I don’t know how this has happened, but after I made my decision, I set off a series of events that will send me back to Catalina. Adam tried to talk me out of it. He made his own statement and was told he’s free to leave. He plans on taking a job in a restaurant the FBI arranged to start him on the right track. He is one of the lucky ones because he can leave with a slate wiped clean in return for acting as a witness, and I know he will be protected.
As we say our goodbyes, I hug him hard and say emotionally, “Thank you for everything.”
“I did nothing, Katrina.”
“You saved me, Adam. I was seduced by them and wouldn’t have left if you hadn’t swooped in like a hurricane and taken me along with you. I owe you everything.”
“I wish you weren’t doing this.” He grips me hard, and I’m almost tempted to go with him. He is the only person I’ve got left, and it’s so hard leaving him behind.
“I’ll come and visit.” I smile with a bravery I don’t feel inside, and he seems a little upset as he growls, “If you don’t, I’ll come and find you and that’s a promise.”
I smile through my tears. “It will be ok, you know.”
“I know.” He smiles and says with a sigh. “I wish…”
“I know.” Smiling, I back away and take a deep breath. “Wish me luck.”
I turn and leave the only friend I have left, and it doesn’t make me feel that great. I will miss Adam. He was the only person strong enough to try to break this vicious cycle and I owe him my life; I really believe that.
A car is waiting to take me back to Naples, where I will call the island and ask them to come and fetch me. The driver is a special agent who will brief me on the journey and by the time I get to Catalina, I will know what I must do. In my bag are the folders, flash drives and most of the money. I have my story and a monitoring device secreted behind my ear, hidden in my ponytail. Above all though, I am determined to face the woman who ruined my life and demand the answers I need.
* * *
As I stand shivering on the dockside, I make the call and Chester answers, telling me he survived his attack at least–unfortunately.
“Catalina Island.”
“Chester, it’s Katrina.”
There’s a short silence before he says casually, “What happened?”
“I’ll explain later, please can you come and get me? I’m on the dock in Naples.”
“I’ll send Nate.”
He cuts the call and I start shaking. What am I thinking? I’m not sure I am strong enough for this, and it’s only the thought of how scared my parents must have been before they died, hardens my heart and gives me the resolve to see this through.
Twenty minutes is a long time to wait when your life may change forever. I run through everything in my mind and plan on how to play this. I need them to believe me, to feel sorry for me and let me back in and I wrap my arms around my body as if comforting a small child who can’t find her parents. That’s exactly how it feels to be me. Ever since they died, I’ve felt so alone. Catalina gave me something I needed and now I know it was all built on lies, I feel the ground shifting, threatening to pull me under. The only thing giving me strength is my desire for answers, and there are only two people who can give me that.
I hear the boat and feel my heart lurch when I see Nate heading my way and I swallow the lump building in my throat because I can’t help my feelings for him. Perhaps he’s as innocent as I am, and yet I wonder about that when I remember what I’ve heard. Looking eagerly for his reaction, my heart sinks when he looks guarded, disappointed, angry even. I watch as he pulls alongside and jumps out, securing the line before he turns and says in a sad voice, that throws me a little, “You shouldn’t have come back.”
Clutching my bag against me like a shield, my voice shakes as I say, “I never wanted to leave in the first place.”
He looks surprised. “But I thought…”
“It wasn’t me, Nate. I was forced to leave.”
He takes a step towards me, and I hate seeing the hope flare in his eyes. “Adam?”
I nod, the tears resurfacing, making him reach for me. As I fall against him, his strong arms wrap around me and for a moment, it feels so good to be in his arms again. He holds me gently and says huskily, “What happened?”
“When you left, Adam arrived, and it was horrible. He had a gun, and he forced me into Chester’s study. Then he bound my hands and told me to shut up while he looked for anything valuable. He knew exactly where to look as well, and even knew the code to Chester’s safe. I pleaded with him, but I didn’t recognise him. He was angry, frightening, a mad man and I thought he would leave me for dead if I didn’t go along with him. I was so afraid and when he found the cash, he took it all and then forced me to go with him. He called it his insurance policy.”
