Sam looked left and right, straining his ears for any suspicious sound, but stayed silent and let her take the lead. The bridge they faced was unguarded so the two of them hurried across, the collars of their jackets pulled up, trying to walk as fast as possible without drawing attention. He was more than relieved when they reached the island and could lose themselves amongst people and buildings again.

Angie led them to the Notre Dame Cathedral and got in line to go in.

"Um, shouldn't we keep moving?" he whispered.

"We'll be much safer inside until they back off," she whispered back and took another few steps forward.

Sam had to agree the line moved incredibly fast, so in less than two minutes, they stepped inside the cavernous cathedral. The lights were off and daylight barely got through the gothic painted windows, so it was easy to become invisible. He and Angie walked hand in hand toward the front and finally went down a row of pews and had a seat in a dark corner.

After all the running, it felt amazing to finally sit down. Angie seemed to be feeling the same because she let out a deep sigh. It took her mere moments to hug him again, and he fought the impulse to make sure she knew he wasn't Tom.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled into his shoulder. "I just can't believe you're here, that I found you."

"I can't believe I found you either." He detached her from his so that he could see her face, but took her hands. They were freezing. "How are you? How's Christine? How did you escape?"

"Whoa, slow down," she said with a laugh, but her voice was a little shaky and her eyes strangely glassy, as if she were about to cry. "I'm okay, Christine was fine when I last saw her, and it wasn't hard to get away." She took in a deep breath and pulled her hands away, just to place them under her thighs. "They didn't know who I was," she whispered.

Sam did a double take. "What?"

"The men who held us were not ones I've seen before," she started. "And they were sent to grab Christine. They only took me because I insisted to tag along. But once I realized I was an extra, I pretended to have no idea what's going on. Poor Christine had to listen to me bitch and moan every time they let us see each other. They were so sick of me, their vigilance slackened to the point it was embarrassing. It wasn't hard to escape afterwards.

"They're treating Christine okay most of the time. They're not mean or brutal to her even if they keep a very sharp eye on her. I guess it contributed to the slackness of my guarding."

Sam felt the need to hug her again. As much as she played it off as nothing, he didn't think escape had been a walk in the park. But touching her when she'd pulled away from him wasn't a good idea either. So, instead, he decided to focus on the information she'd given him.

"Interesting that they wouldn't know who you are. So they actually wanted me alone." He would've died alone. Either by wired car or freezing cold.

"They still want you alone," Angie pointed out. "Except you're not anymore. You have me now."

"I wasn't alone before either. Tom's with me."

Angie's entire face lit up and she straightened in her seat, looking more excited than Sam had ever seen her. "He is?"

Sam felt a bit unnerved by her reaction, though he should've expected it. "Of course he is. You went missing. He immediately assumed Snitch Gravel had something to do with it and he practically wrenched the information out of me. You know Tom better than me. He would've never sat this out."

"I thought he wouldn't want to endanger Christine. I know you were told to come alone," Angie whispered as if sensing the snag in his mood.

"He didn't. We were supposed to split up once we reached Paris, but we didn't and then our car blew up together with all our luggage, so we were left on the street with nothing but fifteen dollars and Tom said we were going to die with fifteen dollars, especially since we didn't have any warm clothes and we were going to freeze, and then Tom said that there was this fraternity in the underworld who could provide us with shelter, and then..."

Angie listened transfixed as Sam told her all they'd been through over the past week. She stayed silent even after he'd finished the story, and seemed fascinated with the melting snow on her boots.

"I can't believe Snitch Gravel actually wanted to kill you for real. I'm so used to him not really trying. I'm scared," she finally said quietly.

This time Sam couldn't help it, so he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. Angie didn't make a move to break contact, just sat in silence, her eyes lost in the distance.

"Do you really think he's in here?" someone asked in a whisper.

"Shut it, you're going to give us away," an annoyed voice countered.

