“But he still went,” she said softly. “And died on that job.”
“Looking back, I suspect Menita was controlled by Koyo. The thing is, the man you work for, the one you think of as a friend, knew what he pulled your father into. Charles Maddox was an expert at cartography. Menita sent him to that church to meet an old priest about a map, one handwritten by General Yamashita. Whatever was on that map, it was a death sentence, and Menita knew it. The Yakuza were waiting.”
Riki closed her eyes in reaction, struggled to keep her emotions in check. Her world spun. She sat stiff, fingers clenching the blanket as she worked through the implications of his statement. It couldn’t be true. Everything in her screamed not to believe him.
“You’re wrong,” Riki whispered. “Kai wouldn’t knowingly send my father to his death.”
“I think he did, but I can’t prove it.”
A slash of pain cut through her heart. Resentment over Kai’s refusal to talk of his past took root, and she fought to control the destructive feelings. It made her want to believe Craig’s story. It made sense, paralleled facts she already knew and explained Kai’s silence. He had something to hide.
Had he destroyed her family? Was it guilt that drove him to take care of the widow and child of the man who he’d sentenced to die?
She slammed the door on that line of thought. Because she knew something Craig didn’t. Kai hated Yakuza. He wanted revenge as much as she did. It made no sense that he caused her father’s death.
“If all this is true,” Riki began, “why are you working for Kai now?”
“I do a lot of freelance work, koala girl. Digging up historical papers and escorting someone in search of a plane crash seemed easy enough. Discovering who you were? That was a bit of a surprise. It’s also when I began to realize my mistake. Should’ve known better. Nothing is ever as it seems with Menita.”
“You told me earlier today the Pearl was the price for Kai’s freedom,” Riki said. “What did you mean?”
“That I can’t fully explain,” Craig said. “You’ll have to ask him. The only thing I know for certain is that Menita is still connected to Sakura. Half of what you recover goes to him. Yakuza talons are firmly embedded in your friend.”
No! No! No! He was wrong. There’s no way Kai would work with Yakuza. He hated them. She refused to believe the man who had cared for her, worked with her for years, would betray her father like that. Would betray her.
She’d need more proof than the Australian’s word before she’d condemn the person who’d taught her everything.
The walls began to tighten in on her. She struggled to breathe.
“I need air.” She stood up and fled outside.
Chapter 17
Dallas recognized panic when he saw it. No way he’d leave her to face that alone. He stood to follow Riki outside, despite the rain.
“It’s true,” Craig said before he’d taken the first step. “When Menita contacted me about getting his agent to the plane, I didn’t know who she was. It didn’t take long to figure it out, though. Or to realize she had no idea the reasons behind Menita’s actions.”
Dallas believed him. He’d put enough together to know that Menita’s generosity toward Riki wasn’t altruistic. Something darker drove the man. At first, he had believed she was as much a part of that force as her employer. But after spending the better part of two years studying her every move, he had begun to see her differently. He’d analyzed her actions, dug into her motivations, and things weren’t adding up. Everything he thought he knew about her at first had been wrong. He was now beginning to understand why.
“I didn’t tell her the whole story,” Craig continued. “It gets worse.”
Dallas wanted to know exactly what that entailed, but for now he needed to go after her. “You and I need to talk, Lawson. But she shouldn’t be out there alone.”
“Go,” Craig said. “You know where I’m at, and we’ve got time.”
With a nod, Dallas hustled up to the front of the plane and climbed out into a light and steady rain. He stood there and listened as drops splashed against his skin and pattered on the leaves above him. An unsettling quiet surrounded him, like the entire forest had hunkered down to escape the rain. He paid no attention, just searched the grounds for Riki and came up empty.
He started down the trail and discovered her about fifty feet in. They’d passed a huge rock formation on their path to the plane, and she was there, leaning back against a boulder, eyes closed, face titled up to the rain.
“For what it’s worth,” he said as he approached her, “I’m sorry.”
Her eyes opened, and she brushed a hand over her face, wiping away the wetness. Whether it stemmed from tears or the rain, he couldn’t tell.
“I told you not to apologize to me.” Her words were flat, devoid of emotion.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t change things. I recognize pain when I see it. And I’m sorry you are finding out about Menita like this.”
“You knew?”
“Not about your father. But I’ve known about Menita and Sakura for a while now. I assumed you knew as well.”
“No,” she whispered. “Once I brought the pieces back, Kai took care of the rest. And though I asked, he never told me the name of his connection. Said it was to keep me safe.”
More like to keep her in the dark, but he held the comment back. “You need to separate from him, Riki.”
She shook her head. “It’s not that easy. I can’t desert him.”
“Soon you will have no choice. The net is tightening against him. If you stay, you’ll go down as well.”
“This is wrong,” she insisted. “He’s not a bad person.”
“No, probably not,” he replied. “But people are complex, full of contradictions and hidden layers. Menita has secrets, and no matter how much you think he cares for you, the path he travels is going to cost you in the end.”
