Chapter 6

Gozo, Malta.

An elderly couple hobbled out the door and Charlie took one of their now open seats in the busy waiting room. Visiting hours started in ten minutes. Thankfully, after three long days, Ruzar was now awake. She hadn’t yet seen him, electing to keep her distance while his family kept vigilance. Charlie had checked in with the ward on a daily basis, relieved to hear that he was awake and talking.

She’d come alone to Gozo, leaving Elana at the house in Valletta to finalize the details of the next leg of their trip.

They were still staying with friends in Malta. Well, technically they were Charlie’s brother’s friends. After her father passed, her sibling decided to step back into her life. It wasn’t like they never spoke, but the relationship between her brother—Nathan—and their father was a strained affair. They were always at loggerheads. Nate was much older than Charlie—eight years older. And although they battled to connect, she still relied on his substantial presence. He’d always hated the farm, electing to move to California when Charlie was just a kid. Apart from rare visits, he lived a life entirely separate to hers. He ran a string of successful Michelin Star restaurants. When Nate heard she’d be traveling for the next few months, he’d offered to help with her overseas accommodation, and volunteered to look after the books on the farm. Without his generosity, she’d never have been able to take a break from the grinding work in running such a large farming operation. She’d left a capable team in place, thus retaining her sanity.

Charlie looked up at the clock, wanting to delay the inevitable—an awkward visit. ‘Hi, Ruzar… I didn’t mean to hit you over the head with a tripod… just wanted to say hello before I disappear off into the sunset. Hope we can still be friends.’

God forbid she ran into one of his family members. ‘Sorry for de-braining Ruzar. My name is Charlie—by the way.’

Her hands still trembled. Even after three days of rest. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the stomach-turning view of rocks below dizzying cliffs, as she’d clawed and scrambled her way back to safety. Swallowing back nausea, Charlie fingered her mobile phone, thinking about the call from Donnie earlier in the day. He’d actually called her.

The whole conversation felt confusing. Why was Jamie’s brooding friend suddenly so interested in her welfare? Brooding was a good word to describe Donnie. Whenever she was around, he’d step back in the shadows, and squint at her with those narrow eyes that spoke of heated, wicked things. He rarely smiled or showed emotion. The brutal look that settled most of the time on his hawkish face, motivated her to “poke the bear.” Unfortunately, he poked back, and his verbal jabs sometimes drew blood.

A woman’s pitiful cries had Charlie glancing up. An older lady dressed in a black, tailored suit stepped from Ruzar’s room, her eyes wet with tears. Charlies stomach flipped. Had he taken a turn? The elegant woman turned back and spoke in another language before switching to English. “Rest up, my son. I’ll bring you some treats. Your father will come by later, don’t make him angry. Be a good boy.”

Ruzar’s mother? She sounded like she had a Russian accent, but Charlie was no expert. Two burly men flanked her, as they made their way to the elevator. His mother never looked Charlie’s way, and Charlie felt grateful for the crowded room.

She stood, groaning at her still bruised limbs, and limped up the passage to Ruzar's private room. Second to the left. Nudging the door open, she stepped in.

Ruzar stared out the window, still hooked up to beeping machines and an IV line. Taking a breath, she called his name. He stiffened before slowly turning.

Charlie smiled nervously. “Hey slugger, how are you feeling?”

“Shit. Charlotte.” His already pale face turned gray.

“That bad huh?”

“No. What are you doing here?” He looked over her intently, his eyes pausing at her bandaged arm.

“I came to see you.” She walked up to the bed and placed a hand on his broad shoulder.

“Honey, you need to go. Now.” His gaze was like a soft caress as he traced a finger along her jaw.

“I know you probably don’t want to see me. I socked you across the head and I’m so, so sorry. I was aiming for the driver. I didn’t—”

“No! Firefly. Stop. Jesus, listen to me. You have to go.” Grasping her hand, he tried to sit up and the movement had him groaning.

“Don’t move. Oh, my God, I’m upsetting you.”

His eyes shot to hers, and he pulled her close. The grip on her wrist felt like a manacle. “Go back to America,” he said between gritted teeth. “The men that you killed, their families want vengeance.”

“How would you know that? You’ve just woken—”

“When it’s safe, I’ll come and find you. We can be together, fuck them all.”

