Wary eyes watched the door open. A black boot stepped through first, Viktor darkening the door behind it.
“Viktor, you came,” she said, relief washing through her.
“Only to tell you I have a plan. I still intend to keep you safe, and I expect you to obey my every command. If you so much as disagree with me, I will throw you to the sharks myself and sail away.”
She fought the urge to step back, to hide beneath the covers from his blistering stare. Instead she pushed forward, one step at a time she moved toward him.
“Viktor, I cannot express to you how deeply sorry I am for what I did. Had I known the consequences, I never would have left your side.”
“I don’t need an explanation. I need your promise that you will obey me without question.”
She took another tentative step forward. “Please, I need to explain. You don’t understand why I left, why I had to leave. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to be with you, it was because I did want to be with you. I knew that I was powerless to stop myself from falling for you, from losing myself in your arms. The pain I would feel when I had to leave you and return to my life would be unbearable. It already is unbearable. I did it so that I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life longing for a man that I could never have. The torture of knowing your touch and then never feeling it again was too raw, like an open wound that would never heal. So I left. It was stupid, but I bolted. I never imagined what would have happened. I thought I would be delivered home, I would hire protection, and put this all behind me. I just couldn’t bear the thought of falling any deeper for you than I already have.”
Viktor’s eyes remained frozen in a locked stare. Nora blinked as she felt his anger deepen. He took one step toward her, the intensity of his stare forcing her to give up ground.
“Is that it? Your grand explanation for why three of my men are dead, my ship is badly damaged, and the pain you inflicted on me will cause a wound for me that may never heal? You didn’t want to shag me and then long for my touch while you lay beneath that oaf of a man every night and cower from his beatings?”
Nora grasped her chest.
“I gave you a choice. I gave you another option. You didn’t need to go back. You chose to go back. I said I would care for you, protect you. I would have started a life with you. I’ve never offered that to another woman. And how do you repay it? You run off, so you can return home to your money. You choose to lay with a man you hate, a man who beats you and terrorizes you instead of me, a man who would have treated you like a Queen... for money. For your title. For parties and jewels. You are nothing but a shallow gold-digger and I am saddened that I fell for you. Fell for the illusion of who I thought you were beneath the gowns and the jewelry. It seems I was mistaken, and for that I apologize. I hope that it’s worth it. I hope the gold and the diamonds are worth the love I thought we could have had. I hope they are worth the lives of my loyal men.”
She gasped as his words sliced through her. His voice was unwavering while he delivered blow after blow. She stuttered, words to defend herself escaping her while she cowered beneath his booming voice.
“If that is all, then this matter is closed. My ship took serious damage from the battle. Our speeds are significantly decreased. Considering you told people your true name, it won’t be long until the hunt is on for you on my ship. Since our secret is out and my ship cannot outrun them, it is no longer safe. We sail to a place that will remain secret even from you, since you can’t be trusted with it. When we arrive, several days from now, Simon will slip us off the ship and we will head to shore under the cover of darkness. We will remain there until John and Charlie report your problem solved. At that time we will part ways. You’ll be reunited with your loving husband and your jewels in no time. I will let you know when it is time to depart. Until then, I suggest you remain in here. Good day.”
Her chin trembled when she opened her mouth to speak, but only a squeak came out. He spun on his heel and vanished through the door, slamming it closed behind him, and with it, slamming the door on her dreams. Tears burned her cheeks and a silent scream punched through her. Her cries echoed through the emptiness that consumed her. Only darkness remained where before he had filled her with light. Her hand pressed on the wall to steady her balance as her legs threatened to give out. His hatred for her ran so deep she didn’t know if she could ever find her way back across the divide to the warmth that once glowed inside him for her.
FOR THREE DAYS, NORA sat alone in her room, tormented by the pain of knowing he was so close. Yet, the distance between them may as well have been continents. Simon brought her food and water along with pitiful looks each time he visited her. Even after everything that happened, he was still kind to her. She only wished that Viktor could share his forgiveness. She realized, though, that she hurt Viktor in a way that Simon hadn’t endured. Forgiveness may never come from Viktor, and that was something she struggled to accept.
