Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Meaning?”
“She still loves me.”
“I don’t think loving you is the issue, Cauldron. It’s trust—and she doesn’t have that.”
“I think as long as those feelings are there, there’s a chance.”
I gave a loud sigh because this was a fruitless endeavor. “I don’t think you can put any set of words together to convince her to go down that road again. Besides, the contract she’s under is ironclad. I nearly had to kill Kyle to get him to back down.”
“Didn’t you sublease a contract to be with Elise?”
My eyes narrowed. “Yes. Technically.”
“What if I did the same with Bartholomew?”
Was he saying what I thought he was saying? “You’re going to buy him off?”
“Yes.”
I stared at the floor for a minute as I considered the proposal. “That could backfire.”
“The worst he could say is no.”
“And you’ll accept that answer?” I asked in disbelief.
“Everything has a price.”
“Even if this plan works, doesn’t mean she’ll cooperate. If she likes him, she’ll probably be pissed.”
Cauldron gave a shrug. “She wanted back in the business. This is how business works.”
“What about Roan? He’s in town.”
“We can do both.”
“Can we?” I asked. “Because all you seem to care about is Camille.”
“Have they made a hit on you? No. So, calm down.”
I spoke through gritted teeth. “I am calm, asshole.”
He relaxed against the couch, turning quiet as he remained lost in thought.
I reached for my glass and took a drink.
“You think you could talk to her?”
Good thing I’d just swallowed. Otherwise, I would have spit it all out. “Me?”
“You two are obviously friends…or something.”
Or something was more accurate.
“She stayed with you for two weeks. You bought her an apartment. An apartment I’m going to pay you back for.”
“It was a gift.”
“She’s my woman.”
“She saved my life, so it’s a gift.” I wouldn’t take his money. Or her money.
Cauldron sidestepped the subject. “Will you talk to her?”
“And say what, exactly?”
“That she should give me another chance.”
I stared at my brother, feeling conflicted.
Cauldron studied my gaze, saw my unspoken thoughts. “You won’t do it.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
His face went pale, as if I’d stabbed him in the back and drained his blood. “Why?”
“I don’t want to get involved—”
“Bullshit. That’s not the reason.”
“You really want me to say it?” I asked incredulously. “I don’t think you’ve changed. I don’t think anything is different. I’m not going to convince her to put herself in the same situation that nearly broke her. She and I are done, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still care about her.”
Cauldron looked away, his face still white as snow.
“I’m sorry, man.”
“I don’t think I’d be this miserable if things hadn’t changed. I wouldn’t be willing to pay off Bartholomew if I wasn’t serious.”
I kept my mouth shut.
“What could I do to prove otherwise?”
I still didn’t say anything.
“Grave?”
“I’m not going to answer that.”
“Why?”
“Because if things were truly different, you would know.”
20
CAULDRON
“This is a bad idea.” Grave stood beside me on the dark sidewalk near the bridge, his breath so thick it looked like smoke from a cigar. “You’re walking into their lair without invitation.”
“He’ll respect me more because of it.”
“Or he’ll kill you.”
“I’m not asking you to come with me, Grave.” I didn’t ask him to drive there with me either. I could handle this on my own, but he insisted on joining.
“We know he does business with Roan.”
“I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
“It’s relevant because he’ll know we’re no longer estranged if I show my face.”
“Then stay here.”
Grave wore that irritated look, like I’d just asked him to do the impossible.
“I’ve survived worse.” I walked on, headed down the hill to the hidden location.
“If you aren’t back within the hour, I’m coming after you.”
I kept going, making my way down to the bottom of the bridge until I reached the entrance. There were no guards, not when anyone stationed outside would make the area look conspicuous. I moved through the dark pipe for nearly five minutes before I reached the bedrock.
Then I saw the glow of torches. I saw the colored limestone, the skulls that had been part of the foundation for hundreds of years. The air was immediately stale and dank, like it hadn’t moved in a thousand years. I turned down the tunnel, coming face-to-face with one of the men stationed at the entrance.
With a cold look, he sized me up.
“I’m here for Bartholomew.”
“Bartholomew has no standing appointments.”
“I just want to talk to him.”
“So do a lot of people. Get out.”
“Tell him it’s about Camille. Trust me, he’ll want to see me then.”
He sized me up again. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Cauldron Beaufort.” I would have called him, but his information was impossible to track down. He was a well-known player in Paris, but he was constantly elusive, untouchable.
“Stay here.” He rounded the corner of the tunnel and disappeared.
I stayed there, breathing in the underground musk, listening to the random echoes that traveled through the tunnels. Sound carried through the air like a wired microphone. I could hear the conversation between two men who were nowhere near me.