by E. M. Moore
My chest constricts. I’ve been wondering how we were going to juggle everything, but I’ve been hanging onto school with a tight grip. “How would that work? My scholarship—”
“I’ll handle it,” Stone answers. “It’ll be fine. We’re vulnerable at school, and besides, whoever my father has hired to find the treasure won’t be worried about schoolwork or going to class. Once this is all over, we’ll start back up again.”
He’s right, but I can’t help but feel defeated. School was my only ticket out of my father’s house, and to think I’m giving up that goal right now hurts even though it’s only being put on the backburner.
Stone reaches over to place his hand on my thigh. “I’m glad you liked the flowers.”
“I loved them.”
The silence that stretches between us on the way to Phoenix isn’t awkward. When we pass the city limits, however, nerves get the better of me, but Stone’s steady hand does wonders for calming my frayed emotions.
Our first meeting is in a glass high-rise building. He parks on the street, grabs his briefcase, and we walk toward the front entrance hand in hand. We take the elevator to the penthouse and the secretary greets us, smiling. She leads us straight into a conference room where Stone stops so abruptly that I run into his back.
“There he is,” a familiar voice grinds out, and my stomach tightens. I peer around Stone’s taut body and find Lance’s beady eyes greeting us. The wicked glint shining there promises danger, and after what happened at his mansion, I know he can follow through.
6
Stone guides me behind him again, shielding me from his father’s view. He reaches back to clasp my hand, squeezing my fingers tightly. “Hello, Father. Mr. Cummings.” His hard voice is all business, bursting in calm confidence—the complete opposite of the cacophony buzzing inside me.
“Come. Sit down,” Lance demands.
I peek at the other man in the room. He’s balding, sweat dots his brow above sharp eyes and a wide nose. He flicks his stare between father and son, and it’s evident that he’s not comfortable being here.
“I see you’re in another meeting,” Stone says, nodding at Mr. Cummings. “I’ll wait to speak with you when you’re free.” Stone starts to lead us from the room, but his father’s dark laughter stops us.
“Mr. Cummings insists. Don’t you, Fred?”
“Please. Stay,” the man deadpans in a voice that brooks no arguments. These are powerful men, and the fear deadening my limbs tramples any idea of running at the moment. I’ve seen what Lance can do.
Stone’s father beckons two men forward who are standing on the other side of the glass wall. They close ranks around the entrance, guarding the door. There are no visible weapons, but the threat is clear. We’re not to leave, and Lance, once again, is holding all the cards. For all I know, these two muscular guys could’ve been at Jacobs mansion that night, toting guns at his behest. Who’s to say they wouldn’t do the same right here, right now?
We turn to face the room again, and it’s clear how we walked right into this trap. The only person that can be seen through the wall of glass is Cummings, seated on the opposite side of a long, rectangular table with round corners. Lance Jacobs sits in the shadows to our right, hiding just behind the only solid wall in the room, a square jut out that most likely conceals a closet.
Stone turns to me, an apology in his blue-gray eyes. I shake my head, letting him know this isn’t his fault. He traces his fingers over my chin, a loving gesture that belies what’s really going on. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispers so only I can hear, his featherlight touch only grazing my skin. I tuck the feel of him away, memorizing the feel of his skin on mine so I can call it forward to use as strength if I need it. Stone turns, straightening his shoulders to address the room. “I thought you were hiding, Father.”
Lance snorts. “From what? You? No, Son. That won’t be necessary.”
I nearly laugh because if Lance isn’t afraid of Cole, he’s a moron. The smile on Stone’s face says everything I’m thinking. “You know who from.” Stone pulls out one of the high-backed chairs at the table and waves me into it before sitting to my right. Mr. Cummings and I lock gazes, and I can’t help but think that he and I are on the same page. His guarded expression is one of necessity, but his stiff demeanor says it all. Neither of us want to be here, and I wonder how the hell he got pulled into this shit.
“Thugs don’t bother me,” Lance growls.
