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She rolls her eyes. “I heard the two of you talk about Eve. Do you really think it will be difficult for us to prove that is you on the recording? Though, I suppose, Eve was engaged a number of times. It is very likely she has more than one ex-fiancé running around the city.”
I grit my teeth, wanting nothing more than to defend my wife, but I don’t give in. That is what Agent Morrison wants. She wants to get under my skin, but I will not allow it. I want to go home tonight. Home to my family. And if I give her what she wants, I’ll find myself in a prison cell.
“If I am going to be officially detained, I would like to contact my lawyer,” I say. “As pleasant as this whole experience has been, I’m sure you understand.”
Rian nods her head, smiling, and then leans forward until she is resting on her elbows. Her head sags down between her shoulders like a turtle tucking into its shell.
“You are not being detained, Mr. Volkov. So, you are free to go.”
As soon as the words are out of her mouth, I stand up and begin to move towards the door. Just as quickly, she jumps from her seat and cuts me off.
I am a head taller than her easily, but hatred rolls off of her in waves, and the shadow on the other side of the door appears to remind me I am outnumbered.
“Watch your back, Mr. Volkov,” she says quietly. “This was only a warning shot.”
“Well, thank you for thewarning,” I say with a broad, fake smile.
“We are not the only entity after you right now.”
I don’t know what she means, but I move past her quickly, eager to leave, and knock on the door. It opens, a large guard on the other side stepping to the side, his nostrils flared.
I’m halfway into the hall when Agent Morrison clears her throat. “Oh, Mr. Volkov?” I turn around, and her hand is raised in farewell. “Slán leat.”
I furrow my brows and wave goodbye, and it isn’t until I’m halfway down the hall that I recognize the phrase.
It is Irish forgoodbye.
* * *
The cab driver thinks I’m a lunatic. He picks me up in the middle of the night in front of the FBI headquarters, and then I all but scream at him to drive as fast as he can.
Agent Morrison is working for the Irish mafia.
I wouldn’t have assumed that considering she is a woman of the law, but her Irish farewell at the end of our conversation meant something. It wasn’t just idle intimidation.
I only hope it didn’t mean my family was in danger.
I don’t have any money for the cab driver considering I’m shirtless in my pajama pants, so I run from the backseat as soon as he pulls up in front of my house, ignoring his cries for payment. I have more important things to worry about.
My fingers tremble as I punch in the keypad to our front door, and as soon as it opens, I throw open the door and sprint up the stairs two at a time.
The house is dark and quiet, and my heart is lodged in my throat, making it hard to breathe.
As I move down the hallway, I hear a soft murmur coming from Milaya’s room, and I stumble into the room blindly, having no regard for my own safety, but only thinking about the wellbeing of my family.
Inside, I find Eve cradling Milaya and singing to her softly. When she sees me, her eyes immediately fill with tears.
Silently, I cross the room and wrap them both in a hug, breathing in their scent.
Milaya has calmed down since the alarms startled her out of sleep, and we are able to lay her down in her crib and sneak out of the room a few minutes later. As soon as we are in the hallway, Eve throws herself at me, burying her face in my neck.
“No one would tell me where they were taking you or why,” she sobs, clinging to me as though she is afraid I’ll disappear. “I called your father, and he said he would look into it. We should call and tell him you’re fine.”
I text my father and then lead Eve down to the kitchen to explain what happened.
“I didn’t even know Cole had a sister,” she says, shocked. “Especially not one in the FBI.”
She listens intently, but I can tell the night is wearing on her. Her eyes are red and bloodshot, and she has to keep covering yawns as I’m talking.
