Page 58 of The Diamond Thief

23

Jacob

I’m not sure if I am more surprised or disappointed in Jade. She wants to make a deal? Now?

She sits next to me on the bed, and I admit to be being more than a little distracted by the knowledge that she is not wearing panties.

I’ve never been the person who was bound in a sexual encounter. I’m still trying to settle in after this new and strange development.

“Surely a head such as yours can find its way out of here,” I say. “The exit from the motel room was probably the hardest part.”

She looks around. “I know. But I’ll tell you straight up that when I took the swords, I did not have a clue that they were so valuable.” A lock of blond hair falls against her cheek, and she seems annoyed as she tucks it behind her ear.

“So what’s your proposition?”

“I’ve done what I need to do,” she says. Tiny white teeth bite her lower lip. She’s not controlling her expression with me. Interesting. “I see no need to take the swords from you. It would get messy if we involved buyers.”

“Why is that?”

She fiddles with her sweater. Whatever this part of her story involves, she’s not ready to let me in on it. Side jobs or double crosses sometimes occurred within the Den. It would not surprise me that they would use their beautiful young operatives on the front line of the initial infiltration.

Perhaps she needs a little guidance on this matter. Such internal rebellions are not taken lightly by Antony. At best he would evict violators from the Den. At worst he would dispatch them from this earth.

“Can I help you somehow?” I ask. “Are you in over your head?”

She rubs her temples. “No. It’s fine. Is it possible to ask how long I’ve been gone? It might be an issue if I have an extended absence without checking in.”

“Check in with who?” I ask. My hackles go up. What has she gotten involved in? And is it against me?

She shakes her head. She won’t say.

“Do you need my help?”

“No,” she says. “You should stay out of it now.”

“Is that why Antony was following us?”

“I may have started a war.”

“What do you mean, a war?”

“It’s…a lot.” She won’t meet my gaze.

“Has Antony tailed you before?”

“No,” she says. “At least not openly.”

“I will speak to him.”

“Oh, like when you tried calling him from the car?” She stands up and slowly walks the room. “He took your call so quickly then, right?”

“You have to be up front with me about what we’re into if you want my help. Antony is formidable.”

Unease slides through me, resting heavy in my belly. If he’s really going after her, she would have to change her look again. I don’t even know where to take her to get her away from Antony’s clutches. He’s everywhere.

A light blinks high on the wall. The perimeter warning. I’m not concerned. People have found the dirt road to this bunker before. It’s perfectly concealed. No one will find their way in.

But I need to get to the bottom of her confession.