He softly grunted, a sound she knew meant he wasn’t happy, but he believed her. “Perhaps I will.”
She had exasperated down to a science with him and didn’t have to act. “Then call him.” She stood. “If I wanted to hide this, I certainly wouldn’t have had him come to my office, would I?” She turned and headed for the door. “I swear, sometimes I think you have no faith in me, Father. All I want to do is make you proud of me. I’m going to see what the cook?—”
“Miranda.”
She hadn’t made it to the door yet. She turned, crossing her arms over her chest. “Yes, Father?”
“You wouldn’t go behind my back, would you?”
She took a couple of steps toward his desk, her arms still crossed over her chest. “You have groomed me to take over the business. Since I was a child. And when I make business decisions to try to give our business a profitable future, you accuse me of treachery?”
He’d leaned back again, studying her. “I’m sorry, love.” He let out a sigh, the tension draining from him. “You are correct—I should learn to let go.” He held his hands out. “What am I supposed to do? I am an old man and am set in my ways.”
She dropped her arms and walked around the desk to hug him. “I’m sorry I don’t run every decision past you first, Father. I didn’t think this would upset you.” She straightened. “Especially since this is just the first step in a very long path that will likely take years to come to fruition.”
He squeezed her hand, patting it, smiling up at her. “Forgive me?”
“Father, I love you.” She kissed the top of his head again. “If you want me to not pursue this line of inquiry?—”
He waved it away. “No, it’s fine. Just keep me posted, please?”
“I promise to have our people thoroughly investigate any contacts before I approach them, is that fair?”
He nodded. “Very.”
She played with his shirt collar, straightening it. “Now, I’ll go see the cook and check on dinner.”
“Very good, my love.”
Abundio Segura
Miranda was out of the office no more than two seconds before his smile faded and he retrieved one of his burner phones to text his contacts in the cartel.
They each received the same message.
If my daughter mentions Russians in ANY context, alert me immediately.
They all replied they would, and he tucked the phone away.
If he confronted her with what he knew, she’d lie and deny it. Which would mean…
Well, he didn’t want to contemplate that.
If he could monitor her movements and step in before she did something terminally stupid, perhaps teach her a valuable lesson in loyalty, that would be preferable.
But if she was looking to betray him?
What are you up to, my child? And will you force my hand?
Chapter Sixty-One
Ken
Badger finally rejoined the call. “I’m gonna turn a few rocks over and get back to ye as soon as I have answers. I’ve sent people out lookin’. Might take a few days, dependin’ on what they find.”
“Just keep me posted,” Peyton said.
After ending the call, the search through the paperwork resumed despite the late hour. Ken’s nap helped refresh him even though his body clock now drastically differed from everyone else’s.
