“Got it.”
I looked at Pavel. “Take the woman to the limo. Maxwell and I will go to David’s grandmother.”
David shook his head. “I vote to take the woman with us. She can clean up at my grandmother’s house. We’re super close, and we should keep our eyes on her.”
I checked with Maxwell, not sure why, just wanting to do anything to get Emily back.
“Fine with me.” Maxwell nodded. “I don’t know why we’re going to anybody’s grandmother house, but at least we’re close to getting Em back.”
“Then, let’s go.” I headed out.
The rest followed.
My gut loosened a little, but no hope came. I had Jean-Pierre’s woman. I needed to let him know, so that he would keep his hands off my mouse. As soon as that was done we would need an exchange. I had no idea what would be the best place. I have never had to do an exchange for something so important, so precious.
If you’re not smart, Jean-Pierre, I will find an opportunity to kill you.
We got into David’s grandmother’s limo.
David and Pavel had jumped in the jeep to prepare for the exchange.
Jean-Pierre’s dirty woman had already been inside of the limo. Still frazzled, she sat far away and across from us. I was thankful, since it was clear that she’d urinated on herself a few times.
She raised her hands a little. Her fingers were swollen. One of her index fingers looked like it was bent the other way. Still, she petted the invisible thing on her lap.
Maxwell studied the woman. “We should clean her up too. Give her a dress and some shoes or something—”
“This isn’t a fucking makeover show.” I typed Jean-Pierre’s number, and brought the phone to my ear.
I’ve got your woman, idiot. Now give me back mine.
“You know what they say.” Maxwell shrugged. “Honey catches more bees, than lemonade.”
I frowned. “It’s vinegar.”
Maxwell shook his head. “You can’t catch bees with vinegar.”
“Not bees, but. . .” I gave up. “I may kill you before we get to Emily.”
“She’ll be really sad, if you do.”
Jean-Pierre’s phone went straight to the answering machine, as if he’d turned it off.
No. why would he have turned it off.
Maxwell smiled at the woman. “Don’t worry, Eden. We’ll get you a nice dress and some shoes. And a shower. Not that you smell bad. Well. . .fuck it. You do smell bad, but I understand why. You had to survive.”
Answer the damn phone, Jean-Pierre.
“Stop talking to her.” I hung up. “Jean-Pierre isn’t answering.”
“You know why?” Maxwell shook his head. “He’s not answering because you probably killed him and Emily, with all that damn mayhem you’ve caused around Paris—”
“It’s my tactic.”
“Horror and chaos?”
“I’ve found it works.”
The woman loudly cleared her throat, as if she wanted our attention.
We turned her way.
“You’re. . .” She cleared my throat again. “You’re giving me to Jean-Pierre?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
Tears left her eyes.
I gritted my teeth. “As soon as he decides to answer his phone.”
Maxwell kept his gaze on me. “Knowing my sis? Emily probably took the phone.”
I hope she did. I hope she is giving Jean-Pierre a hard time.
For a second, I smiled.
But then I realized that any too forceful of a move, could get Emily killed.
Be careful, mouse. I’m close. I’m coming to get you soon.
The smelly woman spoke up, “You’re the Lion?”
“So, Jean-Pierre talks about me to you?” I smiled. “I’m not surprised. Jean-Pierre has a problem with obsessions.”
She blinked and turned to Maxwell.
I didn’t know why, but Maxwell chose to explain things further to her. “Jean-Pierre decided to kidnap Emily—my sister and Kazimir’s… lady. Apparently, Jean-Pierre did that, because he thought we kidnapped you, which we kind of did, but not truly. So, we’re sorry, but then again, we’re not.”
I dialed Jean-Pierre’s line again. “Be quiet.”
Maxwell rolled his eyes. “I have a question for you, Eden?”
Her voice was low. “Yes.”
Maxwell directed his gaze to her hands. “What are you holding and petting right now? Is it an invisible puppy?”
Who cares?
She looked down at her lap and stroked the air. “It’s. . .a unicorn.”