Angie and Sam immediately lowered to the floor and Sam looked between the legs of the pwes, towards the exit. Four men had entered the cathedral, their pistols out and ready. There were so few people it was easy for them to move unnoticed. They advanced with careful steps towards the altar.

Sam and Angie backed away, moving along the wall and towards the exit. Once they reached the corner next to the door, he grabbed her hand to stop all movement. The men weren't idiots. They'd left sentries at the entrance, effectively trapping them in.

Angie tugged on Sam's arm and pointed to a small door right next to them. He followed her inside what turned out to be an elevator. She pushed the button.

With a lurch and a deafening creak, the cabin started its ascend into the unknown.

"Shit, they surely heard that," Sam said, trying to look down, but the cabin was all wood and closed, making it slightly claustrophobic.

"Let's hope not. With elevators, most of the noise is on the inside."

Sam doubted it, but he nodded, not wanting to freak her out. The elevator stopped and the doors opened, revealing the snowy top of the right bell tower. Angie immediately darted out, heading for the railing, but he didn't feel so sure. They were really high up, and the surface of the tower seemed incredibly small.

"Okay, we can do this," Angie said, looking straight down. "Do you have pliers and your magnet? I actually managed to smuggle mine."

"Yeah, sure, why?" he said, finally stepping out, too. His legs felt like they were made of rubber.

"I need to cut this safety net so we can climb down."

"Climb down?" His voice came out weak and shaky, but he couldn't help it. It sounded like a death sentence.

"Yes. The roof of the chapel is metal, so we should be able to slide, no problem and maybe drop, I don't know... three feet?"

"S-s-slide? D-d-drop?" Sam stuttered.

Angie rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm. "Come on, before they get here, too." And she pulled him to the banister.

He followed, trying to beat back the sudden panic overwhelming him. Once they reached the edge and he looked down, he couldn't do it. There was no railing, no net, no nothing. Just air swallowing him whole. His knees hit the roof and his arms wrapped around the railing, holding to it so tightly, it dug painfully into his ribs.

His head spun and throbbed, and bile rose into his mouth. Maybe Angie was saying something, but he couldn't hear through the ringing in his ears. And his eyes... He closed them, but the infinite whiteness wouldn't go away. Snow, compelling him to turn into a bloody mass at the foot of a centuries old cathedral. He was already falling, spinning in midair, just waiting for the ground to crush him, knock the air and the life out of him.

"Sam, can you hear me?"

Angie's voice barely reached him. He opened his eyes and looked at her for a second, but shut them immediately and concentrated with all his might not to throw up on her.

"I can't do it," he whispered.

He wasn't sure he'd ever be able to let go of that railing and move again. Cold sweat covered him from head to toe, sending his body into a trembling fit. His heart beat too fast for it to be normal, skipping beats, and for a moment he wondered if he was having a heart attack. Not that it mattered. He was too paralyzed, too terrified to even try to control his own body.

The only movement he could control was his grip on the bar that had turned into his lifeline. Soft hands touched his shoulders, latched on to him and pulled him back. He couldn't let it go. He would fall if he let it go.

"Come on Sam, let go, it's okay. You can hold on to me." Angie's soft voice in his ear had his grip loosening.

If he could do this right, maybe he would be safe. He took in a deep breath and released his hold on the bar. At the same time, he shifted towards Angie and held on to her instead. She wasn't as hard and as reassuring as the railing, but it could work. Holding on to her made him feel like he wasn't about to die.

"Sam, loosen up, you're hurting me." Angie heaved him away from the edge and he did her the favor of easing the grip the tiniest bit. He couldn't do more without throwing up.

When they reached a safe distance from the edge, she dropped to her knees next to him, panting. He shifted his grip and hugged her, sinking his face into the crook of her neck, trembling uncontrollably.

"I had no idea you were afraid of heights," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. " I would've never suggested this if I knew."

"I didn't know either," he whimpered.

She shivered and started rubbing his back, his shoulders, finally bringing her hands to his face and lifting it. Her eyes were full of warmth and determination and he felt a little better seeing it.

