“Okay, enough,” I interrupt. They’re testing her, and it’s beginning to piss me off. For fuck’s sake, Addie married the detective who was trying to lock us all up not long ago. “This isn’t an inquisition.”
“Why are you here?” Knox’s brow furrows.
Delaney clears her throat, and our hands touch beneath the table, fingers lacing. “I’m going to be as forthright as possible, and I hope you’ll forgive me for what I’m about to say.” We exchange a look. “Things turned out better than we could’ve anticipated, but it was a bit of a rocky start.”
“Go ahead,” Addie encourages, steepling her fingers.
Delaney swallows hard, and I squeeze her hand. “I took a job from Adam Voss—”
“That guy’s a dick,” Linc grumbles.
“Yes, he is,” she agrees. “But he had information I’ve been searching for, and I couldn’t say no.”
“What kind of information?” Cole inquires.
“Specifically, a map of the tunnels beneath Heidenreichstein Castle in Austria. The last known location of the Phantom Orchid.”
“The Phantom Orchid?” Addie echoes. “Do you have any idea how many fakes are circulating?”
“Exactly why I needed Ryder’s expert eye. I didn’t think I could ask for his help, and I certainly didn’t want toinvolve all of you—no offense—so I, ah, kidnapped him when he least expected it.”
Everyone looks at me, and I shrug. “I was taking a shower at the gym.” I glance over at Linc. “It was right after we sparred.”
Knox presses his lips together, trying not to laugh, and Brighton’s green eyes flash with mirth.
“Well, that’s certainly a way to catch someone unawares,” Addie murmurs. If I’m not mistaken, I’d say she looks a little impressed. “Then what happened?”
“I cuffed him and forced him to go to Austria with me.”
“Naked?” Knox snorts out a laugh.
“Shut up, Knox,” I grumble.
“No, I allowed him to get dressed.” Delaney’s lips twitch. “We scouted out the castle, broke in through the moat and searched the tunnels.” She lets go of my hand, reaches into her purse and pulls out the velvet bag. “And we found it.” Her slim fingers open the drawstrings and she dumps the gem into her hand.
Several curses and a couple of gasps fill the air as everyone leans forward for a better look at the dazzling purple diamond. It sparkles brilliantly under the overhead light, so rare and unique. A thief’s wet dream.
“And you verified its authenticity?” Addie asks me.
“It’s the real deal,” I confirm.
“I’m confused.” Linc sits back and crosses his big arms. “Why’re you telling us? And why isn’t that thing sitting in Voss’s personal collection right now?”
“Because I never planned to give it to him,” Delaney admits, setting the diamond down on top of the bag. My friends narrow their eyes, and Delaney holds up a placating hand before continuing. “My father was an archeologist, and when I was little, I spent a lot of time running around on dig sites with him or hanging out in museums. He spent his entire life tracking down clues, trying to find the Phantom Orchid. He died from a very aggressive form of cancer before he succeeded in finding this stone. I guess you could say, I carried on his obsession. I found it for him. In his memory. There’s no way in hell I’d give it to a jerk like Voss.”
As I look around the table at my friends’ expressions, I can feel the shift. See their faces and demeanors softening. Especially Addie. She lost her mom, her best friend, too. But before she died, Alma “Angel” Mills had taught her only daughter the art of the heist and formed our little ring of thieves.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Addie says quietly, and the others nod.
A part of me knows Delaney is smart enough to play on their sympathy in order to get them on her side, but I don’t think she’s devious enough to make up a story like that. I may not know all the details of her past—yet—but I know her well enough to know she’s being sincere.
I especially see Addie empathizing with her. For some reason, the idea of them becoming friends makes me reallyhappy. Delaney needs a close girlfriend, and Addie is one of the best women I know.
“I was planning to leave,” Delaney reveals. “Take the prize and retire. Just sail off into the sunset. Find some faraway beach and survive on coconuts.” She shrugs a shoulder. “It’s not like I’d be leaving anyone or anything behind. Or like anyone would miss me.”
Her words drive a spike through my heart. Maybe that used to be the case, but it’s not any longer. “But the plan has changed,” I announce, sending her a look that I hope is reassuring. One that tells her she isn’t alone anymore.
“Are you guys eloping?” Knox asks, face completely straight, blue eyes alight with glee.
