by Dakota Black
“But why? You keep saying that as if pushing me away is the objective. Then you mention trust like it’s a buzz word. I don’t understand.”
“There are many aspects of danger. Then again, you already know this, especially given your involvement with this man. He is the one who provided information about me, is he not?”
Biting her lower lip, she realized she’d underestimated him. “Yes. If you know that, then you understand why he keeps his private life very much that.” How in God’s name had Snake found out anything about her contact?
“I do.” The smile remained on his face. “Your secret is safe with me, Katherine. We went to great lengths to be able to sit here together today, enjoying an expensive bottle of wine and a good meal. Trust is difficult for both of us.”
“You’re right.”
They ate in silence for several minutes.
When he was finished, he pushed his plate away and folded his arms. “Katherine, what we share is everything I’ve ever wanted and nothing I thought I could have again but getting involved with me could mean you pay a price. I’m not going to lie to you. I’m terrified that price is too significant.”
“What does that mean? Just trust me enough to talk to me.”
Holding his breath, his eyes became dark, filled with evil. “There are men who will stop at nothing to find me, hunt me down.”
“They’ve found you, haven’t they?”
He huffed and shook his head. “Perhaps.”
“Which is why you brought that knife on board the boat. Which is also why you purchased a gun when you went into town.”
This time he smiled. “An intelligent as you are beautiful.”
“Who and why?”
“That, I won’t tell you. Knowing will also put you in danger.”
“You’re a man with a death wish.”
Snake cocked his head. “That, sweet Katherine, is another story in itself.”
Katherine thought about her words carefully before confiding in him, but she knew something terrible was going on. “I think there was someone in the house.”
His head jerked up, his eyes narrowing, his body shaking. “What are you talking about?”
She held out her hand. “There are aspects of my life that I keep private. I think they’re crashing down. I think I’m being hunted.”
His eyes flashed, his entire body tensing. “Tell me everything.”
“My previous career. I was very happy taking on every difficult case, true monsters who stopped at nothing to rape, slaughter and destroy anyone around them. I was good at my job and had a ninety-eight percent conviction rate.”
“Impressive. I’m not surprised. Did one of these monsters escape?”
“Not exactly.”
Narrowing his eyes, he allowed a slow breath to escape. “The person threatening you.”
She nodded, her entire body shaking. “I think so. I have reason to believe he was let out of prison.”
“How?”
“Well, several mistakes were made on a case and I think I’m going to pay the ultimate price.”
“Go on.”
She exhaled. “You see, a man I put away in prison almost ten years ago was set free because of my mistakes. The monster is pure evil and trust me, he made it very clear that he’ll stop at nothing to see me dead.”
Chapter 9
There was a man who wanted her dead…
The thought had driven him into the man he used to be, the one who could easily kill with his bare hands.
Snake dropped his head, closing his eyes as the memories continued to rush through the back of his mind, rolling by in vivid strings of color and pictures. His chest was heavy, crushing his ability to breathe and he’d been unable to stop the images since the night before, since Katherine had told him she was in danger.
“I just want to talk to you, nothing more,” Snake insisted as he paced the floor, rubbing his hand through his disheveled hair over and over again.
“There’s nothing to talk about. Nothing. We are finished, Snake. You lied to me. You were a monster and maybe you still are!” Kaylee snorted. “You’re never going to see us again. Do you hear me?”
“But I love you. I was a different man then. I’ve changed.”
“Or so you say, but what happens when your friends find you, hunting you down like the dog you are? What then? Are you going to be able to protect your family?”
Kaylee’s words hung, driving like a knife into his heart and soul.
His lower lip trembling, he made her a promise and one he intended on keeping. “I will protect you with my life.”
“No!” Snake’s entire body was shaking from rage, from the memories and from the realization that he’d failed. His entire life was a lie and Kaylee had paid the ultimate price. He continued to grip the railing and forced himself to think about the situation he was faced with. There was no turning back the clock, zero ability to right the horrible wrong.
But he could protect Katherine, the woman he’d fallen in love with. My God, the understanding was as damning as it was amazing. He had to put a plan together. In truth, he knew exactly what he needed to do. First things first.
Snake had found out everything he could about Ramone Chivas and vaguely remembered the name as well as the horrific case. Eight women had been found murdered, their dismembered bodies dressed in lingerie, vivid red rose petals scattered around them in a heart formation. The entire case had rocked the community for several months, creating fear and near chaos on the streets. He’d just entered the military and had only read the headlines, but he did remember that the prosecuting attorney, a young and very bright star, had almost been his ninth victim.
Over my dead body, you motherfucker.
He would find out if the man had been released. However, he knew Katherine was holding back, not telling him everything, but one thing was certain. She was terrified. There was no way of knowing if anyone had been inside the house, but they would need to get off the island. Of that, he had no doubt. As he shifted, he felt the gun firmly planted under his waistband. The firepower would only do but so much.
