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“Don’t worry about that, it’s over now.”
“It’s over?” My voice trembled and he brushed my tears away, nodding slowly.
I reached up, holding both his wrists as I closed my eyes, exhaling a shaky breath. He leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead and I suddenly pulled back.
“Samantha?” I half smiled as I looked out the window, the view being a perfect indicator that we were a long way from home. “Samantha’s here too?”
He hesitantly smiled, then brushed my hair back and out of my face. “She was just as keen as anyone to get you back home.”
“Where are we?” I murmured.
He rose to his feet and sat down behind me, wrapping both arms around my waist. I leaned back into his warm embrace, feeling his lips leave repeated kisses to the top of my head. “Hawaii.” He answered and my head jerked back. I blinked long and hard, the sudden movement making me dizzy. Oh my—
“I need to know what happened—“
He shook his head. “No, you don’t. Trust me. It’s over and it doesn’t matter.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek knowing that deep down… I didn’t want to relive it. “Yeah?”
He nodded, and so did I before he cupped the side of my face and I rested my shoulder to his chest, releasing a shaky breath.
The bedroom door opened and I looked up to see Cesar, Nereus and Samantha enter, all looking relieved.
“Nirah.” Nereus’s shoulders dropped.
All I could do was smile, sadly, as my eyes shifted between the three of them.
“How are you feeling?” Nereus stopped at the edge of the bed.
“I’ve been better.” I weakly chuckled, giving my shoulder a slight shrug and he smiled, his face softening. I shifted my eyes to Samantha. “I heard you helped save me.”
She folded her arms over her chest, eyes narrowed. “Let’s not confuse things, sweetheart,” she bitterly drawled. “Me and you?” She motioned her finger between us. “We’re still enemies.”
I grinned. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, Judy Blume.”
She forced a smile, so I spoke again.
“And here I was even willing to give you a little kiss to say thank you.”
Her eyebrows raised and her arms fell. “A kiss?”
In one smooth motion she was sitting on the edge of the bed, legs crossed as she leaned forward on her hands. “What kind of kiss?” She kept her voice low, eyes lit with interest.
“Samantha, get out,” Antonio ordered behind me and she groaned before getting to her feet and leaving the room.
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling like yourself again, Miss Nirah.” Cesar smiled and both Nereus and I chuckled, but my smile dropped.
“Sally,” I slowly looked back to Antonio. “If we’re all—”
“She’s with the nanny, Nirah. Relax. She’s fine.”
I exhaled, leaning back and into Antonio’s arms.
“She needs to get some rest,” Antonio said and Nereus’s face twisted in annoyance. “Get the doctor back here.” He ordered Cesar who nodded.
Cesar took hold of Nereus’s hand. “Let’s give them some privacy.”
He carefully pulled Nereus to his feet and when my brother opened his mouth to protest, Cesar simply pinned him with a look.