Page 378 of The Romance Adventure

Time for me to throw him off the trail. I rub my eyes like I’ve been crying and then sniffle.

“Jolie? What’s wrong?”

I hunch over, shielding my eyes. “What happened on the boat is just catching up with me. Shouldn’t we call the police? That was scary.”

He takes me in his arms. “You’re right. It was. Magnus is handling it. He and I spoke, and perhaps they thought we were someone else. Or it could be a territorial issue. Just like certain gangs claim an area, we may have unintentionally trespassed on water they call theirs.

CJ grips my upper arms and lifts my gaze to his. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Plus, we’ll go to the party in costume, so if anyone is looking for us, all they’ll see are a couple of pirates.”

“Pirates?” I ask because I have a feeling the modern version was chasing us.

From the closet, he pulls out a transparent plastic bag with a paper insert that says Spooky Town’s Costumes: contains one adult female pirate suit.

He passes it to me. He holds a second one designated for men in his hands.

“You got us coordinating costumes?”

“I wish I could take credit. It was Isla’s idea that we all dress as pirates, even Luke. But I made a promise that he and I would dress as dinosaurs next year.”

A little laugh works itself free. Maybe, for a few hours, I can let myself forget the recent complication in my case. I have my doubts that CJ thinks we entered gang water or whatever. I’m afraid I’ve been made and that Von Dräger is after me, which means I’m putting all of CJ’s family in danger.

But tonight, we’ll masquerade as pirates and forget about this madness. Then, I’m going to have to make some tough decisions.

While I put on a wig and apply heavy makeup, CJ dyes his facial scruff dark with a washable color.

He turns to me and says, “Argh?”

“Argh,” I repeat.

“I was going to suggest we go as spies.” This time, I get a wink.

“Next year.”

“No, dinosaurs are next year. The one after that.” Wearing an amused expression, he says, “Speaking of pirates, ask Lally about poker night and Magnus’s birthday. This isn’t her first pirate rodeo.”

“English isn’t my first language, but I’m pretty sure pirates don’t have rodeos.”

“But wouldn’t that be funny? Cowboy pirates?” Gone is the sharp-eyed, capable, and I’m-going-to-protect-my-woman-and-family-at-all-costs CJ, and back is the lovable goof.

Despite our joking, doubts about whether attending this party is a good idea resurface, and not only because of the goons earlier. The last time I was at an event, I had a close encounter with Von Dräger in the hallway and barely made it out the door.

My stomach twists, but that could just be the guilt eating at me.

CJ turns to me, “You okay?”

I blink a few times, coming out of my thought fog. “Yeah, sorry. Still a little shaken up from earlier. I hope Lally is okay.”

“Listen, forget about it. Things are being handled.” CJ’s tone is firm and authoritative. It’s almost like he knows something I don’t. Which I don’t swallow because it’s my job to know everything.

Sometimes my husband seems like a laid-back surfer. Others, I’d almost guess that he’s an intelligence officer. Or maybe the surprising show of confidence and strength just comes with keeping up with three older brothers who are all forces to be reckoned with in their own right.

I take a few more minutes to finish getting ready and find CJ downstairs with the treasure chest on the kitchen table.

Unlike the wooden ones depicted in movies, it’s burnished metal with a domed lid. Four bands dotted with metal studs reinforce it and ornamental filigree patterns emblazon the rest of it. A decorative piece of metal with the head of a lion covers the spot for the keyhole.

“The symbol for the Royal House of Sousa was a lion. Supposedly, the brothers argued about that. When João got to Brazil, he wanted to change it to a trident. His twin, Adão, wasn’t too keen on that idea.” CJ holds up a gold key that has a lion head on the handle part, matching the cover to the lock.

I gasp because I didn’t realize he had it. We’re so close to the crown, I can almost feel it. Maybe having Von Dräger potentially nearby will work in my favor. Leaning in, I wait for CJ to slide the metal lion head aside and fit the key into the lock.