by MK Schiller
“I did. They all came from one single stone. They called it the Rose Diamond, and like most uncovered diamonds from that era, it was mined in India. As a rough stone, the Rose Diamond’s weight and size rivaled the Hope. They might have been cousins and came from the same mine.”
“Who owned the Rose Diamond?”
“The British Raj. You have to remember India was under colonization at the time.”
“What happened to all the diamonds?”
Ezra shrugged. “Scattered to the four corners of the world I’m sure.” He held the small diamond in the tweezers again. For someone with large hands, he had great dexterity and grace. Farah doubted she could grasp the diamond like that without it bouncing out of her grip.
“But I believe you are holding a piece of the original Rose Diamond right here.”
They were actually holding sixty pieces of it.
“It’s possible it fell into other hands over the decades or was sold to payoff war debt. Throughout history, diamonds were often used as currency, since they were universally accepted, easy to move, and difficult to trace. The only reason these are traceable is due to their rare color. But the reality is we really don’t know what happened to the other diamonds. This manifest is the last known historical document in connection with the Rose Diamonds. I can get more information if I send it to my lab. They can possibly verify the region it was mined from and make confirmation.”
“That’s all right,” Farah said. “I think we have enough information on the history. Thank you.”
Ezra slammed the book shut. “As you wish. Either way, let’s get down to the brass tacks.”
“Brass tacks?”
He held up the gem. “You came here to find out what this is worth, no?” He looked pointedly at Tristan.
“Yes.”
“Well, rest assured, young man, it is befitting a bride as lovely as yours. I cannot put an actual price on it without lab work, but this diamond has to be worth at least two in my estimation.”
“Two?” Tristan asked.
“I’d put it between two-point-one to two-point-five.”
“Million?” Tristan asked, his voice three octaves higher than before.
“Of course, million.”
Chapter 37
By the time they’d left Ezra Fischer’s store, her legs felt rubbery as if she’d hiked for six hours. He’d continued on about mounting the diamond in the perfect setting. He’d brought up different styles and suggested a rose gold band, but she’d stopped paying attention.
Tristan had made some excuse and led them from the shop.
“Did he really say two million?” she asked after he’d driven for a few miles.
“He said two-point-one to two-point-five to be exact. We’re holding on to about a hundred-and-twenty million dollars’ worth of diamonds.”
“We need help here.”
“I agree, but we can’t just stroll into the police station and hand them a hundred-and-twenty mill in diamonds. And then tell them we accidently transported them into the country. How will we possibly be able to convince them we’re not complicit?”
“What else are we supposed to do? We’re innocent in this.”
Her shaking knee stilled when he placed his palm over it. “Farah, if we do that, they might deport you. You’re only here on a visitor’s visa. I won’t risk that.” He was quiet for a while, his thumb running across her wrist.
“I can look after myself.”
He banged his fist on the steering wheel. “Well, maybe I want to fucking look after you too.”
She quieted then. His words may have caused an argument, but she could summon no anger toward him. There was hurt in his voice. The truth was, she wanted to look after him too. They drove in silence for a while.
“I’m sorry, Tristan. No one has ever cared for me the way you do. I’m not used to it. I’m not used to this heavy feeling inside my heart for you either. It scares me more than anything. I’ve never had so much to lose. So much to gamble with. That’s why I want to pull out of this. I just want us to be safe.”
“That’s all I want too.”
“Where are we going?”
“Home to Richmond. It’s about a ten-hour drive.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? Whoever is after us knows where you live.”
“We don’t have a play here, Farah. Not from what I can see. We know we’re holding on to a large fortune and really bad people are after us. I wish there was just a way for us to explain it all, but I doubt they’ll let us live. I say we hide the diamonds somewhere along the way. You’re right, we might be leading them, but like you said, we need help. What is today?”
“Tuesday.”
“Elliot is coming back to the States tomorrow. We can meet him. At least he’ll be able to advise us. He is a lawyer, and we need legal counsel.”
“Okay,” she said. “I agree it’s the best choice we have. Maybe the only choice.”
“Good.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. He pressed his lips against her temple. “Maybe this isn’t the right time. There doesn’t seem to be a right time with us, Dimples. There’s just a wrong time and a worse time. I don’t care what holds us back or what obligations wait for us, I just need you to know this. I love you, Farah Nawaz. I love you with everything I am. All my life all I’ve wanted to do was climb the highest peak and conquer the next challenge. But you… You make me feel like I don’t need to climb anymore. That I can be still. That I can be happy just looking into your eyes.”
She slid her hand into his. “I want to look after you too. I’m used to being on my own and not relying on anyone else. I thought it made me weaker to be tied to anyone. But the last thing I feel when I’m with you is weak. I love you, Tristan.”
Chapter 38
Elliot would not be home until the next day. They had both grown tired from the road. They had barely gotten any sleep since they had come off the mountain. Typically, Tristan would have slept roughly ten hours a day for a month straight after such an expedition.
