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“Ugh. Seems like forever.” He squinted one eye shut as he calculated the time in his head. “Wow. Five years already. We don’t even have to talk in tight situations. We can give each other hand signals or a look.”
“Five years is a long time.”
“Yep. Those guys are my family now. They’re goofy as hell sometimes, but I love ’em.”
“Nice.” She met his gaze, her eyes huge and luminous in the shadows. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything.” She leaned over and kissed him, soft and sweet, on the lips, but pulled back before he could take things further. It felt like a goodbye.
“My pleasure.” And it had been. He couldn’t regret the time he’d had with her, even if he never got a chance to touch her again.
11
“Up next,” the auctioneer said, “the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Lot 179—a complete set of first edition works by Ernest Hemingway, signed by the author. These novels were painstakingly collected by esteemed businessman and publishing titan Coran Williams. His daughter, Toni, has graciously donated them to the auction tonight. Bidding will start at five hundred thousand American dollars. All right, we have our first bidder. Do we have five hundred twenty-five thousand?”
Toni swallowed hard, then turned away from the assembled bidders, checking her phone yet again to see if her father had responded to the texts she’d sent, warning him of what she intended to do—but nope. Nothing. She really hadn’t thought he’d let things go this far. If he didn’t show up or reach out in the next few minutes, his precious books would be gone from his life forever. She’d thought thatwould be a strong motivator, even if he couldn’t be bothered to do anything when she was just asking for herself.
She glanced over to the side of the stage and spotted Spencer and Kyle near the back wall of the ballroom. Spencer caught her eye and gave her a small smile and quick nod, but that didn’t squelch the dread boring into her chest.
“One million dollars!” the auctioneer said, excitement evident in his crisp British tones. Sheik Saaed had hired the most prestigious auction house in the world to handle this part of the gala. He’d graciously donated several rare artifacts to help raise funds as well. “Do we have a bid of one point two million?”
As the bidding continued, she made her way to the stairs that led down to the ballroom floor. She joined Spencer and Kyle and asked, “Any sign of my father yet?”
“Not yet,” Spencer replied. “You doing okay?” he whispered, leaning a tad closer to her.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She gave him a hesitant smile. “I’d be better if this auction was over. Selling off my father’s most prized possessions won’t sit well with him.”
“We’ve got you covered,” Kyle said, his tone as rigid as his posture.
Given what Spencer had told her about what the man had been through these past couple of months—his brother’s death, finding his sister-in-law Natalie only to face evidence of her betrayal and then lose her again, struggling to keep his team together under such horrific circumstances and scrutiny—Toni couldn’t blame the guy for being guarded.
Kyle’s attention snapped to the ballroom’s grand entrance, and his expression grew even colder. “Target sighted, eleven o’clock.”
“Five million dollars. Final bid,” a familiar voice called from just inside the enormous glided doors, and Toni’s heart leapt. The crowds parted to reveal Coran Williams, dressed not in a tux but in his usual oxford shirt, freshly ironed jeans, and brown leather loafers. “Those books belong to me, and I intend to keep them.”
“Sold!” the auctioneer said, the decisive smack of his gavel echoing through the now quiet room.
Should I go to him? Stay here? Flee the place entirely?
As if sensing her thoughts, Coran Williams zeroed in on his daughter, his dark eyes narrowed with anger.
Spencer reached out to squeeze Toni’s shoulder. “Easy, partner. I’m right here with you. I won’t let him hurt you.”
She glanced sideways and took in her bodyguard’s hard stance, the tight line of his clenched jaw. At the moment, she was a lot more worried about Spencer hurting her father. “Let me talk to him first.” Toni pulled free from his grip.
“We’re beyond talking,” Spencer growled. “Either he comes with us now, or that’s it.”
“Stand down, Lieutenant!” Kyle hissed as Coran headed their way. “That’s a direct order.”
As Coran approached, Gage and Scotty circled behind him, essentially boxing him in.
Toni took a deep breath and did her best to relax. There was no going back now. “Hello, Father.”
Coran stopped about a foot away, assessing her with an angry gaze. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Hosting a fundraiser for my foundation.” Her attempt to be flippant sounded strained, even to her own ears. “And you?”
