His Stolen Bride (Chicago Sons)

by Barbara Dunlop

  She forced herself to make the long walk to the gate at the fence. There, she gave a guard her name and identification. She let him check her bag. Then a female guard patted her down before they let her in.

  A pair of burly, unsmiling guards led her through a doorway and directed her down a long, dank hall. The place smelled of fish and disinfectant. Everything about it seemed hard and cold.

  She was determined to feel no sympathy whatsoever for her father. He’d been guilty, no question. But on a human level, she pitied anyone stuck in here. With every step, she fought an increasing urge to turn and run.

  Finally, she came to a doorway that led into a brighter room. It had high mesh-covered windows, a checkerboard floor and several small red tables with connected stools.

  She scanned the room, easily spotting her father. He’d aged since she’d seen him last, his hair gray, his skin sallow and his shoulders stooped and narrower than she remembered.

  When he saw her, his eyes went wide with surprise. His jaw dropped, and he gripped the table in front of him, coming slowly to his feet.

  “Crista?” he mouthed.

  She squared her shoulders and marched toward him.

  “Crista,” he repeated, and his lips curved in a smile.

  She hoped he didn’t reach for her. She inwardly cringed at the thought of giving him a hug.

  “I need your signature,” she stated up front.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “I’m not staying.”

  “No, no.” His head bobbed in a nod. “Of course you can’t stay. I understand.”

  “I know about the mine.”

  He gestured for her to sit down.

  She hesitated but then sat.

  “I know about the mine,” she repeated.

  “Jackson told me.”

  Her chest tightened at the mention of Jackson’s name. She had no intention of pursuing the discussion.

  “We both know it’s worthless,” she said, folding back the envelope flap.

  “It’s not—”

  “But you’ve obviously convinced people it has some value.”

  “It’s not worthless.”

  She stared at him. “Right. You forget who I am.”

  “But—”

  “This latest scam of yours has put me in actual danger. Vern threatened to kill me, and I think he was serious.”

  “He what?” Her father put on his shocked face.

  “Please, save it.”

  “I never meant for—”

  “Quit trying to fool me. I’m not your mark. I’m your daughter. I need one thing from you, and then I am out of your life for good.”

  He swallowed. He even teared up a little bit. His acting was impressive.

  “What do you need?” he asked in a raspy voice.

  She produced the papers. “I had a lawyer draw these up. It transfers my shares in the Borezone Mine to you.”

  Trent drew back.

  “You and I know this is meaningless. But if there’s anyone out there who believes there really are diamonds, or if you manage to convince someone in the future that there are diamonds, they’ll come after you and not me. That’s all I want.”

  His head was shaking. “It’s not worthless.”

  “There’s no point in telling me that.”

  He lunged for her hand, but she snapped it away.

  “Check,” he said. “Have a lawyer check. Better still, have a securities regulator check. At today’s prices your shares are worth tens of millions.”

  “Ha,” she scoffed, wondering why he kept up the facade.

  She couldn’t figure out what he hoped to gain. Then again, at the beginning of any of his cons, it was never obvious what he hoped to gain.

  “Check it,” he said with impressive sincerity. “Promise me you’ll check it, and then you’ll understand what I’m about to do.”

  Her suspicions rose. “What are you about to do?”

  He took the papers from her hands.

  “Dad?” The name was out before she could stop herself.

  She saw him smile while he looked down. Was he signing?

  He flipped through the three pages to the end. There, he made a stroke through his name and printed something else.

  “Jackson Rush was here three days ago,” he said.

  “I bet he was.”

  Her father looked up. “He said something. Well, he said a lot of things. But he reminded me of something that I’d forgotten a long time ago.”

  She schooled her features, determined not to react.

  “He reminded me that being your father meant something. I owe it to you to take care of you.”

  She wasn’t buying it. “What did you just write?”

  “He also showed me what he was, who he was. He’s honest, principled and upstanding.”

  “Stop,” she managed. She didn’t believe a word of it, but her chest was getting tighter and tighter.

  “I’m not going to accept the mine shares. But you’re right. You can’t keep them, either. They put you in danger. When I put them in your name, I had no idea they’d grow in value.”

  “They’re not—”

  “Stop,” he said. “You’re going to confirm their value beyond a shadow of a doubt. And then you’re going to believe that I’ll never do anything to hurt you ever again.”

  She didn’t want to believe him. But she couldn’t begin to guess his angle. If the shares weren’t worth any money, she was going to find out. If they were, why wasn’t he grabbing them?

  “What did you write on the papers?” she asked again.

  “I crossed out my own name. I replaced it with Jackson Rush’s.”

  Her jaw dropped open, and a roar started in her ears.

  “You can trust him.”

  She shook her head. She couldn’t. She didn’t dare.

  “You can,” her father insisted. “You know Cristal Creations is out of the Gerhard name.”

  How had he known that? How was it even relevant?

