Say what? Giorgio is alive, and Jean-Pierre kidnapped someone from the Lion?
I hugged myself. Jean-Pierre must’ve thought the Lion took me. I turned to the Devil. Maybe he did take me. I didn’t know who this man worked for, or if he was somehow connected to the Russian mafia. All I knew was that I didn’t like Jean-Pierre being in danger.
“This worked out good for us.” The Devil clapped his hands. The flames on his mask rose higher, painting dark monstrous shadows into the ceiling. “With the Corsican and the Bratva fighting throughout Paris, everyone’s busy.”
A couple of the men snickered.
“They’re all tied up in their egos.” The Devil addressed his demons. “The Butcher. The Lion. The cops. Even the damn military is in on this. We can slip in and out. Stick to the plan. We’ll be fine. No more bullshit like Jebo did with drugging the Butcher’s, whore.”
Many of the demons nodded in agreement. Their black eyes bulged and reflected my image back to me.
“Let’s go. Get her in there.” The Devil pointed at a new couch. “We don’t know when they’ll be back at this building. She comes with us from now on.”
Another man lifted the top up, exposing an empty compartment inside big enough for me to be hidden in.
“I’m not going into another couch or box or anything.” I backed up. “I’m walking.”
Out of nowhere, Uni galloped over to me. “Are you going on an adventure, friend?”
I batted at the air. “Uni, if you don’t have a gun or something, then get out of here!”
The Devil snapped his fingers in my direction. “Hey! I’m over here, and you are getting in that couch.”
“Listen.” My heart raced. “I can put on a uniform like you all have. I’ll keep my mouth shut. I know how to move—”
“Get your ass in that couch!”
Uni’s rainbow tail darkened to black. “Your friend doesn’t seem very nice.”
He’s not my friend. He’s the devil.
Two men grabbed my arms. Another took my legs. I kicked. I screamed. I punched a few in the face, but it got me nowhere. They stuffed me into the box.
Uni watched with glitter tears.
The Devil’s face showed at the top of the box. “Are you comfortable, princess?”
I trembled.
He lowered down into the couch.
Cringing, I shrank back as his masked face came inches close to mine.
“You were right earlier.” He lowered even more and licked my ear. Vomit threatened to come out. My flesh quivered.
“You’re definitely a smart one.” He licked my ear again.
I ducked away, but still felt its cold wetness.
Laughing, he rose. “I only killed Jebo to hurt you first. Hurting you after you’ve been raped and beaten would’ve taken all the fun out of the game. And I do intend to have fun. Jean-Pierre took some things, but not my sense of humor.”
I’m going to kill you.
I didn’t move.
Uni giggled off in the distance. “Friends, let’s say goodbye to Eden.”
And all the kids yelled with glee, “Goodbye, Eden!”
“Fuck all of you!” I screamed as the couch top shut and darkness swallowed me. I prayed to any God that was listening, to set me free. Get me the hell out of here.
Seconds later, the demons didn’t keep the couch flat on the ground. They had it and me lifted up in the air, slanted sideways. To Jean-Pierre and everyone else, they would probably look like regular movers transporting a couch out of the building. I couldn’t hear anything outside. All I could go on was the movement.
“Hey! I’m in here!” I punched at the sides of the walls, wondering if people could hear me outside of it. “Help! Help!”
When the motion felt like we were going down in the elevator, I screamed. I yelled. I kicked and banged at the wood.
But no one came.
Not even Uni, the Unicorn.
Chapter 19
The Lion and The Mouse
Jean-Pierre
It took forever to get to the address where Shalimar was.
And there was no more time to waste.
Goddamn it!
Roads were blocked by police or fire fighters. The chaos between Kazimir and me had triggered others to battle. That was the way of humans. Anger caused a domino effect. When dealt with terror, some hid and waited until it left. Others went out into to streets to be a part of it.
Hospital and police helicopters disrupted the sky. I needed a lead or clue soon, or else I would Eden. More men and weapons had arrived at the airport.
Others reported that Russians had arrived to. A few Bratva that had probably been in other parts of France. It made sense. So many hours had passed. I didn’t even want to look at my watch.
Kazimir, have you found my love yet?
It appeared the Lion was doing everything but searching for Eden. While Kazimir didn’t have the amount of people in Paris, or weapons that I did, he was getting creative.