Alessio and the man speak in Italian. The woman assumed the stillness of a statue, while I’m over here freaking about being stuck who knows how many miles underground inside a sealed vault.
“Lake.” Alessio leans in. “How are you doing?”
“Are we in a vault?”
“Yes.”
“Just checking.”
Alessio nods and continues to speak. The man raises his voice. Alessio matches the tone. I have no idea if they’re arguing, but the blinding light, the realization of where I am, and that woman staring at me unblinkingly is all a bit much for me.
Under the table, Alessio rests a hand on my thigh. I think he’s aware I’m a wreck over here, thinking I’ll run out of oxygen while the woman across from me shoots lasers from her eyes. I put my hand on his, and he turns his palm and holds my hand as if we’re lovers. Perhaps we are.
The meeting goes on for a good ten minutes before the men switch to English.
“My staff informs me that King Arma is staying at the hotel,” Hades says.
Alessio nods. “I heard the same.”
“His wife is at the hospital, I hear,” the man says.
Alessio smiles. “They welcomed a son. I sent flowers.”
He did? That’s nice.
“When my men scanned the hotel’s guest list, the king wasn’t on the list.”
“The hotel grants him the same privilege of anonymity that they’ve granted you.”
“But I’m not staying here.”
Alessio chuckles. “You’re sitting in the hotel’s vault, and you’re still under the impression that I don’t know who stays here and when.” Alessio tsks. “I know you rented four rooms. I know you arrived yesterday with a small army. It is risky and could be perceived as a hostile act. The French courts won’t make exceptions if any of your men commit crimes on their soil.”
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m only here to take Margaret.”
Alessio stills, and I turn toward him, catching him staring at the man. It appears as though Alessio might leap out of the chair and snap the man’s neck. The man stares back, looking ready to do the same.
“Who is Margaret?” I ask.
Alessio clears his throat. “A horse.”
“A winning horse,” the man says, still not looking at me. “That I bought, and you stole.”
I shake my head. “I have a hard time believing Alessio stole anything. Why steal when you can buy, you know?”
“For the thrill,” the woman answers me.
That doesn’t sound thrilling, but what do I know?
“You bought Margaret, but you abused her, and she was injured. I used a significant amount of my own resources to treat her wounds. I haven’t been compensated for her care.”
The man nods. “I heard, which is why I came.” The man extends a palm toward his daughter, who reaches into her bun and pulls out a set of gold keys. She hands it to the man, who drops it on the table.
Alessio picks up the keys and squeezes my thigh.
“I won’t be long,” he says.
He walks behind the man, and once Alessio’s back is to us, the woman slips something into my purse. Did I imagine it? She keeps staring at me, as she’s been doing the entire time. When I get no reaction from her, I glance over at the man, who stares at me for two seconds, then turns away.