  “Jackson did that for you,” he said.

  She peered at her father, trying desperately to decide if he was being honest or conning her. But she couldn’t tell.

  “You’re smart,” he said. “And you’re right. Don’t keep the shares. Give them to Jackson. He’ll do right by you. He’s the only person I’d trust.”

  “He’ll give them back to you,” she guessed. “Or he’ll split them with you.”

  Trent smiled. “Then why don’t I take them right now?”

  She didn’t have an answer for that.

  “I conned Jackson. I used his father. I blamed the Gerhards. I told him you were in danger and counted on his principles and nothing else to get you out of it. He helped you because he’s honest and trustworthy. Trust him, Crista. It’s your best and only play. Don’t keep these shares a minute longer than you have to.”

  She searched for the flaw, knowing there had to be something she didn’t see. Her father would never willingly give up anything of value.

  “It’s exactly what it seems,” he said softly. Then he tucked the papers back into the envelope. “You don’t even have to believe me. You’re going to verify every single thing for yourself.”

  Crista didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to do.

  “I’ll understand if you never come back,” said Trent. “But I hope you will. I hope someday you’ll be able to forgive me, and you’ll come and see me.” His eyes teared up again. “You’ll come and tell me how you’re doing.”

  Sympathy welled up inside her, and she knew she was in trouble. Despite her best efforts, he’d gotten to her all over again. She quickly scooped up the papers, jumped up and rushed for the door. />
  It wasn’t until she was through the gate that she felt like she could take a breath. There she stopped, steadying herself.

  In the distance, she saw Ellie get out of the car.

  “Crista?” she called out.

  “I’m coming.” Crista’s voice was far too dry for Ellie to hear. So she started walking. She gave a wave to show she was all right.

  Ellie met her halfway. “What happened?”

  “It was weird.”

  “Weird how? Are you okay?”

  “He wouldn’t sign.” Crista handed Ellie the envelope.

  Ellie stared down at it. “What? What do you mean he wouldn’t sign?”

  They came to the car.

  “Take that to Jackson. Tell him to sign it and get Reginald to notarize it. I’m so done with this stupid mine.”

  “What do you mean, take it to Jackson?” Ellie stopped beside the passenger door, looking over the roof at Crista.

  “This is going to sound crazy.” It was crazy. “My father says he trusts Jackson. He doesn’t want the shares for himself. He agrees I shouldn’t keep them. So he wants me to give them to Jackson.”

  “Mac trusts Jackson,” said Ellie. “And I trust Mac.”

  “Then we’re all in agreement, aren’t we?”

  “Are you mad at me?”

  “No.”

  “For saying I trust Mac?”

  Crista let out a deep sigh. “I’m tired. I’m baffled, and I’m too exhausted to figure out the truth. Did you know Jackson was behind the Bahamian company that bought Cristal Creations?”

  Ellie’s eyes narrowed in obvious puzzlement.

  “For some reason, Jackson got Cristal Creations out of Vern’s hands. He’s somehow set it up so that I can run my own company.”

  “That was an incredibly nice thing for him to do.”

  “I don’t know why he did it.”

  “Why don’t you ask him?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can.”

  But Crista knew she couldn’t bring herself to face him. “If I was right about him, then I don’t ever want to see him again. And if I was wrong about him, well, I doubt he ever wants to see me again.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “Take him the papers. Let’s get this over with.”

  Crista pulled open the door. By tomorrow, the next day at the latest, she’d be free of the Borezone Mine. She could finally get back to work and push Jackson out of her mind.

  * * *

  Jackson stared at the ownership transfer agreement for the Borezone Mine. “What’s the catch?” he asked to no one in particular.

  “None that I can see,” said Reginald.

  “Do you think her old man has really changed?” asked Mac.

  “She doesn’t believe they’re worth anything,” said Ellie.

  Jackson looked up and took in the three faces. “But they are worth something. We all know they’re worth millions. I can’t take them.” He shoved the papers across the meeting table in his Rush Investigations office.

  “That’s how you protect her,” said Mac.

  “She definitely wants you to have them,” said Ellie.

  “You can still use them to her benefit,” said Reginald.

  “It’s not the same thing,” said Jackson. “They belong to her. She has every right to own them, sell them—”

  “Or give them away,” said Mac.

  “Not to me,” said Jackson.

  “Then who? Give her another solution. What is she supposed to do, sit at home and wait for Gerhard to come back?”

  “If only you hadn’t lied to her,” said Ellie.

  “That’s not helping,” said Mac.

  “She’s right,” said Jackson. “But I didn’t think I had a choice,” he told Ellie. “If I’d revealed the whole truth up front, she’d have run fast and far from me. Gerhard would have convinced her to come back.”

  “Maybe,” Ellie allowed.

  “We should have gone to Vegas,” said Jackson. “It was always the best plan.”

  “Want me to call Tuck?” asked Mac.

