A large crashing wave came through and, as it passed, Alex unclipped Valeria from the rope on the cave wall and clipped the cord around his own waist. “Swim!”
She let go of the slimy rope and struggled to figure out how to swim but instead ended up kicking Alex with her fin. She couldn’t move her arms and Valeria realized she was just a weight to him and he was unable to use his right arm or leg. With her fear mounting, she pulled the snorkel out of her mouth and sucked on the canned air.
Immediately, Alex turned to her. “We need to go back!” he yelled, and she could hear the panic in his voice. The next wave was building and she remembered what he had said that a wave could trap them at the very back of the cave.
Fighting the swift outflow of current, he struggled to get them both back to the side of the cave wall. She watched with horror as the next monstrous wave built strength and was about to crash through the opening of the cave. Just as it struck, she heard the deafening crash and felt Alex frantically reaching for the rope. She saw his hands on it. But he couldn’t maintain his grasp with the strong current. He kicked even harder and his hands once again slid off the slick rope; finally, he got a hold of it and was able to latch the cord back around it. Once secured, he pulled her back into his arms just as the wave hit with much more fury.
Alex winced. “That didn’t work too well. We’ll figure this out.” He glanced around and then nodded, as if he received a non-verbal communication. “Caleb made it out.”
“Let’s see.” He took a deep breath. “Val, drop your fins. I think it will work better with you on my back. Wrap your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist. Then I can use my arms and legs to get us out of here.”
It all sounded frightening to her but she nodded. Alex adjusted the cord and she wrapped herself tightly around him.
“Remember, we are going to dive as the next wave comes in, so I’ll tell you to take your breaths and then put your mouth piece in and breathe slowly,” he said. “When I tap you, if you are okay, give me a thumbs up. Okay?” Through her shivering she managed to give him a thumbs up.
She heard the crash of a large wave and knew they were about to head back out. “Ready?” He started swimming and she clung to him while attempting to keep her face up out of the water. But it was almost impossible. She opened her eyes so that she could at least see the waves, and then realized that they had made it to the cave entrance as she looked up at the moonlight and stars in appreciation.
“Take your breaths now. One, two, three. Ready?” She nodded. “Can in your mouth. Are you good?”
A wave splashed her and she fumbled nervously, but finally, she got the can in her mouth and did a thumbs up. He dove deeper into the water, and she clung to him with all of her remaining strength. She kept her eyes closed and just breathed. Using his arms and legs, Alex took long, deep strokes downward.
She could feel the violent turbulence of the wave above them and wondered if they had been pushed back into the cave. Her own breathing and heartbeat drowned out most of the sounds. She remembered she was supposed to slow down her breathing but when she tried, she felt breathless and it seemed like she just couldn’t catch her breath. She prayed that they would surface and soon! Alex must have sensed it and patted her thigh. She shook violently, but forced herself to give him a thumbs up. He kept going.
Laying her head against his back soothed her, and finally, they rose and broke the surface. Immediately, she spit the mouthpiece out, but a large wave was heading right at them.
“Going back under.” Alex dove before she could say or do anything. She fumbled and finally got the can back into her mouth and breathed deeply. Alex had patted her thigh several times and, again, she forced herself to give him a thumbs up and laid her head against his back.
She noticed that she was having to suck on the mouth piece to get a breath from it. She wondered if it was psychosomatic and worked to relax her breathing. She wondered how to tell Alex that she wasn’t all right. They hadn’t talked about that. But what could he do? He couldn’t risk rising and getting them thrown back into the cave or slammed into the rocks.
Then the can completely stopped giving her air. She hung on as long as she could but now her lungs ached and she had to breathe! She let go of Alex and waved her limbs violently, trying to get to the surface. The current caught her and started to jerk her back toward the cave. Alex grabbed her foot and tried to pull her back down as her lungs were about to explode. She fought him…needing to breathe. She was out of time and she knew she would die as he held her tightly near the bottom. Then he forced something into her mouth and she realized it was air!
