Asia picked up her bag and left the apartment with Luca dogging her heels. Maybe she should have company at the house. Luca’s presence would stop her brooding.
“I’ve changed my mind. You can come with me, but don’t mention Roman or we’ll have an argument and I’ll toss you out.”
Luca gave a curt nod. “I’ll drive.”
“Fine.”
As Asia suspected, the house was full of memories. She took one look at the double bed where they’d made love and decided to sleep in the spare room. “You sleep in here,” she muttered, averting her gaze and closing her mind to the memories of Roman’s mouth on hers and how it felt to join intimately with him. The way he made her think she could fly. Asia blinked away the memories. She needed a glass of wine. Too bad if it made her giggly. She could do with a good laugh. Luca had forced his company on her. He could deal with the consequences.
Chapter Eight
“I’m going for a swim to clear my head,” Asia said. A man with a little hammer pounded away inside her head, making her regret the amount of wine she’d consumed the night before.
“I don’t think you should swim alone.”
“Don’t push.” Asia jumped to her feet and immediately grabbed her head with both hands. The bloody little man had gone berserk with his hammer. He had drummer aspirations.
“How long will you be?”
“As long as it takes,” Asia snapped. She left the house without looking back, stomping over black sand already warm beneath her bare feet. She winced at the bright sunlight, squinting in the hope of filtering out the worst of the light. She was never gonna drink again.
At the high tide mark, she shed her clothes and left them where they fell. She ambled toward the water so she didn’t disturb the man with the hammer. The waves rushed to shore and receded. Asia breathed deeply in an effort to settle her churning tummy. The salty tang of the sea didn’t help her ailment much. Asia waded through the water until she was waist deep. She shifted and dived through the next wave that rushed to shore. The aches and pains faded as Asia swam lazily out to open water.
* * * * *
Roman drove like a madman to Asia’s house on the beach. He’d hoped they’d find Asia at the apartment or the club. No such luck. The closer they got to Asia’s house, the deeper Roman’s concern. Instinct told him Asia was in extreme danger while frustration simmered through him because of the problems they’d had getting here. Three wasted days while they found a way to leave the island because someone had vandalized the chopper. Helena had disappeared again and was probably already here, trying to block the sale of the treasure.
He hadn’t seen his brother since he’d crossed lines to join the enemy. He still couldn’t believe Gene had sold him out and placed Asia in danger.
Victor leaned over from the backseat. “Careful, mate. We want to arrive in one piece.”
Roman slowed momentarily before forcing the accelerator closer to the floor. It wasn’t Victor’s fiancée in danger. The sedan’s wheels shrieked when he drove through an S-bend. The speedometer flickered upward as Roman pushed the car to its limits. He pulled up outside Asia’s house with a screech of brakes. The driver’s door flew open and Roman sprinted from the car, leaving the engine running. He wrenched open the front door to Asia’s house and raced inside.
“Asia!” Roman hurried from room to room. He checked the bedroom, hoping Asia would be there. Someone stirred in the bed. Hope surged and died. It wasn’t Asia. “Luca, where’s Asia?”
Luca leapt from the bed and grabbed him by the throat so quickly Roman didn’t have time to protect himself. He slammed up against the wall with Luca tightening his grip on Roman’s throat. “Bastard. Leave my sister alone.”
“Need some help there, Roman? The others are still in the car. You want me to get them?”
Luca tensed on hearing Victor’s voice.
“We’re not here to cause trouble,” Roman said. “Where’s Asia?”
Luca scowled. “Out swimming.”
“Alone? Shit! Listen, she’s in danger. Helena is after her. She knows I love Asia.”
“Chicken shit, you left her standing at the courthouse. You walked out on her without a word. That’s not love.”
“I love her,” Roman gritted out. Hell they didn’t have time for this crap. Asia was out swimming alone. “Call your family, all the members of your tribe. Please, she’s in danger. We need to work together. Both tribes.”
