Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [61]
“No, of course not.” She smiled with an effort. “Marinth is on the horizon.”
“You're damn right. Did you expect me to deny I still want it? But first we'd better address the matter of Lontana's research and the tablets. You said they were here?”
“Not exactly here. They're on a tiny island some distance from Lanzarote.”
“What island?”
“Cadora. It's hidden on the slope of an extinct volcano on the north side of the island. Cadora has only a few thousand people living there, and most of them are on the coast. It's a pretty place. Phil and I rented a cottage there for a while.” She made a face. “Of course, when we needed supplies we had to go to Lanzarote. Cadora wasn't a shopping mecca.”
“Hidden? I'd think Lontana would have had them under lock and key in a bank vault somewhere.”
“You didn't know Phil. He didn't trust banks. He put everything in a large chest and buried it. He always told me that pirates buried treasures that weren't found for centuries.”
“The world was a bit less crowded then.”
“His world wasn't. It was full of dreams.” She felt a sudden sadness. “So many dreams.”
“Will you trust me to go get the tablets and research and place them somewhere safe?”
“No.” She saw him stiffen and quickly said, “It's not a question of trust. I may need them as bait for Archer. They stay where they are. I don't want them buried in a vault where they won't be accessible.”
“And you don't trust anyone but yourself.”
“I don't think you're interested in his research.”
“But the tablets and translation are a draw for me. And you know it.”
“Naturally. You can have them—after we get Archer.” She turned to the bed. “I need to rest. I have to get up early tomorrow. Good night.”
“I'm dismissed?”
“I'm not going to your cabin. I don't feel like sex right now.”
“Do tell.” He stood up. “No, you're hurting and hollow and feeling a little scared.” He took a step closer. “And you're not going to admit any of it.” He took her in his arms. “Jesus, you're difficult as hell. Stop stiffening up on me. I'm not trying to jump you. I'm just trying to show you that sex isn't the only thing I value in you.” He pushed her down on the bed and drew the sheet over her. “Though I have to admit it's way up there.” He lay down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. “Now, relax and go to sleep. You're safe.”
Safe. She let her breath out in a shaky sigh as her muscles gradually went limp. She hadn't realized she'd been afraid until this moment. She'd been pushing the fear away since the moment she'd seen Archer in that car. “Gary's dead, Kelby,” she whispered. “I was talking to him and the next minute he was dead. I didn't even hear the shot. The lieutenant said the gun must have had a silencer. Gary was saying how excited he was about Marinth and talking about Phil and then he fell and—”
“I know.” His fingers were making soothing spirals on her back. “The first time I saw a friend die, when I was in the SEALs, I couldn't believe it happened so fast. It didn't seem right that he didn't have any chance to prepare. Later, I thought maybe it was a mercy. He didn't see it coming and it was over in a heartbeat. Try to think of Gary that way.”
“Archer killed him because he was in the way to me. He took all his years and just snuffed them out. Phil, Carolyn, Maria, and now Gary. I can't let him go on.”
“We'll get him.”
“He doesn't care. . . . He'll do anything. He's like Irmak. He even said he'd like to put me back in Kafas. He'd like to watch me being hurt and used and— That scares me. He knows it. He knows about the dreams.”
“You dream about Kafas?”
“Yes, but in them I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm back there, but it's happening now.”
“It won't happen.” His arms tightened around her. “I won't let it happen.”
In this moment she could believe he was telling the truth. That there would never be another Kafas, that Archer would not be allowed to destroy her. “It's not your responsibility. I have to deal with it. Carolyn would say I had to—”
“Shh. I have the greatest respect for Carolyn,