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Whatever he said, it prompted Edgar to fade into the background with the supernatural skill of a highly-trained servant.
Kuznetsov chose that moment to raise his head, giving me my first glimpse of his face.
Recognition was immediate.
The unknown fourth man who’d met with Prince Ludwig, Prince Edward, and Ke Jintao of the CCP.
The photograph Star had shown me months ago.
Kuznetsov angled his head to the side. “You have seen me before?”
I gritted my teeth. “In a picture.”
“Unusual. I am in very few pictures.”
“I don’t believe you knew you were being captured on camera,” I admitted, stepping nearer to the desk.
For the first time in a long while, my confusion and uncertainty faded.
With a name to the face, I suddenly understood.
The clarity was so blinding that it hit my brain like a dose of Adderall, immediately dispersing the fog that had been stalking me for months.
“She came to question you.”
“You mean she came to questionandkill me.” A smile danced around the other man’s lips. “As you can see, she failed.”
“She rarely fails.”
“I couldn’t allow her to succeed. That is why you’re here.”
I frowned at that, and while it could put me at the center of some unseen crosshairs, with clarity came the desire to do what few ever had for Star—to back her to the hilt even if it meant dying for it.
Hell, I’d flown for her. What was dying after that?
“I’m on Star’s side,” I rumbled.
“Of this, I’m aware, Mr. O’Donnelly.” Kuznetsov got to his feet and stepped around the desk, arm outstretched. I realized he wanted me to shake his hand. Hesitantly, I accepted it but he continued, “Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Anton Kuznetsov. I believe we should do away with the formalities, Conor. It will simplify things and, in this maze of contradictions, that will serve us both.”
Nodding, I murmured, “That sounds good to me, Anton. Why the hell am I here? Why is Star in Dubrovnik?”
“I have traveled to many places in this world, Conor, but this is one of my favorite homes. You’ll understand why when the sun rises.”
“That didn’t answer my question. Why would you bring someone who wanted to kill you to your favorite home?”
“Because my would-be murderer, Conor, is also my granddaughter.”
Okay, so maybe I needed another dose of Adderall.
For a second, I could only gape at him. Mouth working like a goldfish, I tried to make sense out of the nonsensical.
“That’s not possible,” I rasped eventually.
Amusement trickled into his eyes. “I’m quite pleased to say that you’re wrong. It’s very possible. Isn’t she magnificent?”
“Magnificent?” I repeated blankly.
“I’ve been watching her for years from afar,” Anton agreed. “In the flesh, she packs even more of a punch, doesn’t she?”
