Page 78 of Depths of Obsession
“It freaks me out a bit,” I admit.
“Did Calaba say anything in particular to you?” Luca asks me.
I shake my head. “He brought me up and we walked around the outside edge of the Duomo while he told me all about the construction and refurbishment of the walls. Apparently the outside walls of the Duomo are falling apart. He gave me a history lesson about the place and then talked about art for a few minutes. Then he just left me here. It was strange.”
I shiver again. Luca moves to put his arm around me, but Nico stops him. “We don’t know what’s going on. Better not to show how close you two are.”
Luca grimaces. “I’m afraid he’s right. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I tell him, but in reality, it’s not so fine. Or at least I’m not so fine. I really want him to put his arm around me and lead me out of here.”
“Mulled wine?” Nico offers.
“Sure,” I say.
Nico hits Luca on the arm. “Go get some for both of us.”
Luca sends a dark look to his brother but gets up and heads toward the makeshift bar.
Nico taps me on the arm. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“Um…sure,” I say but my stomach knots.
“Luca is madly in love with you and will do whatever it takes to keep you safe including screwing this whole thing up. Now, I don’t particularly care about Gazzago, and his kids are his own problem. My guess is he entered into a deal with whoever is behind this and then try to screw them and that’s why they took his kids, so I’m not entirely sympathetic. But we do need to know who is trying to frame Luca. He was arrested today for something he would never do. His reputation will take a hit. He’s worked his ass off to build up his business not to mention support Renzo and the family in ours. Please don’t let him sacrifice it all to save you.”
I stare at Nico. “I?—"
Luca hands me the mulled wine and then takes a seat next to me. I’m dumbstruck. The fact that Nico is asking me to not let Luca do anything stupid to save me just blows my mind. My blood begins a slow boil.
I would never want to hurt Luca.Never. I don’t want him to do anything that would damage what he’s built. I know all too well how hard it is to get out from underneath in a family like his. The fact that Nico thinks I would willingly let Luca sacrifice himself in any way for me pisses me off to no end. I glance back at him and give him a cold nod.Message received, asshole. There was no need to send it.
CHAPTER 26
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Calaba says as he stands at the front of the makeshift platform. He waves his arm toward the sky. “Welcome to the auction under the stars.” There’s a weak smattering of applause. These people aren’t the type for theatrics.
He has his back to the vast majority of the roof which is open and slightly pitched until it hits the inside wall. Beyond that, and one story lower, is a walkway that goes around the outside of the Duomo. It’s not continuous but divided into smaller viewing areas with the spires on the walls at each doorway. There is no place for the art to be hidden that wouldn’t involve being brought up by a winch. Security concerns or not, this seems like an odd set up for this auction to take place.
I open a channel with Nico.I don’t get the set up.
Me either. Where the hell is the art? Calaba doesn’t even have a lectern to lean on. What the hell is going on?
Two of Calaba’s security team arrive in the middle aisle beside me. They put down a box of some kind and then turn it on. Suddenly, a hologram is projected upward. The image is a painting on an easel, and judging by the background, it looks like the easel is inside the Duomo near the altar.
“For security reasons, it was decided that we should hold the auction outside, but the art is far too precious to be exposed to the elements, so I have the pieces downstairs inside the Duomo. You will see them in the hologram in front of you.
“Now since I know you all are cautious by nature,” he smiles as if this is a joke, “I will give one of these gentlemen something from one of you and he will go downstairs and show you that item by the artwork so you know that it is indeed down there.”
The taller of the two men steps forward. Calaba glances around looking for something to use. “Natalia, would you mind giving us one of your spectacular earrings?”
Natalia narrows her eyes, but then gives a little shrug and takes off her earring, handing it to the security guard. The guy leaves the platform, and we sit and wait. A few moments later we see him with the earring standing next to the artwork.
Nico opens the channel.If this is a trick, he’s a dead man.
He knows that, I say.
“Proof positive of the location, yes?” Calaba inclines his head to the gathered crowd, then continues, “Here is Carl to run the auction.Buona fortuna atutti.” Calaba leaves the front of the platform and goes back and stands next to the bar. I get up and go and join him. I nod at the bartender. “Whiskey.”
Calaba says, “I’ll have the same.”
