Take - Page 91

My pulse spiked, then I realized it was a Mardi Gras float.

I blinked again and looked around. I was in a warehouse, with a cold concrete floor and Mardi Gras decorations and floats stacked all around me. It must be where they stored them.

I swallowed, and a man stepped directly in front of me. My stomach curdled.

Auclair.

“Pretty enough.” He cocked his head. “Nothing special.”

“Oh, and who died and made you the God of deciding who was beautiful?” I shook my head. “And you’re wrong. Reath is just a family friend.”

Auclair smiled and crouched in front of me. I fought off the need to scooch back, not that I could move, anyway.

“Now you’re lying,” he drawled. “Maybe you don’t see the way he looks at you, or maybe you’re too afraid to believe.”

“How is Reath relevant? I know you want the ADAPT project and you’re not getting it.”

Auclair rose. I saw the shadowed forms of several of his goons, along with Weare, in the darkness.

“Things change,” Auclair said. “I want Reath Fury to suffer more than I want to sell your project.”

My heart kicked against my ribs. That didn’t sound good.

“We’re done,” Weare said. “My debt is cleared.”

Auclair swiveled. “Yes, mon ami. You did well.”

Weare shot me an unhappy look and nodded. “Don’t contact me again.”

“Very well.” Then Auclair raised his arm. The gunshot rang out through the warehouse, and I gasped.

Weare’s body dropped to the floor. He didn’t get up.

Auclair turned back to me. He looked calm, not like someone who’d just murdered a man in cold blood.

I tried not to hyperventilate.

“Now, where were we?” He nodded. “Yes, discussing your man Reath.” Auclair’s voice lowered. “He murdered my wife. Did he tell you?”

I swallowed. “I know that your wife was trying to kill innocent people, and Reath stopped her.”

I saw a flash of something cross his face. “No one is truly innocent. He put a bullet in her brain.” Auclair reached out and touched my hair.

I jerked my head to the side, but he grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked. My scalp stung.

“I’d like to return the favor. Put a bullet in your brain.”

The gun barrel ran along my cheekbone and fear closed my throat. I held in a whimper. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“But I want him to suffer for longer.” Auclair straightened and turned. “Take some pictures.” He barked out some more orders in French.

Two thugs came forward, one holding a cellphone.

Auclair stepped behind me. “Try to look terrified.”

I made an angry sound. Hell, no. I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction.

He gripped my chin and yanked it up.