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Shit. Fuck.
“You said we were free to go,” I grumble, looking around for another way out. There has to besomething.
Favreaux shrugs. “Another five on top of the thirty million you just handed to me? That’s nothing to sneeze at, old friend. And once I get my hands on Raquel, that’s another crisp five I can use to buy myself a lovely little island in the Pacific.”
“You always were a greedy fuck.”
“It’s nothing personal, Gabriel… Actually, maybe it’s a little personal.”
A flicker of rage licks at the nape of my neck. Raquel. She’s in far more danger than she knows. I need to warn her before it’s too late, but how the fuck am I going to do that with the elevator’s blocked off and my daughter in my arms?
I glance out the window again. The scaffolding…
An idea hits me. I know it’s risky. There’s a very good chance we’d fall to our death, but if I were Raquel, I’d calculate the risk over the reward. It’s the only escape route I can find.
So I need to take it.
“Odette. Hold on tight, close your eyes, and trust me.”
My daughter nods, clutching my shirt in her tiny hands.
I take a deep breath, swallowing whatever fear threatens to make me freeze. There’s no room for doubt, only reckless desperation.
“Get him!” Favreaux shouts at his men.
That’s when I make my move.
I dash toward the window, throwing all my weight and momentum at the glass. I hold onto Odette tight, doing my best to shield her head against my chest. I fall onto the rickety wooden flatform braced on the scaffolding, landing with a hard thump. I damn near topple over the edge, but I manage to grab one of the metal poles. I’m in excruciating pain, and I’m pretty sure the wound on my back has ripped open, but I’d much prefer it over certain death.
Gunfire. Screams. Angry shouting.
Adrenaline takes over. There are only two things on my mind: survive and protect. Some of Favreaux’s men are right on my tail, following me as I struggle down the scaffolding. They’re too big and bulky to keep up. I nearly lose my footing once or twice, but I always catch myself. I have to. I’m not letting anything happen to my little girl. Failure is simply not an option.
I have no choice but to drop the last few feet, landing awkwardly on the concrete. I land hard on my back on purpose, afraid of crushing Odette. She lands on my chest with anoof. I’m thankful I’ve managed to get her out of the building unscathed.
I, on the other hand, need a fucking vacation.
Off in the distance, the growing wail of police sirens. Someone’s probably called in to report the sound of gunshots. My body gets up, keeps moving. We’re not out of danger yet.
And now that I’ve saved Odette, I need to save Raquel.
Chapter 36
Raquel
Paris.
I wish I could enjoy this city, but now it’s tainted in my mind’s eye. There’s nothing romantic about my surroundings, nothing magical or beautiful. To me, it will always be a reminder of my failures.
Failure to keep our crew safe. Failure to recognize Lucius for the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Failure to be with the man I love.
So as I walk towards the old warehouse the Red Ravens used as a temporary hideout, I say a quiet pray.
Please don’t let me fail at saving Dad.
I walk right in. Lucius isn’t there to greet me with a gun to my head. By the look of things, there are no traps, no tricks.
The hideout is exactly how we left it. Laura’s power tools remain on the workstation, polished and waiting for her futile return. Martin’s maps and documents are stacked high in organized piles in his corner of the warehouse. Harry’s collection of weapons is still out, too, an assortment of knives and guns and small explosives on display. My corner of the hideout is untouched as well. All my practice locks and tools and locksmithing books are out collecting dust.
