Epilogue Rey
I stare at the location where Abra disappeared just moments before.
I’m terrified of what he might be facing, but I know that if anyone can sneak into a building undetected, it’s him.
Abra is like smoke when he wants to be stealthy.
It feels like hours, but I know it has only been a few minutes when Vladimir’s phone rings.
Vladimir pulls out the phone and reads the text.
“Abra’s inside. Miguel Costa is holding everyone prisoner.
” As Vladimir relates Abra’s findings, several large SUVS with tinted windows pull into the parking lot.
A dozen men in black exit the vehicles and move to join us.
Vladimir glances up and nods at one man, who takes his position next to Vladimir.
He must be Vladimir’s second-in-command.
Vladimir explains the situation and describes Abra’s plan.
“What do you want me to do?” I ask.
“Go sit in the car and wait,” Vladimir says. “You need to stay safe, or Abra will kill me. I really don’t want to die.”
I cross my arms and glare at the man who looks so much like Hex, except for his cold, blue eyes. Hex’s eyes are as dark as a demon’s, while Vladimir’s eyes look as cold as ice. I wouldn’t let either man keep me from helping my man and my friends.
“That’s not going to happen,” I tell him. “I can help provide a distraction. I can knock on the front door. They’ll focus on me, so your men can go in unnoticed. Even if only one man opens the door, the others will shift their attention.”
“And if they start shooting instead of answering the door?” Vladimir asks.
“They won’t because they can’t risk a neighbor calling the cops,” I assure him as I hold my phone. “Besides, if you don’t let me help, I’ll call my brothers, who are cops, and tell them about the kidnapping. My brother, Max, has wanted to put Miguel Costa in jail for years.”
“Your brother is a cop?” Vladimir asks in surprise. “Jesus, what are the Demon Dawgs thinking? First, a fucking FBI agent, and now the sister of a cop? Is Hex trying to land his club in jail?”
I frown at his words, not understanding his meaning about the FBI agent. What FBI agent? “All three of my brothers are cops,” I correct him.
Vladimir shakes his head. “I could take your phone and tie you up before dumping you in the car, but I don’t know how Abra will feel about that.
Plus, I don’t want to deal with your brothers right now.
Okay, here’s the plan. You and I will knock on the door.
Seeing me might give Costa pause. My resemblance to Hex will confuse him.
The rest of you, follow the plan once Rey and I create the diversion. ”
Vladimir takes my hand as we walk down the sidewalk to our destination.
His eyes study the facade as we approach the door.
He positions himself in front of me as he reaches to ring the doorbell.
I hear the melodic tone echo through the hallway beyond the door as we wait for it to open.
When the door doesn’t immediately open, I figure they plan to ignore us.
However, before I can ask Vladimir what we should do, the door opens to reveal the man I saw at the auction earlier.
The man Abra pointed out as Miguel Costa.
Miguel’s eyes sweep over me before turning to my companion.
His eyes widen when he takes in Vladimir.
“What?” he asks, turning slightly to look behind him.
Vladimir uses Miguel’s distraction to pounce.
He grabs hold of the smaller man and yanks him outside, and captures him in a chokehold.
Vladimir presses a gun to Miguel’s head before pushing inside.
The commotion we make is enough of a distraction to allow Abra and Vladimir’s men to rush into the room and disarm Miguel’s men.
The hostage situation is over without a single shot being fired.
I rush over to untie Hex and Cleo while Abra and Vladimir help the others.
Once everyone is free, Abra pulls me into his arms and glares at Vladimir. “You were supposed to keep her safe, not put her in danger!”
Vladimir holds his hands up in surrender while sending me a wink. “She threatened me. What was I supposed to do?”
Abra scowls at him before shifting his attention to me. “You threatened him?”
I nod. “I told him I’d call my brothers if he didn’t let me help. Speaking of which, maybe I should call them to take these guys into custody.”
Abra frowns at my suggestion, but looks at Hex for direction.
“You know that might not be a bad idea. The cops could arrest them for breaking and entering as well as kidnapping. That would wipe some of the shine off Miguel and get them behind bars for a while. If they manage to slip through, we could always deal with them ourselves.”
“Good idea, go ahead and call Max,” Hex says.
I take out my phone and do as they asked. While we wait for Max and his men to show up, I turn my attention to Ryan. “Were you able to open the cache?”
