The Prize

by Vanessa Fewings

  “I must protect you at any cost.”

  My stare shot forward toward the dancers pirouetting beautifully.

  Tobias reached for my hand and brought it to his chest. “I want us to be in a place where we can be honest with each other.”

  “Don’t do this.”

  “I work better alone.”

  “You just tried to scare me, is that it?” I rolled my eyes. “Just close enough to have them approach but not engage?”

  “That was a taste of how fast they can be on us, Zara. These men are determined to find me.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  “I’m not giving you any choice.”

  I pushed myself up and turned my back to the stage to prevent the serenity of the dancers from distracting me. “I won’t let you do this.”

  “Sit down, please.” He gestured to my seat.

  “No.”

  He reached for my hand and pulled me into my seat. “Listen to me.”

  I felt like he’d let me in at the beginning of the adventure but was now dropping me off when the heat intensified. But my body still buzzed from a sense of pride that I could handle this. “I won’t let you face them alone. You need a witness.”

  “Zara, you know what they’re capable of—”

  “I can protect you.”

  “No one can. Look, you’ll be safer if you stay here. Marshall will take you home.”

  I felt my chest constrict. “Marshall’s in New York?”

  “Yes. Marshall and Coops have both worked for me for years. I trust them with my life.”

  And I’d been through hell and back with him too. “You trust me too, right? I feel like you’re still holding back on telling me things—”

  “If anything happens to you—”

  “You don’t get it.”

  “No, you don’t,” he snapped. “You are my greatest obsession. There are times when I sense how easy it would be to love you.”

  I broke his gaze, not wanting him to see how his words hurt me.

  He reached over and grabbed my chin to bring my attention back on him. “Zara, have you no idea how fond of you I am?”

  I’d needed to hear him say that he loved me and this was worse than him not saying it at all. I bit back my words to let him see I was handling this.

  My family had saved our paintings and they’d not hidden behind anyone. They’d accomplished what had to be done. Placed themselves in the pathway of peril for a greater purpose. I’d come this far with Wilder and I refused to back down. “I’m going with you.”

  “Zara—”

  “You need me. If they hurt you, then your plan is screwed. So get your butt out of that chair and let’s get this over with.”

  “I’m going to regret this.”

  Leaning into him, I grabbed his tie and pulled him toward me until our lips almost touched. “Negotiations are over.”

  “What have I done to you?” he whispered.

  “We have somewhere to be. Personally, I’m eager to find out where we’re going.”

  He pushed himself to his feet. “Careful, or I may just throw you over my shoulder and carry you off and punish your feistiness.”

  “Mind on the prize, Wilder.” I slapped his butt and turned to make my way along the row of seats. “Mind on the prize.”

  He followed me down the aisle. “The prize is even more priceless than you can possibly imagine.”

  “Let’s focus on what we can control.”

  “Leighton.” He smirked as he pointed to the side. “Back door!”

  I rolled my eyes and headed toward the right of the stage. Tobias followed and together we strolled down a dark hallway toward the exit.

  Within ten minutes we were sitting in the back of an SUV and Marshall was speeding us along the FDR Drive. Seeing his driver from LA should have rattled me, but I was determined to go with this and, anyway, staying together felt right.

  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

  Tobias dragged his gaze away from the river to look at me. “I thought something Iconic was in order.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  WHEN WE ARRIVED at the South Ferry station I realized we were boarding a boat.

  “It’ll take us to Liberty Island,” Tobias told me. “We’re going to see the Statue of Liberty.”

  “Seriously?” Though when I remembered our threat, being trapped on an island wasn’t the best idea and it sucked all joy out from seeing the famous monument.

  “Why are we going there?” I all but dug in my heels.

  Tobias folded his arms. “Let Marshall drive you back to the house.”

  “You better not turn your app on while we’re on that island.”

  “Because that would be insanity.” He widened his eyes to make his point.

  He was trying to scare me so I’d leave. Instead, I flicked a stray hair off of my face and stomped off toward the ferry.

  We bought two tickets and boarded just before the ferry pulled away, and a burst of the horn announced our departure from shore. We found a place where we had privacy from the tourists and both leaned on the balustrade, staring out at Brooklyn Bridge.

  With the dramatic view of the city behind us, we turned and faced our destination. I remembered when Tobias had taken me out on his yacht in Malibu and it seemed so long ago. That early morning trip out on his boat to watch the sunrise, with me lying beside him as he recited ballads by William Wordsworth, would remain one of my happiest memories of us.

  It was the time before everything changed irrevocably.

  Tobias shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. “Do you want to go inside?”

  “I like it out here.” I stared ahead at the Statue of Liberty looming larger, not wanting to look at him because his beauty felt like a strike to my reason. I tried to guard my heart for what lay ahead of us. There was so much uncertainty. When this was over I wondered how we’d be once I resumed my life back in London. I pondered him ever being able to give this up, this adrenaline-seeking existence that would mean an end to his life’s purpose.

