Pocketful of Diamonds

by Pierce, Nicolette

  “I think I got it,” he said, wiggling his fingers under the wall. “Go get Ian and I’ll jam the door.”

  Gwen stood with her father and hugged him. “We’ll get through this.”

  He patted her back. “Just keep moving. Don’t stop, no matter what.” He stood back and cupped her face. “Promise me. Whatever happens, you won’t stop.”

  She promised, knowing it was one she couldn’t keep. Stepping over to Ian, she jostled him awake. This time he awoke less agitated, but his lids did snap open.

  “What’s wrong?” he immediately asked.

  “Nothing. We’re going to break out, but I’m worried about your injury.”

  He leaned forward, using his elbows to prop him up. “How are you breaking out?”

  She pointed over to the wall. “We dug enough dirt out to pry up the wall. We’ll have to crawl through and then pull you under. It’s going to hurt.”

  “It will hurt, and it will also slow you down. Go and take your dad. Get out and send word to the Dark Lions that I’m here.”

  “No. You’re coming with us or none of us is going.”

  “Gwen, there’s no way I can possibly walk. You have to go without me.”

  “They’ll kill you.”

  “They were going to kill me no matter what.”

  “Why?” she demanded. “What happened here last time?”

  Ian frowned. Would he ever tell her?

  “It had something to do with that knife,” she said out loud. “What happened when you and David escaped? Did you have to defend yourself?”

  Ian closed his eyes. She thought he was shutting her out, but when he opened them again, he nodded. “David knew what he was doing. He knows how to navigate in this type of world. But I didn’t. In fact, I did such a bad job of escaping, David was caught trying to help me. He would have been long gone had it not been for me dragging him down. One of the guards was about to shoot him.” Ian looked at her, as if willing her to understand what he didn’t want to say.

  “But both of you are alive, so you must have done something to help David.”

  He looked down at his right hand, clenching and unclenching it as if testing it. “I did. I don’t even know how it happened. It was bizarre, really. The guard was so focused on David that he didn’t see me. The next thing I knew I took the guard’s knife from his side and dragged it across his throat. He stood there for a moment, not moving at all. And then he fell, nearly taking me down with him.” He looked into her eyes, searching. “I killed him as though it were nothing. The blade slid so fast and smooth. I swear I didn’t even know . . .” He looked down at his hand. “How is it possible to kill someone with such efficiency? David was the trained one, not me. I can’t even kill large bugs.”

  Gwen slipped her hand into his. “But you saved your brother.”

  “Yes, and I’m thankful for that, believe me. It’s just . . . I can’t get it out of my head. I can still feel the drag along his throat. I’m not a killer and yet I killed so easily, so quickly.” He frowned. “Sometimes I fear it’s changed me. That I crossed a line I can never return from.”

  She lifted her hand to smooth away the wrinkles from his brow. “You defended your brother. We are hardwired to defend and protect. It’s not like you preplanned it or enjoyed it. Just give yourself time.” She let her hand fall away. “But now I understand why Kakal wasn’t happy to see you.”

  “It was his brother.”

  “Oh. Then we definitely need to get you out of here.”

  “Gwen, I’ll never make it.”

  “You will make it.” He tried to argue, but she pressed her fingers to his lips. “Ian Miller, shut up. None of us is leaving unless we all go together. So you can either drag us all down with you, or you can suck it up and get your ass out of bed.”

  His eyes widened. When he finally nodded, she took her hand away.

  “Good choice,” she said, standing. She helped him swing his legs off the cot and sit up straight. “How do you feel?”

  “Light-headed.”

  It wasn’t the best-case scenario, but light-headed was better than dead.

  “Dad, are you ready?”

  “The cup is in place.”

  “Okay, help me bring Ian to the wall.”

  With both of them flanking Ian, they were able to maneuver him rather well considering the circumstances. Ian was even able to put a little bit of weight on his legs, which helped tremendously.

  After setting him on the floor, they reached under the metal wall. “Ready?” she asked.

  Bruce counted to three and they pulled hard. The metal buckled and flexed, giving them just enough room to crawl out. Bruce went first, better able to help pull Ian out. Once Ian was clear, Gwen followed. They were just coming to their feet when they heard the noise outside the door. Someone had definitely heard them.

  “Hurry,” she whispered.

  Since none of them knew where they were or where they were going, they headed straight out into the night with no lights to direct them. Whatever the sound they had heard earlier could no longer be heard.

  “Wait,” Ian said after a moment. “I remember this. We have to turn around.”

  “Turn around?” Gwen panicked.

  “There is a quarry up ahead. We’ll fall to our deaths.”

  Bruce and Gwen cursed at the same time and jostled Ian around until they were headed back to where they came from. A spotlight flooded an area next to them. They quickly moved over to avoid being detected. The light followed them until it finally caught up.

  “Stop and put your hands up,” a shout demanded from over a loudspeaker.

  When they didn’t comply, a warning shot was fired. They abruptly came to a halt.

  “On your knees.”

  They all fell to their knees, Ian falling a little harder and wincing. Together, they waited for their fate.

  Chapter 26

  And waited.

