Henrik stepped back toward the cellar, and I grabbed him by the collar. “Where the hell are you going?”
He flashed his fangs. “I have to get back to the party. Otherwise, they’ll suspect me. You go.”
“Not without the painting,” Mina insisted.
Bene looked at me. “Will you talk some sense into her?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. He was right, but anything I said would only infuriate her.
“We’re aborting this mission,” Roux barked in his bestI’m in charge heretone.
For once, I didn’t question the guy. But Mina dug in her heels.
“I’m not leaving without that painting.”
“She’s right,” Henrik said, surprising the hell out of everyone. “We have to go back.”
I frowned. Since when did he care about art?
Roux looked at him, echoing that sentiment.
Henrik took a long time to answer, raising my suspicions.
“Gordon will be pissed if we don’t deliver,” he finally tried.
Yes, he would, but we could deal with that shitstorm later. I tugged Mina’s hand, but she stood her ground, glaring at Henrik.
“You’re not risking this for Gordon or the painting.” Her words were a statement, not a question.
Henrik’s brow furrowed, and his eyes sparked with anger. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me,” she growled.
He didn’t, so she went on. “This is about that box, isn’t it?”
Roux caught my eye, telegraphing something like,Box? What box?
I had no idea, and time was ticking.
“No time now.” I tugged more insistently.
Mina yanked her hand away and whirled to face me, angry at first, then pleading. “I know this sounds crazy, but I can’t leave without that painting — or at least trying. Please.”
I had two choices: to cart Mina away against her will, saving her life but losing her respect forever, or indulging her — and putting her life at risk just so I could maybe, just maybe, have a shot with her someday.
I took a deep breath, then amended the sentiment. Mina was strong, intelligent, and independent. It wasn’t my place to make decisionsorindulge her. Just to support her — or bowout respectfully. And since I sure as hell wasn’t going to bow out without her…
“Okay,” I said, though it took everything I had. “Just hurry.”
Time would tell whether that was the right answer, but the burst of warmth in Mina’s eyes promised me it was.
Hell, I hoped so.
Every muscle in my body tensed as she and Henrik moved a few steps away to speak in hushed tones.
“I’ll make you a deal,” she started.
Crap. Not a good start.
