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“It’s seven-thirty. I’m getting ready to leave.”
“What?” she exclaimed, suddenly coming awake. “Oh, my gosh. Please be careful. Please stay in touch with me.”
“I will, and I will,” he said with a smile. “I’ll have a sat phone, so even if there’s no service I’ll be able to call you, but Steph, I want you to stay up here on the second floor. You can watch a movie in the theater, play pool, whatever you want. There’s even a small kitchen off the game room if you—”
“I know. I saw it, but why can’t I stay in your room?”
“I have extra security tonight. My men will be roaming around and I don’t want you getting in their way.”
“Why? Do you think something will happen?”
“I highly doubt it, but having additional men is a good thing in times like this. They know the second floor is off limits, so you won’t be disturbed, and Benny will be in the security room if you need him. Just pick up the house phone and dial 011. Got it?”
“011, got it. Wait, have you heard from Max?”
“I have. Liam and his team arrived. Everything’s set.”
“So he’s not working for Oleg. You must be so relieved.”
“I found it hard to believe, but over the years I’ve learned to expect the unexpected.”
“Me too,” she said with a wink, then her brow abruptly crinkled. “Marco, I’m worried.”
“Of course you are, but this will soon be over and I’ll call you as soon as I can. Your phone’s on the nightstand and your laptop is on the desk against the wall.”
“Can I watch the security cameras?”
“You sure can, everything you need has been sent to you, but now, beautiful girl, I have to go.”
“Marco, please be careful,” she repeated softly, curling her arms around him. “I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me,” he whispered, sliding his hands in her hair, “and Steph…” he continued, tugging back her head, “just so we’re clear, when this is all over, I want you to stick around.”
Gazing into his dark, enigmatic eyes, a hot lump burned the back of her throat.
“Just as well,” she managed, “because I’m not going anywhere.”
Leaning in, he lingered his lips over hers, and though she managed to fight back her tears, when he pulled back and quickly left the room, they spilled from her eyes.
Chapter 30
Doing her best to push away the heavy emotion, Steph slipped from the bed, collected her clothes, and padded into the bathroom to shower. Grateful to find it doubled as a steam stall, she turned the knobs and settled on the bench seat. Leaning against the wall, she thought about Marco, the man of her dreams. Even as a young teenager she’d known he wasthe one.
But Oleg and Ivan were evil personified, and Marco was on his way to meet them in the middle of nowhere.
“My God, they’re capable of anything,” she mumbled under her breath. “Why did you have to get involved with them?”
But she knew the answer.
Though Marco headed a criminal organization, and had no conscience when it came to white collar larceny, he couldn’t abide the victimization of women and children. His generous donations to charities were well known, and he was often seen at events raising money for his favorite cause.
Saying a silent prayer for his safe return, she turned off the steam and started the shower. Discovering travel-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner, she washed her hair, then stepped out and wrapped herself in a soft, thick towel. Opening the drawers and finding a blow dryer and a brush, she blew out her long locks, then quickly dressed. Eager to check out the home’s security system, she returned to the bedroom, picked up her laptop, and carried it to the large lounge overlooking the recreation area.
But as she entered, she stopped short.
Glowing lights blazed up from the grounds.
Setting her computer on the coffee table and moving to the glass slider, she found the lights were so bright she was able to see through the rain-splattered window. Two guards walked briskly past the high stone wall, another pair through the flower beds, and in the distance she spotted two more. Reassured by the heavy security, she stepped back to the couch and opened her computer.
