Chapter 31 #2
“I know it's been over two weeks, but things are gradually coming to light. Like that suitcase, those gems, and the skeleton in the cave. And now these diamonds and what we found in the mine. We need to dig deeper. I’ve found all sorts of weird stuff going on with the books, and I have a feeling we’ll figure out what happened to Frank soon enough. ”
Kayden muttered under his breath and shoved another forkful into his mouth.
I glanced at Bella, and she gave a slight head shake. She knew the real reason I didn’t want the police involved. Because if Frank did turn up alive, we planned to deliver our own sense of justice.
Mitch's gaze swept to me, then back to Cassidy “Okay. We’ll keep digging.”
“What have you found in the books?” Kayden looked at me. “We don't have money problems, do we?”
I deflated and glanced at Bella. She nodded. Time for another truth. “Koolaroo's in the red. Has been for months. Nearly a year.”
“What the fuck?” Kayden threw his fork into his empty bowl with a clatter.
“I've been trying to fix it, but Frank blocked me every time. Told me not to tell you.” I felt like a fool. Frank had played me. I glanced at the diamonds. He was still playing me.
“What the hell?” Mitch straightened. “Why would he do that?”
The truth was typical Frank bullshit, but they needed to hear it. “He reckoned you all had your own jobs to do. Balancing the books is on me.”
“More like he wanted to keep us in the dark,” Mitch said.
“Yep.” I nodded. “About a whole heap of stuff.”
“How bad is it?” Cassidy asked. “The money, I mean?”
“Bad enough.” I pointed at the diamonds scattered across the counter. “Which makes these even weirder. He hid them rather than use them to save Koolaroo.”
Cassidy picked up one of the stones and rolled it between her fingers. “Can we use them now?”
“Absolutely. I have a guy who'll trade them for cash straight away.”
“So that's what we'll do.” Mitch looked at me. “Use that money however you need to sort the finances.”
I nodded, then groaned. “There's more. Frank took out a hundred-thousand-dollar loan from a loan shark. I've got no idea what the money was for.”
“Christ!” Kayden exploded. “What the hell have you been doing, Declan?”
I rounded on him. “Frank's been bullshitting all of us. That bastard's been messing with Koolaroo for years. I think he knew this place was about to implode, and that's why he pissed off.”
“Or he's dead,” Mitch said quietly.
Everyone looked at him.
He shrugged. “We have to consider it.”
Kayden stiffened. “Yeah, that's what you want, isn't it? 'Cause then, you inherit a fortune.”
Cassidy backhanded him.
“Jesus, Kayden. Calm down.” Mitch kept his voice steady. “Besides, it's not a fortune when Koolaroo's in the red.”
Kayden pointed at the diamonds. “It won't be in the red if we find more of those, right, Dec? That mine of yours could fix this place.”
“There will be more,” Bella said, slipping her hand into mine.
My chest tightened. For years, that mine had been a joke. Frank had never let me forget it. Now, it was going to save us.
“Yeah,” I said. “The diamonds from that mine can fund Koolaroo until the beef industry gets back on its feet.”
Charlie leaned forward, eyes bright. “You know, people would pay serious money to see that giant dinosaur skull, and to help excavate all those scattered bones. We could do three-day trips, set up nice tents, and with your delicious cooking, Bella, offer gourmet meals—glamping tours with dinosaur digs.”
“That's brilliant.” Mitch's eyes lit up as he put his arm around her. “You're a genius, you know that?”
Charlie blushed. “I just think it could work.”
“And I could chopper them to the site,” Cassidy added. “Charge even more.”
As the conversation flowed with ideas and possibilities, Bella squeezed my hand. Her eyes sparkled when I looked at her.
She leaned up and whispered in my ear. “Would you like me to make some cupcakes?”
The words sent heat straight to my groin. I whispered back, “Hell yes, but in my kitchen.”
She bit back a giggle. “I can think of ways to work up an appetite first.”
