My father tilts his head and narrows his eyes. “Yes. I’ve heard all about your predictions. And how would you know this?” He then looks at me. “Have you heard anything about this from Dex?”
I shake my head. “Not a word.”
My father returns his attention to Valentina. “I appreciate your little intel, but I think if there was truly something we needed to be aware of, my son and I would both know. I think it’s fair to say he and I are far more connected than you are.”
Unfazed by my father’s harsh words, Valentina continues, “My intel is good. And if you both keep standing here, you’re going to end up dead.”
“I think we’ll take our chances,” my father says with a smug smirk. He looks at me and adds, “We have something to do right now.”
Clearly frustrated with the fact that we aren’t rushing out of here, Valentina releases a deep breath and says, “We can’t do the job tonight. It’s too dangerous.”
My father stops in his tracks. “We? What do you mean we?”
Fuck…
I haven’t told my father yet.
I notice a flicker of pain in Valentina’s eyes as my father asks the question. I can see she doesn’t appreciate him not knowing, and I don’t blame her. She isn’t a dirty little secret, and I better make the fact that she isn’t very clear immediately or risk her unleashing and killing me herself.
“I asked Valentina to work this job with me,” I state with a firmness in my voice to make it very clear to my father to not question me or my decision. “She’s extremely skilled, and rather than working against her, I decided to work with her.” I shrug to try to lessen the tension of the conversation some. “An obvious decision to me. Just a casual and easy night stealing millions of dollars worth of art.”
“Except that the night isn’t going to go as planned,” Valentina says. “I don’t know how many times I have to say this. You both need to leave. Now.”
I can see Valentina isn’t going to give up on this idea, and just as I try to come up with a reassurance, my phone rings. Lifting my finger to both Valentina and my father, I say, “It’s Dex. Hold on a sec.” I answer the phone as they watch me do so. “Hey, Dex. What’s up?”
“You need to get the fuck out of that gala. Now,” he orders.
My heart seizes as I make eye contact with Valentina. Dex has never called me with such urgency in his voice. Even when my warehouse caught fire. “If you’re concerned with the threat—”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a reality,” he states.
Valentina nods her head as if she can hear Dex’s words. She clearly knows what he’s saying. And the reality is if Dex knows…shit’s real.
“You need to get hold of your father—”
“He’s here with me,” I interrupt as I lock eyes with my father, silently telling him that things aren’t good.
“Good. You guys need to get the fuck out of town. Now. This instant. It’s too hot here for you right now, and there is no safe place to hide. I called ahead and will have the jet waiting for you guys on the runway ready to take off the minute you get there. I’ll also call Z in London and tell him to be expecting guests. The Whitehall isn’t open fully for business yet, but he and Rowan will be able to accommodate you.”
“Any way to call the hit off?” I ask, even though if there was a way, Dex wouldn’t be arranging for me to leave the country.
“Not yet. I’m trying.”
“We’ll try on our end as well.” I pause. “I appreciate the help, my friend.” Dex always goes above and beyond for his clients of The Whitney, but I know this call and the actions following are due to friendship. Not business.
“And any chance you know how to get hold of Valentina Key?” he asks. “She’s not answering her phone.”
I return my gaze to Valentina. “Yes, she’s here with me as well.”
“Take her with you. Her life is in danger too. I got word before I did with you that Jar Omar is coming for her. He’s fucking pissed she turned down his job, and feels he needs to make an example out of her. He wants everyone to know that when he asks someone to take a job, they fucking do it. Her life is on the line if you don’t get her out of here.”
Scanning the people around us, looking for a sniper in the distance, or an assassin in the shadows, I say, “Thanks for the call. I owe you one.”
“I owe you a few,” Dex replies. “Just stay alive so I can repay my debt.”
Ending the call, I look to both my father and Valentina—who have a pretty good idea what was just told to me—and say, “Dex has a jet waiting. We all need to go.”