Chapter Fourteen
MARIUS
“Marius.” Roux greeted me with a nod.
It was a cool, wet day in Paris. The wind rushed up the Canal Saint-Martin, making Roux’s jacket flutter.
Bene was right behind him, and Mina behind him. It took everything I had not to rush over and hug her.
“Hello, Marius,” she said casually.
A bluff, but one she pulled off better than I did.
“Bonjour,” I managed on my second attempt. The first got caught in my throat.
The next gust of wind teased her hair — and my heart. During the nights we’d spent together, I’d often stayed awake just to marvel at her. Her soft, trusting touch. Her light, peaceful smile. Her silky hair, splayed over the pillow…
Mina sucked in a sharp breath and jerked her eyes away.
Damn. Even after a week apart, our connection was stronger than ever.
A lifetime won’t change that, my dragon growled.
Her scarf fluttered, catching my eye. One I’d never seen before. In fact, I’d never seen her wear a scarf at all.
My heart pounded. All week, I’d been wondering whether I’d marked her or not. What did the scarf mean?
Mina must have noticed my sharp look, because she fingered the scarf as we moved toward Gordon’s front door and hissed, “It’s hiding that hickey you gave me.”
A hickey was the least of our problems, judging by the faint glow radiating from the edges. Damn. I really had given her a moonlight mark that night.
And the problem is…? my dragon rumbled proudly.
Big problem, though Mina seemed not to have noticed. Bene’s knowing look said he had, however. Roux too. Had the scarf been their idea?
You’re welcome, the tiger shifter grumbled into my mind.
I did my best to maintain my dignity by growling, Hickey?
Bene shrugged. We thought we’d leave the explaining to you, champ.
Can’t believe you fucking marked her, Roux added.
I couldn’t either. A moonlight mark was akin to an engagement announcement. What the hell had I been thinking?
Destiny, my dragon murmured happily.
Someday, I might be ready to take that step. But not without her permission, and not at a time like this.
It took forever to talk her into the scarf, not to mention the perfume, Bene added.
So that explained why her scent was more Coco Chanel than her usual blend of rose and lilac. Not a trace of my scent on her either.
Like I said, you’re welcome, Roux muttered.
I owed them, big-time. But, damn. I did not look forward to explaining any of this to Mina.
Something else seemed off, and I looked around with a frown.
“Where’s Henrik?”
Roux looked at Bene, who looked at the clouds. Mina crossed her arms and glared at no one in particular.
“He said he’s coming,” Roux finally said in a muted tone.
Four words, not a lot of context. What was going on?
By then, we’d reached Gordon’s building. Bene bounded up the stairs and held the door open.
“Ladies first.”
“Safety first,” Roux muttered, squeezing through to enter before Mina.
The tiger annoyed me in a hundred different ways, but damn, could the guy be counted on to fulfill his brief. When he’d called me to pass on Gordon’s orders, I’d made him swear to watch over Mina.
Which made me just as guilty of few words, no context as him, I supposed. But I had good reasons, dammit. What were his?
The past week at been hell, and though I’d put the fear of God into a number of old enemies, I’d come no closer to tracking down the source of the threatening message I’d received.
My primary suspects, Etienne and Szabo, were nowhere to be found, and now, I’d had to put my search on hold and respond to Gordon’s summons.
I cursed under my breath, counting down the days until I was free of my obligation to him.
Six weeks, my dragon grumbled, picturing a happily-ever-after with Mina.
I jutted my jaw, knowing it wasn’t that simple.
The doorman waved us upstairs, and minutes later, we all filed into Gordon’s living room — the formal living room, not the private one on the top story of his two-level penthouse. Mina had probably been up there, but I’d never been invited up the stairs that divided Gordon’s work and personal life.
My dragon grumbled inside. Mina shouldn’t be here at all.
No, but there she was, marching in ahead of Bene and Roux to kiss Gordon on both cheeks.
“Good to see you again,” she murmured.
And, whew. He didn’t seem to notice her rosy glow or the perfume masking my scent.
“Always lovely to see you, sweetheart,” Gordon replied.
Funny how a guy could order a dozen cold-blooded hits, yet love his goddaughter.
The thing was, the bastard used her too. Mina was starting to catch on, but obviously, old loyalties were hard to break.
Behind us, the door opened, and Henrik breezed in, along with a slice of cold air. Mina tensed.
Henrik’s dark eyes met hers, then hit the floor.
I bristled, ready to grab him by the collar and shake him hard. What the hell had he done?
Bene dug an elbow into my ribs. Not now, man. Not here, he barked into my mind.
What did he do? I demanded.
