I straighten. “Do you think I don’t know that?”
A deep line cuts between his eyebrows. “You should’ve offered them money first.”
“No.” I put the mug down hard on the desk. “What would you have done if it were Anya?”
He purses his lips.
Yeah. If he were in my shoes, he would’ve done the same.
Shoving a hand in his pocket, he studies me solemnly. “Does Teszner know about his sister?”
“Everyone knows she’s back, but I’m keeping her amnesia quiet.”
“Is that constructive to your goal?”
“What does that mean?”
“Whoever took her will believe she told you everything. They would’ve made themselves scarce by now. You have a better chance of catching them if you keep them close.”
“I highly doubt the mercenaries would’ve told her who they were working for.”
“Others could’ve been present while they held her captive. You and I both know they weren’t going to send her back to you in one piece.”
The mere sound of that makes my vision fray around the edges.
“She could’ve seen or heard something,” he concludes. “They wouldn’t have been too careful around her, which only gives them more reason for wanting to eliminate her. To them, she’s still a threat. And as long as they believe she knows the location of the necklace, her life is at risk. Letting people know she lost her memory could be the best way of protecting her.”
“Do you think our enemies will believe that? They’ll think I’m lying for the exact reason you mentioned.” My tone is harsh. “It doesn’t matter. No one will get anywhere near her again. One way or another, I’ll find out who paid those mercenaries.”
“Do you have any leads?”
“A fingerprint.” I scrub a hand over my face. “My hacker is working on finding a matching ID.”
“That’s something, at least.”
Silence stretches.
Sav is never silent, especially not when he’s requested the meeting.
“What?” I ask when he only continues to scrutinize me.
“What’s the chances of letting the necklace go?”
Surprised, I say, “Give it up, you mean?”
He rubs a thumb over his bottom lip. “Yes.”
“No.” My firm answer leaves no room for argument. “That’s not an option.”
“From what I’ve heard, Tatiana’s brother is ruined. The man is a walking corpse, just waiting to keel over. Isn’t that enough? Is the money really that important?”
“It’s not about the money.”
“Do your men know that?”
I clench my jaw. “If you’re insinuating that the money is all that matters to them, you’re wrong. Yes, I promised them their share when we find the necklace, but any one of those men will stand by me if I change my mind.” I add in a heated tone, “Which isn’t going to happen.”
Sav raises his hands. “It’s your call. But?—”
