Chapter Twenty
Sabrina
I PEEKED MY HEAD INTO Daddy’s workshop and took a moment to take in the scene before me. Daddy, Pops, and Cash were putting the final touches on the arch under which my sister would hopefully not be marrying Soren. I was praying so hard that the furniture delivery crew would find the diamonds tomorrow when they delivered Lexi’s furniture. She was so excited about the early delivery, even though it apparently miffed Soren that he had to make special arrangements with a “security” team to let them in and monitor them. Did that mean the diamonds were there, or was he just extra paranoid, since he basically lived life on the run under a false identity? I hoped it didn’t mean SPI would have issues doing a thorough search. They probably ran into things like this all the time, right?
Although I did feel a little guilty that Lexi might never get her $26,000 Novoli nubuck leather double chaise sectional that she went on and on about while we were being waxed until we were shiny. Note to self: never again will I let someone come at me with warm wax. Cash could probably use that stuff to torture people into confessing. Assuming he did that sort of thing. There were some things I was better off not knowing.
But there was something I did know—Soren was off doing some adventuring, per Lexi, and Mama and Lexi were meeting with the resort’s event planner to go over any last-minute details for the wedding and for the rehearsal dinner that were taking place Thursday night. Lexi thought it would be best not to do the rehearsal and the dinner the night before the wedding so people could recover. What kind of rehearsal dinner was she planning to have? Regardless, all this meant was that Cash and I were clear to search Soren’s room if we hurried. Yet, I didn’t want to interrupt the sweet scene before me. The three men were laughing about who knows what. And oddly, Cash looked like he belonged right where he was with the two men who meant the most to me in the world—Daddy and Pops. They were very different people, but both had taught me great lessons about life and love and what family meant. Family meant getting over your pride and coming together, even if there were disagreements. Believe me, Daddy and Pops had plenty of those, but to look at them now, you would think they were the best of friends.
Before I stepped in, I noted how Cash studied Daddy and Pops. I wondered what was going through his head. Our conversation the night before rang in my mind. It made me incredibly sad to think of the emotional and physical abuse Cash had endured, not only as a child but into adulthood as far as I was concerned. His director sounded like a real jerk, making Cash believe he was an emotionless robot who basically didn’t need or deserve love. Despite how much Cash had hurt me by ghosting me, I wanted to show him that his director was wrong, so very wrong, about him. No one should feel so all alone in the world. Not even a ghost.
So, I had a plan. A plan that started with a family game night tomorrow evening. I was hoping to convince Mama and Lexi we had time to squeeze it in. Not sure what I expected to gain from it—Cash wasn’t even Cash, and I had no idea where he would go after this or if I’d ever see him again. But when a man recites beautiful poem after beautiful poem until you fall asleep and makes sure you’re safe throughout the night, it kind of does something to you. It makes you want to show him how wonderful life can be. That there is more to life than saving the world.
But first, I needed to find some blood diamonds. Never thought I would think that.
“Hello, boys.” I stepped into the workshop, breathing in the smell of stain and wood.
All the men turned my way, each offering me a smile.
“There’s my girl.” Pops, with his lovable cue-ball head, opened his arms wide. I hadn’t had the chance to stop by to see him yet. He and Nana lived in town on Main Street in the cutest little house. Pops had been a veterinarian before he retired. While he’d made a decent living, they didn’t have a lot of money to speak of, on account of Pops taking canned fruits and vegetables and the like for payment. No animal went unseen. Pops is good people.
I ran to Pops and carefully placed my arms around him. He was no spring chicken, even though he’d fight anyone who said differently. I snuggled into his flannel-clad chest and breathed in his Old Spice and cigar scent. Nana Rose would get after him for smoking.
“It’s about time you came to see me, girlie.”
“Sorry, I’ve been busy.”
“I see that,” he said, referring to Cash. “I had to come see for myself this man everyone is talking about. Your nana is about ready to leave me for him.”
Giggling, I let go of Pops and faced Cash, who was giving me an uneasy smile, probably worried about Nana groping him again. “And what do you think about him?” I asked, knowing Pops was going to give his opinion no matter what.
Pops studied Cash for a moment. “I like him. He’s got potential.”
