Pocketful of Diamonds

by Pierce, Nicolette

  He laughed at her single-mindedness, which would normally be in sync with his. But this place, combined with the odd door woman, and the lack of Duvine or guards’ presence had him baffled. He’d expected a much different reception.

  Ian shucked off his dirty clothes, thankful to be rid of them. They still smelled of musky river from yesterday’s mining.

  Joining Gwen in the roomy shower, he was happy to find her already wet, with warm water caressing her skin. He stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her shoulder.

  “For a dangerous place,” he murmured into her neck, “I feel safe. Too safe.” He pulled her back against his chest, her body molding against his, her bum nestling against his growing need.

  “We’ll be left alone until tomorrow,” she said, wiggling against him.

  “Then I’d hate to waste this time.” He took her hands and placed them on the tiled wall in front of her, bending her slightly forward. She shifted, and he couldn’t help but groan as her sweet rear pressed firmly against him.

  Thank God they had tonight. While he felt safe right now, experience told him a brewing storm would follow.

  He let his hand drift down Gwen’s form. For her, he would brave anything.

  Chapter 20

  Ian bit into a piece of toast and shifted uncomfortably. The bedroom chair he sat in was decent enough. It was the damn white kimono-style robe that felt wrong, especially without underwear.

  He had never thought much about underwear one way or the other, but now he missed them. Dressed in only a robe, he felt adrift, loose, drafty . . . uncomfortable. Knowing Gwen was similarly dressed—or undressed, he should say—he thought of tossing off the robes and taking her back to the soft bed they had thoroughly enjoyed last night.

  “Don’t even think about it,” she said.

  “What?”

  “Your gaze keeps drifting to the bed. I expect Duvine to summon us any moment.”

  He sighed. “I forgot how much I missed a soft mattress.”

  “Yours is rather hard at the hut,” she agreed. “But I’m sure you don’t have many options there.”

  “Not many,” he echoed. “Do you normally have to wait for Duvine to summon you?”

  She nodded and then sipped her tea. “It’s just another play to make me remember who is in charge.”

  “It’s crazy, but I still don’t feel threatened. This is like being at a spa. I even got a massage last night.” He winked at her.

  A secret smile tugged her lips.

  He could have sat in the cozy room with her all day, but he had to prepare himself. Duvine was smart to try to lure them into feeling safe. It was easy to lay down defenses while in a plush house with all your needs taken care of.

  Except underwear.

  Gwen wouldn’t answer many questions about Duvine. When she did, she was evasive. The most he gathered was that Duvine was eccentric and off his rocker. Ian could have figured that out on his own.

  “What should I do with the stones?” he asked. “It’s not like I have pockets in this getup. Not that’d I’d want to bring them within a hundred feet of Duvine, anyway.”

  “Actually, you will give them to him.”

  “What?”

  “He won’t let us leave without them.”

  “Then we give up?”

  “I never give up,” she said. “I also know he’s expecting them, and I’d rather not make him angry.” Gwen set her cup down and leaned closer, whispering, “Listen, I know you don’t understand, but Duvine is impossible to explain fully. Give him the diamonds now, and I’ll try to steal them later.”

  “Steal them?” he whispered as well, though he felt like shouting. “We have no means to leave except by him.”

  “Duvine won’t want me here longer than necessary. If I’m here, it means I’m not collecting. He loves his collection above all things. Your diamonds are not a part of that collection and might be easier to remove.”

  Ian guessed he understood what Gwen was trying to do, he just didn’t understand the logistics. Since she was the professional, he’d have to allow her the lead.

  Honestly, he was tired of fighting with the world. This past night with Gwen sealed it for him. A shift had been growing in him for months now, but it made the final flip last night.

  He wanted simple.

  He wanted domestic.

  He wanted safe.

  He wanted Gwen all to himself without the strings Duvine imprisoned her with.

  He loved her.

