Page 12 of Vienna Bargain

But while the game was in progress she couldn’t back out.

She had to hope that the information from the HPA had gotten to its destination, and that even now the next moves were being plotted.

But without her phone, she had no way of knowing what was happening in the outside world.

“Alexander, if you give me my phone I can—”

“No.”

“I can’t tell you everything, but I might be able to tell you something.”

His gaze burned into her. “You will not be contacting anyone.”

“…because you’re going to murder me?”

Alexander blinked, and his lips twitched with the barest hint of a smile. The expression was so familiar that it made her heart clench.

It also made her remember what it felt like to have those lips on her skin, and it was an absolutely terrible time to be thinking about their sexual history.

The smile disappeared, the cold mask once more in place. “I’ll offer you a bargain.”

“A bargain…as much as I might like that idea, I’m afraid I'm not in a position to offer you anything in trade.”

“You could tell me what I want to know.”

“Alexander, if I could I would. I can’t.”

“No. You can, but you’re choosing to be arrested and detained in Austria. For you that is the lesser evil.”

Damn it, damn it. He was too fucking smart.

“I assure you I have no burning desire to be arrested, either in Austria or elsewhere.” Alena attempted a laugh, but it was hollow.

He smiled, a cruel, cold expression. “The bargain. You remain in my custody for three weeks.”

That wasn’t what she’d expected. “Why?”

“In that time either my people will have discovered who you stole for, and what they are planning.”

“Or?”

“Or I will let you go.”

“You mean you’ll have me arrested.”

“No. I return your passport and you leave.”

Alena studied his face, trying to see through the mask he wore. “I have questions.”

“Unlike you, I will answer them.”

“A fair point, though I did answer every question I could.”

“Once you knew you were caught.”

“Well yes, that’s usually how it happens.” Again she almost got him to smile, and something inside her relaxed and loosened.

“Your questions,” he demanded.

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