They weren’t invincible, though Lancelot probably thought he was. Things had been bad enough when I was expecting the library to be closed any moment but this… I thought about how scared I’d been when Lancelot had insisted someone was in the building. When he’d gone after them and they’d jumped, I’d thought he would follow, and my heart nearly stopped.
I took the glass of water Henri held out to me and sipped it while Henri leaned against the counter and scratched Tony’s head. “Remington initially brought me here because I was a witness to him being in someone’s territory where he shouldn’t have been. He didn’t give me any choice in the matter, but I wanted to be here. I wanted him.”
I want Lance too. The words echoed in my head, but I didn’t dare voice them. Henri’s smile told me he knew what I was thinking.
“The men who were interested in what I’d seen took me prisoner, and even though Remy and I were separated at the time, he came after me and destroyed everyone in his path. I know you don’t think Lance is interested in you, but I’ve seen the way he watched you tonight. I’m not saying you have to accept his interest, but let him take care of this situation. If you don’t, you could end up in far worse trouble.”
“Are you just saying that because they want you to?”
“No. I love Remington, and I’ve come to care for his brothers, but I’m my own person. If I thought it was best for you to leave, I’d show you right out the door. That’s not best for you, so please stay.”
He sounded sincere, but my reaction to Lance was making me doubt my instincts.
“Would you like a piece of cake?”
His question surprised me, and it took a moment for me to figure out an answer. I was so mixed up, I wasn’t sure I could eat. “I’m not sure.”
“You do. It’s delicious.” Tony jumped up and down chattering as if to further encourage me.
He really was kind of cute, and it wasn’t his fault his dad was an idiot who brought him places he shouldn’t be.
“He likes you.”
At first, I thought Henri was referring to Lance. “I don’t think—”
When I met his gaze, he was grinning. “Tony. He likes you.”
“Oh.”
I picked up one of the banana chips on the counter and held it out to the little creature. He glanced up at me, then reached out slowly and took it from my hand. Dammit. I hadn’t wanted to be charmed by him.
“He’s trouble, but he’s also a lot of fun,” Henri said.
“I can see that. How did Lance end up with a monkey?”
“I asked that too, and Remington told me that was Lance’s story. I’ve never gotten it out of him, but you should ask.”
“He’s not going to tell me if he wouldn’t tell you.”
“Don’t be so sure of that.”
“He basically kidnapped me.”
Henri opened an old-fashioned metal cake safe revealing a chocolate doberge cake. All those scrumptious buttermilk cake layers divided by rows of chocolate custard called to me. “It’s from Loyola’s Patisserie.”
Did they have to patronize my favorite bakery? “They do amazing work.”
“They sure do.” Henri opened a drawer and pulled out what I was sure was a sterling silver cake server. Having seen Remington’s house, it didn’t surprise me. The man was all about luxury.
He cut us each a piece of cake, placing them on gold-rimmed white china plates. Then he handed me one along with a fork and settled onto the stool next to me. Tony came over to inspect the cake, but Henri shooed him away. The monkey scowled and went back to his banana chips.
“Now,” Henri said, “tell me all about this kidnapping.”
“I wanted to go home after we found the necklace, but he told me he was bringing me here and then to his house. He doesn’t want to let me out of his sight until this is all settled.”
Henri smiled. “That sounds just right for a Theriot. Lance wouldn’t have said that if he didn’t care about you. He could have sent you to a safe house.”
The cake was as good as it looked, so I spent a moment savoring my first bite before speaking again. “We left the library with the necklace, even though I thought that was the wrong thing to do. I thought he was taking me home, and when I realized he wasn’t, he wouldn’t turn around. He just… He decided he could order me around, and ultimately, I gave into him.” I would have fucked him right there in his car in an alley.
Henri smiled. “The Theriot brothers expect to get what they want. They don’t know how to take no for an answer.”
“Could you try telling Beau that?”
I looked up and saw a man who looked a little like Lance and Remington, but he was smaller in height and build.