Page 177 of Risky Obsession

I’m in love.One thousand percent, scream it to the heavens in love.

The way he held me made me believe that he loved me, too, yet I needed to hear him say those precious words.

But I would wait for him. Hell, I’d wait a decade if I had to. After all the misery I’d put him through, I needed to be patient.

The last remnants of the sun’s glow vanished, leaving behind a sky adorned with stars.

Kane eased back from our embrace and a curious expression crossed his face. “There's something I want to show you.”

“Okay.” Clutching my hand, my curiosity piqued as he led me below deck to a room that always had the door closed. I’d spent five nights on Kane’s yacht and yet it was so big, there were still several rooms I hadn’t been into. This was one of them.

He opened the door and turned on the lights. Every inch of the room seemed to glow. My heart raced as I scanned the treasure trove of antiquities lining the walls. The sheer quantity of items took my breath away.

“Welcome to Pops’ legacy.” Kane swept his hands wide.

It was like walking into the Queen’s palace.

“Oh wow, Kane.” I stepped toward a row of shelves displaying stunning gold pieces that looked ancient, beautiful, and expensive. “Your pops found these?”

“Every single one.” His eyes filled with pride. “He spent his life traveling the world, searching for relics and artifacts that had been lost to time. These are some of his most precious pieces that I couldn’t part with.”

“They’re beautiful.” As I studied the leather cover of an ancient looking book with gold trimming on the spine and edges, I felt Kane’s connection to his pops. I could also feel Kane studying me. I wondered if showing me these stunning pieces was some kind of test from him. He was searching for my reaction.

Oh God, please don’t let me mess this up.

I’d promised Kane that I would never lie to him again. And I’d meant it. Whatever he asked me, I would answer it truthfully, even if it scared me.

I turned to him, my heart beating frantically in my chest. “These pieces are not just beautiful, but they tell a story of your pops and your history together. I can see how much they mean to you.”

A flicker of emotion shimmered in his eyes as he stepped closer, reaching for my hand. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

“Of course. Anything.”

“Archer contacted me earlier,” he said.

“Oh. Is he okay? And Rosalina, is she?—?”

He pressed his finger to my lips. “Will you let me speak?” His eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Sorry.” I sucked my lips into my mouth.

“Have you ever heard of the Calimala Treasure?”

I shook my head.

“It’s a treasure that was stolen from a Tuscan church by a priest during the Black Plague of 1348.”

“Okay.” I blinked at him, trying to work out where this was going.

“That treasure was put onto three galleons, but the boats never reached their destination and were missing for centuries. Archer has found two of them.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

“Sure is.” Beaming with a smile, Kane squeezed my hand. “Archer has invited me to help him search for the remaining third portion of that treasure.”

My heart sank. “You’re leaving me.”

“No.” His expression morphed into something so tender I nearly wept. “I’m asking if you want to come with me.”