Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Declan
I jolted awake. Bella bolted upright beside me. Some asshole was banging on my front door. “Don't worry.” I kissed her bare shoulder. “It'll be my sister.” Damn, she was impatient.
“Hey, Declan. You alive?” Cassidy banged on the door again.
“See?” Groaning, I slipped out of bed and pulled on a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved button-down shirt to cover all my bruises and the nasty scratch marks up my forearms.
Sunshine streamed into the bedroom through gaps in the curtains, but I had no idea what time it was.
Bella and I had taken well over a day to return to my cottage.
We’d spent two nights sleeping under the stars, and we’d walked part of the way to save Apollo.
Since we'd arrived home, we'd done nothing but sleep, snack, tend to each other's wounds, get rid of all the evidence of that brutal fight on my front steps, and have mind-blowing sex.
“Come on, bro, it's been days,” Cassidy yelled. “What the hell are you doing? Actually, don't answer that.”
“I'm coming,” I yelled across the cottage as I did up my shirt buttons. “Christ almighty,” I muttered. My sister had the patience of a hungry dog.
I yanked open the door and squinted against the blazing sunshine.
Cassidy jumped back. “You're alive,” she bellowed, and pulled me in for a hug.
“Hey, sis.” I tried not to wince as she seemed to squeeze nearly every bruise on my body.
Cassidy eased back and ran her gaze over me. “Jesus, you still look like shit.”
“Thanks.”
She clapped my shoulder. “I mean it in the nicest way.”
Bella appeared at my side, looking damn sexy in one of my T-shirts. “Hi, Cassidy.”
“Hi, Bella. You two were supposed to be resting, not wearing each other out.” Cassidy winked at Bella.
“Oh, umm…” Bella curled her hair behind her ear.
“Leave her alone.” I wrapped my arm over Bella's shoulder and tugged her to my side.
“Relax.” Cassidy waved a hand. “Now, get dressed. We need you at the ranch.”
“Why? What's wrong?”
Cassidy ran her hands over her hair and fitted her cowboy hat back on. “We’ve just got stuff we need to sort out. That's all.”
“About Frank? Has he been found?”
“Yeah, and no, he hasn't turned up. But there's other stuff we need sorting.” She looked at Bella. “Plus, we could use a decent meal for a change if you're up for it. Not sure I can eat any more Vegemite sandwiches.”
Bella giggled. “Of course.”
“Cool.” Cassidy strode across the verandah, marched down the stairs, and jumped onto her horse in one movement.
“Don't take long, or I'll send in my brothers.” She leaned into Jupiter's neck and galloped away like she was being chased by dingoes.
Two of the farm dogs burst from around the cottage and tore after her, barking excitedly as if she actually was.
Fifteen minutes later, Bella and I were showered and dressed.
I pulled Bella close and planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “You ready for this? My family can be chaotic.”
She heaved a big, yet contented sigh. “Absolutely.”
“That's my girl.” I tucked the pouch of uncut diamonds into my jeans pocket. “Come on then.”
Outside, we made our way to Apollo's paddock. He trotted over the moment he spotted us, most likely expecting a treat. While I saddled him, Bella rubbed his velvety nose, and he nudged her hand, flicking his ears forward. Bella’s giggles captured me in so many ways, making me want to believe that all our troubles were behind us.
But they weren’t. Not while that asshole Frank was still unaccounted for.
I swung up into the saddle first, then reached down for Bella. She gripped my forearm, and I hauled her up behind me in one smooth motion, a move we'd perfected over that long ride home. Her arms wrapped around my waist, her chest pressed against my back. It felt damn good.
“Comfortable?” I asked.
“Sure am,” she murmured against my shoulder blade.
I clicked my tongue, and Apollo set off at an easy walk, carrying us toward whatever chaos waited at the homestead.
As Apollo's hooves crunched across the dry grass, Bella's arms tightened around my waist. “Are you going to tell them about Frank sabotaging the mine?”
“Yes. They need to know everything.”
“Hmmm.” The sound thrummed in her throat, a sure sign she wanted to say something but didn't know how. I waited.
“Including our plan to kill him?”
“If it comes up.” But the reality was, Frank had been missing for over two weeks. He'd never been away from Koolaroo for more than three days, and that was usually because he’d drunk too much rum at the Rusty Swagman and couldn't find his way back till he sobered up enough to drive.
The main homestead came into view. A field of cattle stretched as far as I could see.
Gus rode in on Orion, dismounted near the main fence, and disappeared around the side.
It looked like Cassidy was getting ready for another cattle drive.
