The satellite phone felt like a live wire hidden in my nightstand drawer.

I had sent the message two days ago. No reply yet. Every hour that passed without a response made my anxiety worse. I moved through the villa like a shadow — playing with the children, cooking meals, letting Alexander hold me at night while my mind raced with plans and fears.

Alexander was watching me more closely than ever. He canceled most of his calls and stayed on the island, his presence a constant, suffocating weight. He made love to me every night with fierce tenderness, as if trying to remind me why I belonged to him....