Page 103 of Exacting Vengeance

She sucked in a quick breath. For once, that fluttering in her belly didn’t signal impending vomit. She pressed the button again. “What do you want?” Since he’d been MIA with no explanation, she was damn well entitled to ask that question.

“To come up. Let me in. We need to talk.”

“Now you want to talk?” Though he couldn’t see, she crossed her arms. “You could have just called.”

“What I have to say…what we need to discuss…can’t be done over the phone.”

“Right.” The baby. This had nothing to do with how he felt about her. The annoyed side of her wanted to tell him to get lost, but he’d only find a way inside, so she might as well get it over with.

She pressed the other button, then spent the next three minutes pacing the living room. When a light rap sounded on the other side of her door, she practically jumped. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and shoot.

His hair was askew, and his eyes looked tired. That didn’t stop the fluttering in her belly from intensifying. Even on a bad hair day, he could do that to her.

Without waiting for permission, he strode in and sat on the sofa.

“Well, come on in,” she said with a sarcastic edge, then closed the door.

“Sit with me. Please,” he added, when she didn’t rush to join him.

“Fine.” Her sofa wasn’t that big. It was more of a love seat, really, but she did her best to put as much space between them as possible. So she couldn’t smell his woodsy cologne. Or feel the intoxicating warmth rolling off his big body.

After a moment, he cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology.”

“Yeah,” was all she could think to say. “At the airfield, you said you’d never leave me.”

“I know, but⁠—”

“But that’s exactly what you did.”

“I’m sorry, I⁠—”

“And without a word as to where you were going, I might add.” She was on a roll and couldn’t stop.

Kyle had never treated her the way Yuri had, but in his own way, he’d hurt her nonetheless, and the days of letting herself be treated as an inconsequential speck—by anyone—were over.

“Are you done kicking my ass?” With a corner of his mouth lifted and his hair mussed, he reminded her of the day they’d gone swimming off the coast of Florida. He wore a rakish, carefree expression that had made her think of a handsome, swashbuckling pirate.

“For now,” she conceded, trying not to smile and fall under his spell. “Really, it depends on what you have to say next.” Like what they were going to do about the little life growing inside her.

“Then I’d better get talking.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry for not understanding what you went through. I get why you kept the money a secret, and I was an ass for treating you the way I did. You were right. I lied to you about who I was back then, so I understand why you hesitated to confide in me. You didn’t know me, and I never gave you the chance.” He held her gaze an instant longer before continuing. “I’m sorry for everything, but most of all, I’m sorry for not believing in you.”

Hearing him say those words meant more than she could ever convey. Slowly, she nodded. Maybe now was a good time to completely clear the air. “And I’m sorry for not telling you about the ledger sooner. I really did mean to. That money was tainted, and I was wrong for taking it. You’re an FBI agent, and I should have understood the predicament I placed you in. I wanted so badly to do something good with that money, to make up for whatever wrongs I knew it had come from.”

“I wish you’d told me,” he said, adding quickly, “but we need to put that behind us.”

She wanted to believe the sincerity of his words, but had to ask, “Can we really do that? Can you really do that?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “I need to. I have to.”

Again, she had to accept this discussion was about the baby. Not her. “Will Nikki come after me for telling you what he and Yuri did?”

“No. Because you won’t be testifying against him.”

“Why not? If there’s any chance of getting immunity, I assume testifying will be part of the deal.”

“Not the deal I made for you.” He shook his head. “We can show Lebedev bought that property, and he’s been paying taxes on it all this time. That, plus your information, was enough to convince a judge to give us a warrant, but I didn’t have to put your statement in the affidavit. We found the bodies in that lake. That’s where I’ve been all week. I didn’t want to call you until I was certain the U.S. Attorney would agree to give you immunity. Without testifying.”

She closed her eyes and blew out a breath. Thank God. The joy engulfing her was also surrounded by a profound sadness for the missing kidnapping victims’ families. At least now they could finally put their loved ones to rest properly.