Desire (#5) (4 page)

I stuffed the box of chocolates and card back into the carrier bag.

Colin leaned back casually. “The tide’s turning, but we still have ages before it comes in.”

“Well, if you’re sure,” I said and gazed out at the grey waves foaming on the shore just a few feet away.

“Okay, we’ll go back. I can tell you’re a little nervous.”

I shrugged. “I’ve just heard horror stories about people getting trapped by the tide.”

“Mrs. Wicker, no doubt?”

I nodded.

“Ah, well. She hasn’t been down here for years. You’re safe with me, Kate. I’d never put the future of the Easton family at risk,” he said, getting to his feet, and holding out his hand to help me up.

His words hit home. My baby would be a part of the Easton family, part of Benjamin’s grandfather’s bitter legacy. I rested a hand on my stomach. This was my baby too, and I planned to give it so much love and affection. The Easton family greed could never corrupt that.

“Tell you what,” Colin said. “Do you want to have a quick look inside the cave before we go back?”

I hesitated, looking back at the approaching waves.

“Won’t take long,” Colin said. “Benjamin wrote a message on one of the walls when we were boys. I’d like to see if it’s still there.”

I smiled imagining a young Benjamin, jeans rolled up, exploring the caves with Colin. What could it hurt to take a quick look? It wouldn’t take long.

I followed Colin inside the narrow crevice.

I blinked into the darkness.

“It’s a little cramped at the beginning, but it soon widens out. Here, take my hand.”

I was glad to take Colin’s hand. The darkness unnerved me. I could barely see further than the tip of my nose.

The sound of the breaking waves sounded distant and muffled in here. There was another sound too, a low gurgling. I looked around, but I couldn’t see anything. I had no idea where the noise originated from.

The smell of old, decaying seaweed was strong in here and turned my stomach.

I stumbled a little and had to cling on to Colin’s arm to stop myself falling. I felt woozy. What was wrong with me?

“I think we should go back,” I said. My voice didn’t sound right. My tongue felt too big for my mouth, and my lips felt numb. “I don’t think this is very safe.”

“It’s only just around the next corner,” Colin said, tugging me forward.

I stumbled along for a few more steps on the uneven rocky floor.

“Duck your head, Kate. It’s just through here.”

We emerged into a stunning little cave with salt deposits gleaming on the rock surface. The light was much better in here, although I couldn’t see any light source. The hard slimy rock gave way to soft sand, which felt so much better beneath my feet.

Crystal clear water lapped the edge of the sand. The air felt fresher and cleaner. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head of the dizzy sickness.

“Over here, Kate.”

I turned to see Colin standing beside a wall, a match in his hand, which threw a yellow flickering light across his face, distorting his features a little.

I shivered.

I followed the line of his finger and saw letters scraped into the rock. Benjamin and Colin’s cave. Enter at your own peril.

Colin chuckled. “We were going through a phase, pretending we were the famous Easton smugglers, I think. The following summer we were pirates.”

I smiled imagining Benjamin, playing games down here. It was hard to picture him ever being that carefree.

Suddenly the low gurgling noise increased. I spun around. “What is that?

Colin lit another match, illuminating his face. “The water is coming in, Kate. I’m afraid it’s time for you and I to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” What the hell was he talking about? He was making me nervous.

The match fizzled out, and a cold shiver of apprehension trickled down my spine.

He sighed. “Believe me, Kate. I wish I didn’t have to do this. I wish there was another way.”

“What are you talking about, Colin? You’re scaring me. Please, let’s just go back to the house.”

“Now, listen, Kate. I don’t want you to panic. It won’t do you any good. I’ll explain what’s going to happen. The water will soon enter this cave. Within an hour, this entire space will be filled with water.”

“What? We have to get out of here!” I pushed forward, and Colin’s face blurred in front of my eyes. I staggered then fell to my knees.

“I put a little sedative in the chocolates,” he said looking down at me. “To make things easier. It’s up to you. You can wait for the water to rise and drown. Or you can eat the rest of the chocolates now and save yourself that awful experience.”

He stared down at me, his face completely without compassion.

I grabbed at his trouser leg, clutching the fabric between my fingers. Was this some kind of sick joke? He wanted me to drown … and my baby.

