“Is the phoenix going to heal that for you, too?”
“Fuck,” he hissed. “Believe what you want, LaPierre. I’m not the enemy here.”
“No? How about I ask Emmett about who the enemy is?” Maybe I should have let Malcolm come this morning. Apparently, I was too easy to bait, too.
Noah turned his attention back to Scarlett, his voice softening. “You need to disrupt the ritual before it begins. The phoenix statue is essential—it’s not just symbolic. The prophecy says the healing properties only manifest when the statue is complete.”
“Why can’t you do it?” Scarlett sounded far too reasonable. “You’re on the inside.”
“Enzo’s people are watching me constantly. He suspects I’m having doubts.”
“So you’re using us as your personal sabotage team?” I said. “Again.”
Noah’s jaw tightened. “I’m trying to prevent a disaster.”
Scarlett stepped between us, as though attempting to block the tension. “If what you’re saying is true, we need more than a business card. Names, security details, access points to these sewers.”
He glanced over his shoulder again, then turned back to us with a grimace. “Meet me back here tomorrow morning. I’ll have more for you then.”
“And why exactly did you warn us to stay away if you needed our help?” That was the question that had been bothering me since his call.
A shadow of his former self returned as the corner of his mouth lifted. “Would you have come if I’d asked nicely?”
And there it was. He wasn’t even hiding the manipulation. Noah had calculated exactly how to ensure our presence—not by requesting help, but by warning us away. He understood Scarlett well enough to predict she’d do exactly the opposite of what he advised, especially when lives were at stake.
“Eventi Coppola.” He pointed at the card. “They’re handling all the logistics for the concert, including security passes. You could get backstage access through them. Steal a pass, clone credentials, whatever you need to do.”
“And Fenix?” I studiedhimwhile Scarlett examined thecard. “How many of your people will be there?”
“A lot,” Noah admitted. “They’ll have people everywhere—stage crew, security, even mingling with the audience. They’ll recognize every one of your team.”
“We need disguises,” Scarlett said.
“Good ones.” Noah’s mouth quirked slightly. “And not the ridiculous red curly wig you keep going back to.”
Scarlett slipped the business card into her pocket. “I want exact details on where they’re setting up the Greek Fire, security rotations, and complete details on the phoenix assembly process. Either you help us fully, or we walk away.”
Noah nodded. “I’ll bring what I can tomorrow.”
He started to turn, then paused, looking at Scarlett with an expression I recognized too well. Worry. “Be careful, Scar. Enzo doesn’t know you’re here. He’s got the Carabinieri on Pendragon, but if he finds out your team is nearby, he’ll drop everything to go after you.”
“Noted,” she replied.
We watched him retreat, limping slightly, until he disappeared between the service buildings, where he’d come from.
“Thoughts?” Scarlett asked quietly.
“He’s lying,” I said, scanning the perimeter one more time before heading to the car. “I’m just not sure about which part.”
“Agreed. Let’s go.”
Chapter 13
Brooke
I scrolledthrough another useless public website page on my laptop, almost ready to slam the lid shut. The official Pompeii Archaeological Park website included only one map with information about the underground system, taken from a news article years ago.
I’d found another study that included maps and photos of the tunnels near the forum and bath complexes, following the block around the amphitheater, but nothing underneath it.