  Gwen stood when a knock on the door flagged their attention. She lifted the cloth bag with one hand and held the other out to Ian. “We’re on.”

  Ian stood as well and wrapped his hand around hers. “Whatever happens, just know I love you.”

  When she blinked at him, he realized he had stunned her. He didn’t care. Life was so conflicted and messy. Gwen was the one thing he knew for certain. While he may not understand how she affected him, he knew his heart.

  Gwen slowly smiled then bounced up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you too. Remember that when I completely turn on you later.”

  He raised a brow. “That’s not normally how people declare their love.”

  “We aren’t normal.” She leaned in to whisper, “Everything here is an act. Everything except the way I feel about you.”

  She led the way out, the cloth bag carelessly swinging in her hand.

  The woman from yesterday stood at the doorway dressed in the same outfit. Ian assumed it must be a uniform because he never met a woman who wore the same clothes two days in a row.

  She didn’t speak, just led them to a ridiculously large conference room that was filled end to end with an equally ridiculously long table. A man sat at the far end, dressed in the same style robe that he forced everyone else to wear. It tugged on Ian’s mind that Duvine might not be wearing any underwear either. He didn’t know whether to be amused at the absurd situation or traumatized.

  Briefly, Ian wondered why the door woman didn’t have to wear the same getup.

  Wait, she was standing next to Duvine. How did she get over there? She had just opened the door. Ian turned around to find there was an identical woman still there.

  There were two?

  Ian must have voiced his thoughts aloud because Gwen shook her head and whispered, “There are twenty or so. I can’t seem to add them up because they won’t stand still. Welcome to the loony bin.”

  Ian looked back at Duvine, noticing for the first time he held a white cat, his hand lazily petting it.

  “Sit down,” Duvine said softly.

  Ian looked to the table, noticing the small speaker that carried Duvine’s voice across the room.

  Following Gwen’s lead, Ian sat next to her in one of the chairs located at the opposite end of Duvine. Nonchalantly, Ian peeked at the floor, hoping he wasn’t sitting on a panel that would drop him into a hidden shark tank. He didn’t see any wires that would electrocute him either.

  Okay, so his mind was teetering on the edge of movie versus reality, but this didn’t look like any reality he knew.

  One of the women, he wasn’t sure which, stopped near Gwen with an empty gold tray. Without a word, Gwen dropped the cloth bag on the tray and settled back in her chair as if bored.

  The woman walked the tray down to Duvine. Ian swore it took her a full minute to traverse the room. Duvine took the bag and waved her away.

  Ian wished he could see Duvine better. All he could make out was average brown hair and a long oval face. No facial hair. Ian tried to recall Duvine’s commercials, but he had never paid much attention to them.

  Duvine poured the stones on a black cloth in front of him and took out his loupe, inspecting a few of the larger ones.

  “Nice, very nice.” He removed the loupe and looked up. “You’ve done well.”

  “Thank you,” Gwen said automatically.

  “But you also brought an outsider.”

  “We’ve discussed this,” she said. �
��Will there be a problem?”

  “I already have one of your family members here. I wasn’t looking for a second.”

  “Ian stays with me.”

  Duvine collected the stones, dropping them back into the bag and handing them off to the woman with the tray. She walked away, her heeled shoes clicking with each step. Soon, she disappeared through a door behind Duvine.

  As soon as the diamonds were out of his sight, Ian felt sick. And it wasn’t just because the last of his funds were snatched from him. He felt nauseated being in the presence of someone so delusional. The fact that Gwen played along was smart on her part, but once again she played her part too well and he had to remember that he too had a role to play. He still wasn’t sure what that was, but he’d find out soon.

  “Tell me about the new mine,” Duvine said.

  Gwen looked to Ian. “Darling, why don’t you tell Duvine about your new purchase?”

  Was she serious?

  Ian sighed. Of course she was. God, he was so lost he felt as though he were dropped into a pitch-black bouncy house. He wanted out. He’d almost rather the rebels had found him first.

  Almost.