“Why?” I said, trying to stand up again.

He moved back away from me, into the shadows.

I had to pull myself together. I could follow him out of here then get help. Dammit, I should have brought my cell phone.

“I hadn’t planned this. Even after you met Benjamin, I didn’t consider you a threat, at all. My plan was always to cause Benjamin an accident of some sort, so I could inherit the Easton Legacy. Even with you on the scene, that wouldn’t have changed. I would still be Benjamin’s heir. But of course, the baby changes everything.”

My hands went to my stomach automatically. “You won’t get away with this,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “But if you take me out of here now. I promise never to tell Benjamin what you’ve done.”

Colin laughed. “Oh, Kate. I’m not quite as stupid as you think.”

Fury boiled my blood. “He’ll kill you!” I shouted. “He’ll never let you get away with this.”

“Of course he would kill me if he ever found out,” Colin said, tilting his head to one side. “But he won’t. I will play my role as compassionate cousin and comfort him, and bide my time until the moment is ripe for another unfortunate accident. Benjamin won’t be so lucky next time.”

“That was you?” I asked, my head swimming. Black dots swirled in front of my eyes. “You caused Benjamin’s accident in England?”

“An error on my part.” Colin shrugged. “Next time he won’t survive the crash, and his new security team are on my payroll.”

I fell to my knees. The effect of the sedative was growing stronger. I had to get out of here quickly. I had to warn Benjamin that the one member of his family he trusted wanted him dead. The image of Benjamin bruised and battered after the crash filled my mind, and anger flashed through me.

My fingers fumbled along the sandy bank until they closed around a rock. I threw it as hard as I could at Colin’s head.

The rock connected with the side of his face, just missing his eye. I heard him gasp as the rock made contact.

Then he backed away into the darkness.

“Wait! Colin, please wait.” I crawled after him. I couldn’t see where he had gone.

My heart thundered in my chest. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t go through with it. I needed to clear my mind.

Think, Kate, think .

Colin had led me in here, if I could just remember the turns we took, I’d be able to find the entrance to the cave.

My head swam as I staggered towards the edge of the cave. I dropped the carrier bag and kicked it in disgust. What the hell had he put in those chocolates? Would the drugs affect the baby?

I retched, emptying my stomach contents on the sand, then I crawled away on my hands and knees. I felt my way along the wall of the cave, searching for the opening. It seemed to take forever, but I finally found the small hole in the wall. Oh, thank God. I sobbed with relief.

Still on my hands and knees, I inched forward, hoping I was heading in the right direction. The sharp rocks cut into my palms, but I pushed on. A few cuts on my hands were nothing compared to the possibility I might drown.

The smell of rotting seaweed grew stronger. That was a good sign. Oh, God, please let me be going the right way. I tried to crawl faster, ignoring the biting sharp edges of the rocks.

From a distant point up ahead, I could see a faint glow. Daylight? I sat up on my haunches, panting for breath. I didn’t think we went that way, but I couldn’t ignore the light. It might be my only chance to escape. I crawled forward towards the eerie glow.

When I got there, I realised my mistake.

The light came from a hole high above me. All around the rock surface was steep and slick. There was no way I could climb up to the hole.

I hugged my arms tightly around my stomach. “I’m sorry, little one. I can’t get us out of here. I’m so sorry.”

MY HEAD ACHED AND my mouth was dry.

My head snapped up as I thought I heard a voice. I stayed motionless but heard nothing but rushing water. The disappointment churned my stomach.

I trembled. My thick wool coat had soaked up water and hung heavily from my shivering shoulders. I pressed my hands to my forehead, trying to concentrate. I had to act quickly. Time was running out.

Then I heard the voice again. It sounded like Tina. I shook my head. I must be delusional.

“Kate?”

It was Tina, and she was calling out for me.

“Over here,” I shouted. “Help me. I’m trapped in a cave.”

Her face appeared twelve feet above me. “Kate?”

“Tina, I’m down here. I’m trapped! Go and get help. Call Benjamin. Tell him...”

The words died in my throat as I saw my sister roughly yanked away.

“Nooo!” The word left my mouth in an unnatural howl as Colin’s face appeared where Tina’s face had been.