"I'm going to see what's going on. You stay here. You're in the middle of the tower, nothing can happen to you."

He nodded like the pathetic slob he was and sunk his hands in the snow, listening to the sound of her retreating stepps.

"They just went out!" she called out, her tone filled with relief and joy.

Sam struggled to say something, to express his own relief, but the sound of an opening door broke through the pounding in his ears. He turned to the door of the elevator and his blood froze in his veins.

Two men got out, both with their guns drawn and pointing at him. He opened his mouth to warn Angie, but no sound came out. He couldn't take his eyes away from the barrels.

Suddenly, Angie dropped on her knees next to him, putting her arms around his shoulders.

"Vot are you doing? Leave my boyfriend alone!" she shrieked with a heavy Russian accent .

The two goons looked at each other, one of them actually rubbing his head in confusion. Sam almost shuddered as Angie touched his back under the jacket, obviously searching for his holster. He shifted an inch to indicate it was in the other direction.

"D'you reckon it's not him?" one of the men asked his companion. "We have his girlfriend, so she can't be it."

"So he got another one! I'm sure it's him! It's Sam Grant, I tell you!" the other answered, waving his gun around.

"Maybe it's his twin, and this is his girlfriend," goon number one argued.

Meanwhile, Angie drew his gun and kept it hidden behind his back. Sam tried to keep up his frightened expression and not give their plan away. It wasn't hard. He really was scared and these idiots weren't paying half the attention they should.

"Neah, his twin wears them sunglasses all the time."

"Maybe he took 'em off."

"I'm telling you, it's not him. The twin has a scar above his right eye. This guy is clean and h's supposed to be alone anyhow."

"How'd you explain the chick, then?"

Angie drew the gun and shot one of the goons in the kneecap and the other in the shoulder. The second shot had Angie hitting the roof from the recoil. The two men fell over in the snow, moaning in pain. Before Sam could pull himself together, they were reaching for their guns.

The one with the shattered kneecap sat up and pointed his gun at Angie. Sam's paralysis finally disappeared. He couldn't let the guy shoot her. She wasn't wearing a vest, had no protection whatsoever. He'd never let anyone hurt her. So he jumped into a crouch and threw himself on top of her just as the man pulled the trigger.

A stinging sensation brushed his side before the pain came, like licking flames and beating hammers. Another shot rang out in the winter wind followed by a sharp jab to his back. The pain drew a moan out of him. Angie shot again and he had no idea what was happening anymore between yells, curses and the smell of gunfire.

Suddenly, she nudged him with her leg. "Sam, can you move?"

"I... I think so." He wasn't sure he could sit up, but he didn't have much choice. His back and ribs throbbed and he was pretty sure he was actually bleeding because his entire left side felt sticky.

"Get to the elevator then," she ordered.

He glanced at her to see her pointing two guns at the bleeding goons and he moved towards the elevator as fast as possible. Once he managed to crawl his way inside, she followed and pressed the button, sending them out of view.

The moment the cabin cleared the edge of the roof, she knelt beside him. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be okay." He hoped. But fortunately, he managed to sit up straight. "He got me in the torso both times and I'm wearing my vest. Though I admit I've never been shot with this thing on before. It still hurts like hell."

Which was a bit of an understatement. His entire body was sore. But this was no time to act weak and needy. He'd done enough of that on top of the tower.

"Thanks for saving me out there," she said in a low voice. She gave him a small smile, but it slipped off as her eyes widened. "You're bleeding," she yelped.

Sam jumped and it did nothing for his general soreness. "Just a little. I think that first bullet scraped my side. I'll be alright, though. We have to get to the meeting point. I bet Tom is worried sick. I've been missing a while." He drew all his remaining strength and actually managed to stand. It was no big deal. It's not like he felt he was breaking from the middle.

The elevator stopped and he stepped out. His knees buckled and he almost went tumbling to the floor, but Angie caught him and steadied him on his feet.