“O-kay. You’re petting a unicorn.” Maxwell nodded. “Unicorns are cool.”
“I’m really drugged up,” she whispered. “And… it’s been a long fucking day.”
That I can agree with.
She caressed the empty air again. “Petting Uni calms me.”
Maxwell leaned back in his seat. “You go right ahead and pet him… or her. It’s just when you come down, let me know what you took. I want no parts of that shit.”
“Me either.” Her eyes watered as she stared out the window.
I dialed Jean-Pierre three more times. Every time, Jean-Pierre’s phone went the answering machine.
This isn’t the time to have your damn phone off, idiot.
That pain ballooned in my chest. I wanted to put my hand on the space and rub it, but I knew it wouldn’t soothe the hurt, and Maxwell would witness the weakness.
Nothing would feel better until my mouse was back with me.
Second Act
Chapter 4
Emily
Where are we going now?
Police cars accompanied us.
Through the limo window, I gazed up at several helicopters moving through the sky. I assumed they were with the French. One continued to follow, while others appeared to scan the city.
No matter where we went, smoke hung in the air. Fires sprouted up wherever we drove. Masses of people fled. Hysterical crowds raced around on foot. A few people pointed this way, and that way while others followed.
And the roads were horrific. So many cars packed the streets. There were lines everywhere. Some vehicles had begun driving on the pavement. Several accidents had occurred. I’d spotted more ambulance vehicles and fire trucks than I’d seen since my visit to Paris.
Mayhem occurred at the highest level.
Is this all Kazimir?
The police had blocked several roads, and most of the entrances to the highway. However, when we pulled up, the cops waved us and our police accompaniment through.
Jean-Pierre has Paris on lock. There’s no doubt about that.
Silence hung in the limo.
I scanned the space.
Jean-Pierre sat on my right. Rafael on my left. After the bathroom fight, the Corsican would not be leaving me alone again anytime soon. Across from us, the black woman with the afro whispered something to their cousin Louis. I studied the man as they exchanged muttered conversation. Louis caught me watching. I turned away.
I can be around Jean-Pierre, or Rafael. They’ll be easy to knock around, but Louis. . .he won’t play that.
He went back to whispering to Gwen, but I could tell I had all his attention. It was in his body language. While his face leaned toward her, his feet and hands targeted my direction. He was readying himself to grab me, if necessary.
Calm down, Louis. I’m not stupid.
Jean-Pierre looked over me, and stared at Rafael.
I leaned back, completely uncomfortable with being in the middle of them.
Frowning, Jean-Pierre spoke to Rafael. “I’m sorry about your restaurant.”
“That’s fine.” Rafael kept his voice low, but anger blazed in his eyes. “A truck crashing through the restaurant, is an exact metaphor for my relationship with Shalimar anyway. What other way could we end?”
Okay. So there’s a Shalimar that Rafael was dating, and a restaurant that he’d named after her. Makes sense, b
ut how can this help me get away from them.
Any information could be my key to escaping.
I stayed silent, listening further .
Jean-Pierre let out a long breath. “Do you want to avoid seeing her when we get there? The limo is taking us over there now.”
Okay. So, now we’re going to see this Shalimar. Why?
“No.” Rafael gestured to the black women sitting further away. Louis and she had continued their low conversation, but Louis’s shoulders had not loosened up. He was ready to charge for me.
Maybe, we can drop off Louis at this Shalimar’s spot.
Rafael did a quick point to the black woman. “Let’s drop Gwen off first, then go.”
Okay. The black woman is named, Gwen. That could be important or not.
“We wasted time going to the restaurant.” Jean-Pierre glared at me. “I let you both have your break. No more losing time.”
Annoyance hit Rafael’s voice. “Ten minutes in my closed restaurant, then a crash and shoot out. That was our break?”
“Pretty much.” Jean-Pierre let out a long breath, then inhaled, and let it out again. “Do you feel that? It’s rejuvenation. It’s a second wind. I already feel the extra dose of energy racing through my veins.”
