I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around the fact that I’d slapped my husband—the man who meant everything to me. I’d never done anything like that before—never even thought about it, no matter how much he was impersonating an asshole—and to do so when our lives were upended as they were…

But yes. He’d had it coming, calling me naïve.

I might be ignorant of the facts—and that was his fault, not mine—but naïve? He’d called me innocent two days ago during our first walk on the beach. Funny, it hadn’t affected me the same way, then. Now I knew he was deliberately withholding information, and as much as I loved my husband, I couldn’t forget that. If I was going to stay with him—and God, I wanted to be with him more than I wanted my next breath—he’d have to offer up all the facts. My heart was strong, but I could no longer keep my head out of this equation.

Price interrupted my thoughts. “I’m only trying to protect you, Kate.”

I opened my eyes. “Why not let me help protect you? Protect us? Tell me what we’re dealing with. The whole truth. Let me in. I feel so helpless, Price.”

“Baby—”

“We took vows, remember? For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health. For better or for worse.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Would you stop saying that?” I balled my hands into fists. “The only reason I don’t understand is because you’re not leveling with me. For better or for worse, Price. If this is worse, I promised to help you through it.”

“This goes so far beyond worse.”

I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. Just because we didn’t foresee how bad something might get doesn’t invalidate the vow I made to you. You made the same promise to me.”

“I did, and I’m trying to keep that vow. I’m trying to protect you.”

I gave him an angry glare. “Wrong.”

He jerked his head. “What?”

“If you were truly trying to protect me, you would have stayed hidden, let me live out my life safely in New York. As soon as you involved Chelle and me in this, protection ceased being your goal.”

“That’s not true. I—”

I placed two fingers over his full lips. “I didn’t mean to sound quite so harsh. I’m not blaming you. I’d have done the same thing. The thought of a life without you…even if it meant protecting yours…”

I could accuse him of being selfish for wanting me with him, but it didn’t ring true. My life during the past year, without Price, hadn’t been a life at all. If I’d thought, for one second, that I could be with him again, I’d have risked everything. Yes, I would have done everything I could to keep him safe, but in the end, still knowing that the safest thing would be to stay hidden, I’d have taken the risk.

That’s what he had done. He’d chosen a life with me over my ultimate protection. I didn’t begrudge him that—though maybe I should have—but he had to understand the reality of it.

“Kate…”

“It’s okay. You weren’t being selfish. You were just being…you. I can no more live without you than you can without me.”

He sank his head into his hands. “My God. I never thought about it that way. But you’re right. I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry.”

I pulled him toward me, removing his hands and cupping his cheeks. “Don’t be sorry. Just understand that this is what it is. I’m all in now. You have to let me help.”

“I know what you’re going to say,” he said.

“Oh, you do?”

“You’ve already said it. You want to go back to New York.”

I nodded. “I do. Otherwise we’ll always be running. Always looking over our shoulders.”

He gripped my upper arms, his eyes ablaze in the light of the dawn. “You want the truth? The whole truth?” He sighed. “The truth is that going back to New York could very well get us both killed.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. He’d already told me as much, but still the words lanced through me like a hunting knife. I didn’t want to die. But I didn’t want to spend my life running, either. What kind of a life would that be? I’d be with the man I adored, yes, but I could never bring a child into that world. I’d never be a mother, never see my belly swell with the fruit of Price’s and my love. I could give up my career, my family, my friends. But could I give up the chance to have children?

Words formed in my throat, and I had to force them out. “Price, from what you’ve said, we could end up getting killed, anyway.”

Price raked his fingers through his hair. “I know how you get when you want to know something. You persist and you persist. I understand, but baby, could we go to bed, please? I’ve been up most of the night. Right now all I want to do is hold you. I need to feel you in my arms.”

I hadn’t slept any more than he had, and I was feeling it. Perhaps we could both look at this a little more objectively if we were better rested. Michelle wasn’t an early riser, so we had several hours before she’d be up. Spending those hours snuggled up to my husband sounded like a pretty good idea. Without saying a word, I took his hand and led him inside to our bedroom.

I hadn’t planned on making love again—we both needed sleep—but when he undressed me and began kissing me, all bets were off. He slid into me without hesitation, and as he filled me more deeply, I closed my eyes and gave myself up to the moment.

Whatever happened from here on, I was happy Price had brought me to the island. My life would never be the same, but at least we were together. Even if we had only these few hours, they were better than a lifetime without my soulmate.

His thrusts became harder, and I lifted my hips to accommodate him. As I glided into orgasm, he nipped at my ear.

“For better or for worse,” he whispered.

“For better or for worse,” I echoed.

