Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen: Delaney
Staring down and watching Ryder disappear into the black hole, my heart pounds harder than it’s ever pounded before. This has become my most dangerous job because I stupidly let my emotions get involved.
Doing my best to keep it together, I wait until he reaches the bottom and radios up. The second my comms crackles with his deep voice, I tell him I’m coming down.
“Take your time,” Addie encourages.
“I will.” I step down on the ladder and start making my way down, relying on past experiences to calm my heart and guide my steps. A quick glance below confirms Ryder lit a flare. It’s a little more comforting being able to see the bottom now and knowing he’s down there waiting for me.
A few feet from the bottom, Ryder reaches up and helps me step off the wooden ladder.
We’re standing on bedrock, and a crosshatch of tunnels branch out from the narrow space where we’re crowded together.
They can’t be more than three feet wide and five feet high, some even smaller.
It’s cooler, which is nice, but it’s also a little scary.
“I hope you’re not claustrophobic,” I murmur.
“Nope.” He sends me a wry smile. “But that may change after this.”
“Which way?” I ask, studying the endless options and wondering how anyone could work down here day in and day out, searching for diamonds that may or may not be there.
“If the map is right, I’m thinking that way.”
Mustering up my courage, I bend over and start down the narrow tunnel he points out. We have to go single file, and I sincerely hope he enjoys the view of my ass in his face. Because if this tunnel decides to collapse, it might be the last thing he ever sees.
“I can’t believe people chiseled this all out. It must’ve taken years.”
“Yeah, for sure,” he agrees. “I can’t imagine the locals had much when it came to safety equipment.” He touches my back and we pause. “See how every six feet or so they left pillars?”
“It looks like a checkerboard.”
“Yeah, it’s a grid pattern to serve as natural support for the roof to help prevent the mine from collapsing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work, and several people were killed when the ceiling fell in a few different spots.”
A shiver ripples through my body and I look up.
Although I don’t see any rubble or signs of a collapse here, the idea of the ceiling suddenly falling and tons of rock burying me alive is terrifying.
Gritting my teeth, I force my attention back to the looming tunnel ahead.
“Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself. ”
After what feels like forever, we reach the end of the first tunnel to find nothing but a wall of rock and gravel. With a low curse, Ryder pulls out the map and frowns. Realistically, searching through every tunnel down here could take weeks. Maybe even months.
With a frustrated sigh, he folds the paper back up, stuffs it in his pocket, and turns to me. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“That we could be down here for bloody months?” Frustration makes me irritable and I cross my arms and tap a foot. I don’t know why I was under the impression Ryder’s map would lead us straight to the rest of the Phantom Orchid, but, yeah, I was really hoping it would.
“Slow and steady wins the race, baby.” He takes the map back out, makes a notation on it, then radios Addie to report what we’re finding—which is absolutely nothing.
I wish I could be as calm and steady as Ryder, but my impatience is getting the best of me.
The good news is I do have the Phantom Orchid, and it’s locked up in Ryder’s safe where no one will suspect it’s hidden or be able to get their hands on it thanks to his top-notch security.
But the bad news is Adam Voss has mercenaries hunting me down and it’s only a matter of time before they find us.
We don’t have the luxury of time right now. Spending weeks down here isn’t feasible. We need to find the rest of this cache as soon as possible.
“Maybe the others should come down and help search,” I suggest.
“If they offer,” he says carefully. “I’m not asking anyone to risk their life. These tunnels aren’t stable.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “I know. I’m sorry. This is just way more than I anticipated.”
“Patience, Crumpet,” he teases.
How he manages to stay so positive when I’m ready to bite someone’s head off, I have no idea. To be fair, I’m also extra grumpy because I didn’t have my tea today. “Stop calling me that,” I whine.
“You secretly love it.”
Maybe I do, but I’d never admit it. Instead, I cross my arms and fix him with what I hope is a withering stare. My eye may be twitching, so who knows what he’s actually seeing.
