Born of Fire

“Gave it over to an auction house. Why are you interested in it, anyway?”


“I remember seeing it in his office a long time ago and I found it . . . intriguing.”

“Well, I guess we all have different tastes.”

“Yes, ma’am. Um, do you remember which house he turned it over to?”

“Oh, that big one that’s so famous on Tondara.”

“Berringer’s?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“Thank you, Fria Lyche. I appreciate your help.”

She cut the link.

Syn sat back in his chair, put his hands behind his head, and smiled. For some reason that pose made him look mischievous and handsome while the whiskers on his face made him look exceedingly dangerous. “I think we have it.”

Shahara wasn’t feeling so optimistic. “It’s been how many years? There’s no telling where it could be now.”

“No, but Berringer’s keeps detailed catalogs of all its pieces as well as files on all their buyers.”

Hope began to well up inside her again. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Oh, yeah. I’ve bought several pieces of art from them.”

“Why would you buy from them if they keep detailed—”

“I know someone who works for them who is . . . discreet. I put my bid in through them, and they deliver my purchases to my office.”

That made sense. “And how do you know the ugly statue buyer isn’t another convict buying through a discreet contact?”

He glowered at her. “I really hate when you call me a convict.”

She crossed the room to sidle up to him and touch the tip of his nose. “I mean it lovingly. Really. Because of you, I have a whole new respect for convicts . . . and you haven’t answered my question.”

“I don’t have an answer until I look it up.” He kissed her finger before he turned his attention to the laptop.

She stood aside and watched as he effortlessly accessed files and data about auctions and buyers. How she wished she had his talents. She was only good at shooting things and blowing them up.

Especially computers and their networks.

After several minutes, he cursed. “Those paranoid, sniveling . . .”

“What?”

He snatched up his bottle and took a drink before he answered. “They don’t keep their archived catalogs online. They have a private in-house system off-grid.”

“What does that mean?”

“We have to be inside their gallery to find out who bought the piece. Which is good that no one can ever track or trace me through them, but right now it sucks when I want those files.”

She sighed as she stared at the monitor that showed a beautiful emerald necklace she’d love to own. “Are we going to break in?”

He laughed evilly. “Only a brief time around me and I’ve already turned you into a filch. Can you imagine what you’d be like after a year?”

She popped him lightly on the back of the head like she used to do with Caillen whenever he’d get smart with her.

“Hey!”

“It’s what you get for that. Besides, who says I couldn’t straighten you out as easily as you corrupted me?”

Syn froze at her words as all his humor fled. The truth was, she could straighten him out. Because when it came to her, he was weaker than he’d ever been before.

Diverting his attention before she realized what she did to him, he closed down his laptop. “I don’t think breaking in would be the wisest course.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’ve never broken in to a high security building. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you will get killed. Those kinds of facilities don’t play with anyone. Not to mention I know an easier way.”

“Which is?”

“Donya Arisa.”

She frowned. “What is that?”

“The what is a who. And she is easy to manipulate. Trust me. I’ll go see her first thing in the morning.”

Shahara wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that whole manipulation thing. He made it sound like he’d had a lot of practice doing that with this unknown woman. The thought caused a huge stab of jealousy to go through her. “Don’t you mean we, flyboy?”

“No, me. You’re staying here.”

“Oh, I definitely don’t think so, and you don’t take that tone of voice with me. Ever.”

Vik, who’d been completely silent all this time, perked up. “Oh, I’m out of this.” He flew to the window and let himself out.

“Shahara—”

“Zzzt,” she said, holding her hand up. “Wasting time here. I won’t even hear it. You go. I go. It’s my sister’s life on the line and I out-shoot and am pretty sure I outfight you, too.”

“I think we came up pretty even on that score.”

“But I am the better shot.”

He gave her a grudging glare. “I concede. However, I think I can take you when I’m sober.”

She took the bottle out of his hand. “Good. I’m going to throw this out.”

“Uh!” He reached for it.

Shahara danced away from him and had the bottle upside down in the sink before he could catch her.

He tried to get it out of her hands, but it was too late. “You are an evil, mean woman.”

“And you are drunk.”