Page 45 of Donovan Blake: Adrenalin

Her pointed questions floated in the air like an unfamiliar, pleasant aroma. For a moment he was baffled, then as a strange prickling sensation moved through his body the answer came to him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Just as Donovan realized how deep his feelings for Phoebe had become the hotel phone rang. The shrill ringing almost made him jump. Marching across the room, he snatched it up from the cradle.

“Yes?”

“There’s a delivery for you, sir. Do you want us to send the driver over?”

“Yes, please.”

“Who was it?” Phoebe asked as he hung up the receiver.

“I think it’s probably your costume for tonight. I don’t know why the front desk didn’t just take it and have the bellboy deliver it or send the messenger over here.”

“Probably security, but why are you so upset? It’s no big deal.”

“Because I…because I was thinking about something.”

“About my question?” she asked, lowering her voice and walking towards him. “Why you said you’d be there for me?”

“Yes, but we can talk about it later.”

Not only was he unnerved, the moment had been broken, and he didn’t want to express what was in his heart when there was about to be a knock on the door.

“That sounds ominous,” she muttered. “Should I be worried?”

“No,” he said, softening his voice. “There’s nothing to worry about, and there’s the delivery,” he added as someone knocked.

Opening the door he accepted the garment bag and they headed into the bedroom.

“I can’t wait to see this,” she exclaimed excitedly as he slid down the zipper.

“There you are, a chandelier gown, and it actually lights up. But that’s not all it does. I’ll help you put it on and explain.”

“What’s this?” she asked, finding a small box at the bottom of the bag.

“That will be my glue.”

“What do you need glue for?”

“I’ll show you that as well, but first, let’s get you into this very special gown and see how it fits.”

“Can you at least tell me what you’ll be going as?”

“Sure. A swashbuckling pirate.”

* * *

At Manny Trubello’s estate the preparations for the big night were in full swing. Caterer’s had taken over the expansive chef’s kitchen, decorators were busy creating a fantasyland outdoors, and more designers were at work inside the house. But only a few rooms were dedicated to the event, and Manny had security ready to make sure no-one wandered where they shouldn’t.

But while there was controlled chaos at the estate, Manny and Candy were having a sumptuous lunch on board a magnificent Momentum Yacht

The invitation had been hand-delivered that morning by a tall, brawny man with a thick, intimidating accent, and had caught Manny completely off-guard. When he’d seen the name Alexi Kozlov on the gold embossed card he’d immediately accepted. He’d never met the man, but he’d certainly heard of him, and saying no to the infamous oligarch wasn’t an option. It was no secret Alexi’s passion was collecting the finest jewelry in the world, and Manny assumed Boris had told Alexi about The Alexandrite Empress.

Rarely did Manny feel uncomfortable, but when he and Candy had stepped on board the luxury yacht and were escorted to the salon, his heart had been racing. Now seated across from the infamous Russian billionaire, dining on exquisitely prepared dishes and drinking expensive champagne, Manny waited nervously for him to bring up the reason for the invitation.

“I’m sure you know why you’re here,” Alexi declared, leaning across the table. “I have been told you’re in possession of a much sought after treasure.”

---