Chapter 10
I answered my phone. “Kalantzis.”
“Lucas.” Franklin’s voice sounded strained. “I apologize?—”
He stopped abruptly.
“It’s not on speaker,” I told him.
Franklin let out an exhale. “Thank you for that courtesy. I need to ask a favor. I’m currently on my way to New York, and I would appreciate it if you kept an eye on Claire while I’m gone.”
No doubt his flesh buyer was ticked after Dimitris led our guys to the shipment of girls and got them to safety.
Leaning back in my office chair, I smiled at Dimitris, who sat across from me. “I’d be happy to keep an eye on her. I’d hate for anything to happen to our tentative alliance.”
“I thought you might.” There was a sick humor in his voice. I didn’t think I could hate this man more. “I’ll be gone until this weekend. I’ll text you Remy Moreau’s number.”
“Remy?”
My brother gave me the I-told-you-so look.
“Yes, my lieutenant. He’ll be in town should you need anything.”
Silence lingered.
Franklin said, “You’re not going to ask what happened to Emil?”
Because I didn’t have to. “It’s none of my business.”
“I knew we’d get along.” He paused a beat.
“Would you mind if I stopped by the house tonight? Just to check on her?” Even if he said no, I was going anyway.
Another pregnant pause. “That’ll be fine. I’ll let Remy know.”
The line went dead, and I set the phone on my desk. “Guess you were right about Emil.”
“Yeah, I was. I knew my guy was giving me good info.” Dimitris slid down in the chair with one arm hooked over the back. “I’m going with you if you go to that house. It could be a setup.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I know what you said. Just ‘cause she works at a soup kitchen don’t mean nothing.”
Yeah, we’d gone rounds this morning. Informing him that Aunt Helen had Claire Benoit working for her for the last six months was a kick. The way he looked mirrored the way I felt the day before. Blindsided. I was done talking, though. My brother was not babysitting me while I kissed my girl.
My girl. Jeez. When did that happen?
To distract myself, I picked up my phone, checked the time, and tried Thea again. This wasn’t normal for her. She always picked up. “I haven’t been able to get hold of Thea all day. You heard from her?” She had ‘til seven straight up before I went to look for her.
The door opened, and Thea swept in. “You rang?” She smiled.
“Where have you been? Why didn’t you pick up?” Seriously, if she hadn’t heard from me all day, she would be shooting me glares if I came in all smiles like I didn’t worry her sick.
“I spent the day with Claire.”
I sat forward. “You spent the day with Claire?”
Dimitris stood, drew a cigarette from the pack, and crossed the room. “I’ll see you later.” The door wasn’t halfway shut before he lit it up.
I was so in shock from Thea’s revelation that I didn’t even acknowledge him leaving.
She crossed the room, sat in the chair Dimitris had occupied, and crossed her legs, staring at me.
“Well?”
“I like her.”
I almost pinched myself to make sure I was awake. “You like her? You don’t like women at all.”
Her lashes fluttered as she shook her head. “That’s not true. I hate women, but she’s different. She’s not frilly and stupid.”
“You didn’t want me anywhere near her, and now you’re…” I scoffed. “I didn’t tell you her plans so you could join her. I wanted you to?—”
“I know what you wanted, but I made a call. I’m glad I did.” Her lips stretched into a grin.
“Okay.” My sister was officially freaking me out.
She studied me for a second. “I told her how you found me. She didn’t get all gooey and weepy and useless. She just accepted them as facts and didn’t dwell on them. But I saw pride in her eyes. That scored you points.”
Thea doesn’t know about last night, and unless Claire told her—which I doubt she would—she’d never know. How did my woman-hating sister go from wanting to slit Claire’s throat to this? What alternate reality was I in? “I have clearly missed something here.”
“She ordered invitations embossed with the color of the Greek flag. That was an extra three hundred because it was a custom color and an extra rush.”
I shrugged. “Okay, so?”
