Chapter Twelve

H ours before....

Julian woke in an instant, his eyes wide, as pain bloomed all over his body. He mentally assessed his injuries. It hurt to breathe, so he had at least a few broken ribs, nothing new—nothing that would stop him. Ruby gently cleaned his face while Juno sat on the other side trying to cut his blood-covered shirt off his arm. Fat tears rolled over her delicate cheekbones as she worked. Delilah was gone. He couldn't feel her in the air around him. Junior and Cameron worked at the small desk within the room, looking at maps.

"How long has she been gone?" His voice was calm, neutral—deadly.

"We found you about an hour ago, so we think maybe an hour before that. So, two, maybe three? Junior looked back to him, and Julian could see the absolute fear in his eyes. "This time I wasn't here to save her."

"I should've done more." This time Julian's voice cracked.

"You have a cut along your face. Luckily, it's near the other one, so you won't be any uglier," Cameron teased but was soon somber again. "I found out after you left London, when the ship they traveled on returned, that Gibson and Saur didn't go to America. I had no way to tell you, so we worked night and day to get the hull full, and I practically rowed the bloody thing here to get to you. But the winds weren't with us. A day earlier and we'd have stopped this from happening."

"You can't fight Mother Nature." Pain bloomed in his body and radiated outward from his chest while he tried to sit up. A grunt of pain came from his lips, and Ruby tried to push him back on the pillows.

"Julian, you'll have to lie still," she implored.

"I'll do that when Delilah is back," he said firmly.

A sob escaped Juno. "What if she's—"

"Then anyone who helped them will suffer the same fate as they will now, except I will wipe their bloodline from history." Julian took a shallow breath. "I will not be waiting in bed while my wife fights for her life. We go now to tear this island apart to find her."

"Your ribs are significantly bruised and likely broken," Ruby pointed out. "I won't have Delilah grieving for her dead husband when she is returned to us."

"Wrap my ribs, and I will be fine," he promised gently. "But I have to go to her, no one else...me."

Ruby sighed. "I have a poultice downstairs that might give you some relief. I'll return shortly.

"I know this man." Juno looked at the body and frowned. "He works at the distillery. I'm sure of it."

"He was with another man who kept complaining about prison and the hangman's noose." Julian flicked a cold glance at the dead man. "I'll have to replace the floorboards now."

"Glendairy Prison and waiting for the hangman's noose," Junior said slowly. "I know who that is and where the bastard lives—in rooms that Delilah paid to have built for her workers to boot. The complete audacity of that one."

"Find me my leathers and all I will need while Ruby works her magic on me." Julian pointed to the chest in the corner of the room. "Then we find that man, he tells us where Gibson and Saur took my beloved, then I kill him, and we journey on."

Junior looked at him with worry etched on his face. "I don't know you well enough to speak on your personality, but you seem rather calm."

"That's a man with the intent of bring our girl home," Ruby replied.

Cameron looked away from his task. "I wish we didn't have to see this side of you again."

"What side?" Juno questioned.

"The side of a killer with nothing to lose," Cameron murmured and continued to pull clothes from the chest.

"Junior, send one of the men to the governor general's home at Ilaro Court and tell him what has happened," Julian asked politely.

"He will send guardsmen," Junior replied.

"Yes, I know."

Junior looked at him curiously. "So, we plan to take them alive?"

"Not in the least, but I want it on record why they were killed," Julian pointed out. "I fully intend to end their lives tonight."

Junior nodded. "As long as we're in agreement that they're going to be dead at the end of this."

Two glasses of rum later, and with his ribs wrapped tight and a little numb, Julian and the men went off with Ruby and Juno standing in the doorway looking worried.

"Be careful, Cameron—I mean everyone," Juno called over the storm.

The assessing look that Ruby gave her daughter would make Delilah laugh when she was returned safely. It was a certainty the proverbial cat would soon be out of the bag.

"You're going to have to ask permission to court her now," Julian said as they trotted away into the night. "Ruby is onto you both."

"That was my intent on this journey. We got sidetracked a bit, but it shall happen before I leave again," Cameron promised. "I can charm any mother."

"This is not any mother, this is Ruby, and she is fiercely protective of her daughters," Julian replied. By "daughters" he meant Delilah as well because Ruby had taken the role of mother when she returned to Barbados. His wife was loved as easily as if Ruby had given birth to her, and now, she'd embraced him. For that, Julian cherished the older woman and would do anything to ensure her happiness as she aged.

The storm raged as they rode, water sluicing off the leathers that protected them. The wind sent the raindrops in a diagonal line that pelted their faces, but Julian didn't even blink as the water ran down his face and dripped off his chin in rivulets.

