by Ella Frank
“Right.” Priest’s jaw tightened, and just as he was about to say more, he heard, “Mr. Priestley?” behind him.
Priest got to his feet, and when he saw Lance Horowitz standing there, he held his hand out and said, “Yes. It’s good to see you again. Thank you for taking the time.”
“Of course. How can I help you out?” Lance said, and then his eyes shifted to Robbie, and Priest could see the questions there.
Who is this? Where is Julien? They were questions Priest wasn’t up to dealing with today, so he steered the conversation where he needed it to go.
“I’d like to discuss a withdrawal.”
“Very well,” Mr. Horowitz said. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you upstairs to my office and we can talk more there.”
Priest was about to agree when his phone started to ring, making Robbie startle. All night Priest had stared at the phone waiting for it to do something—anyfuckingthing—and as the chimes now sounded, Priest’s stomach rolled.
Julien’s name flashed across the screen. Priest plastered what he hoped was a neutral expression on his face and said, “Will you excuse me for just one minute? I have to take this call.”
“Of course, Mr. Priestley,” Lance said. “When you’re done, just come up to the front desk on level two and let them know to send you back.”
Priest gave a clipped nod. “Will do. See you in a few.”
As Lance walked away, Robbie looked at the cell phone as though Priest were holding a gun.
“That’s him, isn’t it?” Robbie said, and Priest took his arm and walked them to a side alcove where they weren’t right in the center of the main lobby.
“Yes,” Priest said. “And I need to answer it. So try to stay calm and not act too—”
“Freaked out?”
“Yes. No matter what I say, okay?”
Robbie nodded, and Priest took a breath before he hit accept and brought the phone to his ear. “I want to talk to Julien.”
As far as Priest was concerned, that was the only thing that was going to get Jimmy one step closer to what he wanted.
“What? No ‘good morning’? No ‘how are you’?”
“That’s the only greeting you’re going to get. Put Julien on the phone,” Priest demanded. “Or you might as well end the call, because I’m not talking until I know he’s there and—” Priest couldn’t bring himself to say the word, but Jimmy enjoyed being able to taunt him.
“Alive?”
Priest turned his back to the lobby and growled through clenched teeth, “Put him on the fucking phone.”
“You get a minute, and don’t try anything stupid, boy.”
There was some rustling in Priest’s ear, and he closed his eyes and waited, wondering if he was ready for whatever he was about to hear next.
“Jo…Joel?” Julien’s voice was weak, and Priest had to strain to hear him. But the next words that came through the phone were clearer, and they had Priest bracing a hand to the wall so his legs wouldn’t collapse from under him. “Mon amour…? Are you there?”
Priest squeezed his eyes shut but couldn’t stop the tears that escaped at the sound of Julien’s voice. “Oui, Julien, I’m here. I’m—” Priest swallowed back the shout he wanted to let free. “I’m right here.”
Priest turned to see Robbie’s eyes full of tears as he instinctively comforted Priest.
“Julien?” When there was no answer, Priest said with a little more force, “Julien?” The blood rushing around Priest’s ears got louder and louder until finally—
“Oui?”
Priest fought against the urge he had to fall apart, and put as much strength as he could find into his words. “You keep fighting him. Do you understand? You fight him and you wait for me. I’m coming for you, mon cœur. I’m going to bring you home.”
“Joel…” Julien said, and Priest dug his fingers into the wall as though it were Jimmy’s throat.
“Yes?” Priest held his breath for whatever Julien was going to say—but before he could talk, Jimmy was back.
“I think that’s enough catching up with your husband, don’t you?”
Priest’s stomach dropped to his feet as the implications of Jimmy knowing what a powerful card he held hit home. When had he worked out that Priest and Julien were married? Or what had he done to Julien to make him tell?
Priest’s anger rose all over again at the thought of Jimmy laying even a finger on Julien, and he said in a voice that was barely audible, “Be careful, Jimmy.”