She stood there, stunned while frowning at his words. His babbling made no sense and the vengeance part caused a roaring din. Her ears buzzed as her skin grew clammy. Charlie’s pause had him pulling her onto his chest. He grasped a hand to the back of her head and mashed her lips to his.

Charlie wrenched herself out of his hold and stumbled back. “What are you doing? Are you crazy?”

“I can protect you. You and me against the world. When I’ve healed, we’ll meet up. I don’t care where you are, I’ll—”

“Ruzar, stop. I told you on the beach that I wasn’t ready for anything but friendship.”

“Screw friendship, I’ve risked everything for you! My relationship with my family and my career.”

“What are you talking about?”

He erupted. “You want to leave me? Then go, see how far you get!”

His expression—darkening with dangerous emotion—had her stepping back. She hardly knew this man. She’d stupidly trusted him, and his obsessive words made her ill.

“I know these men—the ones that will hunt you—they’re notoriously good at what they do. Killing stupid, naive Americans like you. Start running now, Firefly.”

“Why are you saying this? You’re trying to scare me into staying with you. Is this all a game? Seduce the silly tourist. Well, screw you. The men that attacked us also killed other women on those cliffs. They were a serial killing duo, and now they are dead. The police sergeant says we have nothing to worry about.”

His eyes turned cold. “You’re right. I did try to seduce you. I wanted a quick fuck with a pretty redhead. Except you can’t shut that twangy mouth, and thanks to you, I’m lying in this bed instead of sitting behind my desk. You’ve cost me a big contract.”

His vile words broke the last of the threads that linked her to his Maltese world. She gave him a hostile glare. “I wish you luck. Get well and have a nice life.”

Charlie walked to the door on shaky legs. It had been a mistake coming here.

“Charlotte, I’m sorry.”

“So am I.”

“Firefly, please stay.”

She walked out, not looking back. Charlie stopped by the pharmacy before using the bathroom. She washed her hands robotically in the sink. When a wave of nausea hit, she ran for the toilet. Sinking onto her butt in the quiet cubicle, she cursed the direction her trip had taken. This vacation was supposed to be a fun getaway, and a time for healing. Instead, she felt like broken shards, all exposed and bruised as constant explosions rocked her sanity. She rubbed a temple, and her wrist twitched in pain. Something buzzed against her ass, Charlie reached for the phone. Donnie. Fantastic, another complication to add to her mixed-up world. She rubbed her stomach and answered.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. That deep voice sounding like a growl.

“Don’t ask.”

“Are you at the hospital—visiting your friend?”

He said the word ‘friend’ with disdain. Charlie hadn’t told him much about Ruzar—fudging over the details of her failed holiday romance—but Donnie naturally fitted the pieces together.

“I am. Ruzar is no longer my friend. I barely recognize him, not that I knew him before.”

“What happened?” Concern colored his words.

“He’s not making any sense. Told me that there are men out there that will be hunting me. That he seduced… never mind.”

“Wait. Go back. He said that men are hunting you?”

“He’s delirious from the head wound and being dramatic. I spoke to the sergeant again this morning. They’ve wrapped up the case in a neat little bow and we’re perfectly safe. Elana and I were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”

“I need his full name.”

“The sergeant’s name?”

“Both. Your friend—in the hospital—and the sergeant’s.”

“Okay. What will you do with it, give it to an Army buddy?” She knew Donnie was a veteran—like Jamie—and now they sold military clothing.

He didn’t answer her question. Instead, he asked, “Where are you?”

“In the hospital bathroom.”

“Tell me you’re leaving soon for Morocco. Even better, tell me you’ve changed your mind and you're heading back to the States.”

“We fly out in two hours for Casablanca, then we’re heading to Marrakesh.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

“Wait. What?”

“We’ll be arriving a day behind you. I’ll call when I land in Morocco.”

“I don’t understand. You're flying over because of me?”

“I need a vacation and thought I might annoy you with my presence at the same time. I’m bringing along a friend, a work colleague.”

Donnie went over the details as Charlie sat in stunned silence. Once they’d hung up, she placed the phone to her chest. Charlie could’ve fought him on his decision and told him to stay away. Except she wanted Donnie there. He was the very last man she needed and the very first man she craved.