They had managed to keep awake on adrenaline, fear, and coffee, but their bodies and heads ached for rest. He kept checking his rearview mirror and taking odd routes. Only when he was positive no one was following did he pull off the expressway. They passed residential neighborhoods and commercial buildings. They went farther until they came up to a wooded area. He flipped on his high beams as they drove down dusty, single lane roads until the traffic lights became sparse and streets didn’t intersect for miles. He flipped on the radio. An old country tune played. The breeze blowing through the open window was sweet. He felt twelve years old again, climbing the old oak tree in his backyard. He was home.
He didn’t trust staying at a hotel. True, they hadn’t incurred any trouble since Albany, but she was right. Trouble didn’t need to find them, not when they were driving toward it at seventy miles an hour.
She stretched and yawned as the sun dipped into the horizon. “Why are we stopping?”
“Figured we could rest here for the night. This looks to be a good place for a morning hike.”
“You want to go hiking?” she asked.
“It always helps to clear my head. Plus, this looks fairly remote, wouldn’t you say? A good place to bury some treasure? I think it’s better not to carry the jewels with us. If anything happens and we get detained, we’ll have a huge bargaining chip…sixty of them to be exact.”
Realization flickered across her face. She nodded. “Yes, I see your point.”
They got out and stretched their legs. Early autumn in North Carolina had always been Tristan’s favorite time of year. The trees were ripe with foliage, the tips of the leaves starting to color in brilliant reds and golds. The air tasted crisp and fresh with the breeze carrying the faintest scent of pine and blackberries. It was in woods similar to these, on a day much lik
e today, that he and Drew had decided they would be life-long adventurers.
As beautiful as the day was, it was the site of Farah in the middle of the woods that commanded his attention. This woman with her large violet eyes, plump lips, and mane of dark curls owned his heart. He wished they could stay trapped here forever in their own little fairy tale.
God, he was worried. What if he was making the wrong decision and she got hurt as a result?
She must have sensed it. She rubbed his shoulders. “Tomorrow will take care of itself, but tonight we need to take care of each other.”
The same words he had whispered to her in a tent not so long ago. “Did a wise man tell you that?”
“A very wise and beautiful man.”
He took her wrist and kissed the underside. “I could sure do with some normal tonight.”
She smiled. “It sounds to me like you’re asking for another cheap date.”
Creatures rustled away as Tristan’s laugh echoed through the remote landscape. “Very funny, smartass.” He pulled her against his chest. “Come here.” He claimed her mouth with his. She smelled like dessert and tasted even better.
She pulled away. “Where are you taking me?”
He took a few steps so he was in front of her and gestured to their surroundings. “A romantic fire-lit dinner al fresco style followed by an evening of star gazing.” He bowed with a flourish.
Her smile inched up enough to see the dimples on her check. “I’d like that very much.”
They found a few branches and lit a small fire. Tristan set up the tent while she changed out of the Tavernier blue dress into sweats and a T-shirt. Damn, she still looked lovely.
She arranged packs of trail mix, chocolate bars, chips, and two bottles of water purchased from their last gas station stop. It looked like a feast. He added a bottle of red wine and popped the cork. Okay, so it was more of a screw-off deal. But in his defense, the gas station didn’t have many choices. They sat down on blankets, ready to enjoy their picnic.
“When did you get this?” she asked, holding up the wine.
“When you weren’t looking. Now, I know what you’re thinking. This isn’t the best time to dull our senses, but it’s not very strong and I really think it can take the edge off right now.”
“That wasn’t what I was thinking.”
“Then what?”
Her mouth quirked, her expression turning naughty. “I was just wondering if you got any for yourself.” She took a long swig and passed him the bottle.
“How is it?” He took a swig himself and passed it back.
“Better than that horrible liquor we had in Concordia. I don’t know how you drank that.”
“That was actually ‘Hunza water’ or ‘Juniper gin’ as some refer to it.”
She grimaced. “I believe it’s strong enough to remove stain from furniture.”
“Probably.” Not for the first time, he wondered how she could make him laugh at the most intense times. He took a long drink for himself. The wine fell somewhere between swell and swill. They munched on their treats and passed the bottle back and forth.
“Take off your shirt,” she said.
“Say please.”
She punched his arm. “I want to change your bandage.”
“We can do it later.”
“It would make me feel better if we did it now.”
He removed his shirt. She grabbed the first-aid kit and inspected the wound.
“How’s it looking, doc?”
“Better. It’s healing.”
She covered his wound with fresh antiseptic cream and replaced the bandage. She kissed his shoulder. He grabbed her arm before she moved away. “If this was a real date…”
“Go on.”
“No…forget it.”
“Bloody hell, Tristan. Hasn’t anyone ever told you to never start a sentence you can’t finish?”
“Nope. No one has ever given me that advice.” He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger. “But here is what I do know. There are no winners in the game of what if. You told me that once.”
