Page 186 of The Heart You Kept

What do they actually think is going to happen here? Annoyed, I go to the kitchen and turn the kettle on and I hear them come back downstairs. “So we….”

“Baisse d’un ton.” Edward murmurs. (Translation: Keep your voice down.)

My ears prick up, Edward is speaking to them in French, he doesn’t want me to know what they’re saying.

“Ton sac est en haut. L’arme est dons la poche latérale.” I hear a muffled voice. (Translation: Your bag is upstairs, the gun is in the side pocket.)

“Merci.”

L’arme?

Gun…did I just hear something about a gun? I don’t speak French, but there are some words I recognize. I walk back out into the living area, “Au revoir, Mademoiselle Sorenson.” They nod.

“Goodbye.” I fake a smile; my mind is reeling.

Good riddance.

“Ne quittez pas la maison, Monsieur Prescott.” (Translation: Do not leave the house, Mr. Prescott.)

“Je n’en ferai rien.” (Translation: I won’t.)

“Verrouille la porte derrière nous.” (Translation: Lock the door behind us.)

Lock, another familiar word.

They walk out the door and I close it behind them and lock it, get out of my house, fuckers.

Edward’s eyes find mine and he gives me a soft smile. “You don’t like my men in your house?”

“No.”

“They’re gone now.” He takes me into his arms. “Forget about them.”

“Why did they say gun?”

“What?” He plays dumb.

“I heard the word gun.”

“They left a gun upstairs for me.”

“Why?”

“In case I need it.”

“Why would you need a gun to stay at my house?”

“Alora.” He holds me at arm’s length. “It’s a precaution and we won’t need it, but just in case something goes bump in the night, we have protection.”

“Has something happened before?”

“It has.” He walks to my back French doors and looks out to my little terrace garden. “This is lovely.”

“Don’t change the subject, Edward.”

“I’m not, your garden is lovely, but I told you before. I am a target and precautions need to be taken. I don’t sleep at premises other than my own, but seeing….”

His voice trails off.