Fated Treasures
Page 12
There was that moment though, Fi thought as she turned her head and looked at Cameron, when he’d said he loved her. Just thinking of it had her heart racing again and her chest tightening. No one had ever told her they loved her except for her grandfather. Of course, she knew it wasn’t the same, but it was all she had. As a little girl she had dreamed of meeting her prince like those in the books that her grandfather and Joseph had read to her before bed, then as she got older she started reading the classics before slipping in a few contemporary novels onto her shelves.
The song Start of Something Good by her favorite band, Daughtry, popped into her head and her lips twisted, one corner lifting slightly. Could she be in love with Cameron. Was this connection between, the electricity that sparked each time they touched, the real thing? She didn’t know. All she knew was this was as close as she’d ever come to feeling like she did. As if he felt her watching him, Cameron turned and gave her a smile, holding out his hand to her. She took it and they walked into the museum.
After a few inquiries, it didn’t take long for them to be shown to the curator’s office. The curator was an older gentleman, reminding Fi a little of her grandfather. He motioned for them to sit and she and Cameron took the two chairs while Rico stood behind them like a silent sentinel. “Miss Arden, I’ve been working with your grandfather, Patrick, but he said that if you should come, I can conduct the same business with you.”
Fi’s breath caught as she nearly jumped out of the chair. Instead she moved to the edge of her seat and looked at the man. “You’ve spoken to him? Recently?”
The curator nodded then looked down at his calendar. “I spoke with him a week ago.”
Fi looked at Cameron, confusion on her face, before looking back. “What kind of business?”
“We acquired some ancient Celtic stones a while back then was contacted by your grandfather a few weeks ago. Apparently, the owner of these stones has been looking for them and found out that they were here.”
“Owner?” Cameron sat up straighter, moving to the edge of his chair like Fi. “What is the owner’s name?”
“I spoke with Merrick O'Farrell who told me he was sending Patrick Arden to negotiate the release of the stones. I didn’t hear from him yesterday, nor received any documentation substantiating the claim. After all, I can’t release them until I have those documents to confirm that claim.”
Cameron stood up and pulled his phone out of his pocket, turning his back on them. He stood there a moment speaking into the phone. “Merrick. I’m in Sicily and at the museum. Patrick Arden didn’t make it but I’m with his granddaughter, Fianna.” He turned and looked at her, giving her a wink. “Yes, the one I went on a date with.” Cameron went silent a moment then scrubbed a hand down his face. “No, we don’t know where Patrick is, but I need you to send documentation of the Pack’s claim on the stones. I’m in the curator’s office and he won’t release them to us without proof. The number here is…” Cam turned back to the curator, who held out a card with the fax number on it. Taking it, Cam rattled off the number into the phone. “Thanks Merrick.”
Disconnecting the call, he slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Merrick is sending those papers over right now. “The curator nodded and excused himself, leaving the three of them in the office. Cameron sat down next to Fi again and took her hand.
“Merrick is the Pack lawyer. He hired your grandfather a few weeks ago when he got word that one of the stones was on the black market and someone snatched it up. I think that was your grandfather and then he sent the stone to you. Your grandfather traced the other two stones here. Merrick was also expecting to hear from him yesterday. He’s had no word at all.”
Fi took a shaky breath then let it out slowly. What happened to her grandfather? He was definitely hurt but, if Rico was correct, he was still alive. That still left her wondering where he was? “I have to find him Cameron.”
Cameron lifted her fingers to his lips as he nodded. “I’ll help you Anna. As soon as these other two stones are in our possession, I’ll send them all back to Merrick and we’ll find him. I promise.”
Fi gave him a soft smile and nodded. “Thank you.”
The curator walked back into the office carrying documents in one hand and a lock box in the other, cutting off anything Cameron was going to say. They all three looked at him expectantly as he set everything on the desk then produced a small key to unlock the box. “I got the documentation I need. The stones are yours, although, I hate to part with them, the attraction of the museum patrons towards these stones has been very strong.”
He opened the box and the power emanating from the two stones nearly knocked the breath out Fi. She hadn’t been ready for something like this so hadn’t shielded herself. The magic was ancient, alive and it danced along her skin as she pushed her own power out to counter it. She hadn’t come up against too many items that had as much power as these two stones, so she could only imagine what it would be like when all four stones were together.
The curator tilted the box, so they could look inside and Fi watched Cameron. She could tell he was holding his breath and his eyes widened as he looked inside. Their interest in the stones were mutual. He had been searching for the stones all his life, as had his father before him. Although Fi had only known about them a short while, she was drawn to their power and they could quite possibly lead her to her grandfather. Cameron looked at her and she gave him a soft smile and nodded. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, understanding look she gave him
Cameron let go of Fi’s hand and stood holding out his hand as the curator closed the box. “Thank you. I want to get these back to my hotel then couriered to Merrick.” He pulled a card out of his back pocket and handed it to the other man. “If Patrick Arden should come please call me.” The curator shook Cameron’s hand then took the card.
“I will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some other pressing matters that I have to attend to.” Cameron and Fi stood. With the lockbox tucked under his arm, they walked out of the office followed by Rico and the curator. The curator moved away leaving the three of them to head outside.
