“I was looking for Archer. He told me to stay in the cabin, but I—”
She hurled the explosive with all her force into the galley, whirled, and hit the floor, covering her head.
The galley exploded with a force that shook the ship and blew the ceiling. She heard the man on the stairs grunt with pain.
Debris was flying like bullets in all directions. She felt a stinging on her leg but didn’t uncover her head to look. Better her leg than her skull. Seconds later she cautiously raised her head. The man on the stairs was lying in a heap on the floor, blood pouring from his forehead.
The shaking had stopped. The other crewmen would be coming to investigate. She had to hide or get out.
Out.
The galley was roaring with flames. She’d be cooked if she stayed down here.
But she could hear the shouts and orders of the men on the deck. She’d walk right into them as she climbed the steps. She was no commando and she wanted to live. Better to hide, as Nicholas had told her.
Okay, wait. She grabbed the assault rifle from the man lying on the floor and ducked behind the steps. Not that she could see what good the weapon would do her. Hell, she didn’t even know how to work an assault rifle.
Well, this was obviously the time to figure it out.
Two of Archer’s men were running toward the stairs leading to the lower deck.
Kelby aimed and fired. One man down. The other man whirled with a curse, his gun drawn.
Kelby shot him between the eyes.
There was one more crewman. Where the hell was he?
Jesus, black smoke was pouring out of the open door.
He ran toward the stairs.
He couldn’t see anything. Smoke stung his eyes. “Melis!”
No answer.
He started down the stairs. “Melis!”
“Don’t come down here. I’m coming up.”
“Thank God.” It wasn’t only smoke that was stinging his eyes. “Do you need help? Are you—”
“I need new lungs.” Melis was coughing as she came up the stairs. She tried to breathe. “Mine are burning up.”
“Archer?”
“Dead.”
“Stay here. There’s one more crew member to account for.”
She shook her head. “Down . . . there.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded at the weapon in her hands. “I took this from him.”
“Get your breath. I’ve got to go see if Nicholas is okay.” He took off at a run for the bridge.
Get your breath?
That was easier said than done, Melis thought as she leaned against the rail. She felt as if her lungs were seared. She went to the rail and took several shallow breaths. That was better. Now try a deep breath—
“What a bad little girl.”
She whirled to see Archer leaning against the doorjamb. His face was blackened by smoke and he was covered with blood.
But there was a gun in his hand.
She jerked to the side as he pulled the trigger.
The bullet went past her cheek.
She lifted the assault rifle. Aimed quickly but carefully. Fired.
He screamed as the bullets tore into his groin. The gun fell from his hand as he fell.
She kept firing. And firing. And firing.
“I think he’s out of commission, Melis,” Kelby said gently. He was standing beside her and holding out his hand. “And you’re ricocheting a hell of a lot of bullets off everything around him.”
She had run out of bullets anyway, but she didn’t give up the weapon. “I didn’t know how to shoot it. So I just held down the trigger.”
“It was effective enough,” Nicholas said. “My God, I think you’ve blown his nuts off.”
“It’s what I intended. I couldn’t think of anything more fitting. Are you sure he’s dead?”
Kelby went over and looked down at him. “I’ll be damned, he’s still alive.”
Archer’s eyes opened and blazed at Melis. “Bitch. Whore.”
Kelby lifted his gun. “But I think it’s time he said sayonara.”
“No,” Melis said. “Is he in pain?”
“Big time.”
“The wounds are fatal?”
“Yes, some of those bullets tore into his stomach.”
“How long will it take him to die?”
“Could be thirty minutes. Could be hours.”
Melis slowly walked toward Archer.
“Bitch,” he whispered. “Bitch.”
“Are you hurting, Archer?” She bent down and whispered, “Do you think it’s as bad as the pain Carolyn felt? Do you think it’s as horrible as what those little girls felt when you raped them? I hope so.”
“Whore. You’ll always be a whore.” His voice dripped malice. “And I’ve made you realize it. Everything your Carolyn did for you, I destroyed. I could see it in your face tonight.”
“You’re wrong. You provided the final cure. If I could go through that nightmare, I’m strong enough for anything.”
Doubt flickered over his face. “You’re lying.”
She shook her head. “Carolyn always said that the way to get rid of a nightmare was to deal with it.” She looked down at his bleeding groin. “I dealt with it.”
She turned and walked away.
Kelby and Nicholas caught up with her before she was halfway down the deck.
“You’re sure you don’t want us to put him down?” Nicholas asked. “It would be a pleasure.”
“I want him to die slowly. It’s not enough, but it will have to do.” She looked back at the fire that had broken from belowdeck and was now eating at the timbers of the main deck. “I hope the ship doesn’t sink too soon.”
“I think we’ll get off it just in case.” Kelby moved toward the tender. “Let’s go.”
“One more thing.” She stripped off the organdy dress, leaving her in bra and panties. Then she took the pink ribbon from her hair. She tossed both of them on the deck where the fire was creeping toward them. “I’m ready now.” She jumped into the tender.
