“I see you. I’m in the white car on the left.”
I looked in that direction and saw the Mercedes. The van parked next to him.
“Go ahead and verify Kira is there and I will do the same with my daughter,” I said, walking fast. Roman was behind me, but I couldn’t slow down.
“He’s here. Sorry about the mix up. I hope we can do business another time.”
As I neared the stroller, my heart jumped into my throat. The young girl looked at me with bright blue eyes.
“Alina?” I asked.
She nodded, but I knew it was her because I recognized my baby.
“All good?” Zotov asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.” The call ended.
I shoved my phone in my pocket and scooped up my sleeping baby and held her against my chest. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry about this,” I whispered to her.
“We should go,” Fabio said.
I looked at the girl, smiled and left. Fabio and I walked quickly to the sedan. I couldn’t stop kissing Pippa’s head and thanking God for keeping her safe.
Now to get her home to her mother and I prayed Isla would forgive me one more time.
46
ISLA
An achein my side stirred me awake. But I was so comfortable and didn’t want to get up from the most heavenly bed I’d been in since… I shook my head, keeping my eyes closed.
The most luxurious bed I’d ever slept in was Ciro’s.
“Isla, are you waking up?” a woman asked.
I blinked my eyes and saw Alba hovering above me. We stared at each other, and neither of us said a word.
Tears instantly blurred my vision when I remembered Roy attacked me and my precious baby girl was missing.
“Is she here?” I tried to lift, but the pain in my ribs kept me down. “Where am I?” I looked around the large room, noting a floor to ceiling fireplace and windows, a crystal chandelier hanging above the canopy bed I was in.
“Ciro’s estate. Don’t get worked up, okay? Stay calm and I will fill you in.” Alba held my hand and sat beside me.
“How did I get here? When did I get here?”
“I heard talking. Is the patient awake?”
I looked at the door and saw my friend, Doctor Jon.What was happening? Why were they at Ciro’s estate? None of this made sense.
“She is and I’m trying to keep her calm,” Alba replied.
“Did I hear Isla’s voice?” Luca appeared in the doorway.
“What is going on?” I asked in an awful-sounding voice. My throat was scratchy and dry.
Jon came to the side of my bed, opposite Alba. “Are you having any pain?”
