I inhale, but I don’t look at Sara again. I can’t. I don’t want to think of the two of them in the car alone when I need to think about how to ensure she gets out of it alone and unharmed. The door opens and I exit into the dark parking lot to stand in front of Bastile, whose close proximity allows me a better look at his shoulder holster with only one gun, resting at his rib cage. It’s almost time. I’ll be taking that from him soon. Just not now. Not until I ensure that I send Kayden a message that I’m here in the city, just in case this location isn’t on his radar, as I expect it to be.
We walk toward the store, going to the front door, which pleases me. And then I get more of those tingling sensations that have become a part of my missions. They tell me when I’m on target. They tell me that my people are watching. And my unrushed pace gives Kayden or his Hunters a chance to confirm that the limo equates to my presence. We round the building and I continue walking slowly. Bastile doesn’t like this. He grabs my arm and yanks me forward. Another plus in my favor; it tells the right people the tone of my situation. But no matter what, much of what comes next must be dictated by me. Those watching, and I feel that they are, won’t know how much danger Sara is in, or even myself. There could be a gun pointed at my head, or hers, that they can’t see.
“I’ll be inside the exit, watching you,” Bastile warns before opening the door, and I walk inside the decently spacious store, considering this is Paris and all things come in petite.
Wasting no time, I immediately walk to the opposite side of the store, knock over a box, and use that for camouflage as I yank the credit card from my boot that, thankfully, slides out easily. I think I’ve been found, but I’m going to make sure. Next, I walk to a table with a packaged gift and motion to the attendant. She hurries over to me and I put my back to Bastile and face her, slipping her my card and speaking in French. “I’ll take two of these, please. Charge them. It’s a gift for the man by the door and his wife, so please be discreet? I want to surprise them over dinner tonight for their anniversary.”
“Oh, yes, of course. I’ll be right back.”
“Wait, please. If he comes over here, can you say, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t have that item’? Tell him that you’re checking the other store and can I check back in an hour? That will give me an excuse to sneak back here in a few minutes and get my card and package, while they shop elsewhere.”
“Of course,” she agrees, thankfully quite sweet. “I love secret gifts. They are so fun!”
She hurries off and I turn to find Bastile charging toward me. “What was that about?”
“The display I was looking for is missing. She’s trying to find out if it’s still in the building.” I cross my arms in front of me. “We just have to wait for her and pray. Otherwise—”
“You said nothing else?”
“Wait with me. She’ll be right back. Or do you need to hold up the door?”
The attendant hurries back to me and sticks to the plan. “I’m sorry. It’s just not available here. I’m checking another store. Will you be in the area awhile? Can you check back in an hour?”
“I will,” I say. “And I’ll come back.”
“Excellent,” she confirms. “I’ll try to have good news.”
I give her a tiny nod. “Thank you,” I say, and then turn to face Bastile, who’s scowling at me.
“Are you about to tell me that you don’t have what we came here for?” he demands.
“I’m telling you we’ve hit a bump in the road. The display is in one of the other locations. I hid it in a drawer attached to it. We’ll find it.”
“He is not going to be pleased.”
Like I don’t know that, but I hold my tongue. We head back to the door, but once we’re there, he holds the handle and looks down at me. “Should you contemplate putting those CIA skills to use, and try to save your friend, know this: We trained you. We planned for you. We have a man with a gun following your every step back to the car.”
But I know Neuville won’t kill me.
“And if you just thought Neuville won’t kill you, he gave us permission to hurt you. Badly. He seems to like the idea of you trapped in bed indefinitely. He said to tell you he thought that might finally break you.”
Damn. “I was thinking about how to find the display,” I say blandly.
He smirks. “Of course you were,” he says, and then opens the door.
I exit into the chilly night air I hadn’t even noticed before now, my mind racing. My plan had been to take his gun, open the car door and shoot Neuville, then shoot his driver and save Sara. I can’t be sure Kayden’s people, even if watching me, know about a sniper, who may or may not exist. And I don’t plan on being in anyone’s bed but Kayden’s. The tricky part of getting in that car is having no gun. If I snap Neuville’s neck, the driver can turn a gun on me, and it will be hard to take away from him with the seats between us.
My mind firm now that I’ve told Kayden where I am, I just need to get us to the next chocolate shop location. I’ll grab Bastile’s gun when I’m about to exit, and immediately claim shelter back inside the car. Plan decided upon, now I need to convince Neuville to go to another store.
Bastile opens the door and I climb inside the limo, finding Sara smashed to Neuville’s side while he strokes her hair. Sick bastard.
“Where is my necklace?” he demands, the door sealing me inside.