The Reef

drawing blood before he managed to flip and hold her down.
    “You’re even worse than he is,” she spat out, wriggling like an eel under him. “He’s just crazy. You’re revolting. If VanDyke doesn’t kill you, Matthew will. I hope I get to watch.”
    Amused, excited by the display, VanDyke sipped champagne. He let the wrestling match play on, enjoying LaRue’s grunts as he fought to restrain Tate. Then with a sigh, he signaled the steward. He couldn’t afford to have LaRue overly damaged. Quite yet.
    “Show Ms. Beaumont her stateroom,” he ordered. “And see that she’s not disturbed.” He smiled as his man hauled Tate to her feet. She kicked, cursed and struggled, but she was outweighed by a hundred pounds of solid muscle. “I think you should have some rest, my dear, while LaRue and I complete our business. I’m sure you’ll find your accommodations more than suitable.”
    “Burn in hell,” she shouted, choking on tears of frustration as she was carried off. “Both of you.”
    VanDyke squirted a bit of lemon on his lobster. “An admirable woman all in all. Not easily cowed. A pity her loyalties are so misplaced. I could have done great things with her. For her, as well. Now she’s bait.” He nibbled delicately. “Nothing more.”
    LaRue wiped at the blood on his cheek with the back of his hand. The furrows she’d dug burned like fire. Though VanDyke frowned in annoyance, he used the linen napkin to staunch it.
    “Next to money, love is the most powerful motivator.” More shaken than he cared to admit, LaRue poured the flute full and drank it down.
    “You were telling me about Angelique’s Curse before we were interrupted.”
    “Yes.” Surreptitiously LaRue rubbed at his ribs where Tate’s elbow had jabbed. Damned if he wasn’t going tobruise. “And about two hundred and fify thousand dollars. American.”
    The money was nothing. He’d spent a hundred times that in his search already. But it bubbled in his blood to pay it. “What proof is there that you have the amulet?”
    Lips curled, LaRue lifted a hand to his shredded cheek. “Come now, mon ami. Tate found it herself only yesterday, and with love guiding her, handed it selflessly to Matthew.” To soothe his frayed nerves, LaRue began to roll a cigarette. “It is magnificent, more so than you had led me to believe. The center stone . . .” LaRue made a circle with his thumb and forefinger to indicate size. “Red as blood, the diamonds around it iced tears. The chain is heavy but delicately wrought, as is the sentiment etched around the jewel.”
    He struck a match, cupping it against the light breeze, to light his cigarette. “You can feel the power humming in it. Against your fingers it seems to throb.”
    VanDyke’s eyes glazed, his mouth went slack. “You touched it?”
    “ Bien sûr. I am trusted, eh?” He blew out a lazy stream of smoke. “Matthew guards it close, you see, but he doesn’t guard against me. We are shipmates, partners, friends. I can get it for you, once I am assured the money is in place.”
    “You’ll have your money.” Need had VanDyke’s hands trembling. His face was white and still as he leaned forward. “And this promise, LaRue. If you cross me, if you try to bleed more money from me or if you fail, there is no place you can hide that I won’t find you. When I do, you’ll pray for death.”
    LaRue dragged in more smoke and smiled. “It’s difficult to frighten a rich man. And rich is what I’ll be. You’ll have your curse, mon ami, and I my money.” Before he could rise, VanDyke held up a hand.
    “We aren’t finished. A quarter of a million is a great deal.”
    “A fraction of the worth,” LaRue pointed out. “Would you try to negotiate now when it is all but in your hands?”
    “I’ll double it.” Pleased to see LaRue’s eyes widen,VanDyke leaned back. “For the amulet, and for Matthew Lassiter.”
    “You want me to bring him to you?” With a laugh, LaRue shook his head. “Not even your precious amulet could protect you from him. He means to kill you.” He gestured in the direction where Tate had been taken. “And you have the tool to bring him down already in your possession.”
    “I don’t want you to bring him to me.” That was a pleasure he would have to deny himself, VanDyke realized. The fact that he could make such a practical choice over an emotional one proved he was still in control of his fate. Business, he thought, was business. “I want you