Myla turned, her green eyes lighting with excitement. “You’re awake.” She jumped up from her seat and rushed past the shiny mahogany coffee table separating them to throw her arms around Kara’s neck. “I’ve missed you.”

Kara hugged her sister and whispered, “What’s going on?”

Myla leaned back, her green eyes aglow, her long, silky brunette hair groomed to perfection. “I found out you were looking for me and I wanted you to know I’m okay. Kara, I’m in love. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”

“In love? With who? Ignacio?”

Myla laughed, and Kara noted the dress her sister had on was a clearly very expensive silver sheath no waitress could afford. “Ignacio?” Myla asked. “Oh God, no.” She motioned to Alvarez.

Kara looked at Alvarez and gaped. He arched a brow. “Is there a problem, Kara?”

“Yes,” Kara said. “Yes, there is.” She turned to Myla. “We need to talk alone.”

“Michael is with me, Kara. I’m with him.”

“Michael?” Kara asked. “You call him by his first name?”

Myla took Kara’s hand. “I want you to come back with me. Spend some time with me and Michael and see what life can be like for us.”

“Back with you? Back where?”

“She can’t tell you that,” Alvarez said. “Not until we know you’re with us.”

“I’m not with you. I’ll never be with you.” Kara’s hands went to her sister’s face. “Listen to me. Whatever he threatened you with—”

“I love him, Kara. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Kara shook her head. “No.” Myla’s words didn’t ring true. Not in her tone. Not from her sister. Myla hated crime. She hated everything associated with its poison. “No, I don’t believe you. Our parents—”

“Michael would kill anyone who tried to hurt us.”

There was a coldness to her tone that Kara barely recognized from her sister. “Do you know who and what he is?”

“You don’t know all there is to know about him.” She took Kara’s hand again. “I need you in my life.”

“I can’t be in your life if you’re with him. I won’t.”

Tears suddenly pooled in Myla’s eyes. “I don’t want to say goodbye to you.” She wrapped her arms around Kara, holding her as if she was clinging for life.

“Please don’t stay with him,’ Kara whispered.

“I have to,” Myla whispered. “You have to see that.”

Was there torment in her words? Kara leaned back to try to read her sister, but Myla pushed away and stood up. “Goodbye, Kara,” she said, and the tears were gone.

Alvarez stepped beside Myla, taking her hand in his. “You will be escorted back to your hotel, Kara.”