"I promise."
"And two—when you do get Apollo back? Tell him how you feel. Stop fucking about with him, Lachlan. He needs to know."
"Hedoesknow."
"You're just assuming he does. He knows you want to fuck him, but he doesn't know you love him.Tellhim with actual words and eye contact."
Lachlan snorted. "So he can tell me to go fuck myself? If anything, he'll want me for a good time, not a long time."
"You don't know that," Ciara said, her voice softening. "You might be surprised by his reaction."
"Sure, sis. Me pouring my messy feelings out onto him is exactly what he will need after being fucking abducted," Lachlan replied and picked up his bag. "I gotta go. Tell Layla to send me the flight details."
"Stay safe," Ciara replied.
"Always do," Lachlan said and hung up. He slung his duffle over one shoulder and hurried down the hall to the staircase.
Outside, Kenna was smoking a cigarette in the alcove of the main doors to keep out of the rain.
"I thought you had quit that shit," Lachlan said.
Kenna blew out a mouthful of smoke. "I have. Some days, though, I just need one. You heading out?"
"Paris. Layla is finding me a location."
"Good. I don't like the idea of fuckers bold enough to snatch one of the family like this," Kenna said. She stubbed out her cigarette. "That boy is going to break your heart. You know that, right?"
"I do, and I don't care. I just need him alive to do it," Lachlan replied and stepped out into the rain.
9
Apollo finished his wine and his food, and his headache eased back to a tolerable level. He drained the bottle of water that was also on the tray for him.
He didn't know how long their goodwill was going to last. Probably not long unless they showed Apollo the door after this ridiculous meeting.
Alain opened the door for him, and Apollo took note of the keypad just outside of it. No keys. That was annoying.
They walked out into a corridor made of brick and stone—no windows, just the soft glow of electric lamps. Definitely underground. Also annoying. Of course, Apollo had to be taken by smart people.
"Where do these doors go?" Apollo asked, pointing to the ones beside his own. "Am I not the only guest?"
Alain only smiled his placid smile. "Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to say."
"Of course," Apollo replied and slid his hands into his pockets. He was good at masking his emotions and playing the fool, and he had a feeling he was going to need both skills to get out of this mess. It was all too organized and creepy.
They walked and Apollo tried to count the turns they made before they came to an elevator. Three left, one right. He didn't ask any more questions. There was no point unless he wanted to try and beat them out of Alain, which didn't seem fair. He was only the help and wasn't the one responsible for his kidnapping.
The elevator went up and up and up, and Apollo's skin crawled at just how far he must have been underground. When they stopped, it was on the top floor. He stepped out into a world of light and glass. Before him was the skyline of a nighttime Paris.
So he had been held in a part of the catacombs. They ran under the city in a maze, and it seemed the Sanguis Vitae had repurposed them for their own uses. He started humming 'Court of Miracles' fromHunchback of Notredamebut quickly stopped himself. He had to be professional.
They walked through the foyer, the silence broken by their footsteps. The reception desk was unmanned and the screens above it showed a commercial forChrysopoeiaproducts. There was water and a mermaid, which made Apollo think of the ad inZoolander. He bit his tongue so he wouldn't slip out, 'Moisture is the essence of wetness.' Somehow, he didn't think Alain would get the joke. He needed to get his brain under control.
The butler knocked three times on a polished wooden door before entering. A woman and two men sat at a table made of black glass.
"Madame, messieurs. Apollonius Greatdrakes," Alain said with a bow.
"Thank you, Alain. You may go," the woman replied. Her pale gold hair, streaked with grey, was done up in an elegant chignon. She wore a tailored black suit with a crimson shirt.
