25. Emmett

Chapter 25

Emmett

I paced away from Jenn and my team toward a bend in the park’s walkway. I pressed the phone to my ear. “What’s up, Scar?”

“You should have given me some warning,” Scarlett said, her voice tighter than usual. “I knew you were going to tell her things, but I wasn’t ready to talk to her myself.”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You’re ready for everything.”

“What are we supposed to do now?”

I frowned. This was unlike my sister. She rarely asked for anyone else’s opinion. A lot had changed since she met Malcolm. She got along better with our mother, occasionally let people catch a hint of her emotions, and apparently was asking for my advice.

“When I heard Enzo…” I trailed off, swallowing hard against the bile rising in my throat.

A bag flew over my head.

A punch to my face, the taste of metal flooding my mouth.

The boot to my stomach would come next.

I shook off the memory, my fingers instinctively reaching for the poker chip in my pocket. The smooth, worn face grounded me, its texture bringing me back to the park. To Monte Carlo. “I was suspicious enough of Dante inviting Jenn here after their brief meeting in Nice. After I discovered Enzo was in town, I assumed Dante’s approach was part of a bigger plan. But I figured Jenn was safe because Enzo wouldn’t know her. Unless Fenix were surveilling you at home or Noah was feeding them an awful lot of extra intel.”

“But now that Noah’s there?”

“They took me to get to you.” I withdrew my hand from my pocket, sank onto a bench, and leaned back—acting casual for Jenn’s sake—while my mind was a jumble. “Would they take Jenn for the same reason?”

“I understand Malcolm and Rav are worried Noah will come after me, but it doesn’t make sense. He didn’t try anything in Washington and hasn’t reached out since then. Maybe he’s found someone else for the job he wanted me for.”

Noah had tried to recruit Scarlett to join the Fenix group. She’d obviously said no—kidnapping me hadn’t exactly endeared the organization to her. But for some reason, she trusted Noah enough to send us all to Monaco after the scarab.

The scarab.

I frowned, pieces clicking into place like tumblers in a lock. “If Noah’s working with Massimo, why would he send us the tip about the scarab?”

Scarlett hummed thoughtfully. “Good question. Noah said there was a division in their ranks. Massimo must not be on Noah’s side.”

Unease churned in my gut, a familiar sensation that had become my constant companion since Venice four months ago. I wanted to look back at Jenn but stopped myself. “Is this a power play? Are we pawns in the middle of Noah’s game?”

“I wish I knew.”

Another massive cruise ship was making its way toward the port, its horn bellowing a deep, resonant note that echoed off the tall buildings crammed into this tiny country.

I’d been to Monte Carlo over a dozen times, but I could still remember the thrill of my first visit. The way my heart raced as I stepped into the famed Monte Carlo Casino, the clink of chips, and the hushed murmur of high-stakes games filling the air.

Today, the glitz and glamor faded to a dull sheen.

Instead of being my favorite city, it was the backdrop for another battle with Fenix.

“I’m not sure if you heard,” I said, “but the Ferraros sent Jenn some information about the Wheatfield painting. The one Dante brought her to clean is a copy. Dante just showed her the original hanging in Massimo’s yacht.”

“I don’t like this, Em. We should abort the scarab mission.”

I ran a hand over the outside of my left pocket, feeling the poker chip. Memories of Venice danced in my head. Sequestered in a small room. Patched up from one of the many beatings. The musty smell of damp stone. “If we have a chance to divide this organization further, we’re taking it.”

“This isn’t about us or revenge,” Scarlett argued. “This is about Jenn’s safety. I’ll call the museum in Cairo and our client so they can deal with the auction. You come home instead.”

“You know that doesn’t work, Scar. By the time the authorities act, it’s too late. You think any police force will work on this by tomorrow, based on an anonymous tip? Go in and break up an auction at the Casino Rocher? Plus, nobody touches the Casino—not for a tiny stolen jewel.”

“So we fly Jenn out of Monaco. If you need to continue this mission, we get her out first.”

