Treasured Lies (14 page)

He kicked once more and this time his foot reached, but he slipped and screamed with the torture as he felt the rusted metal tear his hand further. He bit down hard, forcing all the pain, all the determination, and every ounce of energy he had into this effort. He kicked with the last of his strength, swinging until the pain almost sent him over the edge. This time he caught a better foothold and pushed up. Using the momentum, he screamed a determined agonised scream and lunged at the metal rod with his free hand.

He got it. Just above his pierced hand. But now, to his horror, the rod began to bend, and before he could put any of his weight onto the new windowsill the rod snapped. Nox and metal reinforcing plummeted.

He spun out of control, slammed his ankle on a concrete step, his elbow on another, tumbling over and over until he hit the ground with a punishing crunch. The wind knocked out of him. His head hit the concrete so hard he thought his skull would explode. And the metal rod, still imbedded in his hand, reverberated off the concrete so loud he believed every bone in his hand must have shattered.

As Nox lay there, stunned beyond moving, his life flashed before him in fragmented, random memories. He saw blue crosses, church steeples, and men in dark robes. He saw mice, mushrooms and little boys who laughed at him with evil glee. He saw eyes that bulged so big he watched the fine spider veins wash over them until the whites were completely red. And he saw vast amounts of treasure and the woman in the bikini with the spear gun in her hand. The name Rosalina came to mind. When he replayed the moment the spear pierced his belly, Nox clutched at his stomach, reliving the pain all over again. The last thing Nox saw, before his mind slipped into darkness, was his cat Shadow, licking the blood off his fingers.

Chapter 17

Archer followed Jimmy along the marina pontoon and was amazed at how his old mate made it look like the box he was carrying was empty. Archer knew that particular box was bloody heavy, but Jimmy handled it with ease. For a fifty-year-old he still cut a muscular figure. The little motorboat threatened to topple right over when Jimmy stepped onto it with the box. Archer wasn't far behind him, and after Jimmy put his box down he reached up to take Archer's box too.

Archer stepped down into the boat, grateful this would be the last trip from the truck. It had taken six trips in the boat to get all the boxes on board Evangeline and his muscles were beginning to feel as useless as overcooked calamari. His left knee was throbbing like crazy too. He rarely remembered his scar, usually it didn't bother him at all. But right now, the old wound was caustic misery. It was hard to believe so many boxes had been crammed into such a small shed.

‘Thank God that's the last of them.' Rosalina was doing her mind reading trick again. He looked up at her. She stood on the rickety jetty, legs slightly apart, hands on hips. The end of her ponytail curled over her shoulder and rested upon her cleavage, which unfortunately was hidden beneath her dark t-shirt. For the life of him, Archer didn't know how she could look so damn gorgeous after such a workout. Admittedly the pier lights cut a golden glow, adding to her already golden skin. Any more golden and she'd replicate a Greek goddess. He reached up and helped her into the boat. With barely any room left for the three of them, Rosalina sat upon his good knee. Exactly where he liked her.

‘If I'd known there was going to be that many boxes,' Jimmy said. ‘I would've arm-wrestled Alex for watch duty today.' It seemed like days ago that they'd had the discussion over who would go to the shed and who'd stay on
Evangeline
. Ever since Iggy showed up, Archer declared that at least two people had to remain on board at all times. He'd wanted to put on security, but Jimmy wouldn't have a bar of it. He was paranoid they'd start snooping around.

Jimmy turned the key to start the motor, the engine rippled to life and in a split second they were heading towards the rear deck of
Evangeline
. The moon was yet to appear, but the yachts lights made it easy to see where they were heading. Archer admired her sleek lines. His superyacht was still as alluring as the day he'd viewed her in the boat yard seven years ago. He'd never imagined having a boat this big. At just over fifty metres, she was about twice the size of what he'd pictured himself owning. But once he'd stepped on board her teak-lined decks, he was sold. So much so, he didn't bother haggling with the price. The boat broker had thought he was joking when he said he'd take it. It probably didn't help that Archer was only twenty-four, had long hair and was wearing tattered shorts and a singlet at the time. The broker had probably never seen a multimillionaire dressed like that before.

