"But I don't want to go, brother," Yves whined in thickly accented English, clutching Marcel's leg. The man who stood in front of them did not look friendly. He was tall and broad-shouldered with completely silver hair even though he didn't have a single line on his face to indicate he was old. His hair was in a comb-over, and he had sharp, icy blue eyes. The way he stared at Yves made him uncomfortable. The man looked at Yves like a child staring at the newest toy in the store. The look wasn't fatherly or familial at all. Yves knew what that looked like. It was how Marcel stared at him every day.

Yves wanted to stay with his brother. Why couldn't they just stay together? Everything had been okay so far. It had been hard when they first ran away from the bad place, but now Marcel had a job. Even though Marcel had to be away for long periods of time, Yves was going to school and finally getting accustomed to America. They stayed in a motel and Marcel made Yves promise to everyone that Marcel was 18 and their parents were dead. But now Marcel said that he had to go away for a long time. And he couldn't take Yves with him.

Marcel looked down at him with a sad smile. "It's for the best, petit frère. This man will be able to take care of you. You will learn so much about the world. You will get even stronger than me!"

"Je veux devenir fort avec vous, je n'ai besoin de personne d'autre," Yves whispered, burying his small face in Marcel's jeans. (I want to grow strong with you, I don't need anyone else.)

The man's smile stretched even further on his face, taking his creepy expression to the next level. "He can speak French as well? How amazing. I can't wait to see what else you can do, little guy." He laughed. "Je vais vous apprendre beaucoup de choses, mon fils." (I will teach you many things, my son.)

Yves blushed. He didn't know that the man would be able to understand him. He did not look like he would be able to speak their language. French sounded so alien coming out of his mouth.

Marcel patted Yves's head and smiled at the man. "I'm sorry about my brother. He's very shy. Ever since we lost our parents, it's just been us, so this is going to be very hard for him." He turned to Yves. "I told you to practice your English."

The man nodded somberly. "It's no problem. I understand the situation perfectly."

Yves felt Marcel stiffen underneath his small hands. "Will you stick to our deal? I must be able to visit him on weekends. You will treat him as if he is your own son. If I see that he is being mistreated in any way, I will report you to the authorities."

The man looked taken aback. "Je suis un homme de ma parole." (I am a man of my word.)

Marcel exhaled a shaky breath and kneeled down to face his little brother. His eyes were tired and littered with bags. His skin sagged with the stress of a man far older than he was. "Yves, you are the most important person in my life, and I'm only doing this because I love you. I cannot take care of you with our current situation, so you're going to stay with this man for a while."

"But we've been doing okay! We get to have pizza every night! All of the kids at school are jealous of us!"

Marcel smiled sadly. "That's the problem. We shouldn't be eating pizza every night. You deserve salmon and mushrooms and risotto."

Yves didn't know what risotto was, but he decided he didn't like it. "Where are you going?"

"Another man has already agreed to take me."

"Can I meet him?"

Marcel shook his head. "No, Yves, you can't. You have to go right now." He wrapped his arms around his shaking little brother, trying to calm him. He put his lips to Yves's ear and whispered. "Je t'aime, petit frère. Nous serons bientôt ensemble." (I love you, little brother. We will be together again soon.)

The man outstretched his hand for Yves to hold and Yves took it, trying to look brave. He looked back at his older brother. "I love you, Marcel." The man tugged his hand, and Yves walked into his new life, trying not to stare at Marcel who was trying his best not to sob in front of his precious little brother.

❦

As Alex slowly began gaining consciousness, the scent of roses filled his nostrils. He felt like he was sleeping on a cloud. He had never been so content in his life. He opened his eyes to see Virginie fast asleep next to him, breathing softly. Her face was completely relaxed. She was facing him, but she was curled up into a ball like a child, giving him room to stretch himself out. Why is she sleeping like that?

He felt the silky comforter against his skin and lifted the duvet to look down at himself. He was just in his undershirt and boxers. The idea of someone touching him while he was unconscious bothered him, but if it was Virginie that did it, he didn't mind. It was kind of her to go the extra step and undress him so he would be comfortable.

He shakily reached out and touched her soft skin, hoping not to wake her and break his daydream. He was going to run his fingers through her hair, but it was tied up in a silk bonnet. I want to bury myself in her arms and stay here forever. Where I am? What happened? Am I in heaven? Did I die from my panic attack?

The memories from earlier came flooding back. He remembered the panic that he felt during the phone call with Virginie's boss and how the boss told him that Virginie was going to leave him. He felt his heart pick up and he thought he was going to pass out again.

Alex heard his phone vibrating in his pocket and groaned. He reached to grab his pants. He wondered who was going to interrupt this perfect moment. He pulled it out and cringed once he saw the caller ID. He slipped out of bed and walked into the hallway towards the living room and kitchen. Corey and Colette were in the kitchen, eating cilantro lime chicken with rice and beans. They waved at him with a warm smile.

"Hey, buddy, how you feeling?" Corey asked after swallowing a mouthful of food.

Alex smiled. "I'm feeling a lot better. I thought my head would be pounding from the fall, but I feel absolutely fine."

