Page 95 of Captive Lies

Grant stoodby his dad as they watched his mother and Blaire fuss over each other. The women had not seen each other since the accident and Blaire’s subsequent abduction, although he knew they communicated regularly through text or phone call. His mother needed to recuperate from the head injury and it was only now that the senator allowed his wife to travel. In that regard, Grant was similar to his father—they were protective of theirwomen.

“I’m glad you’re all right,” Mom said to Blaire. “When Marcus told me you’d been attacked at the gallery, I feared theworst.”

So did I,Grantthought.

“So do we know exactly who we’re dealing with?” Gus asked. His father’s political advisor was seated on a single sofa, with his right ankle crossed over left knee. He’d been watching Blaire like a hawk and it took all of Grant’s self-control not to toss the asshole out of hispenthouse.

“We’re following up on leads,” Grantanswered.

“What’s the connection to Blaire?” the senatorasked.

“She knew the artist whose paintings were stolen. Sergei Kostin,” he answered. Gus lowered his leg and leaned forward in his chair. Grant repeated what Blaire had already told him andJake.

“What would make them leave almost seven-hundred million dollars worth of art behind?” This came from the senator. “Are you certain there’s another painting underneath what you’ve already seen,Blaire?”

“I’m familiar with Sergei’s brush strokes where he conceals a certain area,” she said. “Sometimes he doesn’t even cover the entire original painting but turns it into somethingelse.”

“You seem enthralled, my dear,” Gus said withcandor.

Blaire held his gaze. “Sergei was brilliant, but I don’t know the reasons why he chose this life of crime. Our conversations were never personal, and he discouraged my asking about him. If he was born into it, he certainly had enough talent to leave it, but organized crime has a compelling method to make youstay.”

“And you know first-hand, of course.” Gus gave a disgusted shake of his head at Grant and looked at his father. “Senator, I don’t know how you expect our communications staff to put a spin on this. We haven’t addressed the rumors that Blaire is the illegitimate daughter of the most powerful Vor ofRussia—”

“And we know that’s not true,” Grant cutin.

“Yes, but do you know that people are speculating why you’re having much success in Moscow real estate acquisitions? They say you’re using the Russianmafia?”

“Let them speculate,” Grant retorted. “I’m not admitting or denying. Next thing you know, they’ll have me launderingmoney.”

“Jesus, Grant,” the senatormuttered.

“There’ll always be rumors, Senator,” he addressed his father formally since this was a political meeting. “That’s why we agreed that I never talk about how I do business, but be assured that I have not broken any lawsstateside.”

“That’s reassuring,” Gus shotback.

“Tell me, Lynch,” Grant said silkily. “How am I any different from the CIA that is given the go-ahead to break laws in other countries as long as they don’t get caught doingit?”

“Okay, that’s enough,” the senator said. “We’re going off coursehere.”

“Maybe you should muzzle your pit bull,” Grantsuggested.

“And maybe you should reconsider the type of female company you keep,” Gus sneered, looking pointedly atBlaire.

Red hazed Grant’s vision and he barely heard the women gasp before he realized he had yanked Gus to his feet and his father was betweenthem.

“August,” his father growled. “That was out of line. Grant, calmdown.”

“Apologize to Blaire, you son of a bitch,” Grant snarled, his grip tightening on Gus’ collar, but Jake and Tyler also jumped in to pull him off his father’saide.

Visibly flustered, Gus attempted to regain his composure by straightening his collar, but he looked in no way apologetic. “That’s the second time you’ve assaulted me because of her. Don’t you see how bad she is foryou?”

“Lynch!” his fathersnapped.

“Why you—” Grant’s temper skyrocketed again as he struggled to break free from Jake andTyler.

“But I apologize, Ms. Callahan,” Gus directed his gaze at Blaire who was red in the face and obviously affected by Gus’ tirade. Grant wanted to march over to her and whisk her away from this politicalbullshit.

“I was out of line,” he continued. “And I am sorry. But I’m appealing to you right now, Blaire, in light of your friendship with the Thorne family, to see how your relationship with Grant is impacting the senator’sreputation.”

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