Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Should I…
I glance over my shoulder to see how far Jord is. He could take minutes, or hours. Before I can second-guess myself, I jog across the road and climb the steps.
The heavy doors groan open, and a cold breeze whisks through my body. Let me guess... even God himself doesn’t want me in his home.
Can’t say I blame him.
The doors click shut behind me, and I wince, hoping I didn’t disturb anyone... or anything.
Voices sound through the chapel from somewhere past the first row of pews.
I freeze. I don’t know if I should stay here like a child being caught doing something they shouldn’t or leave and pretend I was never here.
Someone clears their throat, and I slowly make my way to a spot that’s hidden enough to not make me look like I’m lurking.
“There’s been talk that he has begun moving through The Houses. No one knows who he is, so they don’t know who to look out for.”
A chair leg scrapes, then paper rustles.
The old priest answers, his voice softer than the other. “Well, if that is true, many should be very afraid. He is no threat to us. He’s hunting leaders. Powerful ones. Organizations that thought themselves untouchable.”
“It’s only a matter of time before he comes to Désamour,” the other man interrupts. “They say he has eyes that would chill the Devil.”
I’m starting to feel a little shady sitting here like this.
The priest lets out a breath through his nose. “I’m sure he would love that.”
Silence.
“What I mean is that we should start warning people.”
Maybe I should pray. That’s one thing I’ve never tried, along with anything from Karma Sutra, though I’m not sure Leon would be up for it.
Footsteps scrape closer, and by the time I look up, it’s too late. The priest is already moving down the aisle in a flow of his black robe.
He stops at my pew as if he’d expected me all along, and for one second, I think he might know me, really know me.
Instead, he offers me a folded sheet of paper. “For your safety.”
I take it with a gentle smile, flipping it open to see the faceless outline of a shadow and the words
LE BOUCHER SANS LOI.
Below it, a warning in blunt print.
Report any suspicious activity and avoid leaving your home after dark.
I glance up at the priest.
They just said he targets people in power, the ones who hide behind their money and think they can commit crimes and get away with it.
I tuck it into my pocket.
If fear is what they’re handing out, I’m not in the mood to collect.
Twenty minutes later, I’m shrugging out of my coat and digging the note from the pocket.
“Nonna,” I call as I head into the dining room, unfolding the paper between my fingers.
I stop when I see she isn’t alone.
Emeric sits beside her, burn scars pulling his skin tight, the flesh around one eye folded in on itself.
“Didn’t realize you were coming by.” I glance between him and Nonna.
His eyes drop to the paper in my hand, and he lifts a hand for it. “What’s that?”
“Oh.” I hand it over with a shrug and pull out a chair. “I went into the chapel and the priest gave it to me. Looks like there’s a killer out there.”
Nonna’s eyes cut to Emeric, his slide back to her. Everyone files in behind me, and Emeric gives each of them a moment of his attention.
“I feared this was coming, which is why I hoped you’d all be gone before it did.”
What? What does he mean? I go to ask him just that when Leon’s hand lands on my shoulder and I relax into his touch. Our bodies know each other better than either of us would ever admit.
Leon leans in, his fingers squeezing. “What is it?”
Emeric pushes the page across the table. “This.”
I look down at the outline again, as if it’s going to show anything different. Kind of lazy to draw a damn outline and then tell people to fear him. We don’t even know who we’re looking out for.
“I am Le Boucher Sans Loi.” Emeric lays his hand flat on the table. “My persona has been discovered, so I will be going under for the foreseeable future.”
“You?” My shoulders go still. “But...”
He gives a small shake of his head, and Leon’s grip tightens.
“No questions.” Emeric’s voice booms “This should come as no surprise to any of you. You know who I am, how I trained you, and what I’m capable of. You know what happens if I am exposed. Stay vigilant.”
How? I mean, I know he’s dangerous, but—my world drops out from beneath me because of fucking course it’s him. You don’t save broken kids from the dark without being brave enough to enter it. How is this any different…
My eyes snap open and for a second I’m still in the chapel, walking through the door to my home with Emeric’s hand flat on the table as he gestures for the poster.