Secret Past

by Sharee Stover

  Lord, help me. Katie closed her eyes. Think. Anthony and Priscilla were so wrong. Giovanni didn’t want the locket. He wanted the impossible, time reversed.

  The chime of Giovanni’s cell phone interrupted his fit. He pulled the device from his pocket, swiped the screen and answered with a smile. “Excellent.”

  Katie leaned across the console, hoping to catch some of the conversation.

  Giovanni gave her shoulder a hearty shove, pressing her against the door, and moved the phone to his left ear. “Stick to the plan.” He disconnected and slid the phone into his pocket. “Time to go.” He shifted into Drive and sped away from the prison.

  His cryptic conversation left Katie with innumerable questions as her heart thrummed against her rib cage. She needed to get his phone. He’d have to let her out of the car at some point, and she’d be ready.

  Giovanni sped along the coastline highway where the distant blue of the ocean framed their path.

  He turned onto a dirt road and drove straight toward the water. Full leafy plants in all shades of green surrounded the vehicle. They bounced along the uneven road and Katie’s teeth chattered from the jostling.

  “I really must have this paved, although normally, I’d drive my truck. Thanks again for damaging it.” Giovanni smacked the side of Katie’s face with his palm.

  She lurched away and shot him a menacing look, ignoring the burning on her cheek.

  He laughed, parked the car and shut off the engine.

  Katie swallowed hard, studying her surroundings. A twenty-foot black-and-white fishing boat was tied to the dock on the right. The long metal structure on the left appeared to hover over the waters like an enclosed tent. Was the place a giant garage for boats? Was there someone inside who would help her?

  “Try to run, and I’ll feed your body to the sharks,” Giovanni warned as he pressed the power window button for her side. He threw open his door and stepped out.

  Were there sharks here? She gazed out at the ocean.

  The trunk opened and closed. Her stomach clenched as Giovanni leaned down outside her window. “I’m going to cut the tape. Do anything stupid, and I might slip and accidentally cut you.” He displayed a knife that resembled a medieval war device. The gun wasn’t in his hand and outrunning the knife was doable.

  He reached inside, swiping the blade across the tape that held her to the door. Katie yanked her bound wrists free. Her pulse quickened as she prepared to bolt from the car.

  “Good girl.” Giovanni stepped back. “Get out.”

  Katie twisted in her seat, lifted the handle and kicked the door wide. The impact sent Giovanni sprawling flat on his back. She scrambled out of the car and ran toward the metal building.

  Giovanni’s footsteps pounded behind her.

  She entered the structure and spotted a yellow speedboat. Her eyes darted about the interior searching for anything that would serve as a weapon.

  He skidded around the corner, and bolted after her. “I’m going to kill you!”

  She ran along the U-shaped wooden planks surrounding the boat.

  “Little sister, you’re starting to wear on my nerves.” Giovanni stalked her, guarding the only way out of the building, opposite where she stood.

  There was no place to run apart from the ocean, and her bound wrists restricted her ability to swim. She’d never be able to climb into the boat fast enough, and she didn’t know how to start the engine anyway.

  Giovanni lifted the gun and sent a blast at her feet.

  She leaped to the side and glared at him.

  “Next time, I won’t pretend to miss. Walk slowly to me.”

  If he got her on the water, she’d have no hope of rescue. Take her chances in the ocean or return to Giovanni? She couldn’t outrun a bullet or outswim a boat.

  Death by bullet or drowning were the only available options, and both were terrifying. Katie grasped a corner of tape covering her mouth, ripped off the restrictive adhesive and inhaled deeply, filling her lungs. Then using her teeth, she tore at the unrelenting tape confining her wrists.

  “You don’t give up easily do you?” Giovanni taunted.

  “If you’re going to kill me, do it and get it over with. I’m done playing games with you.” Katie continued to tug at the tape. A corner ripped free.

  “Oh, I’m going to kill you unless you give me a reason not to.”

  Katie looked up. “What reason would that be?”

