane and Elio. Nothing.
“I think it ends now.” Her features harden. “Gia and Joshua never trusted the Da Rosas.”
“I should’ve listened. Dug deeper. I think they must’ve been involved from the start, and they had help covering their tracks.”
“You wanted to see the good in them for Elio, and that’s not a flaw, Cristian.”
“It sure feels like one.”
“You have them now.” She fights a yawn. “After it’s handled, you can draw a line and move forward with your life.” She smiles at the woman fast asleep in my bed. “I’m happy you have her back, Cristian. Elio is thrilled too.”
“I only need to convince her to stay now.” She might want nothing to do with me when I tell her I’d been considering a marriage contract with the woman who tried to have her kidnapped again. I want to punch myself in the face for ever letting that bitch into our lives. Isa’s betrayal will hurt Elio so much. I don’t know how I’m going to explain it.
“At least get into the bed and try to rest a little,” Natalia says before slipping out of the room.
Following her advice, I strip down to my boxers, crawl into the bed, and position Sloane in my arms where she belongs. Cradling her to me, I dust kisses into her hair and promise her over and over again that this is the last time anyone tries to take her. If I have to bundle her in bubble wrap and hide her away to ensure she’s safe, I’ll do it so she doesn’t worry about anyone coming for her ever again.
Early-morning sunshine is trickling through the blinds in my room when I wake, conscious of fingers caressing my face and a pair of big blue eyes staring at me while I sleep. “I didn’t want to wake you, but I have questions,” Sloane says. “How did I get here? What happened?” she asks in a croaky tone.
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask, tenderly touching the goose egg on her brow.
“My throat is dry. I have a bit of a headache, and my limbs feel tired, but otherwise, I’m fine. Where is Alvaro?”
A growl rips from my mouth unbidden. “In an interrogation cell waiting for me,” I confirm as I sit up straighter, resting my back against the headrest and settling her under my arm.
“You caught him?”
“We caught them all. It’s over, Sloane.”
“Until the cartel sends more men.”
“It wasn’t the cartel.”
She bolts upright, ripping out of my arms. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t have all the missing pieces yet, but I’ll tell you what I know.” I stretch my arm wide. “Now get back here. I almost died last night when I got the call. I was terrified I might lose you again, and I need to hold you. I’ll probably be stuck to you like glue from now on.”
“I won’t complain,” she says, snuggling into me. “I happen to love your arms around me. Now fill me in, and don’t hold anything back.”