His gaze was set upon the rows of houses that had come out of the shadows of the trees when they cleared the corner. Delilah, in her generosity, had built lodgings for the men who worked at the distillery There was a separate set of stairs for the upstairs rooms, so each had a private entrance. Made of wood, the buildings were strong, and not even the tin roofs lifted because of the powerful winds.

"There!" Junior called over the wind and pointed to the far end of the housing compound.

Julian spurred his horse on. When they arrived, he slipped from his saddle in one fluid movement and strode through the oversaturated land where the rain had begun to pool. There was not going to be a patient wait at the door for anyone to answer. Julian used his booted foot as his knock and battering ram, and the doorway splintered and cracked before he walked inside. The man lying on the single bed there sat up. His eyes widened through the swelling, and he looked at Julian in terror.

"Remember me?" Julian's smile was cold.

"I didn't kill you, remember!" the man said urgently as Julian took off his gloves. "That has to mean sumthin'. It has to!"

"Where did they take my wife?" He asked the question as if they were talking over tea. It belied the rage that was boiling within him to reach out and grab the man's throat. "I must tell you that if the answer is not correct, I will rip your throat out with my bare hands. My wife has been good to you, before and after marriage, and you help two sycophants take her to destroy her. She is also Duchess Blackshire. What do you think will happen when the Crown hears of this treachery?"

"Sir," the man stammered, "we were not told any of this, just offered money."

"Do you not have loyalty to your mistress? Was it so easily sold to the highest bidder?" Julian snarled. "She is of your people, and you acted against her. For that alone I should kill you."

"T-They took her to the caves along the cliff line," the man said sadly. "They said if she complies, a boat will be waiting to take the mistress and them back to the Americas, where she'll never be seen again. If she doesn't, they intend to throw her body into the sea when...when..."

"When they're finished with her?" Julian finished his sentence.

"Yes, sir," he answered and cast his gaze downward from shame and fear. "What do you plan to do with me?"

"The very same prison you fear, walk to it, and tell them the entire truth. Leave nothing out."

"I'll go first thing in the morning when the storm is over."

"No, now!" Julian's shout echoed around the room. "They took my fucking wife out in this storm. Why should you languish at home until it abates? You go now and be gone before I get on my horse. There will be no saving you after that."

Julian's words spurred on Delilah's captor to drag his pants from the chair and dress in haste while he, Junior and Cameron walked out the door. Outside, the roar of the storm was almost deafening.

"These caves," Julian asked loudly over the noise, "do we have anyone who knows about them?"

"Miss Delilah took me there when we first arrived," Junior said. "We were looking at a freshwater river close by for crawfish traps. Most flood in high tide, and they'll not be accessible for anyone. They'll know this. There was time for them to look around and prepare. I could see a boat being moored in one of the small lagoons until the storm begins to weaken."

"If they take her to America, it will be almost impossible to find her," Cameron added.

"I'll burn the entire country down if that ever happens," Julian raged, then took a deep, calming breath. "It won't get that far. They'll be dead this very night. Junior, show us the way."

"We'll need to be careful. The ground is loose enough with sand mixed with dirt. Now with this storm, it will be even worse."

Julian nodded just as his assailant rushed out of the room in a dead run, heading toward the path they'd just crossed on their horses. He was gone between the bushes and trees that waved wildly, and without giving him a second thought, the trio rode toward the cliffs. The hooves of his horse, the wind, even the thunder seemed to sync with his heartbeat that pulsed with her name. Delilah, Delilah, Delilah—I'm coming for you, beloved. Hold fast. I'm coming.

The path went upward, and although it became a watery mess, the horses' feet were sure at the top of the cliff's edge. Below, the sharp rocks protruded out of the sea, and the water turned and folded in on itself, wave after wave of tumultuous surf beating against rock in a battle that could never be won. The three men got off their horses, retrieved their weapons, and Julian saw metal glint from beneath Junior's coat.

"What is that?" he asked.

Junior pulled it out and handed it to him. "A machete, they use it to cut the cane stalks. They are sharpened to the point that a strand of hair could be split."

Julian swung it wide, the blade and heavy handle balanced. "This will do nicely."

"For?" Cameron questioned.

"I promised Ian Saur I would take his hands for touching my wife," Julian said easily. "I am a man of my word."

"I'll bring the pistols if you have the rifle, Junior," Cameron said.

There were steps cut out of the limestone rock. The rain made it slippery, so all three had to go down the steep incline sideways. With their backs braced against the rock wall, one misstep would send them to their deaths among the jagged stone pyres and the angry seas. Julian knew Delilah was sure-footed regardless of rock or sand, but Gibson and Saur should have fallen to their demise and saved him the trouble. Finally, they arrived at a jutting ledge above where the tide was coming in from the storm.

