A small smile spread across Belle’s face. “I did.”
“If they come this way, you use this to slow them down.” He held up his hands and added a word of caution, “Don’t hurt them too badly. We’re not trying to maim or kill them.”
“We’re just trying to slow them down.” Belle nodded her understanding. “I was never good at baseball.”
“What are you going to do, Oscar?” Katrina caught hold of his arm. “I don’t want you to get hurt. This isn’t your fight.”
“It is.” Oscar patted her hand. “And I can take care of myself, don’t worry.”
“Take care, Oscar.” Belle grasped the branch and held it up, ready to hit anyone or anything that came their way. Rift was certain the guys weren’t shifters but there were other things they could be, and she didn’t intend to take any chances.
“Okay. Stay alert.” With that, he slipped away, and the bushes closed in around them.
“We should have stayed in the car.” Katrina wrapped her arms around her body.
“Mom, it’ll be okay.”
Katrina nodded. “I hope so. I just can’t help thinking of all the people who have been dragged into this. Good people are in danger because of the actions of two bad men.”
“It’s not your fault. It never was.”
“I chose your father. I was so naive. So stupid.” She brushed her hand over her eyes and then took a deep breath. “I should have a weapon, too.”
Belle ducked down and looked around on the ground at her feet, there was little room to move but she spotted a short thick tree branch that she might be able to reach. “Here, hold this and keep a lookout,” she whispered to her mom.
Katrina nodded and curled her fingers around the tree branch Oscar had found. With one last look along the trail to check that no one was coming, she ducked down and scrambled under the bush to reach the stick. Stretching out her arm, she managed to touch the branch with the tips of her fingers. Forcing her shoulder forward into the bush, she stretched farther and at last grabbed the branch.
“Here.” She passed the short branch to her mom.
“Thanks.” Katrina froze and then pointed to the trail.
Someone was coming.
A flash of movement and a magnificent snow leopard appeared on the trail. Rift.
For a second, everything else slipped away. He was the most incredible thing she’d ever seen and when he turned and looked straight at her, it was as if they were frozen in a moment of time.
Then the world exploded as he leaped forward, crashing into a guy who ran around the corner, right into the snow leopard’s path.
Belle broke cover and ran forward, the branch raised as she went to the aid of her mate. Not that he needed it, he seemed to be handling the situation without maiming the other guy.
Another shout drew her attention. Oscar was fighting with a second man. He was severely outmatched by the younger man. Belle ran forward, the branch raised ready to strike as she recognized the man. Simon Westward.
“Stop!” she yelled, her voice weak and small to her ears but it was enough to stop the two men. “We have what you want.”
Oscar stepped back as Simon froze, his gaze fixed on Belle. “You lied to us, we knew it.”
She shook her head. “No, I didn’t have it then. I didn’t know what you were talking about.”
“But you have it now?” His eyes were hungry as she nodded.
Rift’s snow leopard snarled, a low threatening growl emanating from him. “Tell him to stop fighting.” She pointed back along the trail.
“And then what?” Simon asked.
“You take your treasure and leave. Just like that.” A nagging voice in her head told her they needed an explanation. Ivan needed an explanation.
“Okay.” Simon nodded, the deal was done. Would Ivan be okay with it? Or would he track these men down and take back what was his?
“Ivan.” The dragon shifter ran along the trail toward them. Would he keep to the deal?
Ivan slid to a stop ten feet away from them, his eyes fixed on Rift, who shifted back to his human form, the tiara in his hand. “Go ahead.”
“Are you sure?” Belle asked. She didn’t want bloodshed if Rift passed the tiara to Simon and Ivan changed his mind and made a grab for it.
“Positive.” As he nodded, the other guy came toward them. Behind him, Rift ran to help Katrina.
“Okay then.” She inhaled deeply. She could sense Ivan getting closer, like a moth drawn to a flame. Was this the right thing to do? Why should they hand over such a priceless item to a stranger without even knowing his claim to it?
