The Fall of East

by Nana Malone

  He nodded. "Well, at least he's doing something right. Fine. So now we both know who Henry Warlow is. What is Interpol's intent?"

  "Well, our intention is to arrest him, but we need more proof. And I caution you to not do anything just yet.”

  His grin flashed then. "Yes, ever cautious. Thank you for the update, Agent Kincade."

  "That's it, you're telling me you're not going to do anything?"

  He placed a hand over his heart. "Cross my heart, hope to die. I will let you get your evidence all in place. But once you have it, Henry Warlow is mine."

  I clamped my jaw together tight, recognizing that we probably had highly different outcomes planned for this. But soon enough, he would be mine. And he wouldn't have to worry about what happened to Henry Warlow. "As long as you're promising not to jump the gun and go after him before we have confirmation."

  His smile was almost genuine. "Of course, Agent Kincade. I promise."

  Even as I left him, my inner voice just kept muttering to me There is no honor amongst thieves.

  Nyla

  Was there anything more awkward than being on your boyfriend's private jet with your disapproving father?

  This was it.

  East had business calls to take. They were across the aisle from each other. Both had their heads buried in work. I watched East. Every bit as commanding as he always was. But there was something about him in a suit. He was all business. Not fucking around. So goddamn sexy. And then he spoke French. I mean, I spoke French too, but somehow hearing him speak French was just out of this world.

  Something alerted him of me watching him, and his gaze flickered to mine, his green eyes going nearly olive as he watched me. He licked his bottom lip, and I choked back a cough. Then he gave me a wink and went back to his call. Jackass. He did it on purpose. He knew it would work me up with my dad sitting right there.

  East was the worst.

  Or the best. You love him for a reason.

  I did love him. He was everything I hadn't known I needed, really.

  My gaze shifted to my father, and he never once looked up. He just kept his head buried in work, tapping on the computer, going through files, texting someone, and back again.

  "Are you going to keep staring at both of them like that?"

  I sighed. “I can't help it. Did I just wind up with a different version of my father?"

  Amelia laughed. "No, you didn't. East is not your dad. He has always backed you. Always. Even when you didn't want his backing."

  I smiled at him then. He caught me looking and glanced around as if wondering what the hell I was smiling at, and then blew me a quick kiss before going back to work.

  Amelia chuckled. "Oh my God, you two need a room. Although I have to warn you, I don't suggest that you go into that room with your father sitting here. He might not exactly be daddy dear, because I feel like he would object."

  I snorted. "Oh my God, I would never. I don't know. There's a part of me that wishes they'd get along, but I also know that it's better for me that they don't because that means that East is different. He's not Denning. He would never sell me up the river to impress my father."

  "And that, my love, is something that you absolutely need."

  "Yeah, tell me about it."

  Amelia sat back and said, "I’ve got to say, the private plane ain't bad either."

  I snorted. "Oh my God."

  "What? I'm just saying. I mean, honestly, you found a billionaire and can't save one for me?"

  I shook my head. "Something tells me that you'd be very irritated with a billionaire. And do you really want to be told what to do all day?"

  She shuddered. "Ugh, perish the thought."

  "See? You'd hate him."

  "I believe it. But you managed it, so you know, maybe I could find my strength."

  The rest of the flight was quiet as we all tucked into our work, knowing full well the range of what we needed to accomplish.

  My thoughts wandered back to my meeting with Theroux the previous day, and I had a sinking suspicion that I had fallen into his trap because he'd been dangling this idea that he was going to let me bring him in. But something told me that was never going to happen.

  Amelia leaned forward again as if reading my mind. "Do you think it's going to work? You think Theroux is going to let you bring him in?"

  "I was just thinking about it. I don't know what his game is, but I know he's not going to let himself be caught by my father."

  She nodded and bit her lip. "Where are we on that informant?"

