Page 1 of Den of Thieves

Prologue

Karin marched down the marbled hallway towards the urbane administrative wing at the Institut auf Wilhelm. Many did not know the most exclusive and most expensive private school in the world existed. The parents of the students and alumni preferred it that way.

Her red bottomed heels echoed throughout the halls. She couldn’t see inside the classrooms thanks to the three-inch thick, two-hundred-year-old doors that separated the rooms from the hallways. This tidbit of information didn’t annoy her. In fact, it only further assured Karina that this school was the right decision.

The Institut auf Wilhelm was at the top of the short list of exclusive boarding schools that she and Vladimir scoured through. Crossing out the ones that were too accessible by car, boat, or train and weren’t exclusive enough to keep the children safe from any social climbers and wannabees. As well as safe from enemies who couldn’t afford to shell out millions for their offspring’s safety.

Finally, there were two schools left. Le Rory and The Insitut auf Wilhelm. Wilhelm won out because of the impressive list of alumni that once graced their halls. Royalty, billionaires, and some of the brightest minds of generations past cited the school as some of the most fun, yet challenging times of their lives.

A boarding school was not what Karina wanted for her children. Especially not one in Switzerland surrounded by mountains and accessible only by plane ride. But she would never forgive herself if something else happened to her babies.

She looked at Headmistress Liridona Schmid with contempt. She had sharp green eyes and graying brown hair that Karina suspected she refused to highlight because it gave her a more distinguished air. That and the suit the woman wore was worth more than most people’s salaries in the small town on the other side of the mountain.

Buying a seat on the Wilhelm board of trustees was nothing. But Headmistress Schmid had the final say on allowing her children to enroll. While the campus housed both the lower and upper schools, Wilhelm rarely accepted students older than four, and it was almost unheard of for children to enroll that had studied at other institutions. The staff hated unlearning bad habits.

Karina could tell Headmistress Schmid wanted to deny her request. It was the number one reason why she decided to show up in person. It was harder to tell someone no if you looked them in the eyes.

Schmid opened her mouth and Karina beat her to the punch. “Before you begin,” she said, sliding a folded piece of paper across her desk.

Being around Vladimir was like a crash course on how to use her money as a tool to get what she wanted. The number she wrote down was a drop in the bucket for her. For her children, there was nothing she wouldn’t pay to ensure their safety. If bribery didn’t work, there was always blackmail. Or torture.

Schmid’s eyes flickered down at the six-figure number on the paper and her thin lips twisted to the side. “This is a healthy start.”

Karina smiled. She had her right where she wanted her. “You misunderstand. You will receive that number in addition to school fees every year, per child, for as long as they are students here.” She stood up and pulled her phone from her purse. “If you will excuse me, I have another appointment that I just cannot miss.”

“Mrs. Kovalyova—”

“Please, call me Karina.” She grasped the woman’s hand and released it to tell her driver to pull the car around. “Someone will be in touch about the security updates needed before my children arrive in the fall.”

“Wilhelm is perfectly safe.”

“To you. The mountains are a deterrent, but what if someone follows a staff member to the gates? There is no one patrolling to ensure the safety of anyone here. When I’m finished, there will be walls surrounding the entire perimeter of the property.” Karina’s eyes flitted around the courtyard outside the bay window. “I prefer stone, but brick will do.”

“Walls?” Schmid blanched.

“And more security gates and checkpoints before you reach the property line from the main road. It needs to be hard to get in and even harder to get out. My children fancy themselves escape artists.”

“Why don’t you build your own school? Clearly, you have the funds.”

“I would, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. My sister and I are bouncing through a myriad of ventures, and then there’s my husband. I’ll never admit this, but sometimes his tantrums rival my youngest. Someone needs to be around to rein him in.

“Do you think this is something the Insitut auf Wilhelm can handle?”

“Yes. Of course. But—”

“If all goes well, I know a lot of very powerful men and women in this world who will happily pay whatever price to give their child the best education possible.”

Schmid went from stuttering to tripping over herself to get the door as she promised Karina how much the children will thrive in their care.

Karina didn’t care that the headmistress could be bought. Reputation on the world stage was what Schmid was after, what she craved. She thrived on rubbing shoulders with the best. This was the closest she was going to get after a failed marriage, no children of her own to enroll here, and a mountain of debt she could never hope to crawl out of on her own.

Karina tuned her out as she pulled out her phone again, checking the time. If her driver sped to the airstrip, she could land in Moscow time to pick up tea from her favorite restaurant before her appointment.

**

“Welcome, Karina.” Saba opened the door, welcoming her favorite client into the old chapel turned ved’ma sanctuary.

“Wow, Polina’s been busy.” Karina commented on the changes Saba’s business partner had made since she visited last. Flowers bloomed in large pots, herbs hung upside down from the rafters, drying and leaving a pleasant scent in the air. The pews were removed and replaced by plush sofas and couches, creating intimate seating areas.

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