frustrated breath and rubbed a hand over his face. “You know what I want,” he said, shrugging and letting his arms fall to his sides. “It’s time you tell me what you want, what your involvement in this entire situation is. Name your price, Ian.”
A deep wariness swirled through Niall’s gut. Asking Ian what he wanted and giving the man the impression he would get it was a terrible idea, as far as Niall was concerned.
Ian seemed to confirm it by grinning slyly. “I want everything,” he said. “I want everything you stole from me back then. I want your pride to suffer along with your wallet.”
“So it’s money you want?” Niall asked, wishing there was a way he could save Blake from everything he dreaded might happen next.
“Of course.” Ian barked a laugh. “But more than that. I want the medallion, for one.”
Niall blinked and shook his head. Blake looked equally as flummoxed. “What medallion?” he asked.
“The prize you won,” Ian said. “Professor Carroll’s medallion.”
Blake’s mouth dropped open. Judging by the confusion that still hung over him, he had forgotten about the prize entirely. “I have no idea where it is,” he said.
“I don’t care,” Ian went on. “I want it. And I want half a million pounds.”
Niall nearly choked at the demand, but Blake said, “It’s yours,” without so much as blinking.
Ian broke into a grin that was as surprised as it was pleased. “You’ll bring me a bank draught for the amount when you bring me the medallion.”
“Fine.” Blake nodded. “Give me the children and I’ll go in search of the medallion right away.”
Annamarie turned as though she would call to the nursemaid, wherever she’d gone, but Ian stopped her with. “Not a chance. You bring me the medallion and a bank draught for the money first and I’ll hand over the children.”
“No.” Blake’s hands formed into fists at his sides. “I’m not leaving here today without my children.”
“Are they safe?” Niall asked, resting a hand on Blake’s arm to stop him from throwing himself at Ian.
“Of course, they’re safe,” Annamarie said, pressing a hand to her chest in offense. “What kind of a mother do you think I am if I don’t at least keep my children safe?”
“Do you promise that you won’t move them from this house until we return with the medallion?” Niall asked on, ignoring her protest.
“I can agree to that,” Annamarie said. She looked as shifty as a thief swearing she wouldn’t steal the jewels sitting in front of her.
Niall didn’t trust her for a moment, but there didn’t seem to be much else they could do. “Then we’ll find the medallion and bring it to you,” he said.
Blake turned to glare at him. “I’m not leaving without my children.”
“You’re not leaving with them until you get me what I want,” Ian said. He crossed his arms and looked so smug that Niall wanted to punch him. Clearly, Ian thought he’d won.
“Think this through logically, Blake,” Niall said, turning Blake to the side and lowering his voice. “It’s the two of us against Annamarie and Ian, the nursemaid, and whoever else is in that house. Don’t forget that Ian’s family is nearby, and they’re likely known in Blackpool. Think this through. What would happen if we took the children by force? We wouldn’t get as far as the train station before the police caught up to us, accusing us of God only knows what crimes.”
“Niall always was the more practical of you two,” Ian said.
Both Niall and Blake turned to glare at him. Whether it was the truth of what Niall said or the absolute certainty of victory in Ian’s stance, Blake’s shoulders sagged. He rubbed a hand over his face and let out a heavy breath. “I don’t trust them,” he said as quietly as he could, meeting Niall’s eyes. “I can’t help but feel that if we don’t take the children now, I will never get them back.”
“Do you trust Annamarie?” Niall asked, gripping Blake’s upper arms. “Do you truly believe the mother of your children would harm them or allow them to be harmed?”
Blake sent a mournful look past Niall to Annamarie. Annamarie stood hugging herself and looking miserable.
“You know I wouldn’t hurt them,” she said. It was the first genuine thing she’d said in the entire confrontation.
Blake nodded slowly. He cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders. “All right. We’ll find the medallion and return it to you. I’ll bring a bank draught, and when you hand over