His Stolen Bride (Chicago Sons) (16 page)

“I was protecting her from you.”

“You were conning her
yourself
.” Vern’s tone went lower, speaking to Crista. “His father is your father’s cell mate. Colin Rush, the king of the Ponzi scheme. His daddy makes your daddy look like a carnival huckster. He’s here for the diamonds. He doesn’t give a damn about you.”

“Shut up,” Jackson shouted, striding forward.

Crista wrenched herself from Vern’s arms.

“Crista—” Jackson began.

“You stay away,” she warned him. She glanced around the room. “Everybody
stay far away from me
.”

She refused to be taken in by anybody. She stopped in front of Mac. “Give me your car keys.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure. And your cash. Give me all of your cash.” It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she’d pay him back. But given the circumstances, it seemed silly to be polite.

Mac gave a small smile. “Smart girl.”

“I’ve learned a few things along the way.”

“Let me explain,” Jackson pleaded with her.

She dared to look at him. “So you can tell me more lies?”

She was heartsick at his deception. Her father had sent him. She’d been such an easy mark. She’d been a laughably easy mark.

“It wasn’t lies,” said Jackson.

“Do you know my father?”

Jackson’s nostrils flared. “Yes.”

“He sent you?” She already knew the answer.

“Yes.”

“He told you about the diamond mine.”

“Yes, but—”

“Joke’s on you, Jackson. Trent conned you just like he’s conned everybody his whole life. The mine doesn’t exist.”

“Mac confirmed it,” said Jackson.

Crista barked out a laugh. “He thinks he confirmed it. That just says my father is one step ahead of Mac.”

She turned her attention to Mac, who was reaching into his pockets. He handed her the keys and a wad of cash.

“What are you doing?” Jackson demanded of Mac.

“Letting her go,” Mac said mildly.

“No,” Jackson shouted.

Mac gave him a look.

“Right,” said Jackson, clenching his jaw. “You’re right. She needs to get out of here.”

“Norway,” he said to the man closest to him, “give her all your money.”

The man called Norway didn’t hesitate. He pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket and handed it over.

“Dump Mac’s car at the bus station,” said Jackson, coming close. “You lay low for a while until we clear this up.”

“I know what I’m doing,” said Crista. She was going to disappear into anonymity. And it was going to be for more than just a while. None of them would find her until she wanted to be found. “You’ll keep Vern from coming after me?” she asked Jackson.

“Absolutely,” he said.

“Good.” Crista stuffed the money into the pocket of her shorts. “Tell Ellie not to worry.”

Crista headed for the door.

She located Mac’s SUV and started it up. She was doing exactly as Jackson had suggested. She’d ditch the vehicle at the bus station. But then she’d take a taxi to the train station, buy a ticket with cash, switch trains outside the city and find herself a quiet, budget hotel where she could pay cash and hide under a fake name.

She realized she couldn’t trust Reginald anymore. But the Yellow Pages were full of lawyers. She’d find her own lawyer. Then she’d work her way through the changes at Cristal Creations all on her own. She was through depending on others for help.

* * *

Since calling the police would leave them all with a lot of explaining to do, Jackson assumed the Gerhards would keep the altercation to themselves. And though it chafed to let her go on her own, he’d made sure Crista had a three-hour head start on Vern.

Now, both groups cautiously crossed the parking lot, each watching their backs as the entered their respective vehicles.

Jackson wanted to search for Crista right away. He wanted the Rush Investigations team to head straight back to the office and get started. He knew Gerhard would do exactly that, and it killed him simply sit still and wait for her to come back.

“What if she’s right about her father?” Jackson mused out loud as the sun broke the horizon, lighting the world outside the meeting room window.

“That the diamond mine is worthless?” asked Mac.

Jackson wished he could seriously consider that possibility, because no diamond mine meant Crista had no value to Gerhard, so Gerhard would disappear.

“No. Not that,” said Jackson. “I’m convinced the diamond mine is legit. But that doesn’t mean Trent’s not running some other con.”

Mac hesitated. “What con would he be running? What are we not seeing?”

Jackson scanned through the facts.

“Problem is you’re not seeing anything beyond Crista,” said Mac. “You get that you’re in love with her, right?”

Jackson wasn’t letting his emotions get in the way of solving this. He couldn’t afford to do that. He ordered himself to slow down, detach, think harder.

And then it hit him. “Trent’s lying.”