"We need to act in haste. That surge will be here sooner than we think!" Julian called out and jumped the short distance from the steps to the ledge.

"Jesus, Julian, take more care!" Cameron shouted as his friend held out his hand to help him across. "I don't need to tell Delilah you lost your bloody footing and drowned; you fool."

"I'm as sure-footed as a billy goat," Julian answered.

Junior grunted as he took the short distance. "There is no stability on these steps. Not even billy goats dare in this weather, so take care, sir."

At the entrance to the cave, they stepped inside carefully, staying hidden in the shadows and listening for any sound besides the howl of the winds. His heart leapt when he saw the flickering of the fire bouncing light off the cave walls. They listened for a few moments, hearing how she baited them with myth and superstition. Julian signaled with his hands to move forward when he heard Lord Gibson speak.

"I will tear you open and let your husband see what your entrails look like." Lord Gibson made a move to step forward.

Julian stepped from the shadows with Junior and Cameron, his deadly gaze on the two men who held his wife captive. "I would love to see you try."

"Julian!" Delilah said his name in pure joy, and she laughed in delight. The sound made his heart ache sweetly. She was alive and no worse for wear. Her intelligence had kept the leeches at bay.

Ian looked pale and shaken, while Lord Gibson scrambled around looking for his pack and Delilah kicked it away. He tried to lunge for it, but one shot from Junior's rifle into the pack stilled his hands, and he stood slowly.

"I would surely kill you myself, but it is for the duke to take vengeance for his duchess," Junior said, his rifle now trained on Lord Gibson's chest.

"You married a witch, you fool! We are all under her spell. This is why we couldn't leave her alone—her magic made us lust for her," Ian cried out, holding up his hands. "We have to destroy her for all our sakes."

Cameron looked at him, unimpressed. "This one has well and truly lost all reason."

"Remember what I told you when you took my wife." Julian's voice was as calm as the eye of the storm.

A look of pure rage swept across Ian Saur's face, and he lunged with a knife in his raised hand to attack his nemesis. Julian took two steps back and pivoted on his heel before swinging the machete down in a wide arc. Ian's hand fell away from his body, still clutching the knife. His screams were all around them as he fell to his knees. The eye of the storm moved over the island quickly, and the winds picked up once more. Cameron fired his pistol, the bullet entering Ian's forehead in a perfect circle before his eyes stared lifelessly out the rocky entrance to the sea.

Julian watched the slow movements of Lord Gibson, who now clutched Delilah to his front like a shield. The trio spread out so he could make no escape.

"Give me my wife, and go your merry way," Julian said calmly.

Lord Gibson laughed. "You know you intend to kill me. I won't leave this cave alive."

"You won't"—Julian's answer was the blunt truth—"but at least die with some dignity and do one good thing in your entire life before you go."

"I think you and your men will move aside and I will leave with the lady," Lord Gibson countered. "Then when I'm safe, you can have her."

"The back end of the storm is here." Julian looked to where the waves were picking up in intensity, and anger filled his voice. "This cave will be full of water soon, and none of us will survive."

"So be it then. I'll drown knowing I took all of you with me." An evil grin crossed his face. "I will face the devil knowing that I took her from you."

"In this life or the next, we'll find each other," Delilah said. Her eyes connected with Julian's, and even in the dim light, he could see the love. "A love like ours is timeless, boundless, and we'll find each other over and over again, generations beyond. May the devil take you, Lord Gibson. You won't even be a footnote in history."

Was he moving backward, closer to the edge? Julian's eyes narrowed. Or was Delilah slowly shifting him to where she wanted him to be?

"No," Junior said and shook his head toward Delilah.

"What?" Julian asked. Fear squeezed at his heart.

Delilah looked at him and smiled. "I fell in love with you from the day we sealed our contract with a kiss. My love will be with you forever. Julian, it's the only way."

He finally saw it, the ink-black darkness just inches behind Lord Gibson's feet.

"Delilah, no!" Julian's fierce shout was filled with anguish.

Just as a large sea swell spilled into the cave, he watched Lord Gibson take one final step backward and topple into oblivion, his scream reverberating against the stalactites in the roof of the cavern. Julian almost breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Delilah still standing. But time seemed to slow when Lord Gibson, grappling for any last chance to save his life, held on to her nightgown and took her with him. She fell from Julian's eyesight, and it almost crippled him.

"Oh, sweet Jesus," Cam whispered.

"God no." Junior's voice echoed the torment that Julian felt.

He wanted to rush forward, but to see the dark, swirling water and not his Delilah would surely cause him to throw himself into the ocean with her. But Julian had to move, had to see if his beloved was gone.

"Julian!"