“Well there’s a concept,” a feminine voice drawled from the doorway. “Luca, I’m glad you rang and suggested I talk to Asia in person,” Lydia Bolino drawled. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Roman, Victor and Luca turned to face the matriarch of the Bolino tribe, Asia’s mother. Roman explained the situation and his fears.
Asia’s mother listened and made her decision immediately. “Luca, call the tribe. Now.” Her son glared at Roman and Victor before he stomped from the bedroom. Asia’s mother ignored her son’s ill temper. “I assume the members of your tribe will agree to a cessation of hostilities while we search for Asia.”
“You have my word,” Roman said. Urgency held him in its grip. Asia was in danger. He needed to find her, to hold her, to ensure she was safe from Helena and the other rebels.
“Excellent. Let us go.” Asia’s mother hurried down the beach with Roman and Victor following. She calmly stripped and strode into the ocean, shifting as soon as the water was deep enough.
Roman gestured for the other two to join them.
“Well, mate,” Victor drawled, still staring after the orca cutting through the water. “I can see what the fuss is about, if your lady’s ass is as fine as her mother’s.”
“You’re sick,” Weed said, shaking his head.
“I can’t help it if I have a thing for older woman,” Victor said, a small smile playing on his lips. “Don’t knock experience until you try it.”
“Enough.” Roman cut through the crap. He glanced down the beach and saw others shifting and diving through the incoming waves. “The Bolinos have arrived. I’ve given my word we will hold the peace. No attacks or violence toward the Bolinos. Save it for Helena and the rebels.”
They tore off their clothes and dropped them on the sand. Roman sprinted into the water and shifted seamlessly. He sucked in a breath and dived beneath the water, casting out a series of soft vocal clicks. Victor, Weed and the pilot swam nearby.
They answered and fanned out to cover a wider area. On his right, another series of clicks indicated that Asia’s family and tribe were calling for her. Luckily, they were similar enough for them to get the gist and maintain close communication.
They’d find Asia before Helena captured her. There was no other alternative.
* * * * *
Asia swam aimlessly without a specific destination in mind. She allowed the cool water to soothe her aching head and only surfaced when necessary. The angle of the seabed deepened and seaweed waved gently with the current. Schools of fish darted in and out of the rock formations, shying away from her in case she was hunting. Asia ignored them but found it difficult to ignore the loneliness that swept over her without warning. Roman had crept into her heart and his leaving had left a gaping hole that continued to bleed. She didn’t understand what had happened to make him leave. She’d tried to contact him via satellite phone but he didn’t answer any of the calls. Screening his callers no doubt.
A gray shape swam in front of her before disappearing behind rocks. Asia hesitated but when it didn’t reappear, she relaxed, continuing on her lazy, meandering journey through the valley created by the huge boulders.
Harsh clicks of an unfamiliar dialect cut through the peace of the undersea world. Asia stopped, her heart pounding with apprehension. A great white shark swam in front of her, and she relaxed momentarily. One shark, she could cope with.
She flicked her fluke to propel herself through the water and headed for the shark. The last thing she wanted was to show fear. When she was halfway
through the valley, several orcas appeared in front of her. Guttural clicks bounced off the rocks as they communicated. The strange dialect. Asia understood two words in every four or five, but one thing was clear.
Danger.
Asia turned, intending to exit the same way she’d entered. Three sharks and an orca waited for her, blocking her path to freedom.
Up. The only way out of this mess was up.
Asia swam strongly, leaping from the water.
Surrounded.
Fear bloomed along with confusion. Why were they targeting her? Who were they? She splashed back into the water and gave a distress call. Please let someone from her clan hear. Please be there, Luca.
One of the orcas approached Asia, its mouth open in a smirk. Asia backed up.
She repeated her distress call, and the orca’s grin widened. Asia refused to do nothing. Big for her sex, she might make it if she rushed them. Take them by surprise.
Decision made, Asia acted on it. She propelled her body through the water, heading away from the female and straight for the sharks and orcas at the other end of the valley.
