Treasured Dreams (38 page)

‘Do you complain?'

‘Oh no, I no complain.' He cupped her breast and wobbled the luscious flesh in his palm. ‘You can do that to me anytime.'

She laughed now, and at first it was a timid chuckle, but soon she kicked back her head and laughed so hard she was gasping for breath. Archer couldn't help himself and joined in. It was as if the final treads of tension that had had Rosalina wound so tight for months had finally snapped. His beautiful Italian bride-to-be was back, and he couldn't be happier.

When she stopped to wipe the laughter tears from her eyes, Archer seized the moment to be serious.

‘We don't know whether or not you're pregnant, honey. So until we know for sure, you're not diving. Okay?'

She blinked with her tear-laden lashes, then nodded. ‘Okay. But we have to make up some other excuse.'

‘Deal.'

***

When they returned upstairs, Rosalina invented a story that she wasn't feeling one hundred per cent and thought it advisable not to dive.

‘Ginger, you can stay up here too. It'll be quicker with just Jimmy and I,' Archer said.

Ginger's disappointment was only short-lived.

Sunset came quickly and before they were plunged into complete darkness, Archer and Jimmy launched the tender with Ginger and Rosalina. ‘It'll be difficult holding it against this current,' he said to Rosalina.

‘We'll be fine.' Archer noted the determination in Rosalina's voice. She was a confident woman; it was just another one of the many reasons why he loved her so much.

As they neared the Ranga Spirit wreck site, Archer leant over to kiss Rosalina. ‘Be careful, baby.'

‘You too,' she said.

‘Always.'

Archer put the regulator in his mouth, nodded at Jimmy, and the two of them flipped backwards together. As he slipped below the murky water, the engine roared and as Rosalina took the boat back to
Evangeline
he turned his attention to his dive compass. In less than five minutes they'd returned to the captain's cabin on the Ranga Spirit, where they'd found the diamond-filled can.

Careful not to dislodge the sediment, they worked together to lift the pieces that had tumbled against one wall when the ship toppled backwards. The cans appeared again and again and each time, Jimmy yelled a muffled ‘yes' through his mouthpiece as he tucked them into the net bag at his hip.

They found a small metal box, like an old tobacco tin, and decided to examine the contents later. A large metal cross, the size of a man's shoe, was hidden beneath an upturned chair. They also found a challis-style cup and several gold plates. Right in the corner Archer tried to move what looked like fabric, but the entire thing disintegrated in his hands. The water clouded with mush, and Archer wondered if it was the remains of a pillow. Once he'd fanned the debris away his torch lit up a collection of jewellery, all jumbled together.

Time was up, and he and Jimmy headed towards the surface. They paused at their decompression stop, and when they surfaced he blew his whistle and flashed his torch to signal the ladies to pick them up.

Alessandro was like a kid in a lolly shop when they produced their findings, as was Jimmy, for that matter. Once all the cans were opened, they counted a total of 691 diamonds. The exquisite stones were a variety of colours and sizes with the largest one being about the size of a macadamia nut.

By the end of the second dive, Archer and Jimmy were certain they'd found everything there was to find in that room and this dive produced very little in comparison to their first haul.

‘What about the rest of the ship?' Ginger asked.

Archer pictured the Ranga Spirit in his head. The mid-ship consisted of just two rooms. They'd found nothing in the wheelhouse and nothing in the first room they'd searched. Every item they found was in the captain's cabin. It didn't make sense that the person who stole the treasure would risk spreading the load out.

‘I think we've got all there is,' Archer finally said.

The look of relief on Rosalina's face was unmistakable.

By the time they'd examined the collection and had the customary celebration afterwards, Archer was weary with exhaustion. He said goodnight and led his beautiful fiancée to bed. He showered and crawled into the sheets beside her. Dreams of cheeky little children and priceless diamonds guided him through the night to the break of dawn.

***

Archer hadn't told Jimmy yet that he needed him to stay with
Evangeline
while the rest of them flew back to Italy. He wasn't looking forward to that conversation and waited until after breakfast when Jimmy was at the bridge to tell him.

‘How're we going, Captain?' he said, as he strode into the room.

