Hidden Legacy (7 page)

“Just go, Lucas.” Over her shoulder, she shot him a pleading look. “Please. No FBI big guns. No swarm of agents. It’s my baby we’re talking about.”

“They can be discreet.” He righted the downed chair.

“They’ll ruin everything if he sees them.”

“He won’t.”

She shook her head slowly, sadly. “Just like he didn’t know you were there?”

His fingers itched to hold her close and reassure her. He rubbed his palms against his khakis to scratch away the urge. “Whether you realize it or not, I’ve become part of this equation. He wants the Sapphire, but he wants something else, too. Something from me. He’s made this a personal game. He won’t let this be just an even exchange.”

“You’re wrong.”

He headed for the garage door. “Think about it. I’ll be back.”

“You don’t have a car.”

“I’m taking yours. I’ll get it back to you later this afternoon.”

“He’ll see you.”

“He already knows I’m here.” Lucas started to reach for her, saw her draw her arms around her torso like a barricade, and changed his mind.

Her eyes flickered like a summer storm. “What if he calls?”

“Not until morning,” he said reassuringly.

“How can you be sure?”

“Because—”

“Not this time.” Pure ice.

“He said he wouldn’t.”

She scoffed. “A noble thief?”

“Something like that.”

“I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, Lucas. I don’t need your help.”

He was used to resistance. It was a part of his job. Crooks didn’t want to go to jail. Witnesses didn’t want to get involved. Paper-shuffling bureaucrats didn’t want to take risks. “Maybe, but we have unfinished business. We need to talk.”

She looked away. “Not today. Not tomorrow.”

“Soon.”

Her shoulders hitched up. “Go.”

No point in forcing the issue now. Better to take a step back and wait. His failing last time had been in not pursuing Julianna. He wasn’t the type to make the same mistake twice. He’d give her some breathing room, time to think. He’d give himself time to recover his legendary self-control. Then he’d return. And when her baby was home again, they would talk.

He’d tamed her once; he could do it again. This time, he’d make her see she needed him—as much as he needed her.

“I’ll be back.”

* * *

“I’m home!”

The slamming of the front door and the unexpected voice reached him just as he shut off the cell phone and reset the stopwatch.
She’s early
.

His hands still shook from the vivid description Juliana Shales had given him of the stones forming the Nadyenka Sapphire. Pearls, half a dozen rubies, four diamonds, and of course, the Kashmir sapphire. With stones so cleverly cut, so pure and true, surely their worth, their power, would exceed his expectations. A king’s ransom. His blood flowed hot, his skin flushed, his breath turned to fire.

“Where are you?” she called from the hallway.

“In the living room,” he said. He slipped the phone in his jacket pocket, tightened the knot of his tie, and straightened the lie of his slacks. With brisk steps, he headed toward her, intent on deflecting her course. He couldn’t let her go upstairs. Not yet. He had to get rid of her somehow—and fast. He’d told Briana he’d be gone for only a few minutes to fix them a sandwich for lunch. Children, even this one, weren’t patient.

“You’re back early,” he said, pasting an appropriately schooled expression on his face, drawing her farther into the living room when it became clear she wouldn’t let him lead her back into the kitchen.

She dropped the suitcase she held, removed her jacket and flung it onto a chair. With the practice of familiarity, she reached for him, pressed her skinny body against his, and kissed him. Residual warmth from the stones’ description still coursed through him, and he managed to kiss her in return.

“I caught an earlier flight. Aren’t you glad to see me?”

“Yes, of course.”

She cocked her head, still smiling, but the brilliance had faded. “But?”

“I’m in the middle of a project right now, and I need privacy.” He stroked her topaz-colored hair, the way he knew she liked, deepened his voice a notch or two, and forced himself to look raptly into her eyes. “Could you stay at your sister’s for the night?”

“Why?”

“It’ll spoil the surprise if I tell you now.”

“What kind of surprise?”

“I had plans for us.” He kissed her deeply and was relieved to hear her satisfied sigh. “The best kind.”

Her fingers played with the V-edge of his vest’s neckline. “Well, I guess I could. Just for tonight. Just for you.”

“Hi, Miss Cindy.”

The tiny voice caught them both by surprise. Cindy spun in his arms to look at the child standing at the living room door uncertainly with Bijou, his Yorkie, in her arms. Then Cindy looked back at him, disappointment full and heavy in her amber eyes. Oh well, he hadn’t really expected things to last. Affairs of the heart never did.

Only jewels.

“What have you done this time?”

Chapter 4

Through the small slit in the living room curtains Juliana watched Lucas drive away in her car. She was glad he hadn’t held her. If he had, she’d have fallen apart in his arms, she’d have confessed all her sins, and she needed to stay together, to stay in control, to stay silent. To ensure the Phantom would return Briana to her, she had to control her emotions.

I’ll be back
. Lucas’s voice had been both warm and sure when he’d said the words, his eyes as beseeching as they’d been determined.

But she couldn’t trust the softer side of this man. For him this was just another day at work, business as usual, and this business of justice was the most important thing in his life.

He’d be back. To catch his Phantom, he’d risk even his own daughter’s life. Maybe she should tell him that. Maybe that would keep him away. Shaking her head, she gave a short, dry laugh. No, knowing he had a daughter would only make things worse. He was an arrogant, persevering man. Escalating the stakes would only make him more determined to succeed. She couldn’t risk losing Briana. Confessing the truth would have to wait.

