“We can focus on Callie now. I’ve got some contacts I can use in Vegas to get an update on her location and sale.”
Regan looks surprised. “You’d do that?”
I nod without thought.
“Why?” Her tone is as high as her brows.
“Why not?” I scan the documents spread across my desk. “Nothing we discover tonight will change the outcome in Dane’s case.” I return my eyes to Regan, pretending there’s no moisture glistening in them. “Callie’s life doesn’t need to be like Dane’s. We can save her from this.”
Regan’s smile assures there isn’t a single law I wouldn’t break to keep it on her face. Although I don’t ever see me being friends with Isaac, tonight has shown me a different side of him. I thought his dealing with Vladimir was shady, that he was building his empire by banding together with men as equally corrupt and malicious as him, but discovering he bid to secure Isabelle’s sister within days of starting a relationship with her makes me wonder if I was wrong. Perhaps he isn’t algae sitting on the bottom of the ocean as I once thought. Maybe he is just a shrewd businessman.
The payments he made to Vladimir’s account last month were the first he’s made. Unlike his known dislike of Col Petretti, there’s no evidence Isaac and Vladimir knew each other before this transfer of assets. Add that to Regan’s confession that Isaac was dating Col’s daughter before her death, and you’ve got a lot of coincidences erased by facts.
This kills me to admit, but my moral compass is swinging in favor of Isaac at the moment. Only by a fraction, but it’s better than the deep steer it’s always had toward the other side of the pendulum.
* * *
One phone call, and I’m assured Callie is safe and without harm. Although Vladimir is wary of handing her over because of Isaac’s recent arrest, he has no intention of cancelling the sale. Isaac is the highest bidder, and once Vladimir is assured the exchange will occur out of the law’s eyes, he’ll organize Callie’s shipment to Ravenshoe. It feels wrong discussing a child as if she is a commodity, but from what Bennett said, this is a regular occurrence in the Popov compound.
“You should probably have someone come and collect Callie. I doubt they’ll send one of their guys.”
Even though Bennett can’t see me, I nod. “Regan said Isaac is willing to do anything. I’m sure he’ll have the means to arrange something.”
With her ear attached to my phone so she can hear Bennett’s reply, Regan says, “Isaac has a private jet at the ready. As soon as they say the word, he’ll put it in the air.”
A wolf whistle leaves Bennett’s lips. “Okay. Then we’ve just got to wait for Vladimir.”
“How long do you think that will be?” I ask.
Bennett sighs. “He’s unpredictable. You don’t want to know the shit I’ve uncovered since I joined his sanction.”
My heart begins to hammer in my chest. “I thought you were there for his son?”
Boots stomping on concrete sound down the line. “I am, but I can’t get to Nikolai without going through Vladimir.” Bennett stops talking at the exact moment glass shattering sounds down the line. It is closely followed by someone calling him by his alias: Dok. “I’ve got to go. Things are tense here since Rico’s arrest.”
Not giving me the chance to reply, he disconnects our call. My throat works hard to swallow as I hang up the phone. Bennett has always been a little flighty, but it went to an entirely new level tonight. He’s either scared or so deeply undercover, his thoughts aren’t his own.
“I don’t want you or anyone associated with you to do that pickup. It’s not safe.” When Regan attempts to argue, I press my finger against her lips. “You either agree with my terms or I call this case in.”
I wait for the anger in her eyes to dissipate before removing my finger from her mouth. It’s barely an inch away before she asks, “Then what’s your solution?”
My eyes trail over the documents on my desk as I strive to unearth a suitable solution. Minutes of deliberation point me in one direction. “I’ll do the hand-over.”
“No!” When I attempt to shush Regan for the second time, she yanks away from me with the strength I’ve always seen in her. Her fists are up and ready again, except this time, she’s fighting against me instead of with me. “No, Alex! You said it was dangerous. I’m not letting you do this.” She points to a photo of Isla and Addison on my desk. “Those little girls already lost their dad; don’t put them through that again.”
She does a good job deflecting her worry onto Addison and Isla, but I know where her panic really stems from. She’s petrified for herself, about what she will do if something happened to me.
I try to ease her worry. “I can take care of myself—”
“I don’t give a fuck if you’re the best marksman there is, you’re not doing this!”
I continue talking as if she never spoke, “But I’ll take back up with me.”
Regan’s watering eyes bounce between mine. “Who? Your team of FBI agents? The same agents who are actively pursuing the man you’re helping? If that doesn’t get you thrown out of the Bureau, Alex, it will have IA riding your ass like an inmate serving life. You’re not doing this! I won’t let you do this.”
I love her protectiveness; so much so, it’s the fight of my life not to smash our lips together. The only reason I don’t is because I learned a hard lesson the past twelve months about what happens when I sidestep the truth to keep things in order. It fucks them up entirely.
“What if I take Ayden with me?” I suggest, lost on a better idea.
