Page 11 of Visions in Blood
Right.I sipped the brandy, both hands gripping the glass as I focused on the fire.“I’ll tell you about the necklace if you tell me why you’re invading my dreams.”
He swirled the brandy before taking a swallow, then glanced at me before nodding.His expression and relaxed posture suggested this discussion had nothing to do with him and everything to do with me.
“That’s acceptable.”
Those two words were enough to know I’d somehow lost this round.That somehow, both the necklace and the dreams were my burden, not his.Well, half of that was right.
I began with the easy part.“I don’t know for sure, but based on the description I heard this evening, I think I know what necklace Christopher is looking for.”
I turned away from the fire and pulled my legs underneath me before facing Devon.He shifted his own position, so he didn’t have to crane his neck to listen, which added some much-needed space between us.After a heavy sigh, I mentally prepared to walk through the minefield.I never spoke to anyone about my childhood, only sharing snippets with Ginger.Devon had never pushed me on this topic before, so with any luck, we could keep this conversation strictly about the necklace.
“When Christopher told Ginger he was looking for something I stole, I had no idea what he was talking about.I haven’t taken anything from that house since I walked away.When the man this evening mentioned a necklace, I was still clueless.I never stole jewelry and would never think to take anything from my mother or April.”I snorted.“My beef was with Christopher, and I only stole items that would drive him crazy or were important to him.”
“Poking a sleeping bear?”
I gave him a one-shouldered shrug and impish grin.“I suppose.”I reached for my neck again then forced my hand back to the brandy snifter.He caught the movement.“When the bodyguard described it, I immediately knew what he was talking about.”I held his gaze.“This is the god’s honest truth.My mother gave me that necklace when I turned six.She said she’d meant to give it to me sooner, but she wanted to wait until I was old enough to take care of it.”
I blinked.Rapidly.What was with the tears?It was so long ago.I swiped at an eye, hoping Devon wouldn’t notice.
I cleared my throat.“She said it was something my father had left for me.That it was important.He made her promise to have me wear it at all times, but she insisted it wasn’t really necessary.He’d just wanted me to feel him near.”My laugh was half-choked.“As if I would remember someone who walked away from us when I was a toddler.”I glanced down at the warm color of brandy, the same color of eyes I remembered dreaming of as a child.My father’s eyes.
“When I was about twelve, my mother took it from me, saying something about keeping it safe.I had no idea what that meant, other than maybe keeping it away from Christopher.We’d already begun our battles by then.She gave the necklace back the day I graduated, knowing I was leaving.”
Devon had turned motionless again.I took a sip of brandy and chanced a glance at him.He was staring into the fire, a slight wrinkle over his brow.Something bothered him about my story, but it was the entire truth.I couldn’t begin to guess what he might be thinking.Not this time.My worst fear was that he wouldn’t believe me, or that he might question our new deal.
He turned suddenly, and when he looked at me, it was as if he’d forgotten I was there.“Where’s the necklace now?”
“Someplace safe.”
He nodded.“I’d like to see it.”
“I’m not giving it to Christopher.”My words came out heated, and I winced when his eyes locked with mine.That icy blue had returned, leaving no warmth in its wake.
In a flash, the warmer blue reappeared, and he gave me a weak smile.“Of course not.I just want to see the medallion.His man said there were engravings on it?”
My shoulders that had bunched since the start of the conversation relaxed.“I don’t really remember them all.It’s been a while since I’ve looked at it, and I never paid close attention to the details.”I closed my eyes.The medallion had been engraved on both sides.Most of it was border art of some kind, but three images were prominent on the front.“There was some kind of flower, similar to a rose I think, and a stork-like bird.”I shook my head.“I’m not sure, but there was at least one other image that doesn’t come to mind.Why the interest?”
“If Underwood wants it so badly it must have some value to him or to someone else, and he’s being paid to retrieve it.Either way, we need to know why, and perhaps something on the medallion holds the answer.”
When I gave him a doubtful look, he squeezed my hand.“And maybe it won’t tell us anything at all, and it can remain wherever it is you keep it.”He turned my cheek until I was forced to look him in the eyes.“I won’t take it from you.It must be dear to you, especially if it was from your father.”
A huge breath escaped.“Thank you.”It would be simple enough to retrieve the necklace, but with my faithful bodyguards, someone else would know where it was.The emotions that crossed his features were impossible to read, yet I believed him when he said he wouldn’t take it from me.Maybe he was mesmerizing me, but after having experienced the sensation with Margo, it didn’t feel like it.I’d have to trust him with this, and one way for him to earn that trust was to hold up his end of our bargain.
“Your turn.”
Confusion lit his handsome face, those brows dipping low.
“Why are you in my dreams?”
Devon didn’t respondto Cressa’s question.His mind was too busy running through what she’d just shared.A necklace her father had given her that he’d wanted worn all the time, yet the information was thirdhand.Did her mother repeat his exact words or was the truth somewhere in between?
He had to see that medallion, curious as to whether it held some magic.It had been taken away when she was around twelve years old.It could be nothing, and considering her troubles with Underwood, perhaps her mother’s actions truly were to keep the necklace safe.But twelve was the age of puberty, and that made the story all the more interesting.Maybe it meant nothing, but he had to know for sure.There was more at stake than just Cressa.Although if what he suspected was true, the impact to her life and future would take a dramatic turn.Anything beyond that would be a miracle.
When he sensed her impatience, he picked up their empty glasses and strode to the bar.He considered changing drinks, but this discussion would require delicacy.So, he poured more brandy and handed one to her before taking a seat in one of the side chairs, providing some distance between them.The dreams were too raw, too intimate, and she would be more comfortable with the space.
Her relieved expression when he positioned himself away from her confirmed his thoughts.
“This is going to be difficult to explain and equally difficult to believe.”That wasn’t the best start, and he considered asking Lucas to join them.Maybe he should wait until Simone returned in the morning.
