Diamond Kisses (The Jewelry Box #4)

But he stayed upright, swaying and swallowing hard. “Vic—”

Victor dragged me in front of his chest, keeping me pinned. Grabbing my breast and tracing his fingers where my heart pounded, he smirked. “Stab here, mon ami. In your own time.”

Henri shuddered.

Our eyes met.

The world fell away.

The connection between us blazed bright, and I knew.

I saw his decision before he did it.

Don’t. I tried to shake my head.

I love you. He sighed. Always.

And then he flipped the knife so the blade landed in his palm and threw it as hard as he could at Victor beside me.

The glint of the dagger as it spun in the air.

The clang of it hitting the cave wall as Victor ducked wickedly fast, taking me with him.

And the godawful crunch of Henri’s skull as a guard rammed the butt of his gun against his temple.

Henri flopped backward. Unconscious and barely breathing.

This time, the guards bound him.

Buckling the leather straps around his ankles, one of the guards looked at Henri’s arms, flopped wide and loose. “Eh, Sir?” He looked at Victor. “We can’t strap his arms down, he’s not wearing cuffs for the hooks—”

“Roland.” Victor looked at the despicable Master holding Peter. “Grab the spare box in the cupboard, will you?”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as Victor shoved me to my knees.

“Be my pleasure.” Roland snickered and waddled across the cave. He wrenched open the cupboard doors, and my heart pounded as a hundred empty eye sockets stared back. He reached into the bottom shelf, slipped a black box free, then shuffled back to Victor, his tourmaline mask sparkling and cape billowing.

Victor smiled. “Thank you.” Taking the box, he placed it beside Henri’s hip. Tapping Henri’s cheek, he waited for him to wake up.

He didn’t.

Victor huffed in disappointment, but his navy eyes narrowed as the Masters gathered closer.

Ferdinand asked, “You gonna give him the Kiss, Vic?”

Victor shook his head with a regal sniff. “I’m afraid any Diamond Kisses have been postponed for the evening. My deepest apologies.”

“What?” Larry coughed. “But—”

“Why not three Diamond Kisses?” Ian asked. “Her, Peter, and him.”

“Because I have a better idea.” Victor grinned as he opened the box. “And I need them alive. For a little longer.”

My heart fell out of my chest as the glint of gold bounced around the cave.

I froze on the cave floor, drowning in a puddle of icy seawater.

“No.” I scrambled to my feet, but a guard kicked my ankle, sending me down again. “Don’t do this. Don’t—”