“Good job Cam. You finally have your stones.” Cameron and Fi looked at Rico and Cam nodded as he smiled.
“I can’t believe it. After all these years.”
“I could tell how powerful the two stones were when he opened the box. I can’t imagine what it would feel like with all four.” Fi looked at the box and quite possibly her last connection to her grandfather. “From everything I read, he’s been looking for these for years.” She looked up at Cameron. “I just don’t understand why he didn’t come home to me.”
Cameron wrapped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Her chest ached, and she felt like, now that they had the stones, she had time to think about her grandfather, how being so close to finding him after all this time, only to have him snatched out of her grasp. “Let’s go back to the hotel, order some food and rest. I’ll make arrangements to get the stones back to Merrick then we’ll start looking for him.”
Her throat hurt as she swallowed and nodded. That was exactly what she needed. She was tired right through to her bones as if all the years of searching for her grandfather crashed in on her suddenly. Rubbing the heel of her hand over her chest trying to ease the pain she felt deep in her heart, Fi took a shuddering breath, letting it out slowly, with some relief.
“I think that’s an excellent idea. I need a night without thinking.” Cameron dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers before giving her smile. “I need to message Joseph and let him know we got the stones then we can head out.”
“Yes, let’s head back to the hotel, but I won’t join you for dinner. Like you guys, I didn’t get much sleep on the train, so I’m going to eat and just relax.” Fi stepped away from Cameron and they turned to look at Rico.
“Are you sure?” Fi asked Rico as she sent a text off to Joseph. The last thing she wanted was to make Rico feel left out. But, another eve
ning of just her and Cameron with nothing else to do but be together was exactly what the doctor ordered.
“I am. I think we all just need a quiet night. I’ll check in with my men to see if they’ve turned up anything on your grandfather, Fi, then I’m probably done for the night.”
They walked the few short blocks to their hotel, making small talk, Cameron cradling the box with the stones as if he were guarding the crown jewels. They stopped at the front desk and ordered food before riding the elevator to their floor then walked to their rooms. Rico stopped at his door and looked over at them as Cameron slid his card key into the slot.
“If you need anything I’m just knock on the connecting door otherwise you two have a great evening.”
Rico walked into his room and closed the door as Cameron opened the door to their room. Fi had just followed him in closing the door behind her. Cameron dropped the box onto the table next to the door, swung Fianna around and wrapped his arms around her. The kiss was hungry and wild, as if he’d wanted to feast on her mouth all night. He pushed her against the door, his hands moving under her shirt to touch her skin. She moaned at the first touch, her hands tugging at his shirt, needing to touch him.
There were no words spoken between them, just a desperate need that Fi hadn’t felt before. She raised her arms as Cameron swept her shirt off then buried his head in her neck as his hand found her aching breasts. She let out a low moan just when a knock sounded at the door. Cameron lifted his head, a growl trickling from him. They both were panting as he laid his forehead against hers. Fi started to laugh, Cameron joining her as another knock sounded.
“Food is here.” Cameron stated the obvious and stepped back from Fi, letting her move away. She quickly put her shirt on as he let the server in and signed for their meal. Once all the food was on the table by the windows, Cameron tipped him then rushed him out the door. Turning, he frowned. “You could have had dinner topless.”
Fi laughed and shook her head as she sat down, her stomach growling at the delicious smells filling the room. “I’m not having dinner topless. At least not tonight.” Cameron chuckled as he sat down. They both dug into the food, making small talk, laughing about the double date that they had gone on. Cameron told her about what pack-life was like and Fi talked about the places she had traveled. Before they knew it, the dishes were empty and they both were full.
Cameron sat back and stretched slightly, looking closely at Fi as she also sat back. “You look tired.” She smiled softly and nodded. He reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Come join me in a hot shower then we can get some much-needed sleep.”
“A shower? I don’t think we’ll relax if we take a shower together.” She chuckled as Cameron gave her a wicked smile and stood, pulling her to her feet.
“That’s it. You’re in for one of the best showers of your life woman, and no, there won’t be much relaxing in it either.”
Fi laughed, letting him pull her toward the bathroom door. “You go and get the water started and I’ll be right in.” Cameron gave her a quick kiss.
“Don’t be long or I’ll have to shower without you.” Fi shook her head and pushed him into the bathroom. He closed the door and she heard the shower going as she retrieved the box from the table by the door. Looking at the bathroom door, she rummaged through Cameron’s bag until she found the stone she’d given him, then found the key the curator had given him. Unlocking the box, she placed the other stone into the box. Closing and locking it quickly, she set the box on the nightstand.
Looking at the bed, she let out a breath then yawned. She’d just lay there a moment then go join Cameron in the shower. Laying down, she had just closed her eyes when her cell phone started ringing. Taking only a moment to consider not answering, she pulled it out of her pants and stared at a number she didn’t recognize. “Hello?
“Congratulations on retrieving the stones, Fianna.” She frowned as her heart started racing. Gripping the phone tightly, she moved to the window and looked out into the darkness but couldn’t make out anyone she would call suspicious on the street below.
