“Find and report, but stand by to act quickly,” Gordon growled.
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Any other pertinent information?” Henrik asked.
Gordon’s face colored, and I pictured him shaking a fist in the vampire’s face, yelling,I’ll show you pertinent, dammit!
Bene and I exchanged wary glances. Gordon never lost his cool. Why was he so close now?
“That is all,” Gordon finally said. “As for you…” He pointed sternly at Mina and Gen. “I’ve called you in because I know you will leave no stone unturned in your search. But Celeste is not to be underestimated. Once the painting is located, you must leave the rest to them.”
He means us, the expendable ones,I sighed into my friends’ minds.
Marius being the most expendable,Bene added cheerfully.
When Marius growled, Bene shrugged.That’s what you get for banging the boss’s goddaughter.
Marius’s eyes shot daggers.
“You must not expose yourself to any danger,” Gordon admonished Mina and Gen. “Your father would never forgive me if any harm came your way.”
The waver in his voice said he truly meant it. So, maybe Gordon wasn’t entirely bad.
Just ninety-nine percent bad,Bene murmured into my mind.
“Why not report this to the authorities?” Gen asked.
Marius snickered into our minds.Yes. Why not do things legally, Gordon? Got something to hide?
Gordon jutted his jaw, then answered in a saccharine tone one might use to explain how Santa Claus managed to deliver presents to so many children in a single night.
“It’s complicated, sweetheart. And a certain…speed of action is required. Otherwise, I fear the painting may be lost to us forever.”
Classic Gordon — changing the topic from his shady methods and working her emotions like a puppeteer.
No more questions, child,his posture commanded as he turned away.
Gen’s eyes blazed the way they had when Clement ignored her.
I didn’t feel sorry for her, though. I pitied Gordon and Clement, because they were missing the real her.
Underestimating her,my tiger growled.The way Gordon underestimated Mina.
I grinned in anticipation of the day Gen proved how wrong Gordon was. But it worried me too, because underestimating her wasn’t as risky as underestimating a ruthless warlock.
Good thing she has us to watch over her,my tiger growled.
“Now, then,” Gordon continued briskly. “I know Wilhelmina and Geneviève are as motivated as I am to retrieve this familytreasure. To make sure the rest of you are equally motived, I offer a €10,000 premium if you find the artwork before it is damaged or destroyed.”
Henrik narrowed his eyes. Marius looked at me askance.
“Ten thousand each or ten thousand total?” Bene ventured.
Gordon turned a lethal stare on him, but Mina raised her hand firmly.
“Ten thousand each,” she insisted.
Gordon’s eyes jumped to her, and I was amazed that she held that killer gaze.