“Eat the chocolates, Kate,” he snarled. “You’re not getting out, and thanks to your actions, now I’ll have to dispose of Tina, too.”

“No? Tina? Tina?” I screamed, but there was no answer. Instead I could hear sounds of a struggle above ground.

I tried to climb the sheer rock face, out of my mind with panic.

Not my sister too, what was he going to do with her?

The jagged rocks tore at my hands, and eventually I gave up, cradling my blood-streaked fingers.

I tried calling out again. Surely, Mrs. Wicker must have noticed I was missing by now. When I didn’t turn up to help her with the cake stall she would call Benjamin, wouldn’t she. Oh, God, I hoped so.

I don’t know how long I sat there, huddled against the rock, shivering with cold and fear. The sedatives were still making me woozy.

I heard Benjamin’s voice. “Kate. Are you down there?”

I looked up to see Benjamin’s beautiful face staring down at me. He wasn’t real. I shook my head. He couldn’t be real.

“Colin is trying to kill us,” I said.

“Kate, listen to me. I’m going to come and get you, all right?”

I stared up at him dumbstruck.

“Stay with me, baby. I’ll get you.”

Then he was gone. Tears streaked down my cheeks. I knew it had been too good to be true. I curled up on the floor my arms wrapped around my stomach, and closed my eyes tight, trying to picture Benjamin’s face.

I dozed off. I’m not sure for how long, but I was woken by splashing and Benjamin calling my name.

I blinked. Benjamin was staggering towards me, his lips blue with cold. Water streamed off his body, and his wet hair hung across his eyes.

“Kate.” He rushed forward and bundled me in his arms, covering my face with kisses. “Kate, talk to me. Are you okay?”

I reached out and touched his face. “Are you real?” I asked.

He laughed. “Listen to me, angel. We have to get out of here.” He grasped my hand. “There’s only one way out of this cave, and it won’t be easy.”

He pulled me along the passage way back down towards the darkness.

“I don’t want to go back in the dark.”

“I know, baby. But it’s the only way.”

He put an arm around me holding me close to his body and helped me stay upright as we staggered along.

He put his hand on my head as we ducked back inside the crystal cave. In the centre of the sand, he stopped and looked down at me, clasping my head in his hands, tilting my face to his.

“We need to swim back to shore, Kate.”

“Swim?” My jaw dropped. I couldn’t do that. It was too cold.

“I need you to trust me, Kate. Can you do that?” he asked, starting to strip me of my heavy wool coat.

Without waiting for me to answer, he pressed his lips onto mine. “I love you, and I’m going to keep you safe. Please trust me.”

I nodded. “I do.”

He thrust a hand through his wet hair, and I realised he had to swim inside the cave to get to me. He’d managed it once. It must be okay.

“I used to do this all the time when I was a kid. So you can do this. Just hold your breath until we surface and don’t let go of me, whatever happens. It will be pitch black in the water. We have to swim underneath the rocks.”

“Okay,” I said. “I can do it.”

“Good girl. Ready?”

I nodded, and we waded into the freezing cold water. I whimpered.

He turned his gaze on me, those dark brown eyes full of hard determination.

“You can do this, Kate. I know you can. Take a deep breath,” he ordered.

I sucked in a breath, and we dived under water. Benjamin kept one hand locked on my arm and used the other to propel us along.

Within seconds, we were in total darkness. I could feel the panic fluttering in my chest. I couldn’t see Benjamin. I didn’t know if we were even getting anywhere. Soon the panic turned to a burning sensation as my lungs began to scream for oxygen.

I felt my limbs grow heavy as the chill penetrated my muscles, then suddenly I saw light. I kicked my legs furiously, desperate to get to the surface.

The sensation of air against my skin as we emerged was one of the sweetest sensations I had ever felt. I reached out for Benjamin, my eyes stung from the salt water and my tears.

His arms encircled me, and he whispered. “You’re safe now, Kate. I’m never going to let anything happen to you.”

As we got close to the shore, I noticed for the first time that people were gathered there. Carter the butler waded in up to his knees in the surf and wrapped a towel around my shoulders. I may have been mistaken, but I think there were tears in his eyes.