Page 47

Things go from bad to worse at the end of the week. I’m walking through the Academy halls between lessons when a sight ahead freezes my blood.

Paul. In the hallway. Wearing a three-piece suit and shaking hands with Lady Genevieve.

Paul. Here. Inside the Academy. With Matthew’s mother .

Paul has undoubtedly seen me; he can sniff me out from a mile away. As the halls empty, I make eye contact and jerk my head. He follows me down a side corridor, into an unsecured maintenance closet. It’s not ideal, but it’s private.

“Are. You. Insane?” I hiss, clicking the lock on the door.

“Maybe.” He gives me a shifty grin. The kind that used to drive me wild with excitement, made me wonder what adventure he was dreaming up next.

Now I just feel sick.

“Why are you here?”

“You’re looking at the Academy’s newest top tier donor,” he announces proudly.

“You didn’t…” My eyes widen. “ Why would you do that?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” He shrugs. “I’m a charitable man, Kat, and I have more money than I can count. Besides, I’ve seen firsthand the doors this place opens for young women.” His voice is dripping with smarm by the end of his little speech.

“How noble.” I fold my arms across my chest. “Now tell me the real reason.”

“Come on, Kat. You’ve been around these people long enough to know how they operate.

They can smell money from a mile away. The only thing better than hoarding wealth for themselves is leveraging it amongst their crowd.

After I wrote Genevieve a hefty check for the Academy, she very kindly extended an invitation to one Jekyll Island for the annual Ides of March ball.

Said philanthropic opportunities would abound at the event, and she would simply love to introduce me to her many charitable friends. ”

“You’re after Jekyll Island,” I say, understanding. “Still? After all this time?”

“It’s a prize like no other, Katarina. But I haven’t even gotten to the best part. Have you heard what the theme of this year’s ball is?”

I don’t like the gleam in his eye. “No.”

“ Bejeweled Ides of March. The theme this year is jewels , Kat. As many as the upper crust can stuff on their fingers and around their necks. There will be priceless pieces at that party, family heirlooms and new money extravagances alike. Think of the opportunities.”

“You want to come to the ball,” I say, nodding, “because of the jewelry.”

“One piece of jewelry, Katarina. A necklace that, word on the street, is going to come out of the DaMolin vault for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, making a special appearance at a special event. How can I possibly pass up an opportunity like that?”

“What?” I gasp, feeling his interest shift from professional to personal. “You want to steal the DaMolin rubies?”

“Of course I do.”

I breathe deeply, in and out. Fight to keep my panic at bay .

Matthew and I talked about the rubies the very first day we met.

The piece is renowned in the jewel world, a reclusive legacy item, passed down in the family for generations.

Paul has never hidden his lust for the jewels, but somehow—perhaps naively—I assumed things were different now, that he would never ask this of me.

“Why?” I finally ask. “You just admitted you have more money than you can count. You don’t need this.

This is Matthew’s family you’re talking about, Paul.

This isn’t a heist, it’s revenge. You’re too close to this con to see clearly.

You’re going to bring the entire house of cards crashing down around us. ”

“I assure you, Katarina, my mind is crystal clear. I know exactly what I’m doing. We’ll talk more about it later at Ray’s. I’ll wait there for you this afternoon.”

“And if I don’t show up?”

“You will. You could never resist a jewel heist. It’s your specialty, and this one’s a doozy. Besides, I thought you’d be happy. You’re the one who told me I should get out of the drug game and go back to our usual gigs.”

“I did say that, didn’t I?” I narrow my eyes.

“I’m just trying to give you what you wanted, doll.”

True to his word, Paul is waiting with the shopkeeper in the back room of Raymond’s when I arrive. I’m still heated from our encounter at the Academy, but I’m also frightened. The thought of stealing from Matthew and his family makes me sick.

“Nice of you to show up, Kitty-Kat.” Paul checks his watch. “Running a few minutes late, aren’t you?”

“Be thankful I’m here at all, Paul. ”

“Come on, I know your fingers are twitching, same as mine. This is an heirloom piece, Kat. One of the biggest in the jewel industry.”

Ray stands by, listening, but at this statement, he offers a small nod.

“My fingers aren’t twitching. This is a big ask. This is dangerous.”

“It’s no more dangerous than the job at Astor Manor,” Paul counters. “Actually, I’d argue this is less dangerous. It’s a simple bait and switch. You’ll make a forgery, and the night of the ball, we’ll pull the swap. We’ve done it a million times. No one will even bat an eye.”

I stare at him, thinking. Looking for a way out that won’t bring Paul’s notorious wrath down on me. Or worse, on Matthew.

“You know you and I can easily do this together,” he says.

He’s right; I do know it. That’s exactly the problem.

“This is the necklace, Kat.” Ray passes me a society newspaper clipping with a photograph, and I give it a cursory glance.

It’s a picture of Matthew’s parents dancing at their wedding.

The necklace is massive, a traditional loop of diamonds interspersed with five ovular rubies.

