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“That simply isn’t true.” Casper continued to speak evenly, still hoping to diffuse some of the tension in the room. “My name is Casper Kingston, and yes, your husband came to our company offices earlier today to ask for help in finding you. But we haven’t accepted him as a client.” His mouth twisted. “None of us liked him, nor did we believe him when he claimed you had been kidnapped and he had been given three days to pay a ransom.”
“Kidnapped?” Martyna looked confused. “I was not kidnapped. I ran away before he had opportunity to kill me.” Her accent had deepened in her agitation. “In the same way he had my bodyguards killed.” She quivered.
Casper nodded. “We guessed that might be the case.” He glanced at Persy. “But we had no idea that one of our own employees was involved in aiding your escape.”
A blush suffused Persy’s cheeks. “I don’t know any of you well enough yet to be able to trust you one hundred percent.”
“Then I suggest you learn to do so pretty damn quickly,” he growled.
Persy glared. “Until a year ago, Sinclair wasn’t exactly a law-abiding citizen.”
“He had his reasons,” Casper defended.
* * *
So did Persy. But she had no intention of discussing those reasons with Casper here or now. Possibly never. She had a feeling her continued employment with Kingston Security would be in question after tonight.
“Would that be the same reason why the rest of your family are now also involved in similar, sometimes less than legal, acts?” she challenged.
She knew the hole she had already dug for herself by aiding Martyna was only getting deeper the more she tried to defend her actions by attacking members of Casper’s family. But she didn’t think she had much more to lose. Casper admitted he had no choice but to report her behavior to the rest of his family. They in turn would have no choice but to seriously consider terminating her employment. They already had their own covert actions to keep hidden. They couldn’t risk having a lone vigilante possibly bringing attention to the company.
Persy knew she was screwed, no matter what happened next.
Especially when what happened next could be Martyna firing the gun she was still pointing at her and Casper!
Except…
What did happen next was the second ring of the evening of the doorbell.
It could be Caleb or Richie, checking on Casper and Persy, despite her having texted them that Casper had arrived safely.
Or it could be Vadim Morozov, the Russian having somehow discovered where his wife was hiding.
Although Persy couldn’t see how the latter was possible.
Unless…
Her gaze sharpened on Casper. “Did anyone follow the three of you into town this evening?”
There was a possibility that Morozov, having sensed the Kingston family were going to refuse him as a client, and perhaps knowing of their reputation for finding and helping abused women and men, had arranged to have the members of the family followed. Purely on the off chance one the Kingstons might succeed in locating Martyna and consequently lead him to her location.
It was a stretch, Persy admitted, but from the increased panic in Martyna’s expression, it was an explanation that had also occurred to the other woman.
“Absolutely not,” Casper answered her unequivocally.
Persy turned to Martyna. “Will you let me take a look out the peephole? Then we’ll know for certain who it is,” she gently encouraged.
“I— Yes— No! What if it’s Vadim?” A sob of fear caught in Martyna’s throat.
“Then Persephone and I will protect you,” Casper assured her.
“How?” Martyna choked. “You don’t even have a gun.”
“Of course I have a gun.” Casper moved so quickly as he pulled a small pistol from inside the sling he wore that Martyna didn’t have time to react before he was pointing that gun in her direction.
Persy scowled her displeasure. “Did you bring an illegal firearm into my apartment?”
Casper shrugged. “Pretty sure Martyna’s is illegal, but I’m licensed to carry a weapon.”
