Mountain Secrets by Elizabeth Goddard (good books to read for teens txt) 📕

person could never know where seemingly innocent decisions would lead or what lives would be affected. Knowing was beyond the realm of humanity. Only God knew these things.

What irony that his bringing charges against the wrong man over a decade ago in Texas would end in him facing off with the right man years later. Colin feared his own mistakes—both from the past and more recently—would cost Jewel more than her diamond.

He couldn’t trust himself to protect her. He couldn’t rely on his own strength. He’d done that before and had failed.

Please, God, help me to keep her safe!

SEVENTEEN

Jewel boarded The Alabaster Sky with Colin, her heart torn over what she was about to do. She had successfully negotiated that she would be the one to tell Meral. But Colin wanted the staff there to hear the news at the same time and went to find them all. Jewel didn’t like this.

There had to be a better way to find Buck’s partner in crime.

She found Meral in the salon, curled up with a blanket around her. Worry lines made her look much older. Jewel rushed to her. Meral immediately jumped up and hugged her sister.

“You’re back. I thought you weren’t coming.” Meral held Jewel at arm’s length and then, seeming to remember their earlier argument, dropped her arms. “What’s happened? Why are you back?”

Meral’s gaze reflected her fear of the worst. She moved away from Jewel and continued. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Jewel opened her mouth, but she couldn’t find the words. Where did she start? But Meral started jabbering instead.

“After everything that happened, I had a headache and took a nap. Buck’s so good to me. He found my pills to help me rest. When I woke up, he was gone. Stella told me he would be back soon, but she didn’t say where he’d gone. He isn’t answering his phone. For all the good cells do around here. But that doesn’t explain why you’re here, Jewel.” Meral’s eyes softened. “Unless you’ve come to apologize. That’s it, isn’t it? I hope you know how wrong you were about Buck and you’re going to stay now.”

The way Meral rambled on, Jewel could see how someone else might suspect her of being guilty of knowing something, but from Jewel’s perspective, it was clear she’d been sleeping. Her speech was even slightly slurred. Buck had told the truth on that point. He had drugged her.

“Meral.” Colin stepped in.

Behind him stood the other crew members he’d gathered together.

Jewel had intended to break the harsh news, but she lost her nerve. She stepped back, standing next to him, giving him permission, though he needed none. Even though he had taken a bullet and had almost drowned, strength and confidence emanated from him. Jewel tried to soak it in. She was going to need strength to help Meral.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you that your husband is gone.”

Meral gasped. “Gone? What do you mean?”

“I’m sorry, but he was found dead.”

They had made a mistake by being the ones to do this. Now Meral would want to know how it had happened. How would she react when she learned both Jewel and Colin were involved? She might blame them. Accuse them.

Glass shattered behind them.

Glancing back, Stella’s face contorted. She covered her mouth. She looked at Colin. Must have seen something in his eyes. Recognition? She turned and ran up the steps to the deck.

Colin gave Jewel a glance and took off after her. Jewel should stay with her sister, but she feared for Colin, too. If Stella was Buck’s partner, then she must be the one who had forced Jewel’s Durango off the road. That meant she was as dangerous as Buck was.

Jewel ran up the steps and onto the deck, but didn’t see Colin or Stella.

Where had they gone? Had Stella jumped overboard and Colin followed her? Jewel rushed to the rail and looked over into the water.

Nothing.

Eerie tingles ran over her arm. “Colin,” she whispered. “Where are you?”

This wasn’t how any of this was supposed to happen. What about Colin’s backup near the dock, waiting to corral anyone who tried to escape?

Jewel realized her foolishness. She would go back down with Meral and wait this out. But she felt cold plastic against her head. A Glock? How many times would she go through this?

“You’re coming with me,” Stella said.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You killed my father.”

“Buck is your father?”

“Yes. Dad and I worked together. This should have been an easy job, but you just wouldn’t give up.”

“You mean I just wouldn’t die.”

“Your words. Not mine. Now tell me where you hid the diamond. I can’t leave here without something to show for it. I need something from you to make up for my loss. It’s either that or your life.”

All this time, Stella must have been searching, even while Buck had kidnapped Jewel, and she still hadn’t found the diamond on the yacht. Jewel had to keep her talking until Colin could find them.

“How did you get a job on this yacht? Or is the whole crew involved?”

Stella scoffed, digging the gun deeper. “Because that’s how it all played out. I got the job when the other steward conveniently became ill. Dad convinced the other guests who’d already booked the boat to take a later cruise. He paid them for their time. Who could say no to that? Dad’s brilliant. He knows how to work things. Or at least he did.”

“Where’s Colin? What did you do to him?”

“Shh.” Stella tugged her back into the shadows. “Say one word and I’ll kill him.”

Colin jogged around the deck, clearly looking for Stella.

Stella tugged her deeper into the shadows. Pulling Jewel closer, Stella shifted the gun and pressed it into Jewel’s side, sending her message loud and clear. Like father like daughter.

Enough of this.

Even with the gun pressed in her side, Jewel knew she could take Stella. She was beyond tired of this, and it would never end until Jewel ended it.

She used the same