I clench my hands into fists in response. I no longer count Cole as a thug. He may look the part, but there’s so much more to him than that. The way he opened up yesterday, I’m pretty sure I have a ride or die for life in him.
Slowly, I open the clutch on my lap. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but this isn’t the place to be with no backup. Ninja and the other guard are around here somewhere, but nothing is out of the ordinary at present. For all I know, they’re standing in the penthouse lobby, watching for threats anywhere else but here.
However, if I can contact Cole, there’s the added bonus that we happen to know Lance’s current location. I lift one end of my clutch until the corner of my phone peeks out.
“Well, you’ve got us here, what do you want?” Stone demands.
I peek up to find Lance lifting his hands as if in surrender. “I wanted to talk to you two. Just you two. I’m willing to overlook your transgressions regarding those half-wits Marissa and Cole. Perhaps I was too hasty in trying to marry you off when you’re so clearly enamored with your stepsister.”
Mr. Cummings glances at the two of us in disapproval, but he’s literally sweating bullets, so he has no room to judge. I tip the clutch a little more, trying not to draw attention to myself.
Stone scoffs. “You only say that now because Edward is dead.”
Mr. Cummings shifts in his seat and fans the sides of his suit open. Red streaks blotch his cheeks.
“I guess that’s one way to solve a problem.” Lance sighs. “I didn’t know Dakota had it in her.”
“I have a lot more than that,” I state, refusing to back down from this man’s scare tactics. He may hold all the cards in this boardroom, but he doesn’t out in the real world.
“Ahh, she speaks. I was wondering if you were going to let my son talk for you this whole time.”
I chuckle. He’s only attempting to get a rise out of me, but gaslighting won’t work.
“Why don’t we get this discussion over with.” Stone glares at Mr. Cummings. “My father’s presence must mean you’re not interested in moving your investments to Dakota and I who are—and always have been—the real team behind finding the treasure. Thank you for your consideration, but I have my answer.” Stone pushes his chair back, and attempts, once again, to flee the room with dignity.
“What’s interesting,” Lance starts, “is the information I found out about our thug friend and his connection to Dakota.” He pauses as if we’re either going to confirm or deny, which we don’t for obvious reasons. When we don’t bite, Lance leans over the table to lock gazes with me. “So, now I have a proposition for Dakota. I’ll leave your friend alone if you come work with my team. I know that together we can find the treasure.” He switches his attention toward Stone. “And I’ll no longer try to keep you two apart. I’ll wholeheartedly back your relationship. I’ll pay for your wedding, reinstate your family accounts, and give you everything that the union between you and Marissa entitled you to.”
My stomach churns. What does he mean reinstate Stone’s accounts? I had no idea he’d pulled anything from Stone, but I can’t act as if this is news to me. I school my features into a dead stare as Lance capitulates, “The Jacobs and the Wilders can once again work together toward greatness.”
His bullshit makes me want to laugh. He talks as if we’ve been working together for years, and that he didn’t blackmail me into joining forces with him in the first place. He never wanted to pair up, he needs me, and he’s finally realized it. That’s what this is
all about. He’s now comprehending that he knows nothing about the treasure, and we do.
I peek at Stone’s profile to see where his head is at and recognize the stubborn feathering of his jaw. No, there won’t be any partnerships today.
Lance tries again, shifting his eyes to me. The color is so like Stone’s but lacks the empathy and feeling I’ve come to love in his. “I can make you a rich woman, Dakota. Someone who’s grown up like you needs what I have. You work with me and you’ll never have to worry about anything ever again.”
“Except my conscience.”
“What’s a conscience when there’s a treasure to be found?” His eyes brighten with intrigue, but it rings faulty to me. He’s excited by all the wrong things. He wants the treasure for self-serving reasons. It’s not about history or recovering something great for him, it’s about prestige and wealth. Looks like one member of the Jacobs family is exactly as I had them pegged in the first place.