Jimmy's eyebrows bounced together. ‘Here we go. What do you want this time?'

Archer's was tempted to fake shock, but Jimmy was too good a friend to do that. ‘Sorry mate, but I need you to hire a crew and run
Evangeline
back to Italy.'

‘Ahh, shit. What're you doing?'

‘We're flying back.'

‘Why do I miss out on all the fun?'

‘Not true. You've had plenty of fun over the last couple of days.'

Jimmy rolled his eyes. ‘I'm talking about smashing Nox's head in.'

Archer laughed. ‘Right. I'll make sure I put a boot in him for you.'

‘You better. Seriously though, are you giving him the diamonds?' The look on his face showed how devastated he was at the impending loss.

‘Nox can have the diamonds, as long as we get Filippo back.'

Jimmy's shoulders sagged.

‘Just the first thirty-one diamonds he knows about.' Archer grinned at his best mate.

Jimmy's face lit up. ‘Now we're talking.'

They shared a quick hug and a slap on the back. ‘You take care.'

‘Always.'

By three o'clock that afternoon, Rosalina, Alessandro and Ginger sat with Archer on the Gulfstream Galaxy plane that he'd privately chartered. This plane was slightly bigger than they needed, but he chose it because of the distance it could travel. With refuelling stops in Singapore and Dubai, they should be in Florence within two days.

The cargo held a priceless fortune. Between the monkey statue, Peking Man skulls, the ancient lapis lazuli cylinder and hundreds of diamonds, it was mind-boggling to think what the value of the cargo would be. He just hoped he didn't have to explain any of it to nosy customs staff. It was another good reason to hire a private jet. It meant they should get priority processing at all the airports. He'd paid the pilots triple their standard price to do exactly that.

Chapter Forty-One

Nox felt the phone buzz in his pocket before he heard it ring, and he plucked it out. The sight of Archer's phone number set his pulse racing. This was the call he'd waited months for. Hell, it could be years. Decades even. A lifetime of work had led to this point. He deserved it. Every single piece of it.

‘It's time to do business, Nox.' Archer didn't waste time with pleasantries.

‘Do you have my diamonds?'

‘Yes. Let me hear Filippo?'

‘Say hello, Filippo.' Nox held the phone to Filippo's ear.

‘Hello … yes.'

Nox took the phone back and barked into the receiver. ‘We'll do the exchange at the old Provenzia orphanage where I took Rosalina and Filippo. It's on Stada Statale One about thirty minutes south of Livorno; look it up, you'll find it. When will you be here?'

‘About two hours.'

Nox would make sure he was ready within one. ‘Don't be late.' He clicked the call off and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

‘I'll be back soon,' he said to his prisoner.

He locked the door and made his way to the kitchen for one last meal in Provenzia. As he ate a bowl of cold pasta, he checked the gun for what must be the tenth time. It only had two bullets. One for Archer. One for Rosalina. He'd better not miss. Filippo would have to be dealt with later. He clipped the cylinder closed after once again ensuring a bullet was in the firing chamber.

Rather than risk being trapped inside the orphanage it made sense to make the exchange outside where there was nothing to hide behind. It also made it easier to toss the bodies over the cliff. With a bit of luck, Archer and that bitch Rosalina would never be seen again. Just like the three little boys who'd tumbled over the edge decades ago.

He opened the door to Filippo's room for the last time. ‘Let's go.'

‘Are they here?' Filippo slipped off the cot bed.

‘Soon.' It would have made sense to keep Filippo trapped in here, but he assumed Archer would never reveal the diamonds without seeing Nox's captive first. ‘Come on. We're going outside.'

‘Why?' Filippo's calm indifference had him stroll past Nox and take the lead as if the two of them were heading for a walk in a park.

‘So we can see them coming. And it makes it easier to dispose of the bodies.'

Filippo simply nodded and Nox couldn't decide if Filippo was heartless or cold and calculating. It didn't matter either way; his end was near too.

Nox instructed Filippo out of the orphanage and down the front steps, and when they walked out from the protection of the derelict building the wind whipped in a frenzy, carrying salt and sea spray up from the ocean below. They stood with their backs to the ocean and a full view of the road into the orphanage at their front.