“I don’t care. I want to play anyway.”
He stood and reached for her hand. He pulled her up. “I would love to dance with you.”
“In this game, can we pretend I’m graceful?”
“You are graceful. Graceful and strong and so fucking sexy.”
“All we need is a song then.” When he opened his mouth, she put her hand over it. “So long as you’re not singing it.”
He kissed her nose. “Everyone’s a citric.”
Staring at her, Tristan wondered how he could have justified leaving her. There wasn’t a doubt that he would have come back. He would have tried his best to move on with life, but what his head worked toward, his heart would have fought. It would have been a short matter of time before he came back to Hunza Valley in search of her. He opened the car and turned on the ignition. He flipped on the radio. Station after station spewed out static. The only thing he could tune in was a country station.
Willie Nelson singing about being on the road again wasn’t exactly his idea of a sweep-a-girl-off-her-feet kind of dance, but Farah stepped into his arms nonetheless. He spun her around and dipped her. She craned her head back, laughing like a child. With her in his arms, the world felt like a better place.
“I was wrong,” he said, spinning her around.
Her laughter echoed through the forest. “About what?”
“I thought I was the happiest when I’m on the mountain. I’m not.” He pulled her close. “I’m the happiest when I’m with you.”
She hugged him. “I’m happiest with you too.”
The kiss started soft, a barely-there whisper. He touched her lips and covered a light trail down her slender neck. The thing he loved most about intimacy with Farah was that she wasn’t afraid to ask for, maybe even demand, what she wanted. She wrapped her arms around him. Her soft hair brushed against his face. She parted her lips, inviting him in. He tangled his tongue against hers, his hands drifting lower. She straddled him.
He wasn’t sure when it had started raining. He was too busy tasting her delicious mouth. The kiss devoured every other sense. She pulled back and leaned her forehead against his. They were both breathless. He brushed her wet hair away from her face and kissed along her jawline.
“So much for watching the stars, huh?”
She craned her head back, her laugh wild and carefree. As if she was teasing the rain. “I think you can still make me see stars.”
“Are you throwing down a challenge, girl?”
“It’s thrown.”
He set her down and then turned off the car engine. She disappeared into the tent. He almost dove after her. They peeled off each other’s wet clothes. Everything was rhythmic, done with a steely urgency…that was until Tristan got to Farah’s bra, which stubbornly refused to come undone. When he finally managed to do away with the garment, he wasted no time on the panties, pulling the cotton material until they ripped.
“Ouch,” she said.
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
“At this rate, I won’t have any clothes left.”
“I have to admit that would make things much easier for me.”
He gazed at her naked body, so hungry for her and yet holding himself back. He tilted her chin. “Let me look at you, Farah Nawaz. Let me remember this perfect moment.” Her body was a duality, strong and soft and curvy and hard. He wanted to explore every inch and leave his mark. He wanted to claim her in every moan and grunt and breathless murmur. He wanted to fuck her raw.
He pulled her into his lap. With his hands on her hips, he positioned her. She slowly sunk over him. She rolled her hips forward. Each move drove him crazy. He nipped at her ears and fondled her breasts. He swallowed her moans.
The high moon c
reated long shadows against the tent walls. Her palms lay flat against his chest. She tightened around him, her cries becoming more urgent. He changed their pacing, wanting the moment to last.
“I’m close.” She closed her eyes.
“Not yet.” He flipped them over so she was on her back. He pressed his hand flat on the floor of the tent to get leverage. He thanked the Lord they both had amazing stamina.
Farah wrapped her long legs around his hips. He thrust slow and deep until she called out his name. Then he lost control and increased the tempo. The tent filled with their harsh breaths. There was a cadence…a rhythm in it. It might possibly be the only time someone could accuse Tristan Sinclair of rhythm. He dragged his fingers through her hair. She bit his lip. They both begged for release and held each other back. Then neither of them had the energy. They had to descend. She came, her body quaking, his name on her lips. He followed.
She rested her head on his chest, their bodies covered in a light sheen of sweat. The rain had stopped, except for the drips sliding down tree branches and off leaves. He listened to the earth’s melody and the sounds of her soft breath. He relished the taste of red wine and Farah still fresh on his lips.
“Did you see stars?”
She gave him a soft, lazy smile. “An entire galaxy.”
“Me too.” He kissed her head.
Her voice turned serious. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this scared,” she said. She shivered from the cold. “At least on the mountain, I know how to be prepared. What to do. I have instinct. Here it feels like I have nothing.”
He covered her with his body. “The most important thing is that we stay together. We’re better together.”
“How are you so calm, Tristan? You were that night when we almost froze to death on the mountain too. It’s like the worse the situation, the more resilient you are.”
“That’s not true, sweetheart. It’s just I have been through something more frightening. This right now? Holding you in my arms under the stars, even in these circumstances, is bliss.”
“To me too.” She snuggled closer to him. “What do you mean you’ve been through something more frightening?”