Secret Paradise (Kimani Romance)

by Girard, Dara

  Nikki didn’t believe him. She’d inadvertently reminded him of a woman he’d fought to forget. She yanked her hand free from his and ran back upstairs and closed the door. She tore off the dress and tossed it on the floor. Someone had played a cruel joke on her. But who and why?

  Someone knocked on the door, but she didn’t answer.

  Monica peeked her head in, then entered. “You have to come back downstairs.”

  “No, I don’t. I can’t face them—him.”

  “Nikki—”

  “I’ll probably give Callia more nightmares, and did you see Lucian’s face? I might as well have started the fire all over again. All the happiness that was there is gone.”

  “He’ll get over it. He knows it was a mistake.”

  Nikki shook her head. “Now every time he sees me, he’ll see her.”

  “It was just the dress that shocked everyone, not you. You’re not her.”

  “Why would someone have done this?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Callia said she’s still here somehow.”

  “Then you have to fight her. Dupree women don’t flee. We fight.” Monica went to the closet. “Now, let’s find you something to wear.”

  Nikki returned to the party dressed in a two-piece silk combo consisting of a sleeveless top trimmed with sequins and a straight, fitted A-line skirt with soft ruffles around the edges, looking less effusive than before.

  “You look marvelous,” Lucian said, pulling her into a dancer’s embrace.

  “I still feel awful.”

  “Then listen to the music,” he said, his eyes piercing into hers. “And think only of me.”

  Nikki barely remembered the rest of the night, instead moving through it as if in a fog.

  Once the party was over, she again disappeared into her room, but this time she started to pack. It was time to leave. She had nothing to keep her here now. She’d completed her job and she needed to start afresh somewhere else. And Lucian? What would happen with him? She didn’t want to think about how painful it was to leave him, but could think of no other choice. She was pulling things from her closet when she heard the door open.

  “What are you doing?” Lucian said.

  “I thought I could leave with J.D. and Monica.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s a long trip.”

  He crossed the room and covered her hand. “I’m sorry about this evening, but you didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “But—”

  He pressed a finger against her lips. “You looked stunning tonight. I was honored to have you at my side.”

  Nikki lowered her face, but he lifted her chin, forcing her to face him. “Did you like the ice sculptures?”

  “Yes.”

  “The champagne waterfall?”

  “Yes.”

  “The music, the food, the flowers, the—”

  “Lucian, I loved everything.”

  His gaze fell to her neck. “Good, because I did it all for you,” he said as he slowly unzipped her skirt. “I’m glad you left this for me to do. I enjoy undressing you.”

  A tiny glow of renewed hope and joy grew inside her. His hands caressed her skin as he pushed her skirt down.

  “It’s not the same now,” she said, her skin tingling.

  “What’s not the same?” Lucian said, removing her top.

  “Every time you see me, you’ll see her.”

  Lucian shook his head, his voice fierce. “No. Never,” he said, then kissed her with a ferocity that both stunned and thrilled her. “You’re all that I think or dream about, and that will never change.”

  She kissed him back, arching her body into his, wanting her love to wash over him. Tonight she wanted to erase Alana from his memory. She didn’t want anyone or anything to come between them. Soon they were naked on the bed, their bodies moving in rhythmic harmony. Nikki held him close and gave her body completely to him, determined to make sure that she would be the only woman he ever remembered or wanted. She welcomed every part of him on her, over her, in her, swept away by her own intensive need for him.

  He’d told Alana he loved her, but would he ever say that to her? Would he ever say he loved her? Did he love her? Did she need that from him? No. She had him now. That was what mattered. She opened her body even more to him, letting him fill her with an exploding ecstasy. No man had ever made her feel this way. And it had never been this way between them before. Somehow tonight their feelings were more intense, more urgent, deeper. But she wouldn’t analyze it too much. All that mattered was that she wanted to kiss him, lick him, consume him—no part of his body was ugly to her. He was all man and he was wonderful, his scars a part of him she couldn’t imagine him without. They were like medals—evidence of his survival, his courage, his heroism. She now wondered how she’d ever seen them as hideous before.

