He ran his hands through his raven-black hair, then thumped them on the table.
“There is no time. The coven is coming. We must warn Roux and the others.”
“Fine. Warn him.” I mimicked phoning.
“I tried. No connection.”
I pulled out my phone and dialed. A recording sounded, confirming what Henrik had said. No connection.
“We have no time,” he urged.
I looked out the window. The clear skies had clouded over, and snow was starting to fall.
“Gordon said…” I started.
Henrik shook his head, muttering, “Hope springs eternal.”
“Are you saying Gordon is wrong?”
He snorted. “I’m saying the coven is on its way now, and they’ll stop at nothing to get that Monet.”
My stomach sank. “Only an hour ago, Gordon confirmed we have time.”
Henrik huffed. “Let me guess. Gordon also confirmed that you would remain a safe distance from the action.”
I grimaced. Did he have to rub it in?
Then I froze. “Are you saying Gordon wants the team to get trapped between a warlock and vampires? That makes no sense. Gordon is desperate for the painting.”
Henrik nodded. “So desperate, he’s prepared to risk their lives for it.Theirlives,” he emphasized. “Not yours.” He gestured impatiently. “Use the brain I know you have, Geneviève.”
I grimaced but kept my mouth shut as he went on.
“Gordon wants an extremely valuable artwork, but he’s distanced himself from every step of this investigation. He’s keeping his distance now. Why would a powerful warlock do that?”
I thought it over. “Because the painting is in the hands of an even more powerful warlock?”
Finally, something like respect shone in Henrik’s eyes.
“Exactly. The same applies to Alexandre Ernaux’s coven. Gordon won’t risk crossing them openly, but he can riskus. If we secure the painting, good. If we fail, he still has one consolation— no cleanup required for a group of men who know too much about how he operates.”
My stomach churned. “But the Monet…”
“Gordon knows this team has overcome impossible odds before. But this is a last-ditch effort, and he knows it.” He touched my arm and leaned in, making me shiver. “I don’t care about the painting, and I don’t care about Gordon. But I hate the idea of him walking away from this unscathed while the rest of us risk our lives.”
My mouth fell open. That wasn’t exactly a declaration of undying loyalty to the team, but it sure came close. Maybe Henrik cared more than he let on.
My heart warmed. Boy, had Bene and the others underestimated him — the way they underestimated me.
I jumped to my feet and grabbed my jacket. “Let’s go, then.”
Henrik smirked. “You don’t prefer to stay here, where it’s safe?”
Part of me did, yes. And part of me screamed not to get into a car with an unreliable vampire.
Still, it was no contest.
“Don’t be such an asshole, Henrik,” I barked on the way to the door.
