He bristles, stepping toward me, fists clenched at his sides. Even Zakhar looks like he wants to punish me for daring to say such a thing.
“Someone was able to get into that school to get to her, and she was able to get out without a call from the school,” I remind them casually, leaning back in my chair. They stop, but their glares don’t lessen. “You might call and yell at them, but you and I both know that it’s a breach that you can’t allow. Whoever it was that took her, your daughter felt safe with them. Someone who even you aren’t pleased with got within feet of her. Where was her guard? Because you surely wouldn’t be stupid enough not to send a guard to keep an eye on her.”
I can tell my statement hits the mark when both of them stiffen. I narrow my eyes at them.
“Well, I suggest you get to work on that as soon as you can. Seeing that she’s smart, you’ll have to be clever on who it is. She’ll spot them and lose them within a day. Remember, Romanov, no one is out of reach, and anyone out to get to you, will go through her.”
“They already tried and never lived to see it become a success.” His words are dark, a threat even a deaf man could hear.
“And are you going to kill this friend of hers? Have you found them?” His lips thin, and Zakhar’s hands flex. Of course, Tatiana wouldn’t allow herself to be seen. Whoever she was pretending to be, it’s someone that Mila knows. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. I’m not going to hurt her or use her in any way. However, she’s here now, which means she’s in danger. How many guards have you put on her?”
“Four, and Freya will stay with her,” Zakhar answers. “She’s pissed too.”
“She’s a teenage girl who has a bunch of overprotective men in her life. I doubt she’s going to thank you for that until she’s married with children of her own. Is Freya trained to attack if needed?” They both nod. “Then that will have to work. If you have any other dogs around, station them outside her wing and window. Anywhere that someone might try to get in, have them there as a barrier. At least until this is over.”
Both of them stare at me. “You really think that someone is going to try and attack us?”
“They’ve already tried to get in, or are already inside and waiting to strike.” It’s blunt, and has both of them looking murderous, but it needs to be said. “Have your men work in double shifts, everyone crosses over each other every couple minutes. Make it nearly impossible for them to sneak out of wherever they might be hiding if they are here.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because it’s what my father taught us to do. I doubt he’s changed up his methods much since I left, since they work so well. Not to stress you out more, but it’s also fully possible that he’s infiltrated your soldiers already and has been getting the lay of the land, as they say.” I can see that they never considered such a thing possible. “Before you go questioning your soldiers, consider that saying anything now would force them to act if they are here. So now is the time for caution and being smart.”
“And could you spot them if you saw them?” Ilya asks carefully.
“No. I don’t know who the new recruits are, and my father was excellent at teaching his students to blend in. They’ll have studied their target, and now they can walk, talk, and act like them. They’ll know their sayings, the little details of their lifethat they can find, so it won’t arouse suspicion.” I look at Zakhar. “Do you trust the men with your daughter implicitly?”
His face pales. “I have.” He looks at Ilya desperately. “Wouldn’t Freya know it wasn’t them if they were pretending?”
“Perhaps, but if he’s managed to get close to her and gain her trust, she won’t see him as a threat.” I feel obligated to point out.
“Fuck.”
Ilya calms him with a hand on his shoulder, but I can feel the tension rolling off him. “And what do you suggest we do?”
He’s not going to like it, but it’s the best suggestion. “Have Oleg introduce Freya to Alonzo and his men. They’ll protect her. They are the only five people in this house that we know aren’t part of whatever shit storm this is.”
“You expect me to let Italians protect my daughter?” Zakhar demands, his voice rising.
“Do you want your daughter safe?” I demand. “They will protect her with their lives. Alonzo will see to it. Until you are one hundred percent certain, do you want to take the chance?”
Zakhar opens his mouth to argue, but quickly closes it when my words penetrate. “Fuck.” He spins on his heel, phone already to his ear.
Ilya turns to look back at me. “If you are trying to fuck me over…”
“Yes, yes, I know, you’re going to kill me. Believe it or not, Romanov, I want her safe. She’s innocent in this. The rest of it, you want me to help take them down, and I’m going to do my best. Until then, I need to talk to Simeon to figure out what the hell has been happening in Timur’s home since I left. I can’t leave anything to chance.”
He slowly nods. His eyes move to my neck, and I don’t bother to feel embarrassed at the hickeys covering my neck. I got a good look at Alonzo, and he’s sporting a few of his own. “An Italian?Really? You’d think someone like you wouldn’t bother sleeping down the chain.”
I give him a bland stare. “And you’re telling me that you’d rather I sleep with someone like you?” He looks repulsed by the idea. Instead of being insulted, I’m amused. “Yes, you certainly know how to make a girl feel special, Romanov. Looking at her like she’s a hideous toad that you never want to fuck.”
He has the decency to look contrite. “That’s not…”
I wave him away. “I’m not attracted to you either, so don’t worry about it. But who I sleep with, or don’t, isn’t your concern. Now, are you going to stick around while I talk to Simeon?”
“You really think you’re going to kick me out of my office?” His tone is haughty as he takes a seat next to me. I resist rolling my eyes.
Men and their egos. Thank fuck this entire mission, or whatever they want to call it, is nearly over. I might be dead, but if I’m not, I’m getting as far away from all of this shit as possible.