  “You’re so beautiful,” she breathed.

  Lucian laughed. “And how much have you had to drink tonight?”

  “Not enough.” She licked her lips. “I’m still thirsty.”

  “Want me to get you something?”

  “No, you have all that I want,” she said, then slid down his body and wrapped her mouth around him and sucked until he climaxed.

  Nikki wiped her mouth and winked. “That was fun.”

  “I’m getting a little hungry myself,” Lucian said, then used his tongue to tease the sensitive part of her until she had to bite her fist to keep from screaming out. Soon teasing wasn’t enough.

  “Don’t make me wait,” she begged.

  “Are you sure? I have a few more—”

  Her fingers bit into his back. “I want you now.”

  Lucian didn’t need any more coaxing and soon he was sending her senses spinning again. She wanted the moment to last forever.

  “I wish you never had to let me go,” she said, wishing she could be in his arms forever, because with him she didn’t just feel safe or beautiful, but also strong and needed. She knew he needed her and that they were meant to be together.

  “So do I,” he said and he didn’t let her go and they lay together, hardly able to move.

  Nikki felt as if her body could melt into the mattress. She wanted to think of nothing but him, but the incident with the dress floated through her mind. She sighed.

  “What’s the sigh for?” Lucian asked.

  “Someone made a fool of me tonight. I shouldn’t have worn that dress.”

  Lucian hesitated, then said, “They didn’t do it because of you. They did it because of me.”

  Nikki lifted her head to look at him. “What do you mean?”

  His face became grave. “Someone knows my secret.” He looked up at the ceiling. “Alana didn’t start the fire.” He turned to her. “I did.”

  Chapter 19

  Nikki stared at Lucian, dumbfounded. “You? Why?”

  “I didn’t tell you the entire story of why I broke off my engagement with Alana. Yes, I did find her with one of my patrolmen, but only because Dante had given me a reason to return early from a trip and come home.”

  When he stopped, Nikki gently touched his arm. “What was it?”

  “Dante had discovered Callia with a packet of powder she’d found hidden in one of the rooms, and learned it was cocaine. He then followed Alana’s cousin and discovered a drop-off point.”

  “A drop off point?”

  “Yes, Alana’s cousin and uncle were smugglers and she was their leader. I learned that it wasn’t just a small operation, but an international one, all based on my island. When I opened my home to her family, I never anticipated something like that. I didn’t mind their long stays or question their comings and goings. I came home, and Dante and I discovered that they’d been smuggling and storing their stash in my home. Drugs, weapons, porn. My home had become a perverse den of depravity.

  “I confronted her and that’s what we argued about. She didn’t want me to send them away, because they were in debt to a big-arms dealer who threatened to kil
l them if the delivery didn’t go through. I didn’t care and I sent them away. I heard her cousin’s body was found floating on a beach in Portugal, and she likely blamed me and started her campaign of destruction. It was weeks later that I learned what she’d done with the money for the foundations, and she leaked stories to the press, determined to ruin my reputation.

  “One day I stood looking at this place with rage. I was disgusted by my blindness. By then my reputation was destroyed, our engagement over, and I wanted everything gone. So I had Dante clear the house of all staff and we set it ablaze. I watched it burn with satisfaction, until everything changed,” he said, remembering that night. He told Nikki what had happened.

  Lucian had stood outside the house, watching the fire slowly take hold, while Dante stood beside him. It was over and he felt victorious. Then Lucian heard him gasp. He turned to him.

  “What?”

  “Dear God,” Dante said, then made a sign of the cross.

  “What is it?”

  He pointed to the roof. “Look! Someone’s in the house. Someone’s still inside.”

