Page 126
A blip on my phone indicated a message. When I realized it was from Isabel’s phone, I tensed. When I heard her message, while it had broken up several times, I realized exactly how deep the treachery had gone. I lowered the phone, taking a deep breath. “He also bugged my house.”
“Kristoff?”
“Yes. A listening device was found in the living room.” And a check to her from the attorney Diana just mentioned. All very interesting. Maybe it had been a way to try to have her use some of her father’s money.
“Fuck me,” Sergei snarled. “You haven’t swept the house for bugs recently.”
“Once after I thought Isabel and Mina were dead.”
“That’s how he knew about her being your fiancée. And that she was safely nestled behind locked doors at your house.”
“Yes. It’s time to finish this, Sergei. I am not going to lose her.”
“Then get moving.”
I stepped on the accelerator, now speeding in excess of eighty miles an hour. Then ninety. Fuck anyone who dared try to stop me.
* * *
Isabel
The crush of fear was constant, wave after wave hitting me.
Images of Maxsim tickled my mind, his words and reminders. His warnings.
And thoughts of my father kept a stranglehold on my mind. He’d been a killer, a monstrous man. Why wasn’t that more surprising? Why did it not leave me feeling sick inside?
The sharp knock on the door sent another wave of terror through me. I backed away from the door, fearful whoever was on the other side would break it down.
Another knock and I reminded myself there were several soldiers commanded to keep me safe. I moved closer, peering out the transom windows. They were frosted and even with the flash of lightning, I couldn’t make out anything but a solid figure.
“Who is it?”
“Kristoff. We need to get out of here, Ms. Dayne.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“We’ve been compromised. We’re going to take you to safety.”
“What’s going on?”
“There’s a boat trying to moor. I’m not taking any chances.”
I took a deep breath and turned the lock, immediately having second thoughts. “Did you talk with Maxsim?’
His hesitation was followed by a loud rumble of thunder. “Yes. Just a minute ago.”
Wrong.
Anger swelled from deep within, leaving the taste of bile in my mouth.
“Not a chance since there’s no cellphone reception.”
The moment of feeling as if I’d been pulled into a vacuum swept through me. After locking the door, I took several steps backward, horrified as the door was kicked open.
My anguished yelp was more about Hope hearing that I was under attack. I was forced backwards, almost falling on the floor. I didn’t have time to reach for the gun, swinging the flashlight instead. Fortunately, I hit him directly in the head, the force enough to toss him several feet aside and to the door. When I swung the light, the beam flashed outside. Wait. What?
Was that a dead body?
