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The safe’s latch clicks. A series of sharp, metallic snicks echoes through the silent room.

Lane’s smirk widens as he lifts the heavy door with determination, dragging it open to reveal its contents as I rise and join him.

My jaw tightens as I stare inside, tension settling deep in my face. A few things stand out immediately.

Unable to deal with any of it while Silas is still on the phone, I stare inside and do my best to keep my voice steady.

“I’m waiting.”

“Fine.” His lightheartedness fades, replaced by a seriousness that’s rare for Silas. “You’re not wrong. It’s been years since we worked together. Alma and I had a silent arrangement. She brokered art for collectors, sourcing rare pieces virtually impossible to obtain. I handled tasks she couldn’t trust to just anyone. How did you find out?”

His confession sheds just enough light on what they were doing. Enough to know that if anyone found out, they could’ve demanded a cut. Or worse.

Did Rico finally figure it out? Did he approach Silas after his wife’s memory faded, demanding to be brought in?

Or did he go straight to Trent, intending to expose his son and use it as leverage? To what end?

One thing is clear.

Rico’s new plan against the Doyles involved the Del Markovs.

“We’ll get to that.” Time to tackle the next problem with Silas’s help. “How long do you think Rico’s had Cort in his back pocket? Did he know about your business with his wife?”

Reaching in, I retrieve the diamond Cort claimed the Russians took. It’s heavy, large, the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen—worth a fuck ton.

Now that I’ve seen it firsthand, it’s disturbing how Cort left it on display in his store without a second thought. You don’t go bragging about owning something so valuable without bringing trouble to your front door. And I truly believe he wasn’t smart enough to display a replica until someone spooked him.

So, what scared him enough to trust Rico with it? What the hell did Rico have on him?

“Fucking Cort.” A car door slams in the background, a clear sign Silas is here and about to force his way inside. “Rico found out about our business venture by mistake. One of his clients bought from us and displayed the piece proudly in his office—something we made clear not to do.”

“Why?” I have a hunch, but I want him to confirm.

There’s an arrogance in his voice. “You don’t display pieces like that. Let’s just say he learned why rather quickly. It now hangs in my gallery.”

I’ve been in his gallery a few times but never paid much attention to what art was on the walls. Not my thing.

Getting us back to why I’m asking, I say, “So explain to me why you paid her twice for the same painting?”

“When her memory started failing, Alma knew she couldn’t keep up with our charade. It was good while it lasted, but it was time, so she sold me her half of the business.”

“And that’s where the painting comes in? You bought it for 3.5 million. A Goncharova.”

My mind drifts to the painting I’ve seen a few times. I remember standing in front of it, trying to understand why it was so valuable. All I saw were a bunch of lines and bright colors. It caught my eye, but I wouldn’t have paid more than a few hundred for it.

I know this because the piece was on the list Rico put in Trent’s envelope. He’d highlighted it for a reason.

Did Rico recently learn about it? Is that what triggered his partnership with Cort and the Russians? Was he banking on Silas’s infatuation with the diamond and hoping to double-cross him?

It doesn’t add up. Not unless…

“Yes. Now let me up, or I’ll find my own way in?” The clicking of his shoes on the lobby’s marble floors confirms he’s serious.

“Turn around and head to the back entrance. I’ll buzz you in that way.” I hang up before he can object.

The moment Lane realized we were about to have company, he began packing up. It wouldn’t be wise for Silas and him to meet. The warlord would grill me for bringing someone in from outside the family. That was against the code.

Lane’s needed in Oxford to help Teddy keep an eye on Izzy’s guards, anyway. He’ll pick up Pauly on the way. It’ll feel better knowing my men are watching over her.