His cheeks flaming with embarrassment, he looked down at her. She wasn't watching him, but focused on rubbing his back with gentle moves, an honest look of concern on her face. It was maybe childish and petty, but he liked it. Her attention, how she really cared, and the softness and warmth of her touch.

She looked up and froze, her eyes widening with wonder. He smiled in encouragement and she looked away, zipping his jacket back up.

"Hey." He lifted her chin gently. "Why are you embarrassed?"

"I'm not," she said, but didn't look him in the eyes. "We need to get to Tom."

Oh, right. Tom. Yeah, his twin was probably out of his mind. And he'd be out of his mind with happiness once he saw his girlfriend. Sam shook his head, trying to drive the fuzziness and need to latch on to Angie out of it. He had to focus on finding Christine.

They were quiet on the way to the subway and Sam wondered why Angie wasn't asking anything about where they were heading, but she seemed to fully trust him. She followed him obediently as they got off the train, and even when he jumped on the tracks and rushed towards where he knew the entrance was. A huge difference from how frustrated he'd been when Tom had led him through the same passage. Angie was admirable in her calm.

They reached the gate, the wagon, and went down the ladder, into the darkness. His body still protested, but he could rest when he was dead. Now he needed to get to safety. It was strange that the place which once freaked him out was now his safe haven.

As soon as Angie's boots hit the grimy stone floor, strong light hit them in the face. Sam threw his hand out in a futile effort to block it. He blinked, trying to recognize the massive shapes standing before them, but he was almost certain they were Mizrelle's bodyguards. His stomach sank when he noticed they were pointing their guns at him.

"Relax, it's just me," Sam said, lifting his hands in surrender.

They didn't weaver, didn't speak, even if Sam knew they understood English perfectly. The crowd started gathering behind them pointing at Angie and mumbling. The sound wasn't friendly and Sam stepped closer to her.

"Didn't you know you're not allowed to bring strangers into our headquarters?" Mizrelle made her way through the crowd, her tone laced with annoyance. She stopped the moment she saw Angie, her eyes wide and fearful. Then they narrowed and returned to Sam. "Are you out of your freaking mind? Kill her immediately! And you, Sam, you're suspended. No, banned!"

"I know you," Angie said as though Mizrelle hadn't just ordered her killed.

The bodyguards pointed their guns at her, triggers already half pressed. Sam got in front of her, though he wasn't sure that would do much good since he was apparently banned.

"No, wait, what the hell are you doing?"

Mizrelle glanced over her shoulder, her mouth twisted in a snarl. Tom rampaged through the crowd, pushing people left and right with no consideration. The crowd shifted, but seemed to want to stop him instead of make way. He finally pushed himself between the two bodyguards, shoved Sam aside, and threw himself at Angie.

Both of them tumbled to the floor and got to their knees, Tom hugging her so tightly, she seemed to be suffocating. But she hugged him back, sobbing into his shoulder, finally letting out all the emotion he'd held in.

Tom pulled back and took her face in his hands. "Don't ever do that to me again. You have no idea how worried I've been. I love you more than anything in this world, but I swear to God that if you disappear on me again, we're through. Get that?"

Sam clenched his fists, feeling a savage need to smack his twin. Poor Angie had been through hell and he felt like threatening her. Plus it wasn't like Angie chose to disappear. But to his utter shock, Angie just nodded, tears pouring down her face.

Tom smiled and kissed her, just like that, in front of everyone. Which Sam found to be a horrid idea, especially given Mizrelle's current mood.

"Tom, get away from her," Mizrelle snapped. "I've given an order and it will be executed."

Sam had to do a double take. This was the first time he'd heard Mizrelle calling Tom by his right name and not by some sweet abbreviation. It fortunately did the trick and drew his twin away from Angie. He let her go and got to his feet, towering over Mizrelle.

"Do you take me for an idiot?" he said between his teeth. "I know the rules of the fraternity very well, Mizrelle. You're the one who thought them to me, incidentally. She's my girl and I know that I have the right to take the test in her place. And you know I would pass, no matter what you do."