At the last moment, she realized they’d strung a net over the exit. Too fast. She was going too fast. Asia crashed into the net. The force of her impact sent the sharks and two orcas backward. For a second, she thought she’d make it, but their combined strength held. The net wrapped around her body and held her prisoner under the water.
Air. She needed to breathe. They intended to keep her underwater, murdering her. If anyone found her body, the presence of the net would place the blame on humans. Everyone would assume her death was an accident. Icy fear hit then. Her family. She’d never see them again. She would never see Roman again. Never be able to tell him she loved him. Never have the opportunity to smack him one for acting the bastard.
She was going to die.
But she wasn’t going to die without a fight. Asia whacked a shark in the face with her fluke. Furious, the shark slashed with its teeth, drawing blood. The other sharks attacked, biting and hacking through net and flesh with their lethal teeth. Pain lashed her. She struggled violently, fighting and muscling her way to the surface. The harder she fought, the more tangled the net became, wrapping around her body, holding her fast. Lack of air made her mind hazy. Black dots appeared before her eyes. She cried out, the clicks of distress lost in frenzied calls of the strangers.
* * * * *
Roman paused and sent out a series of clicks. “Did you hear that?” he called to the others when they closed up their fanned search line. “That sounded like Helena. Weed, go and summon one of the Bolinos. Tell them they’re in the canyon, if you can get them to understand.”
He raced off in the direction of the excited chatter, swimming faster than he’d ever swum before. Panic wrapped around him, clinging and threatening to swallow him alive. Asia. What if Helena killed her? Hell, that was a given. She’d want to show strength. Killing a Bolino would show her followers she was serious, that she wouldn’t quibble about annihilating the other clan—their enemies.
Asia would die thinking he’d deserted her.
The sharks saw them first. They hesitated, and Roman and his clan members attacked. The water churned white. Flukes inflicted lethal blows. Teeth slashed at unguarded flanks. Blood seeped into the water.
“The Bolinos are here,” Victor called. “Find Asia.”
Roman needed no further prodding. Fear propelled him forward, searching for Helena. A red haze of fury prodded him on. He’d find the traitorous bitch and force her to give answers.
He heard a familiar voice issuing orders. Helena. The orders sent a chill surging the length of his body. Asia. They had her.
“Drown the bitch,” Helena snarled. “Make it look like an accident. We don’t want a war with the Transients.”
A net. Guarded. Damn, he needed backup. He turned to see who was available and to his great relief, he saw Luca and his mother fast approaching. He didn’t hesitate. He swam directly at the net from below. Asia needed air. He prayed she was conscious enough to breathe on her own. Roman shunted Asia upward, casually flicking off two sharks that dared to take issue. An orca charged but Roman ignored it, putting his faith in the Bolino clan. Blood seeped from wounds along her body. Shit, it was fortunate the sharks hadn’t gone into a feeding frenzy. Obviously they feared Helena more. The worst gash was at her throat, and the net they’d captured her in clung to her body. It was strong, made from some sort of nylon. He’d need a knife. Roman held her weight above the surface of the water until the need to breathe made him seek the air. To his relief, he detected an erratic pulse. She lived.
For the moment.
A dark shape darted toward him. Helena. Roman steeled himself for the blow but it didn’t come. Weed and Victor seized Helena, driving her off, and Roman concentrated on Asia.
Gradually, the waters around them stilled. Roman glanced around and saw orcas from the Bolino clan and his friends had surrounded them in a protective circle.
Asia’s mother swam forward with an older orca, its dorsal fin skewed to the side. They both nudged Asia gently. Communication took place, a series of low-pitched squeaks and singing. Roman found he understood most of what they said. He vocalized in return.
“Back to shore,” Asia’s mother said.
The journey back to the beach near Asia’s house took longer than Roman expected. The net snagged on rocks and trapped Victor. Asia’s mother organized a rescue while Roman kept Asia afloat.
“Hurry,” he urged, hearing the trace of panic in his vocals. A shiver racked Asia. Shock. Damn, they had to hurry.
