Page 131 of Psync
Eli took out his phone again.
Eli:I am going to break something and be very loud about it if you don’t call me right now
Eli waited thirty seconds and then started surveying his surroundings, trying to figure out what his best options were.
He turned to guard number one. “Which one is more expensive? That painting? Or that statue?”
The only response Eli got was a set of raised eyebrows and a hushed conversation into the guard’s headset.
“No, you’re right. Why choose? I’ll throw the statueat thepainting.” Eli rolled up his sleeves. It was a small statue, but it looked like it would be pretty heavy. Eli would need a triple espresso after this.
His phone rang. Eli pressed answer and continued on his trajectory toward the statue. “What’s up, sweetie? I’m a little busy right now, so make it quick.”
“I’m on my way to our rooms. Meet me there.”
“Sorry, I’m going through a tunnel, can you speak up?” Eli put his phone on speaker and tucked it into his pocket. He grabbed the statue by the arms and lifted. “Damn, this fucker is heavy.”
“Eli, let me explain.”
“Sure thing, I just have this one thing I need to do first.”
Lift with your legs, Eli, you can do it!
There was a scraping sound as the statue finally parted with its base.
Ha! I may be small, but I’m scrappy as hell.
He was distantly aware of the small audience he’d attracted, but he couldn’t give them any attention. Not unless he wanted a broken toe out of this adventure. No, focus was the key to success here.
“Eli, put it down.”
“Oh no, I think we’re well past that. Now if you’d texted me back right away or, I don’t know, maybe not told your henchmen to keep me from leaving? No, you’re losing a statue. Hope you weren’t too attached.”
Fuck, that painting was far away.
“But . . . you might get to keep the painting. This thing is heavy.” Eli’s fingers slipped, but he managed to catch the statue before it crushed his foot.
“I don’t care about the statue, put it down before you hurt yourself.” Haruka sounded out of breath. “I’ll smash it for you, just, put it down, please.” There was a note of desperation in his voice.
Eli took a guess at how much time had elapsed and shoved the statue at the closest security guard and ignored theWRONGthat scraped against his insides when he accidentally touched him.
He hung up the phone and ran for the farthest elevator because Haruka was probably in the closest one.
Once inside, he punched the button for the penthouse, fully planning on barricading himself inside.
He beat Haruka there by ten seconds and had the pleasure of slamming the door in his face, only to have an incredibly one-sided shoving match with the door when Haruka opened it again.
“Fine!” Eli took off his hoodie and threw it at Haruka. “Please explain. I’m dying to know why I’m being kept prisoner in my favorite country in the entire world. Use small words so I can understand.” Eli sat himself on top of a marble table and crossed his legs, projectingtouch me and I’ll cut youto the best of his ability.
“It’s not as bad as it looks.”
“Oh really? So, I can leave whenever I want to?”
“Yes, of course.” Haruka rubbed the back of his neck. “You just have to take me with you.”
Eli leaned back on his hands. “Fine, then let’s go right now.”
“Where do you want to go?” Haruka asked warily.
