Page 167 of Lethal Legacy

So was it really Dimitry he was with last night, or was it someone else? Someone Russian, who just happens to drink vodka from Miami?

Ice-cold fear trickles down my spine.

My phone buzzes again, this time with a message from Ofelia:Going out shopping with Mama. Got whole security detail with us.

Not that any of that security detail bothered to let me know.

Then again, why would they?

Inger is the children’s mother, after all.

I get back into the elevator and return to the apartments, now empty and silent. One lone guard remains in the corridor. “Hey, Bryce.” I give him a small smile. “Kids went out okay?”

“Yeah. Luis’s team is with them, and Inger had security of her own, too. Don’t worry.” He gives me a rather more understanding smile than I’m comfortable with. “Inger’s visits are a nightmare tornado, but they never last long.”

His sympathy only makes it worse.

“Sure,” I mutter.

I go into my rooms, shower and dress, then go back to Bryce. “Can you take me to the villa? I think I’ll have lunch there today.”

“Sure.” He smiles easily and gives me a wink. “Don’t blame you, to be honest. We all run like hell when Inger’s in town.”

“I didn’t actually know she was arriving today.” I’m desperate to ask where Roman is, but I don’t want to be obvious about it.

“Mr. Stevanovsky probably didn’t know, either. He’s under the gun today.” Bryce gives me another of those sympathetic smiles that makes me feel like a complete idiot.

I check my phone again, but there’s no message from Roman.

Bryce pulls up outside the villa. “I’ll be right here when you’re ready.”

“To be honest, I’m just going to hang here today. I can give you a call when I’m ready to go, if you like. No point both of us waiting around.”

“Sure.” He gives me his easy grin. “Just call me, then. I won’t be far away.”

Knowing he’s probably watching, I head into the villa and close the door behind me.

Anna comes out. “Oh,” she says, frowning. “Papa is sleeping. I can wake him up, if you like.”

“No, don’t worry.” I smile at her. “I might just have a nap myself, if you don’t mind. It’s been a long morning.”

“Of course!” She beams, ushering me to the guest bedroom and closing the door behind her.

I wait for about half an hour, until the villa is completely quiet. Anna, I know, will be curled up on the sofa, taking her own siesta. I creep downstairs and wait until the security guard passes the front door. I glance around, but to my relief, Bryce’s car is nowhere to be seen.

I slip out and make my way toward the marina.

52

LUCIA

“Chica!” Abby comes rushing toward me, her smile faltering as she gets closer. “Oh, no. I know that look. What’s happened?”

“Inger turned up.” It’s the easiest of my problems to explain.

“The dreaded mother? Oh, fuck.” She gives me a sympathetic hug. “Was she awful to you?”

“I don’t know. I hid in Ofelia’s bedroom to avoid her, then escaped up to the penthouse before we accidentally ran into one another. I know it’s cowardly.” I shrug ruefully. “But the kids were already tense. I didn’t want to make it worse.”

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