Page 77 of Don't Look Back

He offered his hand. “Randall Fallon.”

The man hesitated, then accepted the handshake, which was firm and brief. “Grigory Laskin.” His gaze scanned Kira from head to toe, then glanced toward Luka. “This is your wayward daughter? The American?”

The hair on the back of Rand’s neck had gone up at hearing the man’s name. Years of training ensured he gave no outward sign of recognition. Or alarm.

He took Kira’s arm. “Come, my love. We’re done here.” He used the endearment to piss off the men in Kira’s newfound family. He didn’t care what Laskin thought. They just needed to get away,now.

“Stay, sister. I want to hear all about our dear mother.”

If Reuben wanted to run her off, he couldn’t make his voice any creepier. But then, Rand suspected he absolutely wanted her to leave. She was a threat to his position as sole beneficiary of the Kulik billions, and Luka Kulik didn’t look well. His skin had an unhealthy yellowish tone.

Given that Kira was innocent in her parents’ deceit, there was a very real chance she could claim the aging oligarch’s heart. If he had one.

Kira cocked her head. “I’m sorry for what she did to you. I didn’t know.”

“Right. But you conveniently showed up as soon as your dear, thieving dad bit the dust.”

“I’m not going to defend myself to you. I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Not even spreading your legs for some dumb fake author who followed you to Malta so he could cash in on billions?”

Rand wanted to grab him by the throat, but he really didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to toss him in a Maltese jail cell and leave Kira unprotected, so instead he simply stepped into the prick’s face and puffed himself up to let the man see the SEAL in vacation clothes. “You will treat Kira with respect.”

“I’m not afraid of you, but she should be. The gallery manager never heard of you, but you suddenly show up—practically straight from the plane—the night Kira is there,andyou were staying in the same hotel. Why are you stalking my sister?”

Rand caught the past tense on the hotel. Reuben knew they’d moved.

“Because she’s incredible.” That was true enough, and it didn’t deny the truth that Rand’s arrival in Malta wasn’t a coincidence. They could believe whatever they wanted about him. Reuben Kulik was no longer Rand’s biggest concern.

“She’s back in the Kulik family now. There’s no place for you. Laskin probably won’t want her now that he knows you soiled her, but we have other friends.”

Kira was already walking toward the archway. Rand stepped around her brother and caught up with her. A hand on his shoulder had him spinning around. He didn’t draw his weapon, but he would if necessary. “Don’t fuck with me, Kulik. She’s not your prisoner nor is she your property. Now, we’re leaving. Let us go quietly, and we won’t even report all the stolen art displayed in this room to Interpol.”

“How did you know the art was stolen?” Kira asked as the gate closed behind their rental car, and relief settled in. She’d half expected them to be detained at the gate.

“A hunch. I figure your dad had to be giving Kulik something for the intel, or if not that, he had to have a reason to believe Kulik had stolen art to begin with. Plus, the second room we were in, it wasn’t for the public, not like that impersonal first room. The second room is Luka Kulik’s domain with his comfy chair and all his treasures.”

“I recognized a few pieces. Missing since World War II. They’re in the Monuments Men and Women Foundation deck of cards. We could claim a reward if they’re returned.”

“I’d do it pro bono, but no way will Interpol seize anything from Kulik.”

“Yeah.” She huffed out a sigh, then whispered, “I can’t believe I’m related tothat.”

Rand’s phone must’ve vibrated, because he pulled it out of his breast pocket and took the call on speaker. Kira saw the name on the screen as it connected. Freya.

“Take me off speaker if I am. We need to keep this conversation between the three of us.”

Three.Freya assumed the car was bugged, but didn’t want to say it aloud to whomever was listening in.

Kira snatched up the phone and hit the button to switch off the speaker as Rand cursed at his mistake. To Freya, she said, “I’m reminded of the line inStar Wars, when Princess Leia said, ‘Our getaway was too easy.’” She didn’t say aloud the important line:They must be tracking us.

Who knewStar Warstrivia could be so useful?

“My thoughts exactly,” Freya said. “Not sure if you’re bugged, but a tracker is almost a certainty. You need to ditch the car. I’ve arranged for you to pick up a clean one at the bus terminal just outside the main Valletta gate.”

The bus terminal was smart. The Kuliks would waste time checking cameras to see what bus they’d taken of the dozens that passed through every hour. To Rand, Kira said, “We’re catching a bus. Head to the Valletta terminal.”

“What do you think they’re after at this point?”

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