Page 4 of Broken Promise
That took me by surprise. The Vandergraffs had always been a different level of wealthy. I whistled. I couldn’t imagine blowing through that kind of money in ten lifetimes.
“What do you think prompted the sudden move? Surely they could have found ways to make money in Europe.”
Emilie smiled. “Perceptive. They’re after the Jewel of the Sea.”
I frowned. “Am I supposed to know what that is?”
She slipped a photo over to me of a brilliant diamond. “This is the Jewel of the Sea. It’s worth over $25 million now. It’s a Vandergraff family heirloom from their mother. She was some kind of countess or something. She came from an old family name without much liquid wealth but with a title and lands and all that jazz. That diamond is passed on from mother to daughter. It vanished right around the time of Dieter Vandergraff’s death.”
And there it was—the tickle along the nape of my neck that told me all was not right with my fucked-up world.
I kept my voice even when I asked again, “So, what do you want from me?”
“Everything you have on them. Comb your old files. If these two are here, it’s problematic for all of us.”
I gave her a sharp nod. “I’ll look through what I have and give ORUS a call. Most of the files you’re after would have been under the old leadership and not available to us. But I’ll ask.”
For now they didn’t need to know that I already had access to those files.
Emilie gave me a smile that was all teeth. She didn’t trust me.Well, that goes both ways, sister.
“You do that. Before you go though, are you sure you were entirely forthcoming about that night you were there?”
So it was like that? Good thing I’d been trained to do nothing but lie. After all, survival depended on it. “Absolutely. You know what I know.”
She nodded. “Okay then, I’d love to take a look at whatever files you can dig up. You know, fresh eyes and all that.”
The hell I’d give her ORUS files without redacting them first. Interpol had been less than successful trying to get in with ORUS. Since the new leader was currently an ally of sorts, I sure as shit wasn’t giving Emilie Durand her in.
“Of course. If we’re done, I’m out.”
She slid her glance over me again. “I understand that you’re pseudo retired. Care to share what you’re up to these days?”
I grinned. “Nope.” Turning my attention back to Alan, I nodded. “I’ll get you what you need.”
* * *
As soon as the elevator opened on the top floor of Blake Security, my attention was diverted by the sight of Lucia holding my niece.
When she saw me, Lucia let out a little squeal that startled the baby.
“Rafe! You’re here. I didn’t know you were coming.”
I grinned, unable to conceal the thread of pure joy that wrapped around my throat every time I saw her. Especially now, seeing her all grown up and so happy. She’d been a sweet kid who had grown into a lovely woman. And now she was a mother.
“Hey, Lulu. Noah asked me earlier to come by.” I leaned down so she could kiss my cheek.
When I got close, I turned my head to kiss Lucia on the forehead and then placed a soft kiss on top of Isabella’s head. She blew a spit bubble and waved her chubby little legs in excitement.
“Look, Izzy. Uncle Rafe is here,” Lucia cooed in a soft voice.
I took her from Lucia and sighed as the baby curled trustingly against my chest. If pressed, I would always say that Lucia was the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen, but I couldn’t deny that Isabella was a close second. She’d gotten the intense dark hair of her father combined with her mother’s big gray eyes. Then, somehow, despite not being blood related, she seemed to have gotten the mischievous nature of her almost-Aunt JJ. Which was evidenced when she suddenly sat straight up and held out her arms to someone standing behind me.
“Look, Matthias. She missed you,” Lucia commented.
I turned and nodded to the kid. Matthias usually only talked to me when absolutely necessary and didn’t pretend to like me. It was the type of honesty that I respected. I passed the baby carefully, noticing that whereas Izzy had been on the verge of going to sleep in my arms, she was wide awake as she stared up at Matthias.
Then we all smelled it.
