Page 84 of Reset

“You follow the red graffiti,” Le Chat replied before his friend started shouting at him in rapid French.

“Hey,” Ryan snapped. “Sarah’s sleeping.” And hadn’t even stirred at the noise. “What’s the problem?”

“I told you a secret,” Le Chat said as Pit boy glared at him. “We cataphiles do not share our ways of the tunnels. It is enough that we tell you about our space. The ways in and out of the catacombs are protected. We each have our own path, and we do not share.”

Honestly, Ryan couldn’t see what the big deal was. Guess he wasn’t the only one suffering a little paranoia.

“Don’t worry. We won’t tell a soul about your den or the way out of here. And seeing as we’re never coming down here again, I’d say your secrets are safe.”

La Fosse continued to glare, splitting his venom between his friend and Ryan. Yeah, that guy was a teenage delight.

“We better get some sleep,” Ryan told them. “We’ve got another long walk tomorrow.”

He squeezed Sarah’s knee and hoped she was up to it. No matter, he’d get her out of there even if he had to carry her the rest of the way.

As Ryan closed his eyes, he heard the boys settle. Holding Sarah tight, he let himself drift off into a light sleep. Confident that should either boy come near them, he’d wake instantly and deal with them. In a way they probably wouldn’t like.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Benson Security Team

Paris, France

* * *

As soon as he pulled up in front of their Paris hotel, Callum knew Rachel had interfered with their reservations. He knew this for two reasons: first, Julia would never book somewhere this costly, and second, the place had a bloody spa. Since when did security operations need spa facilities? He’d never needed a spa when he’d been in the special forces.

The façade of the hotel was festooned with red sunshades and color-coordinated flower boxes on every window. There were ironwork Juliet balconies, carved stone pillars, and Art Nouveau glasswork everywhere he looked. The hotel screamed money. What it didn’t do was whisper covert operation.

The valet took the keys for his hire car, and while the doorman held the door for him, Callum scowled at Rachel—who’d arrived by limo. Of course.

“This is your doing, isn’t it? Do I need to remind you, again, that you’re no longer a partner in Benson Security? Which means you don’t get to intimidate my office manager into booking five-star hotels.”

“Your lips are moving, but all I hear is Cheap Scot.” Rachel passed him, her nose in the air. “I’m paying for this, not the company.”

“Nobody asked you to,” he pointed out, feeling like a complete moron in his work jeans and T-shirt as he walked through a lobby filled with celebrities and what looked like half the Saudi royal family.

She rolled her eyes at him. In that patronizing yet long-suffering way only Rachel could pull off. “Did you honestly expect me to slum it in a backpackers or whichever chain hotel you thought would be suitable?”

“No,” he gritted out. “I didnae expect you to come at all.” It was like talking to a can of paint.

Harvard slapped him on the shoulder as he passed, grinning like a lunatic as usual, as though Rachel was the funniest woman on the planet. “Just go with the flow,” he said. “She can afford it, and it makes her happy to do this for her friends.”

“No, it does not!” Rachel snapped.

“Can’t you no’ do something about her?” Callum appealed to the American.

Harvard cocked an eyebrow. “Manage to fire your wife yet?”

Callum felt his ears burn. Isobel was, without a doubt, the worst receptionist he’d ever come across. She was a hazard to their business. And yet, she was still behind the front desk at Benson Security.

“I’m waiting for the right time?” he said.

“Yeah, so you are.” Harvard sauntered away, amused again.

“Yes!” Elle literally jumped for joy when she came through the main doors. Her head angled every which way to take in the splendor. “Rachel totally came through for us, didn’t she, boss?” She beamed at Callum, who didn’t beam back.

“Come on,” David told him. “We’re all here to get Ryan back. And if that means sacrificing budget accommodation for a luxury hotel, then that’s what we have to do.”