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I almost sighed in relief as he chuckled under his breath. “So you saved my jewels then shot my jewels. Fitting, I suppose.” He shifted a little, looking at our red paint. “My memory can be a bit fuzzy sometimes, but…didn’t you have orange bullets this morning?” He glanced at my thigh where Henri had shot me in the line-up.
Not even a streak remained, completely branded over with scarlet.
“You’re right, I did.” Henri nodded. “I had an unfortunate incident with a blowhole and broke my gun at the very beginning. I would say you’d find the useless weapon on the beach, but the tide would’ve washed it away.”
“And where did you get the replacement from?” Eyeing the weapon hanging off Mollie’s shoulder.
“Kyle.” Henri grinned. “He stabbed me, we fought, I grabbed his gun and left him to it. I figured he wasn’t using it and had already caught the jewel he wanted, so…”
“Did you see who he cut?”
“No.” Henri shook his head. “Sorry.”
“Quite understandable. It’s a high-stakes game. It’s why I don’t play along. I prefer my position as referee and live vicariously through you.”
“Well, you missed out.” Henri gave him another rancid smile. “It was fun.”
“It definitely seems so, seeing as you’ve returned with three of my jewels as your spoils. I hope you don’t think—just because you covered them in bruises and brought them home safely—that I’ll allow you to keep all three?” His eyes glinted. “Besides, I thought you were only interested in one.”
“I am,” Henri snapped. “I just…got trigger happy. Look, Vic, Peter weighs a fucking tonne. He needs your doctor, and I’m—”
“Yes, yes, you’re tired and want to rest.” Wrinkling his nose, Victor nodded slowly. “I admit you stink of seaweed, and Peter looks as if you should’ve left him for the gulls.” Leaning in, he flicked up one of Peter’s eyelids before letting it snap back down. “The doctor is in her personal rooms, not the surgery. She’s had a long day, and the patient rooms below are full. Go upstairs to her. However, you might’ve wasted your energy carrying him back. He smells as if death has already found him.”
“That’s his hands and feet, you bastard,” I hissed.
Henri turned on me, roaring in French. “Tiens ta putain de langue, Ilyana, ou je vais te la couper. J'en ai marre de ton attitude, tu m’entends?!” (Hold your fucking tongue, Ilyana, or I’ll cut it out. I’m sick to death of your attitude, do you hear me?!)
I recoiled and tripped backward on throbbing feet.
My heart spasmed with the sharpest pain.
I’d never been spoken to that way before.
Scolded that harshly.
Never had my entire soul tuck tail and hide, desperate to run far away from such violence.
Victor chuckled. “You better go rest up, Henri, before you butcher your favourite, hmm? I know what it’s like when your temper is on the edge.” Stepping aside from the marble stairs, Victor waved his arm for us to pass. “Tell Dr Belford to treat you first. You wouldn’t want to die from sepsis. She can then tend to Peter with my blessing.” Looking at us behind Henri, he purred, “Rachel, Mollie, return to the jewel quarters and shower off that paint. Report to me so I can count your bruises.”
Stopping me with a hand on my shoulder as I followed Henri toward the bottom step, Victor grinned. “And as for you…”
I forced myself not to squirm as he dragged me close. Too close. “It looks like you got most of the bullets because your Master is finally seeing the errors of your ways.” He chuckled as his horrible blue eyes skimmed down my hurting body. “You definitely didn’t hold back, Henri.” He clucked his tongue. “I’m impressed.”
Henri growled under his breath. “She deserved it.”
I fought the very real, very awful urge to sob.
Victor let me go with another laugh. “I suggest you rest before you discipline her any further. I would hate to tell you off for going too far.”
“Understood.”
“What are you two still doing here?” Victor barked, looking at Rachel and Mollie.
With a flinch, they shot me a look, then dashed to the left and the corridor leading to the jewel stables.
The corridor swallowed them whole.
I longed to go with them.
