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“Will it pass?” Frost presses.
“Any expert in the world would be fooled. If I hadn’t been told, I would’ve assumed you had the real thing.” He hesitates, frowning as he squints. “If these paints are all historically accurate, and they certainly look like they are—well, I don’t see how anyone could ever tell. Remarkable. Absolutely remarkable.”
I cover the painting again and Pedro looks visibly shaken as he sits down.
“Looks like we have a deal going,” Frost says, accepting the painting from me. He passes it off to a goon who carries it gingerly away followed by Pedro. I briefly wonder if the poor art doctor knows too much, but it isn’t my problem. “I’ll get in touch with my buyer.”
“Does Gallo know what to do?”
Frost looks guilty as he shrugs. “I didn’t plan on mentioning anything.”
I glare at him for a beat before stepping closer. “Bring Gallo in.”
“He’s useless. And kind of annoying.”
“I don’t care. Bring him in. We’re not stealing from one of our own.”
Frost grunts, not looking happy. “Fine. Now, if this sale goes well, I’ll want another.”
“You’ll get another on our timeline.”
“Not good enough.” Frost stares at me and I feel a prickle on my neck. “I need another.”
“She’ll get at least two months per painting,” I say, not backing down. “I’m not going to work her to death.”
“Two weeks at most. If we can keep her working, imagine how much we stand to make. If they’re even half as good as that—”
“One month. No more negotiating. She’ll have her own choice over what she paints, and she’ll get a month to do it. We split the cost of whatever materials she requests. And once her debt is paid, the girl goes free.”
Frost’s nose wrinkles. “I don’t like it.”
“I don’t give a fuck. She’s mine, and I won’t let you use her until there’s nothing left.”
“Fine.” He turns his back on me, his shoulders tense. “But I expect something good. See you next month.”
I watch him go. Ren steps up beside me. “Should I say it?”
“You told me so. And I told you.” I look at him. “I’m going to protect her.”
“Yeah, good luck. Frost has it in for the girl.”
“I thought that was Gallo.”
“Nah, that old fuck’s got a hard-on for murder, but he’s always like that. He says what he means and you don’t have to worry about surprises.”
I let out a slow breath. “But Frost is different.”
“Exactly.”
Frost will sneak up on us. He’ll play the game, make me complacent, and one day he’ll hit when I least expect it.
“Keep an eye on him,” I tell Ren as I head back to the car. “We need to make sure he’s playing fair.”
Chapter21
Hellie
Waking up feels like dragging myself from a grave.
