Page 94 of Craved

My stomach sank.

“I’m sorry,” I said stiffly. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

I set down my wine glass and sat on the silk-covered Louis Quinze chair next to the bed, contemplating my little black boots. Jean-Michel stood between me and the door. Even if I somehow sneaked past him, I’d never get to Rafe, even in the shadows. Security would have everything locked down tight.

What had Jean-Michel said about Victorine? That I wasn’t going to be able to change my mother, but that maybe I could find a way to work with her.

With Étan in his final grave, the game had changed. Victorine needed me more than ever. I was the only viable candidate for lieutenancy.

Could I pressure her somehow?

I crossed one ankle over another and then froze, staring at my boots. They’d taken my stilettos,but not my phone.

The slim rectangle pressed against my inside right ankle.

If only I knew how to get hold of Rafe’s father, I could text him. Or I could contact someone I trusted, like Brien, and ask him to pass the message along.

With me vouching that Philippe was holding Rafe Kral prisoner, the Paris Primus would have to get involved.

And Victorine would never trust me again.

My heart thudded in my chest. One slow thump, then another.

How had things come to this?

Dawn was coming. My eyelids closed against my will.

I forced them open. “I’m going to bed,” I told Jean-Michel.

He nodded. “Take off your boots, please.”

I licked my lips. “Why?”

He crouched and pulled off them off himself. I watched helplessly. It was useless to fight back. He’d call for back-up and the end result would be the same.

“This is why.” He palmed my phone and rose to his feet.

My mouth curled. “You call this honor? What they’re doing iswrong.”

“I’ll see you at sunset. I have to lock you in. Philippe’s orders.”

“You do that,” I said bitterly. “I always admired you, you know. After my own father died, I looked up to you. You were about the only person who didn’t suck up to me because I was the prima’s daughter. Ilikedyou. And I respected you because you had integrity.”

A muscle worked in his jaw. “Victorine’s my prima. I can’t serve two mistresses.”

Sleep weighted my eyelids. I could no longer resist it.

“Get into bed,” Jean-Michel said, not unkindly, and I obeyed because I had no choice.

My last thought was that I’d failed Rafe.

22

RAFE

Day passed back into night. The door opened and the tiny lights around the cell’s perimeter brightened.

My heart bumped against my rib cage. I straightened to my full height.

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