Sebastien "Booker" Le Livre

They landed in Paris for a brief stop with Booker's mother who still lived there. Then they were off to Italy on a train. There was plenty of time to rest and recover from the jetlag. It had been awhile since Booker had been in Europe. There was a lot of sleep until he felt adjusted. By then, they had made it to Italy and Genoa.

Nicky's family had all come out for this. Well, most of them had. They were still a bigger family than Booker's family. So many siblings, cousins, and nephews/nieces. There were lots of people to meet, shake hands with, and get to know. It was a bit overwhelming honestly. The dinner was excellent but Booker was glad to disappear up to Nicky's old room and get a break.

He flopped onto the bed and threw an arm over his eyes. "There are too many of you," he said and followed it up with a little chuckle. "How can you have so many relatives?"

So many relatives all quietly judging him for his tattoos and his job and his divorce. They weren't all harsh judges. All the little ones had been fascinated by his tattoos. Some weren't even bothered by his divorce. There were a few though that Booker could tell didn't exactly approve of him.

He let his arm fall away and looked at Nicky. "I can't believe you survived all this chaos."

Paris felt like a breath of fresh air after Marseille. The trip had healed him but it was still the most emotionally draining thing he'd done in years. Booker felt weirdly heavier and lighter. It was just a weird state of being that he didn't really like but would have to live with.

He was almost so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice his apartment door open without needing keys. Almost. Booker drew his gun and stepped in, ready to shoot whatever asshole thought he had stuff worth stealing. He froze. The woman he dreamed of drowning at the bottom of the ocean was there.

And then she kicked his ass. He didn't expect her to spring at him like a snake or tear into him so viciously. Booker fought for his life but she beat him down and then he was dead.

He wasn't dead in a trunk a few minutes later. Even though he kicked and fought to escape this was a serious trunk, almost like it was specifically designed to keep in a two hundred year old warrior.

Quyhn took him to a warehouse and secured him with heavy chain to a wall. All she wanted was help finding Andy. Booker refused. That got him another ass kicking. She asked again and he refused. Whatever she wanted from Andy it couldn't be good. He had betrayed them all once. He wouldn't do it again.

Booker realized he was bait about two days into being her prisoner. She stopped asking for his help and just made sure he suffered.

Finally, someone was treating him like he deserved. Booker settled into the pain as he tried to focus on how to escape. Very hard to do when he was chained to the wall with heavy iron manacles but a man could hope.