His collateral

Chapter 18

"Here's the coffee you requested, Mr. Black." A female attendant said, flashing a polite smile as she set it on the table beside him.

Lucien nodded. "Meet my man at the entrance for a tip." He said, flipping a page of the fashion magazine in his hand.

"Thank you, sir." She beamed, her smile widening. "Call for me if you need anything else." She bowed and left.

James's voice rose from the transmitter bud in his ear. "The man's still watching, Boss. Should I move in?"

Lucien's grip on the magazine tightened. "Don't. Just monitor his movements." He said, flipping another page.

"Yes, Boss."

Lucien closed the magazine and dropped it on the side table. He reached for the steaming cup of black coffee, taking a slow sip. His gaze shifted to Sara at the makeup counter, trying out an eyeshadow palette with concentration.

His eyes moved until they found Elena in the clothing section, arms crossed, moving past rack after rack while a*****e attendant followed closely beside her, holding up pieces she dismissed one after another without interest.

Lucien leaned back, legs crossed on the glass table before him, a soft scoff escaping his lips. Her intentions were clearer now. She wasn't here for shopping or whatever else today was supposed to be. Her reaction during their conversation in the car had raised his suspicion. This confirmed it.

Sara joined Elena and leaned close, whispering something in her ear. They both laughed.

Lucien's brows furrowed.

What was so funny?

He returned his cup to the table, glancing at his watch. It was past noon. When his gaze moved back to their direction only Sara remained, holding a dress up against herself while Elena was nowhere in sight.

His legs dropped from the table instantly. He stood, eyes sweeping the store.

How had she disappeared in the brief moment he looked away?

He was already moving when her head suddenly appeared from behind a display stand, a pair of heels held up in both hands as she turned them over admiringly.

The breath he hadn't realized he was holding released slowly. He lowered himself back into the seat, running a hand through his hair.

He looked up once more and their eyes met. Neither of them moved. Then something shifted at the corner of her lips. A smirk. Subtle and almost easy to miss. Then she looked away.

Lucien's jaw tightened, his palm rubbing hard against the back of his neck.

She was messing with him. And she knew it.

"Boss, the man's approaching the store entrance." James' voice came alive in the bud. "Should I stop him?"

"No. Let him in."

The glass door swung open and a man in a baseball cap and dark shades stepped inside, eyes moving slowly across the store. Lucien recognized him immediately. The same man who had been driving the car that trailed them from the estate, the one he had been quietly monitoring on his tablet the entire ride here.

The store manager approached the man with a friendly smile. "I'm sorry sir, the store has been booked for a private visit. You're welcome to check our other locations or return in two hours."

"You can let him in. We're done." Sara announced, before Lucien could speak.

Within minutes she and Elena approached him, weighed down with shopping bags.

"We're done, Lu." Sara said, struggling with the load. "Spa next."

Lucien stood, collecting the bags from her hand without effort. His eyes moved to Elena beside her, carrying only two small bags.

"Is that all you want?"

Her eyes widened slightly as though the question had caught her off guard. Then she nodded once and looked away.

"Elena didn't like the clothes here. I offered to try another store but she said no." Sara explained. “Lu. Are you listening? What are you looking at?"

"Nothing." Lucien said through clenched teeth, eyes tracking the man in the cap who had resumed pretending to browse the store. "Let's go." He handed his card to the waiting attendant, who swiped it and returned it without a word.

Outside, James relieved them of the bags without being asked. Sara and Elena walked ahead, talking. While Lucien and James followed at a short distance behind.

"He's still on us, Boss." James said quietly.

Lucien caught the man's reflection in the glass wall of the opposite store. "Have you sent his picture to our investigator?"

"Yes. He said it'll take about an hour."

"Tell him to move faster. I need a name before I act. I have a feeling this connects to the man still in our custody."

"We could take him now, Boss. He might be transmitting your live location."

Lucien shook his head. "It'll end the same way as the other one. Men like this are loyal to a fault. Ready to sacrifice anything." He said as they stepped onto the escalator. "We identify him first. If that fails we have our men trace him quietly until we find whoever is behind this."

They continued in silence, the man trailing at a careful distance behind them. At the end of the corridor a large door marked SPA in a bold font came into view.

Sara pushed it open, then she and Elena disappeared inside, unaware of anything unfolding behind them.

"I'll take these to the car." James said, stopping at the entrance.

Lucien nodded. He could still see the man’s reflection. He turned and went in.

A staff member directed him to a waiting area with a clear view through the transparent partition. The man had positioned himself just beyond it.

Lucien's fist tightened against his knee. One more move and he would lose his restraint entirely and send for his men. But no. He refused to engage with whoever was behind this on their terms. He needed a name first. It was impossible to fight an invisible enemy.

A staff member approached. "Sir, may I get you anything while you wait? The session will be approximately an hour."

"No." He replied, pulling out the phone vibrating in his pocket.

James.

"Boss." James' voice came across the line. "The investigator has identified him. Both the man outside and the one in our custody."

Lucien's expression darkened. "Who?"

"Don Malo. Your business rival."