Stolen Skye (Book One, The Skye Trilogy)

by Nina Loard

  I barely had enough energy to climb the stairs again. After locking my bedroom door, I crawled under the covers, already beginning to fall asleep. I thought with some awe and a little humor that in one day I’d gone from crying over Bunderson to deciding what to pack on my adventure with Finn. I sighed as I buried my face in the pillow, thinking that my life was definitely not for the faint-hearted.

  Chapter 5. Awakening

  Darkness and warmth surrounded me as a man’s hands caressed me from behind. I smiled expectantly, thrilling at his touch. I could feel his hot lips on my neck while he pulled me closer against him. He’d grown hungry for me in his sleep. I turned to kiss him, showing I wanted him as well. He was faceless in the night, but his passion burnt radiantly before me. With his low, breathy voice in my ear, he whispered, “You’re mine… only mine.”

  Melting from his words, I vowed, “Only yours.” His demanding mouth drifted down my neck to my breast, leaving a fire trail on my skin. When I reached out blindly, desperate for more of him, he was gone. A storm raged outside, causing howls of wind past my window. I tossed fitfully and then woke completely. The dream had felt so real that it caused me to physically ache when I realized I was alone. The longing within me was almost unbearable. How can your subconscious create a need you’ve never known before, never felt?

  I wasn’t sure if it had been Finn in my dream, but it felt as if something powerful had been awakened within me. I strained to hear if there was any sound of him below. After a few seconds of foolish fantasy involving me, my couch, and my hard-bodied stranger, I cast the ridiculous notion aside. As I felt the pull of sleep return, I thought of him, my possible past, and everything that the approaching daylight would bring.

  Hours later I opened my eyes, afraid if I woke too quickly I might scare away the day before. I didn’t want the excitement to end and then realize that all I had to look forward to was the Help Wanted ads. The house was quiet. Brutus slumbered by my leg. I saw my damp clothes strewn across the floor. It did happen. Finn was real. I jumped out of bed like a kid at Christmas, anxious to get presentable and talk to him some more. I leapt into the bathroom. Despite the mess of hair and mascara smudges, my cheeks glowed against my pale skin and my hazel eyes sparkled green with excitement. Being a thief was difficult to imagine, but the promise of finally knowing the whole story was an intrigue I couldn’t resist.

  I moved rapidly through my morning routine, adding some extra time to blow out my hair. I needed to make it as straight as possible to keep it in check by my London arrival. I put on more makeup than I would if it was just me and Brutus. It wasn’t every day you had a god in your living room. To make it look like I didn’t care quite as much, I threw on some old jeans and a gray long sleeve T-shirt. I could change before the flight.

  Brutus and I padded down the stairs expectantly. We were stunned to find that we were very much alone. It was just after 8 AM. The blanket and pillow were neatly stacked on the kitchen counter. There was no sign of him. I felt immediately betrayed, sure that I’d been conned. Maybe I was so different now that he gave up on the whole thing and left. The tears came instantly along with an increasing inability to catch my breath. I walked to the couch to steady myself. On top of the bag of stones was a note.

  I woke early and went for a run. I made coffee, save me some. I have your keys so don’t beat me with a poker when I come through the door. F

  I exhaled a deep sigh of relief and admonished myself for being so emotional. Drinking some coffee made me feel more in control until I heard the key in the door. Anticipation thudded in my chest. That was definitely something else I was going to need to control. It was a very bad idea to get so excited over a man I barely knew, no matter how good looking or important he might be. The dream certainly hadn’t helped toward my goal of remaining ambivalent to him. I struck a nonchalant pose, leaning over the kitchen island with my coffee mug. I moved the blanket so he could see me when he came through the door.

  He stepped inside and smiled, taking out his earplugs. He wore all black; a zip-up jacket, T-shirt, sweats and sneakers. Maybe he’d been casing a joint. He had clearly run hard, judging from his sweat and labored breathing.

  “Good morning. Thanks for the coffee,” I said, holding up my mug.

  “Good morning. You got my note?”