  There was a piercing thudding behind my eyes. "Theroux told me I was close, that I’d almost figured out what he wanted me to discover, but he wouldn’t fill in any details. Sometimes I feel like I'm spinning, you know? Just going in circles. I know she existed. I have that photo of her. But I wonder who she really is." My stomach did a weird flip-flop. My brain was trying to latch onto the similarities in the photo to my mother, but the woman in the photo couldn’t be my mother. I knew it.

  Are you sure?

  Just because they had similar profiles, didn’t mean she was my mother. Besides I would know. I’d heard how my parents met dozens of times. My mother was a perfectly average, albeit beautiful, housewife who loved being room mum at my primary school. She hadn’t been an international thief.

  Amelia ran her teeth over her bottom lip. "Okay, look, you know this happens. What if your father had an affair with her? Fell in love, even though they shouldn't have. It happens all the time."

  The thread of truth hung between us. "God, Amelia, my father is so straight and narrow. He's even horrified that we are on a private plane, even if it gets us to Monaco faster. He can't stand breaking the rules. Look at him."

  She nodded. "You have a point. The old man is very much a rules robot. But I mean, that's love though. Sometimes you can’t fight it. Even if you hate yourself."

  "That would mean that he cheated on my mum."

  "Well, maybe, maybe not. It could have been some brief fling. And obviously, they couldn't be together so, he sent her off to America before he ever met your mum.” She plucked at her bottom lip. “Except, she never made it to America, right?"

  My eyes went wide. "Are you suggesting he got rid of her or something?"

  "No, Ny. Why does everything always revolve around 'hey, murder' with you?"

  I shrugged. "I don't know, devious mind?"

  I could tell she was holding back an eye roll. "Okay, we'll dig deeper when we get back."

  "Yeah. It's about time I had some answers."

  I glanced behind us, two rows down. Two more members of our team were back there, and in the final row was Denning. Glowering at me, as if it was my fault that he’d hooked up with an art thief. "But you know what, there’s one thing that I haven't had a chance to say."

  Amelia lifted a brow. "Yeah, what's that?"

  "I was fucking right about Denning," I said with a smug smile.

  Her grin was so wide. "I swear to God, nothing has made me happier than you being right about that asshole."

  "It's like the most satisfying thing I've ever had happen to me in my entire life."

  She chuckled. "Is it?"

  "Yes, just knowing that I was right about him, knowing that my suspension was, in fact, bullshit."

  "But babe, you knew it was bullshit."

  "Yeah, I knew, but to have my father know it was bullshit, God, there's something so satisfying about that."

  Amelia snorted. "You know, smugness is not an attractive quality in a bestie."

  "Whatever. I'd bet you anything you have champagne in your bag so we can celebrate appropriately when we land."

  She grinned. "What kind of best friend would I be if I didn't celebrate your greatness. I mean, honestly, Ny, it's like you don't know me."

  "I love you. You know that."

  "Of course, you do. I'm fabulous."

  I settled back in my seat, looking out the window. It was all winding down, and I could feel it happening now and
it felt crazy. It felt like control, and I didn't know what to do with that. But I knew we were going to catch Krista Wilson, and I was going to find some way to bring Theroux in, whether he'd come willingly or not.

  Chapter Sixteen

  East

  I had to give it to my sister. She was a trooper. Interpol agents on her doorstep, and she didn't even blink. Nope. She just gave me a smile and Nyla a hug.

  When Nyla stepped back and made introductions, AJ looked like she was in her element. Margaux, still waddling and wearing two different colored shoes, offered everyone something to drink.

  "Anyone like anything? Coffee, tea, something stronger? It's not every day we are told we're going to be robbed… again."

  Nyla winced. "Maybe tea if you don’t mind. I can help if you want. I'm so sorry this is happening all over again."

  AJ waved her off. "No, no. Our housekeeper will help Margaux. I appreciate the warning."

  When Margaux waddled off to get drinks with some help from the housekeeper, I watched her and asked AJ, "Is she all right?"