“We already talked about this,” I snapped. Laughter from a passing group of tourists grated on my nerves. “If they’re genuinely targeting her, what’s the difference between grabbing her here or at home? What are we going to do? Hire private security to tail her for a year? Do the same with Heather and Kelley? Their families? Are we going to add security to every one of our employees?”

“It’s better than any plan you’re proposing!” Her voice had raised—something she rarely did. This was a sensitive topic for her.

“Then she stays with me. Every second, every day.”

“They took you in New York,” Scarlett said softly.

The words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. The phantom pain of bruises long healed throbbed beneath my skin. Memories of the headaches. The blurred vision for two months. “That’s because we didn’t even know they existed before New York, let alone that they might take one of us. But today? Monaco may as well be my home turf, and we’re not going in blind. She’ll be safe with me.”

“Rav has more experience in that role. Ask him to?—”

“I don’t have time for this. This is my op, my decision.” I hung up on her. Stupid move, Em . I stared at the phone, waiting for her to call back.

Second-guessing each other was in our nature, but this was different. Since the kidnapping, there were too many pitying looks, too much checking if I was all right with the smallest thing.

I was fine.

I told them that over and over, but no one believed me.

No matter what my reaction to hearing Enzo was, I was fine.

I could protect Jenn. I could keep her safe.

If you say it often enough, maybe you’ll believe it.

I ran my fingers over my short beard. If Fenix was crumbling from the inside out, I could help destroy it. We had plans to make—checking out the Casino and searching for the secret tunnels leading to the Exotic Garden—but how was I supposed to do any of that and keep Jenn as close as I’d sworn I would?

Let Jenn in on the big secret?

Hardly.

Text the team the plan? Possibly.

Double-talk and hand signals?

With a long sigh, I stood and launched the photo app on my phone. Returning to the group, I swiped through the hidden folder containing the photo that would confirm how much danger Jenn might be in.

Jenn started, “Rav wouldn’t let?—”

I lifted my phone to show her a photo the team had snapped of Enzo when they first encountered him in London. “Have you seen this man?”

The way her eyes widened and how she sucked in a quick breath—I had my answer.

I shoved the phone into my pocket to conceal any possible tremble. “You’re with me until you leave Monaco.”

She blinked rapidly, as though I were speaking a foreign language. Her blue eyes, usually so warm, flashed with defiance. “That’s ridiculous.”

“The man’s name is Enzo.” I shook my head, trying not to show my frustration. “With him, Noah, and the Fenix Group involved, this city’s too dangerous.”

“So, what, you’re going to be my bodyguard now?” she asked, folding her arms.

“We have work to do and don’t have time for arguments.” Not from Scarlett and not from Jenn.

Jenn spluttered, “I have to finish the painting.”

“The fake?” The words came out harsher than I’d intended, but this wasn’t the time for apologies.

I could almost see the gears turning in her head. She spun to face the water—angry and hurt, but hopefully she’d listen after she took a few breaths.

“I’m going to the Casino Rocher to speak with someone. The rest of the team has an appointment at the Exotic Garden.” I looked pointedly at Drew, who considered for a moment, then nodded.

“We’ll be in touch about what we find,” Drew said, inclining his head to the north.

Will turned to Rav. “I need to check into the hotel before we go to the Garden.”

Drew added, “Jayce is in our room, waiting for us, so we can all go over.”

Rav, Drew, and Will headed toward the hotel.

Once they’d left, I touched Jenn’s arm, stepping in so close Rav would have given me a side-eye. “I’m sorry for all of this. But I?—”

“You have a meeting.” Her shoulders fell, and her gaze dropped to my chest.

I tried to hug her, reassuring her that I was doing all of this because I cared, but she backed away.

“We should go.” Before moving, I scanned the yacht club. Had Noah seen Jenn? Was he watching us now? “It’s a short walk, but we’ll cab it.”

We walked out of the garden and into a parking lot, where a car picked us up, and we rode in silence. So much had changed in her life in the past hour—what could I possibly say to make any of it better?

