Page 107 of Enduring Caine
My eyes flashed back to him. “Who’s your handler?”
He stepped closer again. “Sam, don’t you trust me?”
“Who’s the FBI agent coordinating with the TPC?”
“Vincenzo, leave her and get in the boat,” snapped the man. Corsican accent. That’s what I remembered.
“What I told you about Tuscany was true. I did join the Carabinieri before we broke up. And it wasn’t a lie that my path between then and now has been a crazy one, nor even the story about the antiquities dealers I worked for.” Vin scanned my face, his hand releasing mine to trace the line of my jaw. “I’ve regretted what happened between us ever since. I was young and had no idea how lucky I’d been to find someone so perfect for me. So when I saw you…”
Every muscle in my body flagged.
Scarlett really recovered the fresco. She wasn’t merely a delivery person. She’d snuck past Fiori’s security to get it so we could take it home.
Giovanni wasn’t trading it for some painting. He’d paid Scarlett—risked Fiori’s retaliation—to make a gesture to his brothers. Just like he’d sworn.
And Vincenzo was nothing more than a thief who worked for Fiori.
“You son of a bitch.” I swiped his hand away from my face. He’d toyed with my emotions, reminding me of our past at every moment to keep me off guard. “You used me.”
“No. When I saw you at the dinner table on Monday…” He shook his head and tossed the tube to Bodyguard One in the boat. “I thought you were with the FBI. It was a blessing because I thought you were only posing as Antonio’s girlfriend and maybe we had a chance. But a curse all the same because I wouldn’t get a second chance with an FBI agent, considering who I work for.” At least he’d given up the lie.
I looked at Bodyguard One, securing the tube under a bungee cord on the boat’s edge.
“You hesitated that first day down here. Do you remember? I asked when the FBI got involved and you were confused. I knew you weren’t working for them, so that was my in.” He reached for the helmsman’s hand, and between the two of them, they pulled the boat next to the walkway at the edge of the pool. Vincenzo stepped in. “I remembered how passionate you were about art crimes and thought telling you I was still with the TPC would get me some extra time with you.”
Extra time? Or extra resources? How many things had he said that were a lie? And how much was I responsible for him taking this painting? “Did you actually know the passcode already?”
The rib’s motor started up.
Vin put his hand on the man’s arm to stop him. “No, I didn’t.”
“What about the secret door in the tasting room?”
He drew in a slow breath, looking to the ceiling, the light of his lamp climbing high above us, to illuminate the entire cave.
Vin said, “Yes, I knew about that. But I knew you wouldn’t come down if I didn’t need your help. And I was hoping… that you’d remember how good we were together.”
Antonio had told me I was letting my old feelings for Vin get in the way. He was right. I had to learn to listen to that man more often.
What to do now? He had the painting that I’d help him get. I’d sent the photo ofThe Magdalento Elliot. Everything I’d done tonight was for the wrong side. I had to fix this.
I took Vincenzo’s hand and pulled him closer, so he had to balance himself in the boat, but I didn’t get in. “If I go with you, will I be in more danger than I am here?”
“No.”
“If I were, would you protect me?”
“Of course.”
I caved in my shoulders, making myself appear as weak as possible. That was how he knew me before, as the naïve young woman, wide-eyed and full of hope for the future, rather than the constantly irritated investigator I was now. I could use that to draw out a confession. But to what end? The cameras were off, Antonio was drunk wandering the villa. Maybe if I delayed them long enough, I’d figure out a way to get my hands on the painting. But then what? “Antonio jumped in front of a bullet for me. Am I worth that much to you?”
“More.” He pushed the headlamp higher on his head. “I’d kill for you.”
Oh god, that meant… “You killed Johann?”
He nodded. “I got careless and he found my dead drop location.”
My heart lurched.Stay calm, Sam.“The note about the delivery was yours?”