Page 39 of To Have and To Hold

“Yes.” She nodded. “Are the Russians the reason we couldn’t go out for lunch?”

“Yes. Volkov is looking for Kozlov’s men. If he suspects we have them, he’ll do anything to get them back.”

“Why does Volkov want them?”

“He knows they have information. He’d kill them before letting them talk.”

Isabella inhaled. “What isanything?”

“Imagine if he could get you, Liliana, Mia, or Jasmine…imagine the power overel Patr?nhe’d have.”

“I get it. What about the women here?”

“Not the same, but they’re valuable to the cartel. We’ve sworn to protect them.” I stood and stretched my legs. “If you want to go back to Mia’s, I’ll take you.”

“I lied to you earlier.”

I lifted my eyebrows. “You did?”

“If you won’t lie to me, I shouldn’t lie to you.”

“What was your lie?”

“At the capo’s apartment during the birthday party, I was frightened of you.”

My lips curled. “I knew that.”

“My father has strict rules about interacting with Catalina’s family or members of the cartel.”

“Are you breaking his rules right now?”

Isabella smiled. “I am. He sent me to war. I need to identify my allies.”

“You found one in me. Liliana too.” I turned toward the door and back. “Do you want to call it a day?”

“Nope.” Isabella spun her chair toward the desk, rubbed her temples, and exhaled. “Let’s look at this program.” She forced a smile. “I don’t want you wasting your afternoon. I’m sure you have bad guys to kill.”

Damn, she was impressive.

“I’m the bad guy.”

“I’m beginning to doubt that.”

I reached for the doorknob. “I’m going to tell Liliana to get word out that we’re on lockdown, and then I’ll be back.”

“Thank you.”

“For?” I asked.

“Being honest with me.”

“Always.”

Chapter

Sixteen

Isabella

---