His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(119)
Author: Shayla Black

Her body tensed. She curled her arms around herself. “I wish we could just forget this. I don’t have a burning need to know about Viktor’s research. So many people have already killed and died for it. Unearthing it may end up being the worst thing we can do for humanity.”

“Secrets don’t stay buried,” he warned. “If we don’t find this, someone else will. And we have no idea how unscrupulous that someone might be. You need to dig up whatever he buried and bring light to it. If those are the original—and last—notes about his research, we’ll have to make sure everyone knows they’ve been turned over to the proper authorities. You’re the only one with memories of Viktor’s plan. Only you can end this.”

“I know.” She looked crushed by that fact. “Let’s just get this done.”

He understood how she felt and wished he could take this monkey off her back. “Do you remember on what side of the tree he buried this . . . whatever?”

She studied the tree, wrinkling her nose. “Not exactly. I doubt he did it on the side facing the river. Let’s try over here.”

When she pointed to the left of the tree, near some protruding roots, Joaquin crouched down to examine the ground. “You sure?”

“No. But he would have avoided either of these sides.” She pointed to the back and right of the tree. “Erosion. I’m guessing he wouldn’t have put it in front of the tree, knowing that angle would be most likely to be encroached on by people doing things like building a parking lot. Don’t you think he’d choose the least accessible side?”

“Yeah.” She had been through a lot, and it wasn’t over, but she just kept impressing him with her wit, grit, and determination. “Good point. I’ll start digging here.”

He jammed the crowbar into the soil. The tool didn’t wedge free easily. Time and footsteps had packed the dirt down tightly.

Joaquin dug for seemingly endless minutes, Bailey helping out with her bare hands. A sweat broke out at his temples, under his T-shirt, at the waistband of his pants. Beside him on the tar lot, he made a pile of earth. His hands were a filthy black. The sun was heading down and would soon fall behind a nearby mountain.

“I’m starting to wonder now . . .” he admitted. “Maybe we are in the wrong place.”

“We’re talking about years ago, and I recall that Viktor dug for a while. I really think we’re where we should be.”

Joaquin had his doubts, but he didn’t have more appealing options. If they gave up on this spot, what would he do with Bailey next? Find another hotel room tonight? Take her to bed again and relentlessly plow her delicate curves until neither of them could think straight? Get up tomorrow and procure a shovel so they could cruise around the lake, hoping that something else looked familiar to her? That plan sounded as good as any.

“Ten more minutes. Then we’ll have to give up for today. Once the sun dips behind that mountain, it’s going to look pretty dark. The only lights in this lot are on the other side, near the restaurant door.” He dug into the soil again and scooped out another pile with his hands.

Beside him, Bailey filled her graceful hands with the earth and added to his pile. “I know.”

And she sounded so disappointed. Damn it. Once he’d given her a bit of proof about her previous life, she’d believed him, despite how crazy it must have sounded to her. She couldn’t produce any evidence out of thin air, but he could still give her the benefit of the doubt until her theory no longer seemed possible.

“I know you’re worried and upset. We’ll figure it out. This might not be the right spot, but we’ll keep looking—”

The crowbar hit something hard and metallic deep in the soil.

Had their luck finally changed?

“What was that?” she asked, hunkered down next to him.

“Help me.” He shoved the end of the crowbar into the soil until he could discern the outer edges of a box. It clinked every time he hit the side. Together, they shoved the soil away, frantic to reach whatever they’d found.

“You don’t think it’s water pipes or a sewer line, do you?” she asked.

“No. The shape is definitely square. I don’t know how deep it is yet. Keep digging.”

Five minutes became ten. The sun dipped closer to the horizon. Damn it, they had to get a move on. People might show up for dinner or a drink at this restaurant soon and question why the hell they were digging at the edge of the parking lot. He also didn’t like the fact that he’d seen that red truck not far away but had no clue where its owner might be right now.