  “Yes. I was worried you had changed your mind and gone home,” I said casually, trying to gloss over my panic attack.

  “You’re not rid of me that easily.” He laughed, dangling something from his hand. “Here are your keys. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone with a whistle key chain.” He placed them by the door with a perplexed smile.

  “Yes, well, I was given that to keep me safe in the big city of Newport.”

  He put his gear down on the floor and walked over to me in the kitchen, causing me to stand up a little straighter next to him. His eyes searched mine as he continued to smile. We shared a charged moment and then he slowly turned from me, pouring his coffee.

  “It seems it proved… ineffective last night.” I saw him grin wide in profile as he brought the mug to his lips. I cleared my throat and looked for something interesting to say.

  “Why a starfish tattoo?” I’d noticed his upper arm again after he took off his jacket.

  He laughed and clarified, “It’s not exactly a starfish. It’s called an estoile, a six-pointed star.” He put his mug down, but kept his eyes on the backsplash.

  “What does it mean?”

  “A noble person. It’s dark blue to represent loyalty.”

  “I hear it’s healthy to respect yourself,” I responded teasingly. His smile widened as he turned to face me.

  “Are you saying you’re a poor judge of character?”

  “Perhaps, but no, I was just saying if you don’t love you, who will?” I laughed at his amused expression.

  “Good point, but the star was your choice. I was leaning more toward the Celtic cross.” His eyes drifted over me, causing a rush of blood to my cheeks. “But, when a beautiful woman tells you you’re noble, it’s best to agree with her.”

  “Oh, well, it’s very becoming.” I laughed nervously as I refilled my mug. Who knew if it were true, but it was very intimate thinking of us together, picking out something he’d have on his body for life. I tore my gaze away from his muscular arm and inhaled the aroma of the hot coffee to clear my head. “So, if the flight is at 4 PM, what time do we need to leave here?” I knew that for international flights you needed to be there a couple hours in advance, and I wasn’t sure which airport we were going to, Boston or Providence.

  “Probably 3:30 PM, just so we don’t have to rush.” He turned from me, peeling an orange.

  “The closest major airport is forty miles away. That doesn’t give us any time.” I looked at him in disbelief, questioning his travel sense.

  “The airport, where our jet is housed, is two miles away. I’m going to take a shower if that’s okay.” He put his hand across his chest awaiting my approval.

  “Ah. Yes, of course. Do you need anything?”

  “No, I see frilly towels and all sorts of fanciful soaps,” he answered in a softly mocking fashion. I heard him opening and closing drawers and then the shower start. I poured another cup of coffee and distracted myself with packing. I made a list of what made sense to take along for an extended trip and went upstairs to gather what needed washing.

  Finn was already dressed, sitting by Brutus and watching the news when I returned. He was wearing what he had worn yesterday, a navy crew neck shirt and jeans. Funny how he looked completely different then when I thought he was an insane murderer. I smiled politely at him as I walked down the hall to do my wash. On my way back to the living room, I stepped into the kitchen to pick up the phone. With a sigh, I walked over to him and sat down in the chair, dreading what I had to do next.

  “So, I need to make some calls. Where do you suggest I stay while I’m in London?”

  “You have a suite at the Barrington
Hotel in Mayfair under your name. Anyone can reach you there.” He looked over at me to make sure I heard him as he scratched the top of Brutus’s head.

  “Oh. Thanks,” I said, taken aback by how quickly the arrangements had been made for me. I dialed my mother first, getting my story straight in my head.

  “Good morning, Mom. Listen, I have some news. I ran into an old friend from London yesterday. His name is David Smith. I told him about the accident and the memory loss. All this time he thought I had just moved home. The second he said his name, I remembered him. I’ve decided I’m going to go to London and learn all I can from him and any other friends we had.” I stopped to hear if I was believable.

  “Oh, Evy, that’s incredible. I knew one day it would start coming back, the doctors knew once you healed completely some memory would return. When are you going to go? Would you like me to come with you? Of course, it is the worst possible time for me. I’m so busy with things at the museum so near the holiday, but I don’t want you to be alone in all of this. I could make some arrangements.” She sounded genuinely excited for me, despite the inconvenience of it.

