The Collector 4: Eight Arms to Hold You

by Ally Blue

  With his self-imposed deadline pushing him, Luke scanned the shelves he hadn’t yet explored. He saw nothing promising. Squatting on the floor beside the far wall, he opened the cabinet underneath the shelf. His jaw dropped open when he saw the contents.

  “Oh, my God,” he whispered. “This is it.”

  Lined up in neat rows on the shelf were El Cazador’s logs, from her launch in 1973 to the inception of computerized logs in 1995. Luke knew his father meticulously recorded all information gathered on his expeditions into the logs. Any specific information Carson had gathered about the idol would likely be in there.

  Acting on a sudden hunch, Luke selected the logs from 1977 and clutched them to his chest. He shut the cabinet, stood and went to the door. Pressing his ear to the crack between the door and the frame, he held his breath and listened. Not a sound came from the library. Biting his lip, Luke unlocked the door and eased it open.

  No one was in sight. Luke slipped out the door, shut it and locked it, and hurried back to his table. Only after he’d sat down and slid the logs into his satchel did he relax.

  Grabbing a croissant out of the take-out tray, Luke opened one of the thick textbooks, set the first log from 1977 open inside it, and began to read.

  * * * * *

  Two hours later, Luke leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. He’d been through almost a year’s worth of logs and had so far learned nothing about the idol. Most of the entries concerned the search for a sunken ship from the 1800s with a cargo of stolen diamonds. There’d been no mention of the idol at all.

  Two more months worth, and he’d be done with the records from that year. He had an inexplicable but incredibly strong feeling that he was close to finding the answers he needed. That a few more minutes’ reading would reveal a life-changing truth. Leaning his elbows on the table, he focused his attention once again on the log.

  He’d barely started reading when he heard the library door open. Panic shot through him. He shut the log and shoved it into the satchel at his feet with the other logbooks a half second before Dr. Perez rounded the row of shelves. Luke’s automatic smile froze to his face when he saw his father appear in the woman’s wake.

  “Good morning Father, Dr. Perez,” Luke said, amazed that he sounded so normal when his heart was threatening to pound right out of his ribcage. “What can I do for you?”

  “We are here to check on your progress.” Carson frowned at the empty take-out tray and travel mug on the table. “You were told to take your meals in your quarters, Luke.”

  Luke bit his lip. “I stopped at the kitchen and took my breakfast with me so that I could spend more time on my research. I thought if I researched deep water salvage in an area of silt seafloor such as we have here, it would help us recover the idol more quickly. I know it’s not an excuse. I let my enthusiasm affect my judgment. I’m sorry, Father.”

  For a moment, Luke’s father stared at him with a dangerous contempt in his eyes. Luke kept his expression appropriately submissive and waited. With any luck, the mention of potentially finding the idol sooner would negate some of his father’s anger.

  Finally, Carson shrugged and turned to gaze out the porthole. “No matter. Have you learned anything useful?”

  Relieved, Luke let his tense shoulders relax. “I’m not sure,” he hedged. “I mean, I’ve found a few references that I think may be helpful, but I’ll need to do a bit more reading to be sure.”

  “Have you found which area of the sunken ship contains the idol?” Dr. Perez asked, breaking her nearly perpetual silence. “The dive team is exploring the last unburied section of the ship today, but Smith tells me you don’t believe it’s in that section.”

  Luke fought to keep his calm mask in place. He knew time was growing short. Dr. Perez’s unwitting reminder of that fact brought his constantly suppressed panic bubbling close to the surface.

  “No, I don’t,” he answered. “I went through that section as best I could last night, and found nothing to suggest the idol’s presence there. Of course, I can’t be one hundred percent certain. The dive team’s equipment should be able to tell us for sure.”

  “And if it is not there, where do we search next?” Carson turned around again and glared at Luke. “I have been very patient with you, my son. Do not make me regret it.”

  Staring into his father’s harsh and unforgiving eyes, Luke felt a sudden surge of anger. He lifted his chin and met Carson’s gaze without flinching. “I’ll find the idol, soon. That’s a promise.”

