Two weeks later

Alicia’s POV:

And then came the words I didn’t expect to hear from Acker.

“I will be leaving the country for a while, and so will Serrano,” he said as though he were concluding some business meeting.

I blinked… slowly while my brain processed his words. As it did, there came a vastly unpleasant feeling crawling up my throat and threatening to choke me.

“What?” I asked aloud as if it would change what I had just heard.

Acker must have not heard me, because he continued, “In the meantime, our men will look after you. They are under orders to follow your commands-“

“No, wait wait.” I raised my two hands and he instantly quietened, but not before giving me a warning glare which I didn’t pay any attention to, of course. “You’re leaving?” My voice softened.

Mikael stepped forward, still holding my picture frame in his hand. “There are some things that have to be done, marina. And they can’t be done here.”

I could see the agreement in their postures, and knew that they had jointly decided th