Page 5 of The Scarab's Game

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Page 5 of The Scarab's Game

“Stone.” Emmett winked at me before shaking hands with Massimo.

Stone? What was he talking about?

Emmett produced a simple white business card with black letters and handed it to Massimo—but his assistant intercepted it. “Antiquities broker.”

I introduced him to Dante, the courtesy more instinct than anything else.

Why Stone?

Emmett shook hands with Dante. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Before I could embarrass myself by not remembering Massimo’s assistant’s name, the man stepped away to take a phone call.

“And how do you know Jenn?” asked Dante.

“She’s my sister’s best friend.” A lazy smile pulled Emmett’s mouth up, tugging at memories best left out of my business dinner. “Known each other since we were kids.”

We’d been friends forever.

But he was also the first boy I’d kissed.

The first boy who’d broken my heart.

Now he was the guy using a fake name. Why was he?—

Wait. The Reynolds Recoveries company specialized in locating lost things, making special deliveries, and negotiating for the return of stolen items. Scarlett had once told me she sometimes used an alias for privacy. Was that why he’d winked?

“De Rosa, was it?” asked Emmett. “Any relation to the De Rosa Gallery?”

Dante nodded. “It is. And Emmett Stone? Is this a name I should know?”

“I work for a discreet brokerage, dealing in high-value items.” Emmett looked from Dante to Massimo, then turned his smile on me. “I’m always on the lookout for potential acquisitions.”

That smile settled low in my stomach, bringing back memories I didn’t want to relive.

“I’m in Monte Carlo looking for rare Egyptian antiquities for one of my clients.”

“We open tomorrow at ten.” Massimo lifted his menu, a not-so-subtle hint he was done with the conversation. “I prefer not to speak business after hours.”

“Of course.” Emmett bowed his head in courtesy. “But I’m sure you can agree a thing of beauty can be discussed at any time?”

Dante shifted in his seat, squaring up toward Emmett without letting go of the back of my chair. “However, we only discuss purchases during business hours.”

Emmett gave a faux tip of his hat to the men. “I’ll be stopping into Galatea and Brise Galleries in the morning. Perhaps I’ll see you all tomorrow afternoon?”

Massimo nodded curtly and focused on the server, who’d arrived with our bottle of wine.

Emmett extended his hand as though to shake mine, something he hadn’t—ever?—done with me. “And I’ll definitely be seeing you around. Where are you staying?”

Chapter 3

Emmett

Dante releasedhis death grip on the back of Jenn’s chair and intervened. He extended his hand, swooping in to shake mine before I could touch Jenn. Drew had called it—she was his date, and he was hoping for more. That wasn’t going to happen. The De Rosas had their fingers in too many less-than-legal operations for me to accept him in her life.

Her father’s words echoed in my memory.‘She deserves better than the son of a criminal.’

My smile faltered.




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