If he’s still sleeping, who on earth—
“Jinx.” Cal waved from the threshold of Sully’s bedroom. I sat up, grateful I’d fallen asleep in a silver nightgown that hid what needed to be hidden.
Instantly, my heart kicked. “Jess? Is she okay?” I flew out of bed, ready to run to my friend. Jess had been getting stronger too. Like Sully, she slept a lot, and small bursts of exercise drained her quickly.
“Yes, yes, she’s fine.” Cal pressed a finger to his lips. “Don’t wake him. I have a surprise, follow me.” He tracked through the star-speckled lounge, leading me to the front door and outside.
Cicadas buzzed, bats cackled, and the occasional owl hooted in the dark proving just because we slept didn’t mean the night wasn’t teeming with creatures who frolicked in a different playground than us.
“What the hell is that?” I chuckled, swatting at a mosquito as I followed Cal down the pebbled path to the sandy laneway. A vehicle waited, chrome and matte black with rugged tyres, and a big tray on the back full of discarded pots ready for seedlings. The side panels held the same logo for Lebah that I’d seen on the girl’s uniform.
“It’s an ATV. They use them for the gardeners to transport seeds and what-not around Lebah.”
“And what’s it doing here?”
He crossed his arms, a gloating smile catching the slowly lightening sky. “It’s for Sinclair.”
My eyes widened as understanding bowled through me. “So he can get out of the villa without breaking his legs a second time trying to walk in the soft sand.”
“Exactly. He’ll be going stir-fucking-crazy in bed. At least this way, he can just sit and enjoy the ride.”
“It’s a great idea! You should give it to him.”
“Nah, you do it. When he wakes in a few hours, take him for a whirl. Come visit us, we’ll have breakfast together.”
I hugged myself at the thought of getting him out and about. Of feeling the sun on our skin after being cooped up for so long. The tyres were big with all-terrain tread which would allow us to drive on the beach and through the shallows.
“He’ll love it.”
“Good.” Cal turned to walk back to the main hub. “I’ll see you soon then.”
“Hey, Cal?”
“Yeah?” He turned around, raising his eyebrow.
“Why are you up so early?”
He smirked. “I’m always up early. Normally, I’d hit the gym before work, but with my lungs still healing and Campbell still on my case, I just get up out of habit. I was taking a walk when the boat arrived with this morning’s vegetable delivery, along with this. I asked for one to be sent from Lebah the day Sully woke up.”
Dashing to him, I pressed a kiss on his cheek. “You’re a good friend.”
Was I imagining it, or did colour flush over his cheeks? The icy second-in-command who tried to warn me off Sully was finally melting. “Just want him up and running, that’s all.” Giving me a quick sarcastic salute, he stuck his hands in his short pockets and strolled into the dawn.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
A WEEK PASSED.
A week of torturous rehabilitation and bossy doctors preventing me from leaving my bed even though Cal had delivered a perfectly good ATV that could be my legs.
Eleanor had argued on my behalf, saying a trip around my island would be beneficial, however, Louise had been insistent.
She’d ganged up with Campbell when he came to check on me. They advised they’d restrain me for my own benefit if I insisted on being an idiot. That my system wasn’t ready yet. That I had to accept that my beaches and oceans would be there in another week or so when my vitals were more stable and the frustrating habit of randomly falling asleep had ceased.
I hadn’t liked it, but I couldn’t deny the wooziness in my head or the throbbing of my legs. If being bedbound for another week cured me faster, than fine.
I could be fucking patient.
Despite his stoic support of Louise, Campbell had been wary around me. He’d kept his distance and didn’t hold eye contact long.
I’d been stony with him. My voice curt and cold.
Our meeting had been awkward with far too much unsaid shit.
I was aware I owed him an apology after my temper when I’d demanded a second shot of Tritec. That I most likely owed him multiple apologies after he’d put his life on the line to heal me, administer a drug that killed me, and worked night and day to keep Jess alive.
But...he’d betrayed me. Our past was littered with duplicity, and something like that couldn’t just be erased. Can it? The thought of letting down my guard to give sincere thanks would take a lot longer to forgive and achieve.
That first week, along with rigorous physiotherapy to get my arms moving, my legs operating, and easing out the stagnant knots in my muscles from clenching in my coma, Eleanor and I entertained two guests.
Cal hung out during the hours that Jess slept, and he used the ATV to transport her to my villa when she was up to some company. That afternoon, Louise let me leave my god-awful bed, and Joe and Arbi carried me like a fucking invalid to sit on a deck chair overlooking Nirvana’s constant cascading symphony.
The four of us had shared lunch. Eleanor and Jess had chattered while Cal and I caught up on things I’d missed with Sinclair and Sinclair Group.
Jess fell asleep first, her eyes suddenly closing mid-dessert and my endurance broke not long after. I clung to lucidity long enough to say goodbye to Cal as he bundled Jess into the ATV to drive her back to his villa, and managed to kiss Eleanor before I was placed onto my back in my cursed bed.
