“The last thing I remember…” She closed her eyes tight and then dissolved into sobs. “You promised I’d be safe. You promised no one would get to me.”
Her biggest fear, the source of constant anxiety, I’d let happen. I knew better than to make promises I couldn’t keep. Wanting to reassure her had led me to break another cardinal rule of the kind of work I did.
“It would be better not to go to the hospital,” said Lucia. “AISE has a medical team who can check her out.”
I nodded at her reflection in the mirror.
“They will meet us at Valentini.”
A few minutes later, Tara tried to sit up, but I kept her tucked in my arms. “Where are we?” she asked.
“Outside of Florence.” I wanted to ask Lucia about Richard Emsworth, if he would be brought to Valentini as well, but didn’t. Given the way he looked in the photos I’d seen, I expected the medical treatment he’d need would be significantly more than Tara.
“I’m going to tell you what happened now, only because there are people waiting for you back at the farmhouse.”
Her body, already tense, tightened more. “People?”
“People who love you.”
“Pia?”
“Ava, Aine, Quinn, and Penelope.”
Her eyes opened wide. “They’re here?”
“They are.”
“Knox, please let me sit up.”
Since she no longer appeared to be struggling, I let her but kept my arm around her shoulders and held one of her hands in mine.
“Why did they come?”
“I contacted Doc from Florence when I got word of your kidnapping. He immediately got a team in the air, himself included, to come to Italy to find you. That team included Razor, Gunner, Mercer, and Tackle.” When she didn’t speak, I continued. “According to Tackle, two of your friends threatened their husbands with divorce unless all four of them could come along.”
I saw a glimmer of a smile. “Sounds like them,” she murmured.
“There’s more I need to tell you.”
Tara closed her eyes. “Okay.”
“The men who kidnapped you were looking for your brother.”
“My what?”
“I know about Brando, Tara.”
“Brand isn’t my brother.”
“Half-brother.”
Tara shook her head. “No. You’re wrong. He’s my father’s secretary’s son.” Her eyes opened wide when the truth dawned on her. “Oh my God,” she cried, putting her head in her hands. “Why were they looking for Brand?”
“From what we’ve been able to piece together, he was the one forging the paintings. It appears your father was unaware he was doing it until shortly before he was charged.”
Her eyes opened, and she looked into mine. “Do you have proof?” she whispered.
“We’ll know more once we’re back at the farmhouse.”