Trent had initially downplayed his culpability in Crista’s engagement. Not that Jackson was sorry about that part. In fact, he was glad Trent had lied to him back then.

“You think he’s still lying?” asked Mac.

Jackson was certain of it. “The Gerhards aren’t threatening to kill Trent. They’re in league with him.”

“That would be a cold-blooded move,” said Mac. “Voluntarily setting up your own daughter.”

Jackson whistled low. It was all coming clear. “Trent told them about the mine, and he told them how to get to Crista. Were they going to split the take?”

“Why wouldn’t Trent just split it with Crista?”

“Crista won’t even speak to him. She never would have trusted him.”

“But why get cold feet at the last minute?” asked Mac. “Why would he call you in and mess it all up?”

“Because they double-crossed him.” Jackson stood, absolutely certain he was right. “He didn’t call me in to help Crista. He only wanted his leverage back.”

Mac seemed to be considering what he’d said. “If that’s the case, what’s his next move?”

“I don’t know.” Jackson gripped the back of the chair, tightening his fingers, ordering himself to think carefully. “But she’s his bargaining chip. He needs her back in his clutches.”

“We better find her first,” said Mac.

Jackson started for the door. “And Daddy dearest is going to help us do that. That creep is going to tell me everything he knows.”

“He’ll only lie,” Mac called.

“Let him try.”

It was a two-hour drive to Riverway State. Jackson made it in ninety minutes. For the third time, he found himself sitting across a prison visiting table from Trent Corday.

“What’s your new plan?” he barked without preamble.

“My new plan for what?”

“For Crista. Don’t bother lying. Nobody’s threatening you. You’re all the way in Gerhard’s pocket.”

Trent’s fleetingly shocked expression told Jackson he was right.

“You sold out your own daughter,” Jackson spat. “It was a setup from minute one.”

“If they told you that, they’re lying.”

Jackson had no interest in debating the past. He was certain Trent had orchestrated the whole thing. “How do you plan to get her back?”

Trent’s complexion darkened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You think I’m going to let him kidnap her again?”

“What? Kidnap who?”

Jackson was through with the man’s games. “Playing dumb gets you nothing.”

“I’m not—”

“What is the new plan?” Jackson articulated each word slowly and carefully.

“The new plan to
what
?”

Jackson wanted to take a swing. “Don’t you know that once they’re married, Gerhard has no reason to keep her alive?”

“I thought the wedding was off.” Trent looked confused.

Jackson wasn’t buying it. “Your backup plan has a backup plan.” He knew how these men worked. “If not a marriage to Gerhard for a kickback from the mine, then what? Who? What do I need to protect her from?”

Guilt flashed across Trent’s face. “There was never any reason to hurt her.”

“There was always a reason to hurt her. I know you’re not burdened with a conscience, but don’t lie to yourself. And stop lying to me.
What happens next?
”

“Nothing,” Trent shouted. “I mean, I’ve thought about it. There are tens of millions of dollars at stake. And they’re mine.”

“They’re Crista’s.”

Trent’s tone went sullen. “She never even knew they existed.”

“What’s the new plan?”

It was clear Trent didn’t want to answer.

Jackson waited.

“I haven’t had time to come up with one,” Trent finally admitted.

Now there was something Jackson could believe.

“Gerhard was my only play,” said Trent. “I can’t come at her directly. Crista has never trusted me.”

“And thanks to you, she’ll never trust me, either. Which only makes my job harder.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“What you should have done in the first place.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Protect Crista from the lowlifes you put in her path.”

“How?”

“None of your business.”

“How can it hurt to tell me?”

“You don’t deserve to know.”

Trent reached out to him. “I’m not as bad as you think. They were never supposed to hurt her.”

“Are you saying they planned a divorce all along.”

“Yes. There was no prenup to protect the mine, so all he had to do was divorce her.”

Jackson couldn’t believe Trent would be so stupid. “What about Gerhard’s assets? Don’t try to tell me he’d give her a settlement.”

“It’s all in Manfred’s name. Vern owns nothing.”

“Still, a divorce would mean giving her part of the mine. They wouldn’t do that. You put her
life
at risk.”

Trent paled a shade. “They said it would be a divorce.”

“They lied, and you’re a fool.”

The two men stared at each other for a long moment.

“What’s your plan?” Trent’s voice broke. “Tell me how you’re going to protect my little girl.”