  Jackson coughed out a laugh. “Right. Great idea. I could kidnap her all over again.”

  “I wouldn’t kidnap her,” said Ellie.

  “No kidding,” said Jackson. Clearly, he had to work on his sarcastic voice.

  “But you can probably persuade her.”

  Jackson huffed. “I can’t persuade her. I wouldn’t try.”

  He loved Crista. There was no way he’d do a single thing to cause her more hurt.

  “For her own good,” said Ellie.

  “Not a chance.”

  “Refuse to sign the papers.”

  “I already did,” said Jackson.

  “Offer to marry her instead.”

  “I already did that, too. She turned me down flat.”

  “Did you tell her you love her?” asked Ellie.

  “I—”

  “Don’t bother denying it,” said Mac.

  “I think she knows,” said Jackson.

  Everyone else had figured it out. He was starting to feel like he was wearing a neon sign. Besides, what other explanation could there be for his behavior?

  “She thinks you’re angry with her,” said Ellie.

  “Why would she think that?”

  “Because she refused to trust you.”

  “That’s just good sense,” said Mac.

  Jackson frowned at him.

  “I’m serious,” said Ellie. “She’s afraid you won’t forgive her.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive.” His brain latched on to the word afraid. Why would Crista care about his forgiveness?

  Ellie gave him a secretive smile.

  “Are you saying…” he asked.

  “I don’t know anything for sure,” said Ellie.

  But she suspected. It was clear Ellie suspected. She thought Crista might have feelings for him.

  “Where is she?”

  “She’s in Wisconsin by now. But I can take you to her.”

  “Wisconsin?”

  “Far away from Vern Gerhard.”

  Okay, that was good.

  Mac put his phone to his ear. “I’ll get Tuck to warm up the jet.”

  Jackson was about to protest. Tuck had already done enough. But then he calculated the time savings and decided it was worth asking. Tuck could always say no.

  “Good plan,” he said to Mac.

  “Wisconsin only?” asked Mac. “Or all the way to Vegas?”

  Jackson grinned. Persuasion and even kidnapping was starting to sound like a very good idea. “All the way to Vegas.”

  * * *

  Crista was in her motel room staring at her email, willing a message to arrive from Ellie. Surely she’d taken the papers to Jackson by now. Surely he’d signed. Crista knew he had to be angry with her, but she also believed he’d been trying to help her. Surely he’d be willing to do this one small thing.

  She hit the refresh button, but there were no new messages.

  “Come on,” she said out loud.

  A knock on her door startled her.

  Fear immediately contracted her stomach. Her first thought was that it was Vern. Had he followed her from Chicago? Had he staked out the prison? Or maybe he’d threatened Ellie and forced her to reveal Crista’s location.

  The knock sounded again.

  Crista carefully rose to her feet. The chain was on the door, but she had no doubt Gerhard’s burly security men would break it down. She could tell them Jackson already owned the shares. But she had no proof. They probably wouldn’t believe her.

  She started to back away, thinking she
’d lock herself in the bathroom and call the police.

  “Crista?” came a man’s voice.

  No…

  “Crista, it’s me, Jackson.”

  Relief instantly rushed from her scalp to her toes.

  “Open the door,” he called.

  “Jackson?” She rushed forward. “Jackson?” she called louder.

  “Ellie gave me the papers.”

  “Good. That’s good.” She gulped a couple of deep breaths, staring at the door.

  “Ellie and Mac are in the car.”

  “Ellie’s here?”

  “Yes.”

  That had to be good. It was all good. Vern hadn’t found her. She wasn’t afraid of Jackson. He must have signed the papers. Maybe he was here to give her a copy.

  Her hands trembled as she pulled off the chain. Then she turned the dead bolt and twisted the door handle, opening the door.

  Jackson was there, smiling. She was glad to see him. She was ridiculously glad to see him.

  “Hi,” she managed.

  “Hi yourself.”

  “Ellie brought you?” That much was obvious, but she didn’t really know what else to say to him.

  “Can I come in?”

  “Yes.” She stepped back.

  She glanced out at the parking lot. “Just you?”

  “I need to talk to you alone.”

  “Okay.” She shut the door behind him.

  Then she turned to where he was standing, close, looking strong and sexy and not even a little bit angry.

  “You signed?” she asked, so happy to have this all behind her.

  She wanted to walk into his arms. She could hug him at least, couldn’t she?

  “I didn’t sign,” he said.

  She stopped herself short. “What?”

  “I didn’t sign,” he repeated.

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t want your diamond mine, Crista.”

  “But…it’s just a formality. You know that. Why would you refuse?”

  Had everything he’d said been a lie? Did he not care about her at all? Was he so angry he was willing to let her take her chances with Vern and Manfred?

  “Is transferring the shares all about the Gerhards?” he asked.

  “Yes. If I don’t own the mine, they go away.”

  “That’s true.”

  She was starting to get annoyed. “So? What’s your problem?”