Page 4 of A Diamond Deal
Serena nodded. ‘Sit down, and hold on.’
She sat down on the wooden bench beside her. Serena brought the engine to life. It purred, its revs hidden by the roll of the waves of the Ionian Sea aiding their escape.
The boat sliced through the water, which shone in the headlights like a trail of rippling diamonds guiding them directly towards the mouth of the island.
The only way in.
The only wayout.
‘It’s time to drop your phone over the side,’ she said, keeping her hands on the silver steering wheel and her eyes straight ahead. ‘He’ll track it if you don’t.’
If he found her trying to leave, he’d never let her go.
Divorce.He didn’t believe in it. A divorce was a broken promise. He didn’t break his. He wouldn’t let her forget hers. His image was everything. Their marriage had been negotiated to last forever. Two people who could rely on each other. A loveless match bound by the things she wanted—trust and respect—and in exchange he would have what he wanted too. Their marriage would make his image complete. His reputation the opposite of his father’s brutal empire.
All a lie.
All a front for the public.
He’d broken the promises that meant the most to her. To always be honest. Faithful.Loyal.Her heart ached behind her breastbone. He knew about her dad. His adultery. He’d promised never—
Her heart squeezed.
Had he been having an affair while she was on bedrest? While her body had been nurturing their son?
Acrid acid burnt its way up her throat.
She looked at her rings.
She should drop those in, too.
She slipped them off, and pocketed them. She’d sell them when she got to France. Her homeland. She knew no one waited for her there. All her family was gone.
She swallowed. Her old employer would understand her grief. Her need for refuge. A place to hide until she was…strong.Strong enough to fight him for a divorce. She tensed. The idea ofthatconfrontation now… His betrayal… His abandonment. Her nose pinched.
She couldn’t.
‘Okay.’ Poppy pulled her phone out of her pocket. She’d kept it so they could communicate. Serena had made her download some encrypted app two weeks ago when she’d called her about arranging a PI. They’d messaged on it today with details of their plan. It was all happening so quickly…
She inhaled a stuttering breath.
She entered the pin.
The screen was illuminated.
She hadn’t closed it. The message. The attachment was still there. Still open. It wouldn’t matter if she closed it. Her phone was set to upload to the cloud. Making it forever available.
A photograph of her husband.
His mouth locked on another’s.
‘How long until we get to the plane?’ Poppy asked tightly.
‘My team are all set and waiting on a deserted island not too far from here.’ Her gaze dropped to her wrist. She lifted it. A green light shone beneath the cuff. ‘Twenty minutes.’
She looked back at the converted monastery, alight at the top of the cliff. The monks had lived here long ago. It was the place she’d called home for the last three years. A home he’d converted just for them. A place she’d thought was her forever home.
‘Don’t worry,’ Serena said, drawing Poppy’s gaze. ‘I’ll get you into France without your arrival being official. He’ll never know where you went. You’ll just…vanish.’ She made short, firm eye contact. ‘It’ll be as if you never existed.’
