I’m not a patient man.
“I’ll bring the talisman as instructed. They’ll give me my brother. That’s how it’s supposed to go. They’ll expect me to attack, which I have no intention of doing when I’m outnumbered and at a disadvantage. I have backup nearby, and our only plan today is to find out who did this.”
“Got it.” She gives me a nod.
Okay, good, we’re getting someplace.
“Then we leave. My backup will find who did this.”
“And you’ll get revenge. Peachy.”
Motherfucker.
I’d give anything to be able to bring her back to me. To soothe that anger in her eyes and warm the coldness in her voice. To tear down the wall she’s built up between the two of us. To hold her and tell her I love her.
“Nicolette.If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to hit the ground, you hit the ground. Whoever they had at The Underground saw you, and now they’re demanding you come with me, so I can only imagine why.”
Finally, a flicker of fear passes over her face. I don’t want her to be afraid, but I want her to understand what we’re walking into.
I pull back onto the road and hit the gas, driving even faster than before.
“What do you know of the Baths of Caldane?”
“Uh… that would be nothing. Ugh.”
The Baths of Caldane are twenty minutes from La Maison.
It’s both the longest and shortest twenty minutes of my life.
“Nature’s spa,” I explain. “They’re surrounded by mountains. There’s heated sulfur water that churns in a whirlpool. People swear it cures arthritis and skin rashes.”
“And why do you think they’ve asked us to meet them there?”
I turn onto the road that takes us there. Thayer’s mapped it out and explained where we can park under the cover of trees, to give us a bit more freedom to approach more stealthily.
“I’d guess they have an advantage over us here. Not sure why. Someone knows a secret passageway or has an in with someone in charge of running it. For whatever reason, they’ll want to pick a place that puts them at an advantage.”
“So it’s remote?”
“Yes, and closed to the public.”
Frowning, she looks thoughtful. “It would be a good place to drown someone, then?”
“Absolutely.”
I pull in and park the car.
“Well that’s lovely.”
The Baths of Caldane are still shadowed in the remnants of night. Lights illuminate the water from beneath the surface of the calm springs. Made to look like swimming pools, the majestic, opulent baths feature statues and stones, and spotlights on the glimmering surface. I reach for Nicolette to tuck her by my side, but she pushes me away.
I grit my teeth and walk beside her.
I hate that we have this distance between us. I hate that she’s leaving when she’s done with our arrangement. I hate that her anger toward me might endanger her.
I have to save my brother and Nicolette.
I want that talisman.