  “Thanks, but I feel like I need to do this alone and really concentrate. I’m going to be staying at the Barrington Hotel. You can reach me there starting tomorrow. I’m leaving tonight.” I felt much better knowing she didn’t really seem that worried or skeptical.

  “Oh my goodness. Well, this is all happening quite fast, but I suppose you have waited long enough. How long will you be gone?”

  “I’m planning on staying about a week, but I’ll let you know for sure once I get there. It could be that I come home sooner if nothing else comes back to me.” I didn’t want her to think I had a plan to stay indefinitely… again.

  “Well, be careful, and call me. I want to know what’s going on, everything you remember. We love you, Evelyn.”

  “I will, Mom. I love you, too. Talk to you soon. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” It was hard telling her I remembered something and lying about my circumstances. There wasn’t much I could do if I wanted to minimize her worry. The truth would be too hard for any parent to swallow. I looked over at Finn to comment one call down, two to go. He was looking at me like he was trying to read my thoughts.

  “What?” I asked, tucking my hair behind my ears.

  “Nothing, I’m just trying to understand why you gave her the name David Smith.”

  “I thought about it this morning. It just seemed a safe story… safer than the truth. Though, Finn Edwards is probably just an alias anyway.”

  “You’re fairly astonishing. We’ll get Brinks to create a David Smith with a London address and good upbringing if that makes you feel better. And no, Fintan Edwards is my real name.”

  “Why do you think I’m astonishing?” I pressed, curious to hear his opinion of me. I made a mental note to get on a computer and search for his name as soon as possible, though I doubted there would be anything to find.

  “Well, despite the obvious reasons, you just made my job very easy if I were here to abduct you. I’m astounded by the trust. You are truly brave, but that hasn’t changed.” His smile conveyed some admiration.

  “Brave or an idiot. Are there things that have changed?” I couldn’t help myself.

  “No, perhaps you’re more fetching — it’s hard to say. Maybe it’s just that you’re a sight for sore eyes. But, I see you still do your skeptical eye squint when someone tries to pay you a compliment.”

  “Ha. I’m sure you say that to all the girls who disappear, die, and come back to life.” I tried hard to relax my face and prove him wrong. He smiled, keeping his eyes on me while Brutus’s cacophonic purring filled the silence. I let his comment wash over me, taking some pleasure in the idea that he found me pretty.

  After a moment, I asked, “Who’s Brinks?” I was becoming greedy for details and a new name was exciting.

  “He’s our resident genius. I’ve not encountered an operating system or a security code he can’t crack.” It was obvious Finn really liked him by the way his expression lifted. We sat quietly, seeming as content as Brutus. I’m sure he was surprised at my decision to keep his name a secret. Whether it was smart or not, I couldn’t imagine doing anything that put him at risk and ruined my chances of finding out the truth. I had to protect him — I didn’t have a choice.

  “Time to call Jasper.” I dialed his cell phone and left a message for him to call me as soon as possible. Finally, I called Cecelia to bring her in the loop and arrange for Brutus’s vacation. I told her the same story I had told my mother. She was very happy to hear that a spark of memory had returned. I tried to release all the enthusiasm I was feeling into the call so she would know what was true. I was excited to go, and someone had found me.

  ***

  One thing I kept going over in my mind as I drove home from Cece’s was if I should ask Finn about our relationship. Clearly, there was an attraction. I decided that if he hadn’t defined it by now, either there was more than I wanted to know or there wasn’t enough to tell. Perhaps we were more than friends, but it never went anywhere? Maybe he was married or involved. I knew I couldn’t completely trust him yet. Yes, the gemstones and the picture were evidence that we knew each other and pointed to some shady actions on my part, but however much I wanted the truth, I needed to be cautious, too. I was taking a huge leap of faith, and I couldn’t let his charisma influence me beyond reason.

