Beyond Fearless (23 page)

It had been like what had happened between himself and Anna—that wild, out-of-control need to connect on the most basic level. And because he recognized the desperate need, a door inside his head opened.

Thank you,
Lindsay murmured.

We care about you and Anna.

He knew in that moment that they had risked their lives to save him. He hadn't been thinking about that. Instead, he'd been fighting them.

I've been acting like an ungrateful lout,
he said.

You're acting like a man who was alone for all of his life
—
then found a partner who brought him more than he ever expected from another human being.

He looked at Lindsay, knowing that the words softly spoken in his mind had come from her.

Lie back and relax.

He lay down, and she moved her hand from his and pressed it against his forehead.

Try to find Anna now,
she said.

Panic surged. She was gone, and he had no idea how to search for her across the wide blue water of the Caribbean.

But he could feel Lindsay's calm strength and Jordan still with them in the background. He was there, but he was letting Lindsay do the heavy lifting.

Send your thoughts outward,
she told him.

Oh sure. Easier said than done when he had no idea which direction to look. Then he remembered he had often done something like this when he searched for a shipwreck. Whatever he did then, he could do now.

Closing his eyes, he focused all his concentration on the woman he loved.

He had never used that word before. Not even in his mind. He should be embarrassed to use it now, when two other people were inside his head. But he didn't have energy to spare for embarrassment.

With every shred of concentration he could muster, he reached toward Anna. He felt Jordan helping him, and Lindsay adding an extra burst of power—something that he didn't possess himself.

But it was hopeless. It wasn't going to work.

He sagged back against the bunk. And just as he was about to give up, he found Anna. He didn't even know how it had happened. Suddenly, he could see her.

And what he saw was like a knife slashing through his chest.

She was on a boat. Lying on her stomach, naked, her wrists and ankles secured to the corners of a bed.

Across her buttocks and back, red slashes marred her beautiful skin.

He screamed in anguish, and the picture snapped off.

 

ZACH
lay panting on the bed, the image burned into his mind. He couldn't cope with it.

“The bastard's…already raped her,” he managed to say, although his throat was so clogged he could barely speak.

“No!” It was Jordan who spoke.

“What the hell do you know about it!”

“I caught the edge of her thoughts. She was horrified he was going to use sex to bind her to him. He hasn't done it yet. He's only…punished her.”

“Whipped her!”

“Yes,” Lindsay answered as she stroked her fingers over the hot flesh of his forehead.

“We won't let him rape her,” Jordan growled.

“We don't even know where she is!”

“What did you see?”

“The cabin of a boat. An expensive boat.” He stopped, thinking. “It's the boat that came to the island. The crew pretended to rescue us. Then they hit me over the head.”

“So he hasn't gotten very far.”

“They're going somewhere.” Somehow Zach forced himself not to howl at the two other people in the cabin. This wasn't their fault. They were trying to help. “She doesn't know where San Donato is taking her.”

“That's right.”

“But he does. And we have to figure that he's nearby. On the same boat. If you can get into his head, you can find out.”

“Into
his
head?” Zach asked, the idea making his guts twist with pain that was only partly physical.

“You have a better suggestion?” Jordan answered.

“No.”

“We'll stay with you.”

“But what if he knows we're there? If he knows I've found him, won't he rush ahead with what he's doing?”

“He could,” Lindsay whispered.

“Can't the three of us…do something? Can't we cut her bonds or something?”

Jordan looked doubtful. “Did you develop a lot of skill at telekinesis?”

“No. I was hoping you had.”

“Only a little. And not from this far away.”

Zach lowered his head into his hands, pressing his palms against his forehead.

“Maybe we can fool San Donato,” Lindsay said.

“How?”

She looked apologetic. “I picked up something from you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“He worships a goddess named Ibena.”

“What about it?” he snapped.

“If he figures out we're there, I can take the lead and tell him I'm Ibena—and praise him for the bold steps he's taken.”

Sickness rose in Zach's throat at the very idea of praising the bastard. Yet it might work.

San Donato was so sure of himself. So convinced that he was making the right moves. Maybe that
was
the way to get him. Maybe the goddess could tell him to turn Anna loose.

He knew Lindsay had caught his desperate thought when she said, “We have to keep this in character. If we try to go that far, he'll think something's fishy. Let's leave it at praising him.”

He shot her a dark look, but he knew she was probably right.

They were both gazing at him expectantly, waiting for his decision.

“Let's do it,” he said, surprised that his voice sounded strong and determined. Inside, he was cringing.

LINDSAY SAT DOWN
on the bunk beside him. Jordan took the other side.

“Go for it,” Jordan said.

He closed his eyes, sending his mind out again, toward that ship where San Donato was holding Anna captive.

Because he'd done it before, it was easier to get there this time. And he could go in by slow degrees. First he saw the ship below him, sailing through turquoise water. Then he came closer and saw men standing on the deck.