Good God, woman, you'll be the death of me.
Cassidy pushed back from the counter. “Well, I don't know about you lot, but I've got work to do. We're moving cattle from the western paddock to the northern grazing area. Should take four days. They'll be nice and fat by the time we transport them to market.”
Mitch looked up. “Need help?”
She smiled. “Thanks, bro. But I’m good. I've got Gus and the new bloke, Bevan. Young guy, but Christ, he's lazy. Still, we'll manage.” She turned to Kayden. “While I'm gone, can you replace the oil on my chopper? You've been saying you'll do it for weeks.”
“I'm running my ass off trying to get equipment fixed, but I'm waiting on a ton of parts.” He glared at me.
I scooped up the diamonds and put them back in the pouch, slipping it into my pocket. “I know. Now that I have these, I can fix up some accounts and get the goods shipped.”
“Speaking of accounts,” Mitch said. “We need to dig deeper into Frank's files. Since we found that suitcase and the link to Hawthorne Global in New York showing Frank was going to sell land, there's probably a ton of intel in those files that could link to the shit Frank's been keeping from us.”
“Oh, I know there is,” I said, resisting the urge to look at Bella.
“Then we need to go through this place, top to bottom, and see what else Frank's hiding. Starting with those files in your office, Dec.” Mitch held my gaze. “And his bedroom. Has anyone gone through that yet?”
“That's my cue.” Kayden nodded at Bella. “Delicious as usual. Good to have you back.” He strode out.
“Best pasta I've ever had,” Cassidy said, her smile softening her whole face. She was so busy bossing blokes around, I think she sometimes forgot she was a woman. “We're heading out first light tomorrow. Could you prepare some travel packs for the hands and me for a four-day run?”
Bella's smile was radiant. “It would be my pleasure.”
Cassidy nodded and followed Kayden out.
Charlie stood and stretched. “I've got some fossils back at home I want to keep analyzing. This particular species is giving me a real challenge.”
“You love it, though,” Mitch said, kissing her cheek.
“I do.” Charlie kissed him back, lingering. “Unless you need me here?”
Mitch shook his head. “No. Go play with those ancient bones.”
“Okay, if you say so.” Charlie smiled, and they said their goodbyes, leaving just Mitch, Bella, and me in the kitchen.
Mitch rubbed his hands together. “Right. Might as well get to it.”
“My office is too small for both of us,” I said. “You tackle the files there. I'll take some and my laptop back to my place.”
Mitch cocked his head, a sly grin spreading across his face as he looked from me to Bella. “Oh, really?”
I couldn't stop smiling as I held Bella's hand. “Yes, really.”
Bella slipped her hand free. “I’ll just grab a few things from the pantry.” She winked at me. “Give me two secs.”
In my office, Mitch and I stood in front of the six filing cabinets. Two were mine, the rest were Frank’s. Decades of paperwork were all crammed in there. God knew what else he'd been hiding.
“Pick a cabinet,” I said. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Mitch opened the one on the far left. “I'll start here.”
I chose the one at the other end.
Mitch grabbed a stack, and my chair creaked as he settled behind my desk. “Any idea what we’re looking for?”
“Nope. It's like that Hawthorne Global contract. I didn't think anything of it until that suitcase from the plane wreck had the same symbol on it.”
“That was a good catch, by the way. I don't know how you remembered that.” Mitch looked at me, with pride clear in his eyes.
I tried not to grin like an idiot. It felt damn good to be more than just the farm accountant for a change.
I grabbed my laptop and a handful of files. “We'll come back at dinner and go over what we’ve found.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Mitch said, opening the first folder.
I secured the files, laptop, and Bella’s supplies in the saddlebags, and Apollo carried us back toward my cottage. Bella's arms wrapped around me, her cheek pressed against my back. I could get used to this.
The sun had started its descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold. Koolaroo glowed under that light, turning the grass into a field of amber. Or maybe I was finally able to see her beauty. This place wasn't just Frank's legacy of lies anymore. It was ours to rebuild.
