Page 109 of Retribution

I wander into the bedroom, wondering what I'm going to wear. When I open the closet—expecting it to be empty—I find my clothes hanging there. I check the bureau drawers and smile a little. The guys have brought me some of my stuff from the KIP house.

I close the bedroom door firmly. I don't want anyone walking in on me and seeing the Stinger wrapped around my thigh. I strip down and go into the bathroom to wash my face and I notice that a lot of my toiletries are also waiting for meon the side. Another small smile alights my face. I missed them so much.

The guys, too.

I frown a little as I look down. They deserve better than someone like me, who can’t even tell them what happened to me, or why I thought that Sauvage was a better option. Nasty Nurse’s hateful words about my body and appearance echo through my mind and I silence them ruthlessly. She’s not here and everything she said and did was to hurt and subdue me. I won’t let her and Joe win.

But as I look at myself in the mirror, I feel like a shadow, a blank piece of paper. Maybe they have already won.

With a sigh, I put on a little mascara and some lip gloss, just to freshen up my face–hide the brokenness.

I pick some black dress pants, pairing them with a large knit sweater that hangs off one shoulder. I grimace as I put on the underwear; it doesn't sit right because of the straps holding the stinger in place, but I try not to think about it. I throw on the rest of the clothes, take a final look at myself in the mirror, grab my key card, and go back into the elevator. I press the button for the first floor, hoping the bank of elevators doesn't open into a crowded spot in the lobby. The last thing I need is to be randomly recognized because a mechanical box stopped in the wrong place. Surely Sauvage would have told me if I needed to go a different way though.

When the doors open, I find myself in a small corridor where no one is watching—bar the camera in one corner. I walk down the hallway looking for signs to the restaurant.

A brown-haired woman in a black skirt and blazer steps into my path about half a minute later as if she’s been waiting for me. I take a step back, ready to run, but she just stands in front of me and gives me a nod.

'Hi, I'm Anne.’ She points to the name badge on her label. ‘I brought you some refreshmentsdownstairsthismorning.’

‘Oh. Yeah. I remember.’

She smiles a little. ‘Mr. Sauvage has asked me to lead you to the private dining area.'

‘Oh, okay. Thanks.’

‘Of course.’

She turns on her heel, walking quite quickly down the corridor. I follow without a word, and she leads me through some double doors at the end of the hall into a small, private dining room. I can hear the murmur of conversation behind a screen, so I know I’m very close to the main restaurant, but no one can see me here.

Pierre Sauvage is already sitting at the head of the table like a king. The settings are elaborate, with every piece of cutlery and extra plate imaginable. I’m suddenly grateful to the hateful Ms. Tremaine at The Heath for driving table etiquette into me for two years because I actually know what each fork and plate is for.

When the Frenchman sees me, he stands and gives me a small bow.

'Miss Evans,' he purrs, 'how was your first day in my beautiful lab? You have everything you need, oui?'

'It was good,' I say with a nod, letting him pull out the high-backed chair to his left for me.

I sit as gracefully as I can, mostly because of Tremaine’s rules from when I was a kid.

Pierre Sauvage sniffs almost delicately. 'And where are your… three stooges?' he asks.

I frown at him. I know he’s not happy that I made Shade, Mav, and Blake part of this, but I don't like the way he speaks about my guys at all.

‘I know we have a deal,' I begin, but he stops me with a hand raised between us.

'I see you do not like this. My little names for them?—'

'No,' I interrupt quite coldly. 'I don't.'

He shrugs. 'Then, of course, Mademoiselle, I shall speak of them only with respect in your presence.'

'Thank you,' I say quietly.

'And where are yourparamours?' he continues, taking out his phone.

‘Mav and Blake are showing Shade the tunnels,' I say. 'But they know that dinner is at eight, so they should be here soon.'

He nods. 'We will start without them. I have, how you say, a schedule to keep.’