Page 106 of The Prize

“No, thanks.” She flipped over the key card.

“I’m going to have an early night.” I twisted the lid off. “Did you enjoy tonight?”

Her gaze rose to meet mine. “Yeah. Wish I could afford one of those paintings. Maybe I’ll end up with a print instead. If they make them.” She frowned as she contemplated and it was the kind of rumination of someone putting the pieces together. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“He broke your heart, didn’t he?” She gave a look of sympathy. “That’s why you’re feeling sick?”

I set the bottle down. “I have a lot to think about.”

I am ruined from what I’ve done and the risks I’ve taken.

This is all my fault.

She handed me the key card. “I’m here when you want to talk.”

I clutched it in my palm, stepped forward and hugged her, suppressing my need to beg Abby for help.

I couldn’t risk it.

The rigidity left her body as she hugged me. “I’ve been there.”

I have to put everything right...

Abby headed toward the dividing door to her room. “I’m going to leave this open in case you need me.”

“I appreciate that,” I lied.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

WITHMYFACEburied in my palms I willed myself to think straight.

I knew what facing great odds meant because I’d grown up surrounded by heroes painted on canvases who appeared all too real with their all too authentic pain reaching beyond the centuries. These old souls conveyed they’d found a way.

I could do this.

I would find a way to save Tobias.

Elliot Burell may have tried to steal that hope from me when he’d stolen my paintings or when he’d attempted to burn down my family home or when he’d sent my father to an early grave, but the memory of those paintings taught me what the human soul could endure.

Though I was on my own this time to face off with this deadly adversary who threatened everything I held dear, I had to move forward.

I had to get the otherMona Lisato Eli.

Sitting on the edge of my hotel bed staring at the wall, I waited until I hoped Abby had fallen asleep, and then set off for The Rose Club, bringing my purse with me. My brain processed every possible scenario of getting the painting out of there without any hassle from security.

The ride down in the lift was nothing compared to how terror-struck I felt. Within minutes I was entering the place where an hour ago Tobias was meant to have met with Eli in a cordial fashion.

Within The Rose Club a few well-dressed hotel guests sat chatting on the leather furniture with the extra privacy of the lights having been dimmed for the evening. From around me came clinking glasses and vibrant conversation. Following the natural curve of the sitting room I came to a hallway. At the end a young man in a smart suit guarded a door. This had to be it. What other reason would there be for a room to be protected from anyone entering? Tobias had hired this private space for the exchange and even though he knew he was dealing with the devil, even he hadn’t anticipated the extent of his cruelty.

Maybe this entire time Eli was just trying to get to me. Persuade me, bully me to give up the search for my paintings and all the while I’d led Tobias into danger. The thought of having to face Eli alone in the morning chilled my flesh. I could always ask Abby to accompany me, but then I’d be putting her in danger and threatening Tobias’s life.

Making my way down the hallway, I mulled over the best approach that would get me in that room.

With my head held high I greeted him. “I work for Mr. Wilder.”

The guard looked me up and down. “Hello, ma’am, are you here for the viewing?”