Hmm. Potential. That was an interesting word for Cash and high praise from Pops. Through the grapevine—meaning Aunt Vivian, who was more than happy to share—I’d learned that Pops thought Soren was more useless than a snow shovel in the Sahara.
“The question is, what do you think of him, girlie?”
That was a good question. I hardly knew what to think.
Cash set down his paintbrush and gave me a thoughtful look.
I bit my lip, not sure what to say. I was supposed to be pretending we were back together, but this didn’t feel like make-believe. And the way Cash was looking at me made me think he wanted a genuine answer, not the story we’d been telling everyone. The only thing I could think of to encapsulate how I felt was, “He’s maddening.”
Pops and Daddy chuckled.
“Sounds about right,” Pops said.
“It’s a good sign.” Daddy patted Cash on the back like they were the best of pals.
Cash offered me a shiver-inducing smile that made me want to kiss his face. Dang spy.
“Um ... I actually need to borrow Cash, if that’s all right,” I said breathily, feeling the heat of Cash’s gaze.
Pops patted his shirt pocket. “Don’t have any cash on me.”
We all laughed at his terrible dad joke before Daddy said, “Sure. Sure. Take him. He does good work.”
I bet he did.
“You two come by and visit us,” Pops said.
“We will,” I promised, like we were really a couple.
Cash shook Pops’s hand. “It was nice to meet you, sir.”
“You as well. Take care of my girl.”
“I’ll do my best,” Cash responded.
I took Cash’s hand. “We need to hurry, honey,” I sang.
Cash’s brow knitted together, a question in his eye.
“You best be going then,” Pops said. “Never make a lady wait.”
I waved to Pops and Daddy while pulling Cash along. “See you later.” They probably thought we were about to do something torrid. Nope, just something sketchy.
As soon as we were out into the overcast day, Cash asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” I whispered. “It’s just that no one is at the house, and I thought we could, you know.”
Cash’s eyes got wide with excitement.
“Uh, not that, lover boy. Did you forget about the D-I-A-M-O-N-D-S,” I spelled out.
Cash cleared his throat. “Of course not, but my handler would have told me if Izan was on the move.”
“Well, according to Lexi, he’s not there.”
“Damn it, where is he?”
I shrugged. “Adventuring or something.”
Cash pulled out his phone. “Don’t say anything,” he instructed me while angrily punching a button on his phone.
I pressed my lips together, wondering if he was calling his handler. I couldn’t believe there really was such a person.
“Ivy, where is Izan?” Cash seethed into the phone.
I don’t know why, but I’d assumed his handler was a man.
“Are you sure?”
Insert a long pause where I assumed Ivy was getting on his nerves for how contorted his face was.
“Don’t worry about where I was,” Cash snapped.
Another pause.
“I’m doing my job. Now you do yours.” He hung up on Ivy and shoved his phone in his pocket, his face burning red.
I’d never seen him angry before. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” He took a few breaths until his face was back to his beautiful olive tone. “Ivy says his phone hasn’t left the house.”
“Maybe he left without it,” I suggested.
“That’s worrisome. It means wherever he’s going, he didn’t want to be tracked.”
“Do you think he knows he’s being tracked?” I asked, worried Cash’s cover had been blown.
“He’d be foolish to think otherwise.”
“Do you think he’s on to you?”
Cash shook his head. “But it could mean he thinks someone else is.”
“Like who?” I asked, terrified to know.
“Anyone from a mob boss to the terrorist organization he screwed over when he stole the diamonds.”
“Oh,” I squeaked, thinking any moment we were going to be under attack.
Cash took my hand. “I swear I’ll keep you safe.”
“And my family?”
“Yes,” Cash promised. “I’m going to go check out your parents’ house.”
“I’m coming with you,” I said, quite courageously, if I do say so myself.
“Please, just go back to the workshop and stay with your father and grandfather. Your grandpa is carrying a gun.” He always did. Pops believed it was his God-given right. It’s also why he refused to fly anywhere. If his gun couldn’t come with him, he wasn’t going either.
“No,” I refused. “If Soren is in there, he’s going to find it odd for you to be there by yourself. Or any number of people could see you entering by yourself and innocently mention it,” I added. I wasn’t sure why I wanted to do this with him. It just seemed like the right thing to do.
Cash let out a heaving breath into the cool early-afternoon air.
“You know I’m right. Doing it together covers all the bases.”
