“You and Zara are just as responsible, and I’ll make sure

  and tell the king that.” She kissed Yasmine where no one could

  see her before calling Ahmed down.

  “Allah be praised,” he said when he looked around the

  cave.

  “You can start boxing this up, and we’ll start going through

  it once it’s all safe.” She’d paid more physically for this search

  than any other, but it had been worth it. Whatever André and

  Farah had to teach them wouldn’t be lost in history. “This will

  be a good addition to the national museum, but I want total

  access to everything first.”

  “Don’t insult our friendship by suggesting I’d cut you out.

  Let’s get all this packed before I get a rash from all this sand.”

  Ahmed rolled his eyes and kept barking orders.

  Levi stood in the center of the space with Yasmine and

  watched what she assumed was André and Farah’s life’s work.

  “You ready for this, love?” she asked Yasmine.

  “With you I’m ready for anything.”

  “Didn’t I ask you a question recently?” They’d been swept

  up in what had happened, and, planning to come back here,

  she hadn’t pushed Yasmine.

  “You did, and I answered. It’s not my fault someone shot

  you and you didn’t hear me. You’re going to have to ask

  again.” Yasmine left and climbed the ladder they’d lowered

  into the hole. “Only think romantic setting,” she yelled down

  to her. “And this isn’t it.”

  “I guess I have some more hunting to do.”

  ✥ ✥ ✥

  The large room that Ahmed had designated for the find

  was full. Levi sat at the main table and worked with him to

  catalogue the books and scrolls. His team was handling

  everything else, of which there was an incredible amount to

  catalogue. From the expressions on her family members’ faces

  every time they finished another day of work, they’d found

  heaven on earth.

  Levi and Ahmed had started with what most people

  considered treasure. There were plenty of mint condition

  Templar coins that had been stored in barrels, and an equal

  number of silver coins, but it was only a small percentage of

  the total the Templars supposedly had.

  “Finding all this gives credence that there’s a large stash

  still out there,” she said to Ahmed. She glanced at her watch

  again and wondered what was keeping Yasmine.

  “Stop worrying.” Ahmed pointed to the pile of coins in

  front of her. “She’s talking with the university today, so I hope

  you’re serious about the promises you made her. Giving up the

  position she worked hard for is serious.”

  “Your cousin is it for me. You’re welcome to come visit us

  whenever you like if you want to keep tabs on me.”

  “I doubt anyone needs to keep tabs on you, my love.”

  Yasmine had entered from the back door, and she put her arms

  around Levi from behind. “Want to stop playing with the

  money and get to the important stuff?”

  “I was waiting for you.”

  “You two are disgusting, but don’t ever change,” Ahmed

  said. He stopped to take a call. “Levi, you have a guest. Do

  you want to meet him somewhere else?”

  “Who is it?”

  “Someone named Graham Tomkins, he said he’s a friend

  of Cristian Bacon.”

  “My old college professor?” Levi wondered how Cristian

  knew she was there. “Could you have him escorted back?”

  When the guest arrived, Ahmed stepped out to give them

  some privacy. Graham Tomkins didn’t look familiar, but he

  had a kind face. “Dr. Montbard, it’s a pleasure to meet you.

  Cristian sends his regards.”

  “Do you work with him? I haven’t seen Cristian since his

  retirement, but not for lack of trying. He’s been keeping a low

  profile.” She picked a spot well away from the temptations in

  the room and waved him to sit. “What can I do for you?”

  “Just this once, Cristian and Bartholomew Layton gave me

  permission to come out of the shadows.” The young man kept

  his eyes on her face but glanced at Yasmine as well.

  “I’m not following.”

  “I’ve been following you since you left New Orleans.” Her

  back came off the chair as she prepared to place herself

  between Yasmine and whoever this guy was. He held up his

  hands to placate her. “I’m sorry. Cristian knew you were on to

  something big, but he also knew when Baggio Brutos showed

  up, a certain wing of the Church would try to keep it buried.

  All I’ve done was to help you along the way. The two men

  who were climbing down to hurt your family were dealt with

  by us.”

  “‘Us,’” she said, cocking her head slightly. Brutos wore his

  allegiance proudly in the form of a lapel pin, but Graham took

  a more permanent route. A fleur-de-lis was inked proudly on

  his forearm. “I didn’t think the Priory existed any longer.”

  “Our commitment to truth is our life’s work. Bringing

  things into the light even when they are painful only serves to

  further our understanding of our past and future.”

  “I had no idea, but tell Cristian thank you for sending you.

  Whatever these secrets are, it must scare the hell out of

  someone.”

  “It was a pleasure to meet you both, and you’re welcome.

