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Chapter Seventeen
Nazyr
My heart is pounding inside my chest as I try to keep my cool. My woman is in Portugal with my brother, and within the next hour, they’re going to be in Duarte’s home, extracting the girls. I’m standing in my sister’s art gallery while many people are scattered across the space. With champagne glasses in hand, the potential customers look over my sister’s artwork.
I happen to be standing by myself in front of one of my sister’s latest paintings. We spoke a bit earlier today, and she told me she just finished this painting last weekend. Eset doesn’t usually push a deadline like that, but this exhibition was sort of quickly thrown together to lure Duarte out here.
Eset doesn’t paint abstract artwork too often, but she has quite a few pieces in this collection. The painting in front of me is a mixture of green, orange, red, blue, and black. I don’t know a damn thing about how she does what she does, but I’m not going to act like I do. I’m certain she has some amazing technique that other artists will understand, but to me, it just looks like she grabs the brush and drags it across the canvas.
Near the top of the painting, the colors come fanning out, looking like fire. There are variations in the shades, where light and darkness come through. This is where I can really see my sister’s technique coming to life. It’s where I can see the passion in her paintings.
Out of nowhere, someone comes up on my right. I keep my eyes ahead of me, really looking at my sister’s design. She’s done a damn good job. It’s no surprise to me that she’s good at this. Eset is the type of woman who will study whatever she’s interested in until she’s an expert. She can’t be happy being a simple novice. She’s been that way ever since she was a little girl.
“Your sister’s artwork is much more beautiful in person. I’ve only ever seen it online,” Duarte states.
I turn to look at the man now standing beside me. “There’s no comparison to seeing it in the flesh.”
“You’re right in that, my friend.”
I almost grimace when Duarte calls me his friend, but I hold that reaction back. He needs to think we’re friends right now—not for too much longer, thankfully—but just enough time for Mona, my brother, the girls, and their team to get out of Portugal.
“How have you enjoyed the products?” I change the subject completely and take a sip of my champagne while I await Duarte’s answer.
“They’re great. Thank you. I’ll be needing another meeting soon. I think I’m going to end up increasing the volume of my order. I take it your family has no issues getting the product from their suppliers?”
I snicker lightly, knowing he’s baiting me. He wants to know where we get our guns. He’s trying to undercut us, and he’s doing it in a sly way. What Duarte doesn’t know is that my family handles everything from the production of the guns to the sale and shipment. “We won’t have an issue whatsoever.” I keep my response vague as hell, and Duarte furrows his brows slightly. He doesn’t like that I didn’t just fall into his shitty little trap.
“Perfect. That’s what I wanted to hear.” Duarte flashes his pearly whites.
It’s the same thing he did when he was taunting me with Mona. I’ve come to discover that this smile isn’t just a smile. There’s something that lies underneath it.
“Brother, there you are.” Eset comes in at the perfect time, and I loosen up a bit.
“I’ve been here for a while. You’ve just been running around mingling with your clients.” I smirk, and she throws her head back in a carefree laugh.
“Okay, you’re not lying. I have to at least say hello to everyone. It’s courteous of me.”
“Yeah, and it’s how you make sales,” I poke fun at my sister, and Duarte hasn’t taken his eyes off her. He does realize she’s a married woman, right?
“It’s great to meet you, Eset. I’ve heard so much about you through the grapevine,” Duarte speaks up, and Eset looks right at him.
“Well, it’s probably half bullshit, half the truth.” Eset doesn’t tear her eyes away from Duarte’s.
“I think it’s a bit of both. I hear you’re callous and that you’re a take-no-shit kind of woman,” Duarte replies.
“Those are two facts, but there’s much more about me than meets the eye.”
“That I can see, and I see there’s still a ring on your finger. I must be honest. I thought your romance with Santos would’ve fizzled out by now.” Duarte has no problem taking his shot with my sister.
Eset scoffs. “It hasn’t, and it won’t. Santos and I are extremely close.”
“If you’re that close, then where is your supporting husband?”
“He’s on his way with our daughter.” Eset raises her brows, and I know she’s getting pissed.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you two had a child.”
“Yes, so, as I said, we’re extremely close,” Eset states, making sure to shoot Duarte her best glare.
