ISABELLA
When I step off the plane after Demitri landed us safely on Winter’s island, I brace myself as Ana runs to me.
“Isabella!” she shrieks, and then she throws herself at me.
My arms envelop her, and then we just hold each other.
“Told you I’d come back,” I whisper.
Ana nods against my shoulder, then she pulls back, her eyes searching behind me. She walks around me, and I turn to see where she’s going.
Alexei stops a couple of steps from Ana, and they stare at each other.
Ana’s chin begins to quiver, then she says, “Thank you for keeping your promise.”
Alexei nods. “Couldn’t let you down.”
Ana lets out a sputter, and then she moves closer. Alexei lifts his bandaged hand and pauses midway to touching her. When Ana nods, he places it on her shoulder, and then she closes the last of the distance.
“Careful, Alexei has broken ribs,” I warn her.
She pulls back, but then Alexei tugs her against him, wrapping his right arm around her.
Emotion wells in my chest, and my eyes begin to burn, knowing the significance of this moment. Alexei’s the first man to touch Ana since she was raped and almost killed.
Ana only lets him hold her for a couple of seconds before she moves away, wiping the back of her hand over her cheek. “Now, I can hold you to your other promise.”
Frowning, I ask, “What promise?”
Alexei chuckles. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You still have a couple of body parts I can break.”
He moves in behind Ana. “You need to get through our Ana first.”
Letting out a burst of laughter, I shake my head at them.
Winter comes to stand next to me. “Can I talk to you?”
Nodding, I follow her a short distance. “What’s up?”
Winter's eyes meet mine. “I just want to say thank you for coming after me when I fell.”
“Of course.”