Chapter 20
Four weeks later.
I hadn’t been allowedto leave the hospital until five days after Mom announced that she wanted to see Dad’s remains. From that moment on, every day had been consumed with making arrangements to get Mom and my sisters into that cave.
The helicopter flight from Cancun airport to the jungle filled me with a mixture of excitement and dread. Chelsea was like a giddy teenager having the time of her life, but Mom’s expression was unreadable, and she seemed lost in her own world.
In the pilot seat was Walker, Colton’s teammate, who had rescued me last time. I had no memory of being evacuated from the jungle, so meeting the men who’d saved me was wonderful. In the previous four weeks, I’d met many of Colton’s other friends. Knox, Ty, Wyatt, and Corbin had all been integral in planning this return trip to Mexico. And Colton’s boss, Hank, had wrangled all the legal requirements for us.
It was a logistical nightmare, not just because of Mom’s fragile state but also because Dad had been murdered. We’d had to wait an extra couple of weeks while a forensics team worked the crime scene, and we were very grateful for the help of Maria Layda Vizcaino Pineda. She had pulled some strings to ensure that Dad’s body hadn’t been removed until we had seen him. In addition, Maria had demanded that the location of the ancient Mayan temple be contained until cultural, historical, and archaeological experts had visited the site.
In the helicopter, Rose had claimed the co-pilot seat, which was fine by me because Colton had to sit in the back with me, Mom, Pauline, Chelsea, and Knox, who had volunteered to help. Colton and I sat opposite each other, giving me a perfect view of my incredible man.
It already seemed like years ago since I met him for the first time.
After my release from the hospital, I’d shared my time between living at Mom’s place and staying at Colton’s home. Each week, I spent more nights at Colton’s and less at Mom’s. And while it was incredible getting to know him while we weren’t in a life-and-death situation, I couldn’t shake my guilt over not being with Mom.
But Mom seemed to have tapped into an energy source that had eluded her for years, and planning for the ‘adventure’ to Mexico had given her a purpose that she’d been lacking since Dad went missing.
In her determination to make this trip, Mom took long, albeit slow, walks, she ate extremely healthily, and she loaded up on vitamins and any ‘miracle powders’ she could get her hands on. I hadn’t seen Mom look this vibrant in years. And although I dreaded her reaction when she finally saw Dad’s remains, I knew this trip was the right thing for her.
Eight years in limbo had stolen decades off Mom. She was working hard to claw those years back.
I swept my gaze from Mom to Colton, and he asked, “Are you okay?”
I grinned. “Yes. Thanks to you.”
He winked at me.
Bringing Mom here would never have happened without Colton and his incredible Team Eagle buddies.
After our miraculous escape from the flooded cave and my attempted murder in Tulum Hospital made the news, reporters came in droves. Colton had worked damn hard to keep those vultures away from me, but they were relentless.
My best way to combat them had been to share my story and Dad’s murder with my chosen media. I’d developed the film Dad had taken before he’d died, and the incredible photos of the ancient Mayan temple along with Dad’s final words were published by the newspaper he’d worked for, and Dad’s story had been headline news around the world for days.
But I was still being hounded for information on where the elusive Mayan Temple was.
After our family trip there was over, Dad’s body would be removed, and the fate of that temple would hopefully be in the hands of the right people to give it the respect my father had wanted.
When the helicopter finally hovered over the cenote, my heart galloped with the excitement that this incredible moment deserved.
Walker and Colton communicated with each other through their coms, and Colton gave us the thumbs up. Before our flight, we’d been briefed on the plan to lower us into the cave, and when Colton gave the signal that he was about to open the door to the helicopter, Mom’s grin was spectacular.
He pulled open the door and the roar of the engine became louder. The wind slammed into us, whipping my hair around my face, and reminding me that I was long overdue for a haircut.
Colton hooked the winch onto his harness, turned toward the rest of us in the chopper, and gave the thumbs up.
“See you soon,” he yelled over the thumping beat, then he dropped away.
Holding onto a handle, I leaned out the helicopter’s side to watch Colton’s descent into the cenote. As he swung on the winch cable, Walker guided Colton closer to the sheer rock wall. Colton pushed off the rocks, swung out, and then swung back toward the wall and vanished from view.
“He made it,” I yelled.
Mom clapped her hands, and my heart soared at how happy she was.
The winch appeared, and I shuffled forward for my turn to be lowered. Knox hooked me in place, and following his instructions, which we’d practiced prior to liftoff, I slid out of the helicopter, placed my feet onto the landing skids, and turned to face my family.
