Gavin sauntered out of Charles de Gaulle airport looking fresher than anyone normally did after spending all night in an airplane. Lucien had this amazing quality, too. Ryenne did not.

“Ry!” Gavin shouted, dropping his bags and running at her with no concern for the safety of his belongings.

She shook her head and hugged him back. It felt good to see him and good to hug him. It was like a little piece of home so far away, especially during such a strange situation.

“You didn’t bring the French hottie with you to pick me up?”

“No. I wanted to talk to you in private.”

Gavin raised his eyebrows. “Are there things you haven’t told me?”

“Oh yeah.” There were things that were harder to talk about by phone or email or even a video chat. She had downplayed the danger so he wouldn’t worry, but then failed to convince him not to come because of that same danger. Now that he was here, he needed to know what he’d let himself in for. So she told him the whole story from the attempted robbery at the café through dinner with Vanier and Renardin through last night’s message from Grieux.

They walked toward the train station as she talked and, despite Gavin’s natural exuberance, he stayed quiet and let her tell the entire story. And then she finished up with Lucien hiding calls from Chantal.

That got a response from Gavin. “That bitch had her chance. She dumped him and now she has the gall to try to get him back?”

Ryenne nodded.

“What’s the plan?” he asked.

“How do you know there’s a plan?”

“Because I’ve known you forever. Of course, you have a plan.”

“The plan is to pay her a visit and find out what she knows about the Fangs.”

Gavin nodded his blond head and ignored an appraising look from a slim young man who passed in the opposite direction.

“So we’ll go see her later today,” Ryenne continued. “She has a large social media presence and is very proud of her job at a boutique on Boulevard Haussmann.”

“I’m impressed,” he said. “You did research on your own? Without my help?”

She shrugged. “It wasn’t that hard. You’re just better at it. If she isn’t at work today, I’ll need you to find her home address. I want to get this over with.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll ask Lucien.”

She punched his arm. “Don’t you dare.”

Gavin laughed and hefted his duffel bag higher on his shoulder to go down an escalator. Ryenne didn’t want Lucien to know about this visit unless she learned something helpful. For now, it needed to remain a secret mission.

“Do you need to go to the Malraux house first to freshen up?” she asked him.

He shook his head, tousling his perfect blond hair. “Let’s go after this bitch.”

“It is so good to see you, Gavin.”

Ryenne led Gavin below Paris first on the RER B train and then on Metro line nine.

“This works out well because it’s the same line we can take to Lucien’s,” Ryenne explained. “Good thing you only brought one suitcase.” She had been surprised to see him with only a large duffel bag and a messenger bag slung over his chest as his one personal item. Gavin normally required an entourage to carry all his crap.

Gavin’s face fell. “I was in a rush and...”

She remembered he’d decided to come instead of going to Christopher’s wedding. He probably hadn’t been his usual self when he packed.

Putting an arm around him, she gave him a squeeze. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. Thanks for coming out here to help me.”

His expression brightened. He loved to help. She just wished he hadn’t come out to help her in what might turn out to be too dangerous a situation.

They came out above ground at one end of the posh Boulevard Haussmann near the famous Galeries Lafayette. Ryenne set a fast pace on the crowded sidewalk. “Amazingly, Chantal’s boutique is open on Sundays,” she said. “It’s practically unheard of here, so it must serve an international clientele. There are several hotels in the area.”

Gavin glanced around with wide eyes and his mouth agape. “Paris is beautiful.”

“You’re welcome.” Ryenne laughed and realized this was his first view of the city. Wait until he saw the Eiffel Tower in person.

Tourists in sneakers and shorts shared the sidewalk with locals in sun dresses and heels. Backpacks and shopping bags jostled for space. Gavin clearly loved it, especially the high-end shops and the beautiful clothes displayed in the windows.

Ryenne stopped in front of a narrow stone building with iron balconies on the upper floors, sandwiched between a brasserie with a red awning and a book store with a green awning. Behind them, a motorcycle sat under a leafy tree. The window boasted two headless mannequins in what Ryenne assumed must be the latest fashions. She wouldn’t know. She wore her usual jeans and a tank top. It was too warm for her leather jacket, but she never left home without her shit-kicking boots. After all, she never knew when she might have to kick the shit out of a rogue.

Inside, the air-conditioning almost made her wish for her jacket. But the sight of Chantal’s smooth honey-blond hair flowing through the air as she turned toward the door made Ryenne’s blood boil.

When Chantal caught sight of Ryenne, her face hardened and her gaze searched the street outside. “What are you doing here?” she hissed.

“I’ve come for answers,” Ryenne said.

“You have to leave.”

“Not until you tell us why you’re dogging Lucien,” Gavin said. “You don’t get to take him back when you decide you’re ready.”

Chantal looked from him back to Ryenne. “This has nothing to do with you. Please leave.”

“Nothing to do with her?” Gavin asked, voice incredulous.

“Who was the guy with you at the restaurant last week? And at the club?” Ryenne asked. “Is he your boyfriend?”

Chantal’s face blanched.

“Bitch, if you have a new boyfriend, why the hell are you chasing after Lucien?” Gavin asked.

Ryenne sighed but she was glad to have him on her side.

“You have to go,” Chantal whispered, face still white, eyes wide with fear.

Ryenne glanced around but there was no one else in the store and no one paying attention to them outside. “What’s wrong, Chantal? Talk to me. Maybe we can help you.”

“If they see you here, they’ll kill us.”

Ryenne glanced around again. “Who will? Why? Did the Fangs put you up to it?”

Chantal’s face went even whiter. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and shook her head. Through rigid lips she hissed, “You must leave. You’re putting me in danger.”

“Let us help you,” Ryenne said.

“I can’t. Get out of here. Please,” she added, desperation coloring her tone.

Ryenne nodded. She wouldn’t get more out of Chantal like this. She’d have to think of a way to convince her to talk, maybe somewhere she felt safe. “Okay, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

She led the way outside and strode back to the metro station without looking around, in case the Fangs were watching Chantal’s shop.

Gavin caught up to her before she descended the stairs. “Do you think she’ll change her mind?”

Ryenne shook her head. “Don’t know, but I think she’ll stop calling my boyfriend.” Actually, Ryenne was more worried about the Fangs knowing she’d been there. And now knowing about Gavin.

If anything happened to him because of her, she’d never forgive herself.