The thought made me shudder. All those bulls and overnight camping under the stars. Give me my own bed any day.
Especially with my sexy naked woman beneath the sheets with me.
As I rounded the corner of the homestead, I caught sight of Kayden striding across the verandah, scowling like he'd had the worst day of his life. My younger brother sure carried some anger. Maybe he wasn't happy about having to make decisions about Frank.
My chest tightened as I pulled Apollo to a stop next to Jupiter.
Time to face the music.
We followed the voices to the kitchen. Everyone was crowded around the island.
Mitch leaned against the counter, arms crossed.
Charlie sat perched on a stool beside him, her auburn hair pulled back in a messy bun.
Cassidy had claimed her usual spot near the window, cowboy hat still jammed on her head.
And Kayden stood by the fridge, his blond hair wild and so long it brushed his shoulders.
“'Bout time you showed up,” Kayden drawled. “Thought maybe you'd died out there.”
“Just catching up on sleep.” I guided Bella forward with a hand on the small of her back.
It was good to see Charlie here. “How are you doing with the dinosaur fossils?”
Her face lit up, then dimmed. “It's bittersweet, honestly. I still have that enormous skull we found, which is incredible. But so many bones were washed away in the flood. It's heartbreaking.”
“They'll turn up when that creek bed dries again,” Mitch said, squeezing her shoulder.
“Hopefully.” Charlie managed a smile. “Though it's going to be a nightmare sorting out those skeletons now that they're scattered everywhere.”
“You love it.” Mitch kissed her forehead.
It was good to see my older brother happy again. Pity I couldn't say the same for Kayden.
“Any update on Frank?” I asked.
“Nope,” Kayden said. “Damn bastard's a ghost.”
Cassidy pushed off the window frame. “What about you, Dec? You got any news?”
The room went quiet. All eyes turned to me.
I swallowed hard. “Yeah. I've got some info.”
Bella slipped away from my side. “How about I make fettuccine carbonara for lunch?”
Cassidy clicked her tongue. “I have no idea what that is, but if you're making it, I'm in.”
Bella grinned. “You'll love it.” She walked into the pantry, disappearing from my view.
“Check out what Bella and I found in the abandoned mine.” I pulled the pouch from my pocket and upended the gems onto the counter, the uncut diamonds scattering across the timber countertop.
Everyone froze.
“What the hell are those?” Kayden grabbed one, holding the ugly gem up to the light.
“Uncut diamonds,” I said.
“Diamonds.” Cassidy whistled as she pinched one between her fingers. “Where'd you find them?”
As Bella pulled bacon, eggs, and parmesan cheese from the fridge, I told them how we'd found the diamonds in the mine.
As I spoke, my gaze kept drifting to her.
I watched her work, expecting her to chime in, but she was lost in her own world.
The way she chopped the bacon, cracked eggs into a bowl, and the concentration on her face were mesmerizing.
She loved what she was doing. Finally, she glanced my way and smiled.
Christ, she's stunning. And I'm so damn lucky she's mine.
I finished by telling them my belief that Frank had sabotaged the diamond mine.
The silence stretched, uncomfortable and heavy. Nobody seemed to know what to say.
Bella broke it by placing a massive bowl of pasta on the counter, creamy and rich, dotted with crispy bacon and black pepper. The smell of garlic and cheese filled the kitchen. “Hope you're hungry.”
“Hell yeah. I’m starving,” Kayden said, moving closer to the bench.
Bella handed him a bowl with a generous serving. “Buon appetito,” she said, smiling.
“Thanks.” Kayden grabbed the meal and fork and stepped back.
“So how much are those diamonds worth?” Mitch asked.
“About three hundred grand. Give or take.”
“Bloody hell,” Cassidy said around a mouthful. “For just those little things?”
“Yep.” I pointed at the biggest diamond. “That one alone is worth about seventy-five grand.”
“Jesus, we're in the wrong business.” Cassidy shook her head and scooped pasta into her mouth.
We stood around the kitchen bench, eating Bella's delicious carbonara, and for a moment, nobody spoke.
Finally, Cassidy set down her fork. “I know you didn't want to call the cops,” she said, glancing at Kayden, “but Dad's been missing for fifteen days. It's time we tell Bob Ackerman what's going on.”
“No.” Kayden glared hard enough to burn holes through us. “You know what that'll—”
“I agree with Kayden,” I cut him off.
“Thanks, bro.” Kayden nodded and seemed surprised that I’d backed him.
“Why wait?” Cassidy said, giving Kayden a playful slap on his shoulder.