She breathed deeply and stopped struggling as he held her tightly. He tapped her and she gave him a thumbs up and climbed on his back as Alex kicked all the harder.
At last they broke the surface, and he drew several audible gasps for air. Valeria pulled the can from her mouth and let out a whimper as he yanked off his goggles and pulled her around in front of him.
“Val! Are you alright?” He was out of breath and it was her fault. She tried to nod, but felt the quivers begin. “Look,” he said, as he pointed to the shore. “We made it past the breakers. No more diving!”
Glancing around in the moonlight, he finally located Caleb quite a distance from them and saw him lift a thumbs up. When Alex responded with the same, Caleb continued snorkeling.
Alex kissed her. “Just a little further. I’m going to hold your hand. You can help by kicking your feet. It’s all easy going from here!”
She knew that she should be okay. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Still, she put the snorkel back into her mouth, placed her face in the water, and held Alex’s hand as she kicked.
After a few moments he stopped. “Look, Val, that’s where we’re going.”
She felt a shudder of relief as she saw Caleb climbing onto the small motor boat. It would be Lars or Tavish…maybe Ava. Despite her exhaustion, she kicked even harder and in minutes they were there. She was grateful to see the hand reaching down to her, and clasped it. She was nearly in the boat when she glanced up and—to her absolute horror—realized it was Paolo!
In a sudden panic, she struggled to free herself from his grip and fell back into the water, her face plunging under, before she rose and screamed out, “No!” Valeria turned in terror and splashed and kicked trying to move away as Paolo tried to pull her onboard. She tried to scream a warning to Alex, but instead, she breathed in water and then frantically began swimming back out to sea.
Alex tried to catch her but, in her near hysteria, she thought it was Paolo taking her back to Erebos. Finally, Alex wrapped his arms around her. “Val! Val! It’s alright!”
When her vision cleared, she flung her arms around his neck with muffled sobs. He stroked her back. “It’s alright, beautiful,” he murmured in her ear, holding her tightly. “Paolo’s helping us.” She had reached her threshold and shook violently as the sobs tore at her. “I’m sorry, Val.” He blew the water out of his mouth. “I should have warned you. It’s okay. It’s okay.” He rubbed her back as he kicked his feet to bring them back to the boat.
This time, Caleb reached down for Valeria. “It’s okay, Val. Really, Paolo’s okay.” In her current state, she couldn’t understand what was going on. She thought her mind must have shut off. Was the plan for her to go off and marry Paolo? Or was Paolo now going to take them back into that cave where Erebos could finish the job?
She couldn’t permit herself to think about it, and gave Caleb her hand. Not that she had much of a choice! She really couldn’t stay in the ocean. Her shaking was now violent; her sobs continued as Alex climbed on board. Seeing her tremors, Paolo tried to wrap her in a blanket.
“Don’t touch me!” she screamed.
Alex moved to the middle of the boat with her and pulled her into his arms, and then wrapped the blanket around the two of them.
She glared at Paolo as she leaned into Alex. She would never go back to Paolo! “I’m not goi
ng to marry you! I don’t care what anybody says! I’m not!” she wailed. “I would rather die than to be with you! Do you understand?” Alex stroked her back, lovingly.
Paolo looked down. “Yes, Bella, I know.” His voice was soft, as if he were afraid of his own words.
She watched Caleb talk to Paolo like he was his best friend and it upset her. But then Caleb hadn’t witnessed Paolo’s betrayal. What made it worse to her was that it wasn’t Paolo’s first betrayal, or second. And, yet, Alex seemed relaxed about the whole situation…more so than even the night before at the cottage.
“Alex, I’m staying with you…no matter what. I don’t care what he says! I don’t care what they say! I’m never leaving you again! Please, don’t send me back!” she pleaded.
He looked at her, emotion rimming his eyes as he adoringly stroked the side of her face. “Yes, beautiful, you are staying with me,” he said, tenderly pulling her in closer, and whispering, “forever!”
