Page 26 of Depths of Obsession (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #2)

CHAPTER 26

“ L adies and gentlemen,” Calaba says as he stands at the front of the makeshift platform. He waves his arm toward the sky. “Welcome to the auction under the stars.” There’s a weak smattering of applause. These people aren’t the type for theatrics.

He has his back to the vast majority of the roof which is open and slightly pitched until it hits the inside wall. Beyond that, and one story lower, is a walkway that goes around the outside of the Duomo. It’s not continuous but divided into smaller viewing areas with the spires on the walls at each doorway. There is no place for the art to be hidden that wouldn’t involve being brought up by a winch. Security concerns or not, this seems like an odd set up for this auction to take place.

I open a channel with Nico. I don’t get the set up.

Me either. Where the hell is the art? Calaba doesn’t even have a lectern to lean on. What the hell is going on?

Two of Calaba’s security team arrive in the middle aisle beside me. They put down a box of some kind and then turn it on. Suddenly, a hologram is projected upward. The image is a painting on an easel, and judging by the background, it looks like the easel is inside the Duomo near the altar.

“For security reasons, it was decided that we should hold the auction outside, but the art is far too precious to be exposed to the elements, so I have the pieces downstairs inside the Duomo. You will see them in the hologram in front of you.

“Now since I know you all are cautious by nature,” he smiles as if this is a joke, “I will give one of these gentlemen something from one of you and he will go downstairs and show you that item by the artwork so you know that it is indeed down there.”

The taller of the two men steps forward. Calaba glances around looking for something to use. “Natalia, would you mind giving us one of your spectacular earrings?”

Natalia narrows her eyes, but then gives a little shrug and takes off her earring, handing it to the security guard. The guy leaves the platform, and we sit and wait. A few moments later we see him with the earring standing next to the artwork.

Nico opens the channel. If this is a trick, he’s a dead man .

He knows that , I say.

“Proof positive of the location, yes?” Calaba inclines his head to the gathered crowd, then continues, “Here is Carl to run the auction. Buona fortuna a tutti .” Calaba leaves the front of the platform and goes back and stands next to the bar. I get up and go and join him. I nod at the bartender. “Whiskey.”

Calaba says, “I’ll have the same.”

Carl begins his description by telling everyone that the artwork shown on the hologram is the work of some Dutch painter, I am only vaguely familiar with. This is a sketch of one of his famous paintings.

I glance at Calaba. “Theatrics are not your thing,” I say.

He sizes me up. He could choose to be insulted but my money is on the fact that the whole production is wearing on him.

“Bloody fucking nuisance,” he says. “Give me a straight up arms deal any day of the week. This shit is for the birds.” Then he takes a sip of his whiskey.

“Then why do it?” I ask.

“Because I owed someone, and this is how she wants to collect.” He tosses back the rest of his whiskey in one gulp and puts his glass down on the bar. “Too fucking cold up here for me. I’ll wait downstairs.” He meets my gaze. “Good luck, mate. You’re going to need it.”

I stare after him as he disappears down the stairwell. What the hell does that mean? Does he mean I specifically need luck, because that’s exactly what it seemed like.

I mull over our brief conversation. A woman? Could Natalia really be behind all of this? It’s too fucking elaborate for her. She’s crazy as hell but she’s not a chess player. She doesn’t think past the next big challenge. This is too long and drawn out for her.

So, who else is there?

I look over the crowd. None of the women stand out to me. Not a one. I am mystified.

“You look like you could use a stiff drink, but I see you have one in your hand and you’re not drinking it.”

I turn to see Ria Tailor standing next to me. “It’s lost its appeal. Can I order you something?”

She nods at the bartender and he grabs a shot glass and then fills it with vodka. “It has not lost its appeal to me.” She takes the glass and empties it down her throat in one go. “Your brother speaks highly of you.”

