Page 65 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

“Then what are you?” I whispered, my voice quaking.

“I am the cat that eats the mouse and all his little friends,” he murmured on a low purr, his slightly psychotic snarl/smile combo on full display.

Christophe stood abruptly. “Okay, well the bait has been set. I think it’s time Alana gets some rest before we make our move this evening. Come, darling. Let’s go to our room.”

I stood on wobbly legs. Fear swirled in my gut, but I tamped it down. Diego and Angel were two incredible forces to be reckoned with; I didn’t imagine much got past them. Alas, I also knew how crafty and revenge-focused Angus was. He wanted me to feel the pain he felt having missed ten years with his only child. Not to mention that I’d bought the auction right out from under him and was making far more than he ever did with the same product and a new business model. Something actually legally binding.

Christophe left me to my thoughts as he led me out of the hotel room they’d converted into their mini command center. According to Angel, their snipers were not on the roofs of nearby buildings as they assumed Angus would employ such tactics and they didn’t want him to get wind of the trap. No, Angel put his snipers in actual rooms, their guns and scopes just barely peeking through the curtains and pointed at every rooftop so no one would be the wiser. According to them, they had twenty men surrounding the small hotel, not including the dozens inside, all in disguise.

Diego informed me they’d rented the entire 20-room hotel out. It was owned by a friend who owed Diego a marker. A very expensive marker, if I had to guess. The phones for the establishment were being redirected to an offsite customer service for future bookings. All of the people onsite were members of Diego’s team in some form or another and had been given the necessary training to play their parts by the real staff before they were given a week off. They even had Mama in the industrial restaurant sized kitchen making meals for everyone pretending to have dinner tonight. Since we weren’t sure what Angus planned, all precautions were being taken to ensure the best possible outcome, including no blowback to French civilians.

The whole thing was choreographed down to the nth degree. People came in and out of the hotel, carrying packages from local businesses, laughing, pretending to have been seeing the sights and so on. If I didn’t know better, I would not have noticed anything out of sorts. Diego was leaving nothing to chance, which I appreciated more than I could ever say or repay. Then again, attempting to find a bride for life—for a criminal leading the Latin Mafia—was quite the challenge. One I still had no idea how to accomplish, but it was also pushed to the back of my brain to deal with when all of this was over. Provided we all came out of it alive.

* * * *

Christophe held my hand as we made our way out of our room, down the elevator, through the lobby and into the restaurant. I tried not to shake like a leaf, using my fear to control my body the way I wanted, instead of allowing it to swallow me whole. Fear could be a powerful motivator, and this situation was no exception.

A man called Javier, who I knew as another of Diego and Angel’s “brothers” because he’d been at two of the meals we’d shared, plastered on a wicked smile when we approached the host podium in the restaurant.

He grabbed two menus, for show only, as we already knew the menu this evening was a variety of Mexican-French fusion dishes Mama was trying out. Of course, according to Christo, this was a highlight of our evening.

While the fake host led us to our table, I scanned the busy room. It was unbelievable how normal everything seemed. Those they’d hired or brought in to play the part of regular diners were doing a spectacular job. Everyone was chatting, telling stories, smiling, laughing out loud, or being flirty with one another. A couple seated directly to our right werecanoodling in a little booth. When I looked at the beautiful woman, I was shocked to see eyes and a face similar to Diego and his mother. Did Diego have a sister? Diego often talked about his many brothers, but he’d never mentioned a sister. The woman I watched suddenly smirked at me before dipping her head and kissing the man she was with.

The detail in this entire tableau was miraculous. I wouldn’t have suspected a thing if I didn’t know otherwise.

We sat down, cuddled on one side of a table that sat four, facing most of the restaurant. We had a good view of every door, window, and person in the room. I scanned each one, terrified beyond belief.

I jerked when a male waiter approached with a bottle of wine. “To calm the nerves, Madam.” He pointed at my empty glass.

I pushed it forward. “Merci.” I gave a half-hearted smile and then continued to scan the room.

“Mon coeur, if you keep scoping out the room, our targets will know you are being monitored. Why don’t you turn to the side and focus on me? Let’s pretend we’re just out on a nice weekend away and having dinner together.” He lifted his wine glass, and I followed his lead.

“To justice, healing, and a bright future,” he said.

I was just about to clink our glasses together when a familiar voice interrupted our toast.

“I couldn’t agree more. May we join you?”

My entire body shook as I turned my head to find not only Angus, but his daughter, Bianca, as well.

Javier approached, still playing the part of host. “Welcome, new friends. Will you be joining them for dinner? The chef has a Mexican-French fusion cuisine special that is to die for.” Javier smiled.

Angus pulled out one of two chairs across from where we sat. “That sounds wonderful, thank you. Bianca,” Angus gestured to the chair, and she removed her coat, her baby bump accentuated by the tight-fitting dress she wore. She put the coat on the back of the chair and sat gracefully, but her cold gaze was that of a viper ready to strike. Angus did not remove his coat, his right hand firmly in his pocket, appearing to be wrapped around what I assumed was a gun.

My mouth went dry as Angus took his seat. Javier was about to hand them the menus when Angus waved his free hand. “We’ll both take the special. Now leave us.” His voice was curt and straight to the point.

Javier nodded then left. I tried not to tremble—and failed—as I reached for my wine glass. Angus missed nothing, smirking as I dropped my hand to my lap.

“You should be terrified. Both of you. My hackers told me it was actually you, Christophe, who ratted me out to the authorities all those years ago,” Angus scowled.

Christophe didn’t so much as flinch as he said, “It was. Alana has nothing to do with any of this. Your anger should be directed at me, not her. Let her go and take me.”

“No!” I whispered. “It’s my fault. All of it. I should have left well enough alone. I was the one that bought your precious auction and promised to keep your involvement quiet. Take me and leave Christophe,” I begged.

Bianca laughed heartily and then rubbed her belly. “You’re both pathetic. I’m going to enjoy watching you take your last breaths.”

“Bianca, settle down. Your bloodthirsty side is showing. Never let them see how eager you are to take their lives. It ruins all the fun.” Angus scolded his daughter playfully and smiled in a predatory way that sent chills racing down my spine.

---