Take - Page 81

Auclair’s French accented voice came across the line.

My jaw tightened. “Auclair.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t get to chat the other night at the Hotel Monteleone. It’s such a pleasure to talk after all these years.”

I didn’t respond. I wasn’t playing his game.

“Typical,” Auclair said. “No demands, no cursing. You always were a cool customer, Fury. Very disappointing.”

“I will find you, Auclair. You’d better be ready.”

I tapped the keyboard and activated my tracking program.

“Oh, I’m ready, but we’re having so much fun.”

“I will find you. And I’ll kill you. I’ll put all your men in jail. You’re not getting the ADAPT project.”

A low laugh. “You and I both know it’s not just about the project anymore.”

My muscles tensed. “Bullshit. You’ve always been about the payday.”

“Perhaps, but this is more than that for me now.”

Dread seeped into my veins.

“It took me a little while to put the pieces together. First, I just thought it was a coincidence you were involved. Then I saw you with Francesca Parker. I discovered she is the sister of your best friend from the Army.”

I stared at the screen. The signal was bouncing around all over the world. He was scrambling his location well.

“But more than that, I saw you carrying her out of your brother’s bar.”

My hand tightened on the phone. He’d been there. Watching.

“And I saw you punch the wall today when you saw her photo.”

Motherfucker. He’d clearly had a camera somewhere when we raided his last hidey hole.

“So, this is very personal now, Reath. I will get my payday when I sell ADAPT to the highest bidder. And I will enjoy watching Frankie Parker suffer, and in turn, you.”

“Fuck you, asshole,” I clipped out.

Auclair laughed. “Ah, not so cool anymore.” The laughter leached away, leaving ice. “You killed the only person I’ve ever cared about. I’d never felt anything before Maurelle. I’d always considered it an advantage.”

I checked the trace again, willing it to lock his location down.

“Then I met Maurelle. My brilliant, cunning Maurelle.” His voice changed. “Then you killed her. You killed my love.” He paused. “And now I will make you watch while I kill yours.”

The line went dead.

I had no trace. I kicked the leg of the table.

I wasn’t in love with Frankie. My chest felt tight as fuck, and I rubbed it with a fist. I couldn’t.

Auclair talked of feeling nothing, of caring about no one.

That was what I could have become, thanks to my upbringing.

“No.”