Lachlan closed his eyes and sighed. “Your lips to God’s ears.”
“Boss?”
“Yeah?”
“I still think there’s hope for all of us.”
Lachlan stopped walking and squeezed his eyes shut. “I do too, Lis.” He spoke the words he didn’t believe and hoped that just saying them would make them true.
“You will believe, Lachlan. You’ll see.”
“Just get yourself home safe, lass.”
“I will.” He heard the laptop tote zip closed again.
“And Elissa?”
“Yeah, Boss?”
“Thanks for believing in Watchdog. Believing in all of us.”
“That’s the easiest thing in the world, Boss.”
TWENTY-ONE
Gina, present day, Germany
Shocked by a face she hadn’t seen in years, Gina covered her heart. “How can you be here? It’s impossible.”
“Not impossible when you’re lucky. Though it took a lot more than luck to find you.”
Princess Sana bint Rashid Al-Hadid stood smiling at Gina. She looked incredibly chic in her stiletto-heeled boots and a pair of tight jeans, but what caught Gina’s eye of course was the logo on the tee she wore under her blazer—a lemon with the sloganLemons are luckyprinted under it.
“What are you doing here?”
She pointed to her shirt. “Thought it was obvious. I’m here to rescue you.”
Gina looked around quickly, trying to keep her panic at bay. “If anyone sees you?—”
“They won’t. We’re fine, I promise.” She subtly tilted her head toward a burly-looking man about twenty feet away reading a newspaper. “I have a second one around here somewhere keeping watch too. We’refine.” Then Sana lunged forward and hugged Gina. “So good to see you. You look good.”
“So do you. Much better than me,” Gina said, giving her an extra squeeze.
Sana waved her off. “And who is this?” The princess knelt beside Gina to get a better look at Fleur. The dog immediately nuzzled the princess’s hand. “I’ve heard about you. It’s good we finally meet.” Sana straightened up. “Now, let’s get the hell out of this crappy airport. I’m taking you home with me.” She looped her arm with Gina’s and pulled her along, the man with the newspaper following at a discreet distance. “Our plane to Zurich is this way.”
* * *
“Compliments of the Swiss Air Force,” Sana said as they boarded the jet. She grinned and side-eyed Gina, goading her.
Fine, I’ll bite. “The Swiss Air Force now? Wow, really?”
“Yes. You don’t think I only run the Swiss Navy, do you?”
Gina snorted.The Swiss Navy. That was Sana’s favorite joke now. Gina took a seat at a small booth and Sana slid in next to her. The man with the newspaper nodded at them and continued to the row of seats behind them. A second, equally massive man got on board and sat in the row in front of the booth. A flight attendant set two flutes of sparkling champagne on the table.
“So, did Kayla and Walker like the boat that I…I mean, theSwiss Navysent them?” Sana asked as she picked up one of the flutes. She clinked it against Gina’s glass and took a sip.
“I don't know. I haven't spoken to them since I blew them up.”
