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It didn’t matter that she loved Katina as if she were her own flesh and blood—she’d been played.
By allies.
I strode over to her and cupped her shoulders. She looped her arms around my waist, tucking herself into my embrace with surprising alacrity, then held me as close as I did her.
“Do you think their intent was malicious?”
Her hoarse words had me closing my eyes as I rested my chin on the crown of her head. That was when I accepted this truly was an honor—to be this woman’s strength could only ever be considered a blessing.
“We’ll find out when we get there, won’t we?”
She bobbed her head against my chest. “I don’t understand how this is possible.”
“Me neither. But when something seems impossible, it just means we haven’t figured out how someone could get to us when we think our defenses are impenetrable.” I gave her a little squeeze. “I think you should get Alessa to collect a sample of DNA from Kat on the down-low. Overnight a lock of hair to her and get them tested for familial markers. That’s the only way to know for sure if she’s related to you or not.”
Again, her head bobbed, her forehead rubbing against my chest.
Her listlessness was concerning, but before I could address the issue, my cell buzzed. I dug it out of my pocket and stared at the ‘Unknown’ on the Caller ID.
Suspecting it was Kuznetsov, I hit accept.
“Edgar tells me you wish to leave Uvala Lapad?”
“We need to head to London for a few days.”
“He said it was related to the case.”
“It is. We’ve got ourselves a lead on your granddaughter’s whereabouts.”
His indrawn breath was sharp. “Already?”
“Don’t get your hopes up. We’re still deep into our investigation—”
“I’m surprised. I thought you’d be working on the Sparrows’ app first.”
“We already cracked that. We’re collating information as we speak to pass onto Interpol.”
“I’m in Lyon now.”
“Interpol headquarters?”
“Yes. A division of this breadth requires time and many wheels to be greased prior to its formation.”
“I’m sure,” was my polite response, but I was grateful he was going to be following through with his promise.
I’dhateto have to electrocute another old man to death.
Star snatched the phone from me, hit speaker, but spun away as she rasped, “Kuznetsov, what do you intend to do with your granddaughter if we find her?”
“When, not if. I have every faith in you, child.”
Her spine straightened as she repeated, “What do you intend to do with her? What if she’s living with a family who cares for her? What if someone adopted her and loves her?”
“What if she isn’t?”
“Say she is. Would you leave her alone?”
Silence hovered on the other line. “I’m an old man, Star. My time is short. I won’t steal her away from a loving family, if that’s what you’re thinking. But I want to know her. I want her to be safe. I want security protocols put in place that are necessary for the grandchild of a man whose position is what mine is. I want to ascertain her education is appropriate for my grandchild, and I want to ensure that her future is set.”
