Page 129 of Savannah Royals
“Heavens to Betsy, what is thatrockon your finger? I’m blind!”
“Oh, this?” I lift my left hand, then place it flat on the counter between us. “Just a token from my fiancé. I believe you know him. Would you care to see?”
“I certainly would.” He lifts my hand for inspection, checking it from every angle. “Perfect balance, colorless, organically unique…whoever designed this is wildly talented.”
“I have to agree.”
Ray releases my hand and smiles. “The lad picked well. Couldn’t have chosen better myself. It suits you.”
“It suits him too,” I muse. “It reminds me of the sun, with the pointed halos. And Matthew is…he’s like my own personal sun, pulling me into his orbit.” I look up at Ray and wince. “Sappy, I know. Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I hear all sorts when people come in here shopping for rings. I’m happy for you. He’s a good kid, like you. Smart as a whip—also like you.” He looks meaningfully at me, the slightest lift gracing his eyebrow. Perhaps the tiniest trace of a knowing smile playing on his wrinkled features.
“So…” I swallow, knowing the answer before I ask. “Has Paul stopped by?”
“He has.” Ray is grinning in earnest now.
“And did he…bring you something?”
“Two somethings, actually.”
“And?”
“And I gave him one to go home with, and I kept one for myself as a souvenir. It’s in the back, if you want to see it.”
“You…youwhat?”
He looks carefully at me. “Kat, this isn’t a hill to die on. Not for me. I told Paul exactly what he wanted to hear. He doesn’t plan to sell, so what does it matter? He was only after the trophy. So I gave it to him.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” I shake my head. “If he ever finds out—”
“How will he find out? The only two people in the world who know about this are you and me. And maybe that new fiancé of yours. I’m certainly not going to breathe a word, are you?”
“No.”
He nods. “This is how it ends, Kat. It’s for the best. No one burns this way. Life goes on.”
My eyes fill with tears. Relief and gratitude.
“You’re a good kid, Kat. A good young lady, actually, and you made the right choice. I don’t know how you managed to pull it off, but you did.I’ve never been more proud of you. I examined those necklaces for damn near twenty minutes before I figured it out. And when I did, my choice was easy.”
I look up at him, unable to manage words.
“Go home and be happy, Katarina. It’s over.”
“Go home and be happy,” I repeat, tasting the phrase. I look down at my engagement ring in disbelief. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
Before I leave Ray’s shop, I’m seized with the irresistible urge to go to my desk to retrieve Cleopatra’s showpiece collar and ring, as integral a symbol to my victory today as anything else. I’m single-minded when I push into the back room, so focused I’ve pulled both pieces out to admire before I notice the note. It’s my name scrawled across the top that finally alerts me, written in Paul’s shaky yet meticulous hand.
Katarina,
It seems you’ve held onto something of mine. Something quite precious and coveted. In return, I’ve stolen something of yours. If you’d like him back alive, meet me in the place where everything began.
An eye for an eye, little wolf. You know the rules. Fool me once…
Yours,