  “We haven’t secured the land yet,” Ian finally said, taking cues from Gwen. “But it’s just a technicality, and we should have access soon. It promises to be an even wealthier mine. The river that winds down the hills deposits stones at the bend. It’s located just down the stream from the mine we are closing, so I’ll have workers at the ready.” A foggy idea emerged. “However, someone leaked photos, and we had to make a run for it. Right now, it’s not safe to return.” Ian paused in thought. “But, if you were there, no one would dare to overtake us.”

  “I don’t involve myself in squabbles,” Duvine said. “I am only interested in the final product.”

  Ian nodded slowly. “I see.”

  Duvine stroked the cat. “I don’t think you do. You will return to Sierra Leone and mine diamonds until every last stone has been unearthed. I don’t care if you have to fight a war, but you’d better deliver the results to me.”

  “Okay,” Ian said warily. “Return us to the mine and we’ll get to work right away.” Ian hoped it would be easier to lure Duvine to the mine where the warring fascists could have him. But Duvine didn’t want to get his hands dirty, just like Gwen had told him. What else had she told him? There had to be some tidbit that could be used against him.

  “Wrong again, Ian,” Duvine said. “You will return. However, Gwen will not. She has other work to see to.”

  “She’s my wife.”

  “Then you’d hate to see her die.” Duvine stroked the cat again, daring Ian to challenge him.

  “You wouldn’t kill her. She’s too valuable.”

  “She’s grown sloppy. I can easily replace her.”

  This was exactly how Gwen was ensnared. Well, maybe not exactly, but she had exposed her father as her weakness and now Ian exposed Gwen as his.

  Duvine would keep them apart and blackmail them until he had every bloody diamond on earth. This had to stop. If it wasn’t them sitting in this web, then it’d be someone else.

  Duvine smirked.

  Ian clamped his hand on his knee to keep it from shaking.

  Gwen noticed and turned to Duvine. “Surely you’ll allow us a honeymoon. It’d be certain death if Ian returned to Sierra Leone right now. And I’m still gathering intel on the Faith Diamonds you wanted. I can do that anywhere.” When Duvine didn’t answer, she continued. “I’ve been working for you for over ten years with no break. Give us a week or two. We’ll be refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges you require.”

  “No. You’ll both leave with your assignments tomorrow.”

  “Permission to address you privately,” she said sweetly.

  “Granted.”

  Gwen stood and walked down to the other end of the table. Ian couldn’t hear what she said to Duvine, but it seemed to have the desired effect. His eyes widened and his hand stilled.

  With a single nod, he stood and transferred the cat into a door woman’s arms and walked over to Ian.

  Ian stood to face Duvine, preparing for whatever might happen.

  “You have one week,” Duvine said. “You and Gwen will remain on this island as my guests. If you think for one moment you can trick me, I will kill someone you love.”

  “You have my word. I don’t want Gwen hurt.”

  Duvine laughed. “Not Gwen. She is too useful, like you said. I’ve researched you and your family. There are so many members to choose from. Maybe your pregnant sister-in-law? I guarantee my reach extends far. Even as far as your family in Las Vegas. Do I make myself clear?”

  Ian gave a stiff nod.

  “Make wise decisions and you’ll be rewarded.” Duvine walked out the door, his billowing robe and minions following behind him.

  “Ian?”

  He turned to Gwen. “Now I understand why you call them minions.”

  She stepped close to him. “You wouldn’t have believed any of this if I’d told you.”

  “I would have believed you, but I wouldn’t have understood it. He’s insane.”

  “Certifiably.”

  “What did you say to him to make him change his mind?”

  “That I needed more time with you. I had to make sure you love me enough that you could be controlled.”

  “Good thing he doesn’t know I already am.”

  “You’re teasing. Stop it.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  She looked at him, and the rest of the world threatened to dissolve. Since he had to keep his wits, he said, “Anyway, you bought us a week.”

