41. Jenn

Chapter 41

Jenn

“Merci, madame.” The auction assistant, professional and composed, closed her notebook. “I will take this information to the auction coordinator, who will confirm.”

“Thanks. And I’m sorry for the hassle.” I offered her a polite smile, pride and worry battling in my stomach. We’d done the right thing, but what consequences might I face for it?

The assistant left Dante and me in the small room off to the side of the auction. Like the rest of the Casino, it was carved directly from the rock. The ceiling hung low, creating an intimate, if somewhat claustrophobic, atmosphere. The soft lighting cast eerie shadows across the rough-hewn surfaces, accentuating the natural contours of the rock.

There were only two doors. One led back to the auction, the other presumably to the water door Emmett had mentioned earlier.

I studied Dante, trying to reconcile Emmett’s warnings and the charming man who’d whisked me off to Monte Carlo for the job of a lifetime. If he was truly as evil as Emmett suspected, why would he have helped me expose the painting? But then again, he’d let it get this far. Was this all just an elaborate act to cover for his father?

Dante planted his hands on his hips, staring after the departed assistant. His jaw clenched, betraying his irritation. “They won’t be happy to hear about this.”

“They?” Did I want to know who?

“You look beautiful tonight.” Dante turned to face me, his expression softening slightly. “I neglected to mention it earlier.”

Seriously? After everything that had gone on, was that really all he had to say? “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing?—”

“Me?” Dante jabbed a finger at his chest, his eyes hardening again. “Marone. Of everyone here, I’m the?—”

“Jenn,” a familiar voice cut through our exchange. We both turned to see Noah standing in the doorway to the auction room.

A jolt of panic ignited in my chest, and I scanned the area behind him, searching the crowd for Emmett. Where was he? He wouldn’t have left me here if it wasn’t safe, would he?

The door closed behind Noah, and my first reaction was to run back through. But I needed answers.

Noah blew out a deep breath as he approached, his gaze intense. “What lies did Emmett tell you about me?”

Dante looked between Noah and me, his brows knitting together. “You two know each other?”

“Yeah, I’ve known this lying asshole for six years.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Minus the two years we all thought he was dead.”

Noah’s expression tightened at my words, but he turned to Dante. “Can you give me a couple of minutes with her?”

Dante angled his head toward the door. “We can all return to the auction and speak there.”

“I have things to…” Noah’s head bowed, as though he were fighting to push out the right words. “I’d like to speak with Jenn privately.”

Dante raised his eyebrows to ask for my approval. When I nodded, he said, “I’ll be right outside the door.”

Once the door shut behind Dante, I was alone with Noah. The little voice in the back of my head that wanted to leave grew louder.

“Scarlett doesn’t understand. I’ve tried explaining everything to her.” Noah ran his hands through his hair, frustration etched across his face. His voice was low, almost pleading. “I told you to leave. I said the same thing to Emmett—that it’s too dangerous here—but he abandoned you for his job.”

“What are you talking about?” I crossed my arms, attempting to project defiance, while I was actually disguising a subtle tremor. “How could you possibly know what Emmett said or did?”

He took a step closer, and I instinctively backed away. “Jenn, please. I didn’t remember anything for the first several months after the accident. And after that? I stayed quiet to keep Scarlett safe.” He held his hands out, palms up, begging me to understand. “You have to believe me.”

I studied his face, searching for any sign of deception, but I’d never been able to tell when a man lied to me. I saw pain, a raw vulnerability that tugged at my heart despite my better judgment. “Then tell me the truth, and I’ll give them the details.”

Noah nodded, relief washing over his features. “I wasn’t behind what happened to Emmett—the kidnapping. I had to go along with it, or they’d find me out.”

“So, who was behind it?”

“Did they tell you about Enzo?” Noah asked, his eyes darting to the far door as if checking we were still alone. “The man with the scar?”

I held my shaking arms tighter, remembering the overwhelming urge I’d had to bolt from the gallery workshop when Enzo had checked in on me. I nodded slowly.

Noah glanced at his watch, a flicker of urgency crossing his face. “Did Emmett tell you why Reynolds is here?”

“We were talking about Enzo.”

“They’re stealing the scarab,” Noah blurted out.

I blinked. Surely, I’d misheard him. Stealing? “What?”

“They wanted to appear legitimate by buying it outright, but once they failed, Jayce broke into the storage room and stole it.”

“Jayce? Jayce Monroe?”

She wasn’t even in the Casino.

Noah’s expression hardened. “She’s a thief, and he’s a con man.”

My mind spun, unable to keep up with his changes in topic and ridiculous accusations. I shook my head. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Did Emmett say anything unusual while you were here this evening? Like he was carrying on a conversation with someone other than you, but trying to hide it?”

That was precisely what talking to Emmett during the disc auction was like. My heart leaped into my throat, and I tried to keep my face neutral.

Noah must have seen my reaction, because he pressed on. “That’s why I took my opportunity to leave Reynolds. They’re nothing but a heist crew. All of their”—he made air quotes—“recoveries? Thefts. They’re criminals.”

“That’s not possible,” I whispered. My best friend was not a thief. This had to be another lie. “Why are you saying all this bullshit?”

Noah’s eyes softened, a hint of sympathy in his voice. “I worked with them for four years. I was Scarlett’s second-in-command. She didn’t love me. She used me for my strategic skills.”

“No.” I held my hands out between us, creating a barrier, as though it would shield me from his words and force him to tell the truth. “You’re lying.”

“Didn’t you wonder why there are so many other Reynolds team members in town, but Emmett is the only one at the auction tonight?”

My stomach sank. Of course, I’d wondered that. I’d even asked Emmett why. Grasping for an argument, I said, “Drew’s in the Casino. Emmett didn’t need him for the auction.”

“I have more proof.” Noah walked to the far wall and opened a hidden panel, revealing an elevator. “Come with me.”

I stood rooted to the spot, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Everything Noah said made a twisted kind of sense. Years of Scarlett’s vague answers about her regular trips overseas. How they could spend twenty thousand euros on my clothes as a business expense. How no one told me Noah was alive.

He pressed the call button, and the elevator’s ancient dial began climbing. “There’s a security desk on the bottom floor where we can review footage. It’ll show you everything.”

I bit my lip, torn between curiosity and caution. You’re smarter than that, Jenn . No matter what Noah says, you need to hear the story from Scarlett or Emmett, not from him .

Noah looked at the ceiling, balling his fists as I hesitated. “For fuck’s sake, Jenn.”

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. I didn’t need to figure out if he was trustworthy or not. I just needed to find Emmett. “I’m sorry, Noah, but I can’t go with you.”

Something dark flashed across his face. “I didn’t want to have to do this.” Before I could react, he lunged forward, clamping a hand over my mouth and the other around my waist. “Emmett’s left me no choice.”

Oh god, oh god, please no!

My heart slammed against my ribs as I thrashed and fought, desperate to break free, but Noah’s iron grip crushed me against him. Each attempt to scream died against his palm, swallowed by applause from the auction beyond the walls. My legs flailed wildly, finding nothing but air as he hauled me backward toward the waiting elevator.

Emmett! Dante! Somebody help me!

Please! Anybody!

The elevator chimed its arrival like a death knell, doors sliding open with a whisper, and he hoisted me off my feet.

I kicked my feet up to stop the door from closing, but he pivoted his weight, slamming us into the wall.

The fake wall began to close as the elevator doors slid shut.

It was too late.