Page 45 of The Prize

“I also reassured you my casa is your casa.” He stretched out his hands. “So this look of guilt on your face doesn’t need to stay.”

“What’s in there?” I pointed to the chrome door behind me.

He kept his stare on mine. “Supplies.”

I assumed he meant for when he was acting as Icon and breaking into homes to steal back paintings. I felt like I’d woken up from a nightmare of my own making. I went to walk past him and he pressed a hand to my chest and nudged me back against the wall.

“Did the climb scare you?” He trapped me between his arms as he rested his hands either side of me.

“At first.”

“How do you feel now?”

I could see in his gaze he knew he’d awoken something within me and perhaps he regretted that jaunt down the wall.

“I feel braver,” I admitted.

“Well, that’s good, right?”

My senses sharpened as I tried to read sincerity in his voice.

We both knew he needed me if he was going to create this otherMona Lisa. After all, if anyone could guide him right on what the specialists would be looking for it would be me.

“I’m here for you.” He brushed a strand of hair out of my face.

“I appreciate that.”

“Zara, what’s wrong?”

“I feel like you’re keeping something from me.”

“Like what?”

“I want full disclosure on everything. No more keeping anything from me.”

“I’m not keeping anything from you.” He stepped back. “Why do you think that?”

“I want to know what you’re doing in here.”

“I’ve been open about all of it—” He pointed across the room. “Over there the three-dimensional printer is waiting for me to extract chemical components to create our bait.”

“And where will you find these samples?”

“Tomorrow I have an appointment with a sixteenth-century specialist.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“If you like.”

“Show me how you break into homes.” I folded my arms.

He leaned in and whispered, “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” My body shuddered against the pressure of his chest pressing mine, and if he kissed me I’d bite his lip.

“You want in on Icon’s methods?” His mouth brushed my earlobe.

“For all the right reasons,” I managed.