Page 51 of The Specialist

The silence on the line made me smile.

“You haven’t been in touch.”

“I told you I wasn’t interested.”

“Does five million interest you?”

I didn’t hesitate. “No.”

“Ten.”

I huffed out a long, impatient breath. “I will make this as plain as I can. There is no amount of money that would be enough to get me to work for you, Ivan. I am not interested.”

“You’re wasted, is what you are. You should listen to my offer. What the future could hold for you. Wealth. Power. Fear when your name is spoken. Respect. I can give it all to you.”

“Except I am not interested in any of it. Find yourself another lackey. Or better yet, get out of the country and go bother someone else. I am not available to you for any price.”

He was quiet, the only sign he was still on the line was his sharp breathing.

“Are you certain of that?” he asked, something in his voice making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I kept my voice neutral.

“I am not interested.”

“Perhaps the next message will change your mind.”

He hung up.

I tapped on the computer in front of me. His signal pinged off so many towers it was impossible to trace. He could be on the other side of the world for all I knew.

But he was here. I could feel it.

I rubbed my lip as I contemplated the situation.

His threat was vague but still troublesome. And annoying. He and Alex were getting on my nerves.

I called Damien. He answered, listening to what I had to say, then sighed.

“I’m still digging, Egan. It bothers me that I can’t get a lead on him.”

“Maybe it’s nothing.”

“Or something so big that it’s been so deeply encrypted, even HJ can’t get to it.”

“Is that possible?” I asked.

“Anything is possible.”

“But HJ—”

He interrupted me. “Runs in the Western world. Our ties aren’t strong in other parts of the world. It takes longer. I don’t have the resources. The language. I’m pulling in a few favors, but it’s going to take time.”

“I understand.”

“I spoke with Sofia earlier. She said something about you going away?”

“For a few days. I found a cottage up north by the water. Private and secluded. I think we can both use the break.” I blew out a breath. “I’ve got a plan to shake any tail that might be on me.”

“Good. Enjoy it, and I’ll be in touch.”