'I can't just sit here while their lives go up in smoke,' I say. ‘No more than they would for me.'
Sauvage sighs, steepling his hands.
'And what would you have me do, chéri? Bankrupt myself to pay your boyfriend's debts? Finance a pharmaceuticaldrug? This is not Sauvage's business. My enterprises are not these. Should I go to court and demand justice for Jack Novelle?' His laugh makes me wince. 'I am not the United Nations,' he snorts. 'I do not give charitable donations except if it will help with my taxes. You ask too much of me, Marguerite.'
My fists ball at my sides and tears flood my eyes.
I hadn't thought this through, I realize. Why am I asking a gangster for help? Of course he isn’t going to.
But then Sauvage's face softens, and he stands up, comes to me and puts his hand on my shoulder.
'Regardless of my stance on this, I would help you if I could, chéri. But in reality, even some things are past the capabilities of Pierre Sauvage. Your stooges—' He winces—'paramourswill have to, as they say, grow the fuck up and fix their own lives.'
'But this isn't any of their faults,' I say.
'Such is life. Ce qui doit arriver arrivera.Who lives, will see.’
I shake my head and turn away, leaving his office before he can say another word, and before I can say anything to my powerful friend that he might make me regret later.
I go down to the lab, mostly because I don't know what else to do. I stay there making another batch of Envy until late, even though I have a surplus in the safe. Maybe I could sell it all, I muse, but I'm not sure what Sauvage would say about that, considering I'm making it for him and for my guys.
How much would I have to sell to help Mav, Shade, and Blake anyway?
Too much. It's pocket change compared to their problems. Why does everything have to be so unfair?
I was beginning to see a path forward, but now the menI love… Their lives are turning to shit, and there's nothing I can do.
My fist slams down on the lab table.
'I hate this,' I say out loud with a hiss.
Sauvage says there's nothing I can do. But, I can't accept that. There has to besomething.
I go back upstairs and find the guys playing pool and videogames in the suite. I play with Shade for a little while, thinking back to when he showed me how then we were kids.
When we’re done, I go into the bedroom and they follow me. We all fall into the bed together, staying as close as possible to each other and hoping that tomorrow will bring some better news.
I mean, it can’t get much worse…
Shade
The next day, I wake up early and get out of bed, careful not to wake Daisy as I get up. I watch her for a minute, still angry with myself for how I’ve been acting. Iknowhow she internalizes. I should have seen the signs that something wasn’t right with her, but I was too busy being a selfish asshole.
The least I can do to make it up to her is to try to use my name to get some information about the lawyers that Stevens told me about, the ones based in New York who were corresponding with my father. I’ve called them a few times and, so far, they haven't picked up. I’m beginning towonder if they closed up shop. Maybe they don’t exist anymore.
I leave the room, giving Blake a nod when I see he’s sitting on his laptop at the table by the window. I check the time, past nine, and take out my phone, calling the number I found on their website again.
This time, I get lucky. A woman answers the phone on the third ring.
‘Fussell & Meyer. This is Andrea speaking. How may I direct your call?’
'Good morning,' I drawl, sounding bored on purpose because I’ve found people are more likely to assume I’m entitled to something. 'My name is Jack Novelle. I’m after information regarding some correspondence between you and my lawyer, Marchmont & Co., based in Richmond, Connecticut.'
'Of course, sir. Let me just take a look for you,' the receptionist murmurs over the phone.
I'm put on hold for what seems like an eternity. When she returns, her tone is colder.
'What did you say your name was?' she asks, sounding preoccupied.
