Falloir (Passion Noire Book 2) (30 page)

‘Then you shall have one but right now, sleeping off that Stella so you can think clearly tomorrow is the best idea. Although, I’ll bet you have a shitty head in the morning.’

He frowns suspiciously.

‘A hangover,’ I clarify. ‘A headache from drinking too much lager.’

He pulls a face. ‘Like Veuve when she’s been pissed. I have to try to be quiet or she looks like she’ll be sick.’

‘That’s the one. So, do yourself a favour—if you feel like shit, stay in bed. Otherwise, she’ll know. She doesn’t miss much, does she? Have a shower and clean your teeth—that’ll help throw her off the scent.’

He screws his face up in confusion.

‘Never mind. Goodnight, Kid.’ I close the door behind me marvelling at how difficult it is not to say something that confuses him. And how tiring it is. I decide to compromise on the text question and shoot Veuve a text saying
Hope everything’s okay. Call if you need me. J.
Then I shower and slide into her bed. The sheets are blissfully cool but I’d rather have her warm, curvy body next to me. Suddenly I’m wide awake. Fucking typical.

I hear the text alert tone of my phone and snatch it up.

Staying with H & T tonight. All’s good. Going straight to Vouloir first thing. I have 3 clients. Can you keep an eye on The Kid? I’ll be home around 2. Let me know if there’s a problem. V x

Knowing that she’s okay is all it takes. I smile, replace my phone and I’m asleep within moments.

I PULL UP TO Thierri’s gates, knowing that I’m skating on thin ice. Very thin ice. I’ve left it until late morning to make sure The Kid’s okay after his introduction to alcohol—he’s groggy but fine, and to make sure that Veuve will be at Vouloir, seeing clients. I stab my finger more firmly than is required on the intercom button.

A voice that could belong to Helene answers warily, ‘Yes?’

‘Helene?’

‘Yes?’

‘It’s Jones. I’ve come to see if I can be of assistance. Could you let me in please?’ I know there’s a fair chance that she’ll refuse but thankfully the gates begin to open.

Pulling up to the front door, I eye the dogs with caution. I needn’t have worried, the front door is thrown open and Helene comes out wearing a huge smile. I get out of the car and the dogs don’t even pay me more than a cursory glance. Helene wraps me into a hug that’s huge for one as small as she.

‘I didn’t really thank you properly for all you did. Well, I don’t even know how to; I can’t begin to thank you enough,’ she says, almost squeezing the life out of me.

‘It was nothing. But you could do me a couple of favours ...’

‘Anything,’ she cries, pulling back and leading me inside. ‘Just name it.’

First, at my request, she fills me in on what happened after I left yesterday and I’m left gobsmacked. I make a mental note never to get on the wrong side of Veuve. From what Helene says, Veuve waited for Thierri’s blessing then went to town on his sister—not laying a finger on her, but detailing a catalogue of evidence that, together with Thierri’s testimony, could have her put behind bars. Apparently, Veuve didn’t even flinch when the older woman threatened to go to the police and report us for sedating her against her will. Instead, Veuve grew deadly serious and made sufficient, detailed threats of her own for the woman to grow a deathly shade of pale. Before she scurried out of here, Veuve had convinced her that spending the rest of her life behind bars would be preferable to coming face to face with Veuve again.

Then she’d promised to have Thierri’s will lodged with The Probate Service once he’d written his sister out of it completely—he had insisted upon that. I can’t say I blame him after she’d kept him sedated and isolated, seemingly counting down until he drew his last breath and she could get her hands on his inheritance. The most hurtful thing for Thierri apparently, is that he’d provided for her in his original will and she knew of this but her distaste for his chosen lifestyle had led her to take matters into her own hands. She seemed to think of the extra inheritance as compensation for saving his soul.

Helene shakes her head as she tells me how Thierri could sometimes hear his sister muttering about his soul being annihilated unless he renounced his wickedness. She wanted to save his soul so that when Armageddon occurs, he could rise with her and enjoy paradise on earth. Helene starts to sob in frustration when she tells me how Thierri abhors that religion and how he’d begun to think that his soul would be trapped in what would be hell for him, but paradise for everyone around him. Through her tears, she laughs at the irony of it, since Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in the existence of hell.

Alan, the replacement nurse, had arranged for Thierri to be seen by his consultant as a matter of urgency after his sister had repeatedly cancelled his appointments. Helene was concerned about the possible repercussions of being sedated on a daily basis. I manage not to put my foot in it by stating the obvious ... Thierri had terminal cancer and, to me, didn’t look to have long left on this mortal coil. Which brings me to my second, and main, reason for visiting.

‘Helene, would it be possible for me to see Thierri—’ I begin, but she cuts me off.

‘Oh, of course it would. I’ve no doubt he’s dyin—desperate to meet the man who was kind and brave enough to free him from the burden of his sister.’

I smile but, to be honest, I’d been feeling really stupid about it. I’d allowed my prior experiences with attack dogs to cloud my judgement. How fucking typical that they’d turn out to be as soft as shit. All that had kept anyone from Thierri had been an old woman. Oh, and Veuve—when I’d been tempted to storm the place, she’d put her foot down in fear of finishing off Thierri. Veuve and I hadn’t known about the dogs being pussies but Helene had. Why hadn’t she just marched up to the door and pushed her way in, past the old biddy? I can’t understand it. All the cloak and dagger law-breaking that I’d done—for nothing. I can’t resist asking her.

