Page 82 of The Carver

“I said she’s not my wife anymore.”

“But it’s obvious that she still means a great deal to you. Don’t play checkers with someone who’s playing poker.”

Adrien’s voice was unsteady, like he could barely string a few words together. “I’ll do whatever you want, Oscar. Make your demands.”

My eyes finally cracked open. I could see the tile that I recognized, tile that I’d walked across barefoot for years. My eyes lifted to where Adrien stood, his eyes on the man who’d captured me from my apartment.

“You say she’s not your wife, but you’re awfully cooperative for her.”

I couldn’t see the man who spoke, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

Adrien stood in jeans and a wrinkled shirt, like he’d been woken in the middle of the night to address this. That must mean only a few hours had passed, maybe even less than that. I kept my eyes cracked but was careful not to move so they wouldn’t give me more of the drug. “What do you want?”

“I want a list of all your buyers. I want to know what they bought and how much they paid for it.”

Adrien’s tanned face suddenly looked pale, like that request wasn’t easy to grant. “I don’t have it?—”

“Lie to me again, and I’ll shoot her in the fucking head.”

Oh Jesus.

Adrien lifted his hands as he spoke, a poor attempt to de-escalate the situation. “Why do you want the list?”

“That’s my business, Adrien.”

“If I give you that list, they’ll come for me.”

“Yes,” he said. “But your wife—or ex-wife—will live.”

This was the moment when Adrien was supposed to quickly agree to save my life, but he remained quiet, trying to find a solution that got him everything he wanted. He said he loved me, but when he had an opportunity to save me, he squandered it. “If I give you that list, they’ll come for more than Fleur. They’ll come for my entire family, my friends, everyone I’ve ever known.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” the man said. “But that’s a chance you’ll have to take, because if you don’t take it, she dies.”

I was fucked.

Adrien started to pant, unable to keep his composure in the negotiation. “I’m the one you want. Let her go and kill me instead.”

“No. I want the list.”

“I said I would quit!” Adrien yelled. “I’ll retire. I’ll give you all the money I’ve earned?—”

“That offer has expired, Adrien.”

“Fuck you,” he snapped.

“Fuck me?” the man asked. “Take her to the car, boys. And don’t forget the shovels.”

Oh shit. My body was still paralyzed. As hard as I tried to move my hands and legs, nothing happened. I could hardly blink. ButI was able to move my lips, and I said the one thing that might save my life. “Bastien…”

Adrien heard me because he immediately looked at me.

The guys lifted me from the floor. I was scooped into someone’s arms.

I couldn’t fight the hold, even when my heart raced in fear. I was carried to the car that was on the property and laid across the back seat. One of the guys pulled out another needle to inject into my skin to keep me asleep.

With my last burst of energy, I said the only thing that might spare my life. “Bastien…”

Chapter 15

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