  “Stop making me chase you, and I’ll let your boyfriend go.”

  The ocean lapped at the speedboat.

  “Prove it,” Katie demanded.

  Giovanni lifted his phone for her to see and made a call. At least it looked like he was making a call. “Change of plans. I’m feeling generous. Let Mr. Knight go. Yes, I’m serious.” He tucked the phone into his jacket pocket.

  Katie swallowed. Was he pretending? Had he called anyone?

  “Proof enough?”

  She glanced again at her options. If there was any chance at saving Daniel’s life, she needed to try. Her life was as good as gone.

  With resignation, she moved toward Giovanni.

  His lips curved upward. “You’re not as dumb as I thought.” Grasping her arm, he shoved Katie in front of him, and tapped her head with the tip of the gun. “Just in case you think about running again, we’re going to get the roll of duct tape out of the car. We’ll need it for the trip.”

  “What about Daniel?” Katie walked to the car in reluctant obedience. The glimmer of the knife on the ground tempted her with another escape attempt.

  “What about him?” Giovanni pushed by her and strode to the blade, kicking it away.

  Katie frowned. He’d conned her. “You didn’t call anyone, did you?”

  “Nope.”

  She leaned inside the car and grabbed the tape.

  “Go to the boat.” Giovanni gestured toward the fishing boat held by ropes at the docks.

  The current lapped at the shore with a sound that should have been soothing. Instead, the rhythmic swooshing reminded her that she’d be enveloped within its permanent grasp far too soon.

  They made their way to the pier and the gently rocking boat. A warm breeze blew through Katie’s hair, and the ocean air engulfed her. Seagulls called from the sky, announcing her demise.

  Would they set Daniel free? Please, Lord, help us. What if she bought time? Time for what? The authorities wouldn’t find them before Giovanni rid himself of the sister he hated.

  “Climb in and sit down.” He leaned against the wooden pier, pointing to the boat with the Glock. “Hurry up!”

  Katie got into the boat, sending death glares with her eyes.

  “Sit there.” He nodded to the bench seat at the back.

  She moved toward the seat. Giovanni shoved her down and taped her wrists around the chrome railing.

  Satisfied, he moved to the helm, started the engine and pulled away from the dock. “Ever been on the ocean before?”

  She studied his joyful expression. He thought he’d won. Well, it wasn’t over yet. God, give me a way of escape. She gripped the rail as the boat lurched into motion over the dark swirling ocean.

  Giovanni increased speed, pelting water on her face as the giant skipping rock bounced over the waves.

  Katie tightened her hold while he drove wildly, swerving from side to side without warning. She closed her eyes, fighting the queasiness.

  The shore disappeared from sight and the ocean stretched beyond her imagination. A never-ending chasm of blue where no one would ever find her body. The reality hit hard as terror peaked with desperation and flatlined into sorrow.

  Giovanni reduced the speed until they bobbed on the water. The engine quieted, and he faced Katie. His wide smile gave him a boyish appearance. His sports jacket and colored shirt were out of place and somehow, the man still
looked like he’d stepped off the pages of a magazine. “There’s nothing better than the ocean to relax me.”

  Sunlight bounced off the gun in his hand.

  She couldn’t swallow over the fear wedged in her throat.

  Words vanished.

  Logic was gone.

  Fear ramped.

  Giovanni narrowed his eyes and lifted the gun, targeting Katie. “Bang.” He laughed. “Relax, little sister. I’m not going to kill you...yet.”

  Uncle Nick’s training bounced to the forefront of her mind. Agree with him. Do whatever he wants. Don’t antagonize him.

  Giovanni walked to her and gazed past her. “I’ve dreamed of this moment. The ocean is beautiful, isn’t it? Deep and enveloping. A wonderful grave, leaving bodies unrecoverable.”

  “Why are you doing this?” She shivered.

  He shifted to the side and blinked at her. “I want you to suffer.”

  Katie’s mind raced. “We’re family, remember?”