“You look like you haven’t slept or eaten anything in twenty-four hours.” Rafael frowned, and then appeared annoyed as he watched Louis lift Gwen’s hand and kiss her fingertips. Gwen giggled and took her hand from his.
Do we have a love triangle here? Louis and Rafael both like Gwen maybe? But I thought Rafael liked this Shalimar chick. More important, how can I use this against them and get out.
As I sat in the middle of them, Rafael whispered to Jean-Pierre. “You think Louis tried to fuck Gwen yet?”
Definitely a love triangle.
“What?” Jean-Pierre scowled, checked his pants pocket for the phone, raised his eyebrows, and then touched the other pocket.
Fuck. He’s looking for the phone. Of course. I have to give it back, before he handcuffs me.
I loosened the phone from my sleeve and lay it between us. When I looked up, I swore Louis caught it.
Did he?
Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre checked the other pocket again and then spotted the phone. Probably too exhausted, he didn’t get suspicious.
Fuck. That was close.
Louis’s gaze never left me.
That was my last chance. I better not try that shit again.
Jean-Pierre turned the phone on, not even realizing that he never turned it off. “No. Louis is damn near celibate.”
What are we talking about? Oh yeah. Louis trying to have sex with Afro Gwen.
I checked Louis. He still watched me.
I turned to Rafael who shook his head and whispered, “He’s been flirting with her all night.”
“The moment he’s overly flirtatious, is the moment when he’s really not fucking anybody.” Jean-Pierre dialed a number. “Has anybody found out what Kazimir did with the lions yet?”
Lions, baby? What are you going to do with them?
“You still think it was him, and not a coincidence?” Rafael asked.
Who else would it be? See. Maybe you should take me back.
“The fact that you asked me that, shows you’re not on your game.” Jean-Pierre eyed him while he held the phone to his ear. “Do you need rest?”
“I do, but you know I won’t take it.”
“You can,” Jean-Pierre muttered.
“If I take a break, you’ll probably fly off to Tokyo, and steal the Dragon’s lover too. No.” Rafael shook his head. “At least if I’m around, we can limit the kidnappings to one a day.”
So the Dragon is involved. Good to know. I’ve never been to Tokyo. Would love to go there and kill him.
Jean-Pierre rubbed his eyes. They’d been getting a little pink. It could’ve been a bad reaction to the toilet water from our fight earlier, or just plain old exhaustion. None of us had slept. I doubt we would anytime soon, not until this whole situation was resolved.
I don’t know how long Jean-Pierre kept that phone to his ear, but finally he spoke, “Good morning, Mr. President. How’s your day been?”
I moved my gaze from Jean-Pierre and checked Louis.
Jesus Christ. Would you stop looking at me?
Sighing, I returned to Jean-Pierre.
“Your military had to leave?” Jean-Pierre’s expression turned to rage. “Did their diapers need changing?”
Okay. He had the French military after Kazimir. And for some reason they’re out of this fight.
“Syria is always Syria.” Jean-Pierre’s voice rose in the limo. “What happened, was that the Lion threatened you?”
Oh, damn. Kazimir has the French president’s phone number too. This is getting crazy. We have to end this soon.
If I thought Jean-Pierre had been loud, I had no idea. “It doesn’t matter what I’ve done!”
Rafael stirred on my side.
Jean-Pierre gripped the phone and leaned forward in his seat, as if he was ready to kill someone. “For these past three years, the Corsican has kept your military fed, clothed, and trained.”
I didn’t know what the president said, but it caused Jean-Pierre to massage his forehead. “Kazimir threatened to take away all of France’s arms?”
I widened my eyes.
Louis glared at me.
Jean-Pierre muttered, “Or something else.”
Something else, what? What is he saying?
I leaned his way, but couldn’t hear anything on the other end.
Jean-Pierre calmed his voice, but still appeared angry. “You’re in an uncomfortable position. I get it.”
I twisted his shirt on my lap. I was still wearing it, and he was still shirtless. What an odd pair we must’ve looked like to everyone in the limo.