A night bird called out in the rain, and she briefly closed her eyes as though listening. A long, deep breath later, she looked him straight in the eye. “What about you?” she asked. “What’s it going to cost you for warning me?”
He had no idea. Wasn’t even sure why he was doing it. Or why she’d ask. Everything seemed to be changing with the speed of a runaway train.
“To be honest,” he said, “I don’t know. Nothing about this job is normal. Nothing about you is what I expected.”
Strands of her hair had worked free of her ponytail and framed her face in damp waves. She looked small and vulnerable, and though he knew she was anything but, he couldn’t help reaching out to brush a stray lock off her cheek.
She didn’t rebuff his move, just coolly stared at him before glancing away to the darkened tree line. “For the first time in a very long time, I’m uncertain of my next step. I’ve always had a plan, a goal.” She brushed wet hair from her face. “But suddenly, it’s like my world is shifting. I don’t know what to do.”
Rain continued to fall, soaking his clothes, his hair, his common sense. It was the only explanation to why he wanted to wrap his arms around her in comfort and support. She didn’t ask for it, surely didn’t want it. Why did he feel the need?
“What would your life be like if it wasn’t caught in this demand for revenge?” he asked.
She frowned at him, as though unable to comprehend the question.
When she didn’t answer, he continued. “Sooner or later you’ll accomplish your goal. What happens then?”
“I’ve not given it much thought,” she said softly.
She was going to have to consider it, whether she wanted to or not. “Take a long look, Riki. Menita needed you, cultivated you to acquire the pieces Sakura demands. And you have excelled. But time is running out.”
She shook her head. “I don’t believe it. It’s impossible. Kai hates Yakuza.”
“I’m sure he does. Wouldn’t you if they controlled your life?”
Her breath caught, and she went deathly still, as though he’d punched her in the gut. He instinctively reached for her, but she pushed off from the boulder and turned to face him, apparently finding strength in anger and disbelief.
“You expect me to believe that Kai was ruthless enough to take a grief-stricken teenager and spend years honing her into a weapon for the very organization that killed her father?”
She sounded incredulous, and he couldn’t blame her. He had been skeptical when he first speculated the theory. But given the things he’d learned in the last forty-eight hours, what started as a wild idea was fast turning into probability.
“You have to consider it, Riki.”
“No, I don’t! It’s monstrous!” Her hands landed on her hips, fury practically sparking around her. “You have your own agenda. Why should I believe anything you say?”
He about had it with her stubborn insistence on defending a man who did not have her best interests at heart. Not saying he did, but he damn sure wasn’t using her to further his own ends.
Except… He was.
He’d started this with the intent of settling a score. When did that change?
“You don’t have to believe me,” he snapped. “You don’t have to believe Craig. You don’t even have to listen to what you already know is wrong. But if you don’t wake up soon, you’ll be too far gone to save.”
“Save! Save?” She shoved him with both hands. “Don’t give me that kind of attitude. I don’t need it.”
He shoved her back. “Obviously, you do because you’re not thinking smart on your own.”
Without warning, she charged him, plowing straight into his chest like a wildcat. He staggered backward at the impact, barely managing to stay on his feet as he struggled to wrap his arms around a furious woman who wished him serious bodily harm.
“You—worthless—piece—” She was breathing hard, fury driving her over the edge. He hoped like hell she had no weapons on her, or he’d be dead meat.
He understood her rage, the need to lash out against the raw knife wound in her heart. She needed an outlet. But this woman was dangerous, and he had no intention of dying tonight. He wrenched her tight against him and backed her up against the boulder, pinning her in place with his body. It wasn’t easy. He was nearly as out of breath as her, and they were both slippery with rain.
She struck a blow to his shin. It hurt. And that was all the venting she was going to get. “Enough, Riki!”
“Don’t you—dare! You can’t—oooh!”
Her hair band had fallen away, and silky dark hair lay molded to her face. Her chest heaved, her eyes promised death, and her fingers dug into his sides hard enough to damage his spleen.
But damn, she was magnificent.
“You have to get out.” He said it with every ounce of command he owned. “Get away from him. Right now. Don’t wait.”
She suddenly stilled, tilted her head back, and looked him square in the eye. “No,” she said.
“Listen to me, Riki.” When she calmly did as he asked, staring at him in mulish silence, he continued. “Work with me. We can find a way out of this mess.”
She didn’t even blink. “I’m going to finish what I started.”
“What is wrong with you?” Now he was the one getting angry. He didn’t believe anyone could be this obstinate.
“Let. Me. Go.”
“Gladly.” He grew weary of fighting with her, but that didn’t mean he trusted her not to inflict mortal pain. He slowly slid his arms from around her and took a half step back.
She didn’t move, didn’t look away. “I don’t know how to stop, Dallas.”
The woman changed faster than quicksilver, and her admission shocked him. It implied she’d already considered it. Why? He’d seen no indication of her slowing down. What was going on in that brain of hers?
“Let me help you,” he told her.
She slowly shook her head. “There’s nothing you can do.”
