Hearts Of Darkness (The Santiago Trilogy Book 1)

by Catherine Wiltcher

  “Get dressed. We need to go.”

  She drops her towel and bends down to pick up her bra and top from the floor. I can feel myself growing hard again.

  “What happens after I’m gone?”

  I drink myself into a stupor before I commence my bloody retaliation.

  I force a grim smile. “The less you know about that the better.”

  She pauses. “Because you don’t trust me?”

  “No, mi alma, quite the opposite.” My expression relaxes as I tug her back into my arms and nuzzle the top of her sweet-smelling hair. “It’s because I don’t trust myself.”

  Exiting the bunker through the main house is too risky. The fires are out now but the joists have warped and the roof has partially collapsed in on itself. It’s going to take months to rebuild. Until then I’ve instructed Joseph to quietly source and purchase another fortress – a private island in the Pacific – to serve as a base whilst we set about planning our counter-attack.

  There’s another reason too. All the men that I left here to protect Eve have been mutilated and dumped in a bloody pile on my driveway, all except Manuel. Every single one of these men have earned my thanks and abiding respect. Their families will be exceptionally well compensated for. No one talked. Not one of them let slip the location of my secret bunker despite hours of torture. My men fought and died like fucking soldiers.

  “This way.” My hand tightens around Eve’s as I drag her along the tunnel towards a second concealed entrance near the beach. I can feel her wincing at my grip but I daren’t loosen it, not for a second. Her touch is the only thing that’s stopping my darkness from overwhelming me. I can’t reflect on what my brother did to my men, not here in the presence of my angel. I punch another code into the wall. The door slides back and we’re both blinded by the sun’s harsh glare. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks is acting as some sort of conduit for us as we stand there waiting for our eyes to adjust.

  “I know this place,” she says in surprise, blinking and looking around. “We’re next to the beach by the house. You had men stationed her.”

  Not anymore.

  Joseph steps into view. He’s been waiting for us. He nods briefly at Eve and I watch her eyeing up his nasty head wound.

  “Medics are here. Everything else is arranged.”

  I nod at him. “Good. Let’s get to the aircraft. We’ll discuss more then.”

  With our hands still locked together, Eve and I move in single-file along the narrow path that cuts straight through the vegetation towards the landing strip. Joseph is bringing up the rear. I’m careful to keep the house and Emilio’s parting gift out of view at all times. The stench of death and smoke is still ripe in the air and the palm trees either side of us are charred and smoldering. My brother meant to destroy everything of mine before he panicked and ran.

  Somehow he received word that we’d escaped Colombia, though I’m fucked if I know how. We killed all of his men and left his mansion burning. We’ve effectively razed each other to ground. Now we’re locked in a deadly race to see who can rise from the ashes first. Did he align himself with our enemies to pull this off? How long has he been plotting my downfall? This isn’t just about business. I can see that now. He meant to hit me harder, and that’s why he came for Eve.

  “Oh my god, the horses!” I can feel Eve tugging on my hand as she yanks me to a reluctant stop. “Are they ok? Did you manage to save them?”

  I catch Joseph’s eye over her shoulder. If what my brother did to my men was bad then what he did to my horses was unimaginable. I shake my head.

  She looks stunned. “Can we just double-check? They might have escaped to another…”

  “They’re dead, my angel.” I keep my tone as neutral as possible, though I’m raging on the inside. I watch her beautiful face skip through a whole range of human emotions, from shock and disbelief until finally settling on anger.

  “I see,” she says tightly. “More innocents caught up in the crossfire. When the hell will you people ever learn?” She goes to push past me but I grab her by the arm and spin her back around.

  “Calm yourself, Eve. There’s nothing we could have done for them.”

  “You should have left them alone. You never should have bought them here!”

  She goes to push past me again and this time I let her, even though it sends red-hot pokers through my shoulder blade. I deserve the pain. I know she’s not referring to the horses anymore, and the worst thing is she’s right. If I’d carried on walking past that liquor store I never would have given Emilio the ammunition he was seeking. None of this would be happening.

