Fear spread through her like jagged ice. Felix had constantly mentioned that nothing was right. This had to be what Robert was talking about. Her lips dried and she licked them to bring back moisture. “Mr. Knightly did say something to that effect.”
Laughing, he folded his arms. “The idea actually came from your mother, you know.”
Tightness consumed her chest, making it difficult to breathe. “My m—mother?”
“Yes. Are you aware that after your visit with Mr. Jamison, your mother returned to his office to offer him money?”
Katrina narrowed her gaze. “Why would she do that, especially when she had no funds in which to pay him?”
“Because, mydear stepsister,she knew Henry was dying and that you would get his money. So, in reality, she did have funds to pay Mr. Jamison.”
“I still don’t understand what this has to do with anything.”
“You see, your mother didn’t want you going into the rainforest. Not only did she fear for your safety, but she worried that you would believe what Henry had to tell you about her. Your mother told Mr. Jamison that she wanted something to happen to you that would frighten you enough to return home to London with her.”
Katrina laughed uncomfortably and shook her head. “There you are wrong, Mr. Faro. You see, my mother wanted the funds even more than I did.”
“No,youare wrong.” He moved to the table again and sat on the edge. “As I’d mentioned, your mother thought that Henry was near death. Even if you hadn’t traveled through the jungle, your father would have given you some money. Your mother was aware of that, thanks to Mr. Jamison.”
“What does Mr. Jamison have to do with any of this?”
Faro snickered and rubbed his chin. “When your mother returned to his office later that day, shecoercedhim into hiring someone to try and stop you.” He puffed his chest. “That is where I came in. Mr. Jamison knew I didn’t want you meeting your father, either.”
The pain that had been throbbing in Katrina’s skull came back full force now. Even her stomach churned so hard she could scarcely breathe. “How did you get all those things to happen in the jungle?”
Tilting back his head, he laughed victoriously. “Oh, Katrina. You obviously don’t know what I can do out here, and how much power I have in these villages. All I need to do is flash some gold coins, and men will line up to do my bidding.”
“You’re saying that one of Mr. Knightly’s men worked for you?”
“Yes.”
“Who?” She narrowed her glare on him.
He shook his head. “I’m not saying. I might need his help again in the future.”
“Are you telling me that Carlos is dead because of you?” Anger flared inside her and she bunched her hands into fists.
He shrugged. “I was actually hoping the croc would have gotten to you first. Carlos just jumped into the water sooner.”
“What about Paulo? Did you kill him, too?”
“No. We just snatched him, drugged him, and put him on a raft. I’m sure he is fine.”
“But you don’t know?”
“No.”
She gritted her teeth. “You are pure evil.”
“Yes, I am.” He swung his leg, bumping the leg of her chair. “You don’t know the half of it.”
She swallowed the panic rising in her throat. “Then I suggest you enlighten me.”
“You and I will make a deal,” he began smugly. “You will sign over the plantation to me when Henry dies so that I will have full control of everything. I shall give you a few thousand dollars, but that’s all.” He reached over and touched her cheek. “After all, you are his only child, so you deserve some kind of inheritance.”
She slapped his hand away. “What if I refuse your offer?”
“Then I shall see to it that Mr. Knightly dies, as he should have when I shot that poisonous dart in his neck.”