  Something told me he’d get bored of me after a while. I was the careful type, the kind of woman who gave a great deal of thought to every decision. The kind of person who never took unnecessary risks. This cold breeze cleared my thoughts and reminded me I was taking the biggest risk of my life by insisting I join Wilder on this perilous jaunt.

  When our boat docked on Liberty Island, we waited in the back so the crowd disembarked first. Hand in hand, Tobias and I strolled along toward the inspirational statue and Tobias told me what he knew about her including how she was a symbol of freedom and democracy given to America by the French.

  How fitting it was for us to visit this place and draw on her historical significance; she was a symbol of freedom and righteousness. Tobias also told me her height was over 305 feet and that in 1986 her flame was covered in a thin film of gold.

  Of course, he’d booked our visit in advance which allowed us to enter her and climb the double spiral staircase with 377 steps all the way from the lobby to her crown, and when we reached the top we caught our breaths and laughed at how strenuous our ascent had been.

  A moment of doubt hit me when I realized Tobias might very well run off and leave me up there stranded. Staring at him, I tried to read what he was really up to.

  My throat tightened with dread when he pulled out his phone. Tobias turned it on and posed beside me to take a selfie of us.

  “I hope that thing isn’t on.” I shot him a glare.

  “I’ll wait until we’re down.” He tucked his phone away.

  “So they’ll see we visited here?” That made sense and I relaxed a little as I stared out through the statue’s crown and admired the view of water stretching out to meet New York. I mean, logistically, by
the time we were off the island they’d have missed us if they tried to follow us now.

  The trek down was harder and by the time we made it to the ground, my thighs were shaking. I was glad when we reached the Crown Café where we could get a drink and quench my thirst. We sat at a corner table sharing a large bottle of water and sipping tea and reviewing the photos he’d taken.

  “We’re coming back here.” His thumb swept to another photo. “So we can enjoy it properly.”

  “I’m enjoying it now.”

  “Are you sure you’re not hungry?”

  He’d asked me if I wanted food while we’d waited in line for our drinks but my appetite was dulled even after our climb. The unpredictability of the day was unsettling.

  I glanced around to make sure we had privacy. “Any more surprises?”

  “Sure you want me to ruin your fun?”

  And then I realized. “You turned the app back on?”

  “Yes, us meeting with Eli will be on our terms. Though it won’t look like this to him. He’ll believe he’s breeched my phone’s GPS. The plan to get your paintings back is underway.”

  I’d left his side for a few minutes to visit the bathroom and assumed he’d turned it back on then. “But they won’t have time to catch us if we leave now.”

  “We’re not leaving.”

  My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow past the lump.

  “If we get separated, call me.” He nodded toward my handbag.

  “Shouldn’t we go?”

  “The point is to make Eli believe he has us trapped. He’ll think that coming here personally to deal with us was his idea. His ego will be fed if he takes things into his own hands.” He rose and carried our empty cups over to a trash bin and threw them in, and then gave a confident nod for me to follow.

  We walked along the outside of the statue’s pedestal and I crooked my neck to peer up and admire the woman who was at first meant to represent an Egyptian peasant welcoming the refugees to safety. It was hard to focus with the thought we were just waiting around until the threat found us.

  “Same man who designed the Eiffel Tower in France,” said Tobias, pointing up at her. “Alexandre Gustave Eiffel designed the structure and Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the statue.”

  “She looks like a goddess.”

  “They went with a Greco-Roman goddess of liberty in the end.”

  I flexed a bicep. “They came to their senses and realized it’s the women who save the day.”

  Tobias pounced forward and tickled my ribs, and I laughed and struggled to get away from him. “Yeah, the truth hurts, mate.”

  “Mate?” He tipped up my chin. “What are you, a pirate?”

  “I’m a warrior.” I beamed at him.

  “I’m going to kiss you.”

  “I’ll allow it.”

  Something in the way he looked at me sent a stab of doubt as his mouth crushed mine, but having his body trapping me between him and the stone sent a shiver of pleasure that was impossible to deny and I weakened in his arms. I’d never be able to resist him like this, the way his tongue stroked mine tenderly, the way his lips forced mine wider and the way his kissing made me feel we were two souls entwined in a timeless embrace.

  He broke away and kissed my neck. “Oh, the things I want to do to you.”

  “What kind?” I ran my fingers along his shirt collar.

  “If we weren’t in a public area I’d kneel at your feet and worship the goddess before me.” He beamed brightly. “You take my breath away, Zara.”

  “Maybe I’d insist on kneeling before you—”

  “I’m going to have to stop you there.” He pressed a finger to my lips and something in his gaze changed.

  A jolt of fear hit me. “Are they here?”

  He pulled me along the stone wall and down the steps. “Don’t look back.”

  We rounded the corner and we ran down more steps. All the way to a grassy bank.

  “Wilder!”

  “Follow my lead,” said Tobias darkly.

  I turned and a jolt of terror chilled my veins—

  I recognized the pretty face concealing Eli Burell—that brown hair parted in the middle into a foppish style and that velvet jacket and black slacks worn to round out his arty arrogance. There, beside him, stood four men and all of them were dressed in dark suits. They looked like well-scrubbed mercenaries who’d tasted murder and liked it.

