“He is the type to play in a high stakes poker game, though.” Mavis’s lips curled into a sensual smile and she looked up at the scarred bouncer. “I have a thing for bad boys. I think I want to reform them, but in reality I just want to enjoy them being naughty.”
“A little thing like you should be careful. Most bad boys turn into bad men.” Vitz looked down at Mavis. Nothing in his expression changed, but his eyes took on a softer light.
“A woman needs a good challenge from time to time. Keeps me on my toes.” Mavis’s smile looked genuine.
“Are we good?” Patrick spoke up from next to me. “We ran the records like usual. Nothing popped. And you’re holding up the drivers.”
There was a line of cars behind our empty one with agitated drivers glaring in our direction.
“We’re good.” Vitz stepped back and waved his hand. Several men stepped out of the shadows and lowered their weapons. “I believe I must recall you from a card game. Your face is familiar.”
“I probably took your boss’s money.” Owen’s laugh was higher than normal. He slapped Vitz on the shoulder and the bouncer stared at his hand as if it was a leech. “Uh, sorry.”
Owen took his hand back and frowned before pulling Mavis against his side.
Patrick wrapped his arm around my shoulders and steered us inside of the rundown building. Light filled the cavernous space, not from holes in the roof as I had expected but from hundreds of chandeliers dangling from the beams that ran across the room. People mingled underneath all the crystal and gold, long skirts twirling, short skirts fanning out, and tuxedos that would make Valentino proud. Music pumped from unseen speakers, filling the air with an upbeat tempo and lyrics about being the best.
I forgot for half a second that I was stuck next to Captain Horny and gaped at the splendor. Slot machines pinged, people cheered, and the sound of shuffling cards bombarded my ears.
“Wow.” I bit my lip. “I never would have guessed it would be like this inside.”
Patrick leaned forward, his lips ticking the delicate hairs along my neck. “It’s never the same. Every time they move it’s something new, something mind boggling.”
“They aren’t always in Paris?” I let my eyes get big and turned to look at the man next to me. “How can they move all of this stuff? It would be impossible.”
“It might seem that way, but they manage.” He led me toward a group of men standing near a metal detector.
“Are those metal detectors?” Mavis asked. “Are they going to make me walk around without my shoes like an airport?”
I shot a glance back at Mavis and Owen. Hopefully Kenny hadn’t fallen asleep. I wasn’t sure if there was a way to disable metal detectors but hopefully the computer whiz did.
“This is just a precaution. We want to make sure everyone is safe.” Patrick stepped to the side as if he was going to leave us. “I’m going to sign into the building. The owner allows certain people to worry about their own protection.” He tapped his side to indicate something in his pocket. “You have a gun?” Owen’s eyebrows rose. “Those are terrible things.”
“I’d rather do terrible things than have terrible things done to me.” He frowned at Owen. “These settings are always safe, but you can’t be too careful.”
“Are you sure we’re safe here?” I cringed away from him a little. “I don’t like guns.”
“You’re the American!” He laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Stepping away from him, I took off his jacket and handed it back to him. It gave me an excuse to put a little more space between us again. Without a care he turned and walked through a door marked personnel.
Mavis tapped her earring, which was probably a signal for Kenny. Owen smiled and threw an arm around each of our shoulders before guiding us toward the burly men next to the scanning machine.
“Do I have to take my shoes off?” Mavis scrunched her nose.
“No, ma’am. Please put your purses on the conveyor belt and step through the metal detector.” He motioned to move past him. “If you have any weapons you can check them here and we’ll make sure you will get them when you leave.”
Owen let his arms drop from our shoulders and pulled the pocket knife out and held it up for all to see.
The guard took it and handed it another man. “Tell him your name and he’ll put it away for you.”
Owen stepped to the side while Mavis and I sat our purses on the conveyor belt. As I turned to walk away I noticed the rolling belt hiccupped.
Mavis went through the metal detector first, her amused smirk in place. No alarms or flashing lights announced her weapon cache. Smiling I followed her lead and stepped through the machine. When I stepped through, I was quickly followed by Owen.
Once we were through and into the main weapons check, Patrick joined us and really seemed to light up. People said hello, waved at him from across the room, and offered him seats. He ate up the attention, especially when it came from someone of obvious wealth.
Disgust twisted my face and Mavis frowned at me. I tried to school my features into something happier, but it was like trying to rearrange a mountain. Some of the people were friendly, witty even. I would have enjoyed talking to a few if I had been anywhere else. Instead, I just felt nauseous.
“Well, how do I cash in?” Owen rubbed his hands together, spinning in a small circle.
“Let me introduce you to a friend first.” Patrick smiled and wrapped his hand around my upper arm to guide me in a different direction.
“You’re holding me a little too tight, Patrick.” I pulled at my arm, but he didn’t let me go.
“I’d hate to lose you, dear.” When he leaned closer to me his hand dipped down to my ass. “I’d hoped to get between your legs before we came here tonight, but you ignored all of my attempts to get you away from your bodyguards. If you get out of this alive I’m going to take what you’ve been teasing me with.”
“What?” My eyes widened and I pulled a little harder on my arm.
