Diamonds (Den of Thieves Book 1) (10 page)

How dare her father treat her like this!

“You are my child and I will do as I see fit. I don’t want you getting all wrapped up with his kind.”

“His kind? What is that supposed to mean?” Daria looked over at Peter who had a look of shock etched on his face as he sat there motionless

“He is not a man of good standing. He refused to explain his intentions towards you the night before last and yet here he is in your bed!”

She strode across the room with the sheet wrapped around her.

“Father you need to leave the room,” she ordered putting her hands on his shoulder to turn him around.

“I want to speak with the man. He clearly has no defense as he has not said a word at all.”

“I would if you would give me a chance,” Peter said finding his voice.

Petros turned back to face Peter. Daria looked at Peter willing him with his eyes not to say anything rash.

“Well go on then.” Petros waved his hand at Peter urging him to go on.

“I was going to say. My intentions towards your daughter were honest and true. I didn’t start out to end up in her bed but--” Peter started before Petros cut him off.

“But you did anyway. So you took advantage of my daughter’s soft heart did you?”

“I did nothing of the sort!”

“Yet here you are.” Petros motioned towards the bed.

“Look, Father, regardless of how it happened, you haven’t stopped to ask me if it was something that I wanted. Don’t I get a say in how my life goes?”

“You want a man like this to share your bed? Fine then. So be it!” Petros said turning around and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Daria stood there watching after him as he left her heart aching. She knew that he was only trying to protect her but she knew in her heart that she was doing the right thing. There was something about Peter that she hadn’t found in any other man she had met before and she wanted to find out on her own what it was that made her heart pound when she thought of him.

“I’m sorry you had to see that Peter,” she apologized walking back towards the bed.

“It’s not your fault,” he said drawing her into his arms again.

“I know but my father really needs to understand that I am not a little girl anymore and that he can’t go around controlling my life.”

“He clearly loves you Daria, and he is only trying to do what’s best for you. Even if it comes across wrong.”

She sighed. He was right. For all his flaws her father was only trying to protect her from harm.

“Look you need to have some time with you father to work it out. I would never want to come between the two of you,” he said softly, pulling away from her before climbing out of the bed and gathering up his clothes.

“I just don’t want it to end this way.” She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes and cursed her soft heart.

“It is not ending. I am not going anywhere” he assured her, taking her chin in his hand and looking into her eyes.

She nodded. Her heart hurt.

“When will I see you again?” She asked looking down at her hands which were still clutching the sheet to her breasts.

“When would you like to?” He smiled at her as he got dressed again.

“Tonight?” She asked hopeful. She really didn’t want it to end but she knew what he was saying was true. She needed to work things out with her father first before she had any more episodes like this.

“Sure. I can pick you up at seven and we can go to dinner. In the city this time, I promise”

She laughed. He had that way of making her feel completely at ease.

“Seven it is then.”  She got up from the bed instantly feeling better about the whole situation and pulled on her robe.

“Come on, I’ll walk you out so my father doesn’t jump you in the hallway.”

They left the room and Daria smiled as they rounded the staircase, remembering the night before.

Opening the front door she inhaled the scent of the lilacs that were in full bloom along the front of the house.

Peter leaned in to kiss her and she felt that searing heat building in the pit of her stomach.

“Seven.” He whispered touching her cheek as he pulled away and started down the steps to his car.

Daria watched him drive off before turning to go back inside.

Sebastian drove away with his mind still a blur from the night before. Having to come face to face with Daria’s father had not been a highlight of his morning. Nothing had exactly gone the way that he had planned it out the day before.

First of all he had not planned on getting close enough to Daria to spend the night with her. Second of all he still had not gotten any closer to finding out anything about the necklace.

He had no idea what he was going to say to the rest of the team when he got back to the office but he had to think and quickly. It was closing in on ten o’clock and he was supposed to be there by ten thirty to discuss his findings.

He raced back across the city to the office, stopping to grab a coffee but he knew he didn’t have time to head home and grab a shower before he went in.

