Eos looked around the chamber. “Some of this can’t be moved without destroying it.”
Niklas eased a small golden statuette into his backpack. “Take what you can. The rest won’t be here by sundown.” He lifted his head, scanning the room. “And Nera, you won’t have it either.” He turned to his brothers. “Once I realized Darc was here, I sent a text transmission. That’s why I was on my Sync earlier, Dathan. I knew the Galactic Institute of Historical Preservation had a ship near Souk.”
Dathan’s lips compressed. “You contacted the damn Institute?”
“I couldn’t let Darc get the treasures of the New Louvre. The Institute is a better option than the treasure being stolen, destroyed, melted down, or sold off on the black market.”
Dathan cursed. “You should have told us.”
“I wasn’t sure they’d listen to me. Fortunately, theOdysseyis commanded by an old friend who owes me a favor.”
“I don’t know whether to punch you or slap you on the back, but we’re running out of time.” Dathan snatched up some nearby gold jewelry and shoved it in his pockets. “Everyone grab what you can, then back to theInfinitas.”
“What about Darc?” Eos asked.
“Nothing we can do.” He pulled a small painting off the wall. “She won’t have much time to help herself anyway.” He raised his voice. “Institute isn’t real fond of you, Darc, so I wouldn’t hang around long if I were you.”
They carried what they could and hurried back to the ship. They set the treasure in a secret compartment nestled near theengines. Zayn snapped it shut. “If we get boarded, they won’t find it.”
But Eos refused to give up theMona Lisa. She kept it clutched to her chest. Dathan didn’t remind her that technically it was his.
They milled around the holo-table while Zayn settled in at the cockpit controls. “Let me get BEll up and running again.” He tapped the screen.
“Ah, thank you for taking that bitch’s blocking program offline.” BEll’s voice rang through the cabin.
“You okay, BEll?” Dathan asked.
“Peachy. A little damage to my protein circuits, but nothing I can’t fix.” She sniffed. “I’d appreciate if you’d prevent bad guys from messing with me.”
Dathan rolled his eyes. “I’ll see what we can do.”
“I should also inform you that a large vessel is on direct course for this location. They’re about to enter the atmosphere.”
Damn it all to hell.“Any identification?”
“No, they’re blocking. But they are hailing.”
Dathan looked at his brothers. Zayn looked resigned, and Niklas was looking out a window.
“Put it through.”
The image of a uniformed man flickered to life in front of them. “This is Captain de la Cruz of theOdyssey. The Phoenix brothers strike again. Big this time, huh, Niklas?”
Dathan didn’t know if he was happy or disappointed that the man’s insignia was Institute.
Eos gasped and pressed her hands to the table. “Diego?”
“Eos! What are you doing with these reprobates?”
“This isherfind.” Dathan did not like the way the guy was smiling at Eos.
De la Cruz’s eyebrows rose. “Well, congratulations, Dr. Rai. I’m sure you’re about to get the promotion of a lifetime. Inthe meantime, we received a transmission from Dr. Phoenix to come and secure the treasure. Sounds like we might have some inbound treasure hunters a little less upstanding than you guys.” He pulled a face. “Hard to believe, but there you go.”
Dathan’s gaze was drawn back to the dark-haired woman beside him. She had everything she wanted now. Vindication, a pending promotion, the find of a lifetime, and galaxy-wide recognition.
And she’d fulfilled her promise to her mother.
TheMona Lisawas still clutched in her slim fingers. Was she going to keep to their bargain, and let him take the painting fragment and the treasures stashed in theInfinitas.
