Page 21 of Don't Look Back

She claimed her bag from the carousel, crossed through customs using the “nothing to declare” corridor, and made her way to the taxi desk. Five minutes later, she was in a cab, on her way to her Valletta hotel overlooking Grand Harbor.

She waited until the car was underway before turning on her cell phone, which immediately lit up with incoming text messages and voice mail notifications.

Her belly clenched as she read, then listened, to the messages from Freya.

The shooter knew about her trip. That was…a tad alarming.

The only people who’d known prior to Monday had been in Germany or Malta. She hadn’t told any clients—including FMV—because she’d put all her clients on hold since her father’s stroke. There’d been no reason to share her vacation plans with anyone in the US.

She had no employer to answer to and few friends she could share this with. Family secrets ran deep, and she had yet to determine what the repercussions would be for opening this particular Pandora’s box.

Had the shooter—Ben Kinder—been stalking her? Was it possible he saw an opportunity when she visited the military base where he worked as a civilian Navy employee?

If he was working for Rafiq or one of the others facing trial, it made sense. The base wasn’t far from where she’d been taken when she’d been abducted. The family who’d brought Rafiq into the US had their business headquarters nearby, and they’d have more minions in the area.

She replied to Freya’s latest text.

Kira

Just landed. On way to the hotel. Message received. I’ll be careful.

Really, this news just made her more certain she’d been smart to leave Virginia and DC. Freya’s reply showed she didn’t share Kira’s assessment.

Freya

They could plan to follow you to Malta. To catch you off guard.

Don’t worry. I am on guard.

You aren’t a Valkyrie, Kira. You need to be extra vigilant.

She frowned at the screen. Everyone was so damn eager to tell her what she couldn’t do. What she wasn’t capable of.

Get kidnapped once and you’re a victim forever.

Maybe she wasn’t being fair, but she was pushing forty and being treated like a child who needed to travel with a guardian. Yes, she’d been immature in high school when she and Freya knew each other, but that had been more than twenty years ago.

Not for the first time, she wondered if Freya had seen the letter she wrote to Apollo back then. Was Kira forever locked in Freya’s mind as the pathetic teenager who was so easily manipulated and fooled?

Again, twenty years had passed. But some things were so bitter, so painful, that she could still feel the sharp bite of betrayal to her young heart.

She was about to tuck away her phone when another message landed.

Freya

I want to send someone to protect you. I might be able to get an operative from Raptor. We also have a few FMV assets in the region.

Kira

I’m fine. This isn’t work for FMV.

But aren’t you looking into your dad’s work hunting down missing WWII art?

Maybe. If I get lucky.

Let me send someone.

Anyone you send will just get in the way. People won’t talk to me if I’ve got a bodyguard hanging around.

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