“That’s some bullshit, Joel, and you know it.”
“Maybe I do,” Priest said, his voice now dropping back to that low register that made goosebumps appear on Robbie’s skin. “But I’m already down a loved one today, and I’ll be damned if I risk a second.”
Henri looked to Robbie, who remained on the couch, and Robbie thought he caught some emotion flash in Henri’s eyes as they scanned his face. But before he could work out what, Henri looked back to Priest. “My apologies. I didn’t realize the importance of certain things.”
A.k.a. me, Robbie thought, and got to his feet, deciding he was sick and tired of being talked around, especially when there were so many more urgent things to be discussing.
“I’m very important,” Robbie said, and a sense of belonging swept over him when Priest took his hand. “To Priest and Julien. They mean everything to me, and Priest seems to think you can help him—help us—get Julien back. If that’s true, can we please hurry up and get to that part of this conversation?”
Henri stared at Robbie for a beat, a knowing light now entering his eyes, and then looked back to Priest.
“He’s right,” Henri said. “Getting Julien back is what’s most important. We can discuss you being fucking reckless later. Now, what does dear old Dad want from you? And how can I help?”
Priest let go of Robbie’s hand and pressed his fingers to his forehead. “You still got people around?”
“If you mean here in Chicago, then yes,” Henri said, his eyes shifting to Robbie before returning to Priest. “I got people.”
“I figured, since you were up this way.”
Henri shrugged. “I’m looking to relocate. When I heard Jimmy was getting out, I wasn’t about to stick around New Orleans for round two. I ghosted, and knew you were out here, so I thought I’d check out the area.”
“So no one knows you’re here?”
“What do you think?”
Priest scrubbed a hand over his face before dropping it down by his side. “He wants money and a passport. I can get him one of those things—”
“And I can get him the other,” Henri said.
“Right. I wasn’t sure—”
“Yes, you were. You’re always sure about everything.”
“Not about this I’m not.” Priest began to pace, his head down, stroking his beard, and Robbie watched the two in silent fascination as they went back and forth. “I don’t care how you get it, or how much it’s going to cost. I need it by tomorrow, Henri.” Priest stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Is that even possible?”
Robbie’s heart was thumping so hard that he was surprised both men didn’t look at him and ask him to keep it down.
“I’ll make it possible,” Henri said. Priest gave a clipped nod, and Henri walked over to Robbie. “Watch over him tonight, would you?”
“Henri—” Priest said.
“What?” Henri said, challenging Priest in a way Robbie had never seen anyone do. “Don’t act like you’ll look after yourself during all of this.”
“I’ll look after him,” Robbie said, and raised his chin. “Go and get Priest what he needs. I’ll watch over him.”
Henri raised a hand and tapped Robbie’s upturned chin. “I like you.”
“Like him a little less,” Priest said, and stalked across the suite to grab Henri’s arm and lead him to the front door. “Tomorrow.” As he held the door open, Henri stepped outside and nodded.
“Tomorrow.”
As Henri walked to the elevator, Robbie raced outside and said, “Wait.”
As Henri stepped inside the elevator, he held the door open and said, “What is it, bright eyes?”
Robbie stood on tiptoes and whispered something in Henri’s ear.
“I can do that,” Henri said.
“Good. And I’ll do what you said. We’ll be even.”
“That we will,” Henri said, as Robbie stepped out of the elevator and felt Priest come up to stand beside him.
“Even about what?” Priest asked.
Robbie shook his head. “Nothing. I just wanted to check something with Henri before he left.”
Priest frowned and then looked at Henri, who had removed his arm from the elevator door. “Thank you,” Priest said, even though he looked as though he wanted to strong-arm Henri into some answers.
“It’s what we do, right?” Henri said as the door began to close.
“Be careful anyway.”
“Will do. Talk tomorrow,” Henri said as the elevator finally shut, and Robbie and Priest stepped back into the suite to face the long night ahead.
Chapter Twenty-Four
CONFESSION
Be careful of the thief. He will steal your heart.
IT WAS CLOSING in on eleven when Robbie came out of the en suite and found Priest standing by one of the wide windows that overlooked the city. He hadn’t bothered to turn on any lights, and since neither of them had any luggage, the room was untouched, the whole suite really, except for the two of them and the liquor from the bar in the opposite room.
Robbie had decided to take a quick shower after Henri left, to give Priest a moment to process all that had happened. But when he re-entered the bedroom and saw Priest so silent and still, standing there in the dark, Robbie had to wonder if that had been a mistake.