Sam didn't know that. He thought Tom had used his plus one the moment he'd gotten him in. Apparently, he got to do it again. Mizrelle seemed a little shocked by this piece of news, too, which had Sam doubting it. He felt the need to get to Angie and protect her from whatever happened next. Like Tom and Mizrelle both exploding out of anger and frustration. And as much a Sam wanted Mizrelle put in her place, his logical mind couldn't help but scream that angering her was a terrible idea.

"Rules can change," Mizrelle said immediately.

Tom raised his sunglasses on top of his head and gave her a death glare as an answer. She took a literal step back, confusion and surprise claiming her features. Sam couldn't help but shudder, too. That look in his twin's eyes was scary to say the least. And not just because of the slightly unhinged air it had, but because it was a dangerous combination with his bandaged arm and scratched skin. It was only then that Sam realized Tom had been injured during their little adventure, too.

Satisfied with the result of his glare, Tom turned back to Angie and wrapped his arms around her waist. She gave him a wet smile and rubbed his unshaved face.

"I know I look a bit funny. I was trying to look less like Sam," he muttered, leaning closer to her.

"It suits you," she whispered, putting her arms around his neck. "But even if you look great, I think I'll want the old Tom back eventually."

"Can't we continue this conversation somewhere else?" Sam asked, his eyes fixed on Mizrelle who was starting to recover from her shock.

Tom and Angie both grinned and hugged him from the sides, turning him into a human sandwich. He cringed and sucked air through his teeth as Tom rubbed against his sore side.

"Oh crap," Angie yelped, pulling away. "I've completely forgotten. Sam is hurt!"

"Take him to the infirmary," Mizrelle spat. "And you'd best return there, too, Tommy. You're not done." With that, she whipped around and stalked away

The crowd shifted as well as disappointed people moved back to their tasks. Sam felt the need to ask if he was still banned, but since he was getting medical treatment, he guessed not. He was already too familiar with the infirmary after their little stunt with the exploding car.

"What happened?" Angie asked and Sam turned his attention to Tom's wounds. Though except for the bandaged arm and a cut on the side of his face, he seemed to be okay.

"It was a grenade. The goon's aim sucked, but the explosion shattered glass over my arm, so I'm a little cut up," Tom answered as the three of them started moving down the corridor. "What happened to you two? Where did you meet? Where's Christine?"

"We met up while we were both trying to escape. Angie sort of saved me."

Angie slapped his shoulder lightly. "Are you kidding? You took two bullets for me. Anyway, Christine is pretty nearby, if they haven't moved her again. But it usually happens once every three days. I took advantage of the planned move to escape, but I know where they're going."

Sam and Tom stopped in their tracks.

"You know where Christine is?" Sam asked, shocked. It took him a mere second to realize how stupid he'd been and another second to turn on his heels and head back toward the nearest exit.

A hand grasped his shoulder and pulled him back. "Hold on, superman," Angie said with a laugh. "You can't get her by yourself. She's very well guarded. We'll all go, but you two have to get patched up first."

Sam gritted his teeth, but admitted the logic of Angie's argument. He couldn't go after Christine when his side throbbed painfully and his knees were still shaky. He needed at least an hour to pull himself together. But after that, he wouldn't let anyone or anything hold her back.

❄❄❄

Well this turned out huge. I'm sorry, but there was a hugeness warning at the beginning of this book 😅 Anyway, I hope the content made up for it (totally nervous because this chapter has another part).

So they found Angie and they're somewhat safe. Yay! Will they get Christine too and head out to meet the others? And what are the others up to?

I guess you'll see soon enough. Time to get into some interesting stuff.

Don't forget to comment and leave a vote if you enjoyed the chapter.

Fun fact: Sam being afraid of heights has been hinted at ever since book 1 but this is the first time the actually got to look down from a great height. He doesn't mind normal heights though. Or didn't use to when he wasn't aware of it 😈