Knock-knock.
Without waiting for an invitation, the door opened. Dmitri Petrov loomed large, his orca body filling the space. “Natasha is ready.” He waddled in, glared down at her. “Don’t fuck this up.”
“Dmitri,” the ambassador said, “relax.”
Petrov whirled toward him. “Do not tell me what to do. This is bigger than you.”
Natasha entered, a black cloth in her hand. “Get coat, Minka.”
Halston was being taken against her will. Every nerve, every cell was telling her to run. Get to the street and never look back.
Petrov grabbed her by the arm, yanked her up, and strode toward the entrance. He shoved her at Natasha. “Go. Time ticks. We’re on tight schedule. Forty-eight hours. Move!”
Natasha grabbed her by the wrist and tugged her forward. In her office, Halston shrugged into her coat. Hidden inside her crossbody—strapped beneath her overcoat—was the rubber finger and the thumb drive. She couldn’t bring them with her, but it would be worse to leave them in her office.
She shoved her laptop into her computer bag.
“No computer.” Natasha glared at her. “No phone.”
“What if the ambassador needs me?”
Natasha barked out a laugh. “He won’t.”
She opened the crossbody, set her embassy phone on her desk.
Out the door they went. Parked at the curb was a black sedan. She walked around to the passenger side, glancing at the license plate. An official embassy vehicle.
Once inside, Natasha held out the black cloth. “Cover eyes.”
When Halston went to tie it over the spy glasses, Natasha said, “No glasses. Put in bag.”
“I can’t see without them.”
“Perfect.” Natasha started the vehicle as Halston tucked the spy glasses into her crossbody before she tied on the blindfold.
“I drive, we talk,” Natasha said as the car rolled forward. “Grigori came to me.”
Halston’s world imploded.
Her parents had been kidnapped. She was alone, she was cut off from everyone, and she was being taken somewhere by Natasha… someone she believed to be an extremely dangerous and unhinged individual.
GABRIEL
At eleven that morning,Gabriel clasped Elsa’s small hand as they made their way through the parking lot. While he’d suggested several other upscale eateries in the area, she insisted on dining at the family restaurant. Gabriel never ate lunch before one, but his afternoon was full, so he’d suggested the late-morning lunch date.
Tara, their floor manager, greeted Elsa with a warm hug, then blushed when her gaze met Gabriel’s.
“Good to see you, Tara,” he said. “Keeping Teddy in line?”
“He’s super easy to work for,” Tara said. “Greystone too.Youwere the challenging boss.”
Elsa laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me. What did he do?”
“He’s a micromanager.” Tara winked at him. “But I’m sure he’s a wonderful grandson.”
Elsa leaned her head on his arm. “He’s most like my late husband, so he’s my favorite. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone.”
Gabriel chuffed out a laugh.
