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I harrumphed in response. Allow, my ass.

He pulled my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles before backing away. When he was at the door, his entire demeanor changed. Without looking back, he made a statement I’d been anticipating. “Afterwards, I’m contacting the hospital. I am finished with waiting.”

There was no answer I could offer, no sense of comfort. We were both on pins and needles.

I leaned against the railing, alternating my gaze between the beach and the road. Who would have thought my life would have turned out this way? Yes, there was a significant sum in the account, a couple million at least, but even now in thinking about the figure and where the money had come from, I was sick to my stomach.

Well, almost everything made me nauseous. I rubbed my stomach again, my thoughts drifting to the good that it could be used for.

The Black Diamond Medical Cancer Center.

I held up my glass, eager to return to my life. All while a black cloud was hanging over us. As I was mulling over what I’d say to Julie and to Hope, I noticed a vehicle was rolling down the road. From where I stood, I couldn’t tell the make or model, but it wasn’t one I readily recognized from the employees who worked at the house.

I leaned further over the railing as it came closer.

Wait a minute. Why did that look an awful lot like Hope’s car? That wasn’t possible. Or was it?

As I continued to look, I noticed movement from two of the soldiers who were chasing the car down. Really?

I rushed inside, hurriedly placing my glass on the counter. If I was right, I could only imagine what the soldiers would do given her ballsy personality. By the time I made it to the door and had thrown it open, the car was already stopped with Hope jumping out.

“Who are you?” Mario asked.

Excitement tore through me as well as immediate amusement.

“I’m Hope Carlson. How quickly you forget. Remember me? Halloween?”

Mario was highly uncomfortable. “Do you have an appointment with the Pakhan?”

“The Pakhan,” she repeated and struggled with something in her backseat.

I leaned against the door, enjoying the show.

“No, I don’t have an appointment, and this isn’t business. I have something to discuss with Mr. Aristov.”

“With no appointment, I’m afraid I’m going to need to ask you to leave.”

“I will not!”

“Mario. It’s okay.”

“See!” she exclaimed and jerked a large box into her arms. My God. She’d cleaned out my office. I don’t know why, but seeing a few of my things peeking out from the top was worse than hearing about my own funeral.

She was around the front of her car before it dawned on her the voice she’d heard. She stopped where she was, her chest heaving and it took her five full seconds for her to lift her head. “Isabel.”

I cocked my head. “It’s really me.”

Her squeal could likely be heard all the way down the road. She shoved the box in Mario’s arms and flew up the stairs, almost tackling me to the floor. “Oh. My. God. You’re alive. How. What? Who? Is it possible? Am I seeing a ghost?”

I gently pushed her away, smiling at Mario. “You can leave the box on the porch and I’ll get it later.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, Isabel. You have no idea how sick I’ve been. I just don’t understand.”

“Come inside. I think you need a glass of wine.”

“I need a couple shots of tequila.”