“Don’t make a scene. You won’t get away from this alive if you don’t do what I say.” Yanking at my side he pressed me to him and looked over my head. “Don’t do it, asshole. They’re all watching you.”
From the corner of my eye I saw Owen’s blank face. His eyes darted from side to side and I realized that the guards around the room were all turned in our direction.
“Hello, Ava.” A cultured voice caught my attention.
I spun around to see that I was face to face with a tall brunette woman. I knew immediately that this was Maria. Not her assistant, but the woman herself, and she was just as cool as she had seemed on the videos. There was another woman standing behind her, but she didn’t have quite the same frosty veneer.
“Maria.” I swallowed, trying to wet my throat. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Manners. I’m surprised.” She raised an eyebrow. “I thought you might curse at me.”
“I don’t think that would get us anywhere.” I relaxed and stood up straight.
Maria held her wine glass out and her assistant stepped forward to take it from her. “What do you think of the casino?”
“Honestly? I’m not much of a gambler.” I looked around, not wanting to look scared. “I guess it’s nice if you’re into illegal gambling. I expected something danker.”
“Danker?” She laughed, drawing the attention of a few people nearby. “No, I cater to a different clientele.”
“The kind you can blackmail.” I narrowed my eyes.
“Yes. I’m a firm believer of being prepared.” She looked at Owen and Mavis. “I’ve found that if you can control people without violence, it makes life much easier.”
“Or you could try not bullying people and being honest.” If we weren’t standing in the middle of an underground casino with millionaires floating about and armed guards staring us down, you’d think we were having a discussion in an office break room.
“I’m always hon
est, Ava. That’s how I got to where I am.” She lifted her chin a little. “The truth is the sharpest weapon.”
“Then why are you trying to kill me?” I yanked hard on my arm and Patrick let go.
“I wasn’t trying to kill you.” Her calm voice was starting to grate on my nerves.
“Let me rephrase this. Why did you send people after me? Why did those people shoot at me?” I leaned forward, the words falling out of my mouth in a rush. “What brilliant reason do you have for that?”
“That was simply a mistake.” She turned and started walking through the room. “It had nothing to do with you.”
I looked at Mavis and Owen, but they were both wearing the same expression, which was more like no expression.
A guard fell in behind us and Patrick and I had no option but to follow the two tall women in front of me.
“Is that an apology?” I ignored Patrick as he stepped closer to me.
“I don’t apologize. It’s not my fault that you were targeted. It was an unfortunate twist of events.” She patted one of the gamblers on the shoulder as she walked by, leaning down to whisper in something in the old man’s ear that made him chuckle.
“If you weren’t trying to hurt me, what’s going on? And why all the guards?”
“You came to my casino with two heavily armed assassins. Of course I’m going to have guards.” She turned and smiled at me. “As for what’s going on, I believe I owe you a check.”
“Check what?” I stopped walking and Patrick bumped into my back. He slid his hands around my waist. I shoved him with all my strength. “Get off me, jackass.”
“Watch it.” He grabbed my arm and squeezed.
“Patrick, let our guest go. We don’t want a show.” Maria kept walking.
Captain Horny pushed my shoulder to get me moving again. If I could have hurt him I would have done it. My disgust for him had reached new levels and had quickly turned into loathing.
“Keep your hands to yourself.” Owen’s voice was a deep guttural growl that made Patrick stand up a little straighter.
As if nothing had happened, Maria continued walking and I had to speed up to hear her.
“You completed an assignment for me. Granted, it wasn’t accomplished in a manner quite as extraordinary as I had hoped, but the end result was the same and I always pay for services rendered.” She glanced back at me. “Though if you prefer, I have cash.”
A man joined us as we were walking, a black bag in one hand.
“She’s talking about Song.” Owen’s voice was smooth and cool.
“But—”
“You removed a very big problem for me and I appreciate it.” Her assistant opened a door into a dark hallway and we had no option but to follow her. “Forgive me, but you’ll need to leave your weapons here.”
Several guards ran their hands over the two assassins, searching for and removing the weapons they had tucked away. When no one made a move in my direction, I didn’t offer up any of the items I’d hidden away on my person.
“You still haven’t explained why you were trying to kill me.” There were steps leading down into another hallway. The further we went from the crowd in the casino, the more nervous I became.
“Well, it would seem that you were the wrong American in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She stopped in front of a door and pulled a key out of her pocket. “We were looking for someone else and you happened to fit her description.”
“Tessa.” I watched as she pulled a key from her pocket and opened the door.
“Yes, your friend.” Maria walked into the office and I realized it was the first door I’d seen her open.
“Why do you want to kill Tessa?” The office was mostly bare. A desk, a couple of chairs, and one computer. As we crowded in, Patrick took a spot by Maria’s desk and several of the guards covered the door. The nameless assistant stayed outside.
“Her husband has something of mine.”
“Your issue is with him. Leave Ava out of it.” Owen stepped forward, his arm brushing mine.
“She’s free to go.” Maria flicked her fingers at the door.
“No. I won’t just let you hurt Tessa.” I leaned forward. “I don’t know what Danny has that is yours, but keep the money and we’ll call it even.”
