JARED KNEW HE was facing the most testing experience in his life. He’d dealt with many a cutthroat businessman in the pearl trade, but these three men were on a different level altogether. They accepted, apparently without question, Bernhard Kruger’s ruthless elimination of the conspirators responsible for his son’s death. No weighing the degree of guilt. A complete sweep.
While Christabel had not known of these extreme measures, she had certainly picked up what these people were capable of—power that recognised only its own law of maintaining power, whatever that took.
And while Rafael Santiso did not have her husband’s blood on his hands, could her instincts be right about him where Alicia was concerned? Would he acknowledge that the child was not his to be controlled as it suited him? Even if he did, could he be believed?
Jared watched intently as the Argentinian considered the questions put to him. His mother was attracted to this man. Vikki Chan had not given any caution against him. Both women had finely tuned instincts that would normally pick up on any shading of integrity. But Jared had too much riding on the outcome of this confrontation to have blind faith in their judgment.
“Perhaps I was overzealous in protecting Christabel and Alicia, but I cannot regret what I did,” he said with an air of honest assessment. “If my precautions were extreme, it was because the responsibility of their safety sat heavily on me, knowing what had happened to Laurens, and I was very conscious that Bernhard’s mantle did not fit my shoulders. Those who had respected his power were all too prepared to test mine.”
A different man at the helm—a deputy instead of the old master—yes, Jared could appreciate the pressure to perform would be on.
Hans Vogel broke in, his thin mouth curling in disgust. “Bernhard was not even in his grave before the challenges to his will began from those who led powerful factions within the Kruger organisation. As far as they were concerned, the king was dead and the throne was for their taking, regardless of Bernhard’s legal appointment of Rafael as sole trustee of the inheritance.”
His bullish face turned to Christabel. “You owe Rafael more than you know. But for him…”
“Enough, Hans!” The silencing hand was lifted. “The prison Christabel found herself in was not of her making.” Rafael turned his gaze to her, his expression slightly puzzled, searching. “The fear you had of me must have made it worse. I saw hatred for what I stood for, resentment of what I enforced, but…” He shook his head. “…fear I did not read.”
“I would not give you any more leverage over me,” Christabel replied, pride ringing loud and clear.
Rafael nodded thoughtfully and looked back at Jared. “I’ve already said it was a dangerous time after Bernhard died. There were many in the organisation who believed he had become unhinged from his illness and grief for his son. They had expected him to appoint a board of trustees to manage the inheritance, not just me. Alicia was certainly perceived as a vehicle to gain more control.”
His eyes took on a mocking challenge. “What would you have done, Jared…if you were me? Let Christabel and her daughter run loose to be snatched and ransomed? Risk Alicia’s life? Her death would have instantly fractured the structure Bernhard had set up—an advantageous situation to some.”
Jared recalled that he himself had taken command yesterday, not consulting Christabel about flying them to King’s Eden, simply doing it, believing he knew best how to assure their safety. This place, too, could become a prison. The difference was… Christabel did not fear him as she’d feared Rafael. She wanted to be with him.
“Like you, I would have thrown a blanket of protection around them,” Jared answered slowly.
“As you have here,” Rafael was quick to point out, his eyes lighting with satisfaction.
“But I am not the oppressor,” Jared instantly countered. “To Christabel, you were and are, extending a life she hated. It’s a question of values, Rafael. You were looking after the inheritance, regardless of any quality of life for her.”
“At least she had life.”
“An intolerable one.”
His head tilted in a concessionary nod. “I did come to realise that, Jared, when Christabel effected her escape. It was a desperate act, given she knew the dangers of being without any security around her. At first I thought…” He shrugged. “Once I found her jewellery was also gone, I knew it was a personal bid for freedom, rather than running to another Kruger camp.”
He leaned back in his chair, a musing little smile on his lips. “So what would you have done then…if you were me? Let her go? Tried to find her and bring her back? What, Jared?”
It came to him in a lightning flash what Rafael Santiso had done, and why he was here now, meeting the King Family. Relief poured through him. Christabel and Alicia were safe, and his mother and Vikki Chan had not been fooled.
He expelled a long breath. He looked at Christabel’s longtime nemesis with a new respect for the man of integrity he actually was, a man who shouldered his responsibilities with utter commitment, yet tempering that commitment with a humanity Jared had to admire. The only thing Rafael had overlooked was Christabel’s fear of him, unrecognised, partly because she had hidden it from him, partly because he hadn’t known how she’d painted him in her mind.
“Do you have the reports with you?” Jared asked.
Respect instantly flashed into Rafael’s eyes.
Understanding flowed between them, man to man on equal footing.
Rafael picked up a Manila folder, thick with documents, from the pile in front of him and slid it across the table. “Much of this contains summaries. If you want more detail, Hans will supply it.”
Jared nodded, picking up the file and rising to his feet. “I’d appreciate it if you’d run through your protection procedure with my family while I speak to Christabel privately.”
“I shall do that and give any explanation they require.”
“Thank you.”
Rafael smiled. “It is good to know at first-hand the mettle of the man who is taking on…whatever has to be done.”