  “That’s impossible,” Lucian said. Then he saw the figure, too. Alana. “What is she doing here?”

  “Doesn’t matter. There’s nothing we can do.”

  Lucian quickly assessed the fire, then took off his jacket. “Yes, there is.”

  “You can’t go in and get her.”

  “There’s still time. She’s trapped up there. I can’t just let her die.” He ran into the house and up the stairs to the roof, where he searched until he spotted her. “Alana.”

  She turned, her eyes wide and full of terror. “Why did you tell me to meet you here?”

  He stopped. “I didn’t.”

  “But I received your message.”

  “I didn’t send you a message.” He held out his hand. “Come quick. I know a way out.”

  She took a step toward the edge. “I thought once you knew about the baby, you’d forgive me.”

  “What baby?”

  She touched her stomach. “Our baby. I know it’s yours,” she said, seeing the doubt on his face. “I’ve already had the tests done. Please don’t desert us now.”

  Lucian waved his hand. “It doesn’t matter now. Alana, come on. We have to get out of here.”

  “I thought you wanted me back,” she said in a weak voice. “But now I know you don’t want me at all.”

  “Alana, we can talk later.”

  She took another step back. “Promise you’ll marry me.”

  Lucian grabbed her arm. “I’m not playing this game.”

  “It’s not a game. I can’t be shamed like this. What will my father think?”

  “Your father, the murderer? You, the head of a smuggling ring? It doesn’t matter.”

  “That was my cousin’s idea.”

  “And you went along.”

  “I didn’t know about it until too late. Lucian, please. I can make everything right if you’ll only marry me.”

  “I’ll take care of the baby. That’s all I can promise.”

  “I do love you and there’s something else you should know. There’s—” Suddenly her eyes widened from something behind him. “No! Don’t!”

  Lucian spun around, but not fast enough. He felt a searing pain in his leg as a bullet passed through it, and heard three other shots. He grabbed Alana and dropped to the ground. The shooting abruptly stopped, and he cautiously looked up but didn’t see anyone. Someone else was there, ready to kill him.

  “Come, Alana. Let’s get out of here.” He looked at her and saw her sightless eyes staring back at him. Obviously the bullets meant for him had gotten her instead. He touched her face, wanting it to be a nightmare, wanting her to get up and tell him who she’d seen, but he knew the truth had died with her.

  Lucian closed her eyes, then struggled to his feet and stumbled down the stairs, but his original escape route was blocked, so he went to his room and waited for death. Alana, and possibly his child, were dead—murdered. And someone wanted him dead, too, but he didn’t care anymore. His life had no more meaning. He didn’t care if he didn’t escape. He sank into a chair and waited for death, until he heard a scream....

  “That’s when I heard Callia,” Lucian told Nikki. “Someone killed Alana and wanted to kill me, but Callia was a true innocent and I needed to flush out who this person was. I won’t deny that there was a cover-up. That’s why I came up with the story of Alana starting the fire, to see if anyone would try to refute me. No one did. I rebuilt to see if anyone would slip up. No one did until tonight. That’s when I knew my prey was close at hand and finally showing me their hand.”

  “Who?”

  “I can’t tell you until I’m absolutely certain. The less you know, the better, but I have a plan in place.”

  “You will be careful?”

  “Yes.” He took her hand. “I’m telling you all this because I want you to know the truth and why I’m willing to let you go.”

  “And if I stay?”

  “It’s too risky.”

  “You said you have a plan.”

  “I do, but what happened tonight has me worried.” He shook his head. “But let’s not talk anymore. Tonight we’re safe.”

  Basilio felt sick. He remembered seeing the dress Nikki had worn to the party in Iona’s room. He had to find out why. He went to her room and knocked on her door.

  She opened it with a smile. “I’m not packed yet.”

  He pushed past her. “I’m not here for that.”

  She closed the door. “Then what are you here for?”