Bene’s lips quirked. Nothing we couldn’t handle.
Now, I was really alarmed. What happened?
Roux sighed into my mind. Henrik lost control, but Bene stopped him.
My stomach lurched.
None of that would have happened if you’d stuck around, champ, Bene grumbled, brushing by me to greet Gordon.
I bit back a growl. He was right, and that killed me. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t win. Mina was in as much danger at home as she was with me.
So, stick with her, my dragon roared. Easy solution.
“Please take a seat, gentlemen.”
Clearly, Gordon was on his best behavior around Mina. If it had been just us there, he would have us lined up like a goddamn chain gang.
My dragon sighed. Not far from the truth.
Another reason Mina ought to keep her distance. She was a sweet, classy art teacher. I was a dragon who would never fit in with the conventional world.
But her body sang to mine, even now, in the crappiest of circumstances.
“I’ve called you in because of a special project I’ve taken on,” Gordon began.
I glanced at Mina, reminding her of the vow I’d made her take.
I will not get involved in any of Gordon’s deals. I will not do any more favors for him, no matter how innocent they seem…
And boy, did Gordon’s expression ooze innocence. Enough to choke a kitten, or even a tiger.
Roux shot me a dirty look. Not to mention a dragon.
“Mina kindly visited an acquaintance of mine in London last week,” Gordon started.
Funny how acquaintance sounded so much better than client or widow of an oligarch.
“You made quite an impression.” He grinned at Mina, who flashed a tight smile. “And you’ll be glad to hear that an expert has authenticated the painting.”
Mina bit her lip, proud yet dismayed.
“Not that I expected any other result.” Gordon continued buttering Mina up before turning to us. “I’ve already contacted potential clients who are eager to view the painting. That means I need a security presence in London for the painting and for Mina.”
“For me?” She blinked.
Uh-oh. Bene muttered in my mind. Here he goes again.
A growl built in my throat. This was classic Gordon, slipping things in as if no one would notice.
Gordon smiled sweetly. “I’m afraid I need to enlist your help again, my dear. Madame Petrova insists on having a trustworthy advisor at her side, and she won’t trust anyone but you.”
Mina’s eyes went wide, but I wasn’t surprised. Mina practically radiated trustworthiness. In fact, Gordon had probably been counting on that all along. Who better to create a veil of legitimacy than a young, principled art teacher?
He smiled at her. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I hope a few days in London might entice you, not to mention the chance to view that masterpiece again.”
The bastard was laying it on thick, dammit.
Mina’s eyes darted to me, then away. “As much as I appreciate the offer, I really can’t accept.”
I nearly did a fist pump.
Gordon frowned. “Of course you can.”
And that’s that, his tone added.
She glanced at me, and I willed her to keep up the resistance.
“I’d love to help, but…”
Gordon’s smile grew a little forced. “As I said, Madame Petrova won’t trust anyone but you.”
Mina put a hand over her heart. “I’m touched. Really. But I think it’s better to leave this to the experts. I’m sure Anastasia will feel as comfortable with someone from Christie’s or Sotheby’s.”
A public auction, in other words.
Gordon shook his head. “She refuses to go that route. Too much bureaucracy, not to mention the outrageous commissions they charge.”
My dragon snorted. And too many questions about how she’d come into possession of a masterpiece that went missing during World War II.
“Well, I can suggest a few museums…” Mina tried again.
Gordon nodded eagerly. “You can suggest them to Madame Petrova.”
Not what she meant, and he knew it.
“But—”
Gordon cut in, practically patting Mina on the head like a child. “Working with Madame Petrova means you can ensure the painting finds its way into good hands.”
Unlikely, given the contacts in his network.
Mina studied her feet miserably.
“Your father would be so excited. So proud,” Gordon murmured.
Damn the bastard for going for her soft spot.
Mina’s eyes went glassy, and I sensed the same roiling emotions she’d shown in London. The painting had made her weep, and I guessed that had as much to do with her father as the canvas.
“He would be.” She flashed a sad smile.
Gordon’s was more of a crocodile smile, and I knew she was done for.
“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” he said, giving the screws one more twist. “An opportunity your father would tell you to jump at.”
Mina’s throat bobbed, and she nodded slowly. “All right. I’ll do it.”
I winced. Bene and Roux too. Henrik looked at his fingernails, like he couldn’t care less.
Gordon practically rubbed his hands in glee. “Wonderful, wonderful. You won’t regret it.”
Oh, she definitely would.
“Now, on to the logistics,” Gordon continued. “As mentioned, I’ll need security to travel to London with Mina — not that I expect any issues, of course.”