Page 63 of Pervade Montego Bay
“On the island?” Her expression revealed her emotional turmoil.
“I’ve been watching over you.”
“I needed you here. With me. With us.”
“I’m sorry, Emily.”
“Did you leave me because I attended the event onThe Venetian?”
“No. I would have done the same.”
“You didn’t answer my calls or texts.”
“I stepped away to protect you.” I gave her a sad smile, trying to convey my sincerity. “We couldn’t have anyone connect me or James to you.”
“Did you miss me?” she asked, her voice breaking.
I let out a pained sigh before I could stop myself.
She hurried into my arms and I couldn’t refuse her embrace.
I planted a kiss on her forehead. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”
She raised her eyes to mine. “Well, I’m here now…and I want to stay.”
“Emily…”
“I’m sorry about the Stradivarius.”
“All I care about is you.”
“Thank you for my new violin.” She rested her cheek on my chest. “It was from you, right?”
Giving her an instrument was nothing—I should have given her a goddamned castle. But, of course, Ballad had that covered. “James shouldn’t have brought you here.”
“I came because I believed the invitation was from you.” She stepped back. “You disappeared. No messages. No phone calls.”
“The KGB were monitoring you, Em. They were watching all the students. After what happened to Ivor on the yacht, they were looking for who was responsible.”
“You’re the smart one. You could have worked out a way to get a message to me.”
“One mistake and you’d have them hunting you. I couldn’t take that chance.”
She seemed to realize the burden. “I refuse to let them control my life.”
“We did what we believed was best—”
“James needed my help to find you. He took a photo of me and sent it to you.”
“I got it.”
She looked nervous. “You overheard us in the dining room?”
“He can be…dark…sometimes.”
“James needs you.”
“You’re as forgiving as ever.”