“Threats? Doesn’t seem very smart, all things considered.”
“Not threats, promises. Let’s talk about those for a moment,” Priest said. “I get you what you want, you give me what I want.”
“That’s the deal we made, yes.”
“Good. I’ll have both by tonight. Tell me where to meet you.”
“Oh no, Joel, that’s not how this works. I’ll text you a place later, after dark, and you are to come alone and not pull any shit, or you’ll become a widower quicker than you can blink.”
Priest bit back the fuck you he wanted to spit at Jimmy, and instead focused on Julien’s voice in his head. “Fine. Text me and we’ll meet.”
Robbie shook his head, fear all over his face, and Priest reached out to trail his fingers through Robbie’s hair, trying to convey with his eyes that this was the only way.
“And Jimmy, here’s my final promise to you,” Priest said. “If Julien is not able to stand, talk, or shake both my hands when I see him, you will wish you stayed in prison.”
Jimmy said nothing, but let out a sinister laugh that sent chills up Priest’s spine before he ended the call. Priest lowered the phone from his ear and brushed a tear from Robbie’s cheek.
“He’s alive,” Priest said, and felt a new fire lick through his veins. “He’s fighting for us, staying strong. It’s important we do the same. Let’s go see Horowitz so we can head back to the hotel and call Henri.”
Priest took Robbie’s hand, and as the two of them headed up to the next level, it was with a sense of conviction and purpose.
They would bring Julien home tonight—that was one promise Priest intended to keep.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
CONFESSION
My love is a burden.
It’s heavy. Too heavy.
IT WAS AMAZING how long a day could last, Robbie thought, as he sat on the couch in the suite back at The Peninsula and glanced at the clock that wasn’t moving fast enough for his liking.
After he and Priest had left the bank, they headed back there to wait for Henri, but Robbie hadn’t realized how agonizing that wait would be. Seven hours of TV later, and Robbie found himself staring at the two black bags on the floor that held more money than he had ever imagined seeing in his life.
He and Priest had walked through the lobby earlier with those bags.
Not clothes. Not toiletries. But a crazy amount of money that had had Robbie looking over his shoulder every five seconds from the bank to the hotel room, just in case someone developed X-ray vision and decided to try and rob him.
That didn’t happen, though, and he had to believe it was largely in part due to Priest, who had been beside him carrying the second bag, with a scowl on his face that promised coming near them was a really bad idea—the same scowl he still wore.
Henri had called around ten minutes ago to let them know he was on his way, and when the phone in the suite rang, Priest headed over to pick it up.
“Hello,” Priest said, all business. He listened and then nodded. “Yes. I’ve been expecting him. You can send him up.”
Robbie’s heart was racing as Priest hung up.
“Henri’s here.”
Robbie nodded and got to his feet, wanting to ask Priest something before they were joined by a man who still made him a little…wary. “Priest?”
“Yes?” Priest said.
“Can I…” Robbie worried his lip with his teeth for a moment. “Can I ask you something real quick?”
> “Of course,” Priest said. “You can ask me anything. You know that.”
Robbie swallowed and looked over his shoulder to the door. “It’s about Henri.” When he brought his eyes back to Priest’s, he noticed the slight softening in them, and Robbie knew what he likely thought he was worried about.
Jealousy…
Curiosity…
But it was none of those things. “Do you trust him?” When Priest’s brow creased, Robbie added, “To look after you. To watch your back tonight?”
Priest took one of Robbie’s hands. “I do,” he said, and when the knocking started on the door, he added, “More importantly, I trust him to look after you.”
Robbie frowned as Priest stepped away from him. “Wait? What do you mean you trust him with me? He’s going with—”
“Henri,” Priest said, as he opened the door and Henri walked inside carrying two duffel bags.
“Joel,” Henri said, and then he scanned the room until he found Robbie standing in the middle of the suite. “Bright eyes.”
