Page 56 of Savage Obsession

“I don’t have a swimming costume with me…”

“I’m sure we can find you something.” She straightens. “The pool, then. And after that, perhaps some cake?”

The deal struck, Lily is happy enough to go with Cristina, Henry trotting along behind them. “Oh, Mr Bartosz, I believe my husband needs to speak with you. He’s in his office…” Cristina calls over her shoulder.

Julia heads back to our guest apartment while I make my way to the first floor where Ethan Savage’s offices and conference room are located. I find him in discussion with his brother, Aaron, and one of his underbosses, a blond giant I vaguely recognise from the one occasion Ethan descended in force on Tenerife. I don’t think we were introduced on that occasion, but Ethan puts that right as soon as I appear in his doorway.

“Ah, you’re back. I thought I heard the chopper. Come in, come in. Did it go well?”

I enter the room, nodding to the others present.

“You know Aaron. This is Jack Morgan, my second-in-command.”

The blond stands to offer his hand.

It surprises me that Aaron is not the underboss here, being family, but who am I to judge? The British are far less inclined towards dynasties, perhaps.

“We gather you were able to recover your daughter unharmed, Mr Bartosz.” Jack Morgan offers me a friendly smile. “You must be relieved.”

“I am,” I acknowledge. “And I am grateful to you, Mr Savage, for allowing me the use of your… facilities.”

“I doubt my sister would appreciate that description, but I’m glad it worked out well. However, I have some troubling news for you regarding your wife.”

I sink into the spare seat offered to me. “And that is?”

“My sources in Eastern Europe inform me that an individual by the name of…” he checks a note on his phone, “Gerek Debinbski, has been reported missing by his employer in Warsaw. The authorities are most anxious to speak to Mrs Bartosz in connection with the matter, and to a man seen leaving Mr Debinbski’s apartment block on the day of his disappearance.”

“Fuck!”

“I see. They are on the right tracks, I assume.”

“I brought in a cleaner, and I paid off the doorman. There should have been no trace back to us.”

No one makes further comment. We all know that even the best-laid plans can be flawed. I didn’t enter the country intending to kill one of their citizens, but shit happens, and I put together our defences on the hoof. Clearly, I left some detail unresolved.

“Fuck,” I repeat, by way of comment.

“There’s no obvious reason to assume they’ll trace you here,” Aaron assures me, “but we have Frankie monitoring official communications in Poland, just to be sure.”

“Thank you. I assume they’re watching the Polish borders?”

“It would seem so, but they haven’t yet cast their net further afield.” Meaning, if I want to return to Tenerife, it needs to be soon, before all international travel comes under scrutiny. The problem is, I’m by no means certain of the reception awaiting me there either.

“I took the liberty of checking flights,” Ethan continues. “There’s a direct flight from Glasgow to Tenerife in seven hours.”

“Thank you, but…” I draw in a breath. “Kristian fired me. I don’t work for him anymore.”

One dark eyebrow lifts. “You didn’t see fit to share this detail with me, or with my sister.”

I square my shoulders to stand up to the beast, though he’d be within his rights to end me right here and now for the liberties I’ve been taking with his hospitality. “It was Kristian who put me in touch with Mrs O’Neill, so I assumed I had his blessing, regardless of our… disagreement. But I don’t?—”

“Mr Bartosz.” He leans forward, his elbows on his desk, his fingers steepled. “I suggest you settle all outstanding issues with Kaminski, and fast. Your plane leaves at two a.m.”

“I’ll speak to him now.”

“Do that.”

I check my watch. “Right. I’ll need to?—”

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