He swore it was the wind taunting him.

"Julian, I can't hold on much longer!"

The voice rose over the sound of the wind, or the wind carried it to him. Either way, he clambered over slippery rock to reach her, with Cameron and Junior close on his heels. Another wave filled the cave with water, more settling around their ankles, and Julian prayed to the Almighty and every deity he could think of that she was still there. Relief flooded through him as he crouched down, then got on his belly to look into the hole, and saw Delilah holding on for dear life.

"Let's get her out of there before another wave comes in," Julian ordered.

He was able to reach one hand, while Junior took the other, to hoist her up and into Julian's arms.

"Beloved," he whispered and pressed soft kisses to her face, "I would've thrown myself to the sea's mercy just to be with you."

"I know." She wiped the damp hair away from his face. "That's why I held on so tight."

Cameron spoke up. "That's beautiful and all, but if the storm surge is reaching us here, the steps will soon be covered. We have to leave this place now."

"He's right." Julian stood and helped Delilah to her feet. "We must make haste. The back end of this storm seems intent on drowning the island or blowing it off the map."

"We'll make it home safely," she said with a serene smile.

"Part of that witchcraft Ian was going on about?" Julian teased as they moved toward their original point of entry. The water was quickly rising to their knees.

"Small minds believe in what they must," she answered.

True to Cameron's words, as they emerged from the cave, Julian saw the last two steps that led to the ledge were already underwater.

"Damn it all to hell," he muttered. "One of us will have to jump and then reach for the others."

"You have the longest arms," Cameron pointed out.

Junior assessed him. "You're built for it with those long legs as well."

"Wonderful," Julian said. "First you tell me not to die, and now you're telling me to jump. I need for both of you to make up your minds."

"Jump!"

Everyone said the word in unison, and after looking at the distance, Julian took the leap. He landed, but his foot slipped for just an instant. A small scream escaped Delilah before he righted himself and held out his hand to his wife.

"You first!" he called out.

"We'll give her a bit more momentum on the swing!" Junior said.

"No, wait!" Delilah barely got the word out before she was hurtled across the short distance and Julian caught her in his arms.

"You're safe, beloved," he murmured and kissed her temple. "Up you go, and we'll be gone soon."

Junior was next. After tossing the rifle, both he and Cameron covered the distance easily without much help from Julian.

"Any of us could have gone first," he complained.

Junior shrugged. "You lead, we follow, sir."

"I'm sure," Julian's tone was dry.

Fighting the weather and finicky horses, while also trying to avoid areas where the water had washed away the path, was daunting. It took another painstaking ride to get them back to their home, where they practically fell to the floor. Ruby and Juno rushed around bringing blankets and hot tea with rum to warm them from the inside out. Delilah was hurried away for a hot bath and to get her long, thick hair dry. Ruby worried she might catch a cold that could develop into something worse.

No one was going anywhere until the weather finally abated. Junior and Cameron had pallets in the parlor, and with dry, warm clothes on their backs and food in their bellies, they fell asleep almost instantly. With Juno and Ruby sleeping in the second bedroom, Julian made sure the house was secure before going up to his own bed and Delilah waiting there. He looked at her for a moment, her eyes closed in sleep, safe and secure. A huge sigh lifted his shoulders, and his body relaxed. Julian slipped between the sheets and caressed her face.

Delilah opened her eyes and smiled. "You must know as soon as you touch me, my body reacts."

He kissed her gently. "A treasured compliment, but I had to make sure you were real. When they took you, the world stopped for me. If I lost you—"

"But you didn't, my love." She pulled him down to hold her. "I thought you might have been killed. I wasn't sure whether to wait for you or find a way to kill them for taking you from me."

"Aren't we a pair? Ready to die for each other when our whole lives are ahead of us." Julian gave a soft laugh. "But no more of that. The worst is over, and now we can truly live in peace."

"I agree." Delilah turned and pulled him close.

He was nestled against her back, and the curve of her body fit snugly against him. Julian closed his eyes. Exhaustion began to claim him, the gentle tug of sleep welcome.

"Julian," Delilah said in a low voice.

"Mmm?"

She covered his hand that lay against her bosom. "I love storms, rain and thunder even more."

"Why?" Julian voiced the word sleepily.

"Because you are here with me and will be for the rest of our lives," Delilah whispered and lifted his hand to press a kiss in his palm.

Julian turned her in his arms and kissed her gently. "Beloved."

While the storm continued to blow and wail outside, they fell asleep nose to nose and in each other's arms. A woman with bravery and kindness that would always amaze him, and a duke without someone to share his life with. Together they had created that perfect love, the one that bound soulmates from one life to the next until eternity's end. The duke had found his duchess—his Delilah.

The End