Page 101 of The San Marco Heist

“You told us the Codex was on its way back to its rightful owner. Fortunately, Reynolds is still using the same transporter for items heading to London. I intercepted him and got the manuscript back.” Noah gestured to the side of the platform opposite the dirt pile. “Come and see. We’re going to make history here.”

I walked up with him, not wanting to get too close to the edge of the hole, in case there was some idea I’d wind up at the bottom of it, instead of working with Noah. It would be best if he thought I was on the same team as him, if I was going to get out of this alive. Otherwise, I’d learned too much and would be a liability.

Noah brought a lamp closer, shining it into the hole for me to see. Two men worked inside the hole, which seemed to be lined with brick or stone. Not dirt. How far down would the water line have been? “When they turned the island into a cemetery, they added six feet of dirt to the surface, to give them space to bury people. As soon as we found the walls, we knew this was the right spot. They would have been put in place to protect the treasure.”

On the platform’s deck, next to a pile of dirt, I spotted the ancient Codex of San Marco, out of its case, and the glint of gold from the Chalcis Ring. “What is it? The treasure? Gold and gems, like in a cheesy pirate movie?”

One of the men paused with his shovel over his shoulder and took a breath. He had a tattoo on his hand, between his thumb and index finger. The phoenix. And a large scar across his right cheek.

Oh, shit.

He was the one who’d pulled the gun on Malcolm.

Noah’s gaze rose to mine, madness glittering in the lamplight. “Destiny. Resurrection. Immortality.”

Chapter 40

Malcolm

IstoodattheFondamente Nove water bus station, staring across the lagoon at the island of San Michele. The night was dark, but the moon was bright. The island was so close I could have swum if I had to.

It was almost eleven o’clock. The time Scarlett was supposed to meet Noah at the center of the graveyard. I’d marched out of the hotel after she took his word over mine, swearing not to look back. But I had. I looked up to her terrace, where she still stood. Instead of bowing her head like when I left, she was in Declan’s arms. They were mostly in silhouette from the lights inside her room, but it was clear enough that she was crying.

Fuck me, but I liked the Reynolds crew. Declan, with his easy-going ways. Jayce, with her constant need to eat and move. Rav, who glowered at me at every opportunity, but who was just protecting the leader of his pack. The camaraderie, the support, the amazing level of trust they had with each other.

I only saw Emmett every few months when our paths crossed, but he was the closest thing I had to an actual friend. Someone I had a history with and I knew had my back.

It wasn’t just an itch.

And it wasn’t just about winning.

So instead of walking away, finding my own hotel, and flying back in the morning, I’d followed her to the water bus station. I’d watched her get on without Rav. At least the fool woman had chosen better shoes.

Just before eleven o’clock, I got on the water bus. On the short ride across the dark lagoon, I hauled out the Reynolds phone no one had confiscated, took a deep breath, and called Rav.

“How do you still have one of our phones, traitor?”

Obviously, Declan wasn’t the only one who talked to her after Noah’s bombshell.

“I don’t have time for this right now. I’m on my way to San Michele.”

“And I’m going to sleep. I don’t care where you are.”

“Scarlett’s over there. She’s going to meet Noah.”

“What is this? Another little trap or a double-cross? Trying to lure me over to the island? To what end?”

I gritted my teeth and shook a fist at the phone, as if it would accomplish something. “I’m not asking you to trust me or take my word for it. Check her phone. Brie should be able to track it for you, if you can’t track it yourself. She’s on the island. And I’m afraid she’s in trouble.”

There was a clicking noise on Rav’s end of the call, like he was using a laptop. Thank god. He was checking.

My heart beat high in my chest, anxiety flooding me. I wanted to convince him I was innocent of what Noah had said, but that wasn’t my priority. The closer I got to the island, the louder the alarm bells in my head grew.

Noah may have been her fiancé once upon a time, but he’d also been her brother’s kidnapper. He’d taken part in the beatings.

The asshole had brought her flowers.

“Tabarnak,” Rav grumbled. “Stupid woman. I’m sending her GPS coordinates to your phone. I’ll… Depending on how long it takes, I’ll either have a boat to pick you up, or I’m coming in.”

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