Pocketful of Diamonds

by Pierce, Nicolette

  “It’s nothing. The stress of the day is probably getting to me.”

  “If you want me to call Duvine and cancel, just say the word. I’ll make up a story why we don’t need the plane.”

  Ian shook his head. “We’re already committed.”

  “Nonsense. If you’re uncomfortable with this, I’ll just lie to Duvine. He’ll believe me.”

  “I’d believe you too,” Ian muttered.

  “What do you mean?”

  He did not want to have this conversation now, but he had to know. It was eating away at his mind. “Your lies are believable.”

  “Of course they are. There’s no point in lying if no one believes you. Rather defeats the purpose. I still don’t see what the fuss is about.”

  “The fuss?” Ian echoed.

  “Yes. Why are you making a big deal out of this? If you were in my shoes, I’m sure you would have done the same thing.”

  “I’m not in a habit of lying.”

  “But I am?” she demanded.

  “Aren’t you?” He said it so coolly that even to his own ears it sounded like ice.

  Ian pulled down a narrow dirt path and parked next to a cluster of rocks that blocked the view to the sandy cove. They should be safe here.

  He started to climb out, but Gwen stopped him.

  “You didn’t answer me.”

  “I’m upset. I didn’t mean to take it out on you,” he said, grasping at his first go-to excuse when dealing with a woman he’d angered. He should have known it wouldn’t appease Gwen.

  “And now I’m upset. Were you expecting me to tell Duvine the truth?”

  “No.”

  “Then I was supposed to lie, but do so badly.”

  “No.”

  “Then what?”

  The tension that had been building in him overflowed. He could no longer contain the frustration and doubt. “When I heard you lie to Duvine, it made me question everything you’ve ever said to me. It was so easy for you. No catch in your voice, no twitch of a muscle. I bet you could have fooled a lie detector. So, I wonder how many of the things you’ve said to me were lies. Fifty percent? One hundred?”

  “That’s not fair,” she said. “I have no choice but to lie, and I’ve been doing so for over a decade. How do you think I’ve managed to stay alive and out of jail all of these years? You said you trusted me. Was that a lie?”

  “It must have been,” Ian clipped and jumped down from the jeep. “I must have taken cues from the best.” He tossed the keys onto the driver’s seat and emptied his pockets of all the diamonds that had been jabbing his thighs, tossing them in a heaped pile on the seat. “That’s so you don’t have to steal them.” He slammed the door closed and stomped down to the water’s edge.

  Immediately he regretted his actions and words but was still too upset to do anything but stare out at the black ocean that shimmered under the moon.

  Perhaps it was for the best. Gwen now had everything. She could make up her mind and he’d know for sure one way or the other. She could easily leave him here and drive down the coast to pick up her flight. They’d never have to see each other again. There’d never be a reason, since he was completely tapped out.

  But it wasn’t the thought of being broke that tightened his chest. It was the thought of never seeing Gwen again.

  He shouldn’t have said those things to her. She was right. She had to lie or face the consequences. She was protecting her father.

  Ian wanted to go back and tell Gwen he was sorry, but would it make a difference? This would always hang between them like barbed wire.

  Before he could make a decision, Gwen started the jeep and pulled away.

  He sunk into the sand.

  She was gone again, with his diamonds in tow.

  Whoever said “third time’s a charm” never met Gwen.

  Chapter 19

  Gwen tried really hard not to allow Ian’s cutting words to affect her, but they left a mark. He had a good reason—two good reasons—not to trust her. But she had thought they’d tiptoed through that. After tonight’s mess, she realized they still had a long way to go. Leaving him stranded probably didn’t help matters, but she didn’t want to stay. They’d both end up lashing out.

  After going to a small convenience store for supplies and much-needed space, Gwen returned the jeep back to the spot by the rocks, relieved to find Ian hadn’t moved. He was still there, a sitting silhouette looking out over the water. She could only imagine what was going through his mind.

  Unloading the supplies, she carried them over to Ian and dropped them down next to him.

  He looked up at her with a glazed sort of stare that pierced her heart. “Why did you come back?”

  “I never really left. I remembered seeing a small store a few miles back, so I went to buy a few things.” She tossed him the keys and a heavy cloth bag filled with diamonds.

  Gwen didn’t bother trying to read his reaction. Instead, she busied herself by spreading out blankets and two pillows. Once that was done, she kicked off her shoes and sat down on the makeshift bed with a grocery bag. She dug out a bottle of water and tossed it to Ian. Then she took one out for herself.

  She drank greedily. They had been running all day, and she couldn’t remember the last time they ate or drank. It must have been at breakfast.

  Crepes.

  They had crepes this morning after their wedding night. Which meant that they had been married a little over twenty-four hours.

  It was no wonder they were both on edge. Within just a day, they had married and were now fleeing the country, straight into Duvine’s lair.

  Not a promising start, but one they had to deal with.

  Gwen fished out two bags of chips and tossed one to Ian. He caught it with no trouble. He had been watching her warily.

  “They had other food there,” she said. “But it looked old, and we really don’t have the luxury of time to deal with food poisoning.”

