Chapter 27

C H A P T E R 2 7 : B R E A T H L E S S

E L L A S T A N F O R D

Ella closed her door, searched through her purse to make sure she had her key, trying to stop the aching in the pit of her stomach as Javier took her arm and she felt the power of those strong fingers around her. They were walking in silence and after she could make sure that her heartbeat was steady and she was no longer out of breath, Ella pointed it out again, “You said you brought me to Sicily to help you persuade him to join us.”

Close to her ear, Javier said softly, “I want to sign him up, not strangle him, love.”

She felt a confused sensation of excitement and alarm, her ears drumming. Somehow she walked along the corridor beside him to the lift, trying to force her breathing to slow. In the lift she stood a foot away from him, her eyes lowered. They walked through the foyer to the car park in silence. Javier opened the door and she quickly slid into the passenger seat before he could touch her to assist her.