Surrendered(38)

I glance at the text message I received from Lilly just before we took off: I’ll miss you. Xx. I smile, even as guilt niggles at me. I didn’t tell Lilly where I’m going. I bare face lied to her. I have good reason, but it still doesn’t sit well.

I may not even find Jane. Lilly’s life has been disrupted so much over the last couple of weeks, I don’t want to stress her out over a possibility. There’s also an element of this that has nothing to do with Lilly. I want to find Jane, because she fucked me. I paid her to leave, and leave she did, but not before she kicked a massive fucking hornet’s nest. She has done nothing but hurt Lilly again and again. Nobody fucks with me or mine. This isn’t just me fixing something for Lilly. It’s personal.

I have a general location for her. Miles is already out there. I sent him ahead to see what he could dig up. We need to get there, find her and get back. I don’t really like the way I left things with Lilly. I was a dick, and it didn’t go down well, unsurprisingly.

Hugo flops down in the seat next to me with a dramatic sigh, and starts fiddling with the seat, pressing every button he can find.

“Hugo!” I snap.

He stops and rolls his eyes. “Ugh, seriously, what do you expect me to do without something to drink?”

I glance sideways at him. “Seriously? There are other things to do besides drink.”

“Yeah, fuck.” He holds his hands out. “But I don’t see any pussy. This is an alcohol free, cock only zone. God, it’s enough to make me want to kill myself.” He whines. Oh, this flight is going to be so much fun.



We touch down in Monte Carlo at ten o’clock in the evening. I’ve already organised car hire, and a black Audi is waiting on the tarmac for us.

“I’ll drive, seeing as you don’t actually know where my apartment is.” Hugo grins.

“If you drive like a dick, I will kill you.” I point at his smug face.

He rolls his eyes. “You act like you’ve never been in a car with me. You have, and I’d like to point out that you are still alive.”

“The only time I get in a car with you is when I’m drunk, and a drunk man cannot be held accountable for his actions.”

“No he cannot…thank fuck.” He laughs loudly as he opens the driver’s side door.

“And, we’re on the wrong side of the road…please don’t crash.” I sigh, knowing damn well that anything I say will fall on deaf ears. At least he’s not driving his five hundred horse power Lambo. That is truly terrifying.

He revs the big saloon car before lurching forward.

We pull up outside one of the beach front apartments in Monte Carlo, barely fifteen minutes from the airport. Hugo and I have been all over the world together, but weirdly I’ve never been to his Monte Carlo apartment. He never really uses it. I think he’s mentioned coming here once in the last three years, and that was just to watch the Grand Prix. The only reason he really has it is as a tax dodge.

Hugo jingles the keys in his hand as he approaches the door. “Been a while since I’ve been here.” He mumbles.

He opens the door and steps into a modern looking apartment. It’s not huge, but then property in Monaco isn’t cheap, plus, what’s the point in having an enormous apartment that you never live in?

Everything in here is white, clean, unlived in. It’s very Hugo.

I drop my bag by the door and pull my laptop out. We’re only here for twenty-four hours, and I need to make sure I find Lilly’s mum in that time. I refuse to be here any longer than I have to be.

I sit down on the horribly uncomfortable leather sofa. Safe to say this was designed for aesthetics, not comfort. I pull up the emails I’ve missed on the two hour flight. There are two from Miles, the last one saying that he believes he has tracked down her location, and to call him.

“Seriously, are we just here to work?” Hugo huffs.

“Hugo, I told you that you didn’t have to come.” I remind him.

“Yeah, but I thought there would be a little play.” He sighs and heads into the kitchen. “You want a beer?” He asks.

“Just water would be great. Thanks.” He grumbles a response, but I can’t hear what he’s saying.

I open up the French doors on the far side of the apartment. There’s a small balcony with some patio furniture on it. I drop into one of the comfortable looking chairs.. The apartment block is right on the beach front. I can hear the waves creeping along the sand quietly. The moon reflects brightly off the water.

I pull out my phone and dial Miles’ number.

“Hey.” He says brusquely. Miles is normally pretty laid back, jokey even, but when he’s on a job, he’s deadly serious. He’s worked in high level security for years, including government work. He knows his shit, and I have no doubt that the guy has the ability to be lethal.