---

I rolled over on the bed to touch my husband…but found only emptiness on his side of the bed. “Price?” I sat up and looked out the window. Bright sunlight streamed in.

I got up, went to the bathroom, and then put on a silk robe and slippers. I padded down the stairs to the kitchen.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Michelle greeted me.

I looked around. “Where’s Price?”

“He and Otis left a while ago. He didn’t want to wake you up. Said he wouldn’t be too long.”

“How long ago was that?”

“A couple hours.”

“Shit,” I said under my breath. I’d hoped we could talk through everything once we had some sleep. “What time is it?”

“A little after noon.” Michelle pointed to her plate. “You want a sandwich or something?”

I shook my head and opened the refrigerator. Nothing sounded appetizing, but I took out a bowl of fruit salad.

I gasped when the front door opened. Price walked in, sans Otis, thank God. Maybe now we could talk.

I ran into his arms. “Where have you been?”

“Just taking care of a few things.”

“What things?” I didn’t care that Michelle was within earshot. She probably already knew more than I did.

“Just things, baby. Nothing for you to worry about.”

I met his gaze head on. “This stops now. Everything is something for me to worry about until you assure me otherwise.”

He opened his mouth, but I stopped him with a gesture.

“And no. Just you saying it’s nothing for me to worry about won’t cut it.”

“Come to think of it,” Michelle said from the kitchen, “I agree with Kate. Let’s get it all out on the table. This ‘vacation’ hasn’t been anything like you promised, big brother. It’s time for you to spill the beans. Are you in trouble?”

Trouble? Michelle knew he was already in trouble. Why else would he have faked his own death and be hiding out on a tiny island?

However, Price eyed me with a slight shake of his head, so I said nothing to Michelle.

“Nothing more than you already know,” Price said. “Excuse me for a minute, okay?”

He walked out of the kitchen and toward Michelle’s bedroom.

“That was strange,” Michelle said.

I nodded. Strange didn’t even begin to describe the happenings of the last few days. I scooped fruit salad into a bowl, sat down next to Michelle, and took a bite of papaya. “Is there coffee?”

“Yeah. I’ll get you a cup.” She rose.

“Thanks.”

A few minutes later, Price returned. “I have great news for you, Sis,” he said to Michelle. “Otis has volunteered to take you sightseeing and snorkeling today.”

“Huh?” Michelle widened her eyes. “After your ‘not with him’ comment yesterday?”

“It’s not a date. Don’t worry. But I know you’ve been stuck here for two days without much to do.”

“I wasn’t complaining. The beach is right outside.”

“I know. But wouldn’t you like to do something else?”

“This was never about me, Price. This was about you and Kate. I’m happy to do my part.”

“Well”—Price cleared his throat—“today is about you. I want you to have some fun while you’re here.” Again, he met my gaze, his eyes pleading.

Was I supposed to talk her into this? That’s what he seemed to be indicating. I’d always been able to read Price well.

“Why don’t you go for it, Chelle?” I said. “Price showed me all around the island. It’s wonderful. There are some cute little shops where the local artists sell their work. You love that kind of stuff. The food is amazing too.” I turned to Price. “Make sure Otis takes her to get that great shaved ice we had.”

“Are you sure you two will be okay?” She let out a raucous laugh. “I can’t believe I just said that. You’re going to christen every inch of this villa, aren’t you? I guess I can’t blame you for trying to get rid of me.”

“I’m not trying to get—”

Michelle stopped Price. “I was kidding. I’ll go. It will be nice to get out. I’m going to shower and change. When is he coming?”

“Soon.”

A knock sounded at the front door.

“Very soon, apparently.” Price stood.

“Shit. Tell him to give me five.” Michelle charged to her bedroom.

I followed Price to the door. He opened it and let Otis in.

“Hey,” Otis said. “Is my date ready?”

“It’s not a date,” Price said through gritted teeth.

“Easy, man. I’m kidding.” He walked in and sat down in the living area. “Is everything in order?”

Price picked up a manila folder that I hadn’t noticed sitting on a table by the door. “It’s all in here, bud. I don’t have to remind you that you’re carrying precious cargo.”

“I’ve got it. Honestly. You can count on me.”

My muscles went rigid. What was going on?

Michelle came flying out of her bedroom wearing shorts and a tank top and carrying a beach bag. “I’ve got a swimsuit, towel, and my snorkel. Is there anything else I might need? Oh, wait. I didn’t grab my passport.”

“No need.” Otis said. “You don’t need ID on the island. They know me personally everywhere we’re going. Best to leave your passport here where it’s safe.”

Michelle smiled. “Good enough for me. See you guys later.” She followed Otis out to his jeep parked on the gravel driveway.

