by Nia Arthurs
“It’s not your fault, Jewls. If I had to do it all over again, I’d still want to meet you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“You calling me a liar?”
She chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good because you were just about to hurt my feelings.”
“Please be safe,” she whispered.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And tell Nolan thanks for me. I owe him.”
“You got it, Jewls.” The way he said her nickname, all soft and gentle like that, always made her heart skip a beat.
Jewel clutched the phone tighter. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I won’t. I promise.” He sucked in a deep breath and then said, “Tomorrow, Jewls. For now, put everything out of your mind and get some rest.”
“I’ll try.”
“Dream of me.”
She laughed.
“Goodnight.”
“Night.” Jewel hung up.
Kross had made his first move. She had no intentions of going to sleep.
At least not here.
She rolled out of bed and padded to her suitcase. It was time to stop putting the people she cared about in danger.
It was time to be bold and stand up for herself.
She packed her things quickly, grateful that she owned very little. Made it much easier to steal away in the middle of the night.
Jewel paused for a few minutes to spread the bed and make sure the room was in order. She couldn’t return the Gregory’s hospitality with a rumpled bed.
Or a visit from a homicidal maniac.
Heart thudding, Jewel tiptoed to the door and eased it open. The hallway was empty and dark. Joana and her parents were sleeping upstairs. They wouldn’t hear her slip out, but she still needed to be careful.
Jewel closed the door behind her and moved stealthily to the alarm system that was on the wall by the light switch.
Fingers trembling, she poked the buttons slowly, recalling the numbers that Jo had her memorize before they separated to their own rooms.
The answering beep of the machine disarming made her sigh in relief.
She was free.
Jewel ran for the door and opened it with the keys hanging by the foyer. She locked the front door behind her and slipped the key beneath the welcome mat so Jo would be able to find it.
Turning, she faced the dark street.
The affluent neighborhood was quiet. Not even a dog barked in the distance. The moon hid behind gloomy, grey clouds. Stars struggled to pierce through the veil. The green lawn shimmered with dew.
Jewel stumbled down the stairs and shot across the street, heading for the south exits. She threw her backpack over the wall and scaled it. It took over ten minutes, but she made it to the top and propelled herself off, landing hard on her feet.
She pushed herself up, ignoring the pain and limped down the street.
The walk from this side of the city to where she lived took thirty minutes.
Belize seemed like a ghost town at this hour. No soul dared to walk the streets, not even the gangbangers.
Jewel kept an eye on the handful of cars that passed by, but no one harassed her.
As she crossed over from the north side to the south, she passed a bar that was in full swing. The lights in front of the squatting wooden building illuminated posters of scantily clad women advertising the latest beer.
She ducked her head and tried to fast-walk past the rowdy establishment. Before she could get too far, she heard someone whistling behind her.
Panic clutched her throat.
She started running.
“Hey, miss!” Footsteps clattered behind her. “You dropped something.”
Jewel pretended not to hear and kept going.
The man gained speed and slid in front of her, dangling a scrunchie from his dark fingertips. “Here. This belongs to…you.”
Jewel pulled out the mace and pointed it at his face as she glanced up.
The mugger from last week blinked back at her, eyes wide and hands in the air. “Wait! Don’t shoot!”
“Stay away from me.” Her voice trembled. Her hands shook. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Being bold was more challenging than she’d thought. “I-I’m not afraid to do this.”
“You! You’re that girl.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to cry. Fear held her frozen. Her heart clamored for her throat.
“Look, I wanted to apologize. I feel bad about what happened the last time.” He sounded genuinely remorseful.
She looked up slowly.
“Just… tell your boyfriend that he was right to only pay me half. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that.”
“Boyfriend?” Jewel found her voice. “What boyfriend?”
“The white guy with the big muscles,” he gestured to his forearms, “and the squinty eyes.”
“Finn?”
“He paid me to mug you.”
Jewel shuffled back fearfully, stunned into silence.
“At first, I thought he was trying to con you or something, but the man was pissed when he found out I’d pushed you. He was bawling about how you weren’t supposed to get hurt…”
Jewel’s chest heaved and she found it hard to breathe. Looking into the mugger’s eyes, she knew he was telling the truth. Who would make up a lie that fantastic? To what end?
That meant that Finn really had paid someone to steal from her.
So what? What could he possibly gain from that?
Then it hit her.
Trust. Finn stepped in that day as her knight-in-shining-armor, gaining her trust and Sky’s.
A sick feeling twisted in her stomach.
Who was Finn Robinson and what did he really want with her?
24
“Are you crazy? Why would you tell her everything?” Nolan followed him as he crossed the room. “Can you imagine how that conversation would go down?”
Finn pulled his gun out of the vault and checked the safety. “It has to be done.”
“So what are you going to say? ‘Hi, Jewel. I lightly stalked you for a week then paid a guy to steal your purse so I could swoop in and talk to you. Everything I’ve ever told you is a lie to gain your trust so I could use you to find my sister’s killer’.”
Finn paused and glanced over his shoulder. “When you put it like that, it sounds bad.”
“It is bad.”
