Read Online Touched by a Thief by Jana Mercy - Free Book Online Page A

moving on before you got what you came for.”
    “That’s another thing. What do you know about the Degassi and why have you tapped into Gerard’s security?”
    A play of emotions ran across his face, but revealed nothing that he didn’t want her to see. “Not much more than you do. It’s a precious gem Kincaid’s stolen and there’s a high price for the return.”
    “It’s return to whom? Who did Gerard steal the Degassi from? And since when did he start stealing jewelry?”
    Ian eyed her for long moments. “How did you learn Kincaid had the diamond?”
    “How did you?” She tossed back at him.
    “I’m a jewel thief.” He lifted one shoulder nonchalantly. “It’s my job to know.”
    “That’s my line.” She eyed him suspiciously. He shrugged again and leaned back in the luxurious seat, looking completely relaxed. As if they weren’t in the middle of a conversation, his gaze dropped to the paper he’d been reading earlier.
    Her time in prison had given her a lot of time to think, to replay every moment spent with Ian, had given her time to look for clues that she shouldn’t have trusted him. “Are you really a jewel thief, Ian?”
    Would he tell her the truth even if he wasn’t?
    His dark gaze lifted from the newspaper he’d been reading. With great care he folded the paper and set it down on the screwed down table that separated their seats. “What do you think?”
    “I wouldn’t ask if I knew the answer.”
    “Wouldn’t you?”
    He had her there. She might. To see if he’d lie to her. Of course he’d lie to her. This was Ian. Everything between them had been a lie.
    “Are you?”
    “I wouldn’t think you’d have to ask me that. We met inside the Vandenberger Estate when we were both attempting to steal a certain diamond tiara once worn by the Queen of Sweden.”
    “But you’d been hired to return the tiara to Sweden.” At his raised eyebrow, she gasped. No. “You lied to me.” Of course he’d lied to her. Hadn’t she just admitted to herself that everything had been a lie. “You tricked me into giving you the tiara.”
    She’d had plans for the money she’d have gotten for that tiara. But he’d prayed upon her love of history and sense of fair play. He’d told her the royal family had incandescently hired him to return one of their missing treasures. And she’d bought his lies hook, line, and sinker. How he must have laughed at her handing over what must have easily netted him over a quarter mil.
    “I’m a treasure hunter. Finding rare and beautiful things is my job.”
    “And taking those things as your own?”
    “On occasion, but usually I work for hire to the highest bidder.”
    “Gerard is currently the highest bidder?”
    “Currently.”
    “And what treasure was it that he hired you to bring him?”
    Ian’s mouth split into a wry grin. “You.”
    She took a moment to digest the implications of his answer, of Ian confirming her suspicions. Gerard had masterminded everything that happened between she and Ian. Well, not everything, but he’d masterminded her arrest, masterminded her time in prison, her release, her gratitude toward him. The attraction had already been there, but Gerard had known that wasn’t enough to win her loyalty.
    The only thing that didn’t make sense was why he’d leave Ian in the picture when he had to know she’d connect the pieces of the puzzle.
    “Which doesn’t explain why you’re still on Gerard’s payroll.”
    “No, it doesn’t, does it?”
    “Quit answering me with questions, Ian. I deserve better than that.”
    “Do you?” He leaned forward, a menacing gleam in his eyes. “Do you really?”
    “Yes.” She clamped her lips closed to keep from saying more.
    “Odd, last I recall you claimed to love me and yet four months later you’re fucking like a dog in heat with an old lover.”
    He sounded like a jealous lover, but she knew better than to buy into that. Ian was manipulating her, trying to throw her off balance,