  And I’ll steal your treasure right out from under you, and be free of you at last. The thought gave Luke a jolt of fierce joy.

  His father’s thin lips curved into a faint smile. “See that you do. Come, Dr. Perez. Let me retrieve the book I was telling you about and we will discuss it.”

  Luke smiled and nodded at Dr. Perez as she followed his father between the bookshelves. His sense of relief was abruptly cut off, though, when he saw where they were headed ‑‑ Carson’s private library.

  Luke watched, frozen, as his father took a ring of keys from his pocket, flipped through them until he found the one he wanted, then unlocked the room. He held the door for Dr. Perez, then followed her inside and shut the door behind them.

  Time slowed to a crawl as Luke sat staring at the door. His pulse roared in his ears, and he felt too weak to move. What if he checks the old logs, and notices a whole year is missing? The possibilities made him sick to contemplate. The beating he’d surely receive would be the least he could expect if he were caught breaking into his father’s private room and stealing the ship’s logs. The worst thing would be losing the chance to recover the idol.

  No, he corrected himself. The worst thing would be losing your chance to be with Austin.

  He couldn’t let that happen. Couldn’t.

  Of course, he had no control over the situation at the moment. He couldn’t do a thing until his father and Dr. Perez left, and he could get into the private library again. He took a deep breath and prepared himself to wait.

  As if reading his mind, Carson opened the door at that moment and strode over to Luke. “Take what volumes you need, and go to your quarters.”

  Luke swallowed the bile rising in his throat. “Father, I really feel that I should stay here. If I should need different books…”

  His father’s fist slamming into his face cut him off. Luke’s head snapped back from the force of the blow. “Do as I say, boy!” Carson roared. “Go, now!”

  Luke wanted to argue. Nothing, not even the throbbing pain in his head, was as important as returning those logs before they were missed. The look in his father’s eye stopped him. A cold, bright gleam that said maybe this would be the time Carson didn’t stop with a few broken bones, but kept going until the damage was too much to heal.

  There’d been a few times in his life when Luke would have welcomed death, because it would mean release from his father. Those times were gone. He wanted to live, and he wanted to do it on his own terms. Clamping down hard on his frustration, he stood and slung his satchel over his shoulder.

  “Yes, Father,” Luke said. His voice shook with anger. Hopefully his father would mistake the tremor for fear.

  Luke picked up his coffee mug, tossed the empty take-out tray in the trash, and started toward the library door. He felt his father watching him as he crossed the room. He kept his pace steady and his gaze on the floor, not wanting to give Carson any excuse to start hitting him again.

  He made his escape without further incident. Out in the passageway, Luke hung his head so that his hair swung down to cover his bruised and swelling face. He clutched the satchel close to his body. A plan was already forming in his mind. If he could just find the idol’s resting place tonight, he could…

  “Luke?”

  Luke froze in his tracks. Acutely aware of his battered appearance, Luke raised his head and looked into a pair of wide, horrified brown eyes. “Hello, Austin.”

  Chapter Eight

  Austi
n stared, shocked to the core. Luke’s left cheek was red, the skin broken, the eye swollen and already turning purple. He started to reach out and touch the bruise, then thought better of it. No one else was around at the moment, but they were in a public hallway. Anyone might happen along.

  “What happened?” Austin asked, though a part of him already knew the answer.

  Luke’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Father doesn’t like it when I talk back to him.”

  A sudden rush of fury turned Austin’s vision red. “That fucking bastard. I’ll kill him.”

  Luke’s eyes went wide. “Austin, promise me you’ll stay away from him. Please.”

  “You can’t possibly want to protect him,” Austin said, keeping his voice down with a monumental effort. “You wanted to escape him! You went to The Col…”

  “Shhhh!” Luke glanced around the empty hallway. He leaned close, brushing Austin’s fingers with the hand that wasn’t clutching his satchel. “I’m not trying to protect him. I’m trying to protect you. He’ll kill you and not think twice about it.”

  “All right,” Austin said, feeling chastised. “But look, if I ever catch him hitting you, I can’t promise I’ll behave. It makes me crazy to think of anyone hurting you.”