Jackson stepped back, releasing a long breath. “For one thing,” he said, “Cristal Creations is out of Gerhard’s hands.”

“You did that?”

“I had someone do that for me. Tell them, don’t tell them. It’s too late for them to change anything. Tell them they’ll never be able to get to her. She’ll be protected 24/7 for a month or a year or forever, whatever it takes.”

Jackson wished he didn’t have to do all this in secret. He wanted to be honest with her. He wanted to be in her life. He wanted to
be
her life.

He was completely in love with her. It angered him that he was figuring that out in a prison. It angered him more that he was figuring it out while confronting her no-good father. The entire situation was thoroughly wrong and completely unfair.

“Why?” asked Trent, looking genuinely perplexed.

“Because she deserves it. She deserves everything.”

Jackson rose from the seat. He was done here. He was done with Trent. He knew the truth now, but it didn’t help him. He should have asked way more questions in the beginning. He should have been more suspicious. He might not have purposely conned Crista. But the result was the same. His stupidity had put her in harm’s way.

Maybe he didn’t deserve her any more than Trent did.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I
t took Crista three days to figure out a solution. But she woke up one morning, and it was fully formed.

“Are you sure?” asked Ellie as they drove east from where they’d met up in Rockford.

Crista had set up an anonymous email account to communicate with Ellie. When she’d sent a message, Ellie had left Chicago, switching from a taxi to a train to a bus, while Crista had made her way from a boutique hotel over the border in Wisconsin.

“It’s meaningless,” said Crista. “And it’s making me a target. Even if the mine is worth some money, I don’t want it.”

“But him? Are you sure you even want to talk to him?”

“He can’t hurt me from behind bars.”

“He hurt you by putting a diamond mine in your name.”

“And I’m about to undo that. As soon as the mine is out of the picture, Vern walks away—and Jackson walks away.” Crista couldn’t help the little catch in her voice as she said Jackson’s name.

He’d broken her heart. She hadn’t realized how badly she’d fallen for him until that night in the warehouse. Anger had carried her for a few hours. But once the anger wore off, his betrayal had devastated her.

He’d seemed so clever, so funny, so compassionate and so incredibly handsome. She’d started to think of him as her soul mate. He’d comforted her. He made her think he genuinely cared about her.

She realized now that her upbringing had left her starved for male attention. It seemed she was willing to take a chance on anyone, including Vern and Jackson. It was entirely understandable, but it was also foolish. And she would never make that mistake again.

“I don’t mean the money,” said Ellie. “Cristal Creations is going to be wildly successful. I mean, seeing your father in person, talking to him, having him try to manipulate you into… I don’t know. But whatever it is, it’s going to upset you.”

“I’m immune,” said Crista.

She’d done nothing for the last three days but be angry with her father, detest Vern and build a wall against her feelings for Jackson. She dared any of the three of them to try to get under her skin.

“I hope so,” said Ellie.

“It’ll take five minutes,” said Crista. “All I need is his signature on the legal papers, and the mine is all his. He can use it in a brand-new scam. He’ll like that.”

“Mac says it’s real,” said Ellie.

“Mac is in league with Jackson.”

“True,” said Ellie. “And I haven’t told him a thing. He doesn’t know you contacted me or anything.”

Crista was surprised. “You’ve talked to Mac since I left Chicago?”

Ellie hesitated. “He calls me every day. He came by last night.”

“You saw Mac last night?”

“Yeah, well…” Ellie turned her head to gaze out the passenger window.

“Please tell me you didn’t spend the night with Mac.”

“He didn’t suspect a thing. I swear. And, anyway, if I didn’t let him stay over, he would have been suspicious.”

“You’re getting serious with Mac?”

“Not exactly serious.” Still, Ellie’s tone said it was more serious than she wanted to let on.

Crista smiled at the irony.

“I couldn’t help myself,” Ellie said. “I kept thinking it would blow over, that one of us would lose interest. And then when you and Jackson broke up—”

“We didn’t
break up
. There was no relationship to start with. He was conning me. I was a mark.”

“Mac thinks the world of Jackson.”

“Mac is Jackson’s partner. They were probably going to split the diamonds.”

“You said there were no diamonds.”

“Everyone seems to think there are. Otherwise…” Crista swallowed. She hated that every memory of being with Jackson made her heart hurt.

Ellie touched her shoulder.