  AJ nodded. "Yeah, she's just pregnant. And tired."

  "Ugh, my niece or nephew is a take-no-prisoners type, right?"

  She laughed. "Absolutely. She takes after her uncle."

  My eyes went wide. "A girl? You guys are going to have a baby girl?"

  She clapped her hands over her mouth. "Damn it. I managed to keep this secret from Mum, but I knew I'd be weak with you."

  I laughed. "Yes. Now I’ll be sending you a room full of pink stuffies. You know that, right?"

  She sighed. "Yeah, I had a feeling."

  When everyone was settled, I noticed Denning Sinclair glancing around, assessing the cost of every single piece of art in the room.

  The last thing I wanted him to do was assess anything. He'd let an art thief live under his roof for over a year. Had he been in on it with her? I knew Nyla wasn't going to love that idea, but it was a possibility.

  But it was Roger Kincade that I watched most closely. There was no love lost between us, but he was Nyla's father. And some odd part of me wanted him to approve. Give his blessing. I wanted him to see that I was going to take good care of his daughter.

  Which was ridiculous because the only person I had to prove that to, was Nyla.

  Oh, look at you, the traditionalist.

  But there was another part of me that knew how Roger Kincade had treated his daughter for most of her life, so I also gave no fucks.

  When everyone was seated and had coffee, Nyla started. "AJ, it's good to see you again." Kincade cleared his throat and she cast him a frown. "Sorry, since we're here formally, Miss Du Mont, it's good to see you again."

  AJ laughed. "Oh my God, so formal. But all right, fine. Since the higher-ups are here, Miss Kincade."

  Nyla’s father frowned. "Agent Kincade."

  My sister lifted a dark brow. "You get to be formal. I don't want to be. Roger, is it?"

  He sighed. And I could see that my sister had already ruffled him. God, I loved AJ.

  "So, what am I dealing with?" she asked smoothly.

  "All right," Nyla started again. "The last time we talked, it was about the last attempted replacement of several pieces in your collection."

  AJ nodded. "When we talked about it, I explained the perpetrators were caught, right?"

  Nyla nodded. "Two of them were. But Marc Wilson had a sister. She was involved as well, and she’s the one coming after the Thomas Ackerman painting. We discovered that she’s stored various pieces, both originals and forgeries, in a car park in London and has been using it as an outpost for buyers. Some pieces she kept for herself. Things they couldn't unload. One of her former accomplices gave up the location."

  AJ's eyes went wide. "Wow, okay. There really is no honor amongst thieves." I scowled at her. I knew she was making fun of me. She continued. "So best bet is protecting the Ackerman.”

  I nodded and sat up. "If it were me, strictly speaking, I'd go after the piece that got me caught. There’s a poetry in acquiring the one that got away."

  Denning snorted. "Okay, Mr. Billionaire, I knew you lot were unscrupulous, but let's not pretend you know anything about art theft.” He was forced to agree with us though. “That said, she had another copy of it in her warehouse. So we do think she will make another attempt."

  This time, Nyla didn't have to say anything, but Roger Kincade glowered at Denning. "You left files sitting around your house about this very case, and it detailed how the rest of the gang was caught. You don't think that would mean poetic justice for her?"

  Denning frowned. "No, it's just… She wouldn’t be that careless."

  "You mean like shagging an Interpol agent to get intel? Reckless, but smart. If you can go undetected, you can get all the information you'll ever need. And if they're on to you, you’ll be the first to know. So, if I were you, Agent Sinclair, I would sit back, shut up and listen while the grownups talk."

  I blinked, trying hard not to laugh, but it was Nyla's expression that took me aback. There was pity. Not smugness, like that on Amelia's face. Pity. Because she knew what it was like being on the receiving end of one of her father's lectures. She knew what it was like when he didn’t believe in you and thought you were the fuck up. Damn it. I wanted to pull her into my lap and wrap my arms around her, because I never wanted her to feel that again. And part of me wanted to take a piece out of Roger Kincade's ass.