“Nora?” Simon knocked.
“Yes, Simon?”
“It’s time.”
Nora looked out the window into the darkness. The jagged coast had been visible all day until the sun set and swallowed it. She imagined it was still there since they had been hugging it since morning.
“The ship will slow down, but we will not stop. On the chance we are being followed, we don’t want anyone to know where you got off, hence why we are doing this in the dark. You and Viktor will slip into the water on a skiff and disappear to land. I will keep sailing and lead whoever follows us far away. They’ll never know you’re no longer on the ship. You’ll be safe.”
“Where am I going, Simon?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.
“You know I can’t say. Viktor will explain when you land.”
“Right, as if he will speak to me.”
“Nora, he’s angry. Livid, actually. But Viktor burns hot and then he cools off. Just stay the course, ride the waves and eventually he’ll come around. You’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right. I hurt him badly, didn’t I?”
He nodded. “That you did, and hurting Viktor isn’t an easy thing to do. It’s part of the reason he’s reacting so severely to this.” Simon placed his hands on her shoulders. “Just hang in there, Miss Nora. He’ll come around. I promise.”
She raced forward and threw her arms around his waist. His neck was far too high for her to reach. He let out a soft laugh and wrapped his arms around her. “Best of luck to you, Miss Nora. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the good news that your problem has been solved and you are safe.”
“I’m anxiously awaiting that, too. Thank you, Simon. For everything.”
After releasing his embrace, he smiled then stood aside so she could step out through the door and into the fresh air she’d been so desperate to breathe. The salty air tightened her skin and filled her lungs with sweetness. It caught fast in them when she saw Viktor. His dark figure loomed ahead, his eyes looking as black as his feelings for her in the starless night sky.
She faltered in her approach. Simon tapped her back and urged her on. “He won’t bite, I promise.”
She arrived at Viktor’s side and he greeted her with a glare and nothing else. She decided it best to remain silent. The skiff banged against the side of the ship as it surged on. Viktor grabbed her by the waist without a word and tossed her carelessly inside. She gasped as she bounced on the wood.
“Quiet,” he shushed. “This is supposed to be secret. Try not to ruin it this time.” Viktor leapt into the swinging boat and settled in across from her.
Nora looked up to Simon, worry weighting her gaze as she pleaded with him for help. He mouthed to her, ‘He’ll come around’.
“Simon, take care of my ship. You’re Captain until I return. Take them somewhere safe and lead anyone who chases far away from here. You have my eternal gratitude, brother.”
“Dark Shark is safe with me, Viktor. Keep Nora safe. I’ll be awaiting word for when you want to remove me from my newly
appointed position. Captain Simon. It has a ring to it, doesn’t it? Maybe you shouldn’t hurry back.” Simon winked.
The two exchanged a familiar smile before Simon tugged on the ropes and lowered them from sight. The skiff hit the churning water and skipped along the top. Nora bit her lip to keep from screaming, the ropes still dragging them along while she bounced to the floor of the skiff. Viktor cut the ropes with his dagger and the boat slipped away, bobbing softly now on the wake.
She pulled herself up off the bottom. A sneer in Viktor’s eye taunted her while he made no attempt to help. A cough cleared her throat and she settled back into her seat. He grabbed the oars and rowed hard, the faint outline of the coast now visible if she squinted hard enough through the darkness. It was only a few hundred yards away.
“Where are we?”
“Wales,” he said, the shortness noted in his voice.
“Wales? Why are we in Wales?”
“Because you left me no choice. That’s why we’re in Wales. This is the safest place I can think to store you, since you compromised my preferred place, my ship. The one that now limps away with holes in it and three crew members light thanks to you. Now, do you mind? I’m rowing here.”
She cringed at his tone. Her eyes fell to the silhouette of the Dark Shark as darkness enveloped it and washed it from her sight. Just she, the lapping waves, and this sinister, unpleasant version of Viktor remained.
