Stolen Obsession by Marlene M. Bell

Author:Marlene M. Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Marlene M. Bell
Published: 2022-08-04T17:28:47+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

A moan took her attention from the water in the Aegean.

“Alec, you’re back.” Annalisse crouched beside him, sliding one hand under his head. “Take my hand. Go slow.”

He touched his forehead as she carefully raised his torso.

“Big-ass headache,” he said as he made circles on both temples.

Sitting upright, he rubbed the next spot that hurt him. “How did I get the goose egg on my skull? I feel like a broiler chicken on the rotisserie.” He shuffled to his feet. “Don’t feel well.” Staggering, he lunged for the arm of the deck chair, his face a ghostly white.

“Small steps. Sit here, and I’ll bring you some water.”

When she returned, she asked him, “How much do you remember?”

“Just a minute.” He guzzled the bottle in a matter of seconds.

She handed him another. “Drink slowly. You’ve been unconscious for a while, but some nice fishermen moved you into the shade. We’re being towed back to Sitia.”

He took a long swig and wiped the side of his mouth. Alec looked at their surroundings with glazed-over vision. “Fishermen towing us? Why? The yacht is ripped up.” He shook his head. “Who did this? What happened?”

“Sit back please, Alec.”

His eyes widened as he scanned the black pool on the deck. “Is that dried blood?”

“Do you remember boarding the Gen Amore?” she asked.

“Yeah.” Comprehension dawned on his face. “The speedboat. Those men. Are Mom and Dad below?” Alec grabbed her wrist, the plea in his voice mirroring his expression.

Annalisse choked back a sob and held him tenderly, her own body trembling. For his sake, she had to keep herself together and not break down. How would she do that? The horrible exchange between Pearce and the turbaned guy—all that blood. And how would she tell Alec that his life had changed forever?

Limp with exhaustion, she sat down on a torn cushion next to him and began to explain to Alec, who was in stunned shock, what had happened to his parents.

When she’d finished the heartbreaking narrative, he wiped his eyes and shivered outwardly. “Tell me I’m going to wake up. That this is my imagination…”

Annalisse felt his gut-racking hurt along with him. She understood all too well. He needed to know that things would be all right, even though they wouldn’t be. Not for a long while… or never. She pushed aside the fact that Generosa was still missing.

“Alec.” Annalisse knelt before him, waiting until he gazed at her through his tears. “I’m so very sorry.” She rested her cheek on his thigh to dam the salty burn of tears spilling over.

His trembling hand caressed her hair lightly, then he wept uncontrollably on her shoulder.

The sight of such a strong, confident man buckling in anguish destroyed her. She could bear her own grief but not his. She embraced him and gave him a quick, motherly kiss on the temple, tasting perspiration and despair as if they were one.

After a time, his shudders subsided, and he guided her to his mouth for a sobering kiss. All at once, he drew back as if his internal light bulb had switched on.

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