Lifting my head, I rub my hands on my thighs, trying to compose myself. “He did. But he spent his entire life searching for that bloody purple diamond. After he died, I promised him I’d finish his search and I’d find it. For him.”
“And that’s why you’re about to run away now. Because Voss is going to send people after you,” he surmises.
I nod, reaching for the velvet bag. “This belongs to my dad. Not Voss.”
“So you’re just going to leave? Go into hiding for the rest of your life?”
“What choice do I have?” I shrug, plucking the diamond out and staring at its brilliant purple fire. Rumors say it’s cursed, and I’m beginning to wonder. Because even though it’s now mine, I’ve never been more unhappy. “He’ll come for me, just like you said.”
Ryder reaches his hand out, placing it beneath mine, and together we hold the legendary Phantom Orchid. But I’m more focused on his strong, warm hand cupping mine, and how damn good it feels.
“What if I told you that’s only a very small piece of therealPhantom Orchid?” His low, deep question vibrates through me.
My head jerks up, and I meet his soft brown eyes. “What’re you talking about?”
“We’re holding about five carats. The rest of it—approximately twenty-five thousand carats—is in a collapsed mine in Africa.”
My heart stutters, and my mouth drops open. Twenty-five thousand carats?
Bloody hell.
Chapter Twelve: Ryder
Shock shines in Delaney’s pretty sea-tossed eyes at my revelation. “Twenty-fivethousand?” she echoes in disbelief. I nod. “That can’t be right. Do you know how big that is?”
“It’s right. And I do.”
“But… How?”
“Because my parents owned the mine.”
“You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie?”
“I have no idea what your agenda is,” she admits, searching my face. “Maybe you want the Phantom Orchid back, and you’re trying to trick me with some crazy story so you cansteal it from under me.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Bollocks.”
I lean forward and grin. “Do you have any idea how cute you are when you go all British on me?”
“You’re trying to change the subject,” she accuses.
Letting out a sigh, I decide to tell her the entire truth. I’ve been keeping this ace up my sleeve, and now it’s time to lay my cards on the table. Hopefully, it’ll tempt her into accepting my proposition and, best case scenario, it’ll make her stay. Because I want more time with this woman. Despite how reluctant she is to trust me, and how complicated our relationship is, I’m not ready to let her go.
“Your father wasn’t the only one interested in the Phantom Orchid,” I begin. “My parents were, too, and they’ve acquired quite a few diamond mines throughout Africa.”
“Yes, Moneybags, I’m quite aware,” she says, tone dry.
“Anyway, they knew the story, but they discovered something even better—the mine where legend claims the Phantom Orchid was originally found.” Her brows wing up. “They believed the Phantom Orchid was only a small part of a much bigger stone.”
I’ve got her full attention. “And?” she whispers.
“They were all rumors, of course, but my parents had money to burn, so they bought the mine. Here’s where the story gets good.” We both lean forward, legs touching. “Before they could find the rest of the diamond, there was a collapse and the mine was deemed too dangerous and closed down.”
“That’s a damn big potential cache to walk away from.”
