“Not alone. She was with her father and brother—who were doing what they do best.”
“Oh, crap. They were pulling jobs on your guests?”
“Yeah. Serenity James lost a necklace and there were a few others hit, as well.” Just thinking about it infuriated Rico all over again. Of course he’d made sure the Corettis turned over the stolen property before they left the island, but the fact that thefts had occurred at all seriously pissed him off. “They returned the jewels before they left.”
“Before you tossed ’em off the island, you mean.”
“That’s about it.”
“And you didn’t alert the police because…”
“Because I made a deal with Teresa.”
“Oh, man, do I want to know what it is?”
Rico tossed the pen to the desktop and watched it roll off the far edge. Leaning back in his chair, he outlined his plan for revenge and waited for Sean’s reaction. It didn’t take long.
“So basically you took her prisoner?” A yelp from Melinda in the background caused Sean to say, “I know, Mel. I’m finding out.” Then he asked, “Okay, so where’s Teresa now?”
“In my bedroom.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Rico—”
“She’s still my wife, Sean.” He prepared for a battle. He’d talked to his cousin many times about the frustration he’d felt over the years. Now that his revenge was at hand, though, Rico almost felt…guilty about wielding it. So he’d called his cousin for some backup. Which, it appeared, he wasn’t going to get.
“She’s your wife but you haven’t seen her in five years.”
“You don’t have to remind me,” Rico said, flipping the pen between his fingers.
“So what’re you planning to do? Lock her up?” Sean asked. “Chain her to the bed?”
“I hadn’t considered it, but…” Now that erotic image seared itself on his brain as he considered it.
Fine. He was kidding. Probably. Although the thought of Teresa chained to his bed awakened a mental image that suddenly made him completely uncomfortable. Pushing out of his chair, Rico paced the perimeter of the room. Even the air of home seemed different now, with Teresa here. She was just up the stairs and it was taking everything he had to keep from storming up there. He knew she would see his hunger for her, but it would only mirror what she was feeling and push her closer to coming to him.
Sean sighed. “What’s the plan?”
“Just what I said.” Rico stopped at the wide front window overlooking the meticulously landscaped front yard. “She stays with me for one month. Then her family returns the dagger and I divorce her.”
“Uh-huh.” Sean blew out a breath. “Until that happens, what’re you gonna do with her?”
He knew what he wanted to do with her. His body was rock hard and just knowing Teresa was upstairs, in a room with a wide, comfortable bed, made even breathing difficult. But he had time. His wife would be here, with him, for a solid month and in that time he would find a way to finally and completely get Teresa out of his mind for good.