Price turned to follow them, but I grabbed his arm. “What’s going on? What was in the envelope?”

He watched his sister drive away with Otis, an unreadable look in his eye, and then took my hand in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “How about we take Michelle’s advice and christen every inch of this place.”

Lust surged within me, but we were so not going there right now. Not until I had some well-deserved answers. “No dice.” I pulled my hand away.

“It was worth a try. Sit down and have a cup of coffee with me. I have a lot to tell you.” He led me into the kitchen, topped off my coffee cup, and poured one for himself.

I sat, numbly, waiting for the truth to spill from his mouth. When seconds turned into minutes, I said, “It’s your move.”

He took a sip of coffee and sighed. “Otis and I went to talk to the local authorities this morning about the tussle at the boat last night.”

“Yeah?”

“Well…it turns out, the locals weren’t anywhere near the boat last night. Neither was the coastguard. No one had any record of the disturbance.”

My pulse quickened. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“It means—or rather, we think it means—that whoever was searching the boat had disguised themselves as law enforcement.”

I gulped.

“If that’s true, Otis actually talked to…” Price rubbed at his temples. “It means they’re here, Kate.”

Icy chills spiked over my body. “They?”

“Hired goons, most likely. None of the principles at Cybermark would get their hands dirty.”

Nausea threatened to overtake me. “What will we do?”

“We have some time. I had Otis leave a trail of bread crumbs that will keep them off of us for about twenty-four hours, if we play our cards right. Right now they’re headed toward the coast of Japan.”

That didn’t make me feel any better. Twenty-four hours might seem like an eternity in some circumstances. Right now? It would be a flash in the night.

“Another thing, Kate.” Price cleared his throat. “I’m only telling you this because I’d expect you to tell me if the situation were reversed. I nearly had Otis check out that Alejandro guy you told me about.”

“Nearly?” A prick of anger hit me. Here we were, our lives in danger, and he was worried about my almost fling?

“Don’t get pissed. I couldn’t help myself. I just had to know.”

“What stopped you?”

He sighed. “I’d like to tell you that I had a change of heart, but that would be a lie. We simply ran out of time.”

“Oh, well.” I still felt sick to my stomach. “Lack of time or not, I hope you realize we have more pressing concerns than Alejandro. He’s a non-entity. He means nothing to me and he never did. Besides, what could Otis have found on him, anyway, other than a Google search? He’s just a kid.”

“He’s a kid, yes. He’s also a fucking genius. Why do you think I’m working with him? Most island guys his age are surfing and chasing beach bunnies with no thought of ever doing anything else. He’s driven. He’s brilliant. He’s a gifted hacker. He’s a genuine pain in my ass sometimes, but he’s got a heart of gold and he’s never let me down. I trust him. I trust him with my life…and with yours.”

And then it hit me—like a deafening thunderbolt after the kind of lightning strike that illuminates a whole house in the dead of night. “He took Chelle.”

He nodded. “Otis is taking her to safety.”

“So what you said yesterday, about asking her to change her flight…”

“I had to scrap that plan.”

“God, Price. What was in that envelope?”

“Several things. The title to Katherine. Otis is going to sell her for me and wire the money to us.”

“And?”

“A detailed itinerary…and Michelle’s passport.”

“So when you left the kitchen…”

“I took her passport from the drawer in her bedroom and put it in the envelope.”

“What if she had gone back to get it and found it missing?”

“Otis took care of that, remember?”

I dropped my mouth open. Then, “Did you have that all planned out?”

“No. Otis is just really good on his feet. I’m telling you, he’s a genius.”

Fear nearly kept me from giving voice to the next words lodged in my throat. “We’re never going to see her again, are we?”

Price let out a heavy sigh. “It’s possible.”

“Oh my God.” I rubbed at my forehead. “You went after her, but I grabbed you. I kept you from saying goodbye, didn’t I?”

“It’s okay, baby. I kept you from saying goodbye as well. We’re together, and Michelle will be safe. That’s what ultimately matters.”

“Where is she going?”

“To a small island near Martha’s Vineyard. When she gets there, I have instructions for her to call my parents and have them meet her. The three of them will stay there in a highly secured compound as long as necessary.”

I breathed in and then out, trying to keep steady. “Martha’s Vineyard?” Seemed a little too close to home, but how could I question Price and Otis? They’d been in this far longer than I, and Price would do what he thought best to keep Michelle and his parents safe. “You arranged all of this in a span of two hours this morning?”

“No. I’ve always had a backup plan. I’ve had to.”

A backup plan…

Twenty-four hours…

Off the coast of Japan…

All feeling left my body, and my voice emerged, eerily monotonous. “Where are you and I going, Price?”