Mountain Secrets by Elizabeth Goddard (100 books to read .TXT) 📗

yet either. I just know I can’t go back to the boat.” How much could she share with Meral? What could she say that wouldn’t hurt her more?

Even if she wanted to stay, she couldn’t ask that of Colin.

Jewel couldn’t shake the sense that all their lives were in danger. That Colin’s role in her troubles, his decision to appoint himself her bodyguard, had made him a target, not just collateral damage like Jed.

Nausea welled inside. If she were to share her thoughts with a therapist, she would probably be diagnosed with paranoia.

Except it’s not paranoia if they really are after you.

“Meral.” Jewel watched a group of glacier hikers leave. She should have had this conversation a long time ago, but dreaded it. Had hoped to avoid it. She might not get another chance, since Buck always turned up at the worst moments, as if he somehow knew what Jewel was about to say.

“I’m listening, Jewel. I haven’t gone anywhere. Say what you’ve wanted to say to me. What you’ve been holding back from me. You can be open and honest with me.”

“What do you really know about Buck?”

Meral jerked up her chin as though Jewel had slapped her. Whatever she was expecting Jewel to say, this clearly wasn’t it. “Why would you ask that? I know all I need to know, okay? I’m in my thirties, for crying out loud, and don’t need anyone’s approval. How dare you question my judgment.”

Jewel frowned. Despite Meral’s soft invitation for Jewel to be open and honest, her reaction was anything but inviting.

“Coming from money you have to be careful, so careful.”

“You mean like you were with Silas.”

“He wasn’t after money. I gave it up for him, remember?”

Meral’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Why are you doing this, Jewel? I came to see you. Buck found you so we could reconnect. Why are you trying to make me question my happiness? Are you...are you jealous of me because I have someone who loves me? Because I’m married?”

Jewel could hardly stand to hear the hurt in her sister’s voice. Her heart palpitated.

This was why she’d wanted to avoid this conversation. She loved her sister. Didn’t want to hurt her. Jewel had missed her family and hated to do anything that might jeopardize her newfound connection with her sister. She reached for Meral’s hand, but Meral jerked it out of reach.

In her eyes, Jewel could see the deep hurt turning to anger. A defense mechanism. She’d seen the same thing in her father’s eyes when she’d refused to give up Silas. It had hurt him badly to realize that she placed Silas above her family. So in return he’d turned his pain into anger and had used it against her, disinheriting her.

But Jewel wouldn’t give up. She had to try again. She snatched Meral’s hand and gripped hard. And deep concern turned to determination. Even if Meral didn’t want to listen to her, Jewel would still speak her mind. It could save Meral’s life. “I love you. I don’t want it to be like this. Please understand. But I can’t stand by and watch without saying this. You could be in danger, Meral. Buck is a dangerous man.”

Meral’s eyes widened, and she brushed at the tears. Then fury replaced the hurt, and Meral pushed slowly to her feet.

“How dare you.” Her tone was a low growl.

“Did you tell him what I took years ago?” Jewel asked.

Meral had to know that she had the diamond. Her family had to have figured out that Jewel had taken it. She’d been so foolish to pretend otherwise.

Jewel saw the truth in Meral’s eyes. And she saw denial. Meral didn’t want to believe Jewel, but Meral had doubts about Buck—doubts she’d tried to ignore all along. Jewel saw them there as plain as day. She knew her sister. They were flesh and blood, and even after twenty years she knew her.

“There’s no need for you to come aboard the yacht for your things.” Meral had turned cold. “I’ll get them packed up and delivered to you here.”

“You’re just going to leave us stranded.”

“You said you couldn’t go back. Now you don’t have to. You’ll find a ride home, I’m sure. After all, you have the chief of police following you around wanting to be a guard dog, but acting more like a puppy in love.”

Jewel stood, too, feeling the ice behind Meral’s words and the agony of her own so strongly that her pain was physical. “Meral, I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you. I’m trying to protect you. Please, don’t do this. Don’t end our time together like this.”

“You haven’t changed one bit, Jewel. I remember how you were so self-righteous when you left with Silas, not even caring that you were hurting Mom and Dad and me the way you did. Just leaving us all for a man you hardly knew. And don’t say I’m doing the same thing. This isn’t anything like what you did.”

Jewel lowered her voice so she could be sure that only Meral heard her. They had already drawn the men’s attention. “You’re right. It isn’t. You’re in love with a murderer who is using you to get what he wants.”

The Krizan Diamond. But Jewel was afraid to say it out loud.

Meral flinched. “How do you know this? If Buck was guilty, your man would have already arrested him. But he’s not. There’s nothing you can prove.”

Could it be true? Was Jewel blind to the truth or being paranoid? “Please tell me you’re not involved in this.” She instantly regretted the words. “I’m sorry, Meral, I didn’t mean it. I could never doubt you like that.”

But the damage had been done. Icy daggers shot from Meral’s eyes. “And yet you doubt my choice of husband. Buck has his own money. He doesn’t need mine or yours.” Meral stiffened. She glanced across the space to Buck, who held two coffees and was headed their way.

He closed the distance quickly and was