Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Cadel led the staff up the stairs and out onto the roof. The door was unarmed, as Jacob had promised, and the keypad on the roof had been disabled. This was how Jacob had gotten in. The cold air bit Cadel's bare chest, and his skin pebbled. He shouldn't be there; he should be with Everest.

Jacob didn't know what to do to keep him in the present. He didn't know anything about Everest. Not like he did.

He hadn't even said goodbye. What if that was the last time he saw him?

Did Everest no longer need him because Jacob was a better agent? Jacob was an agent…he was just an ex-cop.

His thoughts churned as he led the human staff to the fire escape. It was a short jump for him, but for the average human, it was going to be terrifying. Humans tended to freak out at the idea of jumping down a floor, which meant he needed to go first.

The staff whispered amongst themselves in French. He didn't understand much, but he smelled their fear and confusion. " It's not that far to jump if you lower yourself down. I'll go first to catch you. Okay?"

"We should call the police, yes?" The man in the apron spoke English.

Probably not, but if he said no, this whole thing would appear more suspicious. "Once you are on the ground. Do you have your cell phones on you?"

His words were relayed in French, and they shook their heads.

"No phones at work; that was the lord's rule," the older man said.

"My bag, my keys…" One woman appeared tempted to run back inside.

"You'll get them back. We need to ensure the Crown Prince is safe." That was a shit lie because if that were the case, Everest would be with them.

"Did the lord really kidnap him?"

"Yes. He's wanted for serious crimes in England and hoped holding the prince hostage would give him leverage." They were wasting time talking. "Come on, let's get you on the ground first."

Cadel peered over the edge acting human and estimating the jump. Then, he continued the charade to demonstrate what he wanted them to do. There were a few tears, and he wasted precious minutes coaxing them to jump before they made their way down the fire escape.

Everest had warned him he thought too much to be a bodyguard. But from the look in his eyes as he'd ordered him away, he'd been begging Cadel not to argue.

He followed the staff down the fire escape and away from Everest.

It was what Everest wanted, but it wasn't the right thing to do.

"Hey," a man called from the roof.

Cadel looked up at the man peering over the edge.