Page 35 of Her Greek Inheritance

“Isn’t is marvelous?” Petrina asked.

“Yes. It really is.” A crack of thunder overhead made Gemma jump. “I really think we should head back now.”

Petrina’s facial expression stiffened and her eyes hardened. “I agree. It is time for me to head back. You however will be staying here.”

“What are you talking about?” Gemma froze as she took in the look on Petrina’s face. Fear and anger warred with each other for precedence inside her.

“With you out of the way, it will take very little work to convince Leo that the only way to save his family’s heritage is to marry me. Don’t worry, little American. I’ll see that your son is taken care of.” Petrina pulled a small revolver from the bag slung across her shoulder. She pointed it at Gemma.

Fear clawed Gemma’s throat. She took a step backwards. “Petrina, don’t do this. I have a baby that needs me. Take me back to the mainland and I will leave with Damien tonight. You can have Leo, I don’t want him.” She tried not to think about how wrong those words felt.

Petrina shook her head. “But that wouldn’t get me what I want. I certainly never intend to get pregnant and ruin my figure. This way I get the best of both worlds. I pretend to be a loving mother who stepped in when you abandoned young Damien, winning me points with Leo and his parents. They will be all for our marriage once they see the performance I plan to stage.”

Gemma’s mind went a hundred miles an hour, desperately trying to think of ways to overpower the woman.If only I’d taken those free self-defense classes the Smithsonian offered all employees last year.“Petrina, there has to be some way we can work this out. I have Alexi’s stock—”

“Not for long. When you turn up missing, they’ll declare you presumed dead as well and the stock will be held in trust for Damien to come of age. Meanwhile, Leo will be awarded the voting rights for those shares of stock.” Petrina grinned, her expression sobering as the distress horn sounded from the beach. “That’s my cue to go. If you don’t want me to shoot you, stay here. Trust me when I tell you it will not cause me a moment’s grief to put a bullet in your gut.”

The venom in her eyes convinced Gemma she was serious. She held up her hands. “Don’t shoot me.”

Petrina laughed. She ran back the way they’d come.

Gemma started after her, but as she rounded a copse of palm trees, a shot rang out. She fell to the ground, the leaves above her shattered from the force of the bullet.She’s really shooting at me! Oh, God!

Gemma sank to the soft ground. Tears blurred her vision as she tried to figure out how to extricate herself from this mess. A crack of thunder overhead sent her surging to her feet. She slowly followed the trail back to the beach, checking carefully each time she cleared more trees to make sure Petrina wasn’t waiting just up ahead to put a bullet in her head.

By the time she reached the open beach, Petrina and her yacht were already headed away from the island. Gemma stared after it helplessly. No doubt she’d had a plausible lie ready to explain Gemma’s absense to her shipmates. She looked around for some other ship that might be passing by, but there were none. The gathering storm had sent everyone rushing back to the mainland. She could no longer see the storm, but she knew it must be drawing closer.

“Dear God, what am I going to do?”The sound of her voice warded off the feelings of helplessness and isolation swirling around her mind. Visions of survival television shows filled her mind. Gemma gave into her tears for several long moments.

What if I die out here? Vasil and Tressa will wonder where I am tonight, but will they look for me here?She gazed out at the vast azure ocean, now frothing with large waves and white-capped foam. Another crack of thunder echoed across the sky. She looked at her surroundings.I should seek shelter…or should I? Does the same rule apply here as it does to the mountains? If I hide in the trees will I be more likely to get hit by lightning?

Close to panicking, she forced herself to seek shelter at the edge of the trees. The wind whipped up and a light rain started to fall. When lightning streaked across the sky, she screamed, but there was no one around to hear her.

Suddenly, she remembered Petrina telling her there was a smallhouse on the other side of the island. Scared but knowing she had no other choice, Gemma set off. She used the beach whenever possible to navigate her way around the island.

The clouds grew darker. Gemma was about to give up when suddenly the estate rose above the trees in the distance. She ran the remaining distance, snagging her clothing and her skin on the vegetation as she pushed herself on.

Surely the house will have some way to communicate with the mainland. I can call the authorities to come rescue me—and then I’ll visit the U.S. Embassy and get their assistance.

She reached the house. After breaking a ground level window, she was able to get inside. She couldn’t seem to figure out how to get electricity. She kept trying a few power switches, then Gemma realized the house was probably powered by a generator. Where that was located and how to use it escaped her. She found a radio, but without power, it was useless.

Her cell phone had no reception out this far. Suddenly, she saw an image of her body being found several weeks or months from now after she’d starved to death. Tears fell from her cheeks.I can’t feel sorry for myself!Gemma brushed her tears aside. She had to find a way to get off the island.For Damien. Those two words became her mantra, giving her the strength to keep trying.

She investigated each room, leaving the lower level for last. She found a flashlight with weak batteries, but it was better than the darkness that was quickly setting in. As she pushed open the last door on the bottom level, she stepped into the large cavern. Water sloshed against the sidewalls of a berth. The relief was immediate and almost overwhelming. There, inside an enclosed berth, was a small motorboat.

It was nothing like the yacht that had brought her to this island, but she opened up the rolling overhead door. Plenty of full fuel cans sat in the back of the boat. Even better, the key was in the ignition. She gave a whoop of excitement when it started right up, the dashboard showing the fuel tank was full.Finally, some good luck!

Gemma had never driven a boat before, but the controls were clearly marked.It must be similar to driving a car.With the engine started, she directed the small craft out of the berth and into a small lagoon area. After a little bit of back and forth, she had the boat pointed out to sea.

Gemma took a moment to figure out which direction she needed to head.I really don’t want to get lost at sea!

The waves crashed against the sides of the small boat. The sky was a dark, angry gray, split occasionally by jagged lines of lightning. Water splashed over the sides of the boat. Salt water sprayed into her eyes, drenching her hair and mixing with the pouring rain. The sound of the storm was almost deafening and she strained to see the edges of the shoreline.

She headed back around the island, trying to remember what it had looked like when Petrina’s boat had dropped anchor. A loud crack of thunder above had her ducking her head. She cringed, fear sweeping over her. She turned the boat towards the open water. Her eyes were wide, and her hands clenched so tightly on the steering wheel they ached.

Damien!

Thinking of her son, she pushed back her fear and urged the small boat onward. The waves rocked the boat to and fro, growing taller and more violent the further she went. Gemma stumbled as the ocean slammed against the sides of the boat, tossing it recklessly.