What Katherine didn’t know is that he’d made a few phone calls during the night, not only in an attempt to find out as much information as possible on Ramone, but also to see if any of the people he’d worked with years before remained on the island. At this point, he’d found out very little. The island was no longer under siege from a bunch of worthless thugs. He had to laugh. To think, at one time in his life, he’d been one of the assholes who enjoyed lording power over others. Albeit his involvement had been forced as well as limited, he would never be able to make enough retributions for the harm he’d done.
Then again, he’d paid the price both in his body and crushing his life.
They would get off the island if possible. Then he would use certain friends in the military to clean house, shutting down any and all operations remaining in the Caymans. He had no idea if anyone remained alive from the old gang. Even if he lost everything he’d worked for, he would also stop at nothing to keep Katherine safe.
As he stood on the deck, studying the horizon, he had a terrible feeling they were too late to leave. The storm was fast approaching, the radar alive with activity. Strong wind was whipping through the trees, the surge already creeping up toward the house. The swirling clouds had turned into a dark gray in the few minutes he’d been standing on the deck. He hadn’t paid close enough attention. Damn it. Time to check the road and the bridge, determine how much time they actually had. If the bridge washed out, they’d be stranded.
Hissing, he yanked out his phone, hoping for a return call. The only person he trusted enough to find out the truth about Ramone was the man who owned the rundown motel. The Marine had kept his connections and would keep the shit quiet. At least for now. The cell phone coverage was weak at best. While he’d thought about taking them to a hotel, he believed he could protect her better here, but not if the storm remained on track. He’d been throu
gh enough tropical storms to know the island could be annihilated.
Looking up and down the beach, he could see no activity, either suspicious or that of any kind.
“I don’t like this wind. What are we going to do?” Katherine joined him, flanking his side.
“We need to call the airlines and determine if there’s an available flight. Might have to go into town to do that.”
“I’ll go,” she whispered. “I can’t sit around here and wait to be killed.”
He shook his head. “Don’t jump to any conclusions. I’ve made a call to a friend of mine. He’ll find out the truth.”
“Then we’re only worried about the man I saw, the same one who was in this house and why you’re being hunted.” Her laugh was bitter.
What was he supposed to say to her? “I will tell you the story, but the best choice is to try and get off the island.”
Exhaling, she grumbled under her breath. “Fine. I’ll head into town and try and get us a flight.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No. This I’m doing by myself.” Before she had a chance to turn, he grabbed her arm.
“You don’t understand. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Not now. Not ever.”
“I guess you should have confided in me sooner, before we left on the plane. Whoever is threatening you, I’ll guess they are just as dangerous as the moron threatening me.” Jerking away, she headed back into the house.
“Katherine.”
“I’ll be fine. No one knows I’m here.”
He moved in front of her, preventing her from leaving. “I won’t let you go.”
“And you’re not my keeper,” she hissed defiantly, her eyes flashing, her entire body tense. She breathed out and shook her head. “Look, this storm isn’t anything to mess with. I made the initial reservations, so I’ll need to make any changes, if we’re lucky. If I can’t, then you need to make certain that the house is secure enough to withstand the storm.”
Inhaling, the scent of her perfume filled his nostrils and he felt his anger and resolve softening. Rubbing his thumb across her cheek, he wanted nothing more than to be able to spend time with her, not only making certain she was safe, but confiding in her. Only then would he fully gain her trust. “Understood.”
“I won’t be gone long. I promise. I’ll find solid phone reception and make the call then come straight back.” Rising onto her tiptoes, she pressed her lips against his cheek, allowing the kiss to linger.
His cock was aching, an almost ugly reminder of how intense his feelings had become. “Listen to me. If the conditions start to get worse rapidly, you’re going to need to get back here. I don’t know how long the bridge will remain uncovered.”
“I know. I’ll be careful, and I’ll be safe.” She eased away, gently pushing him until she could walk into the house. Stopping and tipping her head, she gave him a heated smile. “Snake. I know you have a terrible past and I hope you’ll be honest with me as well as trust me enough to share, but the truth is you need to be honest with yourself. Until you do, you’re never going to heal.”
The words lingered as she walked away. She was right. Until he could let go of the terrible deeds he’d done, the wretched life he’d been forced to live, he would never be able to love anyone else, especially not himself. He’d gone to great lengths to make certain his heart would never get crushed again.
“Fuck!” Snake debated letting her go by herself then knew he couldn’t risk it. No. There was too much at stake and he had no way of knowing if the man following him remained on the island. Storming inside, he was shocked to hear the roar of the jeep’s engine. Wait a minute. She’d been planning on going out by herself no matter what he said. Was she afraid of him? Whatever she’d been told had rattled her to the core, but what if her unbridled terror had nothing to do with some convict? What if she was lying? He raced to the front door, taking long strides in an effort to stop her. “Wait!”
She pressed on the accelerator and floored the jeep, zigzagging through the dirt and gravel as she sped toward the bridge.
He held his fist to his head as he walked toward the road. What a fucking fool he’d been. Was she even going to come back? He trotted to the middle of the road at the beginning of the dilapidated bridge, peering down over the edges then glared back at the sky. “Damn it.” They were in a damn precarious place. What if she didn’t come back? Five miles in a storm? Yeah, he’d manage.