  He glared at her. “To find out what you’re up to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That dress that Nikki wore tonight is the same one I saw in your room.”

  “It was given to me to hem.”

  “By whom?”

  “I don’t know,” Iona said, annoyed by his question. “I found it hanging on my door with a printed message.” She touched his face, her eyes searching his. “Don’t you trust me, my love?”

  He wanted to, but there were so many questions that had slowly been growing in his mind and nagging him. Especially about the fire. “Of course I trust you, but—”

  “But what?”

  But why did she seem so interested in Nikki? What had she been doing on the night of the fire? How had she been able to assuage his guilt so well? How had she shown up at the same club he’d gone to on the mainland? No one else from the house had been there. It had been his biggest mistake and something he’d never told anyone. He’d left Callia alone in the hotel, thinking she was old enough to look after herself and would be safe as long as she stayed in her room.

  That night he’d gone out for a drink at the local club he liked to frequent, where he’d met Iona. She came on to him and he was drunk enough to take her up on the offer. They returned to his hotel and went straight to bed. He didn’t check on Callia in the next room. He just assumed everything was fine. He’d woken the next morning with Iona beside him and in good spirits. He ordered breakfast, and that was when he checked on Callia and realized she was gone.

  He’d been so panicked, knowing what his brother would think, and Iona had calmed him down and told him what he should say. She stood by him and kept his secret, but now he wondered if she’d planned to be at the bar to meet him. But why? He’d once asked her how she ended up there and she’d said it was fate and he’d always taken her at her word. Now he wasn’t so sure. But none of it made sense. Why would Iona do anything to hurt Callia? Or his brother?

  “It’s nothing,” Basilio said, wondering if he really knew the woman he planned to marry.

  “Are you sure you won’t stay the night?” Iona said.

  “It’s been a long day. I’ll just go to bed.”

  Iona looked disappointed but didn’t reply.

  Nikki woke to the sound of claws scratching at her door. The early morning light filtered through her room and she turned to see that Lucian was gone. The scratch
ing continued. She got up and opened the door and looked down to see the kitten, Pauline, who meowed.

  Nikki bent to pet her. “What’s wrong?” she asked, then noticed blood on her paws. She stood and ran to Callia’s room.

  She swung open the door and found Callia’s bed empty and Kay lying on the floor, with blood on the side of her head. Nikki knelt next to the woman and checked for a pulse. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found one.

  “Kay?”

  The woman moaned.

  She gently shook her. “Kay, what happened?”

  Kay groaned, then slowly got up. “God forgive me.”

  “Tell me what happened.”

  “This wasn’t part of the agreement.”

  “What agreement?”

  “Mr. Kontos will put me away for this.”

  Nikki shook her. “Where’s Callia? Tell me what happened.”

  “My mother’s sick, and I needed the money, so I took the job to look after Callia.”

  Nikki sighed, exasperated. “We all know that.”

  “What you don’t know is that I was also paid to make her appear crazy. I didn’t know who it was at first. It was just a voice on the phone who said that I could make extra money, and when it told me the amount, I couldn’t resist. I placed a small speaker in Callia’s room and filtered the harp music into her room, and at times I would play it and pretend not to hear it. I paid a woman to dress in Alana’s clothes and go past the window or Callia’s door, and I pretended not to see anything. When you came, I left the head scarf in the room, and that night, as Callia slept, I told her that you were really Alana, who’d come back. I also filtered subliminal messages.”

  “But why would you do that?”

  “I didn’t care at first. The money was too good, but then, when I discovered who was behind the voice and what she wanted, I didn’t know what to do with someone so powerful.”

  “Powerful?”

  “Yes, she was going to marry into the family and I knew no one would believe me over her. But when she came in tonight and told me what she wanted, I couldn’t go along with it.” Kay began to cry. “She said just for a couple of months and then it would end. She didn’t tell me she would hurt her. I couldn’t let that happen, so I fought her, but she got me.”