Magnus moved slightly in the way, stopping the boss from getting too close.
Would the boss be furious when he recognized me? When he realized that one of his men had helped me escape? Magnus didn’t seem worried about it.
The boss shifted his gaze to Magnus. “Ils m’ont dit qu’elle s’était échappée.” He spoke in quick French. Living in Paris had given me some vocabulary to understand his words, but by no means was I fluent. I could only pick up enough to deduce a couple things. Something about my escape. So, he did recognize me. He shook his head. “C’était toi.” You.
“Les hommes n’en savent rien. C’est tout ce qui compte.” Men. Nothing else matters.
He stood in sweatpants low on his waist, and he’d skipped the shirt, like he didn’t give a damn who saw him this way. He was bulky and strong, with lots of muscles in his chest and arms. He looked like a bull. “Tu m’as piégé. Tu es venu ici pour jubiler?” Trick. He raised his voice, growing angry.
Magnus was as calm as ever. “Non.”
His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked at me. “Si tu la voulais, pourquoi tu ne l’as pas dit?” He barked at Magnus, so hostile it was unclear if we would walk out of there. Why didn’t you tell me? He’d said something like that.
“Parce qu’elle a énervé tous les hommes…et ça aurait été une trahison.” Betrayal to the men.
I suspected the boss had asked Magnus why he went through the charade of helping me escape instead of claiming me the way he claimed Melanie. But it surprised me that it was even an option for Magnus. Then Magnus said I pissed off the guys too much, and they would riot if I got an easy way out. But I wasn’t entirely sure.
The boss was quiet and stared him down, his eyes showing his ferocity. He was having a standoff with Magnus, as if waiting for a concrete explanation for his actions. “Comment ça?” What?
“Pour demander une faveur.”
His anger slowly faded as his eyes narrowed. “Quoi donc?” What?
Magnus stared at him for a long time as he considered how to craft his words. “Melanie est sa sœur…et je veux que tu la relâches.” Sister.
It took the boss a moment to react, as if he didn’t absorb the request right away. He shifted his weight, dropped one shoulder slightly, and regarded Magnus with skepticism. “Et pourquoi je ferais ça?” Why?
Magnus turned quiet for a while. “Parce que je le demande.” I couldn’t make that one out.
He shifted his gaze to me and stared me down.
I stopped breathing.
Then he looked at Magnus again. “Tu viens chez moi et tu me demandes ça? Elle m’appartient, t’as aucun droit de demander sa libération. Comment oses-tu venir ici pour demander une chose pareille?” He fired off in French, talking so quickly it was hard to make anything out. You ask for her release? How could you? “Cette salope devrait plutôt me remercier d’être encore en vie. Elle devrait être reconnaissante que j’ai des choses plus importantes à faire que la ramener là où elle devrait être.” She shouldn’t be alive right now.
I started to breathe harder. I didn’t want to be scared, but it was hard not to, not when I was standing in the home of the man who had enslaved my sister and me.
He spoke again. “T’es amoureux de cette fille?” He glanced at me and looked at Magus again. Woman you love?
Magnus answered immediately. “Non.”
“Alors c’est quoi ce bordel?” Fuck you.
Magnus spoke again. “Je tiens à elle.” I feel affection for her.
The boss shook his head, as if disgusted. “T’es faible. Pathétique. Comment tu peux te pointer devant moi et me demander une chose pareille? Elle t’a manipulé pour la faire libérer. Elle t’a manipulé pour que tu l’amènes jusqu’ici. Et maintenant, elle te fait négocier la libération d’une prisonnière. Où sont tes couilles, Magnus? Je ne t’ai jamais aussi peu respecté qu’en ce moment. C’est elle l’homme — et t’es la gonzesse.” Weak…not a man…no dick…you let her use you.
Magnus was quiet.
“Non.” No. “La réponse est non.” He turned to walk away. “Fous le camp de chez moi.” Leave.
My eyes immediately watered, but I kept my mouth shut…because I promised.
Magnus watched him go.
I grabbed his hand and squeezed, silently asking him to do something…anything.
He sighed before he pulled his hand away and walked after the boss. “Mon frère.” Brother.
I sucked a big gulp of air into my lungs, making a quiet gasp.
He stopped but didn’t turn around.
Now I noticed the resemblance. The hair…the eyes…the handsome features. Now that I knew the truth, I couldn’t unsee it. And everything made sense…everything. Now I understood why Magnus had powers others didn’t. I understood how he could come here without announcement and ask something like this without getting shot. I understood how he spared me from the Red Snow when everyone wanted me dead.
Magnus spoke again. “C’est ce que je veux… et je ne te demande jamais rien.” I never ask anything of you.
The boss slowly turned around, his eyes wild in disbelief.
“Je te le demande comme ton frère…pas ton associé.” Your brother, not your partner.
He stared at Magnus longer, his eyes unblinking, possessing the same intense stare his brother did sometimes. After holding his silence for seconds, he walked back to his brother, his eyes glued to his face. “Je ne veux pas la relâcher. Demande-moi ça, et tu ne me demanderas plus jamais rien. Compris?” I do this…then I owe you nothing.
Magnus gave a slight nod. “Oui.” Yes.
The boss walked away and headed upstairs.
Magnus remained still.
“Does—”
He flashed me his stare, telling me to shut my mouth, even though I’d only whispered.
I closed my mouth again.
He stared at me for several