Jared turned to help Christabel out of her chair. She came unresistingly but looked totally bewildered. “It’s all right,” he assured her. “We’ll come back after we talk.”
“Before you go…”
It snapped their attention back to Rafael. He was looking at Christabel, a powerful intensity in the eyes trained directly on hers.
“I did not know of your fear of me, Christabel, but it did serve you well in your travels, keeping you cautious and not drawing any untoward attention to yourself and Alicia. I want you to know that in the years you’ve been gone, I have stamped my authority on the Kruger organisation, and I no longer see any danger coming from within. From outside is another matter, but we will discuss that later.”
She shook her head, confused by the turnaround from enemy to ally. Jared took her arm and steered her from the dining room, wanting to get her out of the highly charged atmosphere that swirled with the memories of all she’d been through. She needed to feel free, to follow her own heart without fear, and Jared knew he could give that to her now.
He took her onto the veranda that skirted the homestead—fresh air to breathe, a view that had no boundaries in sight—the vast tracts of King’s Eden stretching to the horizon and beyond. The land of my fathers, he thought, feeling a well of pride in his heritage. Because he was who he was, and all that was imbued in him, he would have Christabel and keep her, and that was a glorious feeling.
“What are these reports?” she asked anxiously. “What are we doing out here, Jared?”
“Do you still believe Rafael Santiso caused Laurens’s death?” he asked, scanning her eyes for any hint of doubt.
She expelled a heavy sigh and made a wry grimace. “No. But I still think he’s dangerous.”
“Yes. To anyone who crosses the line he draws. But not to you nor Alicia, Christabel,” he assured her with absolute certainty.
“How can you know that?” she cried, the old fear still fluttering.
“Because he’s been protecting you all along. That’s what these reports are about. He let you think you were free because you wanted so badly to be free, but he watched over you all the way to here, Christabel. And he came now because of me, to see if I’m good enough to take over the watch from him.”
Her feet faltered to a halt. She swung to face him, her agitation intense. “He could have plucked me and Alicia back any time? Is that what you’re saying?”
He nodded. “From Rio onwards would be my guess. He would have put your family under surveillance the moment he realised you’d fled with your jewellery.”
The colour drained from her face. “All this time,” she said faintly.
“To ensure your safety as best he could, Christabel, while giving you the freedom you craved.”
She shook her head. “I can’t believe it.” Her gaze dropped to the file he held. “Show me. I want to see what he did.”
Jared curved an arm around her shoulders. “There’s a table on the western veranda. We’ll sit down and you can read all you want.”
She moved with him, dazedly repeating, “All this time…he knew?”
“Yes. And I’d imagine—smoothed the path for you wherever he could.”
They sat where his family usually gathered to watch the sunset—the end of the day. It was only a little past noon, yet the sense of the end to a long, long road for Christabel evoked a similar feeling of being able to relax now.
He didn’t read the reports. He listened to Christabel’s comments on them, her initial incredulity stretching into an awed understanding of how Rafael Santiso had facilitated her escape, as well as taking every precaution he could for her and Alicia’s continued well-being, without any overt oppression or constriction.
The passports in the name of Valdez were not forged, as she had believed. Rafael had organised that the name of Kruger be legally changed to the one she’d chosen. Wherever she had sold her diamond jewellery, his people had ensured she received what it was truly worth. She and Alicia had never been without bodyguards hovering close by. Even in Broome, the caravan next to hers had been occupied by Rafael’s watchers.
There was also a report on the King family—their history and their holdings—and an assessment on their possible reaction to Alicia’s inheritance. The judgment was that it would have little or no influence on the life paths they had taken. The Kings of the Kimberly were deeply rooted in their territory and would not shift from where they were.
“You see?” Christabel commented ruefully. “The intrusion into your life and your family’s has already begun, Jared.” Her eyes searched his, needing reassurance. “Do you really want to take this on?”
He nodded. “Whatever comes, Christabel.” He reached across the table and took her hand, enfolding it in the secure strength of his, determined on resolving everything for her to the best of his ability. “They’re here to lay out the situation with Alicia’s inheritance—Wissmann to deal with the money side, Vogel to deal with the legalities, Rafael to advise on protection.”
She sighed, her eyes filling with pained apology. “I had it so wrong.”
“Not with me. We have it right together, Christabel.” He smiled, wanting to soothe the angst she felt. “Remember Vikki Chan?”
“Yes.”
“A very wise old woman, Vikki. She said of you—and I remember the words exactly—There is a strong wall of integrity in Christabel Valdez which will not be broken. I think she does, and will always do, what she believes is rights.”
A little burst of pleasure brought a golden light to her beautiful amber eyes. “I felt her taking stock of me but…to read so much?”
“I’ve never known her to be wrong about people. So I’m asking you now. Can you…” He held her gaze, pouring all his love for her into his voice. “…do you believe it’s right…”
He had to hold her.
“Believe what?” she asked shakily as he stood and scooped her up into his embrace.
“I need to hear you say it’s right for us to marry, Christabel,” he declared with a passion he could no longer contain. “That nothing could be more right because that’s what I feel and I have to hear it from you…”
It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t an appeal. It was a burning certainty in his heart as he spoke the words he wanted her to say.
“…because it’s what you feel, too.”