Page 63 of Sinful Crimes for the Artistically Inclined
“That’s the first place she’ll look, but don’t worry. I’ll get a fast car.”
Already Joe’s hand was at his temple, stress building. “Percy…”
Percy very deliberately resumed his discussion with Althea, speaking calmly yet firmly. “You don’t know me yet, and I promise you’re in safe hands, but you must understand: what we’re doing is very dangerous. That object you stole for us… A lot of people want it. A lot of people will do just about anything you can think of to get it. Add to that, you are now, or are about to be, a wanted person. So this next bit is important.” He took the cigarette between his middle and index fingers, pointing them as he leaned forward, locking eyes with Althea. “I need you to put your complete faith in me and Joe and do every single thing we say. Depending who we meet along the way, and how we have to deal with them, you may see some upsetting and disturbing things, but I give you my word, you stick with us, you never leave our direct line of sight, and we will get you home safe. Understood?”
“Yes,” she whispered, enamoured with, frightened by, and in awe of Percy.
“Show me you understand by putting that money away.”
“But—”
“Or I can leave you here.”
Tentatively, she slid the money into her pocket as directed, and Percy glanced at Joe to make sure he caught any approving looks that may have been sent his way. Quickly satisfied, he went on, “This time tomorrow, we’ll be in Sicily. We’ll get you some fake travel documents, then we’ll escort you home. Where is ‘home’, by the way?”
“Indonesia,” she replied.
He corrected, “Joe and I will take you to an airport. We’ll see you get onto the plane safely.”
It was the first smile Percy had seen from her, which made it a particularly satisfying one. “Sicily is far enough. I can take care of myself from there.”
He studied her a moment longer, as if making up his mind how true that statement was, then said, “We’ll see.” He snuffed out the cigarette and stood. “I’ll get the car, and I’ll be back. Neither of you leave this… hovel?—”
“It’s a normal hotel room!” Joe blustered.
“—until I get back. Use the bathroom. We don’t want anymore stops than are absolutely necessary. Hopefully we can make it there on one tank. Joe, I’m taking your key. Althea, I imagine there’s a fascinating story behind all this, but don’t tell Joe until I get back. I hate to miss gossip.”
Percy slammed the door behind him, then just as Joe and Althea attempted to begin thinking about their preparations, the door reopened a sliver. “Love you, handsome.”
“Love you, too,” Joe called, somewhere between love struck and floundering, two emotions which, for Joe, had already become almost indistinguishable.
Happy with the answer, Percy disappeared again. They both waited, in yet another moment of silence, then Althea attempted, “Your boyfriend is…”
“Yeah,” said Joe, warm and blushing. “He is.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
ROYAL TROUBLE
The receptionist had looked at Percy a little too hard, then disappeared into an office shortly after his arrival at the front desk, therefore Percy wasn’t particularly surprised when he returned from hiring and moving the rental car to see Cleo making her way across the atrium towards him, full entourage in tow.
Her nightgown was a marvellous black silk, and it would be dishonest to suggest Percy wasn’t slightly regretful at the night’s turn of events as he watched it slip and curl around her hips and thighs with every determined step forward.
He would have left it on. For a while.
An easy smile spread across his face and he stood a little taller as she seethed, “Where is it?”
He pushed his keys casually back into his pocket. “I already told you no.”
“Give it to me now!”
Her eyes flared wildly, and Percy wondered at the thrill that ran through his body and his unseemly weakness for angry men and women. Probably something to do with the way his mother ignored his existence for months at a time during heralmost unending bouts of depression throughout his childhood.
As the thought occurred to him, he saw his entire sexual existence at the edge of ruin, so he resolved to never think about that again and instead pushed Cleo a little further. “All this begging is becoming embarrassing for us both.”
“Percy,” she stepped up to him, lowering her voice, “cross me, and Iwillmake you pay. You, and as soon as I find out who they are, that spectacular new lover of yours.”
Percy’s smile and desire evaporated in an instant. A rush of blood hit his temples, and his fingers twitched at his side. “You should know,” he said, his voice as warm and comforting as the blade of the dagger pressed temptingly against his ankle, “if you weren’t a princess, you’d be dead already.”