“Yeah, hi,” Robbie said, but his eyes shifted back to Priest. He still wanted an answer to his question. The tension in the air must’ve been obvious, because Henri looked between them and raised an eyebrow.
“Should I step outside for a second?” he said, and hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “So you two can clear up whatever I walked into?”
“You didn’t walk into anything,” Priest said, and took one of the bags from Henri. “I was just explaining to Robert that you will be staying with him when I go to get Julien.”
“Ahh,” Henri said, and looked at Robbie. “Don’t like that idea, huh?”
“Since this is the first time I’ve heard of it, I’ve hardly had time to form an opinion one way or another.” Robbie glared at Priest. “I’d rather Henri go with you.”
“He can’t,” Priest said as he sat down on the couch and unzipped one of the bags. “Jimmy was very specific. I was to come alone.”
“Yeah, but I figured Henri would be, like, your backup,” Robbie said, and as he looked down at the bag Priest was rifling through, he saw several different kinds of guns and ammunition, and felt his legs start to shake. “You’re taking a gun? Do you even know how to shoot a gun?”
When Priest turned his eyes up to Robbie, he quickly shut the bag and got to his feet. Robbie took a step back, his legs hit the couch, and he fell down on it.
Priest went to his knees and took Robbie’s hands in his. “Hey? Sweetheart? Look at me.”
As Robbie’s breathing came faster, his vision started to blur and the room began to spin. Shit, don’t pass out. Don’t pass out, Robbie told himself. That’s the last thing Priest needs. He focused on Priest’s face and swallowed gulps of air as he tried to calm himself.
“There you go,” Priest said. “Breathe.” Priest grazed his thumbs in circles over the top of Robbie’s hands and let out a deep breath. “I know you’re frightened. This is scary. But we just have a little longer to go, then we can all go home, okay?”
Robbie didn’t say anything, his eyes saying the words he couldn’t get out.
“To answer your question, yes, I know how to shoot a gun. I learned as soon as I could, considering who my father is. As for Henri, when I get the text from Jimmy, I’m going to go and get Julien, and you are going to go with Henri.”
Robbie looked at Henri, who was watching their exchange closely.
“Where are we going?” Robbie said, and looked back to Priest. Priest rubbed the back of his neck and hesitated. “Where, Priest?”
“He’s going to watch from a safe distance in case—”
Priest didn’t finish what he was saying, because his cell buzzed on the coffee table, and all three of them stared at it like it was a grenade whose pin had just been pulled.
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge #6.
Warehouse B on the south side is empty.
Except for a certain chef of yours.
One hour. Come alone.
This was it. This was what they’d all been waiting for, and in a couple more hours, it would all be over, one way or another.
PRIEST THREW THE towel onto the vanity and pulled on the black undershirt and jeans Henri had brought over for him.
For the last thirty minutes, the three of them had been going over the plan to get over to the warehouse, deal with Jimmy, and then get the hell out—with Julien. And now that the time was drawing near, Priest could feel his adrenaline at an all-time high, so he thought it best to shower, stay busy, and tap into that energy, because he was going to need every ounce of it to get through the rest of the night.
He’d just finished buttoning his jeans when there was a soft knock on the door and Robbie poked his head inside. Priest caught his eyes in the mirror.
“Can I come in?” Robbie said, and Priest nodded.
Robbie pushed open the door and entered, then he slowly closed it and leaned against it. Priest kept his eyes trained on him as they each stood there in silence.
Robbie whispered, “I don’t want you to go.”
Priest shut his eyes and took a deep breath, and was about to turn around and go to Robbie when he heard him push off from the door and walk over.
Robbie stopped behind him, far enough to the left that Priest could see half his body, and said, “But at the same time, I do. Isn’t that insane?”
Priest turned around, so he was resting against the vanity, reached for Robbie, and pulled him in between his legs. “No. You know I’ll do everything in my power to bring Julien back to you, to us. That doesn’t make you crazy.”
