Twenty minutes later, she walked into the kitchen and plugged in the jug. The sound of the front door opening and closing made her whirl around. “Who’s there?” Her heart jumped like a racehorse leaping from a starting gate. Her hand slid across the kitchen counter to curl around the handle of a carving knife.
“Asia? What are you doing out of bed so early?” Roman strode into the kitchen, bringing the tang of the sea and outdoors. His dark gaze traveled lazily up and down her body. There was a sexual intensity to his gaze but concern as well. “You feeling okay?”
“A bit sore. I’ll live. I thought you’d gone.” Asia quashed her sudden nerves and forced a smile as she released the carving knife. She pulled two mugs from the cupboard. “Is Mother right about a possible war?”
“There was unrest when I left, and according to rumors your mother has heard they’ve become worse. But I need to finish the business discussions that I came for before I return.” Roman sauntered up to her to brush a kiss across her lips.
Asia shuddered at the intense, searing emotion that shot through her. The phone rang, and fear ratcheted up the tension. More weird calls?
“I’ll get it.” Roman plucked up the phone. “Yeah? Who is this?” The phone crashed back down. “Heavy breather.”
Asia inhaled deeply in an effort to settle her jumping nerves. “I wish they’d quit calling. If they want to freak me out they’re succeeding.”
“Try not to worry, babe. It’s me they’re trying to harass.”
That made sense, except.... “Maybe, but how did they get this number? Oh, never mind. I want to ask you something else. Did you mean it? About marrying me?” She tried to keep the neediness, the uncertainty from her voice but failed dismally. Dammit, she needed reassurance if she was going to rebel against unwritten family law.
Roman cupped her face with his hands. “Oh, I meant it. The feud between our tribes is ridiculous. If you asked the elders, I’m sure they won’t remember what the feud is about. Besides, the woman I love is part of the Transients. I didn’t plan for it to happen but it has.” His stern mouth softened into a smile that made hope bloom inside. Rosa had been wrong. So had her mother. He wasn’t after a scalp to attach to his dorsal. This was love.
“I still need to go back to the city,” he said.
“Can I come too? I should probably contact my accompanist about the new bracket of songs we’re planning, anyway.”
Roman flashed a grin before tracing his fingertips over her parted lips. “I was hoping you’d come with me.”
“For sex?” she asked, teasing him now she felt more secure.
“You betcha.” His good humor dispersed. “We can get a special license and get married at the same time.” His gaze was intent as he searched her face for a reaction. “What do you think?”
“Yes. Oh, yes!” Asia threw her arms around his neck and rained kisses on him, ignoring the protest of sore, aching muscles. Nothing mattered except Roman. “Oh, Roman. I love you so much.”
* * * *
Roman listened carefully to his younger brother, his gut tightening with each word. “Has Helena openly taken over or is she just throwing her weight around?”
“She hasn’t taken over yet, but it’s only a matter of time. You need to come home now before she turns the island into a military state. Gads, you should see the way her cronies strut about the town with barely concealed weapons.”
“There’s been a problem with brokering the treasure. I’ve had to set up new meetings for next week.”
“Damn,” his brother muttered. “The end of next week might be too late.”
Roman hesitated, wondering if anyone might be trying to listen in. The hair at the back of his neck prickled as it had before the attack, yet he hadn’t been able to catch his watchers out. “I’d hoped to take a holiday before I head back to Auckland Island.”
“A holiday?” his brother yelped. “Time for that later. You’re needed here, I tell you.”
“I’m getting married.” Roman cut through his brother’s bluster and waited for the fallout.
“Married?” His brother sounded shocked. “Oh, man. Helena is going to be pissed.”
Too bad. She’d have to deal with it. Roman was aware Helena still thought of him as her property. Her maneuvering to stop other women getting near amused him. Most of the time. The orca wanted power. Oh, she’d coated it up with sweet smiles and sex, and it had taken him a while to see through her manipulation. Discovering her in bed with another orca during the summer games had torn away his blinders. Roman refused to share. After telling her their relationship was over, he’d walked away. It appeared Helena hadn’t accepted his edict. Roman scowled. The rumors from Asia’s mother and his brother’s demands that he return home brought conflict. The tribe needed him, but for the first time in his life, he wanted to do something for himself instead of putting the tribe first.
“It’s none of Helena’s business.”
Roman heard raised voices on his brother’s end.
“Wait a sec,” his brother said.
Roman was unable to decipher words but the tone was clear--panicked.
“Bro, Helena and two of her brothers have disappeared. They seem to have left the island but the rest of the gang is here. Roman, I don’t like the sound of this. They’re openly wearing weapons and telling orcas to stay indoors.”
Roman cursed, low and pithy. “Damn, Gene. I have to make this meeting. They’re calling me back to confirm a time, but missing the last meeting has made negotiations tense. They don’t trust me to deliver.”
“Do you think Helena had something to do with the attack? Maybe slowing up negotiations?” Gene asked.