As I fell asleep, I made a vow that the moment I’d returned to full capacity, I would sleep somewhere different every night. I would build a fucking tree house if it meant I never had to spend another moment in a bed that’d become such a shackle.
Despite my frustration at my body’s slow recovery, each day brought accomplishments. Which meant, each day Eleanor owed me a sexual favour or two.
Eleanor busied herself in the kitchen, making us a lychee juice with lots of crushed ice. Dusk had fallen and the trees were alive with roosting birds all singing and squabbling for the best branches. Nirvana sparkled as the sky set fire to daylight and smouldered into twilight, leaving streaks of amethyst to bleed into black.
Humidity and island heat had been extra cloying today, and I was desperate for a fucking swim. Not that I could request that, seeing as Eleanor had sent the doctors away and it was just us. No way would I put her in the position of helping me if I fell asleep while swimming and tried to drown.
Carrying the drinks to me, she ducked under the mosquito net and hopped onto the mattress before falling into a lotus pose beside me. “Here.”
“Thanks.” I took the glass and sipped the fragrant sugar, enjoying the delicious texture of ice hitting my tongue. Taking a few shards into my mouth, I crunched them before placing the glass on the side table and scooting higher up the pillows.
My legs splayed a little, obeying my command to move.
At least I had my faculties back. I could move each extremity, even if I didn’t have the stamina to stand quite yet.
“You know...I achieved two things today that are worthy of sexual favours.”
Her eyes swooped to mine, her eyelashes framing grey smoky depths, her lips pink from the chilliness of her drink. “Oh, really?” Her cheeks flushed as she wrapped her fingers around her dew-dripping glass. “What talents did you regain?”
I scratched at my five o’clock shadow, catching Pika’s aerial acrobatics as he and Skittles darted in from outside, ready to find their own perch for the night after gallivanting around the island all day. “What will you give me?”
She grinned. “Depends how impressive the achievements are.”
“I bent both my legs and can touch my toes.”
She sipped her drink. “Fancy.” Her gaze twinkled with sarcasm.
I growled under my breath, “I’ll have you know that took effort.”
“I don’t think you’re taking my successes seriously enough.” I reached for her breast, only grazing the delicious weight before she moved out of my reach, her yellow sundress hiding her stunning figure. “Come here and let me celebrate.”
“I don’t know if that counts.” She placed her drink on the opposite side table before coming close again and kneeling beside me. “I thought you said you’d be inside me within a week.”
“Come here and I’ll happily oblige.”
“Do something worthy and I might consider it.” She ran her finger down the neckline of her dress, dipping into her humidity-damp cleavage. “I’m dying a very slow death not being allowed to touch you.”
Lust sprang from containable to maddening. “You are allowed to touch me. Wherever you fucking want.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. You have all the power here.” I leaned forward, trying to snatch her. “Come here and we can be cured together.”
She ran her fingertip around her nipple, making it tighten beneath her dress. “I can’t because I made a promise to myself.”
“What promise?” I grew painfully hard. Too hard. I hadn’t had a release since Geneva and living with Eleanor was daily torment. I couldn’t tear my eyes off her hand or stop my fingers from wrapping around my aching cock.
“When we next sleep together...it will be our wedding night.”
“What?” I laughed harshly, but it came out more like a snarl. “That’s the same day I can walk unassisted.”
“Exactly. Biggest achievement equals biggest reward.” She dropped her hand, growing serious, changing the tingling thirsty tone between us. “In all honesty, I’m afraid of sleeping with you.”
I froze. My hand fell away, and our eyes locked. “Why would you—” I cut myself off, understanding her point of view. “Last time we fucked, I suffered cardiac failure.”
She bit her lip, nodding once. “I know the likelihood of that happening, now that you’re healing and healthy, are slim, but...” Her eyes darkened with doubts. “I love you too much to risk losing you. If it means a few weeks of painful celibacy, then...”
“It’s worth it for a lifetime of happiness.”
“Exactly.” She came closer, pressing into me and cupping my cheeks with both her hands. “I’m not saying goodbye to you again...I can’t.”
Our skin ignited. My cock threatened to come from no other stimulation. Electricity infected both of us, making her shiver and me shudder. Parts of me that’d always taken what he wanted, regardless of consequences, very almost won. My hands twitched to grab her and take her anyway. My desire was a dangerous, demented thing.
But as she tipped forward, and her mouth met mine, I gave up control.
I groaned as her delicate tongue licked my lips, then sought mine.
I met her with a sensual taste, closing my eyes and focusing entirely on where we joined.
This kiss was sweet and soft, but it crippled me in ways no other kiss had before.
This was her, my perfect curse-breaking Jinx, letting me into deeper parts of her heart.
This wasn’t about desire or bodily gratification but the start of our forever.
It was the best fucking kiss of my life.
* * * * *
Thirteen days since I’d woken and each day, I was stronger.
I no longer passed out at inconvenient times. My body was back under control, and each session of physiotherapy meant my muscles rebuilt and strength returned.
