Page 6 of Hidden Dane
They passed security and his two coworkers joined them. “Now, that is the biggest lie I’ve ever heard from you.”
The driver said, “Uriel, did you get the necklace?”
She stopped mid-stride. The man at the night club. Her necklace. She blinked. How had she not put this together? She swallowed and asked, “Wait? You’re Uriel Delligatti?”
His gaze narrowed as he took her hand, guidingherforward now as he asked, “Why?”
She picked up the pace and scooted closer. Dane felt familiar and warm. Her cheeks heated as she lowered her gaze. “The old guy in the club-”
“Ted Vet San,” he interrupted. “And he looks older than he is.”
They made it to the wing with the private planes. Soon they’d have to walk out on the tarmac. She blinked as she met the one man’s gaze that always stirred her in ways no one else ever had, no matter what his name was. “What?”
“His name is Ted Vet San.” He stopped.
She crossed her arms, stopping too. “Teddy in there was asking for you. Uriel.”
Dane focused on her neck. If she hadn’t worn this tonight, would Ted and his minions have broken into her apartment and just stolen it? She pressed her lips together as she waited for his explanation.
Dane traced her hip. “He wants the necklace.”
“Why?” She ignored the heat that grew inside her and pushed his hand away.
His two associates headed onto the plane jetway, while she and Dane remained in the terminal. She wasn’t budging without answers. He lowered his voice. “It’s the key to opening a bank box.” His warm breath brushed her face.
It was like they were completely alone for the first time in ages, until the bustle of people moving in the terminal shook her out of the reverie. “Don’t they usually use pins and personal ID?”
Dane’s forehead pressed against hers and they shared the same air again as he whispered, like it pained him, “Edmond Pearce’s family set this up specifically and that necklace is the key.”
Her brow furrowed as he stepped back and the space between them widened. She pursed her lips and asked, “Have you talked to Michael?”
“I’m not talking to or about my biological father.” Dane’s demeanor darkened. “My life is my own.”
Right. Dane had thought Edmond Pearce had been his father until the day that man killed his mother in front of all of them. She winced at the memory of flying bullets—she’d only been sixteen. Edmond had also condemned Michael to prison—Michael had escaped and returned home only to find out Edmond had also stolen his unborn son. Edmond was a horrible person who deserved his early demise. Emily crossed her arms and met Dane’s gaze. “You probably should call Michael, as these men are dangerous.”
Instead of listening, he shook his head and stared at her throat. “I should never have given you that necklace.”
More people passed them. She turned toward the jetway and kept her voice low as she said, “You did it because you liked me once.”
At the entrance he held her arm in earnest. “Emily, you’ve always been too much. Just give it back to me now and we’ll go our separate ways.”
“You should also remember that I don’t give up on what’s mine.” She pushed him off and then showed him the necklace around her neck. “This is mine. Tell me. Why do you need to go to a bank and why is someone chasing you?”
He blocked her, his muscular arms almost ripping through his black t-shirt, his chiseled legs in custom blue jeans, him, towering in front of her so she couldn’t pass. “I think you need to give me the necklace and go home.”
She patted his shoulder and waited for him to move. After several moments, he finally did and she smirked. “Nice try. Now I’m going with you and you’re going to answer my questions.”
He threw his hands in the air like he’d given up. “You were always bossy.”
As she went down the jetway she saw his personal jet that could double as a passenger plane. They were clearly going straight across the Atlantic to London without stopping. She stepped on the tarmac. “You never complained. Besides, you need me.”
He followed her and asked, “Why do I need you? I just need the necklace.”
She hurried up the metal stairs. At the galley, she picked up a bottle of wine, a cork screw, and two glasses, then headed toward seats midway of the aircraft. He took off his suit jacket and hung it over the chair. Once he sat next to her, she handed him the glasses while she kept the bottle. “Because you know you can trust me, and I’m on your side. You need friends and I’m the best one you ever had.”
The other two men were out of sight and she assumed they were in the cockpit.
Dane held the glasses between his legs. “Which is why I don’t want you hurt because of me.”
