Then had come the hours of police interviews. Emmy’s lawyer had kept them as short as possible, but the cops still needed to know the details, and the Navy too since Ridley had escaped on their watch. Nobody seemed bothered by Ridley’s death. Reporters were lauding the “unnamed teenager” who’d been kidnapped at random along with her stepmom and somehow managed to escape from the fiend. Media outlets in Afghanistan and Rojava seemed particularly happy with the turn of events.
Beth and Rune had come back to the Riverley estate yesterday afternoon, both still exhausted. Black had offered the guest house again, and although Alaric would have preferred Hillside House and its privacy, the high walls and advanced security at Riverley won out for now. Rune needed it.
As Alaric had feared it might, Rune’s stoicism in the immediate aftermath of the rescue had faded now that the immediate danger had gone. The same thing had happened in Thailand. She’d spent weeks fearful of being alone, terrified her old captors would come and snatch her back.
When they’d left the hospital in Phuket and taken her to the rented apartment, of course she’d said she was okay. She always did. Alaric hadn’t needed a degree in psychology to understand that when they first met, she’d been afraid that if she put a foot wrong, they’d send her to an orphanage. They’d had to teach her that it was fine to have an opinion. Okay to rock the boat now and then. Rune had come a long way in five years, only for Ridley to knock her back again. But they’d work on it, the same way they always did.
Last night, Judd had slept on a fold-out bed by her window with a gun under his pillow, Naz stayed in the room next door to hers, and Ravi took the couch downstairs. This morning, she’d at least looked as if she’d gotten some sleep. Once again, they’d get through this together, and this time, they’d have help from Beth too.
Her tears had dried up, and she’d even joked about having the full set now that she’d broken both ankles. Resilient. That was the best word to describe Beth. Resilient and tired.
“I’ll get you a glass of water.”
“Wish it was wine.”
“Did I mention I have a share in an Italian vineyard?”
“The estate you told my father about? I thought it was abandoned. You said it was just sitting there.”
“Turns out it isn’t.”
“Ah.” Beth suddenly smiled and nodded to herself. “You bought the vineyard with Emmy, didn’t you? You were together once?”
“A long time ago. Are you okay with that?”
“I suppose. I mean, she’s happily married now, isn’t she?”
Married? Yes. Happily? Probably. Alaric nodded.
“So I guess I’m a little jealous. You seem to have better taste in exes than I do.”
“I can’t argue with that. And to answer your question, yes, Emmy replanted the vineyard without telling me. When your ankle’s healed, we can take a trip there and drink all the wine you want.”
Perhaps he’d even renovate the old house that came with it now he had someone to share it with.
“What about work?”
It was an excellent question. Alaric had long since come to the conclusion that there were more important things in life, but at the same time, he needed to earn enough to live on, and money had become more important now that his family was growing. He had to buy a house. Pay for a wedding. Keep a horse, maybe two if he somehow managed to track down Beth’s beloved Polo. Give Beth and Rune everything he wanted them to have.
“Yes, I guess we have to do some of that. Unfortunately.”
Beth laughed. “At least I can still type with my ankle bandaged.”
“I think you’ve earned a few weeks of sick leave.”
“Honestly? I’d rather stay busy. And don’t we still have a painting to look for?”
Emerald. The cursed painting that had started all this. At this particular point in time, Alaric was inclined to leave her to rot wherever she’d ended up rather than risk angering the gods again. But there was a tiny problem. He’d promised Harriet the reward money if they found that green-ringed bitch, and she desperately needed the cash.
“Do you think we should keep looking? Emerald’s jinxed. I don’t want to risk my future with you by chasing after a ghost.”
Maybe he could find another way to give Harriet the money? Emmy had mentioned that commercial production was starting at the vineyard this year—how much would that bring in? Alaric would gladly send Harriet every cent. But Emmy had also mentioned they’d found Dyson, and that made the decision even harder.
“I’ll agree that sometimes it’s better to cut your losses, but that painting’s always going to haunt you. And it seemed as though we were getting closer. How about having one last stab at finding it? At least then you’ll know you’ve done everything you can.”
“I feel like she sucks out parts of my soul every time I get close,” Alaric muttered.
“Well, I’ll just have to put them all back again.” Beth pulled him in for a kiss. “I love you.”
The front door opened, and Ravi, Naz, Judd, and Rune burst in. The men had taken Rune over to the games room in the big house in an attempt to take her mind off things. Judging by her smile, it had worked to some extent.
“Busted,” Judd said. “Get a room, mate. Ravi needs the couch back, unless you want to have a threesome.”
Ravi laughed, and Rune poked him in the chest, but Bethany went bright red. Interesting. Alaric’s mind flitted back to fantasy number three, and a seed of an