“Katrina, I’m so sorry.”
I rest my face against his chest, feeling my heart thumping because this cover story has to work. I must regain their trust if I’m to survive and so I sob, “I played along when we reached the mainland because I wanted to come back to you and not end up dead somewhere. As soon as I had my chance, I got what I could and escaped and it’s taken me so long to get back.”
“What happened to Adam?” Nate’s voice is laced with controlled fury, and I shrug. “I’m not sure. He could be after me, in fact, he probably is. I’m so frightened, Nate. I kept on looking over my shoulder, expecting him to catch up with me and I was in a strange country and didn’t know how to get back. Please don’t think I stole from you. I would never do anything to hurt you, or your family.”
The fact he grips me tighter and kisses the top of my head makes my heart sag with relief. He believes me; at least I hope he does.
He says gently, “Let’s get you home.” He helps me carefully onto the boat and unties us from the dockside and I exhale a deep sigh of relief. The first hurdle is over at least, however, the biggest one is yet to jump.
I am so conflicted as I sit nervously waiting to deal with the consequences of my actions. Being here alone with Nate is comforting yet worrying at the same time. When I saw him again, it felt like coming home and I don’t want to feel like that. I want to hate him. To hate them all because, surely, he is part of this huge deception. This manipulation of people’s lives, or is he just a victim like me? Then there’s the possibility we could be related, although given what’s happened between us, that’s unlikely. I’m still not sure why my name is on that list, but it can’t be because I’m a child of theirs. I don’t even want to think about that and yet part of me feels as if nothing would shock me now. Even the twisted thought of intimacy with a member of my own family. These people have no morals and care about nothing but money and greed.
Nate throws me a concerned look and as we near Catalina, I feel the nerves building.
“Are they angry?” I feel worried and note how anxious he looks.
“You could say that. They think you planned it along with Adam. They believe he doctored Chester’s food and you let him into the bungalow. It took them a while to discover the safe was empty and it gave them more reason to think it was you.”
“I never knew any of it. I was just a hostage, really.” Part of this is the truth anyway, because I never knew what Adam was planning and I’m relieved at that.
Nate looks worried. “I meant what I said back there, Kat. You really shouldn’t have come back.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t say.”
“Yes–” I smile at him reassuringly, “You can, Nate. Please, I really need a friend right now and you’re the only one I can trust.”
“Then you’re a fool.” He looks so sad it makes my heart sink because it appears I was wrong about him and destroys any hope I had left.
“Chester and Madelaine…” he sighs. “Well, they’re nice enough, but there’s a side to them you won’t like. They took me in and made me family, but it comes at a price, and I don’t want that for you.”
“What price?” My heart thumps like a battle cry and he shrugs, looking as if he would rather not say but feels he should.
“I came here two years ago because I discovered Chester was my father. I told you that. It was ok at first and then he began to teach me the business. I’m not saying I agree with what that involves, but they make it seem so honourable it becomes normal after a while. I’ve seen others struggle to accept the business and they end up worse off for it and I’ve learnt the easiest way to cope with life in paradise is to do what you’re told. I’m still figuring a way out of the mess I’m in, and I don’t want this for you.”
He turns and cuts the engine and for a moment we are silently bobbing on the waves and then, to my surprise, he cups my face in his hand and the chaotic beauty in his eyes makes my heart break into a million pieces. “I was so relieved when you left – for you. You had found a way out of the madness, and I hoped you’d be safe with Adam. Now I know it was by force, I want to hunt him down and make him pay. But you escaped and now you have a different kind of battle on your hand. Just know I’m here for you, whatever you hear to contrary because life on Catalina is the survival of the fittest. I want to protect you, Kat, but I can only go so far, so my advice is to listen, and do as you’re told, and we will work out a way to escape this madness together.”
He leans down and captures my lips in a surprisingly gentle kiss that feels so tender, loving even, and it takes my breath away. Is he putting on an act to win my confidence? It certainly doesn’t feel like that and with my whole heart, I want to believe him. I feel so connected to Nate and I’d hate it to be easily broken. He could be my saviour, he could be my downfall. Only time will tell.