Vertical spokes drop off each blood-red gem, more diamonds alternating with two more rubies. Per spoke. Times five.

“There are fifteen rubies on this necklace. It’s massive. I need a lot more information than this photograph to pull off a forgery for a piece like this. I need specs and reports and a million more photos…” I lift my hand to my forehead, overwhelmed.

“Well, lucky for you, I have the specs,” Ray replies.

“Horsefeathers.” I snort. “It’s impossible—that piece is on its third generation.”

“My grandfather was commissioned for that necklace in England, Kat. It was one of the biggest pieces he ever made, and it put him—and our family name—on the map. The rubies came from Queen Victoria’s collection. I have all the original reports in my files. You’ll have everything you need.”

“See?” Paul slaps his hand on his thigh. “I told you we can do this. ”

“There are going to be dozens of security guards and a hundred people at that ball, Paul. How on earth are we going to steal that necklace?”

“Oh, I don’t think it’ll be challenging at all.”

“Really?” My tone turns biting. “You think you’ll just waltz out the front door with it?”

“Yes.” He sticks his hands in his pocket and peers at me.

“How can you possibly believe it will be so easy?”

“Because someone at that ball is going to be wearing the necklace, Kat. And I’m fairly confident your little boyfriend will make sure it’s hanging around your pretty neck.”

Matthew.

“And if it’s not?” My voice is deadly soft now.

Paul shrugs. “You’ll find a way to make sure it is. I know you, Kat. It won’t even be hard. You can charm the dew right off a honeysuckle.”

I raise an eyebrow. “If I refuse?”

“Ray, would you give Kat and me a minute?” Paul says, glancing at the jeweler.

Ray shifts his weight, uneasy.

“I just want to talk to her privately.” Paul raises his hands.

“You okay, kid?” Ray checks with me.

I cross my arms. “I’m fine. Go.”

“Katarina.” Paul sighs once Ray departs. “Why is everything such a struggle lately?”

I shake my head. “I want out, Paul. We used to take controlled risks because we needed to. Then we upped the stakes because we wanted to. But it’s not fun anymore, and it’s far from necessary. I don’t want any part of this.”

“If it wasn’t the DaMolin family,” Paul says, glaring at me, “you’d be singing a different tune.

You accused me of being too close to this, but the truth is, you are.

You’re blind to this opportunity because of your feelings.

That’s a rookie mistake, Kat. The oldest in the book.

You’re too skilled for me to stand by and watch you make it. ”

I drop the newspaper clipping on my desk. “A forgery like this will take inordinate time and resources. And for what? Say we get the necklace, what then? Those rubies would be too hot to even consider moving. How would you ever find a buyer?”

“I found one for The Dancer faster than you could blink. It’s not about the money, Kat. We don’t need this, but I want it.”

“For what? Some kind of trophy?”

He shrugs. “If it was the old days, you wouldn’t even have to ask. We’d steal the necklace together, you’d put it on in my bedroom, and you’d let me make love to you wearing it. All night long.”

“Well, that is certainly not going to happen, so if that’s the end game, I’m afraid you’re going to be sadly disappointed.”

We’re quiet for a moment, staring at each other.

“You really want out?” Paul finally asks.

My heartbeat picks up. “I really do.”

“Fine. Do this job with me, then you’re free. I’ll cut you loose, and I won’t ask for anything again. If it’s truly what you want.”

I lick my lips. Tempted.

“I’m serious. You wanna escape scot-free with your nine lives? This is it, Kitty-Kat. The last job. We should go out with a bang, shouldn’t we?”

“Can we pick another job?” I ask weakly.

“No.” He shakes his head. “This is it—the ultimate heist. If you’re going to have a last, this should be it.”

I think for a few minutes, but I still feel absolutely sick about it.

I could say yes, appease him, but then what?

If I steal from Matthew’s family, he’ll know who did it.

And he’ll never forgive me. I could try to make a fake so perfect, they’d never know…

but even if I succeeded and the necklace we nt back in the vault for another twenty-five years, there would always be a festering secret between us.

No more secrets.

Paul must realize I’m still not convinced, because he pulls his trump card. “Okay, I’ll sweeten the deal, Kitty-Kat…or sour it, depending on your view.”

“How?” I frown.

Paul leans in close. His breath is hot on my cheek as he whispers, “I know where your saintly little boyfriend lives. I know where he works. How and when he goes back and forth. I know where his family lives. Where you like to go out together. I know it all. Need I go on?”

I inhale sharply. The walls close in.

“You’re at my mercy, Kat. I think I’d take the deal if I were you. Before the terms change.”

“Fine.” There’s no other option.

He leans back. “Smart girl.”

“But this is it. After this, you leave Matthew and me alone. I want your word.”

“You have it,” he promises. “You know I’m good for it. Part of the code.”

“Then let’s quit piddlin’ and get Ray back in here. This is going to take weeks, so I need to start straight away. The ball is in March.”

“Done.” Before he walks away, he gives me one final look. “Don’t try to get cute with this job, doll. I want that necklace, and you’re going to get it for me.”