One of them was San Donato. He'd never met the bastard in person, but he knew it was him—just from the arrogant way he was leaning on the rail, staring at land that was rapidly approaching.

Grand Fernandino? Or somewhere close?

He felt Lindsay take the lead now, dropping down toward the man, who jerked when he felt her presence.

So there was no sneaking up on him.

“Ibena?” he whispered, awe in his voice.

Yes. I've come to tell you how proud I am of you,
she answered.

The arrogant bastard didn't question that for a moment. A goddess had dropped in on him, and he was totally sure he was worthy of her regard. Still, he kept his inner voice reverential.

I do your bidding, always.

I know. I am so happy to have you as my most powerful follower. You have gone through much to bring the woman back.

Yes.

We will talk more, after you bind her to you.

Zach could hear the surface conversation. He thought Lindsay was probing more deeply into the man's mind, but he couldn't tell exactly what she was doing.

San Donato kept flapping his silent mouth.

As soon as we get to shore, I'm heading to the ceremonial ground.

No. I want you to wait. Until midnight. It will mean more if you wait until the midnight hour.

If I can.

You dare to question me?

Pardon, goddess. But I must do this quickly
—
to serve you better.

You serve at my pleasure. Do not forget your place.

Zach felt the man cringe.

I am your servant,
San Donato silently said.

Lindsay broke the connection, and Zach fought the sickness in his throat.

“We got a lot of information from his mind,” Lindsay said.

“Like what? Why didn't you
make
him wait longer for his damn ceremony?” Zach demanded.

“Because I could feel his impatience. He wants to serve the goddess. But on his own terms.”

“Oh, great.”

Jordan jumped back into the conversation. “He's heading for the village where he was born. But this boat is faster than his. We made an educated guess about his destination after we picked you up, so we're already heading toward Grand Fernandino.”

Zach had been so preoccupied that he hadn't realized they were already speeding toward the island.

Jordan left the room to tell the captain to aim for the far side of the island, and Lindsay looked at Zach. “He's poured a lot of money into the place—making improvements for the residents—so they'll be loyal to him. And he has a ceremonial ground halfway up the mountain.”

“A ceremonial ground?”

“Where he and his followers worship the goddess.”

Zach tried to take that in.

Lindsay laid a hand on his shoulder. “We'll get there.”

“And then what? How many people will he have around him? All loyal to him because he's bought and paid for their loyalty, so that every one of them will be ready to stop us?”

Jordan came back into the room and fixed him with a direct look.

“You're not giving up, are you?”

“Of course not.”

“On the way there, we'll talk strategy.”

“Like what?”

“You'll be closer to Anna. You can contact her. Get her to help you. Maybe she can disable San Donato. Or we can provide a big distraction.”

“Yeah,” he answered, wondering if that was just wishful thinking.

 

ANNA
closed her eyes, but her mind was racing. They were at sea. And probably everyone on the boat knew she was tied to the bed. So could she leap over the side before they figured out what had happened?

She knew it would do her no good to try and pull her wrists and ankles free. Instead she thought about the leather cuffs that held her. Could she make them loosen?

She'd never tried anything like that. It meant affecting the material world. But hadn't she and Zach done something similar?

Yes, she told herself. This was like making love to Zach without touching him.

She'd half thought that he'd just been wanting to play around. Now she knew that it had been a deadly serious game.

She set her mind to the task, focusing on the leather, imagining each strap getting longer, just long enough for her to slip her hands through. If she could do that, she could escape from the room and dive off the ship. It didn't matter where she was. She'd rather take her chances in the water.

Trying to get away helped hold her panic at bay. But her mental powers seemed to have no effect on her bonds. Because he'd drugged her? Not just to put her to sleep but to keep her from using her psychic abilities?

That could very well be true, because she felt a kind of deadness in her mind.

Still, she kept up the effort until she felt something different about the movement of the ship. The engines slowed, and she tried to raise her head and look out the porthole. Then the boat bumped gently against something. A pier.

They were docking. And she wondered if San Donato had lied to her. He'd said he wouldn't hold his ceremony yet. So what was happening now?

Long minutes ticked by as she lay on the bunk with her heart pounding.

When she heard a sound in the corridor outside, she cringed. She wanted to hide, but there was no place to go. Still tied to the bed, she couldn't stop her gaze from shooting to the door. It opened, and to her profound relief, it wasn't San Donato who stepped in. Instead, there were three tall, muscular-looking women, all wearing white shirts and loose white pants. The one who was a head taller than the other two stayed in the doorway.

A bronze-skinned woman with a thin angular face and short-cropped hair strode to the bunk and stood looking down at Anna with an awed expression on her face.

“You are very pretty,” she murmured in a soft island voice. “And our priest has said you have powers that will match his own. You will be a good mate for the blessed man.”