  “I feel the same way about you. And that’s why you can’t do anything. That’s why you can’t touch him, you can’t say a word, not even if he hits me right in front of you.” Luke stared into Austin’s eyes, his expression pleading. “I just found you, Austin. I don’t want to lose you.”

  Austin’s throat constricted. He longed to pull Luke into his arms and kiss him, but he knew he couldn’t. Not in such a public place. “Let’s go somewhere,” he whispered. “I want you.”

  Luke’s eyes went hot. “Me too. But we can’t. Not now. I’m supposed to be in my cabin, and I’m sure Smith has you on assignment somewhere.”

  “He’s got me teaching a refresher course on advanced deep wreck penetration in a little while. We’re evidently exploring a shipwreck at two hundred and seventy five feet this afternoon.” Austin leaned close enough to smell the clean scent of Luke’s hair. He clenched his fingers to keep himself from burying them in those silky tresses. “Is that where the ... you know. Is that where it is?”

  Luke darted a cautious glance around him. “We can’t talk about this here. I’ll tell you about it tonight. You’re still coming to my cabin, aren’t you?”

  “Of course.” Austin gave Luke a narrow look. “Luke, what aren’t you telling me?”

  “Later.” Luke flashed a wicked smile that seemed defiant on his bruised and swelling face. “See you tonight.”

  With that, Luke squeezed Austin’s hand and strode off down the hallway. Austin turned to gaze after him, admiring the graceful glide of the man’s walk. A sudden vision of Luke naked beneath him flashed into Austin’s mind. He stifled a moan. Such a tight, sweet ass, he thought, watching the ass in question disappear around a corner. And I’m the only one who knows what it’s like to be inside him.

  The thought was overwhelming. Austin leaned against the wall, shut his eyes and breathed deep, trying to get control of himself. The intensity of his feelings for Luke scared him. He’d never felt anything like it, and he didn’t understand it. Strong physical attraction made sense. This obsessive need to be near Luke, to touch him and protect him, didn’t. They barely knew each other. Austin’s body and soul shouldn’t ache for him like this.

  “Bell!”

  Austin jumped, eyes flying open. “Mr. Smith.”

  Smith’s expression was as blank as ever, but his eyes snapped with anger. “Don’t ever stare at him like that in public,” he growled. “Most of the crew won’t turn a blind eye.”

  Austin gulped. “Yes, sir. Sorry.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Now get your ass to the classroom. You’ve got two hours to brush up the dive team on deep wreck diving before we head down. The piece of ship you’re exploring today is a whole lot deeper down than the one yesterday.”

  “Yes, sir.” Austin risked a careful smile. “Thank you, sir.”

  Smith just grunted and brushed past Austin, headed for the ladder to the main deck. Austin sagged against the wall. His heart was racing and his knees felt like jelly. You’re on a spy mission, he admonished himself. You have to be more careful. Anybody but Smith probably would’ve turned you over to Cordova.

  The thought terrified him. Not for his own sake, but for Luke’s. His gut told him that Carson Cordova would somehow blame Austin’s behavior on Luke, and punish him for it. Austin would rather die than give Cordova an excuse to inflict further suffering on Luke.

  When his legs stopped shaking, Austin pushed away from the wall and hurried toward the stairs leading down to the crew’s living area. The dive team would most likely be gathered in the small classroom already. The entire team was certified in both deep diving and wreck penetration, of course, but it had been a while since any of them had been down further than one hundred and thirty feet. Since Austin regularly dove to two or three hundred feet in order to keep his skills current, he’d been ordered to give the team a quick refresher. He didn’t mind. In fact, the idea appealed to him. He’d honed his teaching skills quite well in his former job, and teaching had always come naturally to him.

  Just make sure you keep your guard up. These people may be your co-workers for a while, but they’re not your friends. They work for the enemy. Remember that.

  For some reason, the warning voice in Austin’s head sounded exactly like Smith. Chuckling under his breath, Austin descended the stairs.

  * * * * *

  Austin climbed out of the water and onto the dive platform, shrugged off his BCD and tanks and leaned over the ladder. “Here, Collins. I’ll help you up.”