“Who is this?” Fi gripped the phone harder as she searched her memory for any kind of recognition of the male voice on the other end of the line.
“Listen very closely Fianna. We have your grandfather.” Fi’s heart felt like it stopped. Her breath catching at the words before it slammed into her chest, racing so fast she thought it would explode. Adrenaline surged through her body and she was no longer tired. Now she was in defense mode. “Bring all three stones to the Falcone– Borsellino Airport in at Punta Raisi. There will be a private plane waiting to bring you and the stones to the States and to your grandfather.”
Fi’s mouth had gone dry as the man on the other end spoke. She had to try to swallow before she could speak. “How do I know this isn’t a hoax?”
She heard shuffling on the other end of the phone then a voice she did recognize came on the line. Joseph’s voice sounded strained and out of breath as he spoke. “Fi. Do as they say. Your grandfather was injured and is currently in a coma. I think he’ll live but I don’t know. Just bring the stones.”
Before she could say anything else she heard shuffling again and the strange voice came back on the line. “Tell no one. Be at the airport by midnight or both your grandfather and Joseph will die.” The line went dead. Fi stared at it a moment, as if it were the harbinger of death. She desperately hoped that wasn't the case.
Checking on the sound of running water, Fi grabbed her bag, shoved the lockbox that now contained all three stones into it and with the quiet steps of a thief, snuck out of the hotel room and the hotel itself without a look back. She couldn't have looked, because if she had, her steps would have faltered if not failed her altogether.
Twenty-Four
Love, Beyond the Rocks and Over the Falls
Cam stepped out of the shower, semi-hard and a little disappointed that Fianna hadn’t joined him. Still, they’d been locked in each other’s embraces more often than not. With all she’d gone through the last couple of days, he knew she was deadass tired. So, a relaxing night watching movies, snuggling and sleep was well in order for the both of them.
First, Cam still needed to arrange for the stones to be shipped off. Merrick had arranged for a courier service to come pick them up and transport them to the states. The service was one greatly trusted by the pack, so it was more just a shaking of hands, handing over the stones and not worrying about them from there. Even Rico approved of the service, which had been why Cam had gone along with using them.
Toweling off, he slid into a pair of sweats and stepped out of the bathroom, fully prepared to tease Fianna about not joining him. Her scent still hung in the air, but he didn’t hear her heartbeat, nor did he see her anywhere in the room.
Puzzlement pulled Cam further toward the bed where Anna’s scent was freshest. She’d been lying there not even ten minutes before. Looking around for a note, he found nothing. Grabbing for his phone, Cam looked for a text and again came up empty.
“What the hell? Where did she go?”
The mutter was followed by a text to Rico. <
Rico was at the door in less than three heartbeats, his knock heavy and foreboding to Cam’s ears. He’d scanned the room as he’d text Rico and noticed the lockbox from the museum was missing along with Fianna’s bag. Letting Rico in, Cam scowled at the feline shifter.
“She’s fucking gone, and she took the stones!”
Rico stumbled to a halt three steps into the room, his eyes scanning it and taking in every detail. Cam watched as Rico’s nostrils flared as he took in all the scents the room held. Rico was scowling as he shook his head.
“It makes no sense man. She was more tha
n happy to help you obtain the stones. Her goal was finding her grandfather.”
Cam thrust his fingers into his spiked hair in frustration, followed his skull down to knead his neck as he paced. His wolf was frantically clawing to get out, wanting to track his mate and bring her back to them. Pacing the all too confining hotel room, Cam growled in frustration. He’d trusted Fi, hell, he’d poured his soul out to her, even given his heart to her.
Never before had Cam told a woman he loved them. Until Fianna came into his life. He thought they’d shared so much together, but really, they still had only scratched the surface of each other. He realized that although his wolf thought they were mates and he loved her, he really didn’t know Fianna
“I thought Anna’s goal was to find her grandfather, but what if this was all a god damned setup man?”
Anger, frustration and betrayal laced every word Cam spit out at Rico and that had the shifter taking a step back, his own hand going to his neck to rub away what Cam assumed was tension from the situation.
“Come on man. Do you really think she set you up? Staged the blood at the safehouse and the security footage all as a ploy to get you to help her get the stones?”
Cam didn’t know what to think anymore. His wolf was saying to trust Fianna, but everything pointed to Fianna using him to get the stones and most likely, her grandfather was in on it with her. Why would he have been in contact with Cam’s pack otherwise, which according to Merrick, he had been only days before Cam and Fianna had dashed off to Venice.
“Shit, I need to get in touch with Merrick and my mother to let them know I’ve lost the stones and that they’ll need to keep the fourth one safe at all costs.”
Cam’s phone went off with Merrick’s tone just then. A long, unbelieving look passed between he and Rico as Cam swiped to answer and lifted the phone to his ear. “Hey Merrick, I was actually just about to call you.”
Merrick’s voice came over the line rushed and panicked. Definitely not how Cam had ever heard his friend before. “Cam, have you heard from your mother at all?” Cam’s breath stopped, the air he’d taken in seemed to rush out of him at the implication of the question. Leaving him as depleted as a balloon that had the air sucked out of it.