Page 108 of Don't Look Back

“Yes. Mine.”

Reuben crossed the room, navigating around a marble bust that could well be an original of Ancient Greek origin, one of Juliette’s sculptures, and a Murano glass vase. He paused in front of her mother’s painting, which hung alongside an Old Master from the High Renaissance.

“Huh. Itisyou. Should have realized. The pendant made me think it was Mama.”

“Who stole it from my basement?”

He shrugged. “Someone Papa hired, I’m sure.”

“Was it the same man who poisoned my dad?”

Reuben turned to face her. “Why dear sister, what a terrible accusation. Whyever would you say such a thing?”

“Russians do love their poisons. I have little doubt you’ve developed one that can cause a massive stroke.”

“Can you prove it?”

“Even if I could, it would have been one of your minions. I doubt you or Luka do your own dirty work. When the first attempt failed, did you send your assassin back to finish the job?”

“For what it’s worth, it wasn’t me. That was Papa’s vendetta. I preferred when you were dead.”

Was that a threat?

Rand’s pulse thrummed as he paced in front of the laptop. He faced the screen camera and directed his words to Vicki. “I should take a break. Find Kira and ask her what the artist character’s motivation could be.”

“Don’t you dare.” Freya’s voice was soft and low. “She’s doing great. You’ll just break her stride. And I need you there to open another link. Another computer just signed on to the network. It might be Grigory’s since he left Kira and Reuben alone.”

She was right. He knew she was right. But damn, he hated this.

He sat with his profile to the window. Movement caught his eye. He turned to the door as Nadia entered the office, carrying a pitcher of sangria, of all things. “Mr. Laskin asked me to bring you refreshments.”

He highly doubted that.

“Thank you, but I’m not drinking while I’m working.”

He rose from his seat and moved away from the computer. The last thing he needed was for her to spill a full pitcher on the laptop that was the main portal to all the computers and phones that were logged in to Wi-Fi.

He took a step toward her. She smiled broadly, taking his movement as a sign of interest.

She set the pitcher on the table and raked him with her gaze, her eyes narrowing in a way he’d bet she practiced in the mirror. She bit her bottom lip. “You are so big.”

She really needed to work on her come-ons. But then, she was so very young.

How should he play this? Nadia was a potential source. Sending her away could shut that door. He also didn’t want to get her in trouble with the boss, not when Teague could keep tabs on the Laskins through her.

But then, the boss could well have sent her to distract him.

In his ear, Freya said, “Be receptive, but cautious.”

He was in view of the camera on the laptop and the camera in the room.Everyonewas watching.

He studied her from head to toe, then smiled approvingly. “Did your boss really send you here?”

He was sixteen years older than her. He felt like a dirty old man.

She cocked her head and took another step toward him. When she was right in front of him, she leaned in and whispered, “No.” She ran a finger down his chest. “I thought you might be lonely.”

He gently removed her finger from his chest. “I’m here with Kira.”

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