Page 121 of Ash Storm

Reka paused. “I would like to speak to her.”

Her uncle nodded. “We can arrange that.”

“There must still be other women out there,” Reka said, giving voice to everyone’s concern.

Ash’s nails curled into his palms. There were women out there that they still knew nothing about, because Alistair hadn’t cracked. Ash exchanged a look with the team, and knew they were all thinking the same thing.

If only we were free to pursue this.

“There are a lot of people working on this,” Thorne said. “Including most of Interpol,” he added darkly.

“In confidence,” Reynolds added, “I can tell you the noose is closing in on most of Afsan’s friends. Those with an American passport will find things are more difficult for them from now on.”

“And the fact that Afsan died in the UK has made it easier to freeze all his assets.”

That was good news. Without Afsan’s money, it was less likely that somebody would try to keep the man’s business going.

Ash sighed. It would have to be enough, for now at least.

Reka went to get herself a drink, and Reynolds moved with her. Ash saw the two of them speak briefly. Then Reka hugged him, hard, before coming back to the table.

Ash stood up.

“Ah, Reynolds? Could I speak to you for a moment?”

Reka sent him a questioning glance, but he signaled that it was okay.

He and Reynolds stepped out onto the terrace.

“What is it?” Reynold asked, his tone neutral, but no longer overtly hostile.

At least his arm isn’t around my throat this time around.

“I just want you to know I would die before I hurt your niece. I didn’t … I didn’t mean to fall in love with her.”

Reynold’s expression was unreadable.

“You love her, as well?”

“I love her. I want to be with her all the time. But not just that. I want to make her smile. I want to know what she’s thinking about when she goes to sleep at night, and when she wakes up in the morning. And I know that you probably don’t believe me, but—“

Reynolds shook his head.

“You might be surprised. I've been married for over twenty-five years, to the most wonderful woman in the world, so I have some idea what you’re saying. I might have been out of line earlier, Gunner. And not just because Reka seems to think so.” He sighed. “I know what you did—what you risked—to bring Reka home. And I also know everyone deserves a second chance. But know this. Reka is my only niece. If you hurt her, I will hurt you badly.”

Ash nodded. The more he got to know this man, the more he liked him.

“That sounds fair, Sir.”

“Now, if there’s nothing else, there are some emails I need to send before tomorrow morning.”

Ash hesitated for an instant, knowing he was testing his luck.

“If there’s anything we can do to continue working this case, Sir, we would be—“

“I understand. Thorne and I will keep that in mind. But for now, we need to let Interpol work this case, and your next job lies elsewhere,” Reynolds finished cryptically.