One brow quirked up. “The cake is Greek sponge, and instead of desserts, she’s got a table of koufeta for wedding favors.” She quickly added, “I think she likes you.”
Those five words almost got me. I knitted my eyebrows together. “Did you tell her to do that?”
“No, I’m telling you, I think she likes you.”
I grunted a laugh. “I’m not sure about that. I think she tolerates me. I mean, I don’t care, she’s mine now, but you may be going a little too far.”
“You know how much I hate anyone who has hurt you, so you know my loathing of the Benoits is real. Which means this is a lot coming from me. I don’t think she’s anything like her father. There’s a sadness that clings to her.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
Thea sat up and leaned forward, stretching her hand across the desk to cover mine. “Because I love you, and I want you to be happy. You’re lonely and need someone to love. Our world is violence and death, and you need to be able to go home to something good and soul-soothing. The light is dying in your eyes, and I simply can’t stand it.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you aren’t. All this pressure is on you: the finances, the restaurant, the bar, the promises you made. You take care of so many people; someone needs to be able to take care of you. I think Claire might be the one to do that.” She shook off whatever this weird moment was and sat back. Cool and collected, Thea was back in the office. “She picked a beautiful dress, by the way.”
I thought back to the conversation I had with her. When I sent the first text, I figured there’d be two reactions. She’d cuss me out or not respond at all. She’d had time to think about the night before, and there was a good chance maybe she felt different.
When I got the hi back, I smiled. I didn’t know if Thea was reading Claire right when it came to liking me. I hadn’t done much to be all that likable yet, but I did like Claire. There was no logical explanation. I just did, especially after last night. I wasn’t kidding about making it a habit.
It baffled me that she was looking for affirmation when I told her she was beautiful.
“Something over the top?” I asked.
“No. That’s when I knew I really liked her.” She tilted her head. “Aunt Helen likes her too.”
I just stared at her.
“Close your mouth, dear brother. With everything that has gone on in this restaurant, it’s not wise to leave it open.”
“Thea…” I warned.
The cobra’s hood flared, and she was serious. “You should know she’s terrified of Franklin. She complained about him and nearly panicked, thinking it’d get back to him.”
“That could be?—”
“A play? Maybe, but I’ve witnessed enough terror to know it when I see it. I’m not saying she’s not trying to take over, but she is scared of him. I’m certain of that.”
I didn’t know what to think. This could all be an elaborate ruse. A way of hurting my family. “Remy isn’t going to let me just leave with her.”
“Give me a ten-minute head start and leave him to me.” It wasn”t until she was already at the door that I realized she was going to distract Franklin”s lieutenant. “I’ll see you later.”
I was right behind Thea, and we met Ari on the way out.
He looked from me to Thea. “What’s going on?”
“We’re extracting Claire.” Thea crossed her arms over her chest.
She made it sound like we’re MI-6 or something. Noble. I was a two-bit thug with a full-blown librarian addiction. I didn’t just want to see Claire. I needed to see her. To make sure she was okay. “Franklin asked me to make sure she’s okay while he’s out of town. I’m just going the extra mile for a better tip.” I tried to laugh it off, but Ari was having none of it.
“We’re doing good stuff. The streets are safe. If you get in the middle of Franklin and that woman, you could bring it all crashing down.”
I palmed Ari’s shoulder. “I hear you, but?—”
“She’s in trouble, Ari.” Thea stepped forward. “I hate people. I don’t go out of my way for just anyone. If I’m wrong, I’ll personally give myself to Franklin and tell him it was all my idea.”
Ari and I exchanged looks. That would never happen. We’d let the city burn down before we let Thea do that, but the fact that she’d put herself on the line like that spoke volumes.
Ari rubbed his face with his hands. “All right. I’ll tell Dimitris and Alexander. We’ll be ready if something goes down.”
This whole thing was nuts. It would be smart to turn around, go back to my office, and stay there. But I wasn’t smart.
I was probably riding into a trap.
All I could think was tallyho.