They arrived after a few minutes of motoring across the dark ocean waters. Alessandro and Ginger were waiting for them on the lower dive deck at their approach.

‘Hey, Romeo, hope you saved some energy for this last lot?' Jimmy called out the moment they pulled up alongside.

Ginger and Alessandro blushed in unison. When Jimmy had hired Ginger as the onboard chef, it was probably for a little eye candy, and while he certainly got that, he didn't get the girl. Not that he was the jealous type, Jimmy knew he never really had any hope with a pretty young girl like Ginger anyway.

Alessandro ignored Jimmy's crassness and reached down for the box he was handing up to him. The Italian lurched at the weight of it, and just when Archer thought he'd topple overboard, Alessandro found his balance, strode to the bottom of the stairs and lowered it down with ease.

It was several hours before all the boxes were carted from the truck to the small boat to their new storage place aboard
Evangeline
. Fortunately one of the two spare bedrooms was big enough to house all the cartons. By the time they'd loaded them all in, the Moreton room was so full there was barely any room to move.

‘I reckon it's time for a beer.' Jimmy reached up and shoved the last carton onto the top of a tower of boxes.

Archer craved the taste of a cold beer, but one look at his filthy hands changed his mind. Shower first, followed by an icy cold ale. ‘I hear ya, Jimmy. I'm going to clean up first. I'll meet you at the bar in twenty or so.'

‘Don't take too long, you know I don't like to drink alone.' Jimmy laughed at his own white lie. Jimmy had spent years drinking by himself. When Archer met him, the bitter divorcee used the bottle to drown his woes. That was a few years ago now, he'd changed a hell of a lot since then. What they'd been through in the past year alone contributed dramatically to the change in Jimmy's life, and the lives of everyone else aboard Archer's yacht.

When Jimmy left the room, Archer reached out for Rosalina and hugged her to his chest. Her hair, still secured in a high ponytail smelt of green apples. ‘Want me to wash your back?' He glided his hand up the delicate curve of her spine.

‘Sounds wonderful.'

They stepped out of the room, Archer tugged the door closed behind him and followed Rosalina's swaying hips towards the Hamilton suite they shared. The master bedroom never failed to impress, and he was the first to admit the room's aesthetic qualities would never have been achieved if Rosalina hadn't taken over redecorating it.

Archer paused at the control panel inside the door and selected a playlist. He was keen for something a little upbeat and chose the Caribbean mix. The drums set the rhythm, and as he watched Rosalina slip out of her clothes his heart accelerated too.

Rosalina looked at him with her usually plump lips drawn into a thin line. ‘Are you okay?'

He knew she was referring to the boxes. Since he'd removed the shredded buoyancy vest from the box this morning, he'd tried not to think about what else could be harbouring in the other cartons. Every item would represent a part of his father's life in one way or another. The father he'd only known for eleven years was about to come alive through a jumble of random things. Archer still wasn't sure he was ready for that.

What he was primed for, however, was his gorgeous Italian woman, now completely naked before him. ‘I couldn't be better.' He scooped her up and she giggled as he carried her into the ensuite.

He sat her on the marble-topped bench, her back to the vanity mirror, and reached over to adjust the lighting down a notch or two. As he stripped out of his filthy clothes he watched her eyes take in his body. A smile curled at her lips when he flung his underpants aside. Naked now, he took a moment to turn on the shower, thoroughly wash his hands, then return his attention back to his beautiful fiancée. He eased her legs apart and slipped his hips between her thighs. Her full breasts nudged his chest, teasing his penis to attention. As he cupped her face in his hands, their eyes met. He'd never tire of how she looked at him. Her eyes told a story, a wonderful, eternally loving story and he hoped his did the same.

Just being with her reduced him to raw emotions. He wanted her. He needed her. Nothing else existed. She drove away the old demon nightmares and made every ounce of his flesh come alive.

