Page 34 of Maximus

“No. Send me the largest canvases' dimensions and pictures of how they’re rolled. I’ll get the case made. Merlin will contact you by the end of the week. Archangel is clear.”

Max put the phone on the couch and dropped his head back. Molchalin was a cagey bastard, but he’d never expect Elena would betray him. The showing was their best chance to take the monster out. Val would keep Elena safe. Until then, he’d ask Reaper and Malice to keep an eye on Sokolov. He would be the only thing that could derail that train.

CHAPTER 16

Elena held the measuring tape as Max took the picture of the canvas. They left all the canvases in the frames until they had the crate to ship them out. It was a shame because she’d love to see who the paintings were by and be able to research the provenance of each one of them.

After closing the last frame, they placed it back on the easel, and she stood back and looked at the horrid painting the frame encased. Sighing, she rubbed the back of her neck. “I wish I could see them.”

Max turned to her and did that little head cock to the left. “You will.”

“How? We’re sending them out of Russia, right?”

He nodded. “I wanted to talk to you about that. My employer was wondering if you would oversee the restoration of the canvases and complete the provenances on each painting, determine who the owner is, if possible, and act as a curator for the paintings until they have been returned to their rightful owners or heirs.”

Her hand dropped to her side, and she repeated what he’d just said in her head, trying desperately to understand how she could do that. “Where would I do this?”

“New York. Where I live.” Max put his hands on her hips. “You’d work for the same people I do. On the payroll. You’d live with me.”

“I’d need a work visa.”

“My employer will take care of all of that.”

She put her hands on his chest. “Do you mean that? Are you serious?”

“I do, and I am.” He smiled. “It would mean leaving Europe. Seeing your parents would become more difficult.”

“My parents.” She felt a sudden shock of cold race through her. “Will they be okay? If Abrasha wants to get back at me, he could cause trouble for them.”

Max shook his head. “He’s not going to take any revenge. That, I promise you.”

She stared at him and could read the certainty in his eyes. “Then I say yes. My mom has friends in New York, so visiting would benefit her twofold. My dad will never set foot out of Russia. His world is the room he works in—it always has been. I’ll visit as I can.”

“And you’ll stay with me.” He pushed her for an answer.

“I will.” She toed up and kissed him, and when she dropped back down, she smiled at him. “Your employer will not be sorry. I’ll do an excellent job for him.”

“I know you will.” He took her hand, and they walked out of the vault. The sound of her phone ringing sent her jogging to her desk, and she answered in Russian, “Yes?”

“Elena, where have you been?” Abrasha snapped in response.

“In the vault, working. Is there something I can do for you, Abrasha?” She looked at Max, who visibly tensed at her words.

“The worthless paintings in the storage room will be shipping out Wednesday next week to my home in Athens.”

“Wednesday? That’s rushing things with the show and everything else happening.”

“Do I need to hire someone else to ship them?”

“No, I can arrange for the carpenters to build the crates and coordinate with the transportation company. Do you want that empty frame, too? I could throw it in the bin.”

“Do not throw anything out. That empty frame will be shipped to Athens, too. Build a crate for it the same as you would for any work of art. Protect them, Elena. They are mine, and I want them cared for as you would for a master’s work.”

“I can and will do that, Abrasha, but I must remind you again the reproductions are horrendous.” She glanced over at Max, who crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the desk. “Do you want me to fly to Athens and set them up in your house?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll probably just store them there. Hopefully, we’ll use that room for the painting you’re arranging the meeting for.”

“It’s just an introduction at this point. Max did mention the owner may be in the country at that time and would like an invitation to the showing if his and your timelines merge.”

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