“You know, Lucas is going to be okay.” Stone’s voice dips into dangerous territory, snapping me back to reality where the treasure isn’t the most important thing. There are far more heinous reasons why I can’t work with Lance. “I thought you’d want to know,” Stone all but growls.
Lance laughs. “I heard about that. You think that was me?”
“Oh, I know it wasn’t you.” Stone’s hands clench on his lap, and I once again try to get my phone out now that this is heating up. “You wouldn’t dare get blood on your hands, but the people you hired were only doing what you ordered.” Stone turns toward Mr. Cummings. “He’s ruthless, and by the state of you, I’m guessing he has something over you, too. Get as far away as you can, Cummings.”
I flick my gaze up and find the man pale as fuck and looking as if he could pass out at any moment. I can’t believe this is the guy we were trying to get an investment from. He’s so meek.
“I’ll destroy you,” Lance snaps. “Do you really think you can survive without me? You don’t have any money. I’ll place barriers at your every turn. The only reason you’re anybody is because of your last name—my name.”
“No, Dad,” Stone sneers before I can speak up for him myself. “The only reason why I’m anything is because of my real family. Consider this our answer: Fuck off.”
Stone gets to his feet, and using his response as a distraction, I pull my phone out and press my contacts icon. Cole just happens to be my first contact by alphabetical order, so I press his name and then the Call button before slipping it back into my clutch. I hope if anything happens, he’ll be able to hear it and call for help.
“You’ll be ruined,” Lance taunts.
Stone reaches out for my hand and helps me to my feet. He keeps me on the opposite side of his father while we stroll toward the door, leaving Cummings behind. I almost feel bad for him. Whatever shady shit Lance is involved in must be big to have people sweating bullets while they sit at the same table as him.
“Son, turn around.”
“We’re leaving,” Stone calls out. His firm voice steels my shoulders. We’re feet away from our escape now. We just—
An unmistakable click sounds, and Stone and I stop in our tracks. I close my eyes, wondering how this is happening again. Our plan was to come here, plead our case, and ask men in suits to invest in us instead of Lance, but that’s not what’s happened at all. I’ve now completely immersed myself in a world that’s more dangerous than treasure hunting—and that’s saying a whole fucking lot.
I peek behind us and sigh. I didn’t see this coming. Cummings is on his feet, a silver pistol in his right hand. He aims the barrel at us, moving from my chest to Stone’s and back again.
“Don’t do this,” Stone pleads, slipping in front of me.
Lance stays where he’s at, safely concealed. “Reconsider your position.”
I grab onto the back of Stone’s suit, bunching it in my fists. He works his hand back to tangle with mine in reassurance. Heart beating rapidly, I peer around his body as Cummings wipes at the sweat dripping down the sides of his face. He flicks his gaze toward Lance, then back at us. Mumbling, he squeezes his eyes tightly before turning the gun on Lance. He darts his eyes toward us. “Leave,” he demands. “Go!”
He doesn’t have to tell us twice. We turn, and now there’s only the two guards at the door to get through. We rush forward, but Ninja and the other Dragon race into view, completely incapacitating the two suited men. Stone shoves me forward. Lance curses behind us, his words blistering the air as he tells Cummings what a piece of shit he is. I push open the door, and Ninja guides me quickly toward the elevator, his huge boa-constrictor arms wrapped around me and restricting my view. When we get in the elevator, I’m relieved to find Stone and the other bodyguard right behind us.
The doors close, leaving us safely inside, and Ninja presses a finger to his ear. “We got her, Boss.” He pauses. “Yes, sir.”
Stone walks toward me, forehead dropping to mine. “I had no idea,” he breathes.
“I know.” I’m surprised to find my voice shaky. Stone entwines my fingers in his, calming the tremors.
“Was Jacobs in the room?” Ninja questions.
I nod, and if I thought Lance’s litany before we left the conference room was bad, Ninja’s is on a whole other level. When he calms, he explains, “We’ll take you to the car. We won’t be getting the fucker today. By the time we get you two to safety and head back up, he’ll be gone.”
