He sighs. “Are you still off the table?” Approaching footsteps make Milo almost jump.
I lean in and whisper, “What do you think?” I give him a broad wink.
Fabien will kill me for playing along, but I didn’t tell him I was orwasn’toff the table. I’m only teasing right back.
Leaning closer to me, he reaches a hand toward me.
I take a step back, as Fabien arrives. He cuts his eyes at his cousin.
“You’re standing too close to her for me. Back the fuck up.”
Milo backs up, his hands raised. “Alright, alright, relax, man.”
Fabien grunts.
This is getting us nowhere. We need Milo, and we need his intel. We do not need to be pissing him off or playing games.
“I’ve thought about your offer,” Milo says in a low voice, looking around the room. “I think if you got this talisman, it would go down in history as one of the biggest heists ever known to Corsica.”
Fabien grunts like the total caveman he is.
“So I’ve decided I’ll help you out, and I’ll change my conditions. I won’t touch Nicolette. She’s yours, fully.”
“So generous of you,” Fabien deadpans. “What do you want?”
Milo looks around. “I want you to promote me and I want the money, too.”
A muscle twitches in Fabien’s jaw. “Is that all?”
“I know you won’t give me Nicolette. I want one of the women as mine.”
Of all the?—
“Deal’s off,” Fabien snaps, and takes a step toward him.
Milo backs up. “Okay, okay! Then one of Thayer’s. You make that deal with him or I tell you nothing.”
One of Thayer’s…women?
Fabien closes his eyes briefly and his nostrils flare. He’s trying to gain hold of his temper. After a few long seconds, he opens them and gives Milo a curt nod. “Fine.”
It seems Fabien would give him anything he wants as long as he keeps his hands off me. I’m not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, I like that I’m off limits. On the other… does he have such little value for women like me that he’d broker them in a deal?
“Deal.”
My stomach plummets.
He isn’t a good man.
Why did I ever tell myself he was?
I realize with a start that Milo is talking, and I need this information now. No matter who Fabien is… no matter what we agreed to… I need that money. I didn’t come this far not to get it.
I swallow hard and pay attention.
Milo leans in closer and speaks in a rush of words. “The talisman will be left with a team of six security guards in a private room in The Underground. The access code will be changed at six p.m. to Napoleon’s birthday. When you enter it, you have six seconds to enter the room.”
“I’m sensing a certain theme,” I whisper, which earns me a glare from both men. Whatever. If we’re gonna be all cloak and dagger, can’t I have a little fun?
