“Rafael, think of all the adventures we’ve had. The places we’ve been. Most people only dream of living this way. Pierre Vautour has allowed me to do those things—allowedus. He doesn’t negate the good things I’ve done. If you could only see what I’ve built. There’s still so much to show you.”
Rafa laughed. “You’re delusional. Raising money to save endangered baby seals doesn’t pardon you from extorting people on the side.”
“Who do you think runs this world? Money and secrets talk. There is a whole other world out there, Rafael, that you don’t even know about. People who’ll pay inordinate amounts of money just for a scrap of what we’ll find here.”
“And that’s what you’re doing? Selling off pieces of history like a roadside hawker?”
His dad lifted his chin. “I’m not some snake oil salesman. Collectors contract with me for these pieces. I keep whatever is left, sometimes even anonymously donating items to museums. You’d be surprised by the type of people who deal in these sorts of antiquities. These aregoodpeople.Respectable—”
“If it’s such anhonestprofession, then why are you hiding who you really are?”
“I’m not hiding,” his dad said, taken aback. “Pierre Vautour lives in plain sight. It’s just separate from my life in Montreal. Come with me,” he said, kneeling in front of him again, “and you’ll see. I want to share this with you. You and I, we can find the Moon City together. Share the riches of your ancestors—”
“Boss,” Hunter said, butting into the conversation, “you aren’t being serious, are you? He can’t come with us.”
“Says who?” Vautour said, shooting a glance up to Hunter.
“I told you what happened on the boat,” Hunter whined.
“You mean when we kicked your asses?” Rafa said, channeling Miri’s confidence.
“You didn’t kick anyone’s asses,” Hunter said, taking a few steps toward Rafa before Vautour stood and put up his hand to stop him.
“Enough!”
“Well, how are we going to split the loot with another person?” Hunter asked.
“That’s not of your concern,” Vautour said. “Your share will be whatever I say it is.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Rafa said, “because I don’t want it.”
Vautour turned back to him. “You say that now, but once you see it—”
“I don’t want anything to do with you!”
Vautour’s gaze homed in on Rafa. “I don’t have time for this.” He then turned toward Hunter. “Take him back to camp. I’ll deal with him later.”
Hunter grumbled something under his breath before leaning down and yanking Rafa up by the arm. “Come on.”
He pushed him forward as Vautour and the rest of the crew stayed behind. They trekked through the forest in silence, Hunter shoving Rafa in the back every so often to get him to pick up his speed.
After walking for ten minutes or so, Hunter finally spoke. “Hope you don’t think I’m going to agree to any sort of split with you.”
“I couldn’t give less of a shit what you think, Hunter,” Rafa spoke over his shoulder as he continued walking. “I mean, where did he even find you? Lackeys ’R’ Us? You don’t honestly think that he’s not going to double-cross you the moment he gets a chance, do you?”
“Well, Pierre promised me—”
“Promised you?” Rafa burst out in laughter. “He doesn’t give a fuck about promises. God, are you really that dense?” Rafa asked.
“Shut up!”
Rafa shook his head, continuing to laugh to himself.
“He really does have a knack for sniffing out gullibility,” Rafa said.
“Speak for yourself!”
“Oh, I am. But if you don’t see your own gullibility, then you’re an even bigger jackass than I thought.”
