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Authors: Linsey Lanier
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him in my…former life.”
“Your life as a jewel thief.”
He nodded, his mouth a grim line.
Her head began to ache. Someone Mark used to steal with had taken Holly? Or more likely worked for whoever had taken her. What did that mean? “Are you sure that was him?”
With a faraway look, he tapped his fingers on the table. “Yes, I’m sure.”
It didn’t make sense. Someone from Mark’s past was using her to get the Fantasia necklace? Her mind reeled. Was Mark in on this? “Is this a setup, Mark? Did you take my daughter?”
His face flashed with sudden rage at her accusation. “No. Hell, no. How could you think I’d do such a thing?” He winced then leaned across the table to whisper. “Okay, so I don’t have a sterling past but I’m not into kidnapping.”
She glared at him.
He pulled out his cell. “Do you want me to call my boss and prove it to you?”
She raised her hands. “No. Please.” Okay, okay. That was rash. She could tell last night Mark had no idea she had a daughter. And she supposed the world of jewel thieves was a small one. “So you know this guy. Do you know where he lives? How to contact him?”
His expression turned thoughtful. After a moment, he shook his head. “He wouldn’t stay in one place. Certainly not in the last place he lived when I worked with him.”
“You’re right. That would be too easy.”
He reached for her, wrapped his hand around her wrist. “I promise you I’m going to find your daughter.” His eyes were more solemn than she’d ever seen them. And more sincere.
Suddenly she knew he meant it and it touched her. Despite everything he’d done. Despite their ruined marriage, his words touched her. He truly wanted to help.
But she thought of the threat in that letter and knew she couldn’t let him. Her father had always told her she could do anything she put her mind to. And so she’d put her mind to saving he daughter. “What I need you to promise me, Mark, is that you’ll let me handle this by myself.”
“Paige, these men are dangerous.”
“Mark, please don’t—”
“The people I work for know what they’re doing. They have experts who deal with this sort of thing all the time.”
The emotion in his deep blue eyes gave her heart a twinge. What was it about this man? Even in the direst of situations she wanted to go to bed with him? No, she was through with that.
Tired of arguing, she sat back in her chair. Why was he always so stubborn? Yet again, her eyes began to fill. She was tired of that too. “Mark, I don’t expect you to understand. You don’t know what it’s like.” She didn’t dare say any more. She looked at him with all the earnestness she had. “But you have to understand. I have to do this on my own. If I don’t and anything happens to Holly…How could I live with myself?” Her voice broke but she took a deep breath and went on. It had to be said. “Mark, if you ever cared for me, if you ever really loved me, you’ll promise me that.”
His jaw hardened and she knew she’d hit the right nerve. He sat staring at her as if they were the last two people on earth. For a long moment, he held her gaze and said nothing.
At last, he nodded and spoke in a low, steady voice. “All right, Angel Eyes. You win. I promise.”
Chapter Seven
Holly shivered on the green bed. The bed was so big. The room the awful man had locked her in was big, too. And dark. The curtains were drawn tight and the man said she couldn’t open them or she’d be sorry.
Her cheeks were wet from crying. Her nose was wet, too. She closed her eyes and wished she could go home. Where was Mommie? Why didn’t she come for her? Didn’t Mommie love her anymore?
She sat up and tried to dry her face with her hands. She wiped them on the sheet. She didn’t like this bed. It was hard. And was so much bigger than her own. And the ugly green covers were scratchy.
There were red flowers on the table. Mommie never put flowers on her table. Where
“Your life as a jewel thief.”
He nodded, his mouth a grim line.
Her head began to ache. Someone Mark used to steal with had taken Holly? Or more likely worked for whoever had taken her. What did that mean? “Are you sure that was him?”
With a faraway look, he tapped his fingers on the table. “Yes, I’m sure.”
It didn’t make sense. Someone from Mark’s past was using her to get the Fantasia necklace? Her mind reeled. Was Mark in on this? “Is this a setup, Mark? Did you take my daughter?”
His face flashed with sudden rage at her accusation. “No. Hell, no. How could you think I’d do such a thing?” He winced then leaned across the table to whisper. “Okay, so I don’t have a sterling past but I’m not into kidnapping.”
She glared at him.
He pulled out his cell. “Do you want me to call my boss and prove it to you?”
She raised her hands. “No. Please.” Okay, okay. That was rash. She could tell last night Mark had no idea she had a daughter. And she supposed the world of jewel thieves was a small one. “So you know this guy. Do you know where he lives? How to contact him?”
His expression turned thoughtful. After a moment, he shook his head. “He wouldn’t stay in one place. Certainly not in the last place he lived when I worked with him.”
“You’re right. That would be too easy.”
He reached for her, wrapped his hand around her wrist. “I promise you I’m going to find your daughter.” His eyes were more solemn than she’d ever seen them. And more sincere.
Suddenly she knew he meant it and it touched her. Despite everything he’d done. Despite their ruined marriage, his words touched her. He truly wanted to help.
But she thought of the threat in that letter and knew she couldn’t let him. Her father had always told her she could do anything she put her mind to. And so she’d put her mind to saving he daughter. “What I need you to promise me, Mark, is that you’ll let me handle this by myself.”
“Paige, these men are dangerous.”
“Mark, please don’t—”
“The people I work for know what they’re doing. They have experts who deal with this sort of thing all the time.”
The emotion in his deep blue eyes gave her heart a twinge. What was it about this man? Even in the direst of situations she wanted to go to bed with him? No, she was through with that.
Tired of arguing, she sat back in her chair. Why was he always so stubborn? Yet again, her eyes began to fill. She was tired of that too. “Mark, I don’t expect you to understand. You don’t know what it’s like.” She didn’t dare say any more. She looked at him with all the earnestness she had. “But you have to understand. I have to do this on my own. If I don’t and anything happens to Holly…How could I live with myself?” Her voice broke but she took a deep breath and went on. It had to be said. “Mark, if you ever cared for me, if you ever really loved me, you’ll promise me that.”
His jaw hardened and she knew she’d hit the right nerve. He sat staring at her as if they were the last two people on earth. For a long moment, he held her gaze and said nothing.
At last, he nodded and spoke in a low, steady voice. “All right, Angel Eyes. You win. I promise.”
Chapter Seven
Holly shivered on the green bed. The bed was so big. The room the awful man had locked her in was big, too. And dark. The curtains were drawn tight and the man said she couldn’t open them or she’d be sorry.
Her cheeks were wet from crying. Her nose was wet, too. She closed her eyes and wished she could go home. Where was Mommie? Why didn’t she come for her? Didn’t Mommie love her anymore?
She sat up and tried to dry her face with her hands. She wiped them on the sheet. She didn’t like this bed. It was hard. And was so much bigger than her own. And the ugly green covers were scratchy.
There were red flowers on the table. Mommie never put flowers on her table. Where
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