Page 64

“What do you mean,the caves?” Doyle said, reaching out. He grabbed her hand, like... like they might be a team.
“They heard that man talking today at the game, about the treasure being in the cave,” Elias said. “They snuck out at dinner...” He swallowed, put his arms around himself. “There are ghosts in those caves.”
Tia wanted to roll her eyes.
“You can smell them—the dead bodies,” said Elias, his eyes wide.
Dead bodies?
“Okay, we’ll find them, Elias,” she said, pulling him into a side hug. Then she looked at Doyle.
He nodded. “Yes. Yes we will.”
* * *
If he were planning a heist, tonight would be the night.
And of course, Stein couldn’t get that out of his head as he stood at the perimeter of the tented eating area, watching his boss mingle with the donors. He had no appetite, despite the aroma of roasted pork that seasoned the air.
A gorgeous night for a picnic, and frankly, he didn’t hate watching his brother Doyle play soccer on the beach with the kids. Doyle was smiling again, as if he’d finally shaken free of the grief.
Sorrow had a stranglehold on his brother, and maybe all this sunshine and sand and—okay, Tia, probably—had helped him breathe again.
Doyle had walked away with her after dinner, and it seemed the two were having a serious chat, given the way his little brother stood with his arms akimbo, watching the ocean.
Good.
He sort of wished he’d found the same full breath, but ever since he’d discovered the underground channel—and the fact that someone had broken into the vault—a terrible darkness had filled his chest.
Phoenix had found them.
He hadn’t seen anyone in the darkness of the cavern, but he’d felt eyes on him, just like he had nights ago on the balcony.
She was here, casing Declan’s place. He knew it in his bones.
“Are you going to eat?” This from North, one of the Jones, Inc. guys Declan had hired after Stein made a couple calls. Nice guy, former quiet professional who’d parlayed his years in the military into a private security gig. He’d brought food up to his cohorts watching the orphanage and returned to the beach. “I’ll keep an eye on your man.”
Stein shook his head. “Not hungry.”
North nodded, paused. “You were in the Krakow ambush. We heard about that—good to see you landed back on your feet.”
Sorta.“Thanks.” Stein watched as Declan moved around the tented area, talking to donors.
“Decided to leave the teams, though,” North said. “That’s a tough decision.”
Stein lifted a shoulder. “Medical separation.” He could finally say it without a trench digging through him. “Knees.”
“Right. Sweet gig you landed, working for Declan. Good guy,” said North. “Seems to really care about these kids.”
“He’s the real deal,” Stein said, lifting his chin to Declan as the man looked over at him.All good, sir.
“Not a lot of those left,” North said. “How long you been working for him?”
“A few months,” Stein answered. “Before that I was a dive instructor in St. Kitts.”
“That’s a hard gig, for sure. I can see why you gave it up.” He winked.
Stein grinned. “Reasons.”