“Jed, drop me off at the island and I’ll stick around until the ship sinks,” Nicholas said. “We don’t want any last-minute slipups.” He tossed Melis an emergency blanket. “Wrap up. You might get cold.”
“I won’t get cold.” She felt strong, complete, and . . . free.
Archer was screaming in pain.
Kelby started the engine, and the tender moved slowly away from the ship.
Archer was still screaming.
The first tendrils of fire had reached the white organdy dress. The delicate fabric was curling and blackening. Then it was completely aflame.
In a few short minutes the dress and ribbon were gone.
Ashes.
Two hours later, from the deck of the Trina, Melis and Kelby saw a flash of light in the east.
“That’s it,” Kelby said. “The fire reached the arms. It took longer than I thought.”
“I wish it had taken even longer.”
“Bloodthirsty wench.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Will you go down and hit the shower now? You’ve been glued to this rail since we came back.”
“Not yet. I’ll wait for Nicholas. I have to be sure. You can go.”
He shook his head and leaned on the rail, his gaze on the east.
Nicholas arrived thirty minutes later.
“The big boom,” he said as he climbed on board. “He was carrying some mega firepower.” He turned to Melis. “No last-minute rescues. The bastard’s dead, Melis. Blown to hell.”
She gazed out to the east.
He’s dead, Carolyn. He won’t hurt anyone anymore.
“Melis.” Kelby’s hand was gentle on her arm. “Time to let it go.”
She nodded and turned away. It was over. Done.
Time to let it go.
Pete and Susie were gone when she came on deck the next morning.
“Is it okay?” Kelby had come to stan
d beside her. “You said Pete would know when he was well enough.”
“I think it’s okay.” Melis shrugged. “There’s so much about dolphins that is a mystery to me. Sometimes I feel I don’t know Pete and Susie at all.”
“And other times you know damn well you’re learning every day. They’ll be back, Melis.”
She nodded as she sat down on the deck. “And I’ll be here. Are you going to dive today?”
He shook his head. “I’m going to pay a visit to the coast guard. You can’t sink a ship without repercussions, even if it’s one used for criminal activities. But if they were willing to take a bribe from Archer, then they’ll take one from me.”
“Money is the answer to everything.”
“No, but it’s very useful. Call me if there’s a problem with Pete.”
“I can handle it.”
He hesitated as he looked at her. “You’re a million miles away today.”
“I feel . . . subdued. Maybe a little empty.” She smiled faintly. “For weeks I’ve had only one purpose, and it’s not there anymore. I’ll be fine once I adjust. When will you be back?”
“It depends on how long and how much money it takes to convince them that Archer’s ship accidentally blew up because of the arms he was carrying. The wages of sin.” He moved toward the tender. “I’ll let you know if I run into any snags.”
“You don’t have to report in to me.” She looked out at the water. “I promised you I wouldn’t tie you down.”
“It’s courtesy, dammit.” He frowned. “I want to call you.”
“Then do it.”
“Melis, I can’t—” He shook his head. “Screw it. I don’t think I could get through to you now.” He jumped in the tender. “I’ll see you later.”
She watched him speed away from the Trina. Then her gaze shifted back to the ocean and she waited for Pete and Susie to come back.
They surfaced near the ship two hours later.
Pete looked fine, she thought with relief. Better than fine. He and Susie were cavorting and clicking as usual.
“Hi, guys,” she said softly. “You could have waited until I was here before you decided to take a little trip.” She stripped off her T-shirt. “I’m coming in. It’ll be like old times. I need it to be good today.”
She dove into the water. It was cold and clean and familiar. When she surfaced, it was to see Nicholas at the rail. She waved.
“You don’t have your air tank,” he called. “And you shouldn’t be in the water alone.”
“I’m not diving. I’m just going for a little swim with the dolphins. It always clears my mind.”
“Jed won’t like it. He nearly went bananas when he saw you taken aboard Archer’s boat. He’s still mad as hell at me.”
“I’m sorry, Nicholas.” But she struck out in a breaststroke with Pete and Susie on either side of her. That formation lasted for only a moment before they grew impatient and, as usual, swam ahead, coming back to her periodically.
It was different swimming with them today. Since they had arrived here in the Canaries, there had always been a purpose when they were in the water together. Now it was almost like swimming with them at the island.
No, that wasn’t true. They had another life now. Before they had been hers. Now they gave her time and affection, but they had joined with their own kind. They had the choice. She shouldn’t be sad. It was right and natural.
So was life at this moment. Right and natural and everything coming into focus.
And becoming more crystal clear with every passing minute.
Kelby cut the engine as he neared the Trina.
The other tender was gone.
Don’t panic. Nicholas could have gone to Lanzarote to get supplies or—or what, dammit?
Nicholas hadn’t taken the tender. He was walking down the deck toward Kelby.
“Where’s the other tender?” Kelby asked as he came on board. “And where’s Melis?”
“The tender is sitting at a dock in Lanzarote. And Melis is probably boarding a plane at Las Palmas.”
