Diamonds (Den of Thieves Book 1)

Diamonds

a Den of Thieves Novel

By Allison Cosgrove

Diamonds © 2015 by Allison Cosgrove

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

First edition June 2015

ISBN-13: 978-1512209068

To The Faithful.

Thanks for waiting for this one.

Chapter One

Daria scanned the room. She wasn’t completely sure she knew what she was looking for but she knew there was something about the room that bothered her. She couldn’t quite get her head around what it was.

Looking around at the guests in their finery she sighed;
typical Greek gathering
. No particular reason for a party but everyone seemed to think it was a lovely way to wile away an afternoon. Food, drink and gossip.

Everything seemed to be in order but she could not understand why she felt as though someone was watching her; however, upon scanning the room there was no one no matter how discrete she tried to be.

“Penny for your thoughts my child,” the warm voice came from behind her and brought a smile to her face.

She leaned in slightly to speak softly to her father, “There’s something odd going on tonight.”

“Odd? Whatever do you mean? Everyone seems to be having a good time,” chuckling as he gestured to the guests before them.

“Well, yes, I know that.”

“Well then what do you mean?”

“I’m not sure, it almost feels like someone is watching me.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Her dad had been trying to set her up with any given number of men. Most of whom she had either grown up with and they felt more like brothers than potential husbands or they were so far from what she wanted in a mate that their attempts at courtship were almost laughable.

“Dad--”

“Daria please, you know how I feel about these things. It’s no good for you to be alone in this world.” He led her across the room to a table where drinks had been set out for the guests.

“But I am not alone, Daddy. I have you.”

“You make my heart light, child, but you know I am not getting any younger and you know that I want to be able to spend some quality time with the grandchildren you are going to be giving me one of these fine days.”

She glanced over at him. He seemed so happy when he spoke of having grandchildren. She didn’t want to disappoint him but at the rate she was going she was never going to find a man she could settle down with, let alone have children. She was already twenty-seven and the window for having children was quickly closing in on her.

She glanced across the room again. The feeling of being watched was getting stronger.

“Relax Daria. There is no need to worry about who is watching you. I am sure there are a number of eligible young men in this room right now who would love nothing than to have a moment of your time.”

“Father, it’s not that I am worried about it; I know there are plenty of fish in the sea as you have told me many times before.”

“Then what is it that makes you worry so?”

“I’m just afraid that there are none in this room who will make my heart sing. Just like Mother’s did when she thought of you.”

Her father got that far off look on his face but didn’t say a word.

“I’m sorry Father, I didn’t mean to bring that up.” She put a hand on his shoulder

“I know you didn’t.” It was his turn to heave a heavy sigh.

Her mother had died shortly after she was born; Daria did not remember her at all. From what she had found out over the years her mother had not wanted kids, but her father had.

Her father had never remarried, not even gone on a date. He had waited for her all these years.

“You know, I’m sure she loved you.” She put her arm around his him and lay her head on his shoulder.

“I know.”

She felt increasingly worried about him. He was getting more and more withdrawn the older he got. If he didn’t have these parties every so often he would barely see anyone. The parties themselves were nothing more than matchmaking opportunities for him to try and find her a suitable husband.

“So what do you think of John Winters?” he asked nodding at a blonde haired man across the room.

“I haven’t thought about him at all to be quite honest.” Daria mentally rolled her eyes.

Her father was forever the matchmaker. Trying to hard to find her a husband

“Sweetheart, you know are going to have to chose someone eventually.”

“Oh father--”

“Don’t give me that. You know time is running out”

“You make me sound like I have an expiry date on me or something.” Daria laughed and took another sip of her drink.

“No my sweet, but even the finest of wines will turn to vinegar if you don’t care for them.”

Daria sighed; she had heard this conversation so many times before that it was at the point where she could almost guess what was coming next.

“I know father. I know you want to see me happily in love--”

“Grandchildren. I want grandchildren,” her father said taking her arm and leading her around the room.

“Yes Father.”

“Look around the room my sweet. Surely there is someone in this room that makes your heart sing.”

Daria looked around the room. It was filled to the brim with important people. To her important people were boring and had no sense of adventure. She wanted a love to sweep her off her feet. The eligible men in the room were safe and successful. The men were perfect fit for what her father wanted but they were a far cry from making her heart sing.

She told her father as much and he frowned. She could see that he was clearly stressed out about the whole scenario so she quickly changed the subject to one of the older ladies on the other side of the room and a tidbit of gossip she had heard.

