The Treasure_ A Novel - Iris Johansen [98]
“I don’t see how it could be any worse.”
“I’m not certain. It’s hard to judge what Vaden’s thinking.”
“He told us what he was thinking. No.”
“That doesn’t mean that will be his final decision. Even Ware was never quite sure of Vaden. We’ll wait for a few days and then I’ll approach him again.”
“I don’t know if I still want his help. He’s an arrogant, self-indulgent, brutal—”
“And a greater warrior than even Ware. You want him.”
She sighed. “Yes, I want him.”
Vaden appeared at the villa two days later. He wore light armor that shone bright in the afternoon sunlight. He was clean, sober, and even more startlingly comely in daylight.
“Good heavens,” Layla murmured as she saw him walking up the steps. “Magnificent. Who is this?”
“Vaden. And I’m sure he’d agree with you.” Selene eagerly moved forward to greet him. “You came. Why?”
“Lady Selene.” He bowed. “It was necessary. I ran out of wine.”
“We have a plentiful supply here.” Kadar strolled forward to stand beside Selene.
“Good. Then my journey won’t be for nothing.” His gaze traveled around the anteroom and rested on a bust of Pope Giulano. “I’d forgotten. I’m surprised you haven’t gotten rid of that statue of His Holiness.”
“Why? It’s well executed,” Tarik said. “Everything in the villa is extremely well done. Your mother had excellent taste.”
“She had no taste of her own. She studied His Holiness’s likes and whims and gave him what he wanted.” His tone was without expression. “She was a mirror.” He turned to Kadar. “The wine and then conversation. Shall we go out onto the terrace?” He didn’t wait for an answer but strode out of the antechamber.
“It seems we shall,” Tarik murmured. “Do you suppose I should remind him he’s no longer master here?”
“I doubt if it would do any good.” Selene hurried after Vaden, followed by Kadar, Layla, and Tarik.
“You paid too much, Tarik.” Vaden was leaning on the balustrade, his back to the garden. “I would have taken much less to rid myself of this place.”
“I know.” Tarik seated himself on the bench. “But then guilt would have marred my enjoyment.”
“It’s the bane that rules his life,” Layla said.
Vaden turned to her. “And you are?”
“Layla.”
“Tarik’s wife.” Kadar poured a goblet of wine and carried it to Vaden. “Your wine. Must we wait until you finish before we start?”
“Nothing should interfere with a fine goblet of wine.” Vaden smiled. “But I suppose I could make an exception.”
“You’ve decided to help us?” Selene asked.
“If you can meet my price.”
“We’ll meet it.”
“Don’t be so eager,” Tarik said. “It’s my money pouch you’re depleting.”
“But you’re clearly a wealthy man,” Vaden said. “Only the very rich can afford to suffer guilt.”
“What’s your price?”
“First tell me what my part is in this endeavor.”
“What you always do: You and your force will attack when we deem it necessary,” answered Selene.
“When I deem it necessary,” Kadar said. “An army with too many heads tends to get them all chopped off.”
“And that’s why I’ll make the decisions,” Vaden said.
Kadar shook his head. “I know Nasim, and your part in this may be minor depending on how we can position him.”
“My part is never minor.” He met Kadar’s gaze and then shrugged. “But we can decide details later.”
It was a major victory, Selene thought, and one she hadn’t expected Kadar to win. “First we have to find Nasim. We think he’s somewhere near Rome.”
“Pompeii,” Vaden said. “The assassins never venture too near any city in Christendom. Fear is one of their weapons, and distance lends mystery. Nasim and his men have set up camp above the ruins.”
“How do you know?” Selene asked.
“This is Rome. It’s the place of my birth. I make it my business to know everything that happens here.”
“Then you knew Nasim was here when we first spoke to you.”
“I knew he was near, and I located him yesterday morning.” Vaden’s smile was angelically beautiful. “But I hadn’t run out of wine yet.”
She wanted to hit him. She drew a deep breath. “Nasim is searching for us. We have to strike before he finds out where we are.”
“We could try to