Page 81 of The Secrets We Treasure

Chapter 19

Exerting all her might, Treasure stabbed the shovel into the soggy ground and scooped out dirt. Rain was still pouring buckets, but at least the lightning and thunder had stopped. She worked the shovel with a frenzy as she tried to make sense of all that had happened tonight. How could Treasure have been duped by Laci? Was she a rotten judge of character? Yep, she was. And way too trusting, just as Greer had said. First Ethan and now Laci. Her heart shriveled. What must Greer think of her? No doubt he regretted giving Treasure a second chance. More tears came, mixing with the rain.

Her thoughts moved to Oliver Chasing. It was still incredulous to think that he was her father. Wait! That meant that Banks Chasing was her half-brother. Treasure was sure that Banks had no idea he had a half-sister. Would he be appalled? Ashamed? What would Madeline Chasing think of her? Her stomach twisted. This whole thing was whacked.

She couldn’t remember the exact spot where she’d buried the duffle bag containing the money, so she was digging a wide hole approximately twelve inches deep. The shovel hit something. Her pulse spiked. It had to be the bag. Tossing the shovel aside, she fell to her knees and used her hands to claw away the dirt. She’d just gotten enough dirt brushed away to be able to lift the bag when someone touched her shoulder. With a startled cry, she whirled around to see Greer standing over her. Was he really here? Or were her eyes deceiving her?

“Have you lost your mind?” he yelled.

“Probably,” she growled as she turned back around to the bag. She tugged on the handle to loosen it from the earth.

He gave her a soft push. “Scoot over.” He crouched down and reached for the bag, hoisting it out of the ground.

Treasure got to her feet and wiped her hands on her jeans. Greer also stood. He unzipped the bag and peered at the bundles of money.

“You can count it. It’s all there.”

He threw the bag down on the ground. “I don’t need to count it,” he yelled over the rain. “What I need is you. Always and forever.”

A sob broke through her lips. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you.”

“Yes,” he said simply, “you should have.” He paused, regret masking his face. “My mother and Josette had no right to interfere in our lives. After you left Laci’s house, my mother broke down and told me how sorry she was for all that she’d done.”

“Josette used her to get back at my mom.”

“I know. But it’s over now,” he said with a note of finality. His jaw was rigid, body pulled taut as he peered at her through the falling rain. His curls were flat against his forehead, making his handsome features look sharper and more warrior-like than normal. “Do you love me?”

“Yes,” she said loudly, laughing and crying at the same time. “I love you so much that it cuts me clear to the bone.”

“That’s good.” A pleased smile curved his lips. “Because I love you too. And that’s all that matters. Come ‘ere, T.” He opened his arms and she bounded into them.

His mouth swooped down and captured hers in a hungry kiss that filled her with euphoric hope. Despite the torrents of heavy rain tumbling over them, her spirit was light and nimble, exulting in the knowledge that her secret was out in the open.

And her heart was finally free.

* * *

Later that night, Treasure sank into the cozy comfort of her bed as exhaustion overtook her. She didn’t know how long she’d slept when a noise awakened her. She opened her eyes to the hard press of metal against her neck. “Don’t make a sound,” a man hissed, “or I’ll slit your throat. Get up slowly.”

Her heart racing, she did as he instructed. All the while, her mind scrambled to come to grips with what was happening.

He threw back the covers, keeping the blade of the knife against her skin. “Now get out of bed.” With a careful movement, he stepped back and aimed the knife like he was ready to pounce if she stepped out of line.

Shadows from the dark room obscured the man’s face. Terror clawed at her spine. Was it Leo Clark? Did he intend to kill her? If so, why had he not done it earlier while she slept?

She scrambled out of bed, shaking like a leaf.

“Hands up!” he growled in a low tone. “If you make a sound, I’ll not only kill you but also your mom and the other woman,” he said savagely.

Ice flowed through Treasure’s veins. “What do you want?” Survival was the key here, but she couldn’t make a run for it and put her mom and Cherry at risk.

The slats of muted light coming through the blinds yielded enough light to catch the glint of metal as he wielded the knife at her. “Move.” Her stomach roiled with a sick fear that turned her clammy. “Move!” She forced her feet into action and gasped when he stepped behind her in a swift movement and encircled her neck with his arm, pointing the tip of the blade into the center of her back. “Remember,” he snarled in her ear. “No sudden moves. You got that?”

She nodded. His moist breath was repulsive on her skin. Instinctively, she averted her face. Her pulse jackhammered in her ears as they moved through the still house. The man’s body heat filled her with revulsion. He smelled of stale Chinese food, sweat, and something else she couldn’t pinpoint … fear maybe? Hysteria threaded a tight weave through Treasure as her mind grappled to find a way out of this. She had the curious sensation that her body was frozen in limbo between a state of sleep and wakefulness. She could only wish this was a nightmare. It was terrifyingly real.

He stopped them in their tracks, his arm nearly choking her as he whispered, “What was that?”

A suffocating panic engulfed her as she sputtered to breathe. She was only able to draw in slivers of air, not nearly enough to satisfy the demands of her lungs. Attempting to quell her hammering pulse, she cocked her ears. Please don’t let it be Mom or Cherry! Treasure couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to them.

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