“So what’s the plan, Diamond Man? Aimlessly wander around and hope we stumble into a huge purple gem with a sign that says ‘you found me’?”
He completely ignores my attitude, which is probably best for everyone. In a soothing voice, he reminds me of what Bella knows and Delaney needs to remember. “We have to be methodical and take notes as we go. We’ll clear this place section by section, continually reporting back up to the surface.”
I nod, his calm, focused demeanor beginning to rub off on me.
“Okay,” I agree. But three hours later, we’ve run into two collapsed sections of tunnel, my back hurts from hunching over and my stomach is growling.
We decide to stop for the night, eat dinner and rest up.
Once the sun rises, I’ll be ready to start again.
After re-sealing the mine, we gather around the campfire and eat a simple meal of ham and cheese sandwiches and chips, avoiding cooking over the fire to prevent attracting the local wildlife.
We also make double sure to seal all our trash up.
Nobody wants an unexpected apex predator rooting around in the leftovers.
As the sun begins to set, we look out over the Kalahari Desert, admiring the way it paints the landscape in shades of pink and gold and orange, and take a moment to appreciate its natural, rugged beauty.
Yes, we have a job to do, and everything would be prettier if there wasn’t so much weighing on my mind, but I also know I need to appreciate these things when they happen.
These little slices of life my dad will never experience.
I wish he were here, but I’m still content to take it all in with the group around me. At least I’m not alone.
Eventually, the group begins to turn in for the night.
Hunter and Knox disappear into their tent, holding hands and whispering to each other.
Linc reclines back in his tent and calls Merritt.
For a man of few words, he talks to her for at least an hour, his quiet murmuring punctuated by a brief chuckle, and even a chortle or two.
No doubt, he’s a man in love. Of course, Addie calls Cole, and then she crawls into the tent with Brighton.
I guess that confirms my sleeping arrangements.
“Do you see it?” Ryder asks in a low voice. Despite the emotional cold shoulder I’ve given him, he hasn’t left my side.
“See what?” I straighten up, squinting through the darkness.
He points toward a cluster of bushes in the distance, and I gasp when I see the black-maned Kalahari lion slink forward.
“Oh, my God.” The creature is so majestic, clearly on the prowl, and I watch closely as he warily eyes our camp.
I’m holding my breath, wondering if he’ll come closer.
But I think the fire scares him away, and he disappears back into the darkness.
“Now I know why they call them the king of the jungle.”
“Pretty amazing, huh?”
“As long as he doesn’t come sniffing around our tent tonight, then yes. I don’t need any type of close-encounter safari.”
Ryder chuckles. “I couldn’t agree more.” A moment of comfortable silence passes between us as we gaze into the crackling fire. But then he turns his attention back to me. “Once we return to Denver, are you still planning on disappearing?”
I’ve actually been thinking about that a lot, and I shift in my seat to face him. “I’m not entirely sure,” I admit. “That was the plan, but…”
“But plans change.” He locks eyes with me. “They change all the time.”
“They can,” I say carefully.
“I’m going to tell you something, but you can’t freak out, okay?”
My pulse spikes. “Why would I freak out?” I ask casually, but inside I’m trembling. What is he going to say?
He hesitates, as though building his courage, then blurts out, “Because every time things take a serious turn between us, you run. I don’t want you running from me.
Ever.” He scoops my hand up, and I watch as he laces our fingers.
“Delaney Marquette, you are the most fascinating, lovely, challenging, beautiful and intelligent woman I’ve ever met.
You make me want things I’ve never wanted before.
And after all this is over and we’re back home, I want you to stay—more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
” His voice cracks and when he looks down at our threaded fingers, that adorable chunk of bangs falls in his eye, making my insides tumble.
Making my resolve melt. “Promise me you won’t disappear on me. ”
My mouth opens… closes. I don’t know what to say. I’d like to stay. More than anything, to be honest. But with Voss hunting me, the last thing I want is for him to target Ryder and his friends.
“Delaney,” he murmurs, voice lowering, pleading.