CHAPTER TWELVE
VIKTOR HOPPED OVER the edge of the skiff, the cold water chilling his legs while he dragged the boat and Nora up onto the beach. Remaining low, he scoured the darkness for any signs of life or danger. Nothing but the lapping of the waves on the wooden hull and the frogs chirping broke the deafening silence.
“Get out,” he barked. Nora winced at his tone. She looked fragile now, terrified though he wasn’t sure if it was fear of him or fear of her situation. Likely both. Agony over being the cause of her pain ripped through him, a guilty pang that had resonated like the echoes of church bells reverberated through him again. Just as his guilt caused him to soften, the visions of three of his men floating away on the ocean while they bid them farewell flooded his mind again. His eyes narrowed when he remembered the cause... her.
She climbed over the edge and winced when the cold water wrapped around her ankles. He knew he could have pulled her in farther, so she could land on the sand, but seeing her uncomfortable brought a bit of joy to him, soon replaced again by that pesky guilt. The push and pull of the emotions she evoked continued to make him dizzy. If only he could hate her. Things would be so much easier.
“I need to hide the skiff. Go sit in those bushes,” he said, gesturing to a clump of weeds just off the shore. She didn’t argue. Within moments she disappeared, the bushes concealing her from the world. Due to the weight of the boat, considerable effort was needed to pull it the ten feet into the shelter of the high weeds. He leaned into it, the skiff cutting through the sand until he’d stowed it safely out of view from anyone who may come sailing by. It was unlikely anyone in pursuit would conclude that he had snuck off his own moving ship and investigate, but he would take no chances. Ripping out more weeds from down the beach, he covered the boat completely. With a few kicks, he covered the drag line left in the sand. No one would suspect a thing.
“Let’s go,” he said.
She emerged from the weeds, her arms wrapped around her shoulders. When she stepped to his side, he could see the goosebumps prickling her skin. With a sigh, he pulled off his leather coat and extended it to her. “Put this on.”
Shaking her head, she dropped her eyes to the ground. “I’m all right. I don’t want you to be cold, too.”
“I’m fine. Put it on.” He pushed it into her hands.
She did as she was told. One sleeve at a time, the long coat consumed her small frame. Viktor stifled a smile at the sight of her drowning in black leather. The coat draped on the ground with an extra foot trailing behind her like a train.
“Hold still, I can’t have you dragging my coat through the woods and ripping up the leather.” He knelt down, grabbing the bottom of his coat and tying it into a large knot. It fell into an awkward bunch just below her knees. “There. Not a bad job if I say so myself.”
“Thank you, Viktor.”
“I’m only doing my job,” he said.
His tone induced her to drop her gaze again. The sting of her reaction to him slapped him once more. Cruelty was not something he prided himself on, and he tried to keep that part of his temper choked off. With Nora, he failed. The pain she caused him, the open wound still weeping and raw, opened the door to the cruelty that now spurred his tongue.
He heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be cruel.”
“You could have fooled me,” she answered, her voice barely audible.
“I will try harder. We’re stuck together whether we like it or not. I will try to make it as bearable as possible.”
Sad eyes lifted to meet his. Pain swirled like storm clouds, enveloping the blue that once resembled a warm, summer sky. “Viktor, you have to forgive me. I am so, so sorry. If you’ll just let me explain—”
He raised his hand and cut her off. “I will no longer be cruel. It’s not fair to either of us, and not who I am. I will keep you safe and return you home. All I ask is that you please do not bring it up again. Do not apologize. Do not explain. It only serves to fan the flames I am desperately trying to extinguish. We move on like nothing ever happened. Do we have a deal?”
He could see her desperation in needing to explain herself, but no explanation she offered would make up for the pain she caused him and the lives she had cost. If he was to move forward, to treat her with some semblance of kindness, hearing her justify her actions would only rip the scab off the wound that was trying to heal.
“Can you do that for me, Nora? Can you not bring this up again?”
She nodded. “I can. I’ll not say a word. Thank you for keeping me safe, Viktor.”