“What?”
“Pete came back. She went for a swim with the dolphins, and when she came back she packed and took off.”
“She didn’t call me. You didn’t call me either.”
“She asked me not to.”
“What the hell is this? A conspiracy between the two of you?”
“Well, I figured I couldn’t be any deeper in your bad books.”
“You were wrong.”
Nicholas shrugged. “She said she needed to go back to the island. She’s been through a hell of a lot. I can see how she’d need some downtime.”
“Then why didn’t she talk to me about it?”
“You’ll have to ask her.” He reached in his pocket. “She left you a note.”
The note had two lines.
I’ve gone back to the island. Please take care of Pete and Susie.
Melis
“Son of a bitch!”
LONTANA’S ISLAND
The sunset was beautiful, but she missed having Pete and Susie come to say good night.
And that wasn’t all she missed.
Melis squared her shoulders, turned, and left the lanai. She had work to do and there was no use putting it off. She had done what she had to do. What would be, would be.
She went to the bedroom and pulled out her suitcase. There should be some boxes around here. They might smell of—
“What the hell are you doing?”
She went still. She was afraid to turn around. “Kelby?”
“Who else could get past those barriers you set up around yourself?” he said harshly. “I’m surprised you didn’t up the electricity to keep me away.”
“I wouldn’t do that.” Her voice was uneven. “I’d never hurt you.”
“You did a pretty good job. Turn around, dammit.”
She took a deep breath and turned to face him.
“What kind of note was this?” He threw a balled piece of paper at her feet. “No good-bye. No reason. No it’s been good to know you. Just take care of the dolphins.”
“Is that why you came halfway around the world? Because you’re angry?”
“It’s reason enough.” He took four steps and grasped her shoulders. “Why did you leave?”
“I had to come back to the island and pack up. I can’t live here anymore.”
“And where were you going?”
“I’ll find a job someplace. I’m qualified.”
“But not back to me.”
“It would depend.”
“On what?”
“On whether you wanted me enough. On whether you followed me.”
“Some kind of a test?” His hands tightened on her shoulders. “Yes, I want you enough. I’d follow you to hell and back. Is that what you want to hear?”
Joy soared through her. “Yes.”
“Then why the hell did you take off? I would have told you that when I got back to the ship. All you had to do was talk to me.”
“I had to give you the choice. You could have read the note and said, ‘To hell with the rude bitch.’ I gave you the out.”
“Why?”
“I promised you I wouldn’t hold you.”
“I’ve been the one who’s been holding tight.”
“But you had no reason now. You have Marinth. Archer is dead. I had to be the reason. The only reason.” She looked him in the eye. “Because I’m worth it, Kelby. I can give you more than Marinth, but you have to give me what I need.”
“And that is?”
“I . . . think I love you.” She moistened her lips. “No, I do love you. It’s just hard for me to say.” She took a deep breath. This was even harder for her to say. “And I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“Jesus.” He drew her close and buried her head in his shoulder. “Melis . . .”
“You don’t have to say you love me. I promised I wouldn’t—”
“Screw your promise. I never asked
for it. I don’t want it.” He kissed her, hard. “I don’t want to be alone either. You had me on the ropes even before we left this place.” He cupped her face in his two hands. “Listen to me. I do love you. I would have told you a long time ago if I hadn’t been afraid you’d skip out on me. You were so grateful that we were so beautifully noncommittal.”
“It was only fair to you.”
“I don’t want you to be fair. I want you to make love to me and eat with me and sleep with me.” He paused. “And when you’re absolutely sure I’m the one who you want to spend the next seventy years with, I want a cast-iron commitment. Understand?”
A brilliant smile lit her face. “I don’t need to wait to be sure.”
“Yes, you do. Because there’s no going back with me. You saw how I was about Marinth. Multiply that into infinity and you’ll see how hard I’d make it for you to leave me.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead. “You’d have to go live with the dolphins.”
“I don’t have the lungs for it.”
“Then you’d better stick with me.”
She put her head on his chest. She whispered, “I think you’re right.”
They left Lontana’s Island the next evening.
As the boat picked up speed after stopping at the nets, Melis looked back at the island shimmering in twilight haze.
“It’s a beautiful place,” Kelby said quietly. “You’re going to miss it.”
“For a while.”
“I’ll buy you another island. Bigger, better.”
She smiled. “That sounds like you. I don’t want an island. Not now. I want to stay on the Trina with you.” She frowned. “Can’t you change that name?”
“Henpecked already. Shall I name it after you?”
“Heavens, no.”
“Our first child?”
Her eyes widened. “Maybe,” she said cautiously. “You are thinking of commitment.”
He grinned. “I didn’t say our third or fifth.”
“Perhaps Trina’s a fine name for a while.”
“Coward.”
“You have Marinth to bring to life. I have to study the dolphins that live there. I have an idea they’re going to be different from any I’ve ever observed. We’re going to be busy.”
“And you have to take care of Pete and Susie.”