35

“So how did we make out” Rita asked as she reapplied her lipstick. She took a look out of the airplane window.

“I figure minus a couple of handfuls of real diamonds and about ten grand in cash, chalking those up to operating expenses, we cleared close to a mil,” Jake said.

Jinx whistled. “How sweet it is.”

Eva looked at the team. “Me and Jake could have never pulled this off without you. You didn’t have to get involved, but you did—and we appreciate it.” She turned to Jake and squeezed his hand.

“That’s what family is for,” Rita said.

“When we land in Honolulu, I’m going straight to the beach,” Jake announced.

Eva’s eyes widened in surprise. “Jake” she softly questioned.

He leaned in close to her. “When I said I was going to put the past behind me, I really meant it. Might as well get started.” He kissed her lightly. She rested her head on his shoulder and smiled.

ONE MONTH LATER

Sebastian looked up. Tara was standing in the doorway of his office.

“This box just came for you.” She walked in and put it on his desk.

“Thanks,” he murmured.

“Still no word from Eva”

“No.” He sighed. He’d gotten a phone call from her several weeks earlier, which he’d told no one about. She’d told him that she was sorry about running out on him, that she loved him and not to worry about her. He hadn’t heard from her since.

Tara hesitated a moment and then walked out.

Sebastian looked at the box, hesitating before pulling it toward him. He picked it up. It was kind of light. There was no return address, and the postmark had been smeared by the relentless rain.

He took a letter opener from the cup on his desk and cut through the tape that sealed it shut. There was an envelope on top.

He took it out and opened it.

Dear Bass,

I can’t tell you how much I miss you, but I am doing well. There is so much about me that you don’t know, and it’s best that you never do. I’ve enclosed a little something that I hope will help you to get the second location up and running.

Maybe we will see each other again one day. But even if we don’t, know that you will always be in my heart.

Love,

Eva

He reread the letter and then slowly put it to the side. He peeled away the stuffing in the box and gasped when the contents were revealed.

There had to be at least fifty thousand dollars in brand-new bills—if not more.

Mesmerized, he picked up a neat stack and held it in his hand. He didn’t want to think or imagine where the money had come from and how Eva had gotten hold of it.

She was right. There were things about her that he didn’t know. He shoved the money back into the box and sealed it. And some things were best left in the dark.

*   *   *

“Hey, babe, I’m going for a swim,” Jake called out.

They’d secured a small house on the big island and were living a life of luxury. Their needs were small, and they had enough money to do whatever they wanted. Eva wanted to start her own small boutique business and had begun seeking supplies. Jake did computer repair when the mood hit him, and Jinx and Rita had decided that the same beautiful weather every day of the year was mind-numbing and had decided to take a tour of Europe, promising to be back for the arrival of the baby.

“Okay,” she called from the kitchen. “I’ll have lunch ready when you get back.”

The phone rang. Eva crossed the ceramic-tiled kitchen floor to the phone that hung on the wall.

“Hello.”

“Did you think I would not find you”

Shit. Her heart stumbled in her chest. “Who is this”

“Oh, I think you know. I want my money back, and my diamonds.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Well, while you are figuring it out, you have one month to return what belongs to me. I told you that night that I would have given you anything you wanted. You didn’t have to steal from me. I will be in touch.”

The call disconnected.

How could he know He’d never seen her. Truth slammed her in the chest. “I told you that night…” He thought she was Rita.

“I forgot a towel,” Jake said, walking back into the room. He stopped short. “Babe, what is it” He came up to her, clasped her shoulders. “Are you sick”

“He knows. He found us.”

“Who”

She looked up into his eyes. “Suarez.” She shivered. “And just when I was getting used to lounging for a living.”

“How in the world did he find us”

“I don’t have a clue.”

“Well, didn’t you get one of your funny feelings or something”

“All this damned sunshine and blue skies must have burned out my sensors,” she snapped.

Jake twisted his mouth, ran his hand across his hair. “How much of what we took do we have left”

“Not enough to keep him from really being pissed off.”

Jake pulled out a chair and sat down. “Hmmm, looks like we’re gonna have to pull another job.”

Eva took a seat opposite him. A slow smile crept across her mouth. Her eyes got that old sparkle. “I was getting bored with all this sunshine anyway.”

“I thought I’d never hear you say that!” He smiled in delight, that old surge of energy setting his veins on fire.

Eva leaned forward. “So what we need is a plan. And I was thinking…”