But this was the deal she’d made. If it kept her and her family safe, surely it was the right thing to do? As Rift and Katrina joined them, her resolved firmed. It was just a piece of jewelry.
Although, as Rift handed it to her and she weighed it in her hands, it was as if heat flared where the jewels touched her skin. It was as if it were alive.
Which was impossible.
“Here.” She held out the tiara and lifted her gaze to meet Simon’s.
“What is that?” He jabbed his finger at the tiara.
“This is the treasure you wanted.” Belle glanced over her shoulder at Ivan. Had he switched it for a similar piece? She rubbed her thumb over the sapphire embedded in the tiara. It looked the same to her, but she was no expert.
“That isn’t it.” Simon closed the distance between them, and Ivan bristled, moving rapidly to her side. Did he sense danger from Simon, who obviously thought she was trying to fool him?
“This is the only treasure we found at the house.” Her forehead creased as she held it out to him. “Take it.”
“No, it’s not the right piece.” He half-turned and looked at his friend who came to join them. “This isn’t it.”
“Let me see.” The guy looked over Simon’s shoulder and took a sharp breath. “Damn it!”
“Then we don’t have what you want,” Belle said firmly and turned to Ivan. “Thanks, Ivan. It looks as if you can have this back.”
Ivan hesitated before he reached for it, his eyes glowing amber as his skin came into contact with the jewels. “Thank you.”
“We’re done here,” Belle told Simon. “We don’t have what you want...”
“You’re a dragon shifter?” Simon completely ignored Belle as he stared at Ivan.
Ivan lifted his head and looked at Simon. “As Belle said, we’re done here.” His jaw tightened.
“My father knew a dragon shifter,” Simon continued.
“Did he?” Ivan’s eyes glowed brighter, their color deepening.
“The dragon shifter was murdered.” Simon licked his lips nervously. “The treasure I seek will prove who killed him. It’ll also prove who killed your father.” He turned to face Belle.
“From the information the police have, we believe your father was responsible for killing my father,” Belle said shortly, tired of this charade.
“Which is why I’m here,” Simon replied. “When Reginald was released from prison, we thought we’d finally be able to clear my father’s name.”
“Your father was never arrested or sent to trial for the murder of Murray.” Oscar joined the conversation but didn’t move from Katrina’s side.
“No, but he saw the photo. He’s lived his whole life knowing that one day someone might link it to him. He’s a recluse, it ruined his life,” Simon replied.
“So why didn’t he come forward and clear his name before?” Oscar asked.
“Because he was set up and the only proof he had was a piece of jewelry. A pendant that the real killer gave to Murray as payment for tracking down the dragon shifter. This shifter then killed Murray. He intended to take back his treasure and cover his tracks. But he never recovered the treasure and since my father was implicated in Murray’s murder, he thought he was safe.”
“Who was safe?” Oscar asked. “You know who was responsible? I can help you clear your father’s name and bring the person to justice.”
/> Simon laughed and shook his head. “I’m sure you think you can, but you have no idea who you are dealing with. The pendant is the only thing that can prove who did this and bring him down.”
“What did the pendant look like?” Katrina asked.
“A large teardrop diamond.” The second guy spun around to look at Belle’s mom.
Instinctively, Belle moved to put herself between the guy and her mom, but Oscar moved, too. Despite the difference in size, Oscar would defend Katrina, it was there in his eyes.
“Belle.” Katrina switched her attention to her daughter. “Do you remember that pendant you used to like to wear when you played dress up?”
“Oh, my!” Belle covered her mouth with her hands. “It was a real diamond?”
“You have it?” Simon’s face paled and he stumbled forward.
Rift instantly sprang forward his hand on Simon’s chest. “Back off, buddy.”
“It’s okay.” Belle’s shoulders sagged as she cupped her face in her hands. “I think I know where it is.”
“You think...” Simon’s voice trailed off as Rift rumbled a warning. “Please, it’s important to me.”
