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Davis stood beside the first of three items. “This evening’s collection consists of three pieces that were thought to be lost during World War II, and the gallery has recently come into possession of these fine works of art. First up for bid is an original Degas piece that was last seen in 1940, Five Dancing Women.”

Bryce hadn’t seen the items like Kira had, and the shock of sitting in the presence of this painting rocked him to the core. Five Dancing Women was about to be sold and removed from history entirely.

The second this ugly affair ended, Bryce would rush outside and call the agents to swarm the place. He had men on standby who could put the gallery on lockdown. Maybe they could recover the pieces and catch the buyers before they left the building.

The sheikh and the older woman locked eyes and volleyed bids back and forth like a tennis match, mesmerizing the onlookers.

The price tag hit one million dollars and climbed. Bryce held his breath at the intensity of the bidding but also at the potential loss of history. Anger bubbled at the private collectors who bought stolen paintings to sit on their shelves or hang on their walls for their own enjoyment. The thought made him sick. Not so much that he had a problem with people owning nice things—his problem came when they thought they were entitled to something that was supposed to belong to anyone who wanted to see it.

He put aside his personal feelings by the time the elderly woman paid ten million dollars for the simple brown and green painting of ballerinas dancing. What a shame. The piece should be in a museum for all to enjoy. And it would be if he had anything to say about it.

Then there was the Rembrandt. Another stolen painting that was about to be ripped from the history books forever. Bidding began between the sheikh and the Chinese private art collector, but it only went for twelve million dollars.

Only.

Kira scooted to the edge of her seat, and he reached over and squeezed her hand. Probably didn’t need to do that, but he was the doting husband, right? They’d agreed that Kira would bid while he snapped pictures of the participants.

“Now, for our most prestigious piece in today’s auction. Zaika is a fine piece of history and a rare find. The bidding will start at three million dollars.”

A flurry of paddles rose in the air. Bryce took inventory while Kira bid. So far, Sophia, Theo, Ivan, the old lady, the sheikh, and the wealthy art collector were all in the race. The bids crept higher.

Five million.

Six million. The sheikh dropped out.

Eight million. The elderly lady called it quits.

Ten million. Kira stayed strong, her bidding paddle never wavering.

Twenty million. Ivan’s paddle fell to his side.

Twenty-five million. Sophia’s hand stopped raising.

It was down to Kira and Theo. He obviously had someone’s financial backing. Kira kept bidding, with a steely look in her eyes and a fire in her spirit.

But Theo kept pace and bid fifty million dollars.

Kira looked at Bryce, as if to ask how long she should keep bidding. Bryce’s attention snagged on Ivan. The man’s eyes were wide, bouncing between Theo and Kira. As if he suspected something bad was about to happen.

Bryce put his hand on her arm. She raised her brow but let her paddle fall in her lap.

And just like that, it was over. Davis declared Theo the winner. Theo rose from his chair and Davis unlocked the secure box that contained Zaika. The treasure hunter grabbed a pair of gloves next to the display case, put them on, and reached into the glass enclosure to lift out his prize.

A sizzle zipped through the room, plunging them into darkness. Screams from upstairs echoed through the building. Chairs scraped and clattered to the floor above them.

Bryce couldn’t see anything, but he grabbed Kira’s hand. There was a scuffle in front of them. Another scream. Footsteps stomped down the stairs, and Bryce heard the distinct sound of a muffled pop. Like a bullet leaving a silencer.

He threw himself on top of Kira and took her to the floor. Someone—likely the gunman—fled up the stairs with thundering footsteps.

A minute later Davis pulled out a phone and shone a light around the room.

Zaika was gone.

And Theo’s lifeless body lay crumpled on the ground.

16

KIRA TRIED TO SUCK IN A BREATH, but Bryce had her pinned on the floor. “Let me up.” She pushed on his shoulder.