“I’m going to get over it,” said Crista. “I’m already over it. Reginald said—not that I can trust Reginald—but my new lawyer says the same thing. They said the Bahamian company is going to give me free rein on Cristal Creations. To them, it’s just an investment. And they’re very patient, looking for a long-term return. It’s going to be great.”

“I’m so glad,” said Ellie.

“So am I.” Crista had so much to be grateful for.

She was out from under Vern. She’d seen Jackson’s true colors before it was too late. And she was about to sever the last of her ties with her father. After this, she was a free woman starting a whole new, independent life.

“That’s it?” asked Ellie as a chain-link fence topped with razor wire came into view. An imposing dark gray stone building loomed up behind it.

“That’s definitely it,” Crista said in a hushed tone.

For the first time, she thought about what it must be like to be locked up inside the bleakness of Riverway State prison. She shuddered.

“There’s a sign for visitor parking,” said Ellie, pointing out the windshield. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“You can’t. They needed to have your name in advance.” Though the street was empty, Crista signaled right and turned into the parking lot.

She knew she needed to do this alone. Still, part of her wished she could bring Ellie along for moral support.

“It’s not too late to back out,” said Ellie.

Crista chose a spot and pulled in.

“This won’t take long.” Crista looped her purse over her shoulder, taking the manila envelope from the seat between them.

“Got a pen?” asked Ellie.

“I do.”

“He’s going to be surprised by this.”

“He’s going to be stunned by this.”

Crista wasn’t sure which would shock him more, that she showed up or that she was calling his bluff. In typical convoluted Trent Corday style, he’d convinced Vern that the mine was worth money. His real objective had obviously been the Gerhard wealth. He clearly thought he could get his hands on some of that if she was married to a Gerhard.

She didn’t know how he’d planned to achieve that. But then, she’d never understood the conniving workings of her father’s mind.

She reached for the handle and yawned open the driver’s door.

“I’ll be waiting,” said Ellie, worry in her tone.

“I’ll be right back,” Crista said with determination.

She forced herself to make the long walk to the gate at the fence. There, she gave a guard her name and identification. She let him check her bag. Then a female guard patted her down before they let her in.

A pair of burly, unsmiling guards led her through a doorway and directed her down a long, dank hall. The place smelled of fish and disinfectant. Everything about it seemed hard and cold.

She was determined to feel no sympathy whatsoever for her father. He’d been guilty, no question. But on a human level, she pitied anyone stuck in here. With every step, she fought an increasing urge to turn and run.

Finally, she came to a doorway that led into a brighter room. It had high mesh-covered windows, a checkerboard floor and several small red tables with connected stools.

She scanned the room, easily spotting her father. He’d aged since she’d seen him last, his hair gray, his skin sallow and his shoulders stooped and narrower than she remembered.

When he saw her, his eyes went wide with surprise. His jaw dropped, and he gripped the table in front of him, coming slowly to his feet.

“Crista?” he mouthed.

She squared her shoulders and marched toward him.

“Crista,” he repeated, and his lips curved in a smile.

She hoped he didn’t reach for her. She inwardly cringed at the thought of giving him a hug.

“I need your signature,” she stated up front.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I’m not staying.”

“No, no.” His head bobbed in a nod. “Of course you can’t stay. I understand.”

“I know about the mine.”

He gestured for her to sit down.

She hesitated but then sat.

“I know about the mine,” she repeated.

“Jackson told me.”

Her chest tightened at the mention of Jackson’s name. She had no intention of pursuing the discussion.

“We both know it’s worthless,” she said, folding back the envelope flap.

“It’s not—”

“But you’ve obviously convinced people it has some value.”

“It’s not worthless.”

She stared at him. “Right. You forget who I am.”

“But—”

“This latest scam of yours has put me in actual danger. Vern threatened to kill me, and I think he was serious.”

“He
what
?” Her father put on his shocked face.

“Please, save it.”

“I never meant for—”

“Quit trying to fool me. I’m not your mark. I’m your daughter. I need one thing from you, and then I am out of your life for good.”

He swallowed. He even teared up a little bit. His acting was impressive.

“What do you need?” he asked in a raspy voice.

She produced the papers. “I had a lawyer draw these up. It transfers my shares in the Borezone Mine to you.”

Trent drew back.

“You and I know this is meaningless. But if there’s anyone out there who believes there really are diamonds, or if you manage to convince someone in the future that there are diamonds, they’ll come after you and not me. That’s all I want.”

