Page 13 of Lethal Game

She was even more confused by her mother's words. "What do you mean? Why can't you explain?"

"Because I can't. But he's a good man, and I love him."

She wanted to believe her father was a good man because she loved him, too. But she was also angry with him.

Her mother drew in a ragged breath. "I'm so tired. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I'm not sure I'll have the energy to open them again. And then I get a sharp pain in my stomach. It takes my breath away."

"The nurse will take you down to radiology in a few minutes for an MRI scan. I'm going to wait with you until then, and I'll be here when you're done."

Her mother's fingers curled around hers. "I love you, Alisa. I want you to be safe. And that means you need to go. Take a vacation. Go to Fiji. Remember our vacation there? What did you say to me?"

"That it felt like we were at the other end of the world, very far from our lives."

"That's where I want you to be, sitting on a sandy beach, the sun warm on your face, a cold drink by your side, the blue sea stretching out in front of you. Maybe Tim can go with you. I haven't seen him lately, have I? Sometimes I can't remember who has been here and what day it is."

"Tim and I aren't together anymore."

"Why not?"

She shrugged. "He's not for me."

"Maybe he's not, since he hasn't been here for you since I got sick. I want you to be someone's priority, Alisa. Your father always made me feel that way."

"Even now?" She couldn't help asking.

But her mother's eyes were already closing. Either she hadn't heard what she'd said, or she hadn't wanted to hear.

She let out a breath, thinking a trip to Fiji sounded good right now. Her mother had painted a beautiful picture, but that wasn't their reality. When this was over, they'd go there together, she promised herself. They'd sit on that beach, looking at the beautiful sea, feeling like there was nothing but possibility in front of them. As soon as her mom got well, she'd make that trip happen. She didn't want to think about the alternative. She didn't want to lose her mom, especially when it felt like she'd already lost her dad.

When had her life gotten so messed up?Everything had been so normal before this. They'd had no family drama. Just a happy life. Maybe she should have been more grateful for that instead of sometimes thinking they were a little boring. She'd trade everything she had for boring right now.

Her gaze moved toward the door. The man who'd tried to carjack her was probably in a room on the floor. She wondered what he'd have to say for himself. If he'd told the FBI why he'd been in the garage, why he'd gone after her, why he'd wanted to get her in the car.

A shiver ran down her spine as the memories ran through her head. She told herself to calm down. It was over. That man was going to jail. And eventually, she would have answers to all her questions.

Her gaze returned to her mom, hoping she'd also get answers to her mother's condition soon. She felt so helpless, but for now, all she could do was sit and wait for the doctor to find a diagnosis and a treatment plan to save her mother's life.

Jason stood over the hospital bed, his gaze locked on the man who had terrorized Alisa just hours before.Victor Kashin’s thickbeard did nothing to hide the hard set of his jaw, nor the calculating look in his dark, soulless eyes.Originally from Chechnya, Kashin had built a life on violence and fear, and now he lay silent, his hands cuffed to the bed, scowling at the ceiling like a man who had already accepted his fate.

Kashin had been in trouble many times over the years and had a record of theft, burglary, and multiple assaults. He was in his early forties and had worked as an auto mechanic, but his employment history was so spotty it was doubtful that was how he made his money. His last known residence was an abandoned apartment building. Since then, Victor's address and employment had been nonexistent.

Victor had not said a word to either him or Savannah, even though they'd asked him multiple questions. He'd simply stared straight ahead with a scowl on his face, his lips tight, even when asked the most basic questions:What's your name? Where do you live? Why were you in the garage? Who are you working for?

He hadn't mentioned Novikov because he didn't want to tip his hand that they knew Kashin and Novikov had, at some point, been in the same vehicle yesterday. Not that Victor could communicate with anyone, but he still wanted to keep the information to himself.

"Look, we're going to find out everything about you," he told Kashin. "We already know your name, where you're from, where you've lived, who your relatives are. Someone will talk. Someone will tell us more than you want us to know." He paused, then added, "I believe you're working for someone else, and that person might be of more interest to us than you are. You could trade that information to help yourself because right now you're facing attempted murder, kidnapping, and many other charges. You're looking at serious prison time."

Kashin's gaze remained fixed on the wall.

"If you have information we can use," Savannah interjected, "you can make a deal."

Finally, Victor turned his head to look at them. "Lawyer," he said. Then he returned his gaze to the wall.

He wasn't surprised at the request but still frustrated. "You don't have to talk, Victor, but you can listen. You screwed up. You failed. Now you're a loose end. I doubt you'll last long in jail."

Victor's profile hardened. His dark eyes burned with anger as he looked at Jason. "If I tell you anything, I won't survive long enough to get to jail."

"We can protect you," Savannah put in.

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