She let the curtain fall back into place. He was giving her the afternoon. She needed to use it to shore up her defenses against him—against herself. Where to start? What to do?

Spotting a framed picture of Briana’s smiling face, she snatched it from the mantel, along with a half dozen other frames and stuffed her treasures into a cedar chest where she kept a collection of quilts. She looked around the room once more, making sure she’d left no stray photograph of Briana to betray her secret.

Everywhere she looked memories of Briana assaulted her. Her sweet smile. Her free laughter. Even her tears over a scuffed knee or a bumped elbow. She could feel the press of Briana’s body against hers as they cuddled on the couch to read, hear the impatient knock of her sneakers against the chair’s leg when things weren’t going her way, smell the little girl scent of her fresh from the bath. A knot of pain gripped Juliana’s heart and refused to leave. When would this torture end?

Stop thinking! Keep busy
.

Pacing aimlessly, she straightened an already spotless room, fluffing pillows, adjusting lampshades, repatriating plants. No toys lay around to trip over, no discarded jackets to hang up, no abandoned socks or shoes for which to find a mate. Tears burned her eyes once more, but she fought shedding them. Once they started, she wasn’t sure she could stop.

She sniffed, redoubled her pace, and ended up back in the kitchen, staring at the door leading to the garage. She could still see him there, filling the frame, looking at her with his dark eyes. She could still hear his voice washing over her like a sorcerer’s spell, feel the shiver that had rippled through her at the sound of his promise.

I’ll be back
.

“I don’t want you back!” With a resolute snap, she turned the lock. Then she headed to the living room to do the same to the front door.

She’d felt so safe, so secure in the haven she’d created for herself and Briana. The neighborhood had once seemed so friendly. Now every house, every window, could hide her unknown enemy. These walls had made her feel sheltered, protected—just like the home in the Lakes Region where she’d grown up. Now someone had breached her sense of safety.

The day was warm for April, and her sweater should have kept her comfortable enough, but a chill had cut to her bones since Briana had disappeared. Warmth wouldn’t reappear until her daughter was back. Juliana rubbed her arms.

Everything would come out.

She’d lied to Lucas. She’d lied to Briana. And she’d lied to herself.

When he found out she’d deprived him of his own child, he would hate her.

She locked the side door leading to the garden. Nothing would matter unless she got Briana back safe and sound. Even then, she would never feel safe here again. She would have to move. She would have to start all over. The thought brought a marrow-deep lethargy.

She leaned on the wall beside the door. The unexpected knock behind her made her heart race. Lucas? Too soon, too soon. She peeked through the sheer curtains of the kitchen door. Ella. She sighed her relief.

“I brought you some soup for lunch,” Ella said sheepishly, lifting a pot to eye level. “I knew you wouldn’t cook for yourself, and you’ve got to keep up your strength.” She plopped the pot on a burner and turned up the heat. “Is there any news?”

“No, just more waiting.” Juliana paced. “If there was something I could
do
, maybe I wouldn’t feel so helpless, so hopeless.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” Ella reached into the bread box and took out a loaf of sourdough bread. “It would be easier to chop down a whole forest than to just stay next door, waiting and pacing. Poor Albert hasn’t slept a wink. Won’t eat a thing, either.”

Juliana realized keeping Ella and Albert away had probably added to their anguish. But she had to keep Ella and Lucas apart—for a little while longer anyway.

“I saw someone leave with your car.” Ella grated some cheddar onto a plate. “I knew it wasn’t you and I wondered….”

“An acquaintance.”

“From work?” Ella slapped a skillet onto another burner and turned it on.

“No.”

Ella pursed her lip. “Oh.”

Juliana sighed. Ella and Albert had been loyal, devoted friends—always there when she needed them—and she was repaying them with distance and rudeness.

“He’s trying to help me get Briana back,” Juliana said, wanting to smoothe over some of Ella’s ruffled feathers.

“He?”

Juliana’s life had centered around Briana and her needs, and working at her shop to keep them furnished with what they required to survive. Relationships with men had been practically non-existent and rarely lasted more than one date. She could count her friends on one hand, and most of them were a result of her profession—something strictly separate from her personal life. She never brought anyone home. This house was—had been—her own little world, hers and Briana’s.

“Someone I knew a long time ago,” she said reluctantly.

“Oh.” After melting a pat of butter in the pan, Ella layered slices of bread and grated cheese into the skillet to make a sandwich. “Can he do anything?”

Other than create plenty of trouble?
“I’m not sure. He’s looking into it.”

Ella flipped the grilled cheese over. “I’m glad you’ll have someone to share the burden. It’s about time. Albert and I are always glad to help out, and we consider you and Briana family, but you need someone… well, someone your own age, dear, to share the good and the bad of life. My life’s been richer for having Albert around. Can’t imagine what I’d do without him. Especially now, when I feel so responsible for your loss.”

“It’s not your fault, Ella.” The fault was hers. Juliana had failed to protect her own daughter, reneged on the promise she’d made on the day Briana was born to keep her safe always.

“All the same, I feel responsible. And you shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”