“These two were near the chopper,” Lucas says when we come out of the hangar in search of him. Like Julian, he’s bloodied and unsteady on his feet, but no less deadly for that—as evidenced by the state of the two men lying on the grass. They’re both groaning and crying, one clutching his bleeding arm and the other attempting to contain blood spurting out of his leg.

“Is that who I think it is?” Julian asks hoarsely, nodding toward the older man, and Lucas smiles savagely.

“Yes. Patrick Sullivan himself, along with his favorite—and last remaining—son Sean.”

I gaze at the younger man, now recognizing his contorted features. It’s Rosa’s assailant, the one who got away.

“I’m guessing they came in the chopper to observe the action and swoop in at the right time,” Lucas continues, grimacing as he holds his ribs. “Except the right time never came. They must’ve learned who you were and called in all the cops who owed them favors.”

“The men we killed were cops?” I ask, beginning to shake as my adrenaline-fueled high starts to fade. “The ones in the Hummers and the SUVs, too?”

“Judging by their gear, many of them were,” Julian replies, wrapping his right arm around my waist. I’m grateful for his support, as my legs are beginning to feel like cooked noodles. “Some were probably dirty, but others just blindly following orders from their higher-ups. I have no doubt they were told we were highly dangerous criminals. Maybe even terrorists.”

“Oh.” My head starts hurting at the thought, and I suddenly become aware of all my aches and bruises. The pain hits me like a tidal wave, followed by an exhaustion so intense that I lean against Julian, my vision going gray.

“Fuck.” With that muttered expletive, my world tilts, turning horizontal, and I realize that Julian picked me up, lifting me against his chest. “I’m going to take her to the plane,” I hear him saying, and I use all of my remaining strength to shake my head.

“No, I’m fine. Please let me down,” I request, pushing at his shoulders, and to my surprise, Julian complies, carefully setting me on my feet. He keeps one arm around my back, but lets me stand on my own.

“What is it, baby?” he asks, looking down at me.

I gesture toward the two bleeding men. “What are you going to do with them? Are you going to kill them?”

“Yes,” Julian says. His blue eyes gleam coldly. “I will.”

I take a slow breath and release it. The girl Julian brought to the island would’ve objected, offered him some reason to spare them, but I’m not that girl anymore. These men’s suffering doesn’t touch me. I’ve felt more sympathy for a beetle turned onto its back than for these people, and I’m glad Julian is about to take care of the threat they present.

“I think Rosa should be here for this,” Lucas says. “She’ll want to see justice served.”