"It's the bed," Colette chimed in. "That bed is made of magic. I don't know where Virginie got it from but she takes it with her on every mission, and it gives you a sleeping experience unlike any other." She noticed the phone buzzing in his hand. "Aren't you going to answer that?"

He sighed. "Please don't remind me."

Colette laughed. "I know you don't want to, but she might actually be worried about you. You left the restaurant without a word, and you haven't called her since. You guys had a bad fight before you left, right?"

"Yeah, we did," he mumbled.

"Answer your side chick's call, lover boy," Corey advised.

Alex blushed at what he was implying. "My side chick? What the hell are you―"

Corey couldn't stop laughing so Colette gave him a hard stare. "Answer the damn call."

"Hello?" Alex yawned, stretching himself.

"I HAVE BEEN CALLING YOU EVERY MINUTE FOR HOURS AND LEAVING YOU VOICEMAILS, AND THIS IS THE FIRST CALL YOU ANSWER? AND YOU ANSWER WITH 'HELLO'? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH―" Stephanie screamed in his ear, and he pulled the device away so he wouldn't get the full brunt of it. He put it on speakerphone so everyone could listen to how crazy Stephanie was being. He could hear Colette and Corey laughing at him in the background.

"Stephanie. I just woke up. Could you please calm down?"

She laughed maniacally, and that made Alex's hair stand on end. "Me? Calm down? How can I calm down when you've been lying to me during our entire relationship?"

Colette and Corey got up from the table and stood near him so that they could hear better. Alex breathed shakily. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how Virginie is your damn hired help, and you're pretending that she's your intern. Does she even have a law degree? What's her real name? Was that friend of hers at the restaurant a spy too?" Stephanie laughed. "I bet that bitch even told you not to tell me about it. That conniving little witch!"

"Darling, calm down," a gruff voice in the background assured.

Who else is there?

"I'm not going to calm down, Daddy! You've finally opened my eyes to see that pathetic whore for what she is, and you want me to have a fucking civil conversation with him? I can't believe you―" She was cut off, her father probably whispering something in her ear.

Corey and Colette exchanged a look. Colette's jaw clenched. Out of the corner of his eye, Alex could see her squeezing Corey's hand. "I don't see how she could be so judgmental, especially after what she did without telling..." She trailed off when she saw the look that Corey was giving her. Alex wanted to ask her what she meant, but he had other pressing matters at the moment.

"Put your father on the phone," Alex demanded.

"Are you serious? You're not going to refute my claims? You don't even want to defend yourself? You don't want to say that the only reason that this person that I absolutely despise is in your life is that you can't protect yourself?" Stephanie badgered.

Alex bit his lip and tried again. "You obviously don't understand a single fucking thing. Put your father on the phone."

"I can't believe you would talk to my daughter like that right in front of me," Mr. Woods said. "This isn't a very good first impression."

"You're a drug lord, and I'm the one who's making a bad impression? Wow. Way to be a role model for your daughter."

"I don't like your tone." Mr. Woods sniffed. "Anyway, it's rare that people get an audience with me so whatever you have to say, make it quick."

"I know who you really are. So unless you want your daughter's apartment to be raided, pretend you don't know any of this information."

"So you can continue having your fifty cent whore on the side? And Stephanie can stay in the line of danger?"

Alex gritted his teeth. "Stephanie isn't in any danger. Virginie makes sure we're both safe. She's not a whore, and she's worth more than Stephanie any day."

"Your daughter would know," Colette blurted out. She opened her mouth to say more, but a lethal glare from Corey shut her up once again.

"Who said that?" Mr. Woods snapped. "Put whoever said that on the phone right now."

Alex was confused as to what was happening or what Colette was alluding to, but he was more interested in Mr. Wood's reaction to Colette's words. "Don't worry about it. Focus on me."

"Well, tell whoever that is that they don't know what they're talking about."

Colette gritted her teeth but continued not to say anything. She knew better now. It seemed that Corey's rushed, but intense whispers and heavy stares were going to keep her quiet.

But Alex was still confused. What is going on? "Put Stephanie back on the phone."

Mr. Woods grunted, but he could hear the shuffling of the phone being exchanged. Whatever Colette had insinuated had shaken him into submission.

"Alex, I―" Stephanie started.

"Save it. We're going to continue this conversation at your apartment when I come and see you later. I'll send you a text when I'm heading your way. Stay within the area." He stopped, thinking of more terms. "Make sure your father isn't there. This is something that has to be hashed out between us."

"But we're still together, right? The deal is still on?"

"I'll see you later, Stephanie." He hung up, filled with questions. "What was that all about?" He asked, turning to Colette. "Why did Mr. Woods get all shaken up? What were you trying to say?"

Colette shook her head. "You need to talk to Stephanie about it."

"Why can't you tell me? What is the big secret?"

"It's not something for her to tell you," Corey interjected. "Why don't you go back and lay down in Virginie's bed? You still need to get some rest."

"I hear my name being mentioned. If it ain't nice, keep it out ya mouth." They all turned around to see Virginie standing behind them, yawning in her pajamas. "What? Why do you all look like that? I was kidding."