His head was shaking. “It’s not worthless.”

“There’s no point in telling me that.”

He lunged for her hand, but she snapped it away.

“Check,” he said. “Have a lawyer check. Better still, have a securities regulator check. At today’s prices your shares are worth tens of millions.”

“Ha,” she scoffed, wondering why he kept up the facade.

She couldn’t figure out what he hoped to gain. Then again, at the beginning of any of his cons, it was never obvious what he hoped to gain.

“Check it,” he said with impressive sincerity. “Promise me you’ll check it, and then you’ll understand what I’m about to do.”

Her suspicions rose. “What are you about to do?”

He took the papers from her hands.

“Dad?” The name was out before she could stop herself.

She saw him smile while he looked down. Was he signing?

He flipped through the three pages to the end. There, he made a stroke through his name and printed something else.

“Jackson Rush was here three days ago,” he said.

“I bet he was.”

Her father looked up. “He said something. Well, he said a lot of things. But he reminded me of something that I’d forgotten a long time ago.”

She schooled her features, determined not to react.

“He reminded me that being your father meant something. I owe it to you to take care of you.”

She wasn’t buying it. “What did you just write?”

“He also showed me what he was, who he was. He’s honest, principled and upstanding.”

“Stop,” she managed. She didn’t believe a word of it, but her chest was getting tighter and tighter.

“I’m not going to accept the mine shares. But you’re right. You can’t keep them, either. They put you in danger. When I put them in your name, I had no idea they’d grow in value.”

“They’re not—”

“Stop,” he said. “You’re going to confirm their value beyond a shadow of a doubt. And then you’re going to believe that I’ll never do anything to hurt you ever again.”

She didn’t want to believe him. But she couldn’t begin to guess his angle. If the shares weren’t worth any money, she was going to find out. If they were, why wasn’t he grabbing them?

“What did you write on the papers?” she asked again.

“I crossed out my own name. I replaced it with Jackson Rush’s.”

Her jaw dropped open, and a roar started in her ears.

“You can trust him.”

She shook her head. She couldn’t. She didn’t dare.

“You can,” her father insisted. “You know Cristal Creations is out of the Gerhard name.”

How had he known that? How was it even relevant?

“Jackson did that for you,” he said.

She peered at her father, trying desperately to decide if he was being honest or conning her. But she couldn’t tell.

“You’re smart,” he said. “And you’re right. Don’t keep the shares. Give them to Jackson. He’ll do right by you. He’s the only person I’d trust.”

“He’ll give them back to you,” she guessed. “Or he’ll split them with you.”

Trent smiled. “Then why don’t I take them right now?”

She didn’t have an answer for that.

“I conned Jackson. I used his father. I blamed the Gerhards. I told him you were in danger and counted on his principles and nothing else to get you out of it. He helped you because he’s honest and trustworthy. Trust him, Crista. It’s your best and only play. Don’t keep these shares a minute longer than you have to.”

She searched for the flaw, knowing there had to be something she didn’t see. Her father would never willingly give up anything of value.

“It’s exactly what it seems,” he said softly. Then he tucked the papers back into the envelope. “You don’t even have to believe me. You’re going to verify every single thing for yourself.”

Crista didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to do.

“I’ll understand if you never come back,” said Trent. “But I hope you will. I hope someday you’ll be able to forgive me, and you’ll come and see me.” His eyes teared up again. “You’ll come and tell me how you’re doing.”

Sympathy welled up inside her, and she knew she was in trouble. Despite her best efforts, he’d gotten to her all over again. She quickly scooped up the papers, jumped up and rushed for the door.

It wasn’t until she was through the gate that she felt like she could take a breath. There she stopped, steadying herself.

In the distance, she saw Ellie get out of the car.

“Crista?” she called out.

“I’m coming.” Crista’s voice was far too dry for Ellie to hear. So she started walking. She gave a wave to show she was all right.

Ellie met her halfway. “What happened?”

“It was weird.”

“Weird how? Are you okay?”

“He wouldn’t sign.” Crista handed Ellie the envelope.

Ellie stared down at it. “What? What do you mean he wouldn’t sign?”

They came to the car.

“Take that to Jackson. Tell him to sign it and get Reginald to notarize it. I’m so done with this stupid mine.”

“What do you mean, take it to Jackson?” Ellie stopped beside the passenger door, looking over the roof at Crista.