Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 131651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 658(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 658(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“Yeah. You think the egg was the only pain in the ass he ever went all in for? A lot of his prized possessions were picked up before my time, but he never stopped until he was a few years from the end and travel got rougher. Total security nightmare, some of the places he insisted we visit.”
“Where?”
I can’t quite meet her eyes, so I turn my attention to my half-finished wine.
“Rural Mexico. Libya. Little towns in Egypt with no cell service. Anywhere he thought there might be something amazing or precious, especially if it came with a risk of being destroyed.”
“Oh, wow. I never knew he was Indiana Jones.”
“Close enough. I kept him alive to see another adventure, at least.”
“Wow, yeah. After that, looking after me and one fancy egg shouldn’t be too bad.” She grins.
“You might think that, but it’s more than I bargained for,” I grumble, offering her a smile. “You’ve inherited his stubborn streak. That’s familiar and it makes this easier.”
“Aw, come on. New York wasn’t that bad.”
I stiffen. Is she serious?
It was only the end of the world in one kiss.
I don’t know if I should even answer.
“Possibly the most dangerous trip of all,” I deadpan, playing dumb.
Her grin widens.
I have to look the hell away from how bright she looks. The opposite of me, sweeping in like a low, unsettled thunderhead.
The illusion of safety, that’s always the real danger.
Whether it’s roaming, armed men and no central authority in some unstable country, or sharing a bed with a girl who’s worse than touching fire.
And Cleo, wanting to see the best in everyone, wanting attention, she’s exactly the kind of client who has trouble written all over her. She jumped on Fairfax’s offer, despite my instincts telling me he’s suspicious, and I’m positive he won’t be the first.
Her laughter fades and she twirls a finger in her hair. The light in her eyes turns somber again.
“I appreciate you listening,” she whispers. “And for sharing, too. You probably knew PopPop better than me. I made it back here his last few years way less often than I would’ve liked.”
“Knew him pretty well, but he wasn’t family.”
She nods, weighing the words.
What does family mean to her?
With her granddad and her father at opposite ends of the spectrum, it must be crazy complicated.
“I know you don’t want to influence my choice,” she whispers. “And I appreciate that, even if sometimes I wish you’d just tell me to tell Fairfax to pound sand. I know that’s what you prefer.”
“And you know by now it doesn’t matter,” I say gruffly. “Your choice. No one else’s. If this job lasts three days or three months, I’ll stick around.”
She sighs. “Yeah, well, thanks for listening again.”
I nod, wanting to add something stupid like I can do a lot more than listen.
But I won’t. I shouldn’t pretend.
Still, I can’t help wondering what the hell she’ll decide in the end. There’s real uncertainty in her eyes whenever she brings it up.
How long does this curse consume us until we’re free?
How long will I have to fight myself off her like a deranged chimp?
13
BLOOD AND TREASURE (CLEO)
Itoss and turn all night, and when I wake up in the grey morning gloom, I drag myself to the kitchen and pour myself a beer mug full of coffee.
One more thing Gramps collected. I’m glad he left a few lying around.
I can’t make up my mind with Fairfax’s offer.
Worse, Holden wouldn’t weigh in, leaving it to me. Which is weirdly thoughtful for Mr. Crankyface, but also kind of annoying. The one time he decided to pass on being a world-class control freak…
Sigh.
After the kiss and the awkward aftermath, I thought I’d do us both a favor if I just took the first offer that came along.
Ten million dollars.
Nothing to sneeze at, but there’s more than money on the line. Even if Holden’s right and Fairfax winds up lowballing me to flip the egg for a princely sum, what does it matter?
Financially, I’m set for life.
But would Fairfax just let the egg disappear into some billionaire’s vault, never to be seen? That doesn’t sit right.
A lost treasure this beautiful deserves to be seen and shared with the world. Not jealously sealed behind glass in some private collector’s mansion.
Gramps left it up to me, yeah, but I know what way he’d lean.
Dinner last night made me feel less alone with my tortured thoughts.
Holden was clear without uttering a word—don’t take any bad deals just to speed this up. Just so I can free us from this crazy obligation.
With fresh java in my veins, I grab my phone and dial Miracles by Fairfax.
The receptionist patches me through right away, which tells me he’s been waiting for my call.
My nerves knot.
I’m not just taking any deal. If I’m not angling for a bigger payoff, I should get a few other concessions.