“We should go to my house,” Belle replied. “I had it in the drawer of my nightstand. I was going to let Rosie have it to go with her princess dresses, but it was the only thing I had that belonged to my dad.”
“Murray gave it to me a couple of weeks before he died. I thought it was fake, a lump of shiny glass,” Katrina confessed. “I gave it to Belle to play with.”
“Can we go now?” Simon asked.
Belle nodded. “It’s more important to you than me.”
She just hoped it was where she’d left it. If not, it might be lost forever.
Chapter Twenty-Six – Rift
Rift pulled onto the driveway behind Belle’s car and switched off the engine before he glanced in the rearview mirror. “And we’re sure we can trust these guys?”
“I think so. If they were just after the pendant because it was of value, then they would have taken the tiara. They didn’t.” Oscar glanced at Ivan who had been silent during most of the trip.
“They were talking about my father, weren’t they?” Ivan finally asked.
“I believe so.”
“He was murdered by another dragon shifter.” Ivan locked eyes with Oscar. “Did you know?”
“No. I had no idea.” Oscar turned to face Ivan. “This pendant isn’t just important to these guys. It’s also the key to your past and maybe your future.”
“My future.” Ivan’s jaw clenched. “My future lies at the hotel. With my family.”
“You don’t want to find out more about your father? You have a chance right now. You could go meet Davy Westward. He personally knew your father. He could tell you what kind of a person he was. He could also tell you why he was killed. And who by.”
“And spend the rest of my life searching for revenge? Being caught up in the past like Simon Westward and his family.” Ivan reached for the door handle and cranked it open.
“Ivan.” Rift turned in his seat and caught hold of his brother’s arm. “Think about it. At least go talk to Davy Westward. I’d give anything to know more about my parents. You have that chance.”
Ivan avoided Rift’s eyes as he nodded. “I’ll think about it.” With that he got out of the car and stalked toward the road, his hands shoved in his pockets as he looked right and left, waiting for the others to arrive.
“He needs time,” Oscar said quietly. “He has decisions to make. Hard decisions.”
“If only the kids hadn’t found the tiara,” Rift murmured.
“No, it’s a good thing. The Westward family needs closure. And as for Ivan...” Oscar glanced in the mirror. “Maybe your brother’s life is just about to open up.”
“Whether he wants it to or not?” Rift asked.
“Life has a way of doing just that,” Oscar answered.
“Is that the voice of experience?” Rift placed his hand on the car door, ready to open it.
“That is the voice of a man whose own life seems about to open up in a surprising and unexpected way.” Oscar’s eyes were drawn to Katrina who was approaching the car.
“Grab ahold of it with both hands, Oscar. You deserve happiness and so does Katrina.” He placed his hand on the older man’s back. “Don’t waste a second.”
“I won’t.” Oscar took a long breath. “It’s scary, though.”
“It’s a good thing you’re such a brave man.” Rift opened the car door and got out. “How are you doing, Katrina?”
“Shaken up. It’s all a shock.” She hugged herself as she stood by the side of the car. “Belle’s gone inside to look for the pendant. I don’t think I can stand the suspense.”
Rift glanced toward the front door of Belle’s house. Situated in the suburbs, it was a nondescript family home, the kind he’d have driven past without a second glance, never knowing his mate was inside. Yet he could sense her.
He looked up toward the front bedroom window as if he could see through the walls of the house. But his senses weren’t that good.
“She’s coming.” He held his breath as Belle left the bedroom and came running downstairs.
“She’s found it!” Katrina ran back toward the house and Oscar got out of the car and followed.
“Belle.” Rift met his mate at the front door.
“This is it.” She held up pendant. “It just doesn’t look real.”
Oscar reached out and cupped the dangling diamond in his hand. “Ask Ivan.”
“How would Ivan know?” Rift asked.
“Dragons know these things, believe me.” He inclined his head toward Ivan who was still loitering on the sidewalk.