  Another shot was fired, but it wasn’t aimed at them. Ian didn’t think he could stay kneeling much longer before his legs gave way. The pain that pulsed through them was excruciating. He held silent but longed to fall over with a groan.

  More rounds of fire, but none directed at them.

  “What’s going on?” Gwen whispered.

  “Help me up,” Ian said. “I think the base is under attack.”

  They all scrambled to stand and darted out of the beam of light. When no one ordered them to stop, Ian motioned for them to follow along the wall until they could get around to the other side. They would have to proceed with caution, since he was pretty sure the attackers would have come from that side as well. This base was laid out like a modern-day fortress with defensive obstacles on three sides and heavily guarded on the fourth.

  The firing continued as they slinked around, or maybe in his case, hobbled. He’d give just about anything for painkillers.

  As they neared the front, Ian whispered for them to slow down. “We’ll end up running into the attackers.”

  “Who do you think they are?” Bruce asked.

  “It could be anyone. The military, a bordering country, the Dark Lions, it could even be locals with arms.”

  “They’d fight the rebels?”

  “Some are desperate. Either way, we don’t want to get in the middle.” As it was, the rounds of fire were becoming indistinguishable. They were in an all-out war, and it was the perfect time to escape.

  They edged along until Ian was able to peek out to the front. A fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles were parked at all different angles, cutting off road access. They’d have to walk through the surrounding forest. If they followed the road, keeping within the confines of the trees, they should reach a place they could hire a car. Unfortunately, none of them had anything of value on them and they were eyesores with their dingy white robes, his covered in dry blood. If anyone loaned them a car they were either daft or a saint.

  “We’ll have to hurry through the clearing and over to the other side,” Ian said.
“Then we can take shelter in the trees.”

  They both nodded in understanding. Without a moment of hesitation, they bolted for the dark patch of trees just beyond the vehicles. They were almost there when an order to halt came from behind them.

  Ian cursed as the sudden stop made him fall to his knees, skyrocketing bursts of pain through his legs.

  Gwen quickly kneeled beside him, hugging him to her. “Are you okay?”

  If he could breathe, he’d be okay, but his lungs had deserted him. When he didn’t answer, she shielded him from the person marching toward them. Ian’s vision faded at the edges.

  “Duvine!” Gwen snarled, bouncing to her feet and hurling herself at him. “You vile scumbag!” Neither Ian nor Bruce was fast enough to catch her and watched helplessly as she flung herself at him, pummeling him to the ground with her fists.

  Ian couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Her dark shadow whaled down upon the man pinned to the ground as he called for help.

  “You asshole!” she nailed him one more time before being hauled away by two shadowed figures. She kicked out, catching him in the family jewels. “I’m not done with you yet!”

  Ian groaned as he staggered to his feet. “Let her go.”

  “We can’t let her kill him,” the voice said, sounding so familiar Ian was afraid to believe his ears. “But if he ever gets out of jail, he’s fair game.”

  “David?”

  “Who else would come for your sorry ass? What the hell are you wearing? Mom thought you joined a cult here, and now I might have to agree with her. You know how I hate doing that.”

  Relief soared through Ian, and he collapsed back onto the ground.

  “Ian!” Gwen called, freeing herself from David to come to his side. But his vision was nearly black, and all he could make out was a dark figure peering down at him. He loved that figure, and if they ever got out of here, he was going to marry her a hundred times over.

  “Punch Duvine one more time for me,” he said.

  * * *

  Gwen smiled down at Ian. He had passed out again, leaving her with a request she couldn’t deny. Looking up at the man she now knew as David, and Boma beside him, she asked if they would close their eyes for one moment. They readily complied.

  Gwen didn’t know what had possessed her before to attack Duvine. Sure, he deserved the fat lip she gave him, but it was as if her hands were flying of their own accord. She couldn’t stop.

  But now that she had permission to punch him one more time, she wanted to savor it. She never thought herself bloodthirsty, but how many lives had he ruined? Too many. She briefly wondered why he was at the rebel’s hideout but pushed that to the back of her mind. Right now, she owed him one last gift.

  Walking toward him, she flexed her hands, happy to notice him flinch. But as she drew closer, seeing his face covered in the bruises she’d inflicted, she nearly felt sorry for him. While she wanted to see him pay for his actions, she no longer wanted to inflict pain. The anger she felt was still there, just not as violent. All she wanted to do right now was get Ian to a doctor and then curl up with him and go to sleep.

  When Duvine saw her slowing to a stop, her hand no longer flexing, he jeered at her. “You were always weak, so easy to manipulate.”

  Her hand fisted and flew out into a right hook. She connected with his jaw, his head flinging to the side. Both David and Boma had to brace themselves to support his falling weight.

  She cursed, shaking her hand. His hard head nearly broke it.

  “Not bad,” David said, still bracing. “You knocked him out.”

  “Anything to make him shut up.” She looked between the men. “How did you know we were here?”

  “You hired the Dark Lions to protect,” Boma said. “And here we are.”

  “But David too?” she questioned.

  “We’ll explain everything once we are back at camp,” David said. “Right now, let’s dump Duvine into a truck. He’s heavy.”

