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“Who is our potential buyer?”
Ares screws his face up. “Nassar Abuladan.”
A huff of surprised laughter escapes me. “I thought he was dead!”
“Who is this guy?” Penny asks.
“A slimy British ex-pat who is usually the chosen go-between for Oman or the U.A.E.,” Eros says. “He’s… not a good guy.”
“To be clear, none of the people we sell to are good guys,” Ares adds.
“True. If we were too picky about who we sold to, we wouldn’t make many sales.”
“I’m just glad that Hades will be out of that underworld after this sale.” Penny purses her lips. “I expect that you’ll need some documents forged?”
“A set of customs papers, at the very least. And if ye could forge one of the lesser-known pieces by Matisse or Renaud, it would help to ease our way. Oman especially is always looking for art to pass on to…” Ares pauses. “Whoever the fuck is dumb enough to do business directly with them, I guess.”
“So you just need a painting by one of the masters copied down to the last detail?” Penny asks drily. She purses her lips and flashes a sour expression. “You’re lucky that I really need this sale to go through.”
“It’ll benefit us all,” Ares rumbles.
“If that were true, ye wouldn’t have had to blackmail me into going along with yer plan,” I retort.
He pushes back his chair and gets up, his lip curling. “Just do yer part, Hades. And make sure that yer girl does the same.”
I stand up, giving him a hard glare.
“Don’t tell me what needs to be done, Ares. I got us into the whole arms-smuggling world in the first place. Ye have me to thank for every single dollar we’ve racked up since.”
Eros looks over at Penny. He shrugs at her and remains seated, putting the cards down and folding his hands.
“This job should be quick, maybe two weeks max. So let’s just get it done and then we can fight over our petty bullshit after, if that’s what we still feel like.”
Extending my hand to Penny, I help her to her feet. I’m furious at Ares and to a lesser extent Eros. But I still have Persephone to watch out for. Her safety is the most important thing. Leaning over the table, I scoop up the bullet, brandishing it.
“The hotel where we are staying may be compromised. If our enemies were able to get a bullet into Penny’s suitcase, we have no assurances that she will be safe inside.”
She shivers. “What if the note was hidden in my luggage before the hotel? Or what if the person who planted it wants to drive us from the public eye?”
“That’s a fair question.” I slip my arm around her, squeezing her tightly.
“Do we want to contract security?” Eros asks, standing up at last.
“Already done.” Ares looks at his phone. “I hired some Serbian mercenaries. As long as we have money, they are on our side. And they should be touching down here soon.”
“I also have some place for ye to stay that I think will suit our needs,” Eros says. He scrunches up his face. “Let me check it out, but I think it will be perfect for our little artist to work.”
Persephone gives him a dirty look. Smirking at Eros, I shrug. “Let me know.”
Chapter19
Persephone
In the early morning hours, Paris is just beginning to wake up. Dawn stains the darkness of the receding night sky with cool, gray blots of ink that slowly spread across the horizon. Against the early morning gloom, I hurry down the street after Hades. My eyes are wide, soaking every fiber of my soul with the sights and sounds of Paris.
I can’t believe I’m here.
The first bus of the day whooshes past on the dark, rain-slicked street. A short, scruffy young man sets up a display of flowers at his corner stall. The smells of freshly baked bread and fish straight from the ocean rise to greet my nose.
