Stay invisible.
"How long will this take?" I asked, voice flat, already knowing I wasn't going to like the answer.
The fat men deferred to the suits with a gesture, stepping slightly back.
Acknowledging the real power structure.
One of the suited men stepped forward—tall, broad, Eastern European features, accent heavy and clipped when he spoke in careful English.
"You make time."
I almost decked him right there.
Almost.
My fist clenched reflexively at my side, muscles coiling tight, ready to strike. The urge was so strong I could taste it, feel the satisfying impact of knuckles meeting jaw.
But I forced myself to breathe instead. To think past the impulse.
Ella was waiting.
I'd told her thirty minutes.
Promised her I was coming.
And these assholes were going to make me late.
Were going to make me break my word.
"Fine," I said through gritted teeth, each word bitten off sharp. "But make it quick."
But all I could think about was the fact that I'd promised her.
That she was sitting in her dead sister's apartment right now, waiting for me.
Trusting that I'd show up.
That she'd asked for my help and I'd said yes.
Fuck.
I'd burn this entire fucking city down if it meant getting to her.
These assholes better make this very quick.
Or I'd show them exactly how dangerous impatience could be.
Exactly what happened when you got between Kane Black and something he wanted.
15
ELLA
Night settled over Paris slowly, like the city was reluctant to let the day go.
By the time Kane hung up after telling me he’d found Étienne, the last of the evening light had drained from the sky. Streetlamps glowed gold outside Rose’s apartment windows, reflections smearing across the glass as cars slid past below.
Thirty minutes, he’d said.