“Unfortunately, you are right,” Cash agreed. “Fine. You can come, but stay by me and do what I say.”
“Well, aren’t you bossy,” I teased. Admittedly, it was a little sexy.
“You have no idea.” He pulled me to him and brushed my lips. “Let’s go.”
What? We couldn’t just go after that. I needed a moment to let the chemicals settle into my system. It was insane how just a little kiss could send my body into a tizzy and make me feel so heated in the cool fall air.
Cash grabbed my hand and tugged on it, knowing he’d incapacitated me and I needed help.
“Do you have this effect on all women?” I couldn’t help but ask as we flew toward my parents’ place.
“I don’t know. I’ve never cared about anyone’s feelings, not even my own, until I met you.”
That was both flattering and sad.
“So will you be caring about other women’s feelings in the future?” Not sure why I wanted to know. As soon as SPI found the diamonds or my sister left on her honeymoon, I knew this fake relationship we had going was finished. Why did that thought leave me feeling so empty? Probably because as much as I’d like to deny it, there was never anything fake about how I felt about Cash. Which was ridiculous, considering Cash wasn’t even Cash.
He turned and gave me a wry grin. “There will never be another woman like you in my life.”
That was sweet but ... “What does that mean?”
“We don’t have time to talk about this right now.” Cash picked up the pace.
I think what he meant to say was, he didn’t know. Or I was just being delusional and I needed to keep my head on straight. Cash was a spy and lived a dangerous life, not the kind where you get married and have kids.
With that in mind, I tried to refocus, but it was hard because, once upon a time, I’d seen that life with Cash. But my sister’s life was more important right now. The thought of her leaving the country with Soren made me want to vomit. If Mia and I didn’t have major client events coming up, I’d be begging Cash to take me to Bali with him. SPI probably wouldn’t allow that to happen. They were never supposed to know I was aware of their existence. And going to Bali with Cash was a terrible idea. Sexy spy on the beach would have me hooked on him for life. Not that I wasn’t already going to be.
It didn’t take us long to reach the house. We jogged up the cobblestone path and steps to the expansive wraparound porch. I wished we had time to take advantage of the porch swings. A picture of Cash and me under a quilt, snuggled up together and looking out over the choppy lake while sipping cocoa, came to mind. It was perfect, and I ached for it. Ugh. Out of all the men in the world, why did I have to fall for a spy?
Before I punched in the code to the door, Cash pulled out some high-tech instrument with a small screen.
“What’s that for?” I asked.
“This device detects RF waves and heat signatures.”
“All from here?” I asked, like I knew what RF waves were. I would google it when I got the chance to. Well, maybe. I would probably be paranoid for the rest of my life about people spying on my devices. Maybe all those conspiracy theories about the NSA were true. Yikes.
Cash smiled and nodded like he was so cool. News flash: he was.
“Do you detect anything?” I tried to decipher all the lines and data on the screen, but it was no use.
“Nothing other than your parents’ Wi-Fi,” he grumbled. “Where the hell is Izan?”
I shrugged. His guess was as good as mine. “This is good, though, right? We can search his room.”
“You mean I can search his room?” Cash corrected.
I rolled my eyes. “You know, generally women are much better at finding things than men.”
“Generally speaking, I would agree with you, but not in this case,” he said way too cockily.
“Fine, near genius.” I punched in the code to the door. “But let the record show I figured you out and your false drawers.”
Cash chuckled and kissed my head. “Yes, but can you break into a biometric safe?”
“I don’t know—I’ve never tried.” I nudged him with my hip, knowing I darn well couldn’t. How he could, I didn’t know. I thought biometric meant like a fingerprint, eye scan, or voice recognition. How did you get past that? I wanted to ask, but I was sure Cash wouldn’t tell me.
“I guess I’ll act as lookout,” I offered as I stepped into my childhood home.
Cash groaned. “I don’t like that idea. If it were up to me, I’d send you far away from here until it was safe.”
“Where would you send me?” I was curious. “Assuming I would let you.” I smirked.
Cash shut the door behind us before grabbing my sweater and pulling me to him. He gave me that look that enveloped all my senses and even made my toes tingle. What kind of magic was that?
Cash leaned in, his warm, minty breath paralyzing me and making me want to lose all self-respect and kiss him first.
