CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 36: PARIS

Marceau led us out of the airport and to his car. It was dark out since it was five in the morning in Paris, France. My uncle and I had to sit in the back of the car since Rockie took the passenger seat.

As Marceau drove, he went on and on. I didn't understand most of what he was saying but he was basically expressing how much he appreciated us being there and explaining how the Italians were no help to them.

"Where are we headed?" I asked.

"Your hotel," Marceau said. "I figured you would all be tired after such a long flight."

"Yes, thank you," Uncle Blade said.

"I'm not tired and I'm not going to sleep until I know exactly what the mission is," I said.

Marceau laughed. "I see why he's a nine," he said to Rockie. "Look, Cryptid,"

"It's Crypto," I told him.

"We have plenty of time for the mission," he said. "You should get your rest."

"I just want to know what the mission is."

"You didn't tell him?" he asked Rockie.

"I did," Rockie said.

"You gave me very little information. I want to hear from Marsh."

"Marceau."

"I'm gonna call you Marsh. It suits you better."

"Crypto," Rockie said in a low, almost threatening tone. "Let's try to keep it professional, okay?"

"There's nothing professional about this job," I said.

"I think someone could use a nap," my uncle said.

Marceau laughed.

I silently bared my teeth, but only Uncle Blade saw.

"Is no one going to tell me about the mission?" I asked. "I feel like I deserve to know. There's no point in waiting to tell me. I'm going to find out eventually."

"The truth is, we don't quite know yet," Marceau finally admitted. "We might need some help with the planning."

"Not a problem," Rockie said. "We'll help you come up with a plan after we get some rest."

Marceau dropped us off at a five star hotel and after checking in, we headed to our room.

"There's no way Crypto is a nine," Uncle Blade said.

"He's not, but the French don't need to know that," Rockie said.

"What rank am I then?" I asked him.

"If you weren't told your ranking, it means you're a joker."

"What does that mean?"

"It means we don't know where you're gonna fit in yet. You're a wild card."

"And that's not a good thing," Uncle Blade added.

We got to our room and I was the last one in so I shut the door. As soon as I turned back around, Rockie smacked me in the face out of the blue. Luckily, his claws were retracted.

"That's for making me look bad in front of Marceau," he said.

It took a lot of my willpower to not bite his paw off. It wouldn't have surprised me if he treated his girlfriend that way too.

"The only one he made look bad was himself," Uncle Blade told him.

"I'm in charge of him. If he looks bad, I do too," Rockie explained.

"I'm gonna go on a run," I said.

"Don't get lost," my uncle said.

"Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep?" Rockie asked me. "The sun is gonna rise in about an hour."

"I'm leaving for your safety," I informed him and then left before I could do anything I would regret.

The city lights were on, but the streets were pretty empty during my jog around Paris. It was eerily quiet as well.

When the sun started to come up, I headed back to the hotel, but I wondered what would happen if I didn't go back. Maybe I could live in France away from Spiney and gangsters. I could easily get lost in the crowd of tourists. There were plenty more Beaucerons in this country too. I could live homeless for a bit, get a job, and save money to go somewhere else if I decided to.

But, no. I couldn't. I had a job to do. A reason to live. I had to find a way to take down the mafia, whether it just be the mafia in Nevada or all over the world. I had to avenge my parents. I wasn't going to take the easy road.