5. Ari
5
ARI
A fter the day from hell, I couldn’t get home fast enough.
But before I even put my bag down, there was a knock on my front door. When I checked the security monitor, I sighed.
I opened the door with crossed arms and an attitude. “Galen, what are you doing here?”
“It felt kind of important, and you didn’t stay late like you normally do.”
“Yeah, well, I had a shitty day. I needed a break.”
“I don’t require you to stay late. You don’t have to prove your worth. I know how good you are.”
I still didn’t let him inside because I knew what he was doing here. “What do you need, Galen?”
He leaned on the doorjamb, not even asking to come in, forcing me to stand there. I eventually stepped back, and he followed me inside. He glanced around as he walked through my entryway into the kitchen. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
“Thanks. I figured if I spend any time here at all, it might as well be cheery and colorful. You know, as much as I would love to give you the tour, there’s not much more to see. So, what do you need?”
“Ari, you know why I’m here.”
I shook my head. “Galen, I’m asking you—no, I’m begging you—please do not make me do this.”
“I’m sorry, Ari, but sometimes it comes down to business, okay? A really important potential client is asking for you . You specifically. I have weighed all the pros and cons of you doing this job, and it’s come down to my gut. And my gut tells me you are the one to do this. I could assign someone else, but no one else has your knowledge of a Klenman vault. Your father notoriously cracked one before.”
“Do you realize that my father and I aren’t the same person?”
“Yes, but I also know that you are self-taught from his notes, and you have a whole boatload of knowledge about this vault.”
I shook my head and dragged my hands through my hair. “And if I quit?”
“That’s your right. And I will write you one hell of a recommendation letter. Because I do understand your hesitance, but the Ari Denton I know isn’t a coward.”
“The Ari Denton you know is an analyst , Galen. I don’t go into the field. You don’t know if I’ll lock up or freak out. You don’t know what will happen, and neither do I. God, I just don’t want to do this job.”
“I’m sorry I have to twist your arm, Ari. The client is important, and I don’t owe you any more explanation than that. But because I care about you and you’re one of my people, I will make sure you’ll have everything you need. And if it gets too wild and rocky, I will pull you out myself. You have to know that I won’t let you be in any actual danger, right?”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one going in, Galen. I just don’t know if I can do this.”
“I have faith in you, Ari.”
“You need someone better. An actual freaking field agent. Someone who does this stuff all the time.”
“I have lots of people like that, but none of them have any knowledge of this vault. Plus, you actually know your partner. Even though you seemingly hate him, you two have a certain chemistry. Which will be an advantage because, from my understanding, you are going to have to play your roles to the letter at this auction. From what Prince Lucas told me, the kinds of people who will be there are no joke.”
“Don’t you want someone much more well-versed in fieldwork? Someone who’s had combative experience and won’t choke?”
“I am putting someone like that in the field. You. Get on board, Ari. It’s happening.”
“It really doesn’t matter that I don’t like this, does it?”
“I’m sorry, no.”
You could tell him everything.
But would it matter? I knew when Galen had made up his mind. He needed my specific skill set, so he wouldn’t take the risk of sending anyone else.
“Damon Hunt is not trustworthy,” I said.
He rolled his eyes. “Of course, he’s not. He’s a thief, right? Which is another reason I need you there.”
“Why is this so important to you, Galen?”
“Sure, it’s a recovery job, and having the royals as clients is great publicity. But the Black Rose Auction is one of those events where true black-market collectors go. I like one of my people in there to analyze the who’s who of it all. All you have to do is take notes and a couple of photos.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to sneak a camera in there.”
“We’ll figure something out. Eyes and ears only. There are people going that we haven’t been able to get visual confirmation of in years.”
I leveled my gaze on my boss. “So you’re telling me I have no choice. I have to work with my archenemy and act like I can tolerate him while taking on a dangerous assignment. And I also need to surreptitiously take photos and surveil while I’m there.”
“That’s my girl. The analyst in you is waking up.”
“I’m not a field agent, Galen.”
“Don’t worry. By the time we’re done with you, you will be. You won’t even recognize yourself.”