“I got an ID off one of his guys,” Cole’s other guard says
I rub my forehead, trying to relieve the pounding in my temples. “Thank you for helping,” I tell them both, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. I don’t think anyone believes they’re ever going to have a gun aimed at them, and this is more than once now. It doesn’t become old hat, at least not in my case.
“You did good,” Ninja praises. “Calling Cole was smart.”
“You called Cole?” Stone asks, his blue-gray eyes flecked with worry but also admiration. “Jesus, Dakota.” He wraps his arm around me, tugging me close. “That was perfect.”
His hard, warm body soothes my tremors. The elevator beeps, and Ninja and his friend flank Stone and me. They don’t pull weapons though I have no doubt they’re armed to the teeth. We walk through the lobby and head straight for the Audi parked at the curb a few spaces down. Ninja stays with us while the other walks the perimeter of the car, taking out a device and staring at the screen as he makes his rounds. “What’s he doing?”
“Checking for explosives and cameras,” Ninja explains.
I should’ve known. I’m relieved when he returns with the all clear. Stone slams his fist against the hood. “Fuck!” he roars, garnering the attention of a few oblivious passersby. I rest my hand on his back, and he tenses. He stays this way for a while before turning toward me, determination brimming in his irises. “What would you say about still going to the rest of the meetings? I can’t let him win, Dakota. I’ve been under his thumb my entire life, and there’s no way he’ll show up at every single one of the meetings. That was his shot, and he didn’t get what he wanted.”
Stone’s eyes are complete fire, desperately calling to me. “You didn’t tell me about your accounts.”
He shakes his head. “He hasn’t taken everything. I’m a lot smarter than he thinks.”
“But?”
“But he’s taken a lot.” Stone worries his lip. “I need some of these investors to choose us, Dakota. It’s imperative.”
I already knew my answer, but I turn to Ninja for a safety confirmation. “If we go….”
“We’ll be in the conference room with you. Boss is already going to have our asses, so maybe this will be a bit of redemption.” He mashes his fists together, and I quake at the idea of being on the receiving end of those knuckles.
I flick my gaze to Stone and squeeze his hand. “Let’s do it. I have faith in us.”
7
Two of the four meetings ended in contracts with Wilder-Jacobs Treasure Hunting.
Yep, Stone did that. In his briefcase were legally binding contracts with our conjoined name, and I didn’t know that fucking someone in a boardroom was on my sex to-do list, but it became a goal of mine today.
He put me first.
He put me first.
He explained to the apprehensive businessmen that Lance had already effectively voided their previous contracts for a violation of one provision: the gentleman’s clause. Turns out, shady motherfuckers shouldn’t put a provision in a contract that says all treasure hunting attempts will be honest, true attempts with absolutely no illegal activity.
At the end of the day, we got the bastard where it hurt him most—his bank account.
Word must have gotten out that we were splitting from Lance because two of his other investors called Stone on our way home to negotiate a deal with us. The extra contracts were more than we’d hoped for. Well, it was more than I’d hoped for. I didn’t think any of the businessmen would take us seriously. I thought they would take one look at me and decide there was nothing I could do that Lance Jacobs couldn’t. However, it turns out Stone is an excellent negotiator. He even had me convinced that by search-end we would have the treasure in hand and the only reason we were going to do that was because of me. I am the cornerstone in this venture.
“Did you really mean all that?” I ask as Stone drives us home.
He drops one hand from the steering wheel to his lap. “What part?”
“You said I was the key to finding the treasure. You told everyone that.”
“I’ve always believed that,” he tells me, briefly glancing at me to drive his point home.
“Because of the information my family has?”
He shakes his head. “Not even remotely, Dakota Wilder. Because you’re you, that’s why. Because even when you looked as if you were dragged through the trenches, you always showed up, determined. Your light always burned brighter than your father’s.”