How could he get through to her? His gaze swept the graceful curve of her neck, the tired slump of her shoulders. She wanted out. She had perfect lips. Neither one had anything to do with the other. He needed to focus.
“And why would you want to anyhow?” she was saying. “I’ve caused you nothing but grief.”
Because he hated to see her pay a heavier price than she already had for trusting the wrong person. And more importantly, because he wanted to kiss her again and to hell with everything else.
He put one hand against the rock beside her head. She lifted her eyes to his and held his gaze, but otherwise she didn’t move. He placed his other hand in the opposite position, effectively blocking her in. The only visible effect she displayed was a narrowing of her eyes.
He leaned close and whispered, “Tell me you want it.”
“Seriously?” she scoffed. “I’m not the least bit interested—”
“You need my help,” he interrupted. “Tell me you want it.”
God help him. He wanted it. He wanted her. Every soaking wet, dripping inch of her.
She said nothing.
He waited. One heartbeat. Two. He used the tip of his nose to lift her chin, then stroked her cheek with his. He felt the tension drain from her body and begin to build in his.
“I want it.” She finally said the words. Soft. Quiet.
It was the last thing he expected to hear. Wasn’t sure he heard her right.
“I want it,” she said again.
He’d been staring at her mouth so he shifted to her eyes, to the rain that spiked her lashes and the honesty that stared back at him.
“Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind,” she said.
Not even close. He couldn’t walk away now if his life depended on it. He brushed his lips against hers, savored their softness. It was heaven. He wanted more and captured them fully, tasted her, inhaled her. She responded by taking that last tiny step between them and slid her hands around his waist and under his T-shirt. Her tongue danced with his as her fingers kneaded bare skin at his lower back. She dipped them beneath the waistband of his jeans, gliding as deep as the wet fabric allowed and tugging him closer.
It was sexy as hell. He kissed her until he couldn’t remember his name or why they stood outside in the rain. He kissed her until he couldn’t breathe, then broke long enough to nuzzle her neck, to rub his hands down her back and grasp her ass, pulling her against a rock-hard erection that begged for her softness.
She shifted in welcome, fitting herself against him with a groan of need that nearly pushed him over the edge. He couldn’t get enough. He wanted to touch her all over, rip off her clothes and taste her bare skin. Every single delicious inch of it. He was in deep trouble.
“Dallas,” she whispered.
No. He didn’t want to talk. He held her face in his hands and kissed her instead. Lightly at first, then lingering and inquisitive, followed by a deep passionate exploration that promised more. Much more.
“Dallas,” she said between kisses.
He sighed. “Unless you’re going to beg me to strip you naked and have my way with you, don’t say a word.”
She smiled. “One more kiss, and I might.”
He leaned in, but her fingers landed on his lips.
“Not now,” she said. “Not here.”
He knew what she meant. Oscar and Craig were nearby. Nocturnal predators lurked, and that included Cho. This wasn’t the time or place for a dalliance. But dammit, there was a special place in hell for this kind of agony, and he’d raced into it no holds barred.
He nodded. “Rain check?”
With what sounded like a sigh of regret, she brushed her fingers over his lower lip, then held her hand out to catch the falling drops. “Appropriate, so…yes.”
“I’m going to do inappropriate things to you,” he warned.
A little catch in her breath preceded a slow grin of anticipation. “I certainly hope so.”
“The instant we get off this mountain,” he promised and reluctantly pulled back. “And don’t even think of changing your mind,” he stated. “I’ll handcuff you to the bed again.”
Chapter 18
It was still dark when Riki rolled off her blankets. It wasn’t like she could sleep anyhow, not on a hard metal floor. Not when her mind ran through the last fourteen years of her life in search of any clue that tied into Dallas and Craig’s claims. Armed with that brand-new perspective, she’d pinpointed a disheartening number of events that deserved a second look.
The only thing for certain was that she’d been blindingly trusting. Had it been anyone but Kai, she never would’ve accepted such guarded secrecy.
Craig climbed through the plane’s broken fuselage, coming in from his turn at watch. “Thirty minutes to daylight,” he announced. “Rain has cleared out. We should, too.”
One by one, they roused from a restless night of two-hour shifts. A single flashlight shone its beam upward, giving a pale glow to their end of the cabin as she twisted her hair into a loose braid and adjusted her rumpled clothing. Then she laid out what was left of the food, snagged a handful of dried apples, and carried her backpack over to the where Phantom Pearl rested in its case.
Forty-eight hours ago, her life made sense. She had order. A purpose. Now she had chaos. Kai needed the Pearl. Dallas needed the Pearl. And she was firmly caught in the middle.
Her heart kept circling back to the fact she started this journey for a friend, a man who taught her skills and supplied an interesting career to use them in. That had not changed. The soul-deep fury was new, however. She’d gone from complete trust to absolute suspicion overnight and had no idea how to deal with it. Applying logic and reason didn’t help. There were solid motives for and against either side.
Phantom Pearl Page 14