Chapter Fourteen #2
Liar, my dragon rumbled.
“Therefore, Henrik will accompany Mina to London and remain there until the deal is closed.”
Mina’s eyes just about popped out of her head, and Henrik jerked his chin up.
“Henrik?” She paled.
“Me?” he protested at the same time.
My dragon lashed its tail in rage.
“Yes. Is there a problem?” Gordon’s voice took on a dangerous tone.
Roux gritted his teeth, and Bene pleaded with Mina with his eyes. Henrik too. But I willed her to speak the truth. Anything to keep her safe, even if it doomed us.
Mina twisted her fingers in her lap as the clock ticked. Finally, she flashed a tight smile.
“No problem. That would be fine.”
Bene shot her an incredulous look. “Say what?” When Gordon shot him the evil eye, Bene stuck his hands up. “I mean, well…”
“What he means to say, sir, is that I am better suited to the task,” Roux interjected.
“He is,” Bene, Henrik, and I spoke in chorus.
Mina exhaled.
“In what way?” Gordon growled.
His warlock power crackled through the air, making my hair prickle in alarm. None of us had ever witnessed Gordon’s legendary power on full display, and we never wanted to.
“I’m more familiar with the art, sir,” Roux said. “And I worked on the Loretti case last month. The one with the private auction of…er…” He trailed off, tilting his head toward Mina.
The Loretti case was an auction of a major arms shipment seized in Montenegro. I hadn’t been part of it, but Roux and Bene had, and they’d shared some of the less savory details.
Gordon shot Roux a look of warning, because God forbid his goddaughter found out where his millions had really been earned.
“Roux does know a lot,” Mina chimed in. “About art, I mean,” she added when Gordon gave her a sharp look.
“I do, sir. Henrik just isn’t suited to the task,” Roux continued.
Normally, that would earn him a flash of fangs, but Henrik nodded immediately. “Not at all.”
“And why might that be?” Gordon demanded.
“Because…er…” Roux looked around, but we were all stuck.
“Because Henrik is better suited to vetting potential buyers,” Bene finally threw in.
“Much better suited,” Roux underscored.
Which just went to prove that even felines could be brilliant sometimes.
Gordon stroked his chin, thinking. “So, Roux on security, and Henrik to vet prospective buyers.” Then he nodded to himself. “Fine. Marius and Benedict, I’ll need you back in Brussels.”
My nostrils burned as my dragon protested, and I nearly roared. Not an option.
But Bene raised his hand first. “If I may, sir…”
“What now?” Gordon grumbled.
“Mina and the painting both need protection. That means two on security — Roux for the painting, and Marius for Mina.”
I didn’t know whether to kiss or kill him. Of course, I wanted to protect Mina. But staying close to her meant resisting temptation every day — and possibly tempting my enemies.
Fuck. I was so screwed.
“Then there’s the payment,” Bene went on. “If the deposit is made in cash…” He paused, scratching his cheek. “Or will cryptocurrency be accepted?”
Gordon huffed. “Of course not. Cash or bank transfer.”
Preferably through his account in the Cayman Islands, I guessed.
“Well, if it’s cash…” Bene trailed off.
Cash? Mina’s horrified expression said. Nothing screamed illegal more than cash, especially in a deal worth millions.
“…you’ll need security to follow the cash too,” Bene finished.
Gordon frowned. “You’re right.”
Bene’s smug look said, Of course. I’m always right. Then he counted on his fingers and summarized. “So, that makes four working this case. Roux covers the painting. Marius covers Mina. Henrik vets buyers, and I make sure payment goes smoothly.”
Gordon made a face. “Four staff?”
Bene shrugged. “You want to gamble with such a valuable painting and such influential clients? You want to gamble with Mina’s life?”
“Of course not,” Gordon conceded. “But four is excessive. And there’s Brussels to consider.”
“We can reschedule Brussels,” Roux assured him.
Mina looked at Gordon with innocent, saucer-sized eyes. “I would feel better knowing every eventuality was covered.”
Ha. Her turn to go for a cheap blow Gordon couldn’t resist.
His face took on a sourpuss expression, but what could he say to that?
“Fine. You’ll all go,” he finally declared.
Mina gulped, glancing at me, then Henrik.
I knew how she felt. Was this a win or a terrible mistake?
Gordon checked his watch. “If we’re lucky, there will still be seats available on one of the evening trains. I’ll have Celeste check.”
Mina froze, and it was all I could do not to growl. My investigations over the past week hadn’t revealed any recent communications between Celeste and Szabo, but I still didn’t trust the woman. And as for Szabo… I half hoped he would turn up. That way, I could kill him.
Gordon picked up his phone, dialed, and barked, “Get me five tickets on the train to London. Yes, tonight.” He frowned at whatever Celeste said, then replied. “Two in premier — my goddaughter and Monsieur Aecher. Standard will be fine for the others — Messieurs Anand, Bembridge, and Velchynsky.”
I shot a smug look at Roux, Bene, and Henrik, having scored a better seat than them.
But Mina looked pained, and I could already see her offering her seat to one of the others. Probably Bene, that ass.
“We’ll also need reservations for a hotel near Madame Petrova’s address. Get back to me as soon as you have something.” Gordon hung up on Celeste without so much as a goodbye or merci.
Great. Another reason for Celeste to resent us.
To us, he said, “Prepare to depart. I’ll be in touch as soon as the arrangements are made.
” Only Mina got a warm smile. “Thank you, sweetheart. I really appreciate it.” Then he pinned me with a glare.
“And you, Monsieur Aecher — I mean it when I say my goddaughter’s safety is not to be compromised. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
My whole body heated, and Mina’s eyes went wide.
My best dream — and worst nightmare — had just come true.
“Yes, sir,” I vowed.
Gordon shooed us to the door. “Go on, then. All of you — except you, Monsieur Anand. I need a word.”
Roux looked grim as the rest of us filed out, leaving him alone with Gordon.
Bene strode down the hallway, chipper as can be. “A couple of days in London. On a harmless art case, no less!”
Henrik scoffed. “As harmless as the last one?”
Bene shook his head. “We knew that would be tricky going in. This will be easy. I promise you.”
Easy to resist Mina?
Ha. Just try, my dragon growled.