“I’ve only just found you. I can’t lose you.
And I know I fucked up, and we never even talked about any of this, and the chances are one in a billion, but if you’re pregnant with my baby…
” A fierce, protective light flashes in his dark eyes.
“Then there’s no way I’m going to watch you walk out of my life.
I’m going to be there for you. Take care of you—both of you.
And if you let me, I’ll love you more than anyone ever has or ever will. ”
Oh, God. Is he saying he loves me?
Before I can respond, he squeezes my hand and gives me an irresistibly endearing lopsided smile.
“I’ll also give you the biggest damn diamond you’ve ever seen, but we’ll discuss that later.
From the wide-eyed way you’re looking at me, I don’t want to scare you more by bringing up the M word.
But know, it will happen. Most likely sooner than later. Because you’re it for me.”
He leans in, kissing me gently, and something inside me lurches. My heart? I’m in a mild state of panic, and when he pulls back, my palms are sweating and I think I’m seeing double.
“Looks like we’re sharing a tent,” he whispers.
I glance over at the other three tents, all zipped up tightly now for the night.
“I promise to keep my hands to myself. If that’s what you want,” he adds with a mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes.
“That’s probably for the best,” I say, but who am I kidding? There’s nothing I enjoy more than having Ryder’s hands all over me.
We were both shocked and emotionally raw after our encounter on the flight, but now I can see him for who he is. What he wants. There’s no doubt in my mind he wants me. And now I know it’s more than just convenience, not simply lust getting in the way of smart decisions.
I slowly get to my feet, a little unsteady, and crawl into the tent.
Ryder follows, zips it up and we each get into our own sleeping bags.
Ryder gave me so much to think about, and it takes me a while before I can finally fall asleep.
But when I do, it’s with his voice in my head, bringing me sweet dreams and so much hope.
I’ll love you more than anyone ever has or ever will.
The next morning arrives, and my eyes flutter open. Turning my head, I see Ryder on his back, breathing evenly and softly, still asleep. He stayed true to his word and didn’t even try to snuggle with me. I’m not sure how I can be relieved and disappointed at the same time.
Being as quiet as possible, I change into some fresh clothes and slip out of the tent.
It’s bright out, and I cover my eyes as I wander over to where Linc leisurely sits on a folding chair.
He has the fire roaring and sips coffee.
“What time did you get up?” I ask, rummaging through the containers, searching for the Yorkshire tea I know I had with me.
“Dawn.”
“Bloody hell. And I thought I was an early riser.”
“When I was a fighter, I got up every morning at four to train.” He shrugs. “I don’t need much sleep, and I wanted to call Mer before she fell asleep.”
“She’s due soon?” I take the kettle from the fire and pour some hot water into my mug.
“Our little boy will be here in less than three weeks.” He sounds so proud, so excited, and I can’t help but smile.
“Congratulations.” Sitting down in the chair beside him, I blow on my steaming tea. “Did you guys, ah, plan having a baby or…” My question trails off awkwardly.
He shakes his head, a smile softening his rugged face. “No, definitely no planning involved. She told me while we were dancing at our wedding. Right before Cole arrested Addie.” He chuckles.
“I heard about that.” Everyone in the industry heard about that. It was quite the little scandal for a few ticks.
“Other than that mild inconvenience, it was the best day of my life. Hearing the woman you love tell you she’s carrying your baby—our baby—makes a man melt. And get really fucking protective, too.”
I wonder if Ryder feels the same way? Without thinking, I lay a hand over my flat belly.
It’s way too early to know if I’m actually pregnant, but somehow the idea doesn’t seem quite as scary as it did the other day.
In fact, after everything he confessed last night, and how sincere his words hit, it almost feels… nice.
When Linc’s gaze drops, I quickly move my hand back up to the mug and sip my tea. I have enough to focus on right now. The slim possibility that a baby might be on the horizon is something I’m going to have to deal with later.
Right now, I have a twenty-five thousand carat diamond to find.