Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Me:
Hey, it’s me. I’m guessing you couldn’t call, no worries! I miss you so much. It’s been a scary time. Where are you?
Nicolette:
I’m in Paris. Where are you?
Me:
Paris!!
Nicolette:
Oh perfect. I want to see you!
My heart thrums at what might happen next.
I look up at Lyam. “She wants to meet. How many are there?”
Mario speaks up. “Only two. That’s the good news. Their captain didn’t take too kindly to them murdering an officer without permission. It put their entire posse in a compromising position. So there are only two—the two you saw the night of the murder—at large. The bad news? They’re pissed off enough they’re ready to kill on sight.”
Oh, isn’t that lovely.
“How’d you find that out?”
Mario smiles in a way that makes my skin prickle. “We have eyes and ears everywhere.”
I swallow. “Okay.”
Nicolette:
Let’s meet at the Louvre at noon
I read it out loud to Lyam.
“Keep control of the situation,” Lyam warns.
I swallow and shake my head before I text back.
Me:
It’s too busy there. Let’s meet at Le Square Du Vert-Galant.
Nicolette:
I’ll be there
The triangular public park, near Notre-Dame and the Louvre, is one of my favorite haunts. Raised in tribute to Henry IV, the beautiful square is situated smack dab in the center of the capital. It’s not uncommon to see people taking romantic strolls or having picnics, or for couples to take little boat trips for views of the Seine.
Lyam’s men can easily hide themselves behind the flowering bushes and majestic trees. And I, for one, will have to be regrettably late for meeting up with my sister.
We go over the plan again, and again, and again.
“And when this is over,” Lyam says in a tone that he likely thinks is threatening, “you’ll come back here with Thayer, where you belong.”
“Oh no I won’t,” I insist. “I’ll go where I think I need to, and I’m not sure where that is yet.”
Lyam grits his teeth. “I’ve never seen my brother so invested in someone so much in my life.”
“I don’t want him invested in me,” I snap. “I want him to love me.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Like I love him. And if he thinks the only way to keep me—”
“I already told you why he tracked you,” Lyam begins, but I shake my head at him. I have no interest in arguing this point.
I had no idea I was being tracked. I didn’t know literally everything I touched was some kind of way to keep me connected to him.
“Question,” I say to Lyam. “Before we continue any of this.”
“Yes?”
“Can I speak with my sister?”
Lyam clenches his jaw and nods. “Of course.” He taps his phone and orders, “Call Fabien.”
I want to cry in relief when I hear Fabien’s voice on the other end of the line as Lyam joins me to the call. I didn’t know how tightly wound I was. I didn’t know how emotional I’d be just hearing his voice.
Lyam fills Fabien in. “Can you put Nicolette on the line?”
A few seconds later, I hear her voice.
“Nicolette,” I cry into the phone. “Oh, I’m so happy to hear your voice.”
I tell her everything and finish up with getting the imposter texts from her. Fabien growls.
“Her phone was destroyed by accident. Someone else sent those texts.”
“We’ve figured that out by now.” I frown. “I wonder, if we tapped her number, would we be able to trace them?”
“Possibly,” Fabien says. “Lyam’s the one to ask. Where are you going now?”
I tell him.
“Lyam, what the hell?” she spits out. “That isn’t safe. She doesn’t have enough people… My God, Thayer will kill you!”
“She’ll be safe,” Fabien interrupts. “If we leave now. Savannah…” He pauses. “We’re on our way.”
He hangs up the phone. Lyam stares at me on the screen.
“Savannah. I want you to tell me who you saw kill Officer Leguerre. Be specific, I’m recording.”
I tell him everything I remember, the way they looked, our location, the description of the woman they had with them.
“Did you see Thayer kill Officer Leguerre?”
“Of course not. He was with his mother at their family home in Paris.”
Lyam nods. “Thank you.” He flicks a button on his phone. “This is going to our lawyer and a friend we have on the inside. Thayer’s on his way out, thanks to you.”
I nod, feeling strangely relieved and apprehensive at the same time. I wanted him out. I want to be safe. But where does that leave us?
TWENTY-ONE
Thayer
“Your brother posted bail.”
“Which one?”
I haven’t spoken a word since I got here, and at the sound of my voice the other inmates take a step back.
“Lyam.”
I think I might hear some take in a quick breath. Sometimes, it’s good when a reputation precedes you.
I knew my brothers would be on it. We have connections in Paris, and there’s no fucking way I’d stay here long.
Fabien was already in Paris and Lyam at Le Luxe.