  “Don’t say a fucking word,” I snarl at Joseph.

  “I wouldn’t dare,” he says mildly but he’s giving me the benefit of his coldest, most unflinching of gazes. “How’s the shoulder?”

  Nothing escapes his attention. I know he saw me flinching just now.

  “Hurts like a bitch.”

  “You want morphine?”

  I shake my head as I watch Eve draw further and further away. Her head is down, her slim shoulders hunched over. She’s fucking furious with me. He follows my gaze and his lips start to curve.

  “If I didn’t think you’d kick my ass I’d say she was growing on me.”

  “I will, so keep your damn mouth shut!”

  “Fair enough,” he sighs, and true to his word he doesn’t speak again until we reach the landing strip.

  Eve heads straight for the aircraft steps without so much as a backward glance at me. Tomas is hovering nearby and his eyes flicker to mine for instruction. I shake my head. Let her go. If she liked the damn horses so much I’ll buy her a dozen new ones. Everything is expendable and replaceable in this game.

  Everything except Eve.

  “We have a location on Sanders,” he announces coming over to join us.

  I go very still. “Since when?”

  “A couple of hours ago.”

  Anger rises up from the pit of my stomach. I hate being kept in the dark, even for a minute. “Why the hell are you only telling me this now?”

  “You were ‘otherwise engaged’,” Joseph murmurs tactfully and I turn to glare at him. That deadeye shit of his is getting on my nerves today. He’s dangerously close to a smirk as well. He better wind that in before my fist connects with his face.

  “So, Sanders isn’t decomposing in a body bag,” I say coldly.

  “On the contrary, he’s in Thailand. He was spooked after Colombia, sensed something was about to go down. He’s been laying low. We intercepted a coded message from him this morning. I’ve arranged transfer to a safe house of ours in Singapore. As soon as Tomas delivers Miss Miller back to Miami he’ll fly straight there and pick him up.”

  I glance over at the aircraft where Eve’s pale face is glaring down at me from one of the cabin windows. I remember Rick’s warning in Colombia. Something about beautiful women and starting wars…

  “Is he on our side?”

  “I believe so.”

  I savor a quick moment of satisfaction. I knew Sanders would never betray me. He’s got the connections to help us rebuild our army and firepower too.

  “Get me an ETA on the other aircraft,” I say to Tomas as I turn towards the steps. “I want it landing here within the hour. Anything salvageable goes onboard with us.”

  Tomas nods at me. “Sure thing jefe.”

  I find Eve at the back of the plane chatting to Manuel. Jesus, if I was mad before then I just hit a new detonation button. She keeps her face turned away from me on purpose, barely flickering as I prowl up the aisle towards them. Manuel’s not so restrained. He glances up and his handsome face pales beneath his bruises.

  “Leave us.”

  “Yes señor.” He scrabbles to his feet immediately.

  “Hang on a second, Manuel.” Eve places her hand on his arm and I nearly explode. “You don’t have to go because of him.”

  “No señorita, I really do.” He backs away from her like she’
s covered in anthrax.

  “He saved my life, Dante,” she says angrily once he disappears outside. “Can’t you tone down the irrational jealousy act for a minute and be a little appreciative?”

  “I’m appreciative of no man who gets to spend time with you, mi alma,” I growl. “No one except me.”

  “Stop. Just stop.”

  Her head flops back against the leather seat as if she doesn’t have the strength to deal with my unreasonable behaviour anymore. A knot of disquiet settles in my stomach. Is my angel tiring of me already?

  “How long until we’re airborne?”

  There’s a pause. “I’m not coming with you, Eve.”

  “What do you mean?” Her blue sapphires turn to fix on me as I swing my body into the spare seat next to her, taking care not to jar my shoulder.

  “My path lies to the east. Away from you.”

  “But I thought we’d travel this part of the journey together?”