  I finished my laundry and packing. Finn had his one small bag already by the door. Remembering one final task, I snatched up the bag of rubies and ran upstairs. Spilling the contents onto my bedspread, I marveled at the way they shone, casting reflections of light on my walls. Their deep red color was breathtaking. I didn’t understand how Finn could say they were poor samples. Maybe I was going to make them into jewelry before. I couldn’t imagine taking them into Ray John’s Jewelers and asking them to cut them down. Whatever the reason for me sneaking them into the country, they were definitely precious to me. I hid them in an old gym bag at the bottom of my closet. Nobody, including me, ever went in there.

  I logged onto my laptop and searched for Fintan Edwards. There were vague listings with one of the two names in them, but nothing informative. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but it felt like it was the smart thing to do. The results were completely unhelpful. I changed out of my shirt and put on a black turtleneck. Fitting for a crook. As I returned to the first floor, I realized something that should have dawned on me before.

  “What exactly were you doing in Newport?”

  Finn gave me a sheepish grin and replied, “Well, I’d be compromising you to say.”

  “It didn’t have anything to do with some valuable art, did it?” I waited, knowing full well he was responsible for the largest robbery I’d ever heard of. I couldn’t help but be impressed and then I saw how very far I’d come in less than twenty-four hours. I was proud of a thief. Maybe I really was one.

  He waited, his grin never fading. “My client owned them first.”

  “Where are the paintings now?”

  “They’re on their way home, just like you.” He turned from me and took out his cell phone, ending the discussion. I busied myself with nothing in particular as he spoke to the pilot. After he hung up he said, “Sorry if you wanted to go with me on the run, I assumed you’d sleep in after last night.”

  Surprised, I answered, “Ah, no. I don’t run.” I chuckled at the thought.

  “You used to. You always joked that you didn’t want to be the last one that got pinched. You and Raven were fierce competitors.” He laughed, seeming to enjoy a good memory. I was floored. How funny that being a runner could shock me while I was struggling with the idea of being a thief.

  “Well, my current life doesn’t require sprinting from the scene of the crime. Who is Raven, another friend?”

  “Yes, in a way. There was a healthy rivalry between you two.” He seemed to have a hard time giving me details of any of the relationships. Perhaps all of this was
harder on him than I realized. Seeing me after presuming me dead, hoping I remembered him. I wanted details, but I also sensed that I needed to be patient and not push for everything at once. Soon, it was time to go.

  The living room was dark as I surveyed my house, making sure I’d thought of everything. Finn stood by the cab, waiting for me. “You always wanted an adventure,” I whispered to myself. If I was ever going to learn the truth, this was my chance. I felt more in control as I pulled the door shut behind me, locking my home up tight.

  Chapter 6. Sundown

  We walked to the hangar entrance and I was stunned by the sight of the plane. I wasn’t one to get excited about aviation, but there was no denying it was first-class. Finn saw me flounder and stepped back to me. “Is this our plane?” I asked, pointing idiotically.

  “Yes, well, it’s not ours. It’s a loaner. You’ve been on it before. When we need to move quickly, it proves much more convenient than commercial. Come on.” Finn took my hand and walked me over to the stairs, bounding up ahead, pulling me with him. He reintroduced me to Captain Kelly, an older gentleman who greeted me with a hug. Also onboard was a first mate named Vince and Sara, a friendly British girl, both of whom I had not met before, according to Finn. Sara was the one steward for our flight. I realized they were the crew that Jasper had assisted at the hotel the day before.

  A quick glance around the cabin revealed crème-colored carpet with a gold swirl through the center, looping gracefully down the aisle. There were white leather captain chairs and two leather couches facing each other in the center. The galley and hard surfaces were like glossy oak. It rapidly spoiled any other form of travel for me and we hadn’t even taken off.

  As Finn joined the conversation between the pilots and men who appeared to be airport personnel, I settled into one of the captain chairs nearest the galley and buckled my seat belt. It was almost dark over Newport. I watched the light bleed from the sky into the horizon. No turning back now, I thought. I smiled, knowing there was nothing in the world that could make me.