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But I think she will. I saw the way she looked at the book, the way she gazed at the canvas. She wants this. She’s tempted.
And I’m just as tempted, but for something so much worse.
Chapter9
Hellie
“Asshole.”
I pace around the studio, glaring at all the art supplies.
“Asshole.”
I keep thinking about Erick, his self-satisfied smirk, his muscular chest glistening with sweat, covered in tattoos and scars.
“Asshole.”
Each time I pass it, my eye strays to the Vermeer paintings.The Concert. How does a man like Erick know about something like this? I’m into the art world and I’d never heard of the Gardner.
He probably likes the crime aspect.
“Asshole.”
I run my finger down the glossy page. It’s strange, the woman on the right side, her hand’s up in the air as if mid-gesture, and her face is glowing from the light slanting in from the window. There’s the vague, blurry image of the sky and some trees on the inside lid of the piano, and I can’t tell if that’s a reflection or if it’s a decoration. In the foreground, under the table draped by cloth, is a little basket. Almost lost in shadow.
It’s beautiful.
“Asshole.”
“You don’t have to keep saying it, he knows.”
I yelp and jump, flinging myself around. The other man from that night’s standing in the doorway, grinning at me. He’s in a dark suit fitted to his muscular frame. Around Erick’s height, but wider, like a damn refrigerator.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry. My name’s Ren.” He doesn’t move to enter the room. “I heard you were hanging out in here and I had to see it for myself.”
I get myself together, straightening my clothes. “Here I am, his little circus show.”
“Aw, don’t be so down on yourself. Erick really thinks you can pull this off.” Ren stared around, a skeptical frown on his face. “But based on the way you keep mutteringassholeto yourself, it seems like this job is off to a bad start.”
“I’m not doing it.” I turn away from him, arms crossed. I slam the art reference book closed. “He can just kill me if that’s what he wants.”
“You’re right. He could.”
The way Ren casually says it makes a chill run down my spine. “I don’t know where my dad is, if that’s why you’re here. I don’t know anything about the theft at all.”
“Oh, I believe you. So does Erick, which is why you’re not in the basement right now getting your skin peeled off your body.”
My jaw drops open. Ren’s smiling at me like he’s discussing the menu for Sunday brunch, but there’s a sharpness in his eyes. A willingness to do anything that needs doing. Which includes torturing me, if needed.
“He’s serious about this.” I gesture around me.
“He’s very serious. Brought it up to the other two just yesterday, and I gotta say, both of them were pretty keen on making your demise very slow and very painful.”
“Did he send you to convince me or something?”
Ren snorts, shaking his head. “Hell, no. He strictly forbade me from entering this room.” He gestures at himself, still standing on the threshold. “I’m obeying the word but ignoring the spirit.”
