AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, I’ll be quick,” he said, completely ignoring my hint. “It was summer on the French Riviera. The sky was blue. Everything smelled of coffee and fresh pastries. The music was magical. I can still see her standing there on the rampart of Antibes. The sun was setting with a pink hue that could have been painted by Monet.”
“Monet painted water lilies,” I corrected.
“And sunsets,” he huffed. “Anyway, her black hair was pulled back in this fancy…thing. She looked so elegant, so full of joy and happiness. Our days there were some of the best memories of my life.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “You know, we visited Fort Carré where Napoleon was imprisoned. Those days were magical.”
“Yes, magical,” I said sarcastically. “And you’re criticizing my date choices.”
“My friend, you have never dated until you’ve done it on the French Riviera.”
30
FNG
Somewhere in Europe.
Sometime over the past year…plus 14 hours, 13 minutes, and 12 seconds…
I easily mademy way across the border, not even bothering to hide my face. In Europe, it was much easier to travel from country to country without being noticed. And while there was still a bounty on my head, the French didn’t seem to care that much. At least, I hoped that was the case and not just good luck.
I’d stolen some money from my thieving friends before bolting from Spain. I needed to be stingy with my earnings—that’s how I chose to look at it. After all, I’d steered a ship across a raging ocean. This wasn’t stealing. It was money for services rendered.
Either way, I had to figure out a way to get home, and since flying was out, I decided the best course of action was to cozy up to someone rich enough to pull strings. It was a long shot, but the best idea I had at the moment. Pride prevented me from calling Cash. I desperately wanted to, but how would I even begin to explain this to him? And wouldn’t he think it was a prank by someone?
Rafe had told me I wasn’t allowed to break cover for any reason, that too many lives were on the line. Hell, my life was on the line right now. That should be reason enough to hang up my doubts and pick up the phone. But if I ended up getting someone else killed because I broke protocols, I would never forgive myself.
I haggled with a man over a used motorcycle, giving up way more of my savings than I was comfortable with. If I had my gun, I might have thought about holding him at gunpoint while I stole it, but that would only put another target on my back. If I had my umbrella, I could have snuck up on him and let him think he was being held up.
I chuckled as I got on my new ride and strapped on the helmet. How I wish I had my umbrella right now. I hit the road at seventy miles an hour, finally feeling like a free man. The wind slid over me, giving me the freedom I hadn’t felt in way too long. It was tempting to just stay on my bike and ride until I ran out of road, but eventually, I’d end up right back here. With nowhere to go.
I drove all day, only pulling over for gas in the city of Antibes. Everywhere I looked, the women wore big hats and sundresses. The men were dressed casually, as if they were always on vacation. Then again, this was the French Riviera.
And I was doing a horrible job of blending in. I parked my bike outside a shop and walked in, getting some raised eyebrows from the salesclerks. Unsure of where to start, I walked over to the men’s section and picked up a pair of shorts that looked way too fancy for a guy like me. I just needed some cargo pants and a t-shirt, but it was clear I wouldn’t find that here.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked in a French accent.
“Uh…I’m an American.”
She pursed her lips. “Yes, this I could tell when you walked into the shop. It is why I am speaking English.”
So, she assumed I didn’t speak French. From everything I’d heard, the French didn’t like having to speak English to tourists. But I supposed she wanted to make a sale more than she wanted to piss me off.
I huffed out a laugh. “You caught me. So…what does one wear around here?”
She looked me up and down, pursing her lips once again. “Not this.” She turned and waved her fingers at me. “Come, I will get you clothes.”
I studied her fine ass as she walked away. Wearing wide legged white pants, I could still make out her fine ass. This woman was the epitome of style and class. At least in my mind. I didn’t know much about style, but I liked what I saw on her.
I hurried after her as she grabbed clothes off the racks on her way to the back of the shop. She shoved me into a room and hung up the clothes, pointing out which outfits went together. None of it was my style.
“I don’t think all of it will fit. You have too many muscles. But it is the best I can do.”
She turned on her heel and walked away without another word. I pulled the curtain closed and stared in the mirror at my appearance. That was the first time a woman had ever told me I had too many muscles. In America, that was a good thing. Maybe they didn’t go for that over here.
I pulled off the pants on the hanger, holding them up in front of me. White linen…did people actually wear this shit? I didn’t know a single man that willingly wore white. But the whole point was to blend in.
I shucked my pants and was about to pull on the pants when I realized I had black underwear on. It would show through. I pulled the curtain open just enough to peek my head out when the woman came back to me carrying a handful of underwear.
“I assumed you did not have the necessary undergarments. Here.”