“As he does of you.” I stare at Ria and an odd sense of disquiet ripples across my skin. She looks vaguely familiar somehow although it could be a trick of the light. There are only a few lights around and the weak glow doesn’t eliminate the many shadows. She has lovely pale skin and large blue eyes. I’m not sure who her plastic surgeon is but he’s done an amazing job. She doesn’t look a day over sixty, but I know she’s older. Her body is tired. Her heartbeat is slow and fading. She’s probably closer to eighty-five.

“Sold!” Carl calls and offers a smile. “We only have a few items left, so let’s keep moving, shall we?”

I turn back to Ria. “Thank you for getting us an invite to the auction.”

She smiles and puts her hand on my arm. “It was my pleasure.”

There it is again. That sense that I know her. “How did you meet my brother?” I ask. Maybe it’s just that I’ve seen her picture or at some function or another.

She smiles. “A business deal. How else?”

“I would love—” I hear a gasp and know it’s Pippa so I whirl around to look. The painting at the front is a Monet and she appears to be mesmerized by it.

“ Nymphéas En Fleur by Monet,” Carl says.

Pippa is in love with this painting , Nico comments telepathically. “ Does she know you knew Monet and have several ‘undiscovered’ paintings in your place in France?

No. I haven’t had a chance to mention it. I turn back toward Ria. “Sorry for my…” She’s gone. I look around but I have no idea where she’s gone. I turn back toward the front and listen to Carl work the audience.

“Ninety million,” Carl says as he scans the audience. No one moves. “Going once…going twice…”

I give him a nod and hold up two fingers.

“Ninety-two million,” Carl says again. He looks in the direction of the other buyer. It’s a tech CEO. He nods. “Ninety-five million,” Carl says and glances at me. I nod. “Ninety-seven million.” The woman with the tech CEO leans over and says something in his ear. He looks at Carl and shakes his head. Carl looks back at me. “Sold, ninety-seven million.”

I smile. Pippa will love it.

Focus, snarls my brother. The real fun is just beginning.

Twenty minutes later, the roof top is mostly empty. The crowd has left and the only people remaining are those who want to bid on the Queen’s Heart. I’m back sitting next to Pippa. She is cold but her heartbeat has almost returned to normal. I glance around at the remaining guests. The Krinst brothers, Hal and Dorothy Miller, Natalia and her brothers, the tech CEO, and Ria Tailor. We are scattered over the seating area. One of Calaba’s security men comes up onto the platform with a red case. Calaba is back at the bar again. He does not go to the front. The security guy hands the red case to Carl, who handles it as if it’s on fire. He swallows hard.

“ O-kay, our final item,” Carl says. “This is the Queen’s Heart.” His voice cracks. He clears his throat for a moment and then he opens the case. The necklace is stunning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ruby quite that color before.

“That is gorgeous,” Nico murmurs aloud.

“It’s deadly though,” Pippa adds. “Looks can always be deceiving.”

She is not wrong. Carl opens the bidding at forty million. The tech CEO jumps in immediately. The woman next to him bounces in her seat. The Krinsts up the ante and the bidding takes off.

“It’s cursed, you know,” Natalia says loudly from the back.

All heads turn to her. She’s staring at the tech CEO. He’s got more money than God, so it will be hard to outbid him, and everyone knows it. Everyone also knows he is very superstitious. I try not to smile. Natalia may not be great at the long game but she sure as hell knows how to eliminate the competition.

“Um…” Carl tries to start the bidding again.

But Natalia continues. “Ask him.” she tells the tech geek and then nods toward Carl. “Ask him about the curse.”

The tech CEO’s girlfriend glares at Natalia but her boyfriend looks at Carl. “Is it true?”

“Er…well as it happens…yes, it is said to be cursed. Everyone who has owned it has died in rather odd ways. There was one man that had his head cut off?—"

The CEO stands up and heads for the stairs. His girlfriend scurries after him, shooting daggers at Natalia.

Nico grins. “Score one for Natalia.”

“Yes, well, if everyone is ready to continue?” Carl asks. He is still holding the necklace rather gingerly. “I believe the bidding was at sixty-five million. Do I hear sixty-eight?”