Jonathan untled Marina, and the moment her wrists were free, she collapsed into his arms, sobbing.
“I thought I’d never see you again!” she choked out between tears.
“It’s over now. You’re safe, I promise… It’s all over.” Jonathan gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her shuddering breaths.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve been here sooner… I’m so sorry,” he murmured.
Finding a place to exchange such a large sum of money for Bitcoin at this hour hadn’t been easy. Blackspire wasn’t like Aldenville–Jonathan wasn’t a stranger here, but he didn’t have the same pull as he did back home. It had taken precious time to move the money, and while his team scoured the city, they’d finally tracked down an old apartment within half an hour’s drive from The Grand Celestia–a building with beige marble–patterned wallpaper, no security cameras, and plenty of shadows to hide in. Luck, determination, and desperation had led him straight to
Marina.
“You weren’t late. Not at all…” Marina lifted her blotchy, tear–streaked face, gratitude and longing shining in her eyes. “Just the fact that you came for me–I don’t need anything else.”
Suddenly, worry flickered across her expression. “Jonathan, what about Daniel? If he finds you here, I’m afraid he’ll try something…”
She squeezed his hand, and Jonathan felt the tremor in her grip.
“Don’t worry,” he said quietly. “I brought security. Daniel won’t dare do anything to
me.”
“That’s good… That’s good…” Relief washed over her, but when she tried to stand, her knees buckled. Jonathan caught her and swept her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest.
She pressed her face against him, her lashes still wet with tears and trembling, her body so fragile it was hard to believe she’d survived the ordeal. Anyone who saw her like this would feel a surge of sympathy and protectiveness.
Meanwhile, Marina’s mind drifted. Niamh must be on the boat by now, dragged away by Daniel. Once they reached Marisola, Niamh–a helpless young woman–would be completely at Daniel’s mercy. No one to call for help, way out; she’d be trapped there forever. If Daniel grew bored, who knew what fate would
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await her–maybe even something as horrific as being sold to traffickers
The mere thought of Niamh’s misery almost made Marina laugh out loud.
Serves you right, Niamh, she sneered inside. That’s what you get for trying to steal my man.
That spot next to Jonathan–that was always meant to be hers. If not for Niamh, none of this would have been necessary. Niamh had brought every bit of this on herself.
“Jonathan, there was a moment… I really thought I’d lost you forever…” Marina whispered, her eyes closed, voice barely above a breath.
“You won’t lose me,” he answered.
“Will we… will we always be together?” she asked softly.
“…Yeah,” he replied after a pause.
Hearing his promise, a faint smile broke through the bruises on her face.
“You said the same thing back when we were in the juvenile center,” she murmured.
Jonathan’s fingers tightened around her as a shadow flickered in his eyes. He was silent for a moment, then simply said again, “Yeah.”
We’ll always be together–he really had said that to Rina, all those years ago.
Jonathan carried Marina back to the hotel and stayed by her bedside, refusing to
leave her for a moment.
Before storming in to save her, he’d made every possible preparation–calling in favors from both sides of the law, even making sure Daniel hadn’t rigged the place with explosives. But in the end, Daniel wasn’t nearly as clever as he’d feared.
“Any sign of Daniel?” he asked Prescott quietly.
Prescott shook his head.
“Keep looking. I want him found–alive or dead.”
“Yes, sir.”
Prescott slipped out, and Jonathan glanced over at the bed. Marina looked as though she’d finally drifted into sleep.
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