  He eyed her.

  “One of Duvine’s minions called while I was at the store. The plane will be here in the morning. I gave her the coordinates but had to guess a little, seeing as I was three miles away.”

  “Why did you come back?”

  “I already told you, I never left.”

  She bit back a sigh when he looked at her, confused. Ian appeared lost, and it took all of her resilience not to walk over and hug him. She hadn’t meant to hurt or worry him; they just needed space.

  “Ian, I realize I have a lot to be sorry for, and I am. But I can only apologize so much. I also realize that you need time. You said you trust me, and yet that’s not possible. Not right now.” She shrugged and bit a corner of a chip. “I understand, and I’m not going to push the issue. Actions speak louder than words, and I plan to show you that you weren’t wrong about me.”

  He stood, dusted off his shorts and walked over to her. Kneeling on the blanket, he said, “Thank you for coming back to me.” He placed the cloth bag down beside her. “They’re yours.”

  Startled, she locked eyes with him. “What do you mean?”

  “Just what I said. They’re yours. After tonight, I’ll never trade in diamonds again. They only bring misery to too many people.”

  Gwen felt the weight of the bag and the weight of the responsibility.

  “They are yours. They brought me to you,” she said. “I know it wasn’t the best way to meet, but I’d never have met you otherwise. And anyway, you can’t give me these diamonds. They belong to you and Njamba.”

  “I don’t need them, and Njamba doesn’t either. They only attract criminals.”

  “True, but I was thinking of a business they could start.” Gwen smiled and sat up straight. “I was talking to Saba this morning, and she told me she wanted to design jewelry.”

  Ian shook his head. “Bringing in gems would be the same as mining diamonds.”

  “Wait,” she insisted. “What if she could design costume jewelry? It’s how I started, and I could show her. Anyone i
nterested could work with her. If not, I’m sure we can find other opportunities for the others. I think Saba would do well. Once she masters the craft, her pieces could generate enough to keep her and her family happy and healthy.”

  “You care about what happens to them.”

  “Of course I care. We just need to sort through one problem at a time. Once Duvine and his minions—”

  “Duvine has minions?”

  “I have no other words for them. You’ll see.”

  “Duvine and his minions can wait until tomorrow,” Ian said, cupping the back of her neck with his warm hand. “I have a lot of making up to do with you, Gwen.”

  She leaned in to claim the kiss that was waiting on his lips. “There’s no need to make up for anything.”

  “Are you sure?” he questioned. “I’m very good at apologizing.”

  “Are you?”

  As he closed in, removing all space between them, she fell back against the pillow. He smiled down at her. “I am.” He lowered himself to sink down next to her, his arm propping his head up. “I broke a promise to you, and I need you to forgive me.”

  “What did you promise?”

  “To give you the benefit of the doubt. I made that promise and yet I didn’t keep it. I’m sorry.”

  She curled into him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close until his lips were a breath away from hers. “Then I think you have a lot to make up for. Since I do too, I think we might be here all night.”

  “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

  * * *

  Ian looked out over the endless ocean. Not a speck of land in sight. Nothing. Gwen told him they were close, but he still didn’t see anything.

  The seaplane had arrived off the shore only an hour after they had woken. It was a small craft with floats to keep it bobbing on the water. Thankfully, the pilot was able to land near the shore and they only had to wade a short way to climb aboard.

  Since it was a small craft, it took many stops to refuel and an exorbitantly long time to reach the island.

  “There it is,” Gwen said with the same tone she might use while discussing a painful dental procedure.

  Ian looked out the window at the horseshoe-shaped island. Lush green hillsides towered over the pristine sandy stretches of beach that encompassed the land.

  While they weren’t able to discuss much since the pilot was in earshot, they were able to communicate a little, enough for Ian to know Duvine probably wouldn’t bother summoning them until tomorrow morning. Also, Gwen warned him not to talk to or around the minions. He doubted he would, but he wondered why Gwen kept referring to Duvine’s staff as minions.

  The plane descended, and within moments they landed alongside a pier, making their exit much easier.

  While Ian would rather be nearly any place than here, he was relieved to have arrived so he could stretch. The plane didn’t allow for standing or leg room.

  Gwen led the way down the pier and past sand so fine he wanted to dig his toes into it. It dipped beneath such clear blue water that he could see colorful fish darting here and there. Ian controlled his sudden urge to dive in and take Gwen with him.

  Instead, they walked onto a sprawling terrace and into a white building that was more glass than structure. The front room was an atrium filled with sweet-smelling and colorful flora that could be found on the island. He had noticed some of the bright plants from the plane.

  Birds sang and flew through the three-story structure, zooming past palm trees that dotted several paths throughout the atrium.

  “I want to go see my dad first, and then we can change.”

  “We don’t have anything to change into.” It was stupid of him not to bring a bag, but there had been too many other things to worry about.

  “You won’t need anything here. I’ll explain everything later. I really want to check on Dad.”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  While he knew Gwen’s father was being kept here against his will—or perhaps it was only against Gwen’s will—this place was hardly a harsh prison. But one never knew what happened inside the confines of walls.