  This was what Tobias had struggled to protect me from.

  “What a surprise to see you here,” Tobias announced with a chilling composure. “Great minds think alike.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing, Wilder.” Eli glanced over at me. “Romantic setting. Nice to see you two are still together. Two birds and all that.”

  “Ever the charmer, Eli,” Wilder taunted. “How did you find us?”

  Eli shrugged. “I put it down to luck.”

  If Tobias was scared, he didn’t show it. He merely moved closer to me.

  “We missed you both when you left my party abruptly.” Eli tugged at his shirtsleeve. “I for one was hoping you were dead when you leaped off the roof.”

  “I was hoping you were going to jump after me.” Tobias grinned. “No such luck, apparently.”

  “It’s over, Wilder.”

  “Funny, I thought things were just getting good.”

  “Let’s have that chat.”

  “I don’t believe we have anything to talk about,” said Tobias.

  Eli scoffed. “You brought the FBI to our door when you gate-crashed our wedding in Arizona—” He glared at me. “Juliet, I mean Zara Leighton, employee of Huntly Pierre.”

  “How’s Noodle?” I sounded calm even though my heart was jackhammering.

  “Our Bengal tiger has developed a taste for fresh blood.” Eli raised his brows. “And I love to see him happy.”

  Tobias straightened. “Maybe we could set up a meeting with your dad. At a time that is more convenient to us? Cut out the middleman.”

  “Stop wasting everyone’s time.” Eli turned to go. “I’m going to let my men have that chat on my behalf. If you’ll excuse me.”

  “Let us go,” snapped Tobias.

  “After all the trouble I’ve gone to in finding you?” Eli sneered.

  Tobias looked at me and I knew he was waiting for my permission before he replied to Eli; he needed my blessing on the darkest deed I’d ever committed.

  “Eli.” I turned to face him. “I’ve seen her.”

  Tobias gave a nod to clarify. “Let us go and we’ll share what we know on this rare piece.”

  “That’s why you’re in New York?” Eli narrowed his gaze on us.

  Tobias gave a nod. “This insider knowledge will come with a caveat.”

  “Sounds fucking boring,” snapped Eli, but his irises were dilated and his jaw tense and his neck flushed with intrigue.

  “I’m giving you an insider scoop,” added Tobias.

  “My family owns everything there is that’s of interest. We own all the juicy artwork, leaving places like your gallery with the dregs.” Eli threw me a glare of triumph. “We have the greatest private collection of art in the world.”

  That wasn’t true, but Eli seemed to want to believe it because he was a prisoner of his own ego.

  I prayed the tourists stayed around to witness what they did to us. “Ever going to share your art with the world?” I asked.

  “Fuck no.” Eli glared at me. “The public wouldn’t recognize a masterpiece if you put it in front of them. Did you see that social experiment where one of the most famous violinists, Magnus Mayburn, played his Stradivarius in Central Park? People just walked by. No ear for genius. The fucking hoi polloi have no comprehension when it comes to art. The fuckers don’t deserve it. It’s up to the leaders of the world to hide it aw
ay and protect it. We get to enjoy it because we know its worth.”

  “Art is more than the money it’s worth,” I told him. “It’s the language of the soul.”

  Eli gave an arrogant smirk.

  Tobias drew his words out slowly. “Leonardo da Vinci’s other Mona Lisa has surfaced here. And I know where she’s being auctioned.” He raised his hand in caution. “This is a private affair. No one must know.”

  “This isn’t strictly legal?” Eli shifted his feet. “If you’re bullshitting me I will end you.”

  Tobias continued unfazed, “Tomorrow evening after my charity ball, a select group of art collectors will be invited to personally rub shoulders with the other Mona Lisa. If the offer is right the seller is open to parting ways with her.”

  Eli swapped a wary glare with his men. “If she was here I’d know.”

  “Apparently not.”

  “Who is this man?”

  “The owner has requested to remain anonymous,” I piped up, and it was the truth at least. “The painting is not without its complications.”

  Eli tilted his head with intrigue. “Are you going to bid on her?”

  “If I can liquefy some assets,” said Tobias. “I’m offering you a fair shot at the prize.”

  “I want in that room,” said Eli. “This is not a request, Wilder.”

  “I’m sure I can persuade them.”

  “Where’s the auction being held?”

  “Private room at The Rose Club at The Plaza.” Tobias shoved his hands into his pockets. “She’ll be guarded heavily. Staff will not be given access to the room when she arrives. No one will know she’s there. Take my view time of 10:00 p.m. You’ll be the first person in—”

  “Might as well cancel the other bidders, Wilder.” Eli sneered at him.

  “You’re free to bring an authenticator. One only.”

  “I’m gonna want to run some tests.”

  “Which is permitted.” Tobias gave a nod to let him know we were done.

  “Can we leave now?” I asked.

  “Do you have any idea who you are dealing with?” Eli grimaced his annoyance. “My father can wipe you off the earth if you sneeze wrong.”

  “If I get you in the room.” Tobias scratched his head as though mulling over his offer. “I’ll have one more condition.”