Roman had wondered the same thing. His gut churned uneasily while he debated his course of action. “I didn’t see faces but there were three of them. Has Helena left the island before?”
Gene hesitated. “I was away for the weekend. I’ll ask around.”
“I’ll check back in a few hours once I know what’s going on.”
* * * *
Roman walked to the business meeting since it was to take place at the Imperial Hotel, only five minutes away. The instant he left the Carlton where he was staying, his senses told him he was under surveillance. Damned if he could see who was watching. A casual glance over his shoulder when he crossed the street didn’t catch his watchers out. Roman paused at the next set of traffic lights, waiting for the signal for pedestrians to cross. The traffic halted, and Roman started across.
A battered blue Holden failed to stop and continued across the intersection, the wheels spinning as the driver floored the accelerator. Roman froze for an instant. The driver was trying to hit him! He threw himself out of the path of the oncoming vehicle, hitting the ground with a painful thump before rolling to safety. The car continued past.
“Man, he tried to hit you!” A young male dumped the backpack he’d had draped off one shoulder on the ground and helped Roman up.
“Are you all right, young man? Should I call the police?” an elderly woman asked.
Roman thought for a moment she intended to check for broken bones. He dusted off his suit. It had all happened so fast he hadn’t seen the driver, but one thing was clear. That was no accident. The driver had wanted to run him down.
“Thanks. I’m fine.” Roman limped off down the street continuing on to his appointment.
The meeting went well, better than he’d expected. Gerald Jones was willing to buy the items they’d found in the sunken ship or family heirlooms as he’d told Gerald Jones and his team. The orcas didn’t want anyone poking around near their island searching for sunken treasure. Roman cursed the day they’d found the ship. Greed had ripped the tribe apart with Helena and her followers wanting to keep the treasure for a select few. Roman and the council had decided to use the proceeds to make improvements on the island. The debate continued, but it seemed the fighting had turned mean and dirty.
Roman took the elevator to his hotel room. The door was p
ropped open when he arrived outside his room. He walked inside expecting to find the maids cleaning. Instead all his belongings were strewn around the room. Clothes, paperwork and toiletries littered the floor.
“Asia? Asia! Are you here?” Hell, if they’d hurt Asia he’d never forgive himself. He grabbed up the phone and rang Asia’s cell phone number.
His panic eased when she answered. Low music, a piano and the wail of a saxophone, were audible down the line.
“Hey, Asia. It’s me. You almost finished there? Ready to get hitched?”
“I’ll meet you at the courthouse in half an hour.” The excitement in her voice brought a smile, albeit brief. He hoped he wasn’t putting Asia in danger by marrying her. They could always postpone the ceremony.... No, dammit! He wanted Asia by his side, he wanted to sleep with her and wake up with her in the morning.
“Half an hour,” he confirmed. “Don’t be late.”
“It’s fashionable for the bride to arrive late,” she teased.
“After the morning I’ve had, I don’t think my heart could take it. In fact, if you’re late I think I’ll put you over my knee.”
“Ooh! Be still my heart,” she cooed. “Is something wrong?”
Roman laughed, seeking to reassure her. He didn’t want her to change her mind either. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
* * * *
Asia checked her watch. The bride was meant to arrive late, not the groom.
“Yes, well. I’m sorry, dear. I have ceremonies scheduled for the rest of the afternoon. You’ll have to reschedule.”
Asia gritted her teeth and tried to hold the tears at bay. He’d changed his mind about marrying the enemy. Her family had tried to tell her....
Stop it!
Wait to hear his explanations before you jump to conclusions.
“Thank you. We’ll reschedule.” She forced a smile on seeing the sympathetic expression on the elderly gentleman’s face. He thought Roman had changed his mind. He felt sorry for her.
She had to get out of here before she did something stupid like cry.
Asia hurried from the courthouse into the sunshine outside. She made it halfway across the square outside before the first tear ran down her cheek.
She waited at home by the phone for the rest of the afternoon, her mood swinging from tearful to furious and back again. Roman didn’t come. He didn’t call....
Chapter Seven
“For the last time, Helena and her brothers have taken over the island! Don’t you care?”
Roman stared at his brother before averting his gaze and looking at the landscape below. They flew over an open expanse of ocean, heading due south to Auckland Island. Asia was going to think the worst, and he had no way to contact her.
“Of course I care,” he snapped. Maybe if he took care of this mess, he could fix things with Asia. If she’d talk to him.
The helicopter landed on the far side of the island away from the village and prying eyes. They waited for the pilot to secure the helicopter and join them for the drive into town.
“Tom, let us out on the outskirts of town,” his brother instructed.
“You’re being paranoid, practically kidnapping me and sneaking me back on to the island.” Frustration simmered through Roman. Asia would hate him. Hell, he was probably on her family’s hit list now for leaving and breaking her heart.
“Well I don’t understand what was so important that you couldn’t come back,” his brother muttered.
“I was getting married, dammit!”
Both his brother and the pilot turned to gape at Roman. The vehicle veered toward the edge of the cliff.
