e man-Bryce-had already passed out from the pain, which was a relief for both of them. When the last rough stitch was finally drawn together, the adrenaline that had sustained her for hours a

gray, but the chill left by the storm still lingered in the cave. She reached out and touched his forehead-it w

panic tried to surge up her throat, but she swallowed it down hard. There

r teeth against the bone-chilling cold, lay down beside him, pressed her body c

as pure instinct, a drowning person grasping at driftwood. Catherine froze. This touch was a shock to her entire nervous system, an unwanted intimacy from a stranger. But he was too cold, and she was his on

, until a new voice broke the rhythm of the waves and the wind. A lo

and peered out. A sleek black helicopter hovered above the island, its searchlight sweeping

ltaneously. Who were they? His frien

iciency. The leader was called Jax Stone, with a cold, hard face and eyes as emotionless as a kil

d onto Bryce first, then swept to Catherine. He dre

he commanded,

r. "Jax... stop."Bryce woke up, propping himself up on one elb

gun. He gave a brief command, and his men swarmed the cave with stretchers and first-aid

Catherine, his tone filled with more respect but still lac

ne. His eyes were clearer now, the feverishness slightly receding. "N

ed him without hesitation. Money was the last thing she needed. "

is was clearly not the answer he was used

e," she said. "A fligh

to brush away the layer of grime and exhaustion from her face to

e of water, and a blanket. She watched as the medical staff tended to Bryce-cleaning the wound, properly bandaging the rough stitches she had just m

he call, his voice low and resolute, issuing a series of orders that could shake the market and e

e who he was or what he did. He was just a tool, a means to her destination. Her entir

-capturing her quiet stillness, her complete indifference to him and his

is voice cut through

offering no more informa

he pilot, Rick Sullivan. "Plan changed. Let's

rised glance, but neither opened t

back by the arrangement, but s

nd those astonishingly clear eyes. This woman was a