CHAPTER 10

HANNAH

Leaning back in the lounger by the pool, I lifted my face to the sun, enjoying the heat as it soaked into my bones, warming and soothing the aches that had developed after my kidnapping. If we weren’t packing up today to go to Livingstone, I could quite happily have stayed right here all day. It was peaceful and quiet, the only noise the faint sounds of the pump for the pool. Opening my eyes, I watched as butterflies and bees flew from one flower to another, gathering nectar.

Letting out a happy sigh, no imminent feeling of panic was ready to take over, even though I was alone. From here I could see Miah, Drake, and Sam on the veranda talking to Renee. I’d enjoyed meeting her, instantly feeling comfortable in her presence. She had a calm about her that made you feel like nothing in this world would hurt you. Last night between her, Anton, and Luca I’d been relaxed, and I’d had fun, first at dinner, then at the club. If it wasn’t for the nightmare that had woken me up, I would have said I was back to normal. Although with Anton there to soothe me, I’d quickly found sleep again.

I loved being wrapped in his arms—it was the one place I felt completely safe.

Closing my eyes again, I opened up my senses to see if my tiger was reachable. I think Anton was right, she wasn’t completely gone. Even though I couldn’t feel her, it didn’t bother me nearly as much today as it usually would. I just wish she knew that I didn’t blame her.

I smelt him long before I heard him coming. Smiling as his hand ran over my head, I opened my eyes and tilted my head back to see him better. Immediately, he sank down on his heels next to my lounger, and I nuzzled into the hand he had cupped on my cheek, “Hi, baby girl, how are you feeling?”

Pressing my hand to his to hold it to my cheek, I replied with a small smile, “I’m fine. Just soaking up the sun and waiting for you to let me know when you’re ready to go.”

Letting go of my cheek, he shuffled my legs over and sat on the lounger next to me, explaining, “There’s been a slight change of plan. It seems that we’ll be picking up two more people today. Although they did go about it the right way and asked permission first,” he grumbled slightly.

“Okay. Who are we picking up?”

Tilting his head towards the veranda and the Americans, “Two more from their team. Another teammate and their old commander,” Anton responded.

Lifting my hand, I rubbed at his cheek, “What’s got you worried?”

Dark eyes met and held mine, “I don’t want you to get overwhelmed with all the new people. You’re only just starting to recover, and I don’t want you to have a setback.”

Needing to be closer to him, I moved and sat on his lap, instantly feeling better as his arms surrounded me. Tucking my face into his neck and inhaling deep, I thought about his words. My eyes rolling into the back of my head as his fingers threaded through my long hair and massaged the back of my nape. Letting out a low moan, I melted into him.

Enjoying his touch and if he wasn’t waiting for me to answer, I would have happily stayed there all afternoon. If it had been a week ago, I wouldn’t have been ready, but a switch had been flipped when I walked to their farm from Julie’s, knowing that’s where I needed to be.

I was stronger than I had been, and I was slowly coming back into my old self. Anton didn’t know what I used to be like, but it wasn’t anything like the woman he’d met. Usually, I was strong and nothing much got me down. I’d get there again; I’d lean on him until I didn’t need to anymore. For now, I’d try and explain that all I needed was him next to me and I’d be fine.

“I’ll be fine, Anton, as long as you’re with me, I can handle anything. One day I hope the woman I was will come back. She wasn’t weak, and I miss her,” I told him.

He gave a small snort at my words before leaning back in the lounger and getting comfortable. “Baby girl, you aren’t weak. What you went through would have broken most, but here you are bouncing back. I have full faith that when you’re back to full strength, you’ll be giving us all hell.”

Smirking at him, I didn’t deny it. I was convinced it was the red hair because Julie was calm as could be.

Wondering what the changes were, I asked, “So what’s happening then?”

“We’ll be leaving soon, but I was going to ask if you could call your friends and ask if they would mind adding an extra two to our party,” Anton said, handing me his phone.

“Sure,” I agreed, finding the contact information I needed and pressing the call button.

Twenty minutes later, I’d added the additional information, having got their names from Miah and confirmation that they could accommodate us.

They’d be arriving late this afternoon at the airport in Livingstone. With the bookings confirmed, we joined the rest of our group on the veranda, and after a leisurely lunch, we walked out of the hotel ready for the next part of the journey, which I knew would take us about five hours as long as nothing unforeseen happened on the road.

Turning to Renee, I hugged her as we said goodbye, whispering, “Thank you for all my new clothes, and for making me feel so welcome.”

Arms tight around me, she rocked me a little, before smiling at me, “You’re welcome, Han, I enjoyed shopping for you. Don’t let these boys give you a hard time and if they do, tell me. I know lots of secrets about them.”

“Hey,” Luca muttered playfully. “Less of that. Can’t have you ganging up with my favourite sister-in-law.”

Snorting with laughter, I chuckled, “I’m going to be your only sister-in-law. And I may have to take Renee up on that just to keep you in line.”

Luca gasped in mock shock at me, “Anton, come get your woman. Renee is corrupting her.”

With a quick grin at me, Anton picked me up and deposited me in the back of the vehicle, saying, “Come on trouble, before you give Luca a heart attack.”

After depositing me in the back seat, Anton walked to the driver’s side. Looking out the window, I watched a laughing Renee as she grinned up at Luca from within the circle of his arms. What was interesting to me was the unhappy look on Miah’s face as he watched them. Catching Anton’s eye in the rearview mirror, I noticed a gleam in his eyes. He’d seen what I’d seen.

Hitting the hooter to get Luca’s attention, Anton called out, “Come on, we’re going to be late.”

With a flick of his hand at Anton and a cheeky grin at Miah, Luca pressed a kiss to Renee’s head. I swear the human in front of me growled.

Anton stifled a chuckle, but I saw his shoulders moving up and down. His eyes filled with amusement when he caught mine in the mirror.

A small smile on my face, I stuck my hand out of the window as we moved off, calling goodbye to Renee. With a happy sigh, I snuggled into the pillows and blankets that were waiting for me on the back seat, my eyes already drowsy from the movement of the vehicle. ‘I’ll just catch a little nap,’ I thought as my eyes drifted shut, listening to the low hum of Anton and Miah’s voices from the front.