“It's me,” Sabrina said.
“Oh, my God, Sabrina,” Marco said, clearly relieved. “Where in the hell are you? We've been searching the island non-stop. I haven't slept in days.”
“I'm so sorry,” she said. “I shouldn't have done this to you, but I had to get away.”
“Are you still on Orsino?” he asked. “Where are you calling from?”
“I'm using my Aunt's phone,” Sabrina said.
“You went back to Memphis then?” His voice broke slightly.
“No, I'm not in Memphis,” she replied. “I'm using my Aunt's phone, because she's here with me on Orsino. She came out to see me.”
“Thank God,” Marco said, relief flooding every word. “Where on the Island are you? The guards have been searching homes and boats, looking through every nook and cranny to find you.”
Sabrina chuckled. “You missed a spot. I'm staying at the South End Motel.”
“Why didn't the guards check there?” he said. “They told me they searched everywhere. Don't go anywhere. I'll be there in a few minutes.”
Marco hung up the phone and Sabrina stepped back into the main room of the motel. Faye was still seated on the love seat and when Sabrina walked in, she smiled at her.
“How did it go?” Faye asked.
“He's on his way here now,” Sabrina said. “He seemed very excited to see me.”
“As he should be,” she said. “You'll be a sight for sor
e eyes for him. You've been missing for two days, so I can only imagine how worried he was about you.”
“I'm going to gather the few things that I have here and get ready to go back to the Palace,” Sabrina said, as she picked up the living room a bit. “Are you coming with me?”
“I'd love to,” Faye said, standing up from the couch. “As long as I'm invited, that is. I don't want to intrude.”
“You would most certainly not be intruding, Aunt,” she replied. “In fact, I really want you to be there. I need you on this. I feel like I'm about to walk into a lion's den and I don't want to go in alone.”
“You know I've got your back, kid,” Faye said, as she helped Sabrina clean up the motel room.
Only a few minutes passed before Sabrina heard the sound of a car pulling up to the motel. A second later and someone was knocking frantically on the door. When she opened it, Marco stepped in with open arms and pulled her in for a hug.
“Sabrina, you had me scared to death,” Marco said, squeezing Sabrina so tightly that it was clear he never wanted to let her go.
She pressed her face into his chest and breathed him in. His familiar scent calmed the anxiety that had been in her heart for two days. Being in his arms again felt right, and she knew she was making the right decision by giving him another chance.
“I'm so sorry,” she said. “I was just scared and embarrassed. I couldn't face anybody. I just wanted to run and hide, so that's what I did.”
Marco pulled away, but kept his hands on her shoulders. He looked deep into her eyes, and Sabrina breathed a sigh of relief.
“Please come home,” he said, his eyes filling with tears. “I can't live without you. I need you, Sabrina.”
“I'm going back with you,” she said. “But I'm still so nervous about Magdalena.”
“Don't be,” Marco said. “I took care of it.”
Sabrina cocked her head to the side. “How so?”
“It doesn't matter,” he said. “All you need to know is that she won't be bothering us anymore.”
Sabrina was confused, but decided not to push the issue. If Marco said things were fine, then she had faith that they would be.