With that, emotion flooded every part of her and the sobs overwhelmed her…tears for the pain of the past, tears for the joy of the future, and tears for the pleasure of right now, with her Alex, her symbolon—whole once more.
The motor started and they were off.
CHAPTER 20
The boat putted along through the water. Valeria was almost relaxed feeling Alex so near.
“How’s the jaw?” Alex asked Paolo.
Moving his jaw back and forth, Paolo shrugged. “Alright.”
Paolo leaned toward Alex. “You may use my yacht. I had it moved not far from here. Or, there is a plane waiting on a private strip on the mainland. Which would you prefer?”
Valeria looked at Alex. “Please, let’s go on the plane.” She was still shivering slightly and thoroughly convinced that Paolo had another trap awaiting them.
Kissing the top of her head, Alex smiled softly. “Val, it’s been a tough night and I haven’t slept in days. I don’t trust my flying skills right now and we can’t get a hotel on the mainland, we are too close. We have to make time and the best way we can do that is on the yacht. We’ll sleep tonight and as soon as we are able, we’ll get on a plane. Okay?”
She could see that it had been an emotional and exhausting couple of day for him, too. She nodded. Paolo turned the boat to the west and headed a few miles off shore. They approached a large yacht and settled next to it. Paolo went about securing the lines and a ladder was dropped. Valeria noticed that this was not the same ship that she’d been on in New York. It was much larger, with multiple levels. Then she saw the name painted on the side, The Kristiana.
The moonlight lit the rope ladder as she shed the blanket and began the climb with Alex right behind her. Once onboard, a man in a white naval suit handed her a warm brandy. The liquid went down smoothly, heating her up from the inside. Another man handed them all dry blankets. Caleb grabbed one, while Alex took the other two and wrapped one around her. Then he sipped his warm brandy and watched as Caleb immediately tossed off the blanket and began exploring excitedly.
Paolo turned to Alex and Valeria. “I apologize about the name of the yacht. On such short notice, this was the most comfortable and accessible.”
Alex nodded but Valeria refused to meet Paolo’s gaze.
“Valeria, I could not remove your belongings from the island house without being questioned but you should find everything you need in your state room.
“Alex, there are clothes for you and the boy as well. I’ve left a case with money and passports. I also took the liberty of purchasing brown contact lenses. I suggest all three of you wear them until you have some distance.
Glancing down, Paolo’s eyes filled with sadness. “Bella, please don’t hate me. Alex, will you tell her?” Alex nodded, but Paolo appeared unconvinced. “Will you tell her everything?”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Paolo continued, “You are welcome to use the ship as long as you would like.”
“Thanks, pal. We’ll need it less than a week. Contact Lars and he’ll arrange for you to be reimbursed.”
Swallowing back his emotion, Paolo said softly, “I must get back. I must be seen tonight.”
Alex winced and shook his head. “I don’t know, Paolo, I think you had better disappear for a while.”
“I do not have your gifts with money. I cannot walk away from it.”
Paolo started to leave and then paused. He turned hesitantly toward them. “I will give you this gift…this wedding gift.” He looked at Valeria with more love than she thought he was capable of, and he started to reach toward the left side of her face, but she jerked away from him.
Seeing her repulsion, he retracted his hand and sucked in a quick breath. “Valeria, I believe you will want to know about this. It’s about—” She turned her face into Alex’s chest.
Sympathetically, Alex placed his arm on Paolo’s. “Sorry, pal, maybe another time.”
“But, Alex, please allow me to—” Alex shook his head and Paolo stopped and clenched his jaw as he looked down.
When he looked back up, there were tears in his eyes. “Yes. Another time, then.” Paolo stared off into the sea and she noticed that he wore her engagement ring on his little finger. Then, without another word, he walked to the ladder and climbed back down. The engine started up and then he was gone.
An officer came up and introduced himself, and asked, “What is your destination, sir?”
Alex looked at Valeria and his face glowed with love. “West, for now.”
