Page 102 of The Scarab's Game

Chapter 37

Emmett

I’d toldJenn I needed to speak with Martine, but unfortunately, that was code—a lie—forI need to go into the men’s room to sneak my earpiece in without you knowing. Everything would have been easier if Scarlett weren’t so uptight about her friends uncovering the truth about her job.

On my way out of the men’s room, I said, “Everyone in place?”

Rav’s gruff response came over my comms first. “In position on the water. No movement at the museum’s water door.”

Brie chimed in next. “HQ is up and running. Scar and I are ready for the drone feed. We have everyone’s GPS signals and Jenn’s.”

Drew caught my eye from where he stood at a craps table. He must have arrived minutes after Jenn and me. Had he seen us together? “Good roll,” he said, clapping at the player beside him, donning his cover perfectly.

“Drew’s comms are solid inside,” I told the team, since none of them would be able to hear him yet.

Will finished the check-ins. “Jayce and I are in the caverns. Drones are prepped and ready for deployment.”

“Copy that.” I nodded, despite Drew being the only one who could see me, then started my circuit around the room. “Proceeding to check the tunnel and storage area.”

I strolled through the Casino, my steps measured but outwardly casual. The path to the ladies’ room had no line and an unimpeded flow of women in and out. Perfect cover for Jayce. “Nothing out of the ordinary at the tunnel to the secret entrance. Checking the storage area next.”

The team continued to chatter over the earpieces. I tuned it out, focusing on my surroundings—none of their words were for me. My gaze swept over the crowd, cataloging faces and potential threats. That’s when I spotted the Grecian former model, fluttering her chips.

Our eyes met, and she shot me a flirtatious wink. I returned a smile, briefly entertaining the thought of joining her for a hand after the auction. Not because she was beautiful—I had a far more perfect woman waiting for me in the auction room—but because she’d be a challenge at the table.

A jolt of anxiety crashed through me, and my throat constricted.

Calm. Deep breaths.

Jenn may have helped chase some of my demons away, but clearly not all of them. I still wasn’t ready for poker. Shaking off the moment, I continued my sweep, confirming there was no additional security guarding the storage room.

Satisfied, I reported my progress and made my way to the room where the auction was being held.

The room was packed—easily over two hundred people in attendance. Unable to spot Jenn in the crowd, I moved to the side of the room, using my height advantage to look over the seated guests.

As I searched, I noted familiar faces. Dante and Massimo, deep in conversation in the second row. A Russian oligarch, whoI was sure had one of the missing Fabergé eggs. A Nigerian businessman who’d once tried to hire Reynolds to recover some of the Benin Bronzes from the British Museum.

Finally, my eyes landed on Jenn, and my breath caught in my throat. She was talking to a woman in front of a painting. Absolutely fucking stunning. She’d pinned her blond hair up, highlighting her long neck, the gold dress she’d bought earlier skimming her curves like I intended to do tonight. Underneath, the special lingerie she’d hinted at with a mischievous glint in her eye.

She fit in seamlessly, exuding confidence as they discussed the artwork. A pang of doubt hit me. Should I have sent her home like Rav and Scarlett suggested? Was I risking her safety for my own pride? For my refusal to run from Fenix?

Will’s voice over the earpiece pulled me out of my thoughts. “Are you seeing this?”

Brie chuckled. “There’s got to be a hundred of those urban explorers!”

Good news for us. More of the explorers meant more chaos in the tunnels. More chance Jayce could slip in unseen if I didn’t win the auction.

I was about to head over to Jenn when the auctioneer stepped to the front, greeting the crowd. People began moving to their seats as the large screens behind him finally stopped their scroll. On the left screen, images of the scarab appeared, along with notes on its provenance and bidding information. The right screen displayed a list of the items to follow: a Velatti Aereus roadster, then the golden Chinese disc.

The disc.Wasit one of Fenix’s targets? What did they want with it? Hell, what did they want with any of their acquisitions?

My gaze drifted back to Jenn, alone now that the staff was removing the auction items. Face pinched, she flicked her eyes from me to the front of the room. What was she?—

Noah. He was taking a seat behind Dante and Massimo. He looked up at me. Smiled.

Fucking asshole.

He started in my direction, and my chest constricted. Pain streaked up my throat when I tried to swallow.

---