  I’d appreciate it if you didn’t share what I said with anyone

  outside your family. Spending years in a Moroccan jail isn’t in

  my plans, though your country is beautiful.” He glanced at

  Yasmine as he said this.

  “I have so many questions,” Levi said when he stood.

  “When you go home, Cristian said to call him. He’ll be

  happy to answer anything you like. Until then, we are anxious

  to see what you found.”

  “That was totally bizarre,” Levi said when they were alone

  with Ahmed again.

  “It was, but come on.” Yasmine took her good hand and

  led her to a table with a number of journals and scrolls

  detailing everything from daily church life and financial

  accounts to the lives of Templars on the run. While Levi

  worked with Ahmed, Yasmine had started on the journals

  Farah had written. From what they could tell, Farah was the

  writer in the relationship, but she had also written plenty from

  André’s point of view, probably dictated to her as they

  journeyed together.

  “Did you find anything new?”

  “Maybe I wanted you to come over here and hold my

  hand.” Yasmine smiled, and Levi was ready to head back to

  the hotel. “Hold that thought, love, and sit. I think I found

  what you’ve been waiting to hear.” Yasmine began to read.

  ✥ ✥ ✥

  The years have come like a rush of wind carrying

  happiness into my life. We traveled as fast as we could

  after leaving André’s home with the archives his father

  had kept, along with all the treasure we could carry, as

  well as the people who followed us. Once we were

  back with our village and my family, we had to stay

  vigilant for those who still hunted us. As time passed,

  fewer of those came and we lived our lives following

  the water and the people in our village.

  Death came to my beloved grandmother and

  eventually to my parents, but through it all André stood

  by me and my siblings. When my father died, the

  people elected André our new leader. With that came

  respect, responsibility, and a family. Two orphaned

  girls who joined us came to us as a blessing and

  brought us the one thing André and I thought we would

  never have—a family of our own. Layla and Yasmine

  have grown into strong women who love their father

  more than life. Their children will be leaders one day

  because of the foundation we have given them.

  What brought André into my life turned out to be a

  huge betrayal of all she believed. That a king and a

  pope would scheme to kill good men for their gold is a

  story as old as time, but there is always hope man will

  evolve from such things. This time, though, greed and

  evil won the battle against the army of God, as André

  referred to her brothers. That part of our lives is over,

  and now our faith lies in each other.

  Search through the papers and scrolls André has left

  behind, and you will find the map the Church and

  France created to kill off the Templars. What they

  shared with the world was all a lie, and their true intent

  was to grab power and gold. They cannot dispute what

  was written by their own hand. The truth will survive

  no matter how long it takes to come to light.

  After the tragedies of the pope’s action against the

  Templars, André has pledged to share the truth with all

  who would listen, and save it for future generations.

  Clement’s order killed hundreds, but many Templars

  like André survived. The pope moved the seat of the

  Church to France and took André’s lands as his home.

  His presence tainted the land André loved, but the

  pope’s reward for all this treachery came swiftly after

  the last Grand Master Jacque de Molay was burned at

  the stake. The pope died a month later. There was never

  proof of the deed, but Clement’s death came at the

  hands of someone close to him who wanted the power

  of the papacy.

  Poison was used to usher in a new pope, who tried

  even harder to find the treasure that disappeared with

  the Templars. The small portion André had, we buried

  with the help of my brothers in this place that held the

  pages of our lives. Once both of us are dead, it will be

  sealed forever and buried along with so many of our

  secrets.

  Let our lives serve as a warning to those who seek

  too much power. They rely on the old ways of killing

  and greed to take what they want. Our daughters know

  how to fight and will never lie down for anyone trying

  to take what is rightfully theirs. André has made it so.

  Never again will André or our children know that kind

  of pain.

  We are bone and dust now, but my hope is that our

  words survive the years. Find us now in your dreams.

  For proof we were here, search close to where we hid

  our treasures, and there you will find us. Search where

  the sun makes its descent. We lie under the branch of

  serenity.

  May Allah’s blessing be upon you.

  Farah Sonnac, 1349

  ✥ ✥ ✥

  “They named their daughter Yasmine,” Yasmine said in

  awe. “I wish they’d kept up their family tree so we could find

  their descendants now.”

  “The best part of that story is the date. They had a long life

  together.” Levi shifted in her seat and took Yasmine’s hand.

  “That’s a good sign, don’t you think?”

  “I have a feeling you and André would’ve been good

  friends, and I don’t need long-dead people to know I’ll be with

  you for the rest of my life.”

  “Do you think Ahmed will mind if I kiss you right now?”

  Levi asked, bringing her face closer.

  “Ahmed, can you find something in the back corner of the

  room for me?” Yasmine asked, and Ahmed got the hint and

  turned around.