  His sardonic laugh echoed. “Family is the first to stab you in the back. Didn’t our mother teach you that? She certainly taught it to me.”

  She forced calmness into her words. “But I’ve never done anything to you. I didn’t even know you existed. You could’ve gone on with your life, free of me. You still can.”

  “True, except Father wouldn’t let it go.” Giovanni stood, swaying with the ocean’s movement.

  “I don’t want the business or the money. I’m sorry for what Mama did to you. No child deserves to be abandoned.” Katie tilted her head and managed a sympathetic tone. “You said yourself she was mentally ill. I’m sorry she hurt you.”

  “Are you?” Giovanni moved to her side. His expression softened.

  Hope returned. She’d negotiate her way out of this.

  He knelt in front of her and hissed, “I’m sorry you were ever born.”

  Katie gaped and fear turned to indignation. Submission wouldn’t help her. Giovanni was the epitome of evil.

  He got to his feet and leaned against the side of the boat.

  She lifted her chin. “You might recall that I wasn’t the one who came looking for me. I was perfectly happy not knowing about any of this. I’ve lived twenty-four years oblivious to you or Anthony. There’s nothing that I want, so you can let Daniel and I go, and take the entire estate for yourself.”

  “No, I can’t. As long as you’re alive, you have the deciding share of Marino Industries.”

  “I’ll give it back to you.”

  Giovanni’s jaw tightened, and he stepped forward, his dark eyes blazing. “Am I your charity case? Understand this, Isabella, you’ll never take anything away from me again.”

  Katie’s words tumbled out rapid-fire. “I’ll give you the locket, then you’ll be rich.”

  “I’m already rich, little sister. That locket is nothing more than a fairy-tale Father believes. I’ve made a real fortune by myself, and let’s face it, money rules the world.”

  This man was insane, and she was dead. Katie shivered, arms aching from the restraints and position. She forced the words from her mouth. “Giovanni, I care about you and I want to be a family.”

  He ripped the tape from her wrists and pressed the gun against her forehead. “You’re the reason Mother left me an orphaned little boy!” he cried.

  He was an overgrown child having a psychotic tantrum.

  Katie blinked. Her brother was delusional. Crazy. You can’t negotiate with crazy, but she had to try. “You’re a brilliant businessman. You’re the reason Marino Industries is so profitable. Anthony relies on you. Show him that he’s made the wrong choice by giving me the deciding shares. I don’t have a clue about business. He’ll be so disgusted with me and gladly revert control to you. I know you’ll impress him. Besides, if you kill me, what will happen when Anthony discovers what you’ve done?”

  Giovanni stepped back, gun still trained on her, and inhaled deeply, regaining composure. “Good try. I may have underestimated your negotiation skills. However, I’ve already thought of that. Father will think his poor, sweet Bella ran away. Didn’t he offer you a chance to escape?”

  Sweat dripped into Katie’s eyes.

  “What? You thought he would hide something from his only son?”

  Priscilla’s words about greed being an insatiable taskmaster rose in her mind. “Did Anthony tell you about the money hidden away?”

  Giovanni’s grin faded.

  “There are numbers inside the locket. Account numbers where Mama stashed millions.”

  “You’re a liar.”

  “What reason would I have to lie about that, especially now? It’s all true. Take me back to the house, and I’ll show you where it is.” Katie spotted an air tank inches from where she sat. She held her breath.

  Giovanni raised an eyebrow. “Where’s the locket? I’ll have my men find it.”

  “Take me to the house.”

  “Little sister, you’re wearing on my patience.”

  Katie feigned surrender. “Fine, take the tape off and I’ll show you.”

  “You have it with you?”

  She nodded.

  Giovanni walked to her and with one hand, ripped off the tape.

  Katie delivered a solid kick to his stomach, causing him to stumble against the driver’s seat. She jumped up and grasped the air tank, slamming it down on his head.

  Giovanni slumped to the floor of the boat, releasing his hold on the gun.