  But I knew that Nyla didn't need his approval anymore, and I turned my attention back to my sister. "Okay, so AJ, notify your security team that she's coming for that particular piece. Where is it located?"

  "Well, it's on display. Centerpiece of the exhibit."

  Nyla asked, "Do you think she's going to attempt to replace it? What's the play here?"

  I frowned. "I don't know. They tried that one before, and it didn't work, but only because her brother got caught. But if there's another way to replace it, I bet you she'll find it."

  I watched the conversation back and forth, and some of Nyla's penchant for pity rubbed off on me. "If she's going for it, we'll get her. AJ, alert your security team. Agent Kincade, setup your team anywhere you need them. I will take a personal watch on that painting if I have to."

  Nyla grinned at me. "Mr. Hale, that’s a kind offer since your expertise is in security,"

  Denning scoffed. "What? He owns a bloody hotel. How is his expertise in security?"

  Nyla just ignored him. "Would you mind taking a look at the electronic security they have here at the museum?"

  "Of course."

  AJ grinned at me. "Yeah, my brother set it up in the first place, so why don't we double-check to make sure no one can get past our systems?"

  I frowned. "I built the systems. No one's getting past them."

  Roger Kincade pinned a scrutinizing look at me. "Oh, Mr. Hale, another interesting thing to learn about you. You're a force to be reckoned with."

  I met his gaze back. "Absolutely. Learn everything you need to know."

  And then I turned to smile at Nyla. "You know absolutely who you can count on and who you cannot."

  Nyla

  East's voice was hushed as he checked my bulletproof vest. "Are you okay?"

  "Of course. You know, just that feeling of knowing you were right all along, knowing something wasn't right and not being able to put your finger on it, it’s disconcerting."

  "I can imagine."

  "But yeah, I guess, I'm fine."

  He inclined his head toward the rest of my team. "It seems that Denning is in the doghouse."

  I double-checked my straps. "Yeah. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about that."

  He laughed as he finished strapping me in. "Well, the best thing about feelings is you just sort of feel how you feel. It's not really about how you're supposed to act on it. You can do that after you sort situations out."

  "I know. It's odd, I guess. I'm used to being the one getting admonitions from my father."

  East winced. "Yeah, I know.
As long as it's not you, I won't step in."

  "Thank you, by the way."

  "For what?" he gave me a soft smile.

  "Well, for doing all of this for me. Private jets and all, and on such a short notice. You put up with my father and his constant scowling. You even put up with Denning. You want anal, don’t you?"

  East coughed a laugh. "Oh my God, Nyla Kincade, that is shocking that you would suggest something so lurid to me. Also, can we try it tonight?"

  I snorted a laugh. "You're impossible."

  "But you love me."

  "Yes, I do. As for the anal, that's a conversation we'll have to have later, because I'm about to go and get shot at, probably."

  "No, I already learned that when making a deal, force them to take the deal on the table. Never let them walk away, or you might not get to negotiate those basics again. You brought it up. Is it on the table?"

  I flushed deep. And then I lifted on my tiptoes to kiss him. "With you, East Hale, everything is on the table."

  The kiss he gave me was deep. Thorough. "Excellent. I've always wanted to try a threesome."

  I shook my head. "No, that’s not on the table. Well, actually it is, so long as it's up for negotiations for me as well."

  His eyes went wide. "You mean you’d let another bloke touch you? I will kill anyone who touches you."

  I grinned. "Yeah, I figured.”

  "Fair enough. Truth be told, I probably wouldn't be able to get it up with another woman anyway. You ruined it for little East, you see. He only sees you now. It's very annoying."

  As he spoke about his dick, it throbbed against my belly. "East, my father is here somewhere."

  "Yeah, I know. But maybe if you touch little East just a little, he’ll know that you're there for him and he won’t be so worried about you.”