Two of the orcas yanked on the net. Victor swam free, and Roman noticed him nuzzling Asia’s mother before they swam on. Roman snorted with a quick flash of amusement. Victor never lost an opportunity to score, and the age difference wasn’t great in orca terms.
Finally, they reached the shore. Roman held Asia above water while the others shifted. When they had her, he moved away and shifted.
“A knife,” he hollered. “Someone get a knife to cut her free. Where are the healers?” He took in her still form, his fear escalating. “Will she be able to change?”
“I don’t know,” her mother said. Her dark hair lay plastered against her head, contrasting sharply with the paleness of her cheeks. She shivered, and Victor appeared at her side, his usual grin strangely absent.
He slipped an arm around her waist. “The healer is here. He will know.”
A Bolino handed Roman a knife, and they hacked the net from her still body. Roman held her, making sure she didn’t drown yet keeping her skin moist.
The healer ran gnarled hands over her wounds. “Most are superficial,” he muttered.
Roman glanced at her head. “Apart from this one at her throat, and this one on her chest. They look the worst.”
Asia moaned and winced when the healer probed the wound. Her blowhole contracted.
Relief swept through Roman. Tears stung his eyes, but he ignored them.
“She’s coming to.” His voice emerged rich with emotion—everything he felt for Asia all rolled up in those three words. “Asia, can you hear me?”
“She’s trying to shift,” the healer murmured.
The air shimmered around her. Roman saw her pale features flash in an out.
“Come on, babe. You can do it.”
Then the shimmering ceased and she appeared in her human form. Asia collapsed, unable to stand on her own. A wave washed over her head before Roman could seize her. She coughed weakly as he carried her up the beach. The gurgling sound didn’t sound reassuring. The gaping wound at her throat brought fury. Helena would pay for this atrocity.
A sharp blast—a series of whistles—filled the silence.
“Intruder alert,” one of the Bolinos said tersely. “We set a guard at the entrance. It’s private but we didn’t want any surprises today.”
“Everyone dress before they think this is a nudist colony,” Victor quipped.
There
was a mad scramble for clothes.
“I’ll get yours,” Victor said to Roman and Asia’s mother. “Go to the house.”
Roman scooped Asia up and ran for the house. Once inside, he placed her on the bed. It was bad. He didn’t need a healer to tell him that.
“Leave,” the healer said. “Summon Marge,” he added. “I’ll need another healer to help me.”
Roman didn’t want to leave, but Asia’s mother propelled him from the room with a firm push.
She could die. The knowledge simmered in the air between them. And that’s when Roman knew for sure that Asia meant everything to him. The very idea of trying to live without her was unthinkable. Asia was part of him now. He loved her.
Chapter Nine
Two days later
“You will see him,” her mother stated. “The orca is decent, even if he is an Anderson.” Her brow creased with a hint of confusion. “Some of the Anderson tribe are worthy orcas.”
Asia inhaled sharply. Too suddenly, her healing wounds protested. The pain jerked her back to the reality of her situation. “I’m ugly,” she rasped. “Scarred.” Tears built and overflowed, dripping down both cheeks.
“The orca loves you.”
Pain of another sort seared her heart. She swallowed painfully. “He went away.”
“I didn’t go away willingly,” Roman said from the doorway. “My brother shanghaied me. They imprisoned me on the island. I came as soon as I could. How are you?”
Asia stared at Roman, unable to resist looking her fill, filing away memories to pull out when she was alone. When he left her for the final time. “Fine.” But that was a lie. She wasn’t fine. The sharks had injured her vocal cords, damaging them badly. It was unlikely she’d ever sing again. The healers had assured her she would speak again and her speech would become less labored with time. Her body bore several wounds. The healers thought most would heal apart from the ones on her chest. They would scar and she’d always bear them in memory of the attack.
The bedroom door opened. “Don’t go.” Too late. The door clicked shut behind her mother, leaving her alone with Roman.
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