After a gruelling session of standing and bearing weight on legs that’d taken their fair share of beatings, I sat at a temporary desk by the deck overlooking Nirvana. Eleanor had gone to visit Jess and taken the two parrots with her, my doctors were enjoying the afternoon off and planning their return to Geneva, Cal was busy overseeing the faulty sensors and snares ringing my shores, and I was alone to slip back into my role as CEO of Sinclair and Sinclair Group.
My time was no longer split between legal and illegal enterprises. I didn’t have emails requesting week-long stays or in-depth details of depraved fantasies to code. No new goddesses to request or daily orders of their wants and needs to complete. It felt odd not juggling two very different companies. To no longer see the dark web page where my island promised deviant desires for hire.
Cal had removed the details of my islands, and Eleanor had taken care of feed requirements and vet arrivals for the rescues that I hadn’t had the tolerance to visit yet.
All I had was jargon heavy emails, encyclopaedia-sized PDFs, and regular briefings with Peter Beck.
As the sun set on the thirteenth day since I’d been reincarnated from a heartless procurer into a man striving to be the best husband he could be, an email from an encrypted address arrived.
At first, I thought it might be from the traffickers who’d bounced my last request and then vanished. However, the address was wrong.
And the contents? Well, it was a threat, pure and fucking simple.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Bonjour
To Mr. Sullivan Sinclair,
You have recently come to my attention.
I will be frank so you are not confused by the following.
Due to your dealings with a certain trafficking outfit, you are now next on my list. That company has recently been shut down, and its staff are enjoying a never-ending retirement, if you catch my meaning.
If you don’t, allow me to elaborate.
They are dead.
The men you used to source, select, and ship women to your islands are now in pieces. Unfortunately for you, and their other clients, they kept comprehensive records on girls acquired, money received, and locations they were sent.
You, Mr. Sinclair, are one of the worst.
You have purchased thirteen women with a value of over four million dollars.
Is that what a life is worth to you? If it is, you must allow me the decency of teaching you that there are four million ways a man can die.
You are going to die.
I have the coordinates for your islands.
I am coming.
Cordialement,
Q
Q?
Who the fuck was Q?
What sort of cunt emailed such things with such high and mighty bullshit?
Fucking bastard.
I’d kill him.
Adrenaline flooded my veins as I grabbed my phone to call Cal and have him watch the horizon for more boats bringing war. My jaw clenched as I swiped on the device, my mind racing with battle enforcements and yet another fight that I had no energy to endure.
Goddammit, we’d just finished a nightmare. The thought of living through another one? Of losing Eleanor to yet another asshole who thought he could take what wasn’t his?
No.
Fuck no.
Whoever this cocksucker was, he would not disrupt my happiness. I would not allow him to ruin everything I never thought I’d earn.
The man he wanted to kill was dead.
He was talking about a ghost, and the man I was now...I fucking refused to die (again) when I was so, so close to being happy.
I’d matured since and I could handle this without bloodshed.
I think.
With a steady hand, I placed my cell phone back on the desk and clicked reply.
To: [email protected]
From [email protected]
Subject: Re: Bonjour
I tapped my fingers against the keys, excuses forming, my black and white rules of humans versus animals, food versus souls, and the age-old bullshit of humans thinking they were special over every other living species on our planet.
I wanted to drive my fist into his jaw and demand he acknowledge that it wasn’t just people who felt love and loss and pain. Cows did. Sheep did. A chicken wasn’t just dinner but a creature who had its own language, hierarchy, and lifespan.
But...
He was right.
Buying another for my own gain was wrong.
I knew that.
I’d stopped that.
I’d learned my lesson, and now all I wanted was peace. To keep Eleanor safe. To live out our lives alone and together, away from the jurisdictions and inhumane beliefs of a polluted world.
No one, especially this Q bastard, would take that away from me.
To Q,
I have so much to say so I will keep this brief.
I don’t trust encryption and normally write in code, but for this, I will type blatantly so you get the message loud and clear.
You are right that I bought those women.
You are right that it was wrong to do so.
And you are right that I should pay.
Unfortunately, you are too late.
The last girl I purchased ended my tyranny.
She awakened me and broke me in equal measure.
I fell in love, and everything fell apart.
Because of her, I willingly died. Not hypothetically or romantically. I literally died.
But she loved me enough to bring me back.
And the man I am now is not the man who purchased those women.
They have been freed. Every last one of them. Freed and compensated. I can provide evidence of their safety if it will appease you.
Ordinarily, I would take your threat and retaliate with my own. I am not a man that allows such things to go unpunished. However, in this instance, I understand where you are coming from, and I am on your side.
You have my word that I am reformed. That no other life will be taken by me. All I ask is that you accept my assurances and call off your manhunt.
I’ve paid my debt.
I am just a man doing his best to be worthy of a woman who saved him.
Thirteen girls were bought, eleven were released, and one has chosen to stay. The last girl I’m keeping, but only because she’s kept me. She will be my wife, and I will lay down my life four million times over to protect her.
Fifth a Fury (Goddess Isles, #5) Page 29