Page 76 of Hidden Heir

Leon remains by my side until I’m ready to step away. When I do, I cup his face and place a gentle kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For allowing me to get closure.”

Leon nods and kisses me again, nudging our noses together. “Of course.”

Hand in hand, we climb the steps back to the upper deck where we’re greeted with a glass of vodka, scotch for Ronan. He doesn’t comment on what he just witnessed other than a nod toward Leon, conveying a silent understanding between the two leaders.

“So,” Ronan says. “Tell me about your project.”

I drink slowly, soaking up the sharp sting of the alcohol as it weaves down my throat. “We’re ending Russian involvement in human trafficking.”

Ronan chokes on his scotch, his eyes darting between us. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” Leon replies. “You could say my eyes have been opened to the value of life.”

“I’m surprised to hear this.” Ronan straightens up. “Your family has been balls deep in blood money for decades.”

“Well, not anymore. But Leon has informed me that you have connections all over the world that rival his own. In fact, maybe even more.”

Ronan’s brow lifts at the compliment. “Indeed.”

“With that in mind, I’m thinking you can help us.”

“With?”

“Every soul currently in our possession will be given brand new lives, or returned to their old ones if they so choose. And we’re going to take care of them. We have names, travel routes, and destinations of everyone who has ever passed through those warehouses. I want to find them,” I explain.

“All of them?” Ronan doesn’t try to hide his surprise.

“All of them,” I echo.

“That is an enormoustask,” he remarks. “I can’t even fathom the cost or time that will require to find every single person.”

“If it takes every last cent,” Leon says. “If they can be found then I want to find them. It’s the only way I can begin to make up for the pain my family has caused over the years.”

“Your father, what did he have to say about this?” Ronan asks.

Leon and I exchange a look. “My father had a change of heart after what happened. He recently learned he’s a grandfather so his outlook has shifted,” Leon explains.

“We need to do this,” he continues. “Ineed to do this. Too many people got hurt and this was justonedrug deal. My life is different now. I want to make sure we save and help as many people as we can.”

“Admirable,” Ronan replies, draining his glass.

“So.” I take his empty glass from him and refill it. “Will you help us?”

33

LEON

Soft, classical music drifts through the air as I pour myself another drink and set the crystal canter aside. The fireplace crackles and pops as flames lick around the freshly placed logs, a curl of warmth wrapping around my shoulders. I remove my tie, unbuttoning the top two buttons of my shirt as I limp toward my desk.

What a day.

Paul is gone, suffocating to death at the bottom of the ocean.

When Brooke and I discussed ways to kill him, I didn’t expect her to suggest such an old-school method. But it’s what she wanted. Giving her closure was much more important than the method used.

---