  “I love you,” Levi said before Yasmine erased the distance

  between them and pressed her lips to Levi’s. It was nice that

  Yasmine had lost some of her shyness and initiated things like

  this. “Will you go out with me tonight?”

  “She can’t go anywhere with you tonight,” Ahmed said

  without turning around. “It’s Jadda’s birthday, and she’s not

  missing it. Jadda postponed it because you were hurt. You’re

  also expected, Levi, and don’t kill my aunt by proposing to

  Yasmine in front of the family. Tomorrow is out too since

  we’re expected at the palace for an international news

  conference.”

  “For the find? But we haven’t finished going through all

  this stuff yet.” It was going to take more than a year to get

  through all of it, and Levi wasn’t thrilled about having to leave

  it all behind.

  “Stop making that sourpuss face and wait until tomorrow.

  If there’s one person in the kingdom who will give your future

  wife whatever she wants, it’s Nabil Talbi. He won’t let you

  down.”

  They headed to Yasmine’s apartment so she could change

  after Levi had changed into a summer suit. Levi whistled when

  Yasmine came out in a beautifully embroidered djellaba.

  “You’re beautiful,” she said, holding Yasmine’s hand.

  “You make me feel beautiful, and I’m so lucky you’re my

  escort. You’re going to be the most handsome thing there.”

  They took a cab to a nice-sized home in the medina. Levi

  could tell it was an older dwelling, but it was well maintained,

  and from experience, the plain exterior usually gave way to a

  gorgeous interior. When they stepped inside and removed their

  shoes, she saw she was right. The tile and woodwork were

  stunning. It must’ve been a great place to grow up with its

  open main courtyard.

  “Welcome to my home,” Yasmine’s father Kareem said,

  holding his hand out to her.

  Levi didn’t hesitate to take it and complimented him on the

  house. Places like this didn’t look this good without a lot of

  work.

  “How are you feeling?” He pointed to the brace that kept

  her left arm close to her chest.

  “I’m getting better by the day. I give all the credit to my

  excellent nurses,” she said as Zara came and gave them both

  hugs. “Can I get a tour?”

  Kareem appeared pleased she’d asked. “Yes, please. I

  would like it if you visited often.”

  Levi walked off with him, glancing back at Yasmine, who

  lost her smile when her mother joined her. The conversation

  they were having wasn’t loud but it was intense, from the look

  of it. Levi was about to walk back when Kareem shook his

  head.

  “That battle has waged much longer than you have been

  here. I find it better to let them have at it.” He led her to the

  kitchen and poured her a glass of wine. “Do you love my

  daughter?”

  “I think traditions are universal when it comes to some

  things. In the United States, I can marry her, and that’s what

  I’d like to do because I love her that much. I’d also like your

  blessing.”

  “Are you asking me for her hand?” He smiled, which made

  her relax.

  “Yes, sir. I am.”

  “I hope you know how alike she and her mother are. They

  are like oil and water only because they are so passionate

  about their beliefs. Keep that in mind if you have children.”

  He opened his arms to hug her, and the move surprised her

  more than finding André and Farah’s cache in the middle of

  the Sahara.

  “You seem shocked.”

  “To be honest, I am. Does that mean you approve?”

  “My children are strong and independent women, so I

  won’t stand in their way when it comes to what makes them

  happy. For them to truly be happy, I realize they will have to

  leave us and Morocco. Just remember we are here when you

  take her away.”

  “You have my promise, and my gratitude.” She gave him a

  one-arm hug and laughed when he had to push onto his toes to

  kiss her cheek. “I’d also like you and Mrs. Hassani to join us

  tomorrow. Nabil is providing a plane to Rabat and the palace.”

  “Tomorrow is for you and my daughters,” he said, shaking

  his head. “The pride I have watching them fly is boundless,

  but I don’t want to be in the way.”

  “You’re welcome to come, and thank you for all you said.”

  “He’s a wise man,” Yasmine’s grandmother said as she

  joined them. “Get out there and start changing my daughter’s

  mind about all this. Then you can help me celebrate that I am

  not dead yet.”

  The rest of the night was fun as they sat with the rest of the

  family and ate. Fatima didn’t soften but didn’t give Yasmine

  any more trouble. When they got back to the hotel, Levi

  helped Yasmine out of her dress and Yasmine returned the

  favor, slowing taking Levi’s shirt off, her fingertips trailing

  over Levi’s skin and making her shiver. The injury she’d

  sustained was going to be a pain in the ass for another couple

  of weeks or so, and she was grateful Yasmine seemed to enjoy

  taking care of her. Dressing her and undressing her was always

  done with a smile and plenty of touching.