She ran her tongue over her lips and snagged the corner with her teeth. Even without lipstick her luscious, full lips were a delicious blush of red. He lent in to kiss her and when their mouths met her tongue eased out, soft yet probing and he obliged by sucking her into his mouth. She tasted sweet and delicious. He snaked his hand around the fine curve of her neck, drawing her closer. She arched her back, pressing her breasts onto him further. His tongue probed deeper and with each of her moans his manhood grew firmer. It throbbed with its own delicious pulse, boosting the furnace already burning inside him. Her hands fell to his hips like she was ready to grab hold and he knew if he didn't move soon he'd have her right there and then.

With her legs wrapped around his waist, he lifted her off the bench and carried her into the shower. Rosalina drew back from their kiss and her eyes twinkled as he stepped under the warm cascade. She tugged the band from her hair, shook her long dark hair free, and squeezing her legs around his waist she tilted her head back. Rivers of water threaded down her neck and trapped in the valley of her bosom.

Archer lowered her to her feet, so he too could do some exploring of his own. He cupped her magnificent breasts together and lowered his head down to run his tongue along her cleavage, tasting the saltiness of the sea air upon her skin. She rose up on her tippy toes and in a flash her mouth was on his. Her fingers clawed through his hair and she grabbed a handful as her tongue dug deep, tasting, exploring.

With his foot he parted her legs and as she nuzzled into his neck, his hand slid over the curves of her body and found the pool of heat he was seeking between her legs. Carefully he slipped his finger inside her and rubbed, slowly at first and guided by her reaction, he probed inside and out. Soft. Hard. Slow. Fast. The warmth, the wetness, the rocking of her hips, it all had him rock hard and ready. Finally she stiffened. Her nails clawed his back and with a gasp, she bit into his shoulder as her body quaked against him.

It was a few heartbeats before she relaxed and soon he felt the cascading water again, it had vanished into obscurity. For the umpteenth time he was grateful he'd paid for the extra-large desalination machine or they would have run out of fresh water by now. She pulled back with her bottom lip tugged into her mouth again and a cheeky gleam in her eyes. ‘Sorry, babe.'

She was referring to the bite mark on his shoulder. ‘I'm not.' He lifted her up and carried her to the vanity bench again. It was the perfect height for him to plunge deep inside her. Which he did. It was quick and delicious and exactly what he needed. Rosalina gasped and eased back, taking him deeper inside. With his hands clasped on her firm butt cheeks, he thrust inside and out. This wasn't slow and sensual. This was driven by a desperate need for one another. A raw burning desire.

Rosalina clasped her arms around his neck and her breath shot in and out. Each time he plunged, her eyes flickered with ecstasy. He wanted to watch her but couldn't keep his eyes open. She took him to the edge.

‘Oh, Arch.' His name whispered off her lips, yet it spoke volumes.

With his fingers digging into her flesh, he drove inside harder, faster and finally he couldn't hold back a moment longer. He released with several driving thrusts and they both cried out in unison.

He sought her mouth, drawing his tongue along her lips and then kissing her. The way she kissed him back convinced him she'd enjoyed the ride as much as he had. He squeezed her to him and her breath tickled his shoulder.

Sex with Rosalina had always been special, but ever since they came close to death at the hands of a madman, when they came together it was as if they were sharing their last breath. She took him to sensory overload and the wild passionate responses he in turn received from Rosalina assured him she felt the same. He was amazed that his love for her could grow more and more every day. He was also grateful she understood his need to finish this treasure hunt.

They dressed quickly, he in shorts and a t-shirt and Rosalina slipped into one of her favourite flowing dresses. He noticed the gold loop earrings she chose were the first pair of earrings he'd ever bought her. Rosalina had an extensive collection of earrings already, though fortunately for him, she never tired of receiving them. They made for an easy gift.

Archer clutched Rosalina's hand and her skirt danced around their legs as they walked up to the bar. As they neared the lounge he heard Jimmy burst into his throaty rugged laughter and he knew what would come next. Years of cigarette abuse had paid its toll and it was impossible for Jimmy to laugh like that without backing it up with a racking cough. Archer tugged Rosalina into a quick embrace while they rode out the horrid noise down the corridor.

Archer was grateful there had been laughter coming from Jimmy and the others. What he didn't need was everyone to be on tenterhooks. He had no doubt they would be. Each of them knew what happened to his father and they all had probably played out their own guesses of what could be in the boxes.