This Fearless Girl (St. Clary's University #2) - E. M. Moore Page 0,26
three-inch, aged piece of bronze was the other reason I didn’t open the safe when I pulled it out of the ground. We never store the key and the safe in the same place, so I didn’t have it on me.
I pull the padlock around and dust shavings fall to the stone table.
“Shit. I should set the alarm,” Stone says.
“Already did it,” Lucas confirms.
I take the lock off and set it down on the stone, my heart beating like mad in my chest. I haven’t seen the items in this canister since I was a little girl. It isn’t the kind of showpiece you take out every once in a while to look at. It’s the kind of secret you guard with your life. My hands sweat, and I try to wipe the clamminess off on my shorts.
Before I pry open the lid, it hits me that I’m not sure if my father will ever get to see this again. If he’s out there, still alive, he’ll be furious with me for what I’m about to do. It’s bad enough that I told these guys that we have secrets, but it’s even worse that I’m going to share them.
My hands shake, and Stone reaches out, covering mine with his own. His touch is strong, sure.
Fuck.
“Take your time,” Lucas says.
If my dad’s not out there, I’m the Wilder information keeper now. I’ve started a brand-new avenue in the way we do things. I’m not keeping everything close to the vest, I’m breaking it wide open. There could be generations of Wilders turning over in their graves right now.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I open them again, I pry the lid off the canister and turn it on its side, shaking out the contents. The first thing to roll out is my great-great whatever grandmother’s ring that started this whole journey. She never wore it again after what happened.
“Is that...” Stone can’t even finish his sentence. He runs his hands through his blond hair to hide the shaking, but I see it anyway.
“Yes,” I say, my answer coming out in a whoosh. “This was the ring that started it all. The ring that killed two of my ancestors and left the treasure lost for over a hundred years.”
It looks even more beautiful than I remember; a huge, oval sapphire encased in diamonds. It’s been in the ground for years and years, so it’s lost some of its shine, but the ornate design makes up for it. It’s positively breathtaking.
When my father brought this out when I was a girl, I wasn’t allowed to touch it. I pick it up now, feeling the weight of it in my hands. The stone catches the light, and it sparkles despite the haze of age.
“Wow,” Wyatt says.
I’d pretty much forgotten they were there. Since Stone can barely contain his excitement, I offer it to him first. The reverence in his gaze when he meets my eyes nearly knocks me off my feet. He doesn’t even know how powerful his looks can be. They can blow me away in their cruelty...or in their passion.
The tips of his fingers brush mine as he takes the ring. He leans over, turning it this way and that—inspecting every nook and cranny. Makes me wonder if he was a jeweler in a past life.
“It’s stunning,” he finally says as he passes it to Wyatt. He meets my stare. “If you’re not opposed, I’d love to have an antique jeweler take a look. If we can determine who left the treasure, it might give us some information as to why it was left or possibly where.”
My stomach twists. As dumb as it sounds, I’d never thought of that. This ring, regardless of how beautiful it is, has always been the origin of my family’s torment. It’s so stupid to place that kind of weight on an inanimate object, but I also can’t deny that if my ancestor had never pulled this ring out of the caves, we wouldn’t be here.
“Unless you’ve already done it,” Stone offers.
I shake my head. “No, not to my knowledge.” I bite my lip. “I suppose maybe if you knew someone you could trust? Someone who understands the need for privacy.”
“I’ll see if I can make the arrangements,” Stone says. “And we won’t let it out of our sight. If you take it anywhere, we’ll tag along.”
Lucas places the ring in front of him. “It’s gorgeous,” he says, his voice thick and rich.