At the cottage, we dismounted and carried everything inside. I led Apollo to his paddock, and by the time I returned, Bella had changed into one of my old T-shirts and was pulling ingredients from the supplies she’d brought.
“What are you doing?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
She glanced over her shoulder, eyes shimmering with mischief. “Making good on a promise. Cupcakes for life, remember?”
My chest tightened. “I remember.”
Golden sunlight streamed through the kitchen window and caught in her copper hair, turning it to flame.
I crossed the room and slid my arms around her waist from behind, pulling her back against my chest.
She melted into me, her hands stilling on the mixing bowl. “You know,” she said softly, “when I came to Koolaroo, I thought I was here to end a life.”
“Hmmm,” I murmured against her hair.
“But instead, I started one.” She turned in my arms, tilting her face up to mine. Her eyes glistened. “Mine… with you.”
My heart kicked hard against my ribs. “And look at us. We're still breathing.”
“We're more than just breathing, babe.” Her smile turned fierce. “We're thriving.”
“I like that.” I brushed my thumb across her cheek. “And I love it when you call me babe.”
“Good.” Her smile softened. “And I love how much you love my cupcakes.”
I laughed against her mouth as I kissed her. “You promised me cupcakes for life.”
“And I absolutely meant it,” she whispered. “For life.”
I deepened the kiss, tasting sugar and everything that was her. She rose on her toes, pressing closer, and the world narrowed to this moment: her warmth, her breath, the way she fit against me, like she'd always belonged there.
When we finally pulled apart, she was breathless and smiling.
“I could do that for the rest of my life.” I grinned. “Kiss you and eat your cupcakes—in that order.”
Her laugh was bright and genuine, a sound I was already addicted to. She pushed playfully at my chest. “Then let me finish, or you'll never get those cupcakes.”
I reluctantly released her and dropped into a chair at the small kitchen table to watch her work while I tackled the files.
Bella hummed as she spooned batter into tins.
She no longer needed bandages on her burns, and although she said they didn’t hurt anymore, they would.
Some of those burns would scar. However, those scars were proof of just how tough my little woman was.
My heart swelled. The knowledge that she was mine and I was hers was everything.
She slid the tray into the oven and turned to face me, leaning her hip against the counter. “What are you thinking about?”
“You,” I said honestly, “and how I'm the luckiest bastard in the Outback.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. “Declan...”
“I mean it.” I stood and crossed to her, framing her face with my hands. “I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm not letting you go. Not ever.”
“Good,” she said, eyes shining. “Because I'm not going anywhere.”
I kissed her slowly, deeply, and full of everything I couldn't put into words.
When the sun finally dipped below the horizon, we were still standing there in my kitchen, wrapped around each other, the scent of vanilla filling the air.
She'd come to Koolaroo to end a life.
Instead, she'd given me a reason to begin my life for real.
Thank you for reading Outback Escape!
Did you enjoy Declan and Bella’s daring escape through the abandoned mine? I hope your heart was racing from both the thrilling chase and their beautiful love for each other. But there’s a whole lot more of the Branson family legacy to be revealed, and someone is still hiding the truth.
Cassidy Branson is the fiercely loyal Branson sister who has sacrificed everything to protect her family. But can she survive Xavier Hawthorne, heir to a billion-dollar empire who’s thrown it all aside to chase answers buried deep in the outback?
When Xavier arrives at Koolaroo Ranch asking dangerous questions, Cassidy wants him gone.
But after a deadly bar fight forces them to run into the brutal outback, keeping their distance becomes impossible.
Cassidy must choose between revealing a secret that could cost her the family she loves — and the man she's forbidden to fall for.
Forbidden attraction | Explosive secrets | High-stakes danger | Outback adventure
Find out what Cassidy’s been hiding in OUTBACK OBSESSION.
CAN'T WAIT? Turn the page to read Chapter One right now...