Nothing, Emmett. Except maybe a little truth.

As we climbed the edge of the Rocher, all of Monte Carlo was on display from our elevated vantage point.

Jenn stared out the window, taking in the view. The Monte Carlo Casino and our hotel were practically invisible between the relentless tide of high-rises, towering apartment blocks, and steel facades. “Hard to believe I can see the entire country from here.”

“Almost forty thousand people in less than one square mile.” The mountains framed the edges of the tiny country, giving them little space to expand. So they built into the water, creating land where there had once been sea, each new landmass covered in buildings that blocked out the vista from those behind.

The car made a turn into the old town, cutting off the view of anything other than the surrounding buildings.

Jenn turned to me. “What’s at this casino?”

I raised my voice, making it clear I was speaking to the driver. “Ici, s’il vous pla?t.”

He nodded at me in the rearview mirror and pulled off to the side. He would have looped the entire Rocher to get to the Oceanographic Museum, while Jenn and I could cut between buildings to arrive in under a minute.

I paid the driver, and we were on the move again. “Since talking to Jean-Philippe about the scarab failed, we’ll try the auction. I’m hoping we can buy it outright, but failing that, buy it from whoever wins. Either way, I have a contact who can give me more information.”

Jenn frowned, watching her feet instead of looking at me. “But you said it was stolen. How can they auction it?”

“Welcome to the world of high-end art theft.” The irony wasn’t lost on me—how often were we stealing those same pieces right back? “Some bidders will be remote and anonymous, but the auction coordinator will get a commission from the sale and as a broker if it comes to that. They might help for the right price.”

I didn’t tell her we were actually scouting the location. If our first two plans didn’t work, Jayce would need to sneak in and steal the scarab. The secret tunnel out of the Casino would be her best bet to escape unseen.

Jenn was quiet momentarily, then said softly, “I can’t believe Noah’s involved in all this.”

I glanced at her, noting how her back was hunched, telling me more about her feelings than the sad note in her voice. It was a far cry from her initial anger after seeing Noah. “I’m sorry, Jenn. I know you two were close.”

She shook her head, her hair dancing as a light breeze caught it. “I thought I knew him. And now Dante… What am I supposed to think anymore?”

“About Dante?”

Jenn sighed. “I want to believe he’s innocent and didn’t know about the fake painting. But why bring me here to clean it?”

Dante might have been as innocent as she wanted to believe. More likely, Noah was behind all of it, including the break-in at her hotel room. But why?

“Men like him are used to getting what they want.” Careful. Don’t hurt her more . “They can be very charming and persuasive when it suits them.”

“You think he’s using me?”

If I said yes, that might have broken her. “I’m just saying keep your eyes open.”

She was quiet again as we walked. We switched to single file to avoid being bowled over by a tour group, all wearing their cruise ship stickers. Once we’d passed them, she said, “I feel so stupid, Emmett. Like I’ve been played this whole time.”

I stopped us at a crosswalk. The urge to pull her close, to shield her from the world, was almost overwhelming. “You’re not stupid. These guys are professionals at manipulation. You couldn’t have known.”

Jenn’s eyes finally met mine again. The sun glinted in their blue depths, and I was immediately dragged back to last night, when we stood like this in the sitting room. Her in her robe, wet hair and all. She was in pain, and all I was thinking about again was kissing her. “How do I know who to trust now?”

Kissing her would be a bad idea. Right? “Trust your instincts. And remember—I’ve got your back, no matter what.”

She gave me a small smile, a ghost of her usual radiance. “Thanks.”

We waited for a pair of scooters to pass and crossed toward the Oceanographic Museum. I needed to focus on the mission. But I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have her look at me the way she had last night in the sitting room.

Before I pulled the gun on her.

What would it be like to have her trust me completely? She’d seemed ready to forgive me this morning in her hotel room. I pushed the thoughts away, locking them in a box in the back of my mind. There was no room for distractions or complications.

We had a job to do, and it didn’t involve Jenn’s lips on mine.