Anna cringed. “I don't want to be his mate. Let me go and I'll…I'll reward you.”

The woman's reverent look changed immediately. “Quiet,” she advised. “We are here to prepare you and take you to the ceremonial ground.”

When Anna opened her mouth to speak, the woman raised her hand in warning. “We do not want to hurt you, but you will be punished if you step beyond the bounds. Nod if you understand.” It sounded strange to hear those words in the woman's softly accented voice.

Anna gave a small nod.

“I am Evelyn,” the woman said. “My assistants are Maria and Wilhelmina.” She gestured toward the other two. “We do not want to hurt you,” she repeated. Then, in a softer voice she added, “Among all the women of the island, you have been granted a great honor, and we only wish to serve you.”

“Then why can't I speak?” Anna dared to ask.

Evelyn gave her a kind smile—like the smile a teacher might have given a slow student. “You are blessed among all women, but you are not ready to address us yet, because you are ignorant of the ways of the saints. After the ceremony, we will be pleased to hear your words of wisdom.”

So what did that mean? After the ceremony, her mind would belong to San Donato?

A shudder went through her. She would fight him with everything she had. Before the ceremony. During the ceremony. And afterward.

 

ZACH
came up on deck and inspected the boat. Then he stepped to the helm.

They'd hired a captain from Palmiro—a man who wasn't afraid of San Donato.

But as the most experienced seaman aboard, Zach took over the job of piloting the craft, getting as much speed out of the twin 225HP Mercury Optimax engines as possible.

Jordan and Lindsay stood on either side of him, correcting his course because they knew the destination. But they couldn't give it to him as GPS coordinates. All they could do was tell him when he was going wrong and when he was on the correct heading.

It was a strange way to travel, but he didn't question their ability. They had proved what they could do.

As they plowed through the water, he sent his mind out toward Anna. He had made contact with her briefly. But he couldn't find her now, and he struggled not to panic. He had to trust that they were getting closer to her.

It was dark, but he didn't turn on the running lights. They sped through the black water, and he began to see some lights winking on the shore.

“We're getting close,” Jordan whispered.

Zach clamped his hands on the wheel and mentally urged the boat forward.

 

ANNA
figured she might as well save her breath—for her escape. She hadn't gotten away while they were at sea, but she could still do it.

“We are chosen among women, too. We have been trusted to serve you.”

Oh, sure.

We will release you from the bed,” Evelyn said. “Then we will take you to get ready for the ceremony.”

Anna lay very still, staring at them, trying to get inside their minds. If she could just plant suggestions in their consciousness that they should let her go, maybe they would do it.

Breathing shallowly, she tried to send her thoughts outward. She met what felt like a wall of resistance.

Either these women had been chosen because their minds were difficult to contact, or they had been given some kind of training or treatment by San Donato that made them less susceptible to her psychic powers.

Working quickly, Evelyn unbuckled the cuffs that held Anna's wrist and ankle on one side of the bed. Maria unbuckled the bonds on the other side. And Wilhelmina, the one who looked like she'd inherited football player genes, stayed blocking the doorway, presumably ready to swat their prisoner to the ground if she tried anything funny.

When Anna was free, Evelyn and Maria helped her to her feet—a naked woman among three other women who were fully dressed. She might have hunched her shoulders and bowed her head. Instead, she kept her chin and shoulders up. She had been lying down for so long that her legs were unsteady, and she would have fallen if they hadn't been on either side of her, holding her up.

She moved one leg and then the other, trying to restore her muscle tone after having had her movements restricted.

“You'll feel better soon,” Evelyn whispered.

“I hope so,” she answered, sliding her gaze to the porthole. She could see that night had fallen. Well, that gave her some idea of how long she'd been here.

From what she could see, she thought they were in a small harbor, with the outlines of a few buildings visible on the shore. And jungle-covered mountains rising behind them.

A harbor in a sparsely populated area? It didn't matter; wherever she was, she was going to make a break for it—and take her chances in the water or the jungle.

Too bad she was so sluggish, she thought as she urged her body back to life, secretly clenching and unclenching the muscles in her arms and legs. But she continued to pretend she was very weak, hoping the deception would give her an advantage.

Wilhelmina bent down and picked up a bag that she'd set on the floor. With one eye on Anna, she pulled out a white terry cloth bathrobe, like the kind that hotels sometimes provided for guests.

She handed it to Evelyn, who helped Anna put it on. Then she tied the belt at the waist.

“Do you feel better now?”

“Yes.”

Her nakedness was covered, but the robe was heavy, weighing her down. And her feet were bare. Not the best getup for an escape attempt. That was probably the point of the outfit.

When she was dressed in the robe, Wilhelmina knocked on the door. It opened, and two men stepped in.

Her heart sank as she saw they were large and well-muscled. Apparently San Donato had only wanted women to see her naked. But he'd provided a couple of burly male guards to make sure she didn't get away.