“What’s your suggestion then?” Finn slapped the gun in the holster and dropped his shirt over it so all that could be seen was the slight bulge from the stock.
“I don’t know. How about you don’t let the cat out of the bag? Ask her point blank if she and Kross had a baby and where it is.”
“You think she’ll just hand over that information because I asked nicely?”
“You’re the one who said she was into you.”
“I didn’t use those words.”
“You slept together. Safe to say there’s something there.”
He glared at Nolan. “Nothing happened last night. Jewel got scared so I slept next to her. That’s it.”
“Mm-hm.” Nolan arched an eyebrow, his thick lips inching upward. “I know you, Finn. It takes a lot to get you to open up to someone. Look at how you and Tiff—”
“This has nothing to do with Tiff.”
Nolan rolled his brown eyes. “Either way, I’m against this plan. I say you shut your mouth and maintain your cover until we’ve got Kross. Then you can confess your undying love or whatever.”
“You should have stayed home,” Finn mumbled.
“I heard that.” Nolan followed him to the bed. “You ungrateful bastard. Who was it that tracked Kross all these years? I risked my life and freedom to hack into international police databases just so we could find a lead.”
Finn swiveled on his heels and slapped Nolan on the back. “My hero.”
“Shut up.” He brushed Finn off. “What is it about this girl that has you wavering? You nev
er considered risking an operation before.”
“I don’t know.” Finn firmed his jaw.
“She’s only nineteen. What would you two even have in common? Not to mention she’s probably a wreck thanks to all the crap she’s been through—”
“Jewel isn’t a wreck,” Finn snapped.
“She dresses in sweatshirts and turtlenecks to hide her body, breaks down when a guy simply says hello to her and has panic attacks when she’s accidentally touched. What do you call that?”
Finn curled his fingers into fists. “Shut up.”
Nolan spotted his fists and reddened. “What? You gonna hit me?” He slapped his chest. “Me? The only one who’s stood by your side the past seven years?”
Finn ran a hand through his short hair and took a calming breath before snapping, “Let’s go before I change my mind.”
“I’m coming, but first…” Nolan grabbed his duffel, unzipped it and tossed something at Finn’s chest.
Finn caught it with one hand. “A jewelry box?”
“You’re such a dirtbag I don’t even feel like handing that over,” Nolan said through gritted teeth. “But there you go.”
“What is it?” Finn cracked the box open and saw a sparkling golden necklace with a green pendant.
Nolan took the necklace from him. “It’s a state-of-the-art tracker. I may or may not have stolen the blueprints from the Russian Security Research Team. Do you know how unreliable online translations can be? I spent five days just trying to interpret—”
“Nolan!”
His eyes still narrowed with annoyance, Nolan handed the necklace back. “It’s for Jewel. I figured you’d be freaking out over her safety all the time.” He pointed to the pendant. “The tracker will be undetectable to all wire and electronic scans. All she has to do is press here and we’ll know where she is.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“That’s a first.” Nolan snorted. “The tracker was just lying around on my worktable. I’m glad it can get some use.”
Finn offered his fist for Nolan to bump. “Thanks, man.”
“It’s nothing.” He chucked his chin toward the door. “Didn’t you say Jewel has to leave early to get everything set up at the bakery? We should head out now if we’re meeting her there.”
Finn swiftly led the way downstairs and drove to Sweet Treats.
The sky was a dark purple shade that meant dawn was on its way, but night was clinging stubbornly. Birds twittered from towering coconut trees. A few vehicles drove down the highway.
Nolan cleared his throat from the passenger seat. “I wanted to say this last night, but there wasn’t a good time.”
“What is it?”
Dark eyes strained, Nolan stared at his lap. “I’m sorry you faced Kross alone yesterday. If I was a little earlier, I could have stopped him.”
“That’s not your fault.”
“I feel responsible. You were so close to ending everything and you needed my help.” Nolan sucked in a deep breath and croaked, “Courtney meant a lot to me. I want that murderer behind bars more than anything.”
“I know, buddy.”
Finn saw Sweet Treats up ahead and pulled the car over. Jo’s vehicle was already there. How early had the ladies woken up?
“This place is cute,” Nolan murmured, running his gaze over the pink and orange sign above the large windows. He sniffed, large nostrils flaring. “Something smells good.”
“Let’s go.” Finn strode through an alley to the building’s side entrance. He’d seen Jo, Sky and Jewel entering from there on past occasions.
He rapped his knuckles on the metal.
A face appeared.
Jewel.
He heard keys crinkling and, with a moaning creak, the door swung open. Jewel stood bracketed in the shadows.
Nervously, Finn lifted a hand and waved. “Hey.”
Hey, is that all you could think of?
“Hi.” Jewel stepped out.
The street lamp nearby cast a silver sheen on her face. She looked stunning, as usual, but there was a coldness in her eyes and a tightness in her expression that he’d never seen before.
Nolan glanced between them with an awkward smile. “Ah, hey. I’m Nolan.” He stuck his hand out for Jewel to shake.
She eyed it and leaned back.
