Page 72 of Resurrection

Her final comment makes me wonder what else she’s discovered. Is it only his cheating? Or is there more? One glance at Carys fixing an invisible flaw in her braid tells me not to push it. At least not here.

“Our information shows Valeriya was flying to Ireland to meet with the PLA. We also think she or someone associated with her might have been moving the product from the warehouse theft,” Jay says as Carys passes papers to Ekaterina.

“Well, we put her in charge of finding the missing inventory. Makes it damn easy to cover it up if you’re selling it too.” She scans the information in Carys’s crafted charts. “Good thing European sales are strong overall, or this theft would have completely fucked us.”

“Still might.” Carys’s smile is tight. “Our fingerprints are all over those weapons now being used by an organization hoping to usurp their government.”

“At least you don’t have to worry about the FBI dickhead who was sniffing around trying to extort more money,” Ekaterina mutters while she shuffles through the papers.

Carys, Jay, and I grow still, and the room hums with tension.

Ekaterina glances between us.

“What am I missing?” She focuses on Carys. “You warned me about him. He came nosing around while you were doing your bedside vigil.” She tips her head at me. “I took care of it.”

Carys tugs on her earring and sighs. I lean across the desk, on the cusp of losing my shit. Jay slides a piece of paper in my direction, and I glare at him. On the paper are the wordsCalm the fuck downin a hasty scrawl. Did he write that now or before he even came in the room?

My jaw clenches, but I focus on the message.

“The other half of his money never made it to him,” Carys says. “His grievance was legitimate.” She rolls her shoulders. “And you almost got me killed since I was there the morning youtook care of it.”

Ekaterina closes her eyes and presses her fingertips into her forehead. “The day before, I tried to call you on your mobile, but it was turned off. Then when I called Lilly in Chicago, she said you were on vacation and not taking any work-related calls.” She sighs. “She said you were in Switzerland. You like initiative. I used mine. You warned me he might try to fuck you over. I thought I was helping.”

Of their own volition, my hands flex into fists, and I force them to flatten on the table on top of Jay’s note.

“If you ever need to talk to Carys, you can call me. I can always get in touch with her.” Jay breaks the tension.

“Unless you fucking lose her in Ireland for hours on end.” I pitch the words for his ears only. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. Gritting my teeth, I rise from my seat and ball up hisnote. “I’ve heard enough.” I focus on Carys. “Come find me when you’re done.”

She turns to me with surprise and a hint of confusion. “Finn?”

I run my gaze over our guest one last time. “I’ll double-check security at the front.”

She scans my face before giving me a curt nod and then turns to Ekaterina. “I have a few more questions on a couple other accounts.”

I close the door behind me. We’ve got what we need. Eric and Valeriya were fucking, and they’re both mixed up in this PLA mess. The mystery of who shot Ricardo and whether the incident was a direct threat to Carys is also solved.

The biggest question is the same one I started the day with, and it’ll be the one nagging me every day until something materializes. What is Eric planning?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Carys

Ekaterina answers my last few questions with ease and then says, “That was Finn Donaghey.”

“It was.” I gather my papers together into a neat pile.

“Rare for me to find a man intimidating.”

I glance up and a smile plays on my lips. “Was he a little intense?”

“A little? Were we in the same room? The guy is all coiled rage and X-ray vision.” She drops her phone into her purse and rises from her seat. “Are you—are yousafewith him?”

Before I can answer, Jay chuckles on the other side of the large wooden table. “You were the only person in this room who wasn’t safe today.” He frowns as he picks up his pen. “And maybe me.” With a shrug, he says, “Point is, he’s not a threat to her.”

“Why would he leave so abruptly?” Her expression is thoughtful. “He gave me that appraising once-over before he left, which meant something.”

“Probably wondering how easy it would be to remove your head.” Jay’s voice is matter of fact, and if it wasn’t for the horror on her face, I’d laugh.

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