If Filippo was nervous with the gun pointed at his back, he showed no sign of it. Yet from what Nox had seen so far, he was certain Filippo was about to put on the show of his life.

Right on time, a black car eased along the overgrown driveway, and as it approached, Nox shuddered with pleasure. Even from behind the wheel, the strong, hard lines of Archer's jaw were unmissable. As was the terror on Rosalina's face. He was both surprised and relieved to see them alone.

‘Remember, I'll threaten to kill you and toss you into the ocean if they don't hand over the diamonds.'

‘Okay. Got it.' Filippo actually sounded excited.

Filippo waved his arms and the car steered off the driveway and along the spindly grass towards them. It pulled to a halt and Rosalina jumped out. The wind assaulted her, whipping her hair across her face and threatening to tear the clothes from her body.

‘Rosalina!' Archer barked at her as he leapt from the car and she stopped in her tracks, barely two metres from Filippo. As Nox glared at the bitch, the power of revenge blazed through him like a shot of adrenaline. His finger twitched on the trigger. He could put a bullet through her brain right now. It would be easy and quick. Too quick, though. He wanted to make her suffer. Needed to make her suffer. He couldn't wait to see her reaction when she discovered her own brother had double crossed her.

‘Filippo, are you okay?' Rosalina's fingers strangled her hair. Her lips trembled and her eyes were wild with fear. She was the picture of a terrified sister.

Archer arrived at her side and tugged her back two paces. His hardened glare had the cockiness of a man who thought he was in charge.

‘Yes, I'm okay,' Filippo answered like a broken child.

Nox nudged the gun into his lower back.

‘He has a gun.' Filippo followed their script.

‘Let him go, Nox, and you can have the diamonds.' Archer's fist was clenched at his side, his dark eyes drilled like guided missiles.

‘Give me the diamonds.' Nox counted the waves crashing onto the rocks below as he waited for Archer to move. One. Two. Three …

Archer reached into his pants pocket and, fearful he might have a gun, Nox nudged behind Filippo. He swallowed hard when Archer removed a small velvet pouch.
This was too easy
, he thought. The pouch in Archer's hand was small, though. Too small.

Archer took one step closer. ‘Here.' He pegged the black bag across the distance. Filippo reached up and grabbed it, and despite the roaring wind, a sound like rattling glass was unmistakable.

‘Give it to me,' Nox demanded, and Filippo handed it over willingly.

‘Come to us, Filippo,' Archer ordered.

‘No,' Nox yelled. ‘I want to see them first.' With anxious fingers and the gun in his hand, he struggled to undo the knot on the black drawstring securing the bag. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Filippo looking over his shoulder.

The string finally released, and he tipped the contents into his palm. They were beautiful, radiating the fire of the sun. He twirled them with the gun and did a rough count. About thirty diamonds.

‘You got your diamonds, Nox. Now let Filippo go,' Archer barked the demand.

Nox guided the stones back into the bag, folded over the top and pushed it into his pants pocket. Then he shoved the gun into the small of Filippo's back.

‘We want the rest,' Nox yelled.

The muscle in Archer's jaw bulged. ‘There is no more. That's all we found. We had a deal, Nox.' Archer spoke through clenched teeth. ‘You got the diamonds, now let Filippo go.'

‘We changed our mind. Tell them, Filippo.'

Filippo turned, his eyes fierce with confusion. ‘What're you doing?'

Nox held his stare. ‘You're a fool.' Fate had dealt him a new deck of cards and for the first time in his life, Nox was holding all the aces.

Filippo lashed out for the gun, startling him with his speed. Nox launched backwards and brought the gun up to eye level. ‘Your brother and I are working together, Rosalina. He's told me everything. I know all about the statue and the blue cylinder. We're a team now. Tell her, Filippo.'

Filippo stood, legs apart, hands balled at his sides, and the look of bewilderment on his face proved Filippo had honestly believed they were in a partnership together.

Damn fool deserved to die.

Rosalina took a tentative step forward. ‘What did you do, Filippo?' Her voice was a strangled panic.