Home > Illusion (Swept Away #1)(68)

Illusion (Swept Away #1)(68)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“I don’t think he’s dead.” He shook his head, and his eyes gleamed. “I could have killed him though. I could have taken his life just like that.”

I shivered at his statement. How easily he talked of death. He scared and fascinated me. “But what about all the blood on your hands?”

“I stabbed him in the thigh so he couldn’t run away.” He shrugged. “There was a lot of blood.”

“It doesn’t make sense though.” My brain ached as I thought about everything that had gone down. “Why would he try to kill both of us?” I frowned and studied his face. “Everything in me tells me that this has to do with my mother’s death, yet what role do you have in it?”

“Why do you think it only has to do with your mother’s death?”

“When I went to the shack, I saw a photograph. It was of me and my parents and in the corner of the photo was another couple with a son. There was a note on the back of the photo. It alluded to my father being greedy.” I paused as I felt the need to yawn and then continued. “Steve was clearly trying to send me a message that my family is greedy. Mattias must be worried that I’m going to try to take over the family business.” I looked directly at Jakob. “The thing I don’t get though, is how are you involved in all of this?” I stopped and tried not to show him the sadness in my face. My brain hurt as I tried to think why Jakob was on the island with me. It just didn’t make sense. Even if Steve had been after me and the information I had on the Bradley family, why would someone kidnap Jakob as well?

Jakob studied my face and sighed. “Let’s go back to the beach. We can talk more there.”

“Where’s Steve’s body?”

“He’s on the beach.” He grimaced. “Don’t worry though, he won’t be able to do anything to us.”

“How do you know?”

“I’m pretty sure he’s unconscious.”

“Oh.”

“I found some other things in his pocket. Things I think you should see.”

“Oh?”

“Let’s get to the beach first.” His hands moved down, and I jumped. “It’s okay, Bianca. I’m just going to carry you.”

“You can’t.” I shook my head and yawned. “It’s too far. I’m too heavy.”

“You’re perfect, Bianca.” He kissed my forehead. “Shh.” He picked me up into his arms. “Close your eyes and rest,” he whispered in my ear as I laid my head against his chest.

“You must be tired too,” I mumbled, suddenly exhausted and unable to keep my eyes open.

“Just sleep, Bianca,” he murmured, and continued walking. “Just get some sleep.” His arms adjusted beneath me, and I felt warmed and comforted by him. As he walked slowly out of the jungle, I drifted off to sleep.

“Are you terribly sore?” he whispered in my ear as he set me gently on the ground. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around the beach. It was hard for me to believe that this tranquil spot had been the scene of a bloodbath just hours before.

“I’m okay.” I touched his shoulder. “Honestly, I’ll be fine. That’ll teach me to stop going to the gym.”

“You don’t strike me as a gym rat.”

“Thus my comment that I don’t really go.” I grinned.

“When Steve and I were fighting all I could think about was you.” Jakob sat on the ground and lifted my head onto his lap. “Every punch and kick that came my way meant nothing to me. It meant nothing because all I could think about was coming to find you and save you.”

“I’m surprised he got so many punches in.” I frowned up at him. “I’m not trying to be offensive, but he didn’t look that strong.”

“I guess appearances can be deceiving.” Jakob stroked my forehead. “Turns out Steve had a wicked right hook.”

“No way.” My eyes widened with shock. I could barely believe that puny, pale Steve had any real strength, but then I supposed he would need some sort of skills if he did this sort of thing for a living. I remembered something he’d said when we’d first met. He had talked about traveling a lot for his job and taking on different assignments. Maybe he was one of those men who people hired to take care of difficult situations, like me.

“So you think he was working for someone?” I asked Jakob, my mind racing.

“That’s what I think.” He nodded. “I found two needles in his pockets.”

“Needles?” I tried to sit up, but Jakob shook his head and pushed me back down.

“I don’t know what he was planning to do with them, but I have my ideas.” He pulled me into his arms. “I don’t know how a man like that could even think of harming an innocent woman.”

“I was so scared when I was up in that tree.” My voice was soft as I remembered how scared I had been. “I couldn’t even allow myself to think, because all I could think about was you. What if he killed you? What if something happened? What would I do? How would I survive? I couldn’t even allow my mind to think about the possibility of your getting hurt. It scared me so much. My whole body shut down on me and went numb. I closed my eyes and waited for what seemed like an eternity. I couldn’t even look down. I just held on to the branches and waited, thinking about nothing.”

“I’m sorry.” Jakob looked despondent for a few seconds, and then he leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “I’m safe now, Bianca. You don’t have to be scared anymore.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I’m trying.”

“What can I do to help?” His fingers stroked my face.

“Just hold me,” I whispered, and pulled him down next to me. “Hold me and talk to me.”

“What do you want to talk about?” His arms slipped around my waist, and he pulled me toward him.

“I don’t know.” I closed my eyes and thought about the photograph. “I want to think of happy thoughts.”

“What makes you happy?” he asked gruffly.

“Seeing you alive.” I smiled at him. “And thinking about my parents.” I sighed. It always came back to my parents.

“Tell me about them. What do you remember about them?”

“I remember that my mother used to love to bake.” I talked idly. “Chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies. Every Sunday, she would make them.” I smiled at the memory. “Even after she died, my father would take me to a bakery on the Lower East Side and we’d get cookies and milk.”

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