Chapter 1

1 My mother-in-law and son were kidnapped by pirates while on a cruise.

The pirates demanded my husband hand over a priceless, one-of-a-kind fossil.

The Coast Guard found my husband's yacht nearby and urged me to call him for help.

I refused.

He'd already given the fossil to his secretary, and they were on their way to a private island getaway.

In my past life, I'd contacted John through a satellite phone, urging him to bring the fossil and save my family.

His secretary, Melissa, stayed behind on the island and was eaten by alligators.

John put on a brave face, even took a family photo with us after their rescue.

The next day, he pushed me into the same alligator pit.

"Poor Melissa didn't even leave a single bone behind," he'd screamed. "Why should you get to live?!"

"Today's the seventh day since she died. Go atone for her!"

This time around, John finally got his dream vacation with Melissa.

And he'd go mad for it.

...

The phantom pain of alligator teeth still lingered, but I heard voices.

"This thing...it's really one of a kind?"

I jolted awake on a beach.

A dozen people surrounded me, a laptop open in front of them.

I was reborn.

A Coast Guard officer looked up from the image of the fossil.

"This is with your husband? Call him! He needs to bring this to save his mother and your son!"

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.

"John bought it last year. Ten million dollars."

"But...this morning, he gave it to Melissa."

Just thinking about them coming home together this morning made my chest ache.

Today was my son, Alex's, eighth birthday.

My mother-in-law had bought all the ingredients for a party yesterday.

But John hadn't come home all night.

He'd strolled in this morning with Melissa, both sporting matching hickeys.

"You mess around all you want," I'd yelled, "but not in our house! It's Alex's birthday! Don't you care about him at all?!"

John just rolled his eyes, pulling Melissa towards the stairs.

"Alex has a birthday every year," he'd said. "But Melissa and I are going to Catalina. We can't miss this."

They'd come back down, Melissa clutching the ten-million-dollar fossil.

John kept it locked in his study, a prized possession no one could touch.

I watched them walk out, my anger simmering beneath a forced calmness.

With John gone, Alex wasn't in the mood to celebrate.

So, my mother-in-law rented a boat to take him out.

And then the pirates struck, demanding the fossil.

Everyone on the beach understood.

John's infatuation with Melissa was no secret.

"You should still call," someone said. "Get them to bring the fossil. Lives are at stake."

I pulled out my phone, playing a recording.

"I already did."

The recording from ten minutes earlier captured my frantic pleas.

John had exploded.

"Sarah! I told you I'm taking Melissa to Catalina! That fossil is her gift!"

"You're just jealous! Don't make up lies about needing it!"

"It's real! Mom and Alex are hostages! They'll die without the fossil!"

"Pirates? What is this, the 1700s? Get real!"

"Besides, we're at sea. Where are these so-called pirates?"

He'd hung up.

I'd been devastated, but the Coast Guard had renewed hope.

"Track John's yacht!"

"He's in the area, heading the opposite direction, but he can be here in three hours!"

The captain reached for the satellite phone, but the pirates called first.

My mother-in-law and Alex appeared on screen, bound and gagged.

"Mom! Alex! Are you okay? Are you hurt?!"

Alex's eyes welled with tears.

"Mommy...help me..." he whispered.

My mother-in-law's silver hair was a mess.

"Sarah, the fossil they want...it's the one in John's study, right? Tell him to bring it! Alex is so young...he won't last..."

Two masked pirates flanked them, their eyes glinting menacingly.

I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe.

"Mom, the fossil...John..."

Her face fell.

"That bastard! He gave it to that hussy, Melissa, didn't he?!"