Page 93 of Dark Soul

“Let me get to the boy,” the Russian said. Nobody stood in his way as he walked to where Dmitri huddled with the boy, both men speaking to the boy softly in Russian.

“We’ve got it. The plans are here,” Rogue said. Of course, he’d remembered the code Kvyat had called out, and had been able to get the briefcase open.

“Call Thorne,” Dark said. “Tell him Kvyat’s dead, that we’ve got the plans and—“

Something made him look back at Lemercier.

Except there was nobody there.

Only the indentation of a body on the snow spoke of him ever having been there.

“Fuck!” Griffin exclaimed. He kept his gun aimed as he made his way around the white van to make sure the fixer wasn’t hiding behind the vehicle. Moments later, he was back.

“Slimy bastard. He went that way. I’m going to—“

“Guys, I need help here,” Slate said. His arm was around Ash, who looked barely conscious. “We need to get him to a hospital.”

“I hate hospitals,” Ash said, but his face was pale and he wasn’t arguing.

Rogue’s phone started ringing. He listened for a second. “Shit. I’ll let you know. Thanks Carrie,” he said.

“The police are on their way. I don’t know who called them, but Thorne doesn’t want us or the plans anywhere near here when they arrive. Apparently, Swiss police aren’t friendly.”

“Right. Because police anywhere would love to find a dead body, several bloody men, and a kidnapped woman and child.”

“What about them?” Rogue asked, pointing at Dmitri, Ilya, and Nikolai. Dmitri stood up with Nikolai in his arms. The boy seemed to be unconscious again.

“Where are you taking him?” Alexia asked, coming out from behind Dark.

Dmitri nodded. “I think he was drugged. We’ll take him to the hospital. I will call his mother to come for him.”

That seemed to appease Alexia.

“You’ll stay with him until she arrives?”

Dmitri’s look was kind. “I promise you. We will not leave him for an instant.”

“And …” Alexia waved at everything else.

“We’ll take the two SUVs. Nobody will ever know the boy was here,” the security guard said firmly.

“Not from us, either,” Dark agreed. It was a promise that was easy to give.

“He’ll be safe, I promise,” Ilya said, nodding at them and turning to leave.

Griffin looked in the direction Lemercier had disappeared in. Dark saw in the man’s expression how badly he wanted to give chase—waited for him to make his decision.

Finally, Griffin sighed.

“Fuck it. We found that bastard once. We’ll find him again.” He placed himself on Ash’s left side and took some of the man’s weight. Ash moaned once before his square jaw closed again.

Dark didn’t hesitate. He stood up and pulled Alexia easily into his arms, where she curled up as if she’d always belonged there.

Something fierce rose up inside him.

There’s no as if.

This is where she belongs.