“Finley?” Mrs. Stratherton says hesitantly.
It’s time to make a decision. I need to meet with them, but I don’t want to do it with Lucien in tow. He’s too weird to explain, and my meeting with them needs to show I’m normal and don’t know anything that’s going on.
Not only that, but I want to start thinking for myself. Making more decisions for myself. Sure, I capitulated when Carrick gave me the freedom to move about as long as one of the demi-god brothers was with me, but that was also back when I thought Carrick might care. His pushing me away and refusing to even take a chance on more has me feeling a little bitter. I’m not exactly in a mood to follow his rules.
“Yes,” I tell Mrs. Stratherton resolutely. “I’ll meet you. But it has to be now and has to be somewhere public.”
“That would be great,” she says, not even fazed at my odd request for it to be in public. “How about One Bean?”
I’m shocked she even knows I own a coffee shop, much as I was surprised they remembered my name, but I have to tell her that’s not an option. We choose another well-known coffee shop that’s fairly close to The Prestige because while I’m getting ready to venture out on my own, I’m going to be as safe as possible.
We agree to meet there in twenty minutes, and it will only take me about five to walk there. So, for the next ten minutes, I pace my room back and forth, chewing on my thumbnail because I’m nervous. I know damn well this will infuriate Carrick, just as I know there’s no way to hide it from him. I think it’s going to be easy enough to sneak out, but coming back in just can’t be done stealthily. I will be busted, and I will face his wrath.
So be it.
When it’s finally time to make my move, I grab my backpack and set it against the wall near the elevator before heading into the kitchen. Lucien is still there, an empty bag of tortilla chips and a jar of salsa beside him while reading a book. I’m stunned for a moment because Lucien never struck me as the cerebral type, but now that I think about it, I don’t know what type he is because I don’t know him.
I mean… I know he’s violent and doesn’t have a lot of patience, as evidenced by how he treated Stan when he dragged him here to heal me. I also know he’s a loner and an asshole—per Zaid—but past that, I don’t know anything. I don’t know if he’s smart, inquisitive, or if he hates black licorice the way I do.
Not that it’s an important thing to know, but still… he’s an enigma I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to figure out.
He doesn’t bother looking up as I walk in, so I have to clear my throat to get his attention. Lucien’s head lifts, and that exquisitely perfect face of sculpted cheekbones and full lips distracts me for a moment before I get my wits. “Um… I want to do some whip practice on the dummies, but I’m not strong enough to set them up with the sandbags. Do you think you could do that for me in the gym?”
“Sure,” he mutters as he flips the book face down to hold his place.
“I’m just going to go get my workout clothes on,” I say, throwing a thumb over my shoulder in the general direction of my room.
Lucien doesn’t respond; he merely heads toward the gym, after which I count to five slowly once he’s out of sight before spinning on my heel and bolting for the elevator. I hit the button hard, grab my pack, and the doors are sliding open as soon as it’s on my shoulder. I rush in and hit the only button there, which will take me down to the lobby. It seems to take forever for those doors to close, and I’m grateful for the whisper-silent mechanisms, not that I think Lucien can hear the elevator from the gym.
Once I reach the lobby, I walk as fast as I can to the door without making it look like I’m fleeing a kidnapping and turn right as soon as I’m outside. There’s a light misting rain, but not annoying enough to pull out my umbrella when the hoodie of my jacket suffices.
I walk north one block, turn right, and head uphill two blocks to our rendezvous place. I knew I’d be a bit early, but it lets me scope out the interior, get a coffee, and pick a table smack in the middle of the shop for maximum visibility. No way Kymaris—if she’s watching for me—would make a move in a public place like this.