  A blonde woman opened the main door for them. Normally he didn’t notice women’s hair other than if it was short or long, but hers was a short, blunt cut with bangs of the same fashion. Too severe for the youthful woman. She wore a tight white dress that he imagined was a stylish fashion for the nineteen-sixties, especially with the knee-high go-go boots.

  Gwen didn’t acknowledge her, just walked past. Ian slightly nodded a greeting, but the woman didn’t move.

  Odd.

  Gwen hurried through a foyer, down a corridor, and up a flight of stairs until she came to a door that was blocked by the same woman from downstairs. How did she get here so fast? Did she have to open every door?

  “Open,” Gwen demanded.

  The woman obeyed, and Gwen marched through. The bite in Gwen’s voice had him looking between the women. Obviously there was some bad blood. How could there not be? But this peculiar woman was not Duvine, and so once again, Ian gave a polite nod to the woman as he walked through. Like last time, she didn’t move.

  Gwen walked to the far end of the large bedroom, near the glass wall that looked over a mountainous hillside covered in dense greens. The landscape was ripe with wild flowers, bright in reds and yellows.

  A man sat in silence at the sitting area positioned in front of the windows. Staring blankly ahead, he wore a white kimono-style robe.

  “Dad?” Gwen sat down on the couch next to him.

  He looked at her, though no recognition formed in his features. Ian noticed right away the similarities between father and daughter. Especially the eyes. Only his weren’t sharp like Gwen’s. They were lost, glossy. His hair was also several shades darker than Gwen’s.

  “It’s Gwen, your daughter. Do you remember me?”

  He didn’t respond, just looked at the puzzle in front of him on the coffee table.

  “I can’t find the last piece,” he finally said.

  Gwen kneeled down to look under the table and then moved to search under the couch and two chairs. Ian stepped over to help.

  “Maybe it fell in between the cushions,” Ian said. He checked the chair cushions, not wanting to disturb the man on the couch.

  The puzzle was large enough that it could have taken him a few days to complete. The piece could be anywhere, especially if he wandered off with it and forgot.

  Gwen checked the couch, nudging her father over but still coming up short. “I’ll find it later, Dad.” She gave a tiny huffed breath as she brushed a wayward lock of hair out of her eyes. “I want you to meet my husband, Ian.” Gwen reached over to Ian, guiding him in front of her dad. He looked at Ian as if he were searching for something familiar. “Ian, this is my dad, Bruce Owens.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Ian said, reaching out to shake his hand. Bruce stared at the offered hand before finally shaking it. Suddenly, Ian realized he finally knew Gwen’s last name. “You’re Gwen Owens,” he stated as if it were a grand discovery. He didn’t know why he didn’t know this of her, but when they first met she wasn’t generous with personal information. Now that he knew, he felt a relief that he didn’t know he had needed.

  Gwen shook her head. “No, I’m Gwen Miller. As long as you can still stand the sight of me when this is all over.”

  “You want my name?” Ian hadn’t expected that of her. She was so independent that he didn’t even ponder her changing her name for him, but he liked it. Immensely.

  “I’ll change it once we get home.”

  They both looked at each other. Where exactly was home? He had no idea where hers was, and his was just a house with his name on the deed but not much more than that. He was even in the process of selling it. And, he doubted she would want to live in Njamba with him. Extended vacations, sure, but forever? No. He couldn’t even say the same for himself. Njamba was a place that would stay in his heart forever, but he didn’t want to
grow old there.

  “We’ll figure that out later,” Gwen said hurriedly, obviously having similar thoughts. “Let’s go and change. I could really use a shower.” Before leaving, she leaned over and kissed Bruce on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, Dad.” When he didn’t respond, her face fell.

  Ian couldn’t stand the look that darkened her eyes. He took her hand and led her to the door.

  It was sad. The man was only in his late fifties, perhaps early sixties. He should be able to remember his daughter. Did he have any other family? Or was it just him and Gwen?

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Ian asked Gwen as they walked out the door, past the woman who had opened it.

  “None. My mom died young, and Dad never remarried.”

  They walked up another flight of stairs and reached a landing that had views of the ocean. No other land could be seen.

  The same woman stood at a door near the staircase. How was that possible? He had only looked out the window for a few moments and didn’t see her come up the stairs. Were there secret passages?

  “Open,” Gwen snapped. She breezed through the door and into another bedroom that looked similar to the one they’d just left.

  When they were alone in the room, Ian asked, “How is she getting to the doors before us?”

  Gwen chuckled and wandered to a door off to the side. She opened it, revealing a bathroom. It also had a full wall of glass with views to the ocean. Thankfully, there were no neighbors.

  Gwen began to strip, tossing her shirt and shorts onto the floor. With light footsteps, she walked over to the shower with clear glass doors and turned on the water.

  Eyeing Ian and the clothes he still wore, she asked, “What are you waiting for?”

  “I seem to be a bit overwhelmed by this place.”

  “I was too at first.”

  “You didn’t tell me how the woman got to the doors before us.”

  Gwen tossed her bra at him. “You’re smart. You’ll figure it out. But what I want to know is why you’re still dressed.”