“You know that we are not done this conversation my child.”

“Yes I know Father, but please, enough for the evening, alright?” She smiled and laid her head on his shoulder.

“Always did have control of my heart didn’t you?” He kissed the top of her head.

Sebastian had spent the better part of the evening just watching her. She was simple yet stunning. Her brown hair gently fell in waves over her shoulders.

“Mr. Turcott?” The woman standing in front of him cleared her throat.

“I’m sorry.” He smiled.

He couldn’t for the life of himself remember her name but he knew that she was someone of note to have been invited to this party. Perhaps he would get her number later on in the evening and pay her a visit at some point.

“I was asking what you thought of the city’s new plans for the construction of a new city hall.” She looked impatient with him. Not that he blamed her.

“Oh yes!” He smiled, “I think it will be a nice addition to the city’s infrastructure.”

The woman nodded.

“It will be a shining light in the middle of the city,” she beamed and took a sip of her drink.

“Yes it will.” He glanced over at the object of his true attention.

She was still in conversation with an older man that Sebastian assumed was her father but the look on her face said she was quickly tiring of whatever the man was saying. He wished he were closer so that he could rescue her from whatever it was.

The nameless woman in front of him continued to prattle on about how her late husband’s company would be the one two break the ground on Lake City’s new town hall and how prestigious it was for them to have won that contract.

None of which interested him in the least. He tried to glance at the clock on the wall but she finally caught him looking.

“Do you have somewhere to be?” she huffed, “I wouldn’t want to keep you from something important.”

“I do, but I didn’t want to be rude.” He smiled warmly placing a hand on her arm.

“Well you were. I don’t even believe you were listening to a word I have said.”

“I was listening. Just my mind was otherwise engaged. I do apologize.” He flashed a grin, “If you want we can discuss this in a more private setting.”

She locked eyes with him, clearly trying to see whether he was indeed sincere. He did his best to show his sincerity but he found his mind wandering back to the other woman.

“I don’t know if that will work for me Mr. Turcott.” She abruptly turned on her heel and walked away without another word.

He sighed; so much for seeing her another time. Older woman always made the best marks for him. They loved his sweet smile and the little attention he lavished on them went a long way. It was an entirely different thing to have a younger woman as his mark.

He couldn’t focus on the loss right now. He had something bigger in his sights and he could not afford to misstep with that.

He moved smoothly through the finely dressed but crowded room, nodding and smiling at the men and women around him. Although he knew none of them personally he enjoyed the look on their faces as they tried to place where they might have met him before. He especially got a thrill from watching the husbands of the various women he made eye contact with. Their expressions varied from shock to anger depending on the age of the wife.

“I know you from somewhere.” A man in a nice suit put a hand on his arm, essentially stopping him.

Sebastian looked at the man. The other man had a familiar face and could have been at any one of the many parties he had be a guest at.

“I’m not sure. Maybe?” Sebastian smiled and tried to pull away. He didn’t have time for this.

“No, I am sure I know you from somewhere. Don’t you have a cottage up on Fisher Lake?” The man pressed.

It hit Sebastian then. He had been laying groundwork for another job a few months ago and it had involved a resident of the gated Fisher Lake community.

“I did but I sold it.” He smiled and tried to leave again.

“Sold it? I don’t remember hearing about any residents leaving our community.” The other man’s eyes narrowed.

“Oh I didn’t make a big deal about it.” He watched as the woman he was following moved to another part of the big room, once again placing a large amount of people between them.

She glanced in his direction, as if she could feel his eyes on her. He tried to smile but she had already turned away again.

“Yes but you know how small that community is. Everyone knows everyone.”

“Oh I know and tongues will wag,” Sebastian smiled and felt his heart skip a beat.

He did not have time for this and he could not blow his cover. He needed to get away from this man and fast.

“Yes. They do.”

“I am terribly sorry. I would love to catch up but I have someone I need to see before they leave,” he said again making a move to get away from the conversation.

“I’m sure you do. But one question before you go. What property did you say you owned there?”

Sebastian’s brain stalled as he fumbled for a moment as he scrambled to remember the story he had been using at that time. So much time had passed that he had all but forgotten.

“I was up on Melbourne Road, Lot 85 I believe. Listen, I really need to go--” He pushed his way past the other man and didn’t look back.

Thankfully, the man didn’t try to stop him again and said nothing more to him.

His heart was hammering in his chest. That was far too close of a call for his tastes. He really needed to get on with what he needed to do before someone else came up to him.