Robbie lowered his eyes and put his palms flat on Priest’s chest, then he dug his fingers in a little as if testing the strength there, the muscle. “Maybe, if this was the first time I’d felt that way. But it isn’t. Not with you.”
Priest put a finger under Robbie’s chin and tipped it up. “Felt like what?”
“Like everything inside me wants you to stay, but at the same time, I want you to leave. The first time it happened, I didn’t tell you. But tonight, I wanted you to know.” Robbie gave a little laugh and shrugged. “Insane, I told you.”
“No,” Priest said, then reached for one of Robbie’s hands and kissed the inside of his palm. “Not insane. When was the first time?” Robbie looked away, a blush creeping up his neck. “When was the first time, Robert?”
Robbie chewed on his lower lip. “Do you remember Logan’s birthday?”
“At the winery?”
“Yes,” Robbie said, and that blush grew even deeper.
“You wanted me to stay?” Priest stood tall and brushed his lips over Robbie’s, this confession completely unexpected but welcome. “You told me you hated me that night.”
“I know,” Robbie said. “I lied.”
Priest couldn’t believe it, considering everything that was going on, but he found his lips tipping into a small grin. So he gave Robbie a confession of his own: “So did I.”
Robbie’s eyes flew up to meet Priest’s. “You did?”
“I did.” Priest nodded. “I said you weren’t my type.”
Robbie let out a soft laugh. “You did, didn’t you? God, I hated that you left that night. I spent the rest of it lying in bed, wondering who was the damn friend you went to see.”
Priest ran his fingers down Robbie’s neck. “My friend was my husband.”
Robbie blinked a couple of times. “Really? You went to Julien?” Robbie grinned, as though this news vastly improved the memory he had of that night. But Priest knew something that would make it even better, and decided to hand it over to Robbie for safekeeping.
“Yes. He’d flown in from L.A. to check out some wines for the restaurant and to see me. I don’t think he expected the conversation we ended up having, though.”
“Why? What was it about?”
“You,” Priest said, and crossed his arms over his chest as he thought back to that night…
“BONSOIR, MON AMOUR,” Julien said as he h
eld open the door to the hotel suite, and Priest ran his eyes over the delicious man standing in front of him.
Wrapped up in a plush white robe, Julien’s skin looked smooth and lick-able as he stood with a sensual smile curving his full lips.
“Bonsoir,” Priest said as he walked inside, wrapped an arm around Julien’s waist, and took his husband’s mouth in a fervent kiss.
Julien let go of the door with a flick of his wrist, to wind his arm around Priest’s neck. Priest slipped his tongue into Julien’s mouth, and when their tongues tangled, a groan of desire and pent-up lust left each of them.
Julien bit at Priest’s lower lip when their mouths finally parted, and sighed. “Hmm, it’s been a long month, Joel.”
“Agreed,” Priest said as he kicked the door shut. “You should’ve come with me when I moved out here.”
Julien took Priest’s hand as he walked backward into their suite, tugging him along. “Someone had to stay and wrap things up, you know that. But I’m here now.”
“So you are,” Priest said, pulling his shirt from his pants and unbuttoning it as he followed Julien to the bedroom.
When Julien’s legs hit the end of the mattress, Priest tossed his shirt to the floor and reached for the button of his pants at the same time Julien reached for the knot in his robe.
“How was Logan’s birthday?” Julien asked. “Was he as mad as you thought he’d be?”
Priest scoffed. “He wasn’t real impressed at first, but he wasn’t the only one in a pissy mood tonight.”
Julien reached for the zipper of Priest’s pants and drew it down. “What do you mean? Did he and Tate get into a fight?”
“No,” Priest said, and wondered how Julien would react to this next piece of information. “Robert Bianchi was there tonight. Seems he’s quite good friends with Logan and Tate. Tate invited him.”
Julien cocked his head to the side and studied Priest’s face. “Is this the same young man who—”
“Was in the elevator my first day here, yes, and the cousin to Vanessa Bianchi,” Priest said. “One and the same.”