“I would send you to a convent of nuns in the Swiss Alps,” he whispered against my lips.
“A convent?” I giggled.
“It’s safe and there are no men.”
“Oh. Are you saying you would be jealous if I met someone in this safe location?”
“Sabrina, I’ve been jealous for over three years, knowing it was bound to happen.”
I stilled, my heart beating wildly out of control. I told myself not to fall for his beautiful line, but who was I kidding? Cash had figuratively and literally knocked me over when we first met, and I’d never fully gotten back up. So when his lips landed on mine, I didn’t protest. No, I let them move over mine ever so carefully, my lips parting, inviting him to do a thorough job of decimating my heart for life.
Cash grasped the invitation to deepen the kiss. His right hand cupped the back of my neck while his left hand pressed against the small of my back, holding me steady while he administered his lethal kiss.
I held on for the ride by twisting my hands into his shirt. A sense of pure bliss washed over me as the chemicals only he could unleash hit my system, making me forget this was a temporary situation and that a terrorist or mob boss could close in at any minute on the murderer living in the house. Yet, all that mattered was this moment with Cash.
I let out a sigh of pleasure when Cash finished exploring my mouth and his lips pressed gentle kisses across my cheek over my ear.
“As much as I hate for the moment to end, we need to hurry,” he said.
Well, that wasn’t romantic at all. I was expecting some sweet nothings whispered in my ear. But it was probably a good thing we stopped before ... well ... stuff happened.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “What should I do?”
“Stay in the great room and keep an eye on the front door and the kitchen just in case he comes through the mudroom entrance.”
“What do I do if he comes back?”
“Tell him you’re waiting to talk to your mom and sister.”
“What if they come back first?”
“Tell them you wanted to show me your old room and I’m just freshening up after you attacked me.”
“Ha ha. It would be you attacking me, by the way.”
“I don’t know about that. You are pretty handsy.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t disagree.
“Sabrina, the most important thing to remember is to act natural and get out as fast as you can if Izan comes back. Do you understand?”
I nodded. “What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me; I can get out of anywhere undetected. Just go to the workshop. I don’t think your grandfather would mind shooting Izan if he had to.”
“Probably not,” I laughed.
“Okay. I’ll be out as fast as I can.”
“Good luck.” Please let him find the diamonds.
He grabbed me and planted a quick kiss on my lips like it might be our last. “Stay safe.” He rushed off toward the hall.
I grabbed the Monet coffee-table book before I took a seat on a chintz chair that gave me a good vantage point of both the kitchen and the front door. I figured I should look like I was acting casual. A funny thought came to me—I would be such an awesome spy. That was just ridiculous.
I flipped through a few pages of the book while constantly looking between the kitchen and the front door. My blood was pumping fiercely through my veins. I still couldn’t believe I’d found myself living out a spy movie. What was next? A car blowing up? A daring rescue by helicopter? Cash and I getting stranded on a remote island? Ooh, that wouldn’t be so bad. Cash probably knew all the best plants to eat and could catch fish with his bare hands and make a fire with two stones. We’d be all set.
While my imagination ran wild, I heard a car door shut outside. Oh crap. Cash had only had a couple of minutes. That surely wasn’t enough time to do a thorough search. I had to stall whoever it was. Please let it be Mama and Lexi. Except they would have pulled into the garage. Maybe it’s one of Lexi’s friends and I could just send them away.
Just in case it was Soren, I turned and dangled my legs over the arm of the chair like I was just reading a book and waiting around for my family to return. If I thought my blood was pumping fast before, I was wrong. My insides felt like Niagara Falls were rushing through them.
It didn’t take long before someone punched in the code and opened the front door. Holy heavens, it was Soren. He walked in looking dirty, carrying a helmet with a light attached to it and a pack strapped to his back.
Oh. Oh. Oh. I had a crazy thought.
“Hey, Soren,” I said as casually as I could.
Soren jumped when he noticed I was there. “Sabrina,” he said with a hint of his Spanish accent. “I didn’t realize you would be here,” he switched to his fake Norwegian accent.
Pretending like I didn’t have a care in the world other than taking down a criminal, I sat up. “I was just waiting for Mama and Lexi. What have you been up to?” I asked like I didn’t know he was wearing spelunking gear and looked like he’d been caving.
