“Afraid to come on your own?”
“You have exactly five minutes.”
She had spent some time preparing for this with Miko. The woman was good at getting into people’s heads, and Lila had wanted to know just how to handle her father. He had wanted this meeting, and Lila had been sure that it was a ploy.
“You’re looking better.”
“I know. Seems that since I don’t have to hide out anymore, I get regular sleep. Knowing that there isn’t anyone after me has that affect.”
Then he said nothing, so she shrugged and moved to get up.
“Wait!”
“Why should I?”
He glanced at her hand, then at Ian. Even without looking, Lila knew Ian was giving her father no expression. If he made one move toward her though, Ian would beat the crap out of him.
“I see that you’re engaged.”
She said nothing.
“Sit down.”
“The days that I do as you order are well over. It ended the day you tried to kill me.”
He sighed as if completely put out. She’s the one who flew halfway around the world for this stupid meeting.
“Please.”
She hesitated, then sat in the chair.
“Can you tell me why you came finally?”
“I’m here meeting with The Company. They want to apologize. I also need to explain to them that you would not have killed my mother and brother.”
His expression eased. “You do?”
So easy. Miko had been right. Give him some hope, then punch him in the ego.
“Yes. They seemed to think that you wanted to confess to me, but I explained that you wouldn’t do that.”
“Exactly.”
“Everyone knows that Mom was the smarter one. You could have never been able to plan something like that.”
It was his turn to hesitate. “You think your mother was smarter?”
She nodded and leaned forward. “I mean, I saw the IQ tests. She was way higher than you. So, you know, you would have never been able to get one over on her.”
Lila sat back and smiled at him.
“You think I would never be able to plan something like that?”
“Oh, you would be able to.” She chuckled. “But like I was telling Mitchell Young—you remember him, don’t you?”
“Yes.” He bit off the word. And she knew her father would remember one of the men he had trained years ago. He was now the deputy director at the CIA.
“He has done so well for himself, you know? I mean, who would have thought he would rise up as far as he has, but he’s convinced that would have never happened if Mom had still been alive and working for The Company.” She let her smile dim a little.
