Page 150 of Nobody Told Me Thrift Shops Sell Stolen Dragon Heirlooms

“That’s a convenient view for men who profit from mess.”

The words were calm.

I stayed very still, trying to shrink into the background.

Dimitris looked amused. “You sound like your father.”

“Good.”

“And your mother.”

“Even better.”

For the first time, Dimitris’s expression thinned.

There was a lot I didn’t know. The Winged War lived under this conversation like a fault line, old and active. I understood only enough to recognize when not to speak.

Dimitris turned his gaze back to me. “You did well, Ms. Bradley. Crude, perhaps, but effective.”

“Thank you,” I said.

His smile sharpened. “Do be careful. Dragons make compelling causes. They also tend to believe anything beautiful in their orbit must eventually become part of their hoard.”

Rafe’s voice dropped. “Enough.”

The word wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be.

Dimitris dipped his head. “Until next time.”

“There needn’t be a next time,” I said before I could stop myself.

Both men looked at me.

Excellent. Love that for me.

Dimitris laughed softly. “Optimism. How nostalgic.”

Then he walked away, cane tapping against the floor before the crowd swallowed him.

I exhaled only after the front doors closed behind us.

“Well,” I said. “I hope we never have to deal with that guy again.”

Rafe looked down at me.

“What?” I asked.

“You bribed an auctioneer.”

“He accepted the bribe. That’s an important distinction.”

“You impersonated staff.”

“Borrowed a jacket.”

“You changed the lot order.”

“Efficiently.”