“Well, now that we have that behind us and a long journey ahead, I suggest we get started. Shall we?” He extended his hand, a peace offering.
She cracked a smile and nodded, slipping her hand into his and squeezing it tight. He felt the squeeze tighten around his heart as well as his hand. Just the touch of her skin ignited something inside him, something he would have to fight every step of the way.
Tall, dark trees stretched before them. The forest was vast, endless, but Viktor was grateful for its cover. He dragged her behind him for miles. No lantern was needed while he pulled her over fallen logs and across steep ravines. His eyes absorbed the darkness, his senses aware of every peril they faced. It had been a decade since he had been here, but the closer he got to his destination, the more his surroundings became familiar. An eerie feeling washed over him as he got closer and closer to where he was going. A place he swore he would never return.
“Ouch!” she shrieked, stumbling forward.
Viktor caught her in his arms, her weight leaning on him while she hopped on one foot. “Are you hurt?”
“My ankle. I twisted it on that root.” She reached down and rubbed her leg, tipping deeper into his arms as she lost her balance.
“Steady there,” he said, his arms instinctively holding her tight. “Can you walk?”
“I think so.” She took a step and winced, hopping back onto her good foot.
“Here, I’ll carry you.” He reached to scoop her up in his arms.
“I don’t want to be a burden, Viktor. I’ll manage.” Her face twisted into a grimace when she limped forward a few steps.
Viktor shook his head, a smile threatening to break out on his face. “A noble effort, but I can assure you, you’re more of a burden slowing me to a crawl. Just climb on my back and I’ll be able to carry you with ease.”
“On your back?” Her eyes widened.
“Pretend I’m a horse. Come on now, mount up.” He knelt down and patted his lower back. Two hops and she was perched behind hi
m, a tentative touch guiding her onto his back. Slender arms wrapped around his neck and he slipped his hands beneath her knees, bouncing her up into position.
“No spurs, love.” She giggled at his joke while she straddled him, her tension subsiding as she settled in. “It’s time we rest for the night. I’ll keep us moving until I find us a spot to camp and you can rest your ankle. It won’t be far to travel tomorrow.”
He felt her long locks drape down his shoulders as he started through the woods. Her body felt warm pressed against him, her breasts brushing across his back. It sent a familiar snap through his body that he found impossible to subdue when he felt her breasts bounce against him with each step.
Viktor climbed the terrain until a small clearing opened before him, the perfect place to camp. High ground, good cover and a soft bed of pine needles in the center. This was likely a deer bed, but tonight they would have to share.
“This is perfect. Ride’s over,” he said, and lowered her to the ground.
She climbed off, careful not to place weight on her sore ankle. Viktor saw her struggle and slipped an arm around her waist. “Lean on me. Let’s get you set up on this log over here.”
She didn’t resist as he guided her to the fallen log just on the outside of the clearing. His arm slipped from around her waist and he lowered her down. “Just rest. I’ll start a fire.”
Viktor hurried around gathering dried twigs and leaves to mix with the pine needles on the ground. After digging a small pit in the dirt, he stacked them up with care and struck his flint. A spark ignited the leaves. He blew on the small flame, encouraging it to grow. A warm glow lit up the shadows and bathed Nora in a soft light. Even through angered eyes, her beauty still captured him.
He pulled the canteen from his waist sash and took a long drink. Nora swallowed and licked her dry lips while she watched him.
“Thirsty?” he asked, lifting the canteen toward her.
“Yes, very.”
Viktor stepped around the fire and sat down on the log beside her. She took the canteen and tipped her head back. He couldn’t help but notice the length of her neck as she guzzled the fresh water. He cursed himself and forced his eyes away. Admiring her every inch had gotten him into this mess in the first place. He had gone from familiar emotions that stopped at lust and let them grow into something deeper, something resembling, dare he say, love. The scorch he felt from her spurn just confirmed she had meant something more to him than any other. Only a woman he felt deeply for had the power to inflict so much damage.
Beneath The Assassin's Touch (Daggers 0f Desire Book 2) Page 13