“Just getting a little exploration in before the wedding.”
“Down in the caves?” I clarified. I had a sneaking suspicion where the diamonds might be if they weren’t in his room or at the house on Emerald Isle. Or perhaps even in the pack he carried on his back.
“Yes,” he said nervously. “I better get cleaned up.” He made to skedaddle.
“Wait,” I hurried to say. “I have a question for you.” Crap. Think of something quick.
Soren paused, though he curled his lip as if disgruntled about it.
I smiled a dazzling smile, and a thought came to me. Seriously, I was getting good at this spy thing. “I was just wondering which caves you would recommend Cash and I explore. It could be a fun date for us.”
“I’m sure you would know better than me, growing up here.” He stomped off, obviously not wishing to share, which led me to believe my hunch was right about the diamonds’ whereabouts.
“But I wasn’t much of an explorer. That was more of Lexi’s thing,” I called out, hoping to stall him. Cash was probably yelling at me in his head. But I was doing this because I needed to save my sister and possibly because I wanted Cash to know that he was worthy to have others care about him. That he wasn’t alone in this world.
Soren paused again, this time with his plastic face so tight I thought it might tear. “Then I would ask Lexi.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the sound of something heavy falling on the floor caught both of our attention.
My heart stopped. Had one of those mob bosses or terrorists come to call on Soren? Did they take out Cash? Did Cash take them out? Please don’t let it be Cash. “Um ... what was that?” I tried to act just as surprised as Soren was.
Soren wasted no time racing toward the back. I jumped up and ran after him, knowing if Cash was okay, he was going to be upset that I hadn’t run back to Daddy and Pops. But all I could think about was making sure Cash was all right. So maybe I wasn’t so good at this spy thing. But I made for a good fake girlfriend. Or you know, a real one. Besides, it would look suspicious at this point if I didn’t check out the noise with Soren. I realized then why all those stupid people die in horror movies when they go toward the noise. Yes, I was one of those idiotic people following a wife killer back to his room.
“I think the noise came from the hall bath,” I lied, trying to give Cash some time if he needed it, or for his killer to escape. It was a toss-up. Please don’t let my fake boyfriend be dead. “I hope it’s not a possum again,” I rattled on. “We got one in the house a long time ago. Oh, man, did it make a mess.” That was a true story. I slept in my parents’ room for a month after that, afraid a possum would eat my face off in the middle of the night.
Soren wasn’t paying attention to me at all. He went straight to the room he was staying in.
I tiptoed up behind him, my heart about to beat out of my chest, trying to think of a good reason a random mob boss or Cash was dead in Soren’s room. Did SPI have a protocol for this? Did Cash have some device on him that activated if his heart stopped, and then a sweeper team came in and took care of the situation?
I had to hold back the tears thinking of Cash dead and me not even being able to attend his funeral or tell anyone he’d died trying to save Lexi. I probably should have been more concerned that my life was on the line. If Cash was indeed dead, his killer could still be there.
Soren threw open his door, flipped on the light, and looked around frantically. Did that mean the diamonds were in his room, or was he just super paranoid? Both?
I peeked my head in the meticulously clean guest room Mama had designed herself and prided herself on. The upholstered Baldwin bed sat between two floor-to-ceiling windows with the caramel velvet curtains drawn. Mama never closed those curtains. She loved natural lighting. Obviously, Soren wanted privacy.
Holding my breath, I stepped into the room and looked around. No blood was seeping onto the hardwood floors, and as far as I could tell, nothing was out of place. And the best part of all: no dead bodies. I had no idea how Cash had gotten out. I prayed it was of his own volition. Letting out an audible sigh, I said, “No possums in here. Phew.” I pretended to wipe my brow. “I’ll go check the other rooms.”
Soren whipped his head my way, his contact-covered eyes narrowed at me.
“What?” I asked, taking a step back.
Soren stepped closer, his brows ever creasing, scaring the living daylights out of me.
The doorbell rang, and it seemed to make Soren come to himself. He shook his head, and his expression softened. It was as if a new personality appeared.
“I’m going to get that,” I whispered, shaking a little. Okay, a lot.
Soren nodded, like he was giving me his permission. I didn’t like that at all. Lexi could in no way marry this man. He had the potential to be volatile.
I dashed away like my life depended on it.
Maybe it did.