Page 47 of Forging Caine

“Not to mention the giant bed, the sexy girlfriend—”

“Sexy fiancée, I think you mean?” She flashed her left hand, wiggling her ring.

“Even better.” An image of designing our dream home flitted through my brain. I could build a studio in the backyard with all the equipment I needed. Perhaps if Samantha needed to move for work, I’d do it then. Open my own little shop and take what work I wanted.Thatwould be even better, still.

“I texted Elliot yesterday about the meeting with Fiori, but I’ll call him. With this potential link to the Getty, he may want to drop by.”

Chapter 15

Samantha

“Thanksforcallingme.”Elliot followed me into the condo from the foyer. “How are you feeling?”

That was not happening. We were not about to discuss my father or his letter. “Antonio’s upstairs.”

“Sam—”

I put up a hand.

“Bella!” Antonio appeared at the top of the round staircase for a fraction of a breath and vanished into the studio. “Andiamo!”

“He found something?”

“Yeah.” I gestured for Elliot to go up the stairs first. “The painting Fiori gave us had been cut. Antonio’s certain it was too straight and sharp to be an accident. So that got us to thinking, what if it’s a test? I was only planning on discussing that much with you, and maybe get someone at Art Crime to track down whether the painting at the Getty was a fake, but Antonio discovered something.”

“Thank you for coming.” Antonio met us at the top of the stairs and shook Elliott’s hand vigorously. He was expressing all the excitement I’d had before Elliot showed up.

But as soon as I saw Elliot’s face, it was Friday all over again. He was telling me about my father. My mother’s lies were fresh again.

Elliot scanned the room, gaze lingering on the rows of paintings and the ones covering the walls. “This is fantastic.”

“Grazie.” Antonio gestured to the painting on his worktable.

I said, “Our first thought was about Parker and Cristian telling us that Fiori wanted to recruit Antonio. Probably to hurt Giovanni. It was still possible he was after me, like Cristian also warned us in January.”

Elliot stood over the supposed Dutch masterpiece and folded his arms. “Why now?”

“Fiori called us the very day Antonio came home. That strengthened our belief it was about Antonio.”

Antonio retrieved a few printed sheets from his second table and held them against his chest. “Or I was simply his way to get to Samantha.”

Elliot canted his head to glance at me. “Or maybe he’s after you for the same reason I am. A human stolen art database would be valuable for somebody who’s dealing in stolen art.”

“A what?” I asked.

“Imagine—he’s going into a sale and needs someone to authenticate the work. With your eye and critical brain…” His gaze shifted to Antonio. “And your skills—the two of you could ensure he’s never fooled again.”

That made too much sense and hadn’t been something we’d even considered. “So not just recruiting Antonio, but…”

“Listen, Sam, I know I’ve mentioned before that you two are a good team and I meant it. But if I could have anything I wanted, it would be both of you working for me.”

Antonio’s brows furrowed. Was it a look of surprise, revulsion at the idea of working with the FBI, or complete confusion? “You must be kidding.”

“I’ve never really thought of it that way,” I said.

But how amazing would that be? Antonio kept saying he’d move anywhere in the world, so I could take the work I wanted, but what if he worked with me? Or would that be stifling? Always having him right there? We hadn’t spent more than a month and a half together since we met. At least, not on the same continent.

“I suppose that puts a different perspective on my father’s new business, doesn’t it, bella?”

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