“Ready?” Knox yelled.
“Yes,” I yelled back, grinning at Mom to show her how easy this would be. But unlike Pauline, Mom didn’t look the least bit scared.
Gripping onto the cable, I stepped off the helicopter skids, and as I was lowered into the cenote, I spun around. Unlike the last time I was there, the sun was shining, and the view into the natural sinkhole was spectacular.
Colton waited for me at the edge of the cave, and once I’d lowered into position, he used the rope attached to the winch to pull me into the cave. Sunlight filtered into the sinkhole, giving the area a soft light that bathed Colton in a golden glow.
He wrapped his muscular arm around my back and pulled me to his chest. “Welcome home.”
Giggling, I grinned at him. “It’s much prettier than I remember.”
He wriggled his brows. “I only remember your spectacular boobs.”
I burst out laughing. “Is that all you ever think about?”
“Only eighty percent of the time.” He unhooked me from the harness and let it swing back out to the cenote. As it disappeared above us, and he let the rope play through his fingers, my mind swept back to the first time we’d made love, right there on the moss-covered rocks.
We had just survived another life-threatening situation, yet my desire for him had consumed every thought. The way he had curled my hair around my ear had been so tender, it was like he touched my soul. Our lovemaking had been wild and free, and that moment would forever be etched into my memory.
I was so pleased I’d made the first move to make love to him.
Would Colton have done that?
It didn’t matter.
Colton made me happier than I’d ever been in my life.
My heart soared as I fed my hand into his. “It seems like so long ago since we were here.”
“I know.” His eyes held a depth of emotion that mirrored my own. As his fingers traced a delicate path over the back of my hand, I leaned toward him. For a man made of muscle, his tenderness always took my breath away.
My love for him somehow made me feel whole. It was like he’d filled a void inside me that I hadn’t known existed. “Thank you for saving me.”
He squeezed my palm. “It was you who saved me, WildKat.”
The intensity in his gaze nearly swallowed me completely.
A squeal ruined our moment, and I peered across the cenotes to Chelsea dangling on the winch. She had her arms spread wide and her head tilted back as she spun in slow circles. “Yeehaw!” she yelled.
Colton pulled the rope, tugging Chelsea toward us.
“This is amazing!” Her smile lit up the cave as her feet landed on the mossy ground.
“I know, right?”
“I can’t believe you found this place,” Chelsea said as Colton unhooked her from the harness and sent the rope away again.
“Believe me, it was a pure accident,” I said.
“Stand back, you two.” Colton ushered us away from the edge. “Last thing I need is to save both of your asses.”
“Ah, you love it,” Chelsea said.
Colton stepped to the edge and peered up. “Here comes your mom.”
I inched to his side to watch Mom. I expected her to be scared, but she looked the opposite. I hadn’t seen Mom look so happy in years.
“Woo-hoo, go, Mom!” Chelsea yelled beside me.
“Jeez.” I wriggled my ear. “Thanks for that.”
“Sorry.” She shrugged.
Mom’s expression was of absolute wonder as Colton pulled her into the cave with us.
“You okay, Mom?” I gripped her hand to lead her away from the edge.
“I’m spectacular. I wish everyone would stop asking me that.” Mom waggled her head.
Rose and Pauline were lowered next, and after Colton relayed their safe arrival to the pilot, the chopper flew away and a beautiful silence settled over the cave.
“So . . . where’s the temple?” Rose asked.
Colton used a powerful flashlight to illuminate the warrior statue at the back of the cave.
Rose and Pauline gasped. Chelsea squealed so loud it was a wonder our eyeballs didn’t explode.
“Christ, Chelsea. You’re going to deafen us.” Colton shook his head.
“Sorry. It scared me.” Her grin suggested that she wasn’t sorry.
“Oh, my goodness,” Mom said, half covering her mouth. “Just a tad terrifying.”
“I have to admit, it scared the crap out of me when I first saw it.” I turned to Colton, stifling a grin. “Wait till you see what’s around the corner, Mom.”
As I hooked my arm into Mom’s elbow to lead her toward the warrior statue, my sisters walked ahead of us.
Around the corner, Colton turned on twin floodlights that had been set up for the forensics team. All the women in my family stood in silence. It was a rare moment.
“Oh my.” Mom palmed her chest as if her heart were beating so fast her ribs would crack.
I led her forward and let her take her time marveling at the ancient stone temple and the intricate artifacts on the stone altar.