  “Where are the women?” Gwen asked, suddenly concerned.

  “They’re inside. We’ll move them as well.”

  “Take care of them,” Gwen said. “They’re victims.”

  “I know. Duvine had them locked up as well. But we’ll make sure everyone is out.” David smiled gently and then hauled Duvine away.

  While David and the Dark Lions had everything handled here, Gwen turned to her dad. “Well, do you want to help me move Ian to one of the cars?”

  He nodded. “Then we can help with the girls. I’m sure they’re disoriented.”

  Gwen was beginning to feel disoriented herself. It seemed as though everything she had known for the past decade was coming to an end and a whole new world was opening. Maybe. She’d have to find out what they were planning on doing with Duvine. If he went to jail, he’d still take her down with him.

  She’d think on that later. Right now, Ian and the girls needed her.

  Chapter 27

  Ian woke to the sound of Gwen laughing. He’d never heard a sound so sweet in his life. If she was laughing, everything was right in the world. He cracked his eyes open to find two dark round eyes staring back at him.

  “Manni?”

  “He’s been waiting all morning for you to wake up,” Gerard said.

  “How is everyone?” Ian asked immediately. He looked around, trying to figure out where they were. Inside a very large tent of some sort. Beds were spread all around, and he could hear children laughing and squealing outside.

  “Everyone is safe. They’re all outside watching your brother make an ass out of himself. The kids are running him in circles.”

  “It’ll be good practice for him.” Ian still couldn’t get his bearings. “Are we near Njamba?”

  “Just outside of it. We can head back any time now. We were just waiting for you.”

  “Don’t wait for me. If it’s safe to go back, then go.”

  “There’s no rush. It’s not like there’s work to go back to.” When Ian frowned, Gerard smacked him on the arm. “Don’t go trying to save everyone. You can’t even walk.”

  “Gwen had a thought about a start-up company that might help and not bring more trouble.”

  “I’ve heard. She and Saba have talked all morning. I think it will work, but it might take some time to become profitable.”

  “I’m still selling the house, so I can fund the project no matter how long it takes.”

  Gerard groaned. “You really need to stop with this martyr crap.”

  “What do you mean? I’m trying to help.”

  “Yes, but at the cost of your own life and the depletion of your accounts. How will you raise a family if you worry about everyone else?” Gerard stood and kicked a heavy trunk. “Besides, we’ll be just fine.”

  Ian narrowed his gaze to the trunk. “What’s in there? Don’t tell me—” He looked at Gerard in horror. “Don’t tell me you have a trunk of diamonds.”

  “Then I won’t tell you that.”

  Ian cursed. “What in God’s name are you thinking?”

  “It’ll be gone within the hour.”

  “Who is taking it? And where?” Ian demanded.

  “David and a few of the Dark Lions. And Gwen.”

  “Gwen?” Ian choked.

  “Don’t worry.”

  “Don’t worry!?” Ian barked.

  “Who else would know where everything belonged?”

  “But—”

  “It has to be this way,” Gerard said. “She’s the one who stole it all. If the items aren’t returned, she could go to jail for a long time. David and Boma knocked enough sense into Duvine last night that I doubt he’d speak one word against her, but he might not stay silent forever.”

  “But—”

  “Don’t you want the stolen jewels to go back to the rightful owners?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “But, what?”

  “Not her.”

  “She’ll be gone two weeks, tops. And she’ll have a Dark Lion with her at all t
imes.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel better.” In fact, it made him feel worse. Here he was, unable to walk, and she was about to globetrot for two weeks with another man.

  The tent flap opened and David walked in, followed by Gwen. When she saw him awake, she bounced on her toes and scrambled over to hug him, pushing David out of her way. Ian laughed and she bent over, raining kisses all over his face. She was so full of life, the weight of heavy burdens lifted off her shoulders.

  He always thought her beautiful, but today she was devastating to his heart. He had to let her go. If unburdening herself meant that she had to return necklaces and other jewelry, he wouldn’t stop her. Because to see her so happy, even over something so simple as him being awake, was magical.

  She looked down at him, smiling. “How do you feel?”

  “Good. I might even join David later with the kids.”

  “I know you’re lying. But I’m glad you feel good enough to tease.”

  He reached up and played with a lock of her hair, pulling it down toward him. “Gerard told me your plan.”

  “Oh.” She frowned, shooting Gerard a daggered glance.

  “He said it might take two weeks.”

  She nodded. “I know where everyone is. I have a permanent map in my head. We were going to leave soon, but I was afraid to go before you woke up. I didn’t want you to think I’d left again.”

  He smiled. “You know I’ll hunt you down if you do.”

  “You won’t have to.” She kissed him and leaned down to whisper in his ear. “Meet me in Las Vegas in two weeks.”

  “I will.”

  “That’s exactly what I want you to say when we get there.”

  He raised a brow and then laughed. “I promise.”

  It was hell seeing her walk out the door, another man beside her, carrying the large trunk. But he promised he would see her in two weeks, and he would. And in that time, he would make Duvine pay for his crimes, see Njamba restored and—