CouldI buy an island? How much does a private island go for these days? It wouldn’t need to be big, just remote, with enough distance between us and any neighboring islands that I’d see an enemy approaching with plenty of time to spare.
As Sofia cuddles against me, her breath brushing my neck, I spin the idea around in my head.
We wouldn’t have to stay there forever. Just a few months, until I’m absolutely certain the threat to her is over. And then we could use the island as our own personal getaway.
I’m tempted to grab my phone to look up real estate listings, but that would mean moving Sofia, and I’m not willing to do that. Not when she’s finally back in my arms, when she’s actually getting some uninterrupted rest?—
Almost as if I jinxed it, Sofia moans.
Her body tenses.
Her head moves back and forth in a silent denial.
She starts breathing faster. More erratically. Her heart pounds so hard I can feel it.
“Soph,” I murmur. “It’s okay.” I stroke her hair. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”
“No!” she blurts.“No!”
Then she jerks in my arms.
Another low moan escapes.
“Sofia.” I firm my voice. “Wake up. You’re safe.”
“No. Don’t.Please.”
The fear in her voice is agony.
She jerks again, this time almost wrenching herself out of my arms.
I don’t want her to wake up thinking she’s trapped, so I lay her on her back, then roll onto my side to face her. Taking hold of her arm, I give her a gentle shake. “Sofia. You’re safe. I’m here. No one can hurt you.”
Just as I finish speaking, her fist flies out, clipping my shoulder.
It doesn’t hurt, but it’s still an impressive hit.
“No!” she cries. “Leave me alone!”
Then her eyes pop open. They’re filled with terror.
She scuttles back, almost falling off the bed before I catch her.
Catching her hands to keep her from hitting me again, I quickly say, “Sofia, it’s me. Nico. I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe.”
In a matter of seconds, her fear shifts to confusion, and then realization. “Nico?”
Her voice is sotiny. It hurts my heart.
“Yeah, Soph. It’s me. You had a nightmare.”
“Oh.” She blinks. Lines form across her brow. “It was just a nightmare.”
“Yeah.” I hug her to me again and press a light kiss to her damp forehead. “Just a nightmare. You’re okay.”
Sofia takes a few shaky breaths. “God. It was so real. Like I was rightthere, in the alley?—”
My body goes cold. “The alley?”
