Page 52 of Tarnished Reign

“What?”

“The auction isn’t what we were thinking.”

“What do you mean?”

“Adriana is no longer going up for random auction.”

“What?”

“Apparently a description of the girls is provided, as well as a photograph, and when Adriana’s went up online, a group member messaged the organizers and stated he wanted her. He said he’d pay two million American dollars. So now, there’s the auctioneers, who are going to be upset with you, and this buyer.”

“Who is he?”

Damen laughs. “I don’t know, but he’s called The Prince. That’s his name in the group.”

“Can you find him?”

“I think so, but it’s not an immediate thing.”

I sigh in frustration.

“There’s more.”

“Fuck my life; of course there is.”

“The name, the nickname I should say, rang a bell.”

“Really?” I lean forward, really alert now.

“Yeah, see, we used to move a lot of illegal artwork. Stolen old masters, that kind of thing. Anyway, I recalled a guy about three years ago or so was obsessed with tracking down this painting. Of a woman. Well, of Snow White, actually.”

My head is spinning. “I’m not following.”

“He was called The Prince. That’s the name he had on the forums we ran on the dark web. Seems like a coincidence, no? He’s in England. So is the buyer for Adriana.”

My heart speeds up. “So if you can get his details, we’ll have him?”

Damen laughs again. “My man, it’s not as if they pay for the artwork with their Amex card, and we deliver it via UPS. It’s all via dark web transfers, crypto, and drop-offs and pick-ups. It was a few years back, and I didn’t do this delivery. The guy who did, who might have seen this man, is dead. Got shot.”

“Great, so we’re no closer to finding him.”

“No, but … I can try to bait him. Maybe contact him and say I have some similar art. At least try to start a conversation.”

“Okay.” It’s not nothing.

“In the meantime, I’ll keep trying to find out who he is and who runs this auction group. Let me send you the picture we took of the painting. It’s from the eighteen hundreds, I think. Supposedly one of the first paintings of Snow White. If I hear anything else, I’ll let you know.”

Two minutes later my WhatsApp notification lights up, and I click it. The painting pops up immediately. I stare at it, shocked to fuck.

A young woman reclines on a bed, surrounded by a group of small, curious men.

She’s not like the Disney Snow White. She has none of that innocence; her beauty is seductive. She’s lying in an almost sexual pose and smiling a little as she watches the men watching her.

It could be Adriana. The likeness is intense and uncanny.

Same long dark hair, so thick and shiny. Same slim build. Those large almond eyes, long lashes, upturned nose, and a small mouth, with softly full lips.

Holy fuck.

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