Pulling into the parking lot, ten minutes late, he tried to straighten his hair in the mirror before getting out and headed inside.

Opening the door he found himself face to face with the entire team. Even Paul was there. Paul had been on assignment for the FBI for the last few weeks and wasn’t due back until later in the week.

“Glad you could join us Sebastian.” Jake said raising an eyebrow.

“Someone hasn’t been home since yesterday,” Cat noticed nodding at his attire.

“What’s the matter Cat? You jealous?” Sebastian smiled

“Well we know you got laid last night, what else happened?” Bo asked.

Sebastian spent the next twenty minutes going over the general aspects of his date the night before.

“Alright that’s great that you have managed to get close to her. What did you find out about the necklace?”

“That’s the thing - I never had the chance to look around her room or the house at all.”

“Really now? And why is that? You are usually the pro at this sort of thing.” Paul asked giving him a hard stare.

“He father walked in before I had the chance.” The words were out of his mouth before he had thought better of them.

“Dude! Her father walked in on you guys?” Bo howled with laughter.

Even Cat looked amused. Jake and Paul however didn’t. Rudy had turned back to his computer screens knowing that there was an explosion on the horizon.

“He didn’t walk in on us when we were doing it--”

“But he walked in after you had done the dirty with his daughter? Dude that’s classic!” Bo continued to laugh big deep bellows.

“I’m glad you find this funny,” Sebastian said getting irritated at how badly this conversation was going downhill.

“Actually I don’t find it funny at all,” Jake said crossing his arms across his chest.

“Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t have an opportunity that I could use to--”

“I get that shit didn’t work out but really we needed you to find that necklace.”

“I tried to!”

“I think it is time that we sent someone else in to get the job done properly Sebastian. You are obviously too close to it and aren’t objective enough to get it done.” Jake turned away and started walking back to his desk.

“No I’m not.”

“Seb, you have to understand that this was your chance. And it didn’t work out. You’re going to have to walk away from this.”

Sebastian felt panic rising up in his throat. He did not want to be pulled off the assignment. It would mean he would not be able to see Daria again and he wasn’t ready to walk away from her now.

“No,” he croaked his mouth suddenly dry.

“We are already going to have to explain how you managed to sleep with the woman but found out absolutely nothing about her.”

“It wasn’t a waste of time – I did learn things about her.”

“We aren’t talking about her bra size,” Bo chuckled under his breath and Sebastian’s temper rumbled just under his skin.

“Great so is that all you guys think I am? Just a pretty face?”

“Well we do call you ‘Pretty Boy’ for a reason.” Bo patted his back.

Sebastian was about to open his mouth when Paul spoke up.

“That’s enough Bo, there’s no sense going on any further about it than you already have. I think we all get the point you are trying to make.”

“Thank you. About time some one around here spoke with common sense.” Sebastian flopped down into his chair.

“I didn’t say I agreed with you Sebastian.”

Sebastian looked up at Paul. Did everyone think him nothing more than a playboy?

“I have been going over the files when I’ve had some down time while I’ve been away. And I have to say it does seem like you might have served your purpose in this case. “

“You can’t be serious--”

The front door opened and in walked Bonnie Blakeman followed by a shorter white man.

Sebastian stared at her as she strode across the front entry way her heels making loud clacking sounds as she went and stopped short in front of Jake. The man had to double his pace to keep up with her.

“Well?” she demanded her arms taking up what seemed to be her normal position folded across her chest.

“I’m sorry? I don’t believe we have met? I’m Paul Steele,” Paul said stepping forward and reached out a hand.

“I know who you are,” she said snubbing his hand and turning to face Jake.

“What can we do for you Mrs. Blakeman?

“I want an update.”

“I don’t have much to tell you right now. We are still--”

“Well what have you been doing? I thought you said you would have some information after last night.”

"Well we were supposed to but--" Jake started.

Sebastian could see where this was going. He was about to get thrown under the bus.

"Well then what the hell happened? I am paying you people good money to get me what I want."

