Chapter 11 #2
Gritting my teeth, I put the diamond back in the bag and set it down on the coffee table a little too hard. I don’t have much to pack. Just some fresh clothes, toiletries, and a few mementos that I refuse to leave behind. Then I’m outta here. There’s no point in lingering.
I’m thinking about relocating to a quiet beach town in South America, but I haven’t quite made up my mind.
I could use a good tan and some warm weather.
My other option is a tropical island somewhere really far away, like the South Pacific.
Whatever I do, I need to decide fast and get the hell out of here.
Preferably before Voss realizes I lied and I’m not giving him the Phantom Orchid.
He has the connections to track me down here, but I’m hoping not once I leave the country and change my identity.
Again.
I’m also a little worried about Laurent because he has the uncanny ability to sniff out anything valuable and show up at the worst possible time. He’s still out there somewhere, and I’m starting to wonder if Voss hired him, too.
I look around my little apartment, trying not to feel sad, but I’m failing.
Epically. It hits me—I don’t want to leave Denver.
Or, more accurately, the man who lives here.
For the short amount of time I spent with Ryder, it was nice hearing him call me by my given name.
Bella Diamond is nothing more than an alias, a shell I surrounded myself with in order to do what I had to do.
And I really missed being Delaney Marquette.
Hearing him say my true name reminded me of home.
Of everything I used to love and then lost.
Pushing him out of my mind, I’m debating whether I should pack or wash up first when there’s a knock at the door. My heart nearly catapults out of my chest. No one knows I live here. Did Voss have someone tail me? Fuck.
I hustle over to the front door and take a quick look through the peephole to see Ryder. What the fu—
“Delaney, it’s Ryder. Can you open up, please?”
I bite down on my lip, debating.
“I will pick your lock,” he threatens.
Letting out a sigh, I reluctantly open the door. “What’re you doing here? Maybe the better question is how did you find me?”
“May I come in?”
“No, but you look like a man on a mission, so…” I motion for him to come inside. He walks by me, bends over and unzips my duffel bag. “What the hell are you doing?” My eyes narrow. “The Phantom Orchid isn’t in there.”
“Not looking for the Phantom Orchid.”
Confused, I cross my arms as he rummages around then lifts his hand to show me a small tracking device. “You sneaky, little—”
“Watch what you say,” he warns, tucking the tracker into his jacket, “or you might hurt my feelings.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” I’m starting to get pissed, but I can’t deny I’m also happy to see him. Honestly, a little giddy, but I can’t let him see that.
“We have unfinished business.”
“No, we’re done. What? You want payment for services rendered?” I ask sarcastically.
“No.” He locks eyes with me. “Did you deliver the diamond?”
“Not yet.” I’m not going to, either, I think, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Because you’re not going to,” he states as though reading my thoughts. “You never intended to, did you? It was always your plan to find it and then disappear with it.”
I huff out a breath, knowing he’s too smart to believe any bullshit I might try to feed him. “You don’t understand,” I whisper raggedly.
“So explain it to me! Because I don’t think you’re the selfish, greedy, cold-hearted bitch that people say you are.”
“Gee, thanks,” I grumble.
“What’s your connection to the Phantom Orchid? Why do you want it so badly you were willing to die for it?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I retort, getting riled up. “I don’t need you anymore, Ryder! You served your purpose, and now you can go!”
His dark eyes flash and he storms right up in my face, grabbing my chin and lifting it. Forcing me to look at him when all I want to do is run and hide. “Your life does matter, dammit! You matter, Delaney. Now fucking tell me what’s so special about that stupid diamond.”
“It’s for my dad!” I yell, jerking away from his touch and stumbling back a step. Exhaustion washes through me, and I sink down on the edge of the worn couch and drop my face in my hands. The fight in me dissipates and, suddenly, I’m so tired. Weary to my bones.
God. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want to be Bella Diamond. I just want to be… me.
“Your dad?” he echoes, sitting down beside me. “I thought he passed away?”
Lifting my head, I rub my hands on my thighs, trying to compose myself. “He did. But he spent his entire life searching for that bloody purple diamond. After he died, I promised him I’d finish his search and I’d find it. For him.”
“And that’s why you’re about to run away now. Because Voss is going to send people after you,” he surmises.
I nod, reaching for the velvet bag. “This belongs to my dad. Not Voss.”
“So you’re just going to leave? Go into hiding for the rest of your life?”
“What choice do I have?” I shrug, plucking the diamond out and staring at its brilliant purple fire. Rumors say it’s cursed, and I’m beginning to wonder. Because even though it’s now mine, I’ve never been more unhappy. “He’ll come for me, just like you said.”
Ryder reaches his hand out, placing it beneath mine, and together we hold the legendary Phantom Orchid. But I’m more focused on his strong, warm hand cupping mine, and how damn good it feels.
“What if I told you that’s only a very small piece of the real Phantom Orchid?” His low, deep question vibrates through me.
My head jerks up, and I meet his soft brown eyes. “What’re you talking about?”
“We’re holding about five carats. The rest of it—approximately twenty-five thousand carats—is in a collapsed mine in Africa.”
My heart stutters, and my mouth drops open. Twenty-five thousand carats?
Bloody hell.