Page 116 of A Mistake of Worth
Michael’s throat tightened.
He was probably going to die. Or wish he had. Marc wouldn’t let this end cleanly. The man was breaking down, losing control, and Michael would be there to witness it, to become part of it.
And maybe, when Marc was done, Henri would choose to stay anyway. Would look at Michael with those empty eyes and choose the devil he knew over the stranger offering hope.
Maybe Michael would have to watch Henri make that choice and live with it for the rest of his life.
It didn’t matter.
Henri’s empty eyes stared up from the screen. That was all that mattered.
Not the money. Not the danger. Not even the outcome.
Just the chance. Just the possibility that Henri might choose differently if someone gave him the option.
Michael’s hand was steady when he deleted the image. Steady when he pulled up Gabriel’s number.
This was the only choice that mattered. The only one he could live with.
Everything else was just details.
Gabriel answered on the second ring. “Michael?”
“I need ten million dollars liquid in one week.” Michael’s voice came out flat, drained of inflection.
“Why?”
“Marc called.” Michael stared at the blank screen where Henri’s image had been moments before. “He’s selling Henri. Ten million, and I come alone to collect him.”
“It’s a trap.” Gabriel’s voice was hard, immediate.
“I know.”
“He’ll kill you.”
“Probably.”
“Michael—”
“I don’t care.” Michael’s voice broke on the words, and suddenly he was shaking, the phone pressed so hard against his ear it hurt. “I don’t care, Gabriel. He sent me a photo. Henri’s eyes were empty. Completely gone. I can’t leave him there. I won’t.”
The silence stretched longer this time.
Michael could hear Gabriel breathing, could almost see him processing, calculating odds and outcomes and acceptable losses.
“You’ll have the money,” Gabriel said finally, quiet and grim. “But you’re not going alone.”
“Marc said—”
“I don’t give a fuck what Marc said.” Gabriel’s voice carried steel now. “We’ll figure it out. But Michael?”
He paused, letting the weight settle. “This doesn’t end with you dying for him. We get you both out. Understood?”
Michael closed his eyes. Henri’s face burned into his vision, empty and unreachable. “Understood.”
“I’ll arrange the transfer. And Michael?” Gabriel’s voice softened slightly. “We’re going to need a plan.”
Michael opened his eyes and stared at the blank phone screen where Henri’s image had been moments before. Where those empty eyes had stared at nothing while the world continued around him.