  Collins shot him a glare that had probably sent many a newbie diver cringing into the corner in years past. “Fuck off, boy. I been diving since you were in diapers. I don’t need your help.”

  Austin ignored him. Hooking a hand under one of Collins’ arms, he steadied the older man as he climbed the ladder. From her spot behind Collins on the ladder, Chen planted one dainty hand on her colleague’s butt and pushed, earning her a vicious growl from Collins. Austin bit back a laugh, thinking it was a good thing Collins was still feeling weak, or he probably would’ve started swinging at Austin and Chen both. Collins might be one of the oldest members of the team, but he wasn’t someone Austin would’ve liked to take on in a fist fight.

  “Quit your bitching, Collins,” Chen scolded as she bounded onto the platform. “We wouldn’t have done the gas sharing drill if Bell hadn’t talked it up in his class. He saved your stupid life just as much as your partner did.”

  Collins glowered at her, but let her help him remove his tanks, which told Austin how bad he must feel still. The man wasn’t one to show weakness, ever. “This team’s been diving together for years, Chen. We don’t need some fucking upstart to show us emergency gas sharing.”

  “Evidently we did.” Jordan, the team leader, pulled herself onto the platform and gave Collins a stern glare. “I’ve been diving longer than you have, Collins. I know how we tend to get complacent after we’ve been down so many times we’ve lost count. Sometimes it takes new blood to remind us about safety.” She turned a solemn look to Austin. “Thank you, Bell. Collins would’ve died if you hadn’t insisted we practice gas sharing with an unconscious partner.”

  Austin blushed. “I just suggested it, ma’am. You’re the one who gave the order for the drill.”

  Jordan smiled, gray eyes crinkling at the corners. “Well, it was a good suggestion.”

  Austin smiled back and ducked his head, feeling acutely embarrassed. “My Uncle Ray used to always tell me that the minute you start thinking you don’t need the safety procedures, that’s when the shit hits the fan.”

  Chen cackled. “Smart man.” She pulled off her drysuit hood and started unwinding her long black hair from its braid.

  “Where’s Vonovich?” Austin asked, scanning the res
t of the group for Collins’ dive partner. “Is he okay?”

  “He will be.” Jordan nodded toward the bench beside the rail, where the young Russian sat shaking like a leaf, his knees drawn up to his chest. “I think that’s the first time he’s ever actually had to save another person’s life underwater.”

  “At least he didn’t start panicking ‘til now,” Collins mumbled in an uncharacteristic show of approval for his partner. “I’d hate to think my life depended on some kid who lost his damn head the second any little thing happened.”

  “Little thing?” Chen smacked Collins’ arm hard, making him wince. “You passed out underwater, jackass! Maybe it was only a few seconds, but it’s no ‘little thing’, especially at that depth!”

  “Okay, okay.” Collins shot the petite Chinese woman a fierce frown. “Don’t hit me.”

  Austin bit the insides of his cheeks. The sight of the six-foot-four Collins cringing away from a five-foot-nothing girl less than half his weight was too funny. Of course, Chen was stronger than she looked. Her blows packed a surprising wallop.

  Jordan laid a hand on Collins’ arm. “Report to Dr. Tobias immediately. He’ll probably want to send you to Biloxi for some tests.”

  “I don’t need tests!” Collins roared. “I’m fine!”

  Jordan gave a longsuffering sigh. “That’s an order, Collins. Either you can go see Dr. Tobias willingly, or I’ll have Smith drag your ass to him in cuffs. Your choice.”

  Collins’ face went purple. For a moment, Austin was sure he was about to punch Jordan. He moved closer, noticing Chen doing the same thing on Collins’ other side. Collins shot a sidelong glance at Chen, then at Austin, and deflated a little.

  “Okay, dammit,” Collins grumbled. “But when the doc gives me the all-clear, I’m going back down with the team.”

  Jordan gave him a chilly smile. “Of course.”

  Collins pinned Austin with a venomous glare as he left. Austin watched the big man lumber off. “Is he always like that?”

  “Pretty much.” Chen started peeling off her drysuit. “Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m off for a shower before dinner. See you later.”