  Katie snagged the weapon, aimed at him and moved to the boat controls. Which was the right one to make the boat go?

  Hesitation cost Katie the precious moment Giovanni needed. He grabbed her from behind, jerked her away from the wheel and tossed Katie overboard.

  * * *

  Daniel sped the sedan down the dirt road toward the ocean in front of him. Would he ever get there? He’d been driving for what seemed like hours. The dusty air and purr of the engine would announce his presence so there wouldn’t be any tiptoeing to rescue Katie. He’d rely on God and the MP5 to take care of any hostile welcoming committee.

  Though no one had followed thus far, they would be. Priscilla couldn’t hold Marino’s minions off for long. He’d face their wrath when they discovered Lorenzo.

  In the long drive, he hadn’t passed a gas station or any sign of civilization. He needed to call for backup but there was no time to go off on his own volition. Time was running out.

  He’d finally found the woman of his dreams, and he would fight for her. He couldn’t...wouldn’t lose Katie.

  The marina had to be close. He glanced down at Priscilla’s crude map. Had she sent him on an aimless mission? No. She’d said it was a remote location.

  The car bounced over the rocky terrain, slamming into the occasional pothole. Each jostle inflamed his injured ribs. Daniel did his best to ignore the pain.

  He skidded around the turn where the road opened to a wide parking area. The gleaming sports car sat near the docks, like a blaring siren announcing Giovanni’s presence. The only other object was a large metal boat shed but the entrance was out of his line of sight. The sedan, though quiet, was far from stealth so if there was anyone inside, they’d have heard him coming.

  Daniel parked and killed the engine. The knife Priscilla had given him was inside his boot and he clutched the gun. Only the sound of crashing waves filled the air.

  He slid out of the car and crept toward the sports car. The keys still hung in the ignition.

  Daniel scanned the marina, focusing on the boat shed. Gun poised, he made his way inside and paused at the sight of a yellow speedboat bobbing between the U-shaped wooden deck.

  He cleared the area, and confirmed it was empty except for an out-of-place piece of duct tape stuck to the floor. Daniel inspected the adhesive. Had Katie been here? Where was she now?

  Daniel raced back o
ut of the shelter and spotted ropes swaying from the pier. A second boat? If Priscilla was right, Giovanni didn’t plan on returning with Katie. But what about the boat? Would someone else pick him up in the speedboat?

  His gaze landed on the sedan. He ran to the car, started the engine and drove through the brush. With the vehicle hidden behind the boat shed, he sprinted back inside. Snatching several tarps from the shelf against the wall, Daniel rushed out and spread the plastic to disguise the car. He finished by placing branches he’d ripped from the trees on top of the tarps.

  Last, he returned to the sports car and pulled the keys from the ignition and tossed them into the water. No sense in giving Giovanni easy access to a getaway vehicle.

  A cloud of dust and a vehicle in the distance caught his attention. The classic foreign car approached at a high rate of speed. He glanced again at the shed and scurried around the wall. The car’s tires on the gravel and the purring engine grew louder.

  Daniel’s adrenaline flowed like lava.

  He pressed against the hot steel of the boat shed, gun ready. His mind raced with response options and attack plans. If he took out whoever was coming, he wouldn’t know where to find Giovanni and Katie. Couldn’t give the criminal a chance to escape. Timing was crucial. Changing course, he rushed to the shelves, snagged another tarp, and climbed inside the speedboat.

  Daniel covered himself with the tarp and waited.

  One door slammed.

  A man’s voice sang—out of tune.

  A single adversary turned the odds in Daniel’s favor.

  The man boarded the boat and shuffled around before starting the engine.

  Daniel peeked out from the tarp’s cover, watching The Professor behind the helm.

  Patience.

  Finally, the engine hummed to life, and they exited the boat shed.

  A few more seconds.

  The Professor drove with ease across the massive waves, increasing his speed. When the engine noise roared at full blast, Daniel pushed the tarp aside and crept toward the oblivious man.