“I do,” Jean-Pierre said into the phone. “What about France’s airspace? Is that still mine, or have you whored that out too?”
No doubt, Kazimir would fly as many people as he could out to Paris.
If they think Paris is a war zone now, wait until Kazimir gets his toys.
“Hmmm. Thank you for letting me know.” A dark chuckle left Jean-Pierre. “Unfortunately, if Kazimir lands those three planes in France today, then there will be a new president in the morning.”
I gulped in fear.
“But who am I to speak on things like this? I’m only a simple Frenchman .” Jean-Pierre gripped the phone so hard, I thought it would crack in his hands. “But if I were you, Mr. President, I would concentrate on the present moment, not worry about the future. Who knows what will happen in these hours to come? Who knows who will even be alive?”
Jean-Pierre hung up.
Everyone stared at him, even Louis.
Say something. Decide something. What the fuck is going on?
His phone rang again.
He picked up.
“Yes?” His face went cold, but he widened his eyes. “Let me talk to her.”
Louis went back to watching me.
Come on, dude. I’m no threat.
Ignoring Mr. Security, I put all my attention to Jean-Pierre.
He frowned. “I have no time for your games.”
Who’s on the phone?
Jean-Pierre continued, “Now that’s a question that has not plagued my mind for these past hours. I damn sure know where Emily is.”
Kazimir?! He’s talking to Kazimir!
Jean-Pierre closed his eyes. “I have answers for you, but do you have answers for me?”
I yearned to hear Kaz’s voice. I didn’t care if he was screaming at Jean-Pierre. I needed to hear him speak for one second. My heart ached.
“I won’t.” Jean-Pierre opened his eyes and stared out the window. “You wreck my city. You chase my men. You bully my country. I don’t believe you have Eden. I don’t think you’re focused. I don’t think you’re moving with purpose this morning.”
Kazimir has Eden? Fuck. That’s good, right? But
wait. Jean-Pierre doesn’t believe him? Why not?
“This is your motivational talk, my friend. Change your life today. The world is yours. Anything is possible.” Jean-Pierre turned away from the window and hit me with a deadly gaze. “Believe in yourself.”
I trembled. The look Jean-Pierre gave had death in it . I didn’t think he wanted to kill me, but he would. I could see it in those cold eyes.
“She is,” Jean-Pierre said. “Of course, she is. I wouldn’t hurt her, but can you give that answer for Eden?”
Jean-Pierre waited, but wasn’t pleased with the answer. “Give me the address of where she is, or let me talk to her.”
Let him talk to her, Kaz. What’s going on? Are you doing this to track him.
Jean-Pierre frowned. “You brought this shit to my doorstep.”
Kaz didn’t, psycho. We had nothing to do with it. I’m going to put a knot on your head before I escape.
“Careful, Kazimir. I’m close to Emily now. Be mindful of your tone with me.”
I would like to see you try it.
I glared at him.
Jean-Pierre’s hands shook. “You really have her?”
Kazimir must’ve hung up.
Jean-Pierre stared at the phone.
Rafael scowled. “That went well.”
Jean-Pierre continued to stare at the phone. “He said he has her.”
Rafael’s face brightened. “Did she get on the line?”
“No. He said, she was taking a shower.”
What? Taking a shower?
Louis shook his head. “Sounds like he was trying to track your phone.”
“No,” I had to speak up and end this.
Everyone turned my way, even the black woman with the afro.
I swallowed. “If Kazimir said he has her, then he does. He wouldn’t play that game right now.”
I think, he wouldn’t.
“Why?” Jean-Pierre asked. “Because you’re that important to him? Can the lion love?”
Silence bridged between us. Rage too. It radiated from both of us.
Just give me another moment alone with you , Jean-Pierre. I’ll see if you get out of the toilet bowl this time.
As if he heard me, Jean-Pierre hissed, “Kazimir started this.”
My gaze shifted to deadly. “He didn’t.”
Dirty Minds: The Lion and The Mouse (Book 4) Page 6
