Page 46 of Devious Eyes
“It appears we’re at an impasse, then.” My voice betrays no nerves or other response from his outrage. He takes a step towards me down one side of the table. I counter, moving around until we’re circling one another. Six feet of solid glass table lies between us. A dozen chairs.
“I don’t see it that way. I only have half the payment and you don’t have your brother.”
I’d love to wipe that righteous grin from his face. “You have half your diamonds, true. You still need to sell them. Or work out how you’re going to profit from them.” I watch his smug smile slide from his face. “It’s simple. Stop treating me like some floozy bimbo. I will negotiate terms of business with you. Equally. You will respect me, or I won’t replace the stolen diamonds, and I take my connections and walk.”
“You’d put your brother at risk?” Mortoni’s face screws up as he tries to see the angle here.
“No. I expect you to lift it. I delivered half the diamonds. You knew half were stolen. We didn’t agree that the full package would be replaced. If you want that, you need to play nice.” I nod to the small pouch he’s clinging to. “You have your payment. So, unless you want to give me further evidence of why I shouldn’t trust you, I’d cut the crap and start listening.”
Marco crosses his arms and widens his stance. His attempt to make himself look bigger just comes off as a stupid move. “Go on then, I’m listening.”
“You currently have ten million in diamonds, but only if you can sell them. With the issues surrounding blood diamonds from South Africa in recent years, moving and trading in diamonds has become more…complex. More honest. Buyers don’t want to risk dealing in blood anymore. Legitimate and authenticated diamonds are what’s in demand. Either a Gemological Institute of America or European Gemological Laboratory certificate would suffice. Of course, that’s the hard part.”
“And how do you know I don’t already have a buyer?”
“If you have a buyer, Marco, then you have a problem because when they inspect the merchandise, which they will, they will want to see the certificates, or they’ll assume these aren’t genuine. That, or you’ll only get a third of their true market value at best.”
“Fake? I didn’t pay your brother to give me fake diamonds.” His fists pump down to his side, and he snarls over the table.
“They aren’t fake,” I confirm. “They are very real. But you need the certificates in order to authenticate them. Call it a seal of approval.”
“And I suppose you can provide these?”
“Under certain conditions, yes.” This is taking too long. I need to escape this and get to Nate.
“And those are?” He gestures with his hands, willing me to elaborate further.
“That my brother is off limits. The deal you set with my brother still stands. Drugs will continue to be shipped. I will deliver authenticity and the remainder of the diamonds on those conditions only.” I round the desk and head for the door, breezing past him. Marco reaches out to snatch at my arm, but I counter, twisting his lecherous hand up behind his back, ready to break his fingers if needed.
“Don’t ever touch me again. I tolerate you out of courtesy. You have your diamonds. I want my brother free. Anything beyond that needs to be re-negotiated.”
“The clock’s ticking, Gabriella. I’m not a patient man.”
I leave him and trail back out into the sea of people all looking to spend money.
If I were sensible, I’d collect my things from the coat-check and leave, arrange a flight to Antwerp and get Christophe on the phone as soon as possible. I need answers—answers that only someone like him can get me. No one knows the diamond world like he does. Whoever stole my diamonds, he’ll know. But nerves buzz across my skin as my heart beat thrums at a million miles an hour in my chest. Standing up to Mortoni was a gamble, and really stupid. He could have killed me and my brother. Plan, assess and execute. That’s what I do, and nothing about this follows that principle. I should be thinking sensibly, but I know why I took the risk.
I’m not sensible. At least when it comes to Nate.
Searching for him through the crowds of people I see him in every expensive suit that crosses my path, having to focus my eyes to check what I’m seeing. Of course, it’s not him. It’s some other guy in a suit, but the disappointment is real.
“I haven’t seen you in here before.” A deep voice resonates from behind me. I tip my head back as I summon the strength to get through this conversation without causing a scene.
“No, you haven’t.”
“You looking for someone?” he asks, walking around in front of me.
I peer over his shoulder, still searching the room, but there’s something familiar about the man blocking my view. He’s got a broody vibe going on, all serious and intense. All it does is remind me of Nate, so I keep scanning.
“Maybe. If you’ll excuse me.” I step out to pass him, but that doesn’t work. He moves to block my path again, eyes boring into mine.
“That’s not the direction you’re after.”
I falter, not understanding what he means or how he knows what direction I’m after at all. “Oh, really? And why is that?”
“Because he’s not there.” He scans me slowly. There’s nothing sleazy about it, more like he’s analysing me for some reason. “Last I saw he was heading to the private room out back.” My eyes flick across to the room Marco told me about.
“My associate seems to think that room is off limits.”
