“She’s perfectly safe,” Kurt repeats. “You have to believe me.”
“Because you’re a gentleman, right?” There’s obvious mockery in Henri’s tone.
Why doesn’t Kurt show him this room on a screen to back his statement?Because he doesn’t trust me to cooperate. And he clearly doesn’t want Henri to realize I might be witnessing their conversation. After all, he’s trying—unsuccessfully so far—to use Henri’s anti-royal sentiment to his advantage.
“Come on, think!” Kurt eggs on Henri. “Eugénie will never know it was you. You have my word! Tomorrow morning, we’ll pretend we found the key on our own.”
Henri gives Kurt his best poker face.What is he thinking right now?Will he send Kurt packing, or will he throw in his lot with my family’s archenemy?
Please, don’t do that! Please, please, please!
Kurt steps closer to Henri. “What say you? Isn’t that a brilliant plan for both of us? I promise no one will ever know. My men,”—he sweeps a hand in their direction—“would rather die than talk.”
No wonder!They know theywilldie if they talk. We managed to save Joseph Wick, Kurt’s only defector, by the skin of our teeth.
“So?” Kurt asks, his tone cheery. “Do we have a deal? It’ll be our little secret.”
“I don’t know where the key is,” Henri says.
Yesss!!!
Kurt’s demeanor shifts, his impatience finally showing. “Here’s the thing, Henri. I’m not leaving your shitty little castle without that key. It’s best for all parties involved if you give it to me willingly. Help me help you!”
“Help me?” Henri snorts derisively.
“I’m offering you a chance to do away with the Montevor royals and get the girl.”
“We’ve looked everywhere,” Henri says. “The key isn’t on the estate.”
I can’t see Kurt’s face, but I can hear his frustration as he tries again, “If you’d rather have money than the girl, I can wire one hundred million euros to your bank account, or to one of my secret accounts which we’ll switch to your name.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes, just like that! Right now, in front of your eyes.”
“Nah, I’m good, thank you.”
“Use your brain, Henri!” Kurt presses, an edge to his voice. “I’m willing to go as high as half a billion. It’s a fortune! Think of what that can do for you and your business.”
Slumped against the wall, Henri lifts his chin and spits out, “No.”
Kurt leans closer. “You’re turning down half a billion?”
“I am.”
Kurt straightens up, his body tense with barely contained rage. “You’re much more foolish than I thought. This was your chance and you blew it.”
Even through the pain, there’s a defiant glint in Henri’s eyes as he looks up at Kurt.
I find myself rejoicing.
“Take that, Monsieur I’m-More-Powerful-Than-Most-Countries,” I taunt at the screen, “and shove it up yours!”
Oops—did I just utter those words aloud?Mother would weep in shame at how vulgar her little princess has become!
“I wouldn’t be celebrating, if I were you,” the smart aleck beside me says. “You heard what the boss said. This was his last trick before green-lighting your torture.”
I glower at him, mostly to conceal my dread.