“Watch the road,” Roman barked.
“I thought you meant in a few months not this week,” his brother said. “You’ve only been away three weeks. Who is it? Not a human? That will really go down well.”
The driver glanced across at them again before concentrating on the winding road that cut along the edge of a cliff. Curiosity flitted across his face. Roman could practically see his ears flapping.
The truth had to come out eventually. “Asia Bolino.” Roman waited for the fallout.
“Asia ... I don’t believe the name is....” His brother’s jaw dropped, his eyes bulged. “Bolino? Fuck! Roman, have you lost your mind?”
The vehicle went precariously close to running off the road.
“Perhaps you should pull over,” Roman muttered. “Then you can both have at me.”
“Bolino as in a member of the Transients?”
Roman gave a curt nod.
“The enemy,” the driver muttered. “That’s all we need to add to this little war we’ve got going on down here.”
* * * *
Roman had thought his brother had exaggerated. It was worse. Helena’s brothers patrolled the town armed with weapons. It seemed they’d put a curfew in force and the main part of the town appeared quiet and empty. The lamps that lit the square near the council building weren’t burning, either shot out or switched off. The atmosphere was one of fear and distrust, and the few orca he saw darted out of sight when the vehicle approached.
His brother laid a hand on his shoulder, offering silent support. “Helena has taken over the council chambers. It would be best if you went to your cottage. I will pass the word to those loyal to you.”
Roman took exception to being ordered around. “I’d rather confront Helena now.”
“They have offered a bounty for your capture,” the driver said gruffly. “Wait until the morning. See how many orca are still loyal to you.”
Roman gave a curt nod, seeing the wisdom of their suggestion. When he arrived at his cottage it felt as though he’d been away for years. He prowled around the interior worrying about Asia. For the first time in his memory, the fate of his people was secondary to his personal life. Somehow he had to get back to Asia, to reassure her of his love. The night passed slowly while he debated alternatives and the quickest way to get back to Asia.
The next morning, Roman spent an hour listening to complaints about Helena and her brothers, his anger steadily building with each new revelation. Helena and her brothers had done their job well, sowing the seeds of mistrust and shifting loyalty from him to them. But there were still a few orcas on the island who thought as he did. If they were to survive and prosper, they needed to put money back into the island’s infrastructure.
The treasure wasn’t going anywhere while Helena held the village at gunpoint. They needed to keep to the terms of the contract he’d arranged while on the mainland. The village needed the money for improvements. How did he start to repair the cracks that had appeared in his tribe? No doubt becoming involved with Asia would make things worse. He dragged his hand through his hair and leaned back in the wooden chair. It creaked in protest. Tendrils of pain curled through his temples in the start of a headache. Fresh air, he decided. The legs of the chair thumped onto the tiled floor, and he stood abruptly.
Five minutes later he strode from his cottage, openly defying Helena and her brothers. If they wanted a confrontation they could have one. Thoughts of the female orca brought a scowl. She was a loose cannon. A kook.
Roman stomped down the cobbled stone road and turned left toward the beach. He kicked off his leather sandals and left them where they landed. The sand was cool beneath his feet. A strong wind blew, ruffling his hair and sending the waves crashing into shore. A snort escaped. Fitted his mood. He checked his watch and thought about Asia. Picturing her in his mind soothed the rough edges of his irritation. Asia was the one good thing to come from this whole mess. He hoped she would forgive him for leaving without a word. Roman ceased his stomping and slowed to an amble. A seal barked, setting off the nesting seabirds on the nearby cliff.
Roman caught a flash of color in his peripheral vision. A gun fired. The seals barked again in agitation, shooting off the rocks into the safety of the water while the seabirds took off in a mass of squawks and white feathers. Another shot sounded. Closer. Then a third grazed his c
heek. Roman leapt for cover behind a rock formation, his pulse racing. Hell. Where were they? He couldn’t see them. His hand went up to his face and came away with a trace of blood. Cautiously, he explored the wound. Not too bad, but it stung like the devil. He dabbed at it with his shirt before peering around the rock. He still couldn’t see anything, but the seabirds had settled again, which indicated the intruders had backed off. Roman waited a little longer and ventured from cover, ready to leap back behind the rock at the first sign of danger. Nothing happened. But he didn’t intend to make himself an easy target. He darted from rock to rock, heading for the copse of gnarled trees not far from the beach. Once there, he ran rapidly from rock to dried grass-like toitoi bush until he reached the village. It seemed that Helena had relaxed her rule. Several orcas went about their daily business in the main thoroughfare, and Roman decided it was fairly safe to move openly with everything looking so normal.
“Ah, Roman.” The feminine voice was low and gloating. “You’ve decided to show your face.”
Roman turned slowly to face Helena. The orca was stunning, very beautiful. She knew it too. Confident. Arrogant. Greedy. If she had her way, the treasure would go into her pockets. The orca had an insatiable thirst for material possessions.
“Helena. I thought you’d left the island.”
From The Deep Page 21