Before we’d arrived, I’d asked my sisters not to climb the pyramid stairs because I wanted Mom to see Dad first.
“Are you ready, Mom?” I asked.
Closing her eyes, Mom nodded.
“You don’t have to do?—”
“Kat.” Mom snapped her eyes open. “Please, I want to see him.”
Holding her hand, I helped Mom up the steep stone steps. At the top, a tiny gasp left Mom’s lips as I walked her toward my father’s body.
“Oh, Frank.” Mom released a sob. “Help me sit beside him.”
I lowered Mom to the ground, and when she placed her hand on my father’s chest, I cupped her bony shoulder. “I’ll come back in a few minutes, Mom.”
Mom gripped the back of my hand. “Thank you.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
As I walked down the steps, tears swam in my eyes as I searched for Colton.
He was positioned between the two floodlights, leaning against the wall.
I strode to him, and he wrapped his arms around me. “Is your mom okay?”
Easing into his chest, I sniffed. “I think so.”
“I can see where you get your fortitude from.” He glided his hand over my hair.
“Thanks. I got it from both my parents.”
Colton and I kept our distance as my sisters explored the ancient Mayan temple and the surrounding cave. After a few minutes, I returned to Mom and helped her stand.
“Thank you.” Mom wrapped her arms around me, and as we hugged, she squeezed me with so much strength it was hard to believe she was dying of cancer.
She eased back and cupped my cheek. “This is one of the most incredible moments of my life. . . all because of you. Your father would’ve been so proud.”
A knot swelled in my throat. “Thanks, Mom.”
I helped Mom down the stairs, and then Rose and Pauline took turns spending time with Dad’s remains. Chelsea didn’t want to see Dad, which was fine, too. Everyone grieved in different ways, and nobody had a right to judge what was right or wrong.
Once we were ready to leave, Colton called for the helicopter to return, and we were lifted out of the cave one by one. As I was raised on the winch, I spun in lazy circles and admired the natural sinkhole that changed my life forever.
I would never return to this place, and after the forensics team removed Dad’s remains, only professionals would be allowed to enter this sacred cave.
Dad would be happy with that.
The helicopter took us to Cancun airport, and after long goodbyes with Mom and my sisters, where Chelsea broke into uncontrollable sobs, I promised Mom I would be home in time for Dad’s funeral next week.
They climbed the steps to the private jet, and finally, Colton and I were alone.
Colton and I were staying in Tulum for a week to help Pedro and his family move into a new home. Colton had set up a GoFundMe page, and with the news of my father’s murder and subsequent investigation into the corruption and waste dumping, Colton had portrayed Pedro as a hero for saving the other Australian tourists.
Nearly a hundred thousand dollars had been donated, and it was more than enough to buy Pedro and his wife a small farm where they could produce their own food to help feed their large family and give every family member their own bed, which, according to Pedro’s mother was a rare luxury.
Our hotel was nestled at the end of a horseshoe bay where golden sands kissed the ocean, and in our room, I opened the large glass doors and stepped onto a veranda that offered a magnificent view over the aqua-blue ocean I’d admired when I’d first arrived in Tulum.
Colton stepped behind me and draped his arms across my chest. “Are you okay?” he whispered in my ear.
I leaned into his embrace, relishing the warmth of his caress. “I am now. That went much better than I thought it would.” I eased my head back to rest on his shoulder.
“Your Mom seemed happy.”
“Happy and relieved. In some ways, I think we saved her.”
“That’s good.”
My thoughts tumbled to Colton’s comment early today. I rested my hands over his and said, “What did you mean earlier when you said I’d saved you?”
A silent beat crossed between us, and turning around to face him, I pressed my hand to his chest. “Tell me.”
“You did save me.” His voice was a gentle murmur. “From the moment you crashed into my life, everything changed. Before I met you, I never thought I’d fall in love again. Especially not with a WildKat like you.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, but these weren’t sad tears; they were tears of joy.
Colton had rescued me from a life of uncertainty, and in return, I helped him break free from the chains that his ex had shackled around his heart with her cruel actions.
Our love was a lifeline for both of us, and our future would be filled with passion, adventure, and fun.
We shared a slow, lingering kiss until the sounds of the crashing waves faded away from my senses.
When we eased apart, our foreheads touched together, and our breaths mingled in the cool evening air.
“I love you, Colton.” My voice was filled with so much emotion I could barely breathe.
“I love you, too, WildKat.” He smiled, and his eyes shimmered with a cheeky grin. “Now, get your clothes off. I’ve been dying to make love to you all day.”
THE END