“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.