Page 39 of Painted in Sin

"You'd better come visit," I joke, poking his ribs. "Who else will keep me from getting into trouble?" I squeeze his bicep and wink at him, then back away and linger by the shelf where all the brushes and tools are stored. My hand traces over the empty slots that will soon be filled by someone else's things, whoever it is that Mr. Giani replaces me with.

"I'm going to miss this place, Paolo. But I'm very excited about my future with Victor and Emilio." My voice lilts with sentimental emotion, and I sigh peacefully as I think of where I'm headed and the bright future ahead of me.

"You should be," I hear, but it isn't Paolo's voice. Turning, I see Mr. Giani standing in the doorway with his hat in his hands. "I saw the piece you sold for more than two million, and my goodness, Bella, I am impressed. You have a bright future." He steps into the workstation and for the first time ever, I see him as an art lover, not my boss. "You have a gift, and I'd be happy to put your work on display here any time."

The gesture is a kind one considering the past few weeks and the mess this entire gallery, Mr. Giani included, has endured. The investigation into Marco Gallo is over now, though I'm still waiting to hear from Interpol how things panned out. They may yet bring charges against me for my part in deceiving an agent even though he was corrupt. Victor assures me he and his father will fight for me if it comes to that, but I'm nervous.

"Thank you, Mr. Giani." I move toward my crate of things and he chuckles.

"As long as you stick to the terms of our arrangement." The humor in his tone isn't masked at all. When I came to pick up the Raphael stashed in my locker for safekeeping, Mr. Giani was so pleased that the original hadn't been stolen, he almost let Victor out of his agreement—almost. The men had agreed to leave it on display for a set time, and that time was not up simply because Agent Gallo attacked me. So we framed it and placed it back on display next to the Sister of Mourning painting where it belonged.

Today, I get to bring it back to Emilio who will hang it above the framed documents that brought redemption for his family, and the art that was painted in sin will forever be observed in history as the path to freedom and hope. I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of this historical moment for them both.

"Of course," I say, joking with him. We share a cordial hug and I collect my crate and pass through the doorway, saying, "Goodbye, Paolo. Goodbye, Mr. Giani."

Sadness weighs my footsteps, but the push of wind in my sails fuels my hope for the future. I give security my badge, leave my regards with the men who've watched over me for years, and head out the door. Victor's car is there, Gerard standing near the rear passenger door waiting for me. Victor couldn't come, but I don’t mind seeing myself out of the gallery alone this time. There is no more threat for my life and I've never felt more secure.

"Thank you, Gerard," I tell him as he takes my crate and walks to the trunk to put it in. He's healed up now too, though I notice a hint of the fading bruise above his eye from where he knocked his head. My body is still sore in places, but I'm mostly healed. And as Gerard returns to my side to open the door for me to climb in, I hear a voice call my name.

"Isabella!" It's a man with a low rumble of baritone, and I recognize the tone instantly. Turning and standing back on the curb, I see Matthias rushing toward me, waving something in the air. "Bella! Wait…"

A happier sight I've never seen. When I went back to the hospital to visit him, he'd been moved to a different facility for care, but given privacy laws and my not being related, they wouldn’t tell me where he was. He stopped answering his phone, though I've been busy making preparations for the new gallery with Victor so I never stopped to find out why. I knew we'd catch up eventually, especially when I heard they were investigating Marco Gallo and his death by shooting.

"Victor told me you'd be here," he calls, slowing his gait. He looks good, though his arm is in a cast and there is a bandage over his right eyebrow.

"Matthias, I wondered about you. How have you been?" I hug him gently, careful not to bump his arm, and he grins at me like a madman.

"I'm so good. I've been out of the hospital for three days now, right on the case. We had to dig through all of former Agent Gallo's things, but I wanted to be the one to tell you. You've been cleared of all wrongdoing." He's breathless, smiling at me. Being beaten to within an inch of your life and left for dead can do that to you.

"That's such a relief to hear." I let my shoulders release tension and step back, clasping my arms across my belly. Gerard nods at us and backs away, as if offering us privacy. He walks around the car and climbs in, and I wait for Matthias to continue.

"There's more, Bella. My supervisors think you handled yourself so well, they want to offer you a job." He holds his hand up as I begin to protest. I've been "offered" so much over the past few weeks, I can't possibly do it all. I'm going to be busy working with Victor and Emilio on building the new gallery, showcasing local artists, hosting events, doing my own paintings. I won't have time on top of my teaching and authentication schedules to do anything else.

"Oh, Matthias, I appreciate it so much but?—"

"Now listen…" He rests his hand on my shoulder as he continues. "The way the Costa family has upended their legacy and turned over a new leaf, well, the bureau is so impressed they want to form a team, a group of people to help uncover art smuggling rings. We think you would be perfect for the initiative, and we want Victor and Emilio on board too. It makes sense, Bella. At least think about it."

Matthias's expression is so earnest, I don't know how to refuse him. The idea that my life was consumed by darkness for so long, the shadow of my past hung over my head suffocating me, and now I'm being given a chance to not only correct that wrong, but make a difference?

"Yes, okay," I say without even having to think it through. "I'll do it."

Matthias claps his hand on the notebook in his other hand and laughs heartily one time. Then he sucks in a deep, cleansing breath and says, "I'm so glad you're on board." His eyes fall to the notebook, and he stares at it for a second, then taps the cover with one finger. "This was your father’s."

"It was?" I ask as I take it from his hand when he offers it.

"Yes, and I took it from evidence. I'm sure he'd want you to have it. It's all of his notes about the Raphael and the legends, maps to things even the Costas may not be aware of yet. The agency doesn't need it. We've closed the case on the whole thing now, thanks to Marco slipping up. But watch yourself, Bella. The men who sent Marco after the painting aren't done hunting for a way to control Victor and his father." Matthias's warning is felt.

"Of course," I say, studying the cover. It has my father's handwriting scrawled across it in Italian words that make me smile. "Thank you for this," I tell him, tearing up.

"Anything… Now get back to what you were doing. I'll be in touch. We'll talk details over lunch?" Matthias is backing away, grinning at me as he goes, and I nod, blinking slowly.

"I'll tell Victor." Never in my wildest dreams did I think the man from my past who saved me would join me for lunch with the criminal from my present and future who nearly cost me everything, or that I'd be happy about it. After everything that happened with Nicola and the way he was found dead on the street, I figured I'd be next.

No one ever said how Nicola died, but I know Victor is the one who killed Marco Gallo. It's a secret I'm displeased with keeping, but for the good of the future, I know my place. Victor saved my life, even if an Italian court wouldn't see it that way, and I owe it to him to do the right thing by forging a new path for the Costa name, one that isn't stained with darkness and blood.

My father calls these sorts of secrets “the devil's fee”. I call them the lesser of two evils. And I call my future secure now, a fresh start for both Victor and me, and even for Emilio, for as long as we all live. And may that life be full of hope and peace and all good things.

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