“Ivan.” Rift took Belle’s hand and they hurried toward his brother.
“Do you have it?” Ivan swung around to face them, his eyes widening as he saw the diamond pendant. “You thought that was a glass bauble?”
Belle shrugged. “I did. I get the feeling I was wrong.”
Ivan stepped closer, as he did, a car drove up and parked across the street. Simon Westward got out along with the other guy and came toward them. “It’s real.” Ivan held out his hand but didn’t touch the gem. “I can sense it. It has an aura.” His hand snapped back to his side. “Fiona showed me some of her treasure. It has a different aura. She said all treasure is unique to its owner. Like it’s part of them.”
“Like the tiara is part of you.” Belle nodded in understanding. “And you were willing to give it up for us.”
“You are family and family are more important than any treasure.” Ivan backed away as the other men approached.
“Here. This is what you came for.” Belle thrust her hand out to them.
“You’re just going to hand it over?” Simon Westward asked.
“Yes. It’s not mine. And if I kept it or sold it, I’d feel like I had blood on my hands.” She let it drop into Simon’s palm. “Take it. I just want your word that we’re done here. Neither me nor my mom had anything to do with what happened. My mom left my father months before any of this occurred.”
“We couldn’t be sure that you knew about this.” Simon closed his hand around the pendant. “I’m sorry we scared you.”
Belle’s eyes narrowed. “I understand why you did it. But if you threaten my family again in any way...”
“We won’t.” Simon glanced at Ivan. “My father would like to meet you.”
“I’ll think about it,” Ivan replied.
“We could go now. My mom is cooking dinner. There’s always room at the table for one more.” Simon stepped backward, his eagerness to get home and show his father the pendant evident.
“Go.” Rift patted Ivan on the back. “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
Ivan stared at the ground for a moment and then nodded. “I’ll make my own way home. I plan to go visit Fiona for a couple of days since Elise is running the kitchen.”
“Take your time,” Rift replied.
“I will.” Ivan nodded.
“Call Zara and Karros. They can come pick you up and take you back to Bear Creek,” Rift told him.
Ivan nodded. “I might do that. Or I might fly. I need to stretch my wings and sort through my thoughts.”
“Just take care of yourself.” Rift pulled Ivan into a tight hug. “And remember where your family is.”
“I’ll never forget where you are,” Ivan assured him. “It’s just when I come back home, I need to be whole again. Right now I feel as if I’m torn in two. Like there are two halves of me and I need to figure out how they go back together.”
“Take your time.” Rift held onto his brother, not wanting to let him go. There had to be a way to help him.
He needs time, Rift’s snow leopard said. He needs time and space.
There’s time and space in Wishing Moon Bay, Rift replied.
There’s time but not space, his snow leopard answered. We’re all so concerned about him that there’s a danger we might suffocate him.
“If you need me, just call.” Ivan nodded and then turned and walked away.
“Hey…” Belle threaded her fingers through his. “If you need to go with him, it’s okay. We’ll be okay. Oscar can show us the way back to Wishing Moon Bay.”
“No.” He shook his head and turned to face her, cupping her cheek in his hand. “I think this is one thing Ivan needs to do on his own. We’re his family, he knows that but for once we’re not what he needs.”
“He needs to spread his wings,” Oscar’s attempt to lift the mood didn’t help. “Sorry. I’m just relieved that this is over for you both. And that Rift and Belle can start making plans for the future.”
“There’s still a lot of questions we don’t have answers to,” Katrina said.
“Do we really need those answers?” Belle asked. “Sure, Ivan needs to know what happened and so do Caleb and Aiden. But the answers are to questions I never asked. My dad died before I ever knew him.” She stepped closer to her mom and put her arm around her shoulders. “And you let go of him years ago. Don’t let him spoil your future.”
“My future?” Katrina glanced at her daughter and then turned away, her cheeks pink as heat crept across her skin.
The Snow Leopard's Love Page 18
