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?”