Sebastian swore that she was going to start stomping her feet and pitching a fit. She seemed like she was about to throw a temper tantrum worse than any two year old.

"We did try--"

"I demand to know who is responsible for not having the information that you all said you would have."

"Sebast--" Paul started looking at him.
 

The woman whirled around on her heel to face him. The look of anger on her face made him want to get away from the situation as fast as he could but he stood there instead waiting on the backlash he was about to endure.

"Well? You were supposed to get information on my necklace."

"I --"
 

"Did you or did you not do the job you were supposed to do?" She narrowed her eyes as she took another step towards him.

He took a step back and felt the edge of his desk press against the back of his legs. He had nowhere to go and the irate woman in front of him looked as if she would love nothing more than to sink her claws into his throat.

“Listen. I saw Daria last night. Yes. I tried to get the information out--" he started, trying to sound like he was in control of the situation. He looked at his partners but all they were doing was watching. None of them looked like they were about to come to his recue.
 

"You fucked her didn’t you?" Another step closer. Sebastian could feel her breath on his face as she spat the words at him.

"I--" Sebastian started again but struggled to find the words that he needed to use to get the woman to back down and off of him.

Suddenly as fast as she had turned on him she whirled back around on her heels and came face to face with Jake and Paul.

"So what is this? You people fuck my daughter and yet you cant get a simple bit of information out of her about my god-dammed necklace? This is not what I am paying you for!" she shrieked.

"We aren’t even sure the woman knows anything about the necklace at all, ma’am," Paul started trying to calm the situation down a few levels.

"What do you mean? Of course she knows about it! How could she not?"

"It is possible that your ex-husband did not tell her about it."

"Really and just how do you explain that?"

"She doesn’t even know you are alive. She thinks that you were killed years ago," Sebastian said regaining control of his thoughts and words.

"Oh?"

"Apparently when you left your husband was so hurt that he made up this story so he could mourn you leaving him."
 

"Oh isn’t that sweet! Do you really expect me to believe that you lot are going to fall for that bullshit?" She looked around the room. "James, look at these utter fools. They think that kindly old man was pining away for me all of these years."
 

She laughed and Sebastian cringed. He instantly felt sorry for Daria and grateful that she had never met the witch that was her mother. Better she knew nothing of the woman at all and be allowed to live with the fantasy she had created to make up for never having met her.

The other man stood there looking uncomfortable with the entire situation. Sebastian didn’t blame him. With a wife like Bonnie there was no wonder he looked miserable.

"Do you really want to know the truth of the situation? The REAL truth?" She sneered. "Of course you do. I mean I wouldn’t want you going around believing the lies you were told."

No one said a word.

"Fine then. I will tell you. It was Petros that had me attacked after I left. You see, he was the one who had given me that necklace. But he was an abusive man. He would fly into drunken rages and beat me. He was a clever man though. He made sure he didn’t leave a mark where anyone could see what a monster he was. I couldn’t wear short sleeves nor skirts. Half the time I was forced to wear turtlenecks to cover up the marks. I have a scar in my scalp because of him." She pointed to the back of her head for emphasis.

"Alright. Fair enough. There are always two sides to the story and we get that but--" Paul started to try and calm her down but she was in full rage and would not be stopped

"You didn’t let me finish! The night I left, I feared for my life. I was running thinking he was sending someone after me. And he did! I barely escaped with my life. They left me for dead in the streets." As she finished her story she crossed her arms back across her chest almost as if she was protecting herself from whatever it was the team was going to throw back at her.

"Was a police report filed?" Jake asked. Jake was an ex member of the LCPD and had been a long time officer of the special victims unit. This would have been something that he would have caught wind of.

"I don’t know. Some good samaritan was kind enough to drop me off at the nearest hospital. I spent months recuperating from what he had done to me."

Sebastian examined the woman. Her mannerisms did not scream victim to him at all. She seemed to be far more an aggressor than she was a victim. The term ‘bully’ came to mind. Someone who was used to getting her own way at whatever the cost to anyone else around her.

