Santorini was the most beautiful place on earth. The Mediterranean Sea was deep blue and so clear, the islands in the distance stood tall like statues, and when the sun set, it was the most glorious sight I’d ever seen.

But it wasn’t home.

And I was alone.

I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I knew I needed to stay calm because I had a little Barsetti growing inside me, but until I heard that Crow was okay, I wouldn’t be able to sit still. I marched back and forth on my patio. The home Crow had bought was enormous, remote, and gorgeous. I wondered why he’d never told me about it. Perhaps it was in anticipation of times like this.

Lars stepped outside with me, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Ever since I arrived in Italy, I’d never seen Lars in anything but his tuxedo. Even if I spotted him in the kitchen in the middle of the night, that’s how he was dressed. I wouldn’t be surprised if he slept like that.

But right now, I didn’t care what he was wearing.

Lars stood at the balcony and watched me, his eyes full of sadness. “Mrs. Barsetti, it’ll be alright.”

“We don’t know that.” I placed my hands on my hips as I walked back and forth, doing my best to get air into my body and out again. “Lars, if something happens to him—”

“Nothing will happen to him, Mrs. Barsetti.”

“Please just call me Pearl.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t. I follow Mr. Barsetti’s orders even when he isn’t around.”

I dragged my hands down my face. “It should be over by now…”

“I’m sure we’ll get a call any minute.” Lars stood in front of me with his hands behind his back. He gave me a pitiful smile as he watched me suffer. “I’ve known Mr. Barsetti since the day he was born. I remember the day he came home from the hospital, his favorite toy, and the first time he was grounded. I’ve watched him grow into a man—the strongest man I’ve ever known.”

I searched his blue eyes, finding consolation in the image of Crow as a young boy, playing with his toys on the living room floor.

“He’s been the exact same man since the day he turned sixteen. His attitude, habits, and beliefs have all been the same. But when you came along, he changed again. He grew into a different man, an even stronger one—because he knew he had something to protect. There’s no doubt in my mind that Crow will come back from this. It’ll take a lot more than a few bullets to slow him down. So just relax, Mrs. Barsetti.”

---

It was two in the morning, and I sat on the patio looking over the water. The island curved to the left, so I could see the lights of the city. The waves crashed against the rock just below, but despite their soothing sensation, I couldn’t really enjoy it.

The phone was beside me on the table.

I checked it every half hour to make sure the battery wasn’t dead. I made sure it wasn’t accidentally off. I looked through my messages and ensured I didn’t miss anything. I should be sleeping right now, but I couldn’t.

Lars was wide awake with me, refusing to sleep unless I slept too. I wanted to sleep just for him, but I couldn’t.

I was a mess.

Crow should have called by now.

Why hadn’t he called?

Cane hadn’t called either.

Finally, the phone rang.

I lurched at it and answered the call while hitting a bunch of different buttons at the same time. I didn’t even check who the caller was before I answered, needing it to be my husband. “Crow? Are you alright? Tell me you’re alright. Are you there?” I talked a million miles a minute without taking a breath.

“Button, I’m okay.” His deep and calm voice sounded through the phone, the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.

I closed my eyes as the tears streaked down my face. I went from panic to sobbing in less than five seconds. I heaved into the phone, my chest rising and falling as I hyperventilated over the line. My reaction was overwhelming, even to me. I had been so scared this phone call would never happen. I had been so scared Cane would call and say his brother didn’t make it, that I’d lost the love of my life.

“Button…”

I covered my face with my hand and kept crying, knowing I was overreacting to good news. I should be happy. I should be smiling. But the emotion was more powerful than a tsunami. It swept over me with the force of nature, drowning me as I sank to the bottom of the ocean.

Crow patiently waited for me to calm down. He stayed on the line, silent.

I listened to my own tears for minutes, reminding myself this was real. This wasn’t a dream. My husband was okay. My husband was safe. My family was safe.

“Shh,” he whispered. “Take three deep breaths, okay?”

“Okay…” One. Two. Three. I stopped crying and felt my soaked cheeks. Without looking into a mirror, I knew my face was puffy, red, and hideous. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“I was just so scared…”

“It’s over. No reason to be scared anymore.”

“If I’d lost you—”

“You didn’t. I’m here.”

Cane and Adelina didn’t even cross my mind until then. All I cared about was Crow. “Is Cane okay?”

“He’s fine. Adelina is home with him. Everything went well.”

“That’s great… I’m so glad to hear that.”

“We lost a few men, but casualties are always expected.”

I was relieved he was okay, but I wished I could touch him. I wished I didn’t have to only hear his voice through the phone. “I want to see you.”

“I want to see you too.”

“Can I come home now? Can I leave now?”

He paused for a long time. “You have to stay there.”

“What?”

“Just for a little while longer.”

“Why?”

“We killed everyone in the compound, but we aren’t sure what happened to Tristan. He got away on a boat. It was dark, and we couldn’t see. Until I have a confirmation that he’s dead, you can’t come back.”

“But, Crow—”

“It’s not up for discussion, Button.”

My hand went to my stomach, knowing I couldn’t risk the life growing inside me. My life never had seemed valuable to me, but now that I was going to be a mother, everything was different. My life was invaluable because I had to take care of someone else. I had to protect the little person inside me at all costs. “How long will it be?”

“I don’t know. Hopefully, not too long.”

I was disappointed, but Crow was alive, so I should only feel grateful right now.

“It’s beautiful there, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is…”

“How do you like the house?”

“Empty without you.”

“It’ll be over soon, Button. You know I can’t take any risks…not when it comes to the two of you.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“How’s Lars?”

“He’s been keeping me calm. He’ll be happy to hear that you’re okay.”

“I’m assuming you haven’t slept much?”

“No…”

“Then go get some sleep, Button.”

“Where are you going to be?”

“At the house. No one will expect me to be there.”

“Please be careful.”

“I’m always careful, Button. You know that.”

I didn’t have anything else to say, but I wanted to keep him on the line. His silence was better than his absence.

“Cane and I had transmitters inserted inside us, the same thing that you have. I’m gonna send you the tracking details. That way you can see where I am at all times on your phone.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.” We would still be apart, but at least I had a piece of him. Anytime I was uneasy, all I had to do was pull up his location on my phone. It would curb my anxiety. “That’ll help…”

“Now you can keep an eye on me just how I keep an eye on you.”

“Payback,” I teased.

He chuckled. “Yeah, payback.”