She walks over to the front door and shows me the heavyweight door chain that’s screwed to the frame. ‘She had the locks changed and had this installed. There was no way I could push past her. She said that she’d stocked up on groceries and essential supplies that would last her until Thierri had asked for forgiveness for his sins before drawing his last breath. I walked all the way around the house, looking for a way in but it was locked down. She meant business and what could I do in a short space of time? I didn’t know how long Thierri … how long I had. If she’d stocked up for weeks and I couldn’t get inside, it would be too late.’

‘You didn’t consider going to the police?’ I ask, thinking it would have been the obvious choice for most people.

Her eyes grow huge as she shakes her head. ‘Thierri doesn’t believe in interaction with the police. I didn’t want to upset him, calling them in when I had no way of convincing them that she was doing anything wrong. She’s his sister who, to the eyes of strangers, was looking after her dying brother. I had no proof about him having a will. I didn’t know she was sedating him ... I might have reconsidered my actions but I don’t know. Thierri wouldn’t forgive me if I brought police to his door. Plus, Thierri had pushed me away once ... making me move out when his health nosedived. It hurt like hell when his sister moved in not long after. I ... I wasn’t sure he hadn’t done it again. That’s why I turned to Veuve. I knew she’d know what to do.’

I wish I hadn’t asked. The agony in her delicate features makes me feel like a scumbag for raking it all up again.

‘Yeah, she takes on the world’s problems and attempts to sort them out, one by one.’

Helene laughs. ‘She sure does. If more people were like Veuve, there’d be no problems. The world would be a much better place. A sexier one too.’ She giggles before looking at me a little oddly as though she’s deciding whether to speak and if so, what to say. ‘I can see how you feel about her, no matter how hard you try to hide it. I don’t blame you—I love the bones of her and, from what I’ve seen, you’re a great guy, but you’re not right for her. She’ll never let you inside.’

I purse my lips. This is not what I want to hear but I’m keen to how Helene has reached that conclusion. It’s clear that Veuve hasn’t confided in her—she has no idea that Veuve and I are giving it a go.

‘Does she ever let anyone inside?’ I shrug.

‘Very few. But there have been one or two who’ve been special enough to her.’

‘So why can’t I be among the elite? The special few?’

‘Because you’re a Dominant. With the exception of Thierri, her mentor, no other Dominant will ever get close to her. I can see that you seem to have gotten closer than most but that’s simply due to circumstance. I don’t wish to be unkind but you were there and she needed help. She loves Thierri like a father and couldn’t bear to be parted from him. She needs the chance to say goodbye when the time comes and for him to have the respectful send-off he both wants and deserves. You’ve helped her to make that possible. She’s immensely grateful to you but don’t read any more into it than that.’

‘I’m not a Dominant. I’ve had no training and I don’t plan to. But thank you for your concern.’

She smiles as though indulging the naivety of a child. ‘You may not have had experience inside a BDSM club but you’re a naturally dominant man, an alpha male who has been trained to be a highly disciplined leader. So you’re not well versed in BDSM etiquette ... big deal. Forgive me for being so forward, but I’m willing to bet that you have a history of getting what you want in the bedroom. Veuve’s not interested in that, you do know that, don’t you? She doesn’t let anyone get close these days—a pity, but her choice. But I guarantee that the next man she lets get near her—physically or emotionally—will be an alpha male in public but a submissive in the bedroom. I know that’s just not you.’

I consider her words for a second or two. It’s nothing that I don’t already know and she’s close ... I’ll give her that. ‘So I’m an alpha male in public, as you say ... how do you know how I behave in the bedroom?’

She gives me that same smile again. ‘Because I’m a submissive. I can smell a Dominant at a hundred paces—whether he’s trained or not. It’s who you are, Jones. It’s in your blood—you know I’m right. Just like Veuve ... and believe me, two Dominants is not a good mix. It’s dangerous ... and pointlessly unfulfilling ... guaranteed to end badly. You’d be foolish to even contemplate it. Anyone would. And Veuve’s no fool.’

I nod before telling her, ‘Message received and understood.’ And instantly dismissed.

She smiles and seems relieved. ‘You’re lucky I’m not ten years younger ... you’d have me hanging on your every word. But don’t worry, there’s a lovely submissive out there, just waiting to meet her Master. You should get a mentor in Vouloir. I’ll ask Veuve to arrange it, if you like. We’ll soon have you sorted.’ She looks so pleased with herself that I don’t have the heart to tell her it’s a stupid idea. That I don’t want to be
sorted.

‘I came to have a word with Thierri, if it’s convenient.’

She couldn’t have looked more surprised if I’d dropped to my knees and offered to worship at her feet. ‘May I ask why?’ Her frown is full of suspicion.

‘I want to make sure that Veuve is protected from the evil bastard who hurt her. I know that Thierri has taken care of it for all these years but now he’s ill, I need to be sure she’s still safe. And there’s also the longer term to consider ...’ Her eyebrows raise while I’m talking and I take no pleasure in reminding her that Thierri doesn’t have long but this is important. Veuve’s protection needs to continue after his death.

‘She told you about Paul?’ she whispers, as though she can’t quite believe it.

I nod, thrown by her unexpected response.

‘But she doesn’t open up ... I mean, she ... my goodness, I’m amazed that she told you.’

I shrug. ‘I’m not the big, bad Dominant you seem to think I am. Maybe Veuve can see that.’

She opens her mouth to speak and then seems to think better of it. She’s still shaking her head when she leads me upstairs to see Thierri. She taps on the door and announces my presence and my wish to speak with him. Her voice is so soft when she speaks to him. Although he’s ill, he’s still her Master and she’s still as subservient as I assume she ever was. He allows us to enter.