"And what about your daughter?" Jake asked making notes as she spoke. "Why didn’t you go after her?"

"You have met my husband Mr. Griffin. Why do you think I didn’t go after her? I knew right well he would have never let me have her. And besides I knew he adored the ground she walked on and that she would have a better life with him than I could have given her."
 

"You look like you’ve done alright for yourself," Paul piped up.
 

"Looks can be deceiving you know," she snapped.
 

"Alright. So tell me again why you are going after this necklace now." Jake fiddled some more with his notepad.
 

"I told you. It is rightfully mine and I want it back. I am strong enough to face him now." She straightened up to her full height. Gone was the poor helpless victim act she had been playing a moment before, almost as if some one had flipped a switch ad a completely different person appeared.
 

"Well like I said earlier we are doing everything we can. You have provided us with some more information so let me look into this a little bit more and I will get back to you with what we find out.

"You had best better. If I have to come in here and check up on you people again it will not be pretty," She snapped again before turning on her heel once again and storming out the door.

James stood there a moment watching with the rest of them as his wife walked out the door.

"I am very sorry about all of this. If there is anything I can do to help--" James started to apologize before his wife stuck her head back in the door
 

"James! Lets go!"
 

"It’s alright Mr. Blakeman. We will let you know if we need anything else," Jake said dismissing the man.

Sebastian watched the man walk out the front door and he couldn’t help feeling sorry for the poor bastard.

Chapter 7

Daria closed her eyes and sunk deeper into the bath. Her mind slipped back to the night before. It had been a very long time since she had enjoyed someone’s company like she had with Peter. Sure she had been on a good number of dates over the years and it wasn’t as if she had no sex life at all but there was certainly a different sort of connection she felt with Peter.

Something special. One she didn’t want to end.

Her father however seemed to think differently.

She frowned. It wasn’t like she couldn’t understand her father’s perspective. Neither she nor her father knew anything of the man except what he had told them. It was definitely an alarming scenario for a man who had lost his own wife to a horrible act. The thought of losing her was more than the man could bear.

At the same time, what did he really know of any of the men that he had set her up with over the years? All of it was bank balances and resumes - he knew nothing of the men personally. Otherwise why would he continue to set her up with men that were nowhere near compatible with her?

It wasn’t like they were horrible men, albeit some of them had been a bit odd. But none of them had treated her badly; they just weren’t what she was looking for in a companion.
 

Peter on the other hand, was a good-looking man. Long blonde hair and the stubble gave him the look of a beach bum but one look in his eyes and she could see the intelligence in them. He was no fool. He may not have the resume or not even the bank balance that her father was looking for in her potential mates but he certainly had an air of mystery about him that Daria found intoxicating.
 

She smiled to herself as she remembered the feeling of his lips as they brushed her skin. He was also an excellent lover.
 

"Daria." Her fathers voice through the bathroom door interrupted her thoughts.

"Yes Father?" She sat up in the tub suddenly realizing that the water had turned cold.
 

"Can I speak with you a moment?" he sounded tired.

"Give me a moment and I’ll be right down."

"Alright."
 

She sighed wishing the water hadn’t turned cold and she could sink back beneath the comforting warm water and bubbles. She pulled herself up and stepped out of the bath. The water ran down the length of her body as she stepped across the bath to select a bath towel for herself.
 

She wrapped the towel around her and walked through the connecting door to her bedroom.
 

After quickly picking out a simple sundress she got dressed and headed down to see what her father wanted to speak with her about. Peter no doubt. It was not a conversation that she was ready to have at this point in her day but she knew that the longer she avoided it the worse it would be.
 

She found him sitting on the back patio with two steaming cups of coffee sitting on the table waiting for her to arrive. She sat down and picked hers up and took a sip.

No words were spoken as they sat there looking over the ground that made up their property. A gardener was trimming a clump of bushes a ways away from them. The breeze felt nice on her bare legs.
 

"Father--"
 

"No. Let me."
 

Daria said nothing but looked at her father who was still continuing to watch the gardener do his thing.