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“I hadn’t thought of that,” he muttered, cursing himself again for his thoughtlessness.
Patsy motioned with her head toward Rivet’s office, and Shiver stood.
“You’re not a duke yet,” Rivet barked when Shiver walked in. “Until you are, I outrank you, and I expect you to respond appropriately.”
“Yes, sir. My apologies.”
“The resources of the Secret Intelligence Service are not yours to make use of for personal matters.”
“Understood.” Now wasn’t the time to argue with Rivet, but other than making contact with several of their operatives, Shiver hadn’t used SIS “resources” to search for Kuznetsov.
“That being said, I am authorizing a fact-finding mission.”
“Don’t.”
Rivet raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not ready to give you an answer.”
“You’re under the assumption that I’m authorizing the mission in exchange for your acceptance of the position?”
“To a certain extent.”
“Get the hell out of my office! In fact, get the hell out of the building.”
“Rivet, I meant no—”
“Out!”
His brother laughed. “Did you wish him a happy Christmas on your way out?”
Shiver ran his hand through his hair. “He’s frustrated that I won’t give him an answer.”
“No, Shiv, he’s pissed that you thought so little of him.”
When his brother didn’t say anything else, Shiver thought perhaps their call had dropped, but then he heard him take a deep breath.
“We’ll find her, but in the meantime, you have to find a way to compartmentalize.”
If his brother were standing in front of him, Shiver would likely belt him, after which he’d feel equally as guilty as he did about his conversation with Rivet. However, he had no restraint despite knowing he’d experience regret.
“Where the hell is she?” he murmured in a way he wouldn’t to anyone but his brother.
“I wish I had the answer, Shiv.”
—:—
Orina looked into the most beautiful deep gray eyes that had ever graced the universe. Kazmir wasn’t just the heavens’ most beloved angel given to her as a precious gift; he was Orina’s world, and she would do anything to protect him.
“What shall we do today?” she whispered, kissing the baby’s brow.
Kazmir cooed and gave her one of the sweet smiles Orina craved.
She’d been in hiding since she first discovered she was pregnant, fearful that United Russia, the modern-day iteration of the KGB and the current ruling party of the country, would force her to terminate it.
Shortly after she disappeared, her UR handler discovered the affair she’d been having with MI-6 agent Thornton “Shiver” Whittaker and openly accused her of being a double agent. Thus, a bounty had been placed on her head and her assets had been frozen.
She’d been prepared for it, though. She’d been planning her defection—because, in essence, that’s what it was—for over two years, knowing the accusation was inevitable.