Ryan is busy rubbing Naomi’s wrists, but he glances at me and grimaces. “No, we barely got inside when those guys barged in and took us prisoner.”
“Open it now,” Naomi says, gently pulling away from her husband. “You’ve waited so long for this moment. Take it.”
Ryan heaves out a sigh as he moves to a decorative bowl full of colorful ornaments. He digs inside the bowl before retrieving the Harlequin figurine. “I hid it in here.”
“Quick thinking,” Abra praises him.
Ryan grins as he moves toward the far wall.
I hadn’t noticed the four paintings that hung there until now.
All four contain a landscape scene. I can tell the same hand that painted them also painted the Widow in Black.
Frowning, I see the empty spot in the tableau, which is where The Widow in Black likely hung.
Where is the painting? I knew Cicero had it last. I glance around the room, but don’t see him.
“Where’s Cicero? He has the missing painting,” I say, pointing at the empty space on the wall.
“I called and left him a message to meet us here,” Pirate says. “He said he had some news. He should be here soon.”
We return our focus to Ryan, who is studying the chair molding along the wall.
He glances up at the paintings and then back down again.
“Ah, there it is,” he says when he finally finds the spot.
He places the Harlequin against the wall and turns.
A click echoes through the room as a door opens in the wall between the four paintings.
Ryan pulls the door open wide so we can all see inside.
The space is the size of a closet, with shelves stacked from floor to ceiling.
On the shelves are various items, including stacks of gold coins, objects d’art, jewelry, and gold bars.
A bright white envelope sits on one shelf.
Ryan snags it before turning around to face us.
“It’s my stepfather’s writing and he addressed it to me,” Ryan says. His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Open it,” Naomi prods him.
He slides his finger under the flap before removing the document inside. In silence, he reads the document. When he lifts his head, we can see he’s been crying. “He said he loves me and apologizes for our lost time. He’s included the will and left everything to me.”
Naomi hugs him. The two sway together. After a few minutes, Ryan releases her and stares at Cleo. “Now what?”
“Don’t you worry about anything,” Cleo says. “I’ll contact my lawyers and take care of it.” Then she grins mischievously at Ryan. “Unless, of course, you’d like to come work for me as my project manager? Then you can contact my lawyers and work out the transfer of the property into your name.”
Naomi and Ryan offer watery laughs as Cicero bursts into the room carrying the painting.
“What did I miss?” he asks, then waves his hands.
“Never mind, you need to see this.” He moves to the wall and hangs it between the four paintings and above the open cache.
Then he takes an object out of his pocket and flips it on.
He runs the light over the painting, causing us all to gasp in unison.
The light reveals the image of a woman wearing the same jewelry Ryan pawned.
Ryan gasps. “That’s the jewelry my stepfather gave me!”
“It is, and it's hanging around the neck of none other than Marie Antoinette,” Cicero says.
“I pawned Marie Antoinette’s jewelry? No wonder my stepfather was so angry. How could I have been so stupid?”
Without a word, Abra slips out of the house. I know he’s going to retrieve the jewels.
“I want to check something,” Cicero says, taking the device and shining the light on the bottom right painting. The light reveals the image of a man who can be no one but King Louis XVI. Cicero moves to each painting and uncovers the portraits of the children and the entire family.
“This is amazing,” Ryan says as Abra jogs back into the room.
“I have something for you,” Abra says, handing the case to Ryan.
Naomi and Ryan gasp in shock at the sight of the contents. “How did you…”
“Best not to ask,” Abra says as we hear a commotion at the door. My brother Max enters with several uniformed officers.
“What’s going on?” Max asks.
Hex steps up to explain the situation to Max, while I lean against Abra.
He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me snug against his body.
It has been a taxing day, but also fulfilling.
Ryan has reclaimed his heritage, and Abra has returned three valuable items to their rightful owner.
My mind is floating as I watch Vladimir grab Hex’s arm after Max walks away.
The two are remarkably alike, yet also distinctly different.
One wears a thousand-dollar suit, while the other dresses in denim and leather.
However, they both exude strength. Vladimir is talking with Hex when Hex suddenly straightens and glares at his brother.
“What the fuck are you saying?” Hex asks.
“I’m saying she works for the FBI. I found out when I was in Russia, dealing with the families. Your friend Skylar Prince is a government agent.”