“Sir, please allow me to show you and the lady to your quarters.” Alex nodded as he slipped his arm around her, holding her closely as they followed the officer down some stairs to the front of the yacht. The officer opened the door and Alex and Valeria entered. The enormous stateroom had a king-sized bed and luxury bathtub surrounded by candles.
At the end of the bed was an upholstered bench, with a large Louis Vuitton bag, a locked metal case, and a sports bag. Alex pulled clothes out of the sports bag: two pairs of jeans, a pair of slacks, three polo shirts, along with various socks, shoes, and underwear.
“I think I’ll put these away,” he said, and took them into the walk-in closet.
Valeria’s brain was on slow motion and she was still shivering, though only slightly now. She couldn’t quite put together how everything happened, only that she was here. She opened the Louis Vuitton bag and found jeans, sweats, shorts, several dresses, and an inordinate amount of lingerie— including a silk negligee and matching robe—and all the accessories including jewelry.
She was looking at the French lingerie when Alex returned. He had shed the blanket and was now there in just his swim trunks. Her heart lurched and then she saw his slow smile as he eyed what she was holding—lace underwear. They both laughed for what felt like the first time in a long, long time.
“I’d like to see you model this collection!” He stepped toward her, as if in a dream, and kissed her lightly. Then he ran his hands around her back as his other hand brushed the edge of her face. She touched his chest, as he again kissed her softly, and then leaned back, a dreamy look in his eyes. “Beautiful, why don’t I give you some time to warm up in the bath?”
She wrapped her arms around him. “Only if you join me.” She kissed his chest.
Alex pulled her to him, overwhelmed with feeling. “Tempting,” he murmured breathlessly in her ear. Then he shook his head, returning to reality. “Actually, I need to go check on Caleb and make sure he’s settled, too.” He kissed her forehead. “Besides, you need to eat something and you look exhausted.”
He kissed her neck, running his lips up to her ear in a way that made a shiver run clear down to her toes. Now her heart was pounding. “I…I need to shower before we…” she said dreamily.
He leaned his nose against hers, and kissed her again. “And I need to check on Caleb. I can also try to round up some food for us while you shower.” He drew in a deep breath and shook his head. “Looking at your eyes, my guess is that you’ll be asleep in less tha
n twenty minutes.”
“No! I am going to enjoy every minute with you tonight!” she said. He winked as he closed the door behind him.
Stepping into the bathroom, she reached into the glass-block shower and turned on the water, adjusting the temperature. She stripped out of her cold swimsuit and moved under the relaxing warmth of the shower’s spray. She shampooed her hair and shaved her legs. Then she wrapped herself in a lush white towel, brushed her teeth, pulled on the silk negligee, and finally crawled under the covers.
There was a knock at the door and Alex announced himself before coming in. He had a tray of cheese, crackers, and vegetables and carried a bottle of wine. He glanced at Valeria in bed and smiled before looking away to pour them both a glass of wine. “Caleb is doing fine. He’s up with the captain.” Alex leaned across the bed and clinked his glass against hers.
“Reunited, at last!”
Valeria looked at him with pure adoration. “Forever!”
He took a deep breath, his eyes taking in the silk negligee and her. He sipped his wine, and then reluctantly said, “I need to get cleaned up, too. Promise me you won’t fall asleep before I get out of the shower?”
“Oh, no worries about that!” She smiled, and then noticed that his mouth had turned up in his charming smile as well. She lowered her eyebrows and said, “I do remember that smile of yours! So, tell me...what are you thinking?”
His smile broadened. “I will leave that to your imagination!”
Her eyes sparkled. “Hmm, I think you want to…skip the shower and jump under the covers with me!” He laughed with delight and nodded his head almost imperceptibly.
“You need to eat.” He narrowed his eyes as if he was contemplating her offer. “And I do want to clean up first.” Then he cocked his head to the side. “Although, I suspect you have…oh, I’d say no more than ten minutes until you’re asleep.”
“I’m not falling asleep!” she protested, as she picked up a cherry tomato and popped it into her mouth. Then she realized how hungry she actually was! “This is good.”
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