  She nodded, and he noticed she looked tired; dark rings had made home under her eyes.

  “Why don’t we go back to the room. You look as though you’ve gone one too many rounds with Duvine.”

  She waved off his concerns. “I’m always a bit exhausted after dealing with him.”

  “Why does he take your word? You seem to be able to make him listen, yet he’s still blackmailing you.”

  “It’s hard to explain.” Gwen thought for a moment. “Did you ever hear stories about captives who fall in love with their captors?”

  “Yes.” Ian frowned. “Do not tell me you fell in love with him.”

  “Don’t be absurd. Over the years I’ve made it seem as though I had, however. It makes it easier for me to push for small victories. If he thinks he has me wrapped around his finger, he’s more likely to give me a wider berth. And he takes better care of my dad.”

  “Then how does he feel about our marriage?”

  “From our short conversations, he probably thinks I did it just to get to your diamonds.”

  “Has he ever tried to act on your pretend feelings?”

  “No.”

  “No?” Ian hated the thought of anyone other than him touching Gwen, but Duvine had a perfect opportunity. If he wanted to sleep with Gwen, it’d be easy enough to manage, especially if Gwen didn’t want to blow her cover.

  “I don’t think he likes women.”

  “Oh.”

  “No, not that either. I don’t think he likes anyone except for himself. He’s only interested in diamonds. And that damn cat.”

  The cat?

  Ian grimaced, hating that his mind went there. But it did.

  Gwen smacked his arm and laughed. “Not that either.”

  Ian shivered. “Let’s get out of here. This place freaks me out. Are there sharks under the floor?”

  “Yes, the floor opens up with a flip of a switch and Duvine drops his nemesis down into the tank. The sharks rip the victims to shreds.”

  Ian stood motionless, dumbfounded.

  Gwen laughed and poked him in the ribs. “I’m kidding. You watch too many movies.”

  Ian’s heart dropped back to its normal rhythm. “It’s hard not to connect the two. With this compound, the cat, the minions, the freakishly long table . . .” He shrugged sheepishly. “Active imagination.”

  She to
ok his arm, hugging him to her side and proceeded to wander to the door. “It took me a while to get used to this.”

  “Does he always stay here?”

  “Not always. He has many houses spread around the world. But he normally spends his time here and then goes back to the U.S. for business. I’m sure he’ll have to go again soon to make new ads.”

  “Is there anything you can hold over him?” Ian whispered, wondering if there were ears in the hall. “There has to be a way to control him. He can’t always maintain dominance. There has to be something that we can do to turn the tables.”

  “I’ve tried over the years, but he seriously doesn’t care about anything other than diamonds. I even threatened to tell his wife.”

  “He has a wife?”

  “Not really. They are married, but it’s just another one of his minions. All for show so he can have someone to bring with him to events. She lives in his U.S. house to maintain appearances while he’s gone.”

  “It’s freakish how they all look the same. How did he convince them all to become mindless drones?”

  “I have a theory, but you probably don’t want to hear it.”

  “Cloning.”

  She nodded. “I have an active imagination too.”

  Ian groaned. “My head is beginning to hurt.”

  She smiled. “Hopefully we won’t have to deal with him for long.”

  Ian agreed. He didn’t want to stay in this compound any longer than he had to.

  “You’ll feel better after a swim,” she said. “A dip in the ocean will be just the thing to clear your mind.”

  “Does he have swimsuits here? Let me guess. White Speedos.”

  She laughed. “Not quite.”

  “Lead the way.” Ian needed a break from this craziness. He always did his best thinking when he wasn’t thinking at all. And he knew just the person who could make his head blank.

  Chapter 21

  Gwen suggested the swim for a reason. When Ian had engaged with Duvine, his hand had started shaking again. Always his right hand. She knew right away Ian was overwhelmed. It was easy to get sucked into Duvine’s madness.

  Thankfully, Duvine was somewhat pliable today and believed Gwen’s story. It bought them time, but not much.