Page 95 of Rafe’s Future

And poor six-year-old Alice had been asleep just down the hall.

Lena looked at Henry again and understood. “You’re doing all of this because of your father?”

His expression hardened. “I’m doing this because of what your people did to my family.”

“Your father killed an innocent woman in cold blood.”

“He had no choice.”

“Oh, Henry.” She tsked. “There’s always a choice.”

“He lost everything!” Henry took an angry step toward her.

“Amanda Owens lost her life.”

His jaw tightened. “My mother and I lost everything, too.”

And there it was. The real motive. This wasn’t about finding so-called justice for his father or collecting a hefty ransom.

Henry had arranged it all as a way to finally get his revenge.

“You blame Rafe for what happened to your father.”

It wasn’t a question.

“I blame him for destroying my family.”

Lena chuckled. “I’m pretty sure your dad did that all on his own.”

The man’s eyes flashed with arrogance and rage.

“My father had resources. Even in prison. Connections and more money than anyone will ever know. He spent years building relationships inside the Agency.”

Lena’s stomach twisted with understanding of the man’s words.

He’s talking about Michael Stanton’s dirty connections.

Roger was the first face to come to mind, and that damn near destroyed her. Her next thought was of Alexei Kozlova, and the man’s obvious hatred for the CIA. His disappearance nearly thirty years earlier and the timing of his sudden reappearance.

Lena thought about Caleb and Sabrina. She tried hard not to picture Damien’s body in that cabin tub.

Her mind raced.

“You used Kozlova.” When he didn’t answer, she continued, “You found him. You used his disdain for the Agency. Probably encouraged him to go after me and my team. Is that how it went, Henry? You manipulated the old man into believing that taking the hits on us was his idea?”

Stanton blinked but said nothing. That was okay. His silence told her everything she needed to know.

Lena stared back at him. “You and your father planned this whole thing from the very beginning.”

“We gave Alexei everything he needed. Contact. Intelligence. Access. He took care of the others in Syria.”

More pieces came together to form a much broader picture. One by one, they fell into place.

She and Rafe hadn’t been chasing Kozlova. Not really. They’d gone after a weapon they couldn’t see. Henry was the true threat, and they’d played right into the twisted man’s hands.

“You used Kozlova to eliminate everyone from that operation.”

“Yes.”