Page 70 of The Specialist

He looked at the man I assumed was Ivan, who nodded. A moment later, a lukewarm bottle was shoved into my hand. I struggled to open it, then sipped at the contents, not wanting to drink too fast and throw up. I was also stalling for time. They had moved the chair, and I could see the label better on the discarded box. Sterling, it said. I had no idea what it was, but it was a clue.

Ivan stood in front of me. Far enough away I couldn’t touch him, but close enough I could see the deadly intent in his eyes. “Tie her back up.”

My hands were tied behind me again.

“We are going to talk to Egan now. You are going to tell him to do what I say.”

“And if I don’t?”

He turned his phone to me, showing me a picture. “He is in his apartment, waiting for me to contact him. The building is set to explode on my command. You tell him no, he is dead. You will be of no more use to me. So therefore, you, too, will be dead.”

I broke out in a sweat, feeling the color draining from my face.

They had Egan’s apartment building rigged? How could I warn him? How could I help him?

I began to shake, my emotions getting the better of me.

They turned on the lights, the glare hitting my eyes and making me wince.

“Let us begin,” Ivan said.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Egan

I downed another coffee, my head aching, my shoulders tight. Julian and Matteo were on one side of the room, Damien and I were side by side, running programs, searching for clues. Marcus made a pile of sandwiches, insisting I eat to keep up my strength. Then he joined Julian and Matteo.

I made a noise of distress as I found yet more of the crimes Ivan and his people had perpetrated. His entire crew needed to be eliminated from the face of the earth. Damien squeezed my shoulder in silent sympathy.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, meeting his eyes. “I failed her. I didn’t protect her. I wanted to send her to you, but she insisted on staying. I should have listened to my gut.”

“We didn’t know who you were dealing with or what they were capable of, Egan. And I know Sofia. She is stubborn.” He shook his head. “We had no idea she was on their radar.”

“They played it well. And I was too confident. I still don’t know what they want.”

My phone rang, and I grabbed it. “I think it’s him.”

Damien tapped on his machine. “Okay. We’ll stay quiet.”

I answered. “Ivan.”

His chuckle was loud. “How quickly you pick up this time.”

“I want proof of life. Now.”

He sighed and sent me a link, which I clicked. A video feed began, and I glanced at Damien, who nodded that he was trying to trace the call. Everyone was using their computers to run different software to track the call. I had to keep them on the line as long as possible.

My breath caught at the sight of Sofia tied to a chair. It was so like the dream I’d had, it was disconcerting. She glared at the camera, fierce and defiant.

“Sofia, iubirea mea.”

Her expression softened. “Egan,” she replied.

I scanned her for injuries, the bruises on her face making me angry. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Light glinted on her earrings, and I narrowed my gaze to them. “I hope your ear infection does not get worse.”