“And one last thing.” Through the pounding of her heart she heard him speak again. “Do not attempt to cut and run.” His night-dark eyes bored into hers. “You stole my son from me once. You will never—” his mouth twisted, and the barely suppressed rage in his voice was audible “—do so again. However much of a thief you are.”
Abruptly, he tapped on the glass divide, and a moment later she heard the click of her door unlocking. She stumbled out, and the car moved off into the traffic. For one endless second she could only stare blindly after it. Then she started to shake uncontrollably. His words were knifing in her brain.
However much of a thief you are—
Memory, hideous and ugly, drowned through her.
Xander had been frowning. “It’s a nuisance, but I’ve agreed to pick up a passenger, a…friend…of the family, when we dock at the next island, and drop her off at Piraeus.”
Laurel hadn’t minded, not at first. But Olympia had been cool and condescending towards her. Towards Xander, in contrast, she was familiar—and possessive.
Xander was moody, tight-faced. Polite towards Olympia, but nothing more. To Laurel herself he was noticeably withdrawn, clearly not emphasising their relationship to the other woman, obvious though it was. But Olympia had been intent on making things clear to her. Very clear. At dinner that night, she’d drawn attention to the ruby-and-diamond bracelet around her wrist.
“I’m wearing your present to me, Xander.” She’d heldup her forearm. She’d turned to Laurel. “Xander gave it to me for my last birthday.” She’d glanced back at Xander, smiling still. “I do so love rubies. Perfect for an engagement ring too!” she’d trailed. Her expression was transparent, her purpose obvious – to imply that just such a ring would be Xander’s next offering to her..
Would it? Is that what Olympia was to him? Laurel’s eyes had gone to Xander. His face had frozen, his mouth compressed. He’d said nothing, giving her no clue either way. Olympia’s limpid gaze had switched to her now, and Laurel felt she must say something…anything. Inside her, a hollow was forming.
“Rubies certainly suit your colouring,” she’d said politely, as innocuously as possible.
“Thank you.” Olympia had bestowed a gracious smile on her. “I expect you would prefer something a little more…straightforward. Diamonds are always so…appropriate.”
Her carefully pronounced English hadn’t needed a translation: “Appropriate as a pay-off for a female like you when her time is up. As yours is—”
Laurel had retaliated. How could she not?
“Oh, I don’t know. I doubt I’d say no to a ruby-and-diamond bracelet like yours!” she’d said lightly. Unthinkingly…
It had been the following day, as they’d entered the Saronic Gulf sheltering Athens from the open Aegean, that Olympia, a troubled expression in her face, had announced at lunch that the bracelet had gone missing. A search had ensued, crew interrogated, Olympia’s expression increasingly troubled. Xander’s increasingly black.
Laurel had kept out of it. It was nothing to do with her.
Until she’d walked into the state room, and seen her suitcase on their bed, Xander about to lift the lid.
“What on earth are you doing?” Laurel’s voice had been sharp.
Xander had looked at her. Said nothing. But there was something in his face that sent a chill through her. Which showed a man she did not know.
“Do you have any objection to my looking?” he’d asked. His voice had been tight.
Her voice was even sharper. “Yes, of course I do! How could you even think to think of looking?”
He hadn’t answered, only flipped open the lid. There wasn’t a great deal inside, just clothes Laurel didn’t deem worthy of a luxury yacht, a pair of walking shoes for rough terrain, not needed on voyage, a couple of books, some toiletries.
And, carefully layered into a folded T-shirt, a ruby-and-diamond bracelet…
Chapter Two
LAUREL GOT OFFthe bus with Dan. Her nerves were sky high, how could they not be? But she was doing her best to be casual and cheerful. Dan wasn’t relaxed either. When she’d sat him down after that horrendous day, when the life she had so painstakingly built for herself and her beloved son had catastrophically imploded with Xander’s confrontation, and told Dan what she’d had to tell him, what she now had no choice but to tell him, picking her words with excruciating care—still reeling from Xander’s discovery of Dan’s existence, still desperately trying to come to terms with it, with all the implications he was demanding of her—told him that his dad was in England and wanted to meet him, Dan’s face had shown such mixed reactions. Confusion, wariness…and excitement. It had been the last that had pierced her heart like a sword.
It pierced her still as she felt his hand tighten in hers as they walked into the restaurant, her heart thudding with nerves. It was a popular family-friendly chain and was familiar to Dan, which was why she’d chosen it now. It was busy on a Saturday lunchtime, but Laurel had reserved a table online, and the waitress showed them to it, depositing menus. She sat next to Dan on the banquette facing the entrance.
“Will he come, Mum?” Dan asked. He sounded anxious.
“Oh, yes,” Laurel answered, hearing a dry note in her voice. Xander would come, all right, like an avenging dark angel, to wreak his vengeance.
But only on her. For daring to deprive him of his son. For stealing him from him…
Just seeing Xander again—after seven years and their bitter, angry parting—had been an ordeal, emotions crashing all over the place, but to face him in his fury over keeping Dan from him…that had been hideous.
