Hidden Devotion (Trinity Masters #5)(43)

Pulling the hood up, he went to the altar room, figuring that was the best place to wait.

And wait he did, for nearly two hours—until the sound of panicked shouts had him running for one of the shadowed arches in the back wall.

This was absolutely terrifying. Franco sat back, staring at the pile he’d dubbed “mysteries”. The Trinity Masters’ files and records contained information that could change how the US saw its own history. There was at least a lifetime worth of work for someone like him in just this small stack of paper, let alone the boxes and mounds scattered on the floor.

“We’re getting married, right? I mean, you and me?” He adjusted the piece of fabric he was using in lieu of gloves to handle the papers. “Because I need access to this.”

“You want to get married so you can work on our archive?” Juliette’s voice sounded a bit odd. She’d been muttering about lemon juice a few minutes ago, and even snuck upstairs, returning with a to-go cup of lemon wedges. He’d asked what she was doing but she waved him away.

“No, I want to get married because I’m falling in love with you and you’re gorgeous, but now we need to get married. You need me to do this.”

“You’re one of my councilors. You’re going to work on this even if we don’t get married.” She coughed.

“Before I realized it was you, I was going to ask the Grand Master if I could marry you and Devon.”

Juliette wheezed. “Devon?”

He flipped the page. Was this a map? It looked like a map. He loved maps.

“Franco!” Her exclamation didn’t have the force of a few minutes ago. She coughed again.

“What?”

“You seriously wanted to be in a trinity with Devon and me?”

“Of course. He loves you, you love him. The first time I saw you together I knew there was something between the two of you.”

“Devon and I… Devon and I…”

Her voice trailed off, and the hairs on the back of Franco’s neck stood on end. “Juliette?”

Her face was flushed and she was breathing hard.

Franco jumped out of his chair. “Juliette?”

“I don’t…feel good.”

He touched her forehead. “You’re hot.” He leaned her back in the desk chair, listening to her shallow breathing. “You were fine a couple hours ago.”

Juliette opened her eyes, gaze darting across the ceiling. “Hard to. Breathe.” She clawed at the desk, grabbing a sheet of paper and balling it up in her hand.

Franco grabbed his cell phone from his pocket. No reception. There was a phone on the desk. He picked it up, ready to call 911.

Call them and tell them what? That he was in the underground headquarters of a secret society? He needed to get her upstairs to the library.

Picking her up in his arms, Franco ran out of the Grand Master’s office—and had no idea which hallway to take. There were three options and he didn’t remember which way they’d come in.

Heart hammering in his chest, Franco picked the right-hand option and started jogging, yelling as he went. “Help! Can anyone hear me? Help!”

She said they’d be the only people in here, and yelling was probably futile. Whatever was wrong with Juliette had happened fast, and that was never a good sign. By the time he figured out how to get the hell out of here, it might be too late.

He was hoping for a miracle.

“Franco? Juliette!”

Devon nearly ran into Franco as he entered the dark hallway beyond the arch. Juliette was limp in his arms, her face flushed and breath reedy.

“Help me get her out of here.”

Devon didn’t ask any questions. Now wasn’t the time. Handle the crisis at hand then investigate.

He resisted the urge to snatch Juliette from the other man’s arms. If it had been anyone else he would have, but, unexpectedly, he trusted Franco. Maybe it was the grim look of determination on his face. Maybe it was the undeniable connection he’d felt to Franco last night.

“Have you called 911?” Devon smashed the button for the elevator.

“No. I wasn’t sure what to do. She has a phone in her office.” Franco shifted his hold of Juliette enough to shed the robe. When Devon reached to take her, he leaned away, keeping her in his arms.

“Her office?”

Franco leapt into the elevator the instant the door opened. “The Grand Master’s office. I assume you know.”

“I know. You know?”

“Yes. I’m going to sit on the small council, too.”

“The what?” Devon had his phone out, 911 dialed. The second the door opened and they were above ground, he was going to hit send. “Wait. You’re going to be one of her councilors?”

“Don’t worry, I told her the three of us should get married.”

What?

He didn’t have time to deal with any of what Franco had just said. The doors opened. Devon hit send.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“My wife collapsed and is having trouble breathing. We’re at the Boston Public Library.”

“Hang up,” Juliette whispered.

Devon ended the call without hesitation, ignoring Franco’s protest. “What’s going on, Jules?”

“Poison.” Her eyes were closed, but she raised one hand, showing him the cuts on her fingers. The other hand was clenched around a sheet of paper.