“Ava.” The aggravation in Owen’s tone was clear.
“It’s not about the money.” Maria sat down behind her desk. “I want the piece. That’s why I commissioned him to get it for me.”
“You mean it’s the principle,” Owen said.
“There is that, too.” Maria smiled. “I can’t let people think it’s okay to back out of deals.”
“You can’t hurt Tessa.” I glared at Maria. “This isn’t her fault.”
“How do you know?” Maria folded her hands on her desk. “Have you spoken to her? She chose to marry the cat-burglar after all. This very well might be her fault. Perhaps when she left you at her apartment, she knew you’d be in trouble.”
No. Tessa and I had been friends for too long. She never would have willingly put me in danger.
And Danny is a cat-burglar. My best friend, the art history buff, had married a thief. Go figure.
“I haven’t seen her. I’ve been a little busy,” I explained. “Running for my life and all.”
“You’re free to go now. No one will bother you.” Maria cocked her head to the side as if waiting for something.
What was she thinking? I was free to go. Oh. Just me.
“Owen and Mavis?” I looked at her in fear.
“Owen is a favor for a business partner.” She smiled sadly and looked at Owen. “It’s a pity. You’re truly an artist when it comes to your craft. Unfortunately, business comes first. I have spent many years cultivating that particular branch of my company and find it in my best interest to keep them happy for now.”
From the corner of my eye I saw Owen stiffen at the mention of his brother. My heart broke even more for the man I loved. If I got out of this alive I was going to kill Marcus. He’d asked his boss to murder his brother. That’s low even for a criminal.
“And me?” Mavis stepped forward.
“You are a problem.” Maria turned to look at my friend with cold eyes. “And I believe it’s better to trim those types of things early on.”
“I’m not going to just walk out of here while you kill all of my friends!” I stepped forward.
“I thought I was being generous.” She shrugged and stood up.
“You’re not being generous. You’re a criminal that does what’s best for yourself. I’m sure that if I left now you’d find some use for me later and blackmail me in to being a drug mule or something.” I put my hands on the desk and leaned forward. “So you can take your money and shove it up your—”
A knock on the door made everyone in the room jump. Well, I jumped. Maria, Owen, and Mavis merely looked at the door.
“Enter.” Maria’s cool voice echoed in the tiny room.
Vitz walked in with a package, followed by a man. No, not just a man. Danny.
“You instructed that Mr. Myers be brought to you if he showed up on the premises.” His boredom with the task was clear. “He had this with him.”
“Well, apparently all of the interesting people are in Paris.” Maria smiled. “How nice to see you, Mr. Myers. I’m assuming that’s my painting?”
For the first time emotion shined in her eyes. Anticipation.
“Hello, Maria.” He glanced at me quickly. “Ava, sorry about all this.”
“Sorry?” My anger had hit all new levels. I marched up to him and smacked him as hard as I could. “Sorry? You bloody Englishman! You didn’t spill wine on my dress. I’ve been shot at! This woman is planning on killing my friends. I killed a man with your car! And you’re sorry?”
“Er, yes.” He rubbed his cheek.” I thought the matter had been settled or I would have never let Tessa invite you to London.”
“Did she know what you were when you got married? Have you hurt h
er?”
“Yes and no. She caught me trying to steal something. That’s how we met and she’s safe, though likely going to try and kill me when I see her next. I locked her up.”
Owen grunted and I realized he was thinking Danny had the right idea.
“Enough. Let me see the painting.” Maria held her hands out and Vitz passed the package to her.
She tore through the paper like a child at Christmas. With a look of awe she held up a small canvas. “You really did it.”
“Of course.” Danny cleared his throat. “I thought we were even when I returned your money.”
“It was never about the money. It was about this,” Maria explained. She cradled the canvas with gentle hands. “It’s a Van Gogh. The only artist I hadn’t managed to collect.”
“Well, then, we’re even. You have your money, and the painting, and we’ll get out of your hair. Shall we?” Danny reached for the door but Vitz stepped to block the way.
“Why did you back out of the deal?” Maria set the painting down carefully. “What made you squirrel?”
“I saw one of your employees with a drugged woman when I came to deliver. He was talking about stables and orders.” He put his hands in his pockets. “I’m a thief, but I don’t deal with people in the sex slave trade. I spooked and sent your money back. I thought that would be the end of it.”
“No. It was certainly not the end of it.” Maria shrugged. “But everything is fine now. I’ll call off my people looking for your wife.”
“And the rest of us?” Danny rocked back on his heels.
“Loose ends.” Maria handed the painting to one of the guards. “Take care of that.”
He nodded his head before leaving the room.
“I see.” Danny frowned.
“Ava hasn’t done anything wrong. Let her go.” Owen raised his voice. “You don’t need to kill her.”
“As I said, she’s free to go.”
Owen nodded thoughtfully before he spoke. “I would ask a favor, if you don’t mind. A courtesy before I’m executed.” Maria motioned for him to go on and my stomach dropped. How could he talk about his death so easily? “Have someone remove Ava. Put her outside and let her go.”
The Accidental Assassin (Assassins #1) Page 27