Turning in a circle, his breathing became heavy. He couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t allow her to get hurt. Not because of him or anyone else. Then tell her the truth. “No!” His voice managed to echo in the dense air. This was insane. After controlling his breathing, he walked around the house and down to the beach. If his instincts were correct, he’d need to develop plan B.
In the distance, he could see the first series of lightning bolts buried in the cloud formations. He was no weather expert, but the brunt would hit them in two to three hours. Picking up his pace, he jogged toward the dock to secure the boat. They might need the water exit if the road was washed out.
The boat was rocking back and forth, the side hitting the edge of the dock, the clanging sound floating toward him. Jumping on the decking, the vantage point allowed him to see a clear path further down the beach. Squinting, he could swear he noticed a deep crevice in the sand, as if someone had dragged a small boat on shore. A cold shiver raced down his spine. After a quick glance to make certain the boat would remain stationary, he jumped down onto the sand, racing toward the small clearing.
The moment he stared down at the skid marks, he growled. Someone had come ashore after they’d gotten back from the dive trip. Crouching down, he looked up toward the bank of trees. Whoever had come ashore had stored the boat under cover. After glancing up and down the beach, he headed in the direction of the dense forest. The thick underbrush kept him from learning exactly where the boat had been stored. There were no obvious footprints or other signs that anyone had been here given the wind conditions.
But he knew.
He searched for several minutes, finding only broken twigs and fallen limbs, easily a product of the weather. The wind was whipping, and the rain had begun to fall, the clouds now ominous in appearance. Disgusted as well as on edge, he stood on the beach, trying to capture any other indications of the visitor. While the villa was secluded, the surrounding area was no doubt considered public. Anyone could have landed on the shore, enjoying some quiet time, even fishing along one of the above water reefs.
The boat. They’d come here to tamper with the boat. Taking long strides, he jumped on the dock and into the boat. He turned in a complete circle, eyeing every detail on board. Nothing appeared to have been tampered with, no tell-tale signs that anyone had been on board. He checked below, and everything was exactly as they’d left it. He checked the controls as well as the engine and finally the gas line.
At this point, he was satisfied no one had attempted to sabotage the vessel. He secured the lines, tethering the boat the best he could and checked the sky again. This was going to be a wild night. When he headed back up the beach, he couldn’t help but have the distinct feeling he was being watched. But from where? At this point, he needed to secure the rest of the house, creating a safe environment if nothing else.
Clenching his fists, he turned to study the backside of the villa. From where he was standing, he could swear he could see someone standing just on the outskirts of the house. He took off running, perhaps chasing shadows yet he made certain the gun was in his hand, the safety off. He had to be prepared for anything.
Snake rounded the house, checking the driveway, the garage and every alcove where the asshole possibly could be hiding. Huffing, he checked all the windows as well as the doors. “Fuck! Fuck!” He dropped his arm and turned in a full circle. Maybe he was losing his mind.
There was nothing. No footprints. No indication of a visitor. Nothing. Hissing, he took long strides, bounding up the back stairs and was shocked to
hear his phone.
“Driscoll.”
“I have news.”
What the hell are you doing? She’d been asking herself that question since she floored the engine, racing down the dilapidated road, her grip on the steering wheel white knuckled. Was she running away from Snake or from herself? What she’d said to Snake about honesty was the truth, but she doubted he had the ability to come clean, especially with himself. Guilt was eating him, driving him into a special place of madness. What in God’s name had occurred with his wife? She’d wanted to ask him, had the question on the tip of her tongue, but the timing hadn’t been right. He’d frustrated and worried over her admission about the damning court case until the wee hours of the morning.
Since the amazing dinner and her confession regarding Ramone, her mind had been frazzled, trying to put the pieces together, attempting to find out whether the murderous freak had been released. With zero phone reception and intermittent internet service, she’d reached a dead end.
Her rational mind screamed that there were missing pieces. She’d almost been slaughtered for God’s sake. Someone would have told her. There’d also been no news reports, no press releases. At one time, the reporters hadn’t been able to get enough of the monster who plied his victims with roses. They’d followed him, almost like he was a goddamn rock star until his conviction and subsequent incarceration. And no one had picked up the phone?
Bullshit.
Shuddering, she couldn’t imagine he’d have any way of getting on a plane or leaving the country, but at this point, she wasn’t entirely certain what or who to believe. Then the damning concept that Snake knew more about the oil rig accident than he was letting on. Did it matter, or should she care? Maybe he was trying to make amends, but to allow his fellow team members to die? This didn’t sound like the man she’d come to know in any manner.
No, Snake was a tortured man. The way he’d responded when she’d told him about Ramone was a clear indication. The rage on his face, the expression that clearly indicated he was capable of murder, would forever remain furrowing in her mind. He not only wanted to protect her, he’d fallen in love. A laugh bubbled from her throat. Weren’t they pathetic?
