Page 69 of Take the Sub and Run

Andrei’s sly smile widened into a grin that made him look young and almost carefree.

“But the pieces your father brought you…those might not have been stolen.” Colette bounced one foot as she thought. “At least not really. He might have been taking them from the Vatican museum storage. I know the museum storage and the secret archive aren’t the same, but I bet he has access.”

“That’s what I think too,” Sofie said. “At least for some of them. Maybe most. But once or twice, he brought me pieces that I knew were held in private collections or museums.”

“What, exactly, is your father doing?” Andrei said. “Is he selling Vatican paintings on the black market, and putting your forgeries in storage in their place?”

“If I had access to a collection like that…that’s what I’d do. Except I’d keep the original and sell the forgery,” Colette added. “Sofie is very good. I expect her paintings would pass authentication tests, and if they came wrapped in something with the papal seal…”

“Collectors don’t ask too many questions when they know the provenance is questionable,” Landon said.

“The prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archive is a black market art dealer.” Andrei’s use of the proper modern title for the archive startled Sofie.

It was a good reminder that just because he asked questions didn’t mean he didn’t know far more than he let on.

“And thief. Or broker.” Colette shook her head in disbelief. “If he brought you originals of items you know weren’t part of the Vatican museum collection, he had to get ahold of them somehow.”

“Did you steal any of them?” Landon asked her, soundly only mildly curious.

“Do you want to know the answer?”

“No. I don’t think I do.”

Colette laughed, but then looked back at Sofie. “I don’t think I ever worked with your father, at least not directly. I’m Catholic enough I feel like I’d recognize a priest, even without his collar.”

A wave of exhaustion washed over Sofie and she pulled her legs up, curling them under her. The movement caused Andrei’s hand to slip out of hers.

She reached out, trying to grab it back, but he was already turning away and standing.

Sofie tucked both hands between her thighs, hoping Colette hadn’t seen that.

Landon and Colette were speaking softly. On one hand, Sofie was glad that Colette and Landon were here. Their presence dispelled some of the tension and made this more of a conversation, thanks to their periodic interjections and questions.

On the other hand, if they'd been alone, maybe Andrei would have had to interact with her more. He'd be the one having to ask every question.

Maybe if they'd been alone, he’d touch her, with more than just his hand on hers.

Andrei had gone to the bar, but now he returned with two open bottles of mineral water.

“Thank you,” she said as he handed one to her.

He took a seat on the edge of the cushion, twisting to face her.

“What did you mean earlier, when you said that’s what you want?”

His voice was low enough not to interrupt Colette and Landon's conversation, though once he spoke, they quieted.

“When did I say that?”

“When Colette was talking about robbing something.” He studied her feature by feature, and she felt as if she were behind museum glass, an object to be studied. “And you went with her to the museum, despite the rules you mentioned, and we have yet to talk about.”

Sofie opened and closed her mouth, not quite sure where to start.

“Do you want to switch from forger to thief?” Colette asked. "I'll teach you?—”

“No,” Landon interjected flatly.

“—and you can come work at our new company where we only steal things when the museum says it's okay,” she rushed to add.

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