Nolan’s smile went flat and he slowly dropped his arm. “It’s nice to meet you, Jewel. I’ve heard a lot of great things.”
Jewel ducked her head.
Finn blinked and mounted a step so he could be closer to her. “Hey, what’s up? Are you okay?”
“It’s nothing.” She swerved away from him.
Nolan cleared his throat. “Are you open for business? I’m hungry and whatever you’re making smells incredible.”
Jewel shrugged.
A moment later, Joana appeared in the hallway. She wore a blue bandana around her long, brown curls. Her smile was so wide that her eyes collapsed into slits. “Finn! You’re here!”
Nolan’s jaw dropped and his tongue lolled out. “Who’s that?”
“That,” Finn closed his friend’s mouth and whispered, “has a boyfriend.”
“Damn it.”
Jewel spoke quietly. “This is Nolan.”
“He’s a friend from back home,” Finn explained.
“Are you the chef?” Nolan asked Joana.
“Gosh no. I do what I can to help, but Jewel and Sky are the real MVPs.” Jo glanced at them. “Are you hungry? The store won’t open for another hour, but we can make an exception this once.” She placed a finger on her lips. “Just don’t tell anybody.”
“Fingers crossed.” Nolan looked at Joana with heart eyes.
“Jewls? You coming?”
She scuffed her toe on the gravel. “I need to talk to Finn.”
Joana eyed him, nose wrinkled. “Yeah, sure.”
Finn shared Joana’s confusion.
Jewel had always been shy, indecisive and quiet. But not like this. The silence was heavy and oppressing. He hadn’t felt this much pressure between them since before they'd gotten closer.
Did he do something wrong??
Finn wracked his brain but couldn’t remember anything.
Jewel moved down the short flight of stairs to join him in the alley. Nolan shuffled past her and joined Joana inside.
The door slammed shut, leaving awkward silence.
Finn thought of reaching out and touching her hand, but thought better of it. Jewel didn't seem to be in the most welcoming frame of mind at the moment.
He pivoted and eyed her. “Did Kross reach out to you again?”
“No he didn't,” she replied.
Finn relaxed.
Jewel looked down to the package in his arms. “What’s that?”
Finn remembered the jewelry box that Nolan had given him and offered it up. “It’s a necklace.” He opened it and showed her. The pendant glittered in the light. “Whenever you need me, you just need to hold this really tight. I’ll show up.”
“Hmm.”
“Can I… put it on you?”
Jewel held still for a long moment. Finally, she spun and bowed her head so the back of her neck was exposed. His heart pattering unsteadily, he slid closer to her and put the chain around her throat.
When it clicked closed, he almost didn’t want to move away.
Jewel shifted in discomfort.
He stepped back immediately. “Jewls, are you sure everything’s okay? You seem…”
“What?”
“Upset.”
Jewel looked down. “Well, maybe I am.”
“What was that?” He leaned over, straining to hear her.
“I said, maybe I am.” She raised her head, fire in her eyes—a fire that directly contrasted her ice-cold expression.
He'd never seen her look like this before. She was... furious. This was how Jewel, sweet, quiet and beautiful Jewel, looked when she was mad.
The revelation left him speechless.
&n
bsp; “I went for a midnight jog yesterday.”
“By yourself?” Finn asked, coming out of his self-induced stupor. “You know how dangerous that is.”
Jewel’s answering frown willed him into silence. “I ran into someone really unexpectedly last night.”
“It wasn’t Kross, was it?”
“His name is Henry Montreal. He’s twenty-four. We went to the same pre-school. I know his gran. She sells powder buns on Daly Street.”
“So you met a friend.” Finn wore a bewildered expression. What did that have to do with Jewel’s anger at him?
“He knew you too,” Jewel whispered.
Finn’s eyebrows hiked as his confusion mounted. “Really?”
“As far as I could tell you met a days ago. Right outside the internet café where we first saw each other…”
A pit dropped into the middle of his stomach.
Finn knew exactly what had pissed her off now.
“… He said you owe him some money.”
Dammit. “Jewel, I can explain.”
She held up a hand and interrupted. “I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that the man I spent so much time with—a man that I was starting to trust—was such a jerk. Such a dishonest person. And it shouldn’t even surprise me, given all I’ve been through. But I gave you a chance. I really believed in you. I let you sleep on the bed with me.”
“Jewel…”
She frowned. “I realized I didn’t even know you. So I looked you up online and you know what I found?”
He sucked in a breath. “I was going to tell you—”
“Courtney Robinson was your sister.”
The tension mounted.
Finn squeezed his eyes shut. “You read the news articles.”
“I wondered why you were so nice to me. Someone like you wouldn’t give me the time of day, much less go to all that trouble just to make me smile. You were using me to get to Kross.”
His thoughts rushed a million miles an hour. He scrambled for a way to turn this situation around. “It’s not exactly like that.”
“I trusted you!” She smacked his chest.
He stumbled back.
Jewel’s dark skin glowed like a fire was burning in her veins. Her nostrils flared and she advanced menacingly. “I thought for the first time that a man was seeing me. Not the weird quirks or my flaws or my face. Me.”