  My fears evaporate when I see the devastation on her face. She’s trying hard to conceal it but the color spreading across her high, slanting cheekbones tells me otherwise. My angel always blushes when she’s struggling to get a hold on her emotions.

  “I guess this is goodbye then,” she mutters.

  I force a grim smile to my lips. “It will never be goodbye between us, Eve. You know that.” I lean over and press my lips against hers, closing my eyes as I do, breathing in her sweet, unique scent. That knot of disquiet from earlier is now moving up to my throat. Her fingers are on the back of my neck, her lightest touch enticing me even closer until I’m pivoting the whole of my upper body. I press my chest tightly against hers, pinioning her to her seat.

  “Thank you,” she whispers pulling away, the breath of her words lacing my upper jaw.

  “For what exactly?” I frown. “Holding a gun to your head, causing you and your family untold pain or kidnapping you twice?”

  There’s a pause. “For bringing me back to life.”

  And fuck if those aren’t the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.

  “I gave up everything when Ryan died. I cocooned myself away from love, from danger, from anything that might cause me pain. I barely existed. I know I can’t live like that anymore. You’ve opened my eyes to that, Dante. You’ve taken so much from me but you’ve given me so much in return.”

  My hand drops to the armrest of my seat, my fingers convulsing around the soft leather. “Hold fast to that thought in the upcoming weeks and months,” I say roughly. “I’m the only one who can open them wider.”

  “Is that so?” She rolls her eyes at my possessiveness and I surge forward again, catching her chin between my thumb and forefinger and wrenching upwards.

  “Careful, my angel. Your acts of defiance will only lead me to bending you over this seat and taking you again. I don’t care how sore you are.”

  “And yet here I am still fully clothed?” she taunts softly. “I better brush up on my disobedience skills before we meet again.”

  I lick my lips and gaze down at the only woman I see; the only woman who holds all the cards with me and the only one who ever will. “Really, Eve? Is that how you want to play it?”

  God, I love corrupting my angel.

  I love feeling her body ripple with desire beneath my touch.

  “I’ll play any game you want me to, Dante,” she breathes, her pupils dilating with lust. “And I’ll love every dirty, filthy minute of it.”

  Both my lips and my cock start to twitch simultaneously.

  “Then I look forward to doling out your punishment.”

  She grins at me and I feel myself sliding like an avalanche, all the way down to an unknown destination. My cock is straining against the inside of my pants now. I want nothing more than to climb inside her and fuck her raw for the second time today. Instead, I’m left tussling between my hunger and my conscience again. If I truly cared for her I’d let her return to America and never resume contact, but I’m too selfish a man to make that sacrifice.

  I let go of her chin and run a finger down the smooth plane of her cheek. So soft and innocent… Mine, I think savagely.

  “As much as I applaud this newly reacquired lust for life, Eve, I need you to stay out of trouble. Keep my knife close to your heart. You’ll be under surveillance all hours of the day and night. If Emilio so much as breathes your way–”

  “I guess that means no dates then.” Her grin widens and I resolve to make it my life’s mission to screw more sparkle into her eyes like that.

  “Not unless you want their deaths on your conscience.”

  We stare at each other, a single moment frozen in time. Our faces are barely inches apart as I soak up every dimple and curve. I’m fighting all my instincts to let her go. It might be months, years, before we see each other again but there won’t be a second when I won’t be thinking about her; silently worshipping her from afar; fucking her over and over in my dreams.

  I need to leave her now. I need to do what I have to, for however long it takes. I need to make her safe again, I owe her family that much.

  Exhaling loudly, I lean over and trail a final line of kisses from one corner of her mouth to the other and then I force myself to pull away. I’m hollow with grief when I do, though. I’ll be a husk of a man without her. Eve Miller, with all her angelic light and strength, has gone and staked a claim over whatever blackened ashes were left of my heart.

