Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“How are we going to get her back? If we don’t have the thumb drive, what are we going to do?” She needed a plan. They were down to twenty-four hours.
“That’s what we’re going to talk about,” Taggart assured her. “Go and get your son and in the morning, we’ll have another talk. We’ll find de Vries. Don’t think I won’t.”
“It’s going to be fine, Steph,” Charlotte said. “I’ll come by in the morning and fill you in on everything. And I’ll keep an eye on the boys and make sure they don’t do anything too dangerous. By this time tomorrow, we’ll have your friend back and all of this is going to feel like a bad dream.”
She wished she had half of Charlotte’s optimism.
Brody led her out into the hall. The group around them discussed going back to the McKay-Taggart building. Adam joined them, explaining how he was going to narrow down the possible places where de Vries could be hiding.
Steph felt removed from it all.
Brody leaned over and brushed a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll get our boy. You wait for me here, all right?”
She nodded and moved to the front windows, staring out into the night.
“This is not how I wanted to visit the States for the first time,” a deep voice said.
She glanced up and the second man was standing beside her. “I’m sorry you had to come under such terrible circumstances. You know Anya well?”
“She’s my cousin. We have—how would say? Very close family. You must understand this.”
She didn’t. Her family had broken a long time before. “I know Anya talks about her family all the time.”
“She’s a sweet girl, but Fedor was wrong to allow her to go to dangerous place.” His eyes were on the parking lot. “I’m going to tell you what the others will not. This man who has my cousin will not be bought off with the thumb drive. He wants you and the Australian. He believes you have seen what is on the drive, and he will kill anyone who can speak of it.”
“I haven’t seen anything.” She tightened her fingers around her purse, needing something to hold on to.
“That is between you and de Vries. I suggest you make him believe or he will kill you. I intend to give you to de Vries along with Dauterre in exchange for my cousin. I will go along with this farce for now, but I want you to meet me in four hours. I know the address where you are staying.”
“I can’t do that. Even if I was stupid enough to try to meet you, I don’t think my bodyguards would allow it.”
“I’ve slipped you a letter detailing what I want you to do along with the tools to make it happen. If you don’t meet me in four hours, I will use my network to ensure that everyone you care about dies in the next year. I know many of the world’s finest assassins. I won’t hesitate to spend everything I own making sure you lose everyone. Starting with your son and that big bastard you’re obviously sleeping with. Do I make myself clear?”
She turned to him, noting that Tucker was watching from across the lobby. “You’ve made yourself very clear.”
He smiled down at her. “Act like nothing is wrong or we’ll start here and now. If you tell your friends, they’ll be the first to go.”
She forced a smile on her face and Tucker seemed to take that as his cue. He sat back down. “I think you’re outnumbered here. My friends aren’t exactly lightweights.”
“I have no wish to get involved in a fight here and now, and perhaps they would win,” he allowed. “But you should understand that even if Fedor and I die, we have others to take care of things. My people have long memories and we’ll be smart about it. We’ll allow a few months to go by, but sooner or later, you will lose them all. We will save you for the last. By the time we’re done, you’ll beg for death. Do you understand?”
“Yes, you’ve made yourself very clear.”
“Excellent.” He stepped back as Brody strode out of the hallway, carrying Nathan’s car seat. “I wish you a good night, then. Mr. Carter, we’ll see you in the morning and we’ll try to find our way out of this, yes?”
Brody nodded. “We will. This is a smart bunch. We’ll get Anya back in no time.” He put his free hand on her shoulder. “Come along, luv. Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day, but after things will get better.”
“I hope so.” She would have to wait until she got home to read the note and the instructions the Ukrainians had left for her.
How would she get by the guards?
“Are you all right?” Brody smoothed her hair back.