3. Daniela

Antonio tucks me under his arm and leads me up the ramp, his eyes scanning the pier as we approach.

“What’s going on with Alvarez?” I ask, only half expecting an answer. “Thiago pulled out a gun when he approached us on the ramp.”

Antonio doesn’t respond.

“He didn’t point it at him or anything.” Now I feel a bit silly for bringing it up. “Maybe it was a coincidence.”

“Only fools put stock in coincidences. Trust your instincts. Alvarez is a traitor.”

There is no discernable emotion in his voice. That’s when Antonio is most treacherous.

My heart falls into my stomach, as I grab his forearm. “What?”

“He’s no longer your concern,” he says, sharply, slamming the door on any further discussion.

Alvarez was my guard.Assigned to my protection by Antonio himself. He had access to my child. To our home. If he hasn’t already, he’s going to have a brutal end.

I have no sympathy for him. If he’s a traitor, my family was at risk. As far as I’m concerned, his end can’t be brutal enough.

Before I can push for more information about Alvarez, a tall, dark-haired guard who appears to be in his early thirties, approaches with my tote bag. I think his name is Duarte.

“You dropped this when the explosion occurred, senhora.” He turns to my husband before handing me the bag. “It never left my sight.”

Antonio nods.

“Thank you,” I say, taking the tote. Everything inside might be replaceable, but I’m grateful not to have to wade through the bureaucracy.

“My pleasure, senhora.”

As Antonio and I continue across the pier, I have so many questions spinning in my head—most of them about Valentina’s condition. But he’s told me all he knows, so I try something else.

“Did the explosion have anything to do with the package you received earlier?”

“The package was a heads-up.”

What kind of heads-up?I want to ask, but we’re climbing into the helicopter, and even I know now’s not the time.

* * *

After we land,we go directly to a private elevator in Huntsman Lodge, where the girls are receiving medical care. “I know you’re resourceful, but I’m still surprised you were able to get a doctor here so quickly.”

“We’ve always had a staffed clinic here for emergencies, but after my accident we beefed it up. It’s relatively small, but state-of-the-art and highly secure.”

Because it’s not safe to be in a hospital after someone tries to kill you.They’re large and unwieldy, with people coming and going through too many entrances and exits. Hospitals can’t be fully secured.

What kind of life have I brought Valentina into?

She was in danger from the moment the seed was planted. That had nothing to do with Antonio.

He lowers his face to the retinal scan and the doors open to a long hallway with gleaming floors, soft white walls, and bright overhead lighting. It’s pristine. Antonio nods to the two guards flanking the inner doorway.

“The girls are safe here. As are you. But don’t leave this wing—under any condition—without checking with me first.”

“Somehow I doubt the guards will let me leave without your blessing.”

“Not if they want to live to see the sun set.”

God help anyone who crosses him today.

A woman dressed in scrubs greets us just inside. “Boa tarde. Valentina and Alexis are in room three, and Rafael’s in room five.” She smiles. “Although I’m not sure he’s actually in the room.”

Antonio mutters something under his breath about Rafael, and I thank the woman before following him down the hall.

“Has anyone been in touch with Alexis’s parents?” I ask. Her father’s going to be furious. It took a lot of prodding before he allowed her to come back with us.

“Alexis spoke with them briefly from the boat. They’re on their way.”

I hope Antonio’s around to face them with me—especially Will.

The clinic might be more contained than a hospital, but it’s larger than I expected, with several rooms off the main corridor. Perhaps a dozen.Even though we’re moving at a good clip, it’s taking us forever to get to the girls.

Although maybe the walk seems particularly long because there’s a broody, preoccupied Antonio beside me.

He might be quiet, but it’s not a peaceful silence. Someone is going to pay with their life for what happened today. As they should.

While I’m feeling vengeful, I’m not as shaken up as I was after the explosion at Santa Ana’s. Maybe it’s because I know Valentina and Antonio are safe—that everyone’s safe—and I need to remain calm for the girls. Or maybe it’s because even though Antonio shares very little with me, I’m no longer firmly on the outside.

Two months ago, he would have never told me that Alvarez was a traitor, or that the package contained a warning. They’re just crumbs, but a collection of crumbs can be the foundation for a satisfying meal.

I glance at his shoulder. It looks angry and painful. The wound is open, oozing through the charred fabric. The shirt fibers appear to be part of the wound. “Promise me you’ll let a doctor treat that burn.”

He nods. Although it’s nothing more than a halfhearted attempt to pacify me.

“That’s not a promise, Antonio. Open wounds get infected quickly. You can’t threaten the germs away. They’re not afraid of you, even when you’re in a mood.”

His mouth twitches as he pauses outside room three. “I’ll have someone take a look at it.”

“A doctor. Not Cristiano or Lucas.”

He swallows hard. “Valentina and Alexis are inside. Go. I need to find out who blew up the boat.”

“And you need to take care of your shoulder,” I say, firmly, pushing open the door.