Robbie didn’t say anything, his eyes saying the words he couldn’t get out.
“To answer your question, yes, I know how to shoot a gun. I learned as soon as I could, considering who my father is. As for Henri, when I get the text from Jimmy, I’m going to go and get Julien, and you are going to go with Henri.”
Robbie looked at Henri, who was watching their exchange closely.
“Where are we going?” Robbie said, and looked back to Priest. Priest rubbed the back of his neck and hesitated. “Where, Priest?”
“He’s going to watch from a safe distance in case—”
Priest didn’t finish what he was saying, because his cell buzzed on the coffee table, and all three of them stared at it like it was a grenade whose pin had just been pulled.
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, Bridge #6.
Warehouse B on the south side is empty.
Except for a certain chef of yours.
One hour. Come alone.
This was it. This was what they’d all been waiting for, and in a couple more hours, it would all be over, one way or another.
* * *
PRIEST THREW THE towel onto the vanity and pulled on the black undershirt and jeans Henri had brought over for him.
For the last thirty minutes, the three of them had been going over the plan to get over to the warehouse, deal with Jimmy, and then get the hell out—with Julien. And now that the time was drawing near, Priest could feel his adrenaline at an all-time high, so he thought it best to shower, stay busy, and tap into that energy, because he was going to need every ounce of it to get through the rest of the night.
He’d just finished buttoning his jeans when there was a soft knock on the door and Robbie poked his head inside. Priest caught his eyes in the mirror.
“Can I come in?” Robbie said, and Priest nodded.
Robbie pushed open the door and entered, then he slowly closed it and leaned against it. Priest kept his eyes trained on him as they each stood there in silence.
Robbie whispered, “I don’t want you to go.”
Priest shut his eyes and took a deep breath, and was about to turn around and go to Robbie when he heard him push off from the door and walk over.
Robbie stopped behind him, far enough to the left that Priest could see half his body, and said, “But at the same time, I do. Isn’t that insane?”
Priest turned around, so he was resting against the vanity, reached for Robbie, and pulled him in between his legs. “No. You know I’ll do everything in my power to bring Julien back to you, to us. That doesn’t make you crazy.”
Robbie lowered his eyes and put his palms flat on Priest’s chest, then he dug his fingers in a little as if testing the strength there, the muscle. “Maybe, if this was the first time I’d felt that way. But it isn’t. Not with you.”
Priest put a finger under Robbie’s chin and tipped it up. “Felt like what?”
“Like everything inside me wants you to stay, but at the same time, I want you to leave. The first time it happened, I didn’t tell you. But tonight, I wanted you to know.” Robbie gave a little laugh and shrugged. “Insane, I told you.”
“No,” Priest said, then reached for one of Robbie’s hands and kissed the inside of his palm. “Not insane. When was the first time?” Robbie looked away, a blush creeping up his neck. “When was the first time, Robert?”
Robbie chewed on his lower lip. “Do you remember Logan’s birthday?”
“At the winery?”
“Yes,” Robbie said, and that blush grew even deeper.
“You wanted me to stay?” Priest stood tall and brushed his lips over Robbie’s, this confession completely unexpected but welcome. “You told me you hated me that night.”
“I know,” Robbie said. “I lied.”
Priest couldn’t believe it, considering everything that was going on, but he found his lips tipping into a small grin. So he gave Robbie a confession of his own: “So did I.”
Robbie’s eyes flew up to meet Priest’s. “You did?”
“I did.” Priest nodded. “I said you weren’t my type.”
Robbie let out a soft laugh. “You did, didn’t you? God, I hated that you left that night. I spent the rest of it lying in bed, wondering who was the damn friend you went to see.”
Priest ran his fingers down Robbie’s neck. “My friend was my husband.”
Robbie blinked a couple of times. “Really? You went to Julien?” Robbie grinned, as though this news vastly improved the memory he had of that night. But Priest knew something that would make it even better, and decided to hand it over to Robbie for safekeeping.
“Yes. He’d flown in from L.A. to check out some wines for the restaurant and to see me. I don’t think he expected the conversation we ended up having, though.”