  I rise to my feet and walk swiftly towards the exit, my emotions in a state of riotous flux. Before I disembark I can’t help looking back at her one last time. My resolve nearly crumbles when I see my own anguish mirrored back to me on her perfect face. It’s a sight that both kills and cures me a thousand times over. I did this. I took her, I made her desire me and now I’m cutting her free.

  It’s this decision that will torment me during the long, lonely months ahead.

  Part II

  Betrayed

  25

  Eve

  “Oh my god, I can’t do it, I can’t do it. Get me off this pony, it’s like riding a mountain!” I drop the reins and clap one hand over my eyes.

  Anna laughs and pats my thigh reassuringly. “Oh get on with you, he’s only a midget. I promise I won’t let go of his bridle until you say it’s ok.”

  “I don’t believe you. You’ve been dying to see me land on my ass ever since kindergarten.”

  My friend laughs again. “Well, I wouldn’t put it quite like that… It’s so good to see you back in the saddle, Evie,” she adds quietly. Her voice has taken on that husky, affectionate tone that tells me she’s been missing the old Eve as much as I have these past five years.

  It’s good to be back.

  I glance down at my other hand, the one that’s clutching handfuls of wiry black hair belonging to a fat pony called Rufus.

  “Don’t worry so much señorita,” yells Manuel from the other side of the fence. “That pony’s so slow… He’s a snooze button!”

  Great. Even he’s laughing at me.

  “You’re not helping, Manuel,” I giggle, losing my composure as the pony stamps a foot and swishes his tail angrily at the flies swarming around his flank.

  Picking up the reins again, I take a steadying breath as I drive my weight down into my heels, keeping them as snug to Rufus’ belly as I can. He’s the oldest, most dependable rescue pony at the animal sanctuary where Anna works so why does it feel like I have a Porsche between my legs? Still, I’m doing it; I’m taking risks. I’m learning to embrace life again.

  It’s been six weeks since I returned to America. Six weeks since I was deposited on the tarmac at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport with only the dirty, white clothes I was dressed in, more than twice the length of time I spent as his lover. Six long, agonizing weeks of no contact, of few highs and bone crushing lows, of unbearable solitude and feverish longing, to a deception on a scale I never dreamt I was capable of.

  Once again I’ve lied through my teeth to the authorities, painting a picture of Dante
Santiago with every contradictory description I could think of. I’ve shocked myself with my own ingenuity. With no clues as to where I was being held and no outward signs of rape or abuse, they’re growing weary of my case already. I’m home, I’m safe, I’m not outwardly traumatised. More importantly, I’m showing them a readiness to put the whole episode behind me and to get on with my life, and they seem willing to acquiesce to my request to allow me to do so.

  As if I could erase him from my mind so easily.

  He’s the man who has filled my life with every color and emotion. He’s my first waking thought and the last, flawless image in my head when I close my eyes at night. He haunts my nights, he plagues my nightmares. In the first flush of dawn I swear I can feel his strong arms wrapped around me, his rich scent soothing away my loneliness. I wake from dreams so sexual and intense that I throb for hours and hours before seeking my own release. His name is the only one I cry when my fingers finally tip me into the void.

  A deep whicker from Rufus snaps me out of my reverie. With renewed gusto, I squeeze his generous girth with my heels and click noisily with my tongue. “Walk on boy.”

  “Ok, I’m letting go,” I hear Anna say.

  “Do it!”

  A thrilling blast of joy hits my senses as I kick Rufus into a slow trot, sliding effortlessly into his two-step rhythm, posting exactly how I remembered. Every action and movement comes flooding back to me as I angle his head to the outer path of the arena and complete a full circle before tugging him back to a walk, red-faced and breathless from my exertions.

  “You did it!” Manuel hoots, his handsome face creasing into another grin as I pass him by. I return his smile and brush the tip of my whip against my jockey cap in a mock salute.

  I thank Dante everyday for insisting Manuel accompany me back to America as my bodyguard. To say I was surprised was an understatement. Dante is a deeply possessive man. The decision would have tested him greatly but it shows a level of trust in me too. It shows how far we’ve come.