Page 59 of Lethal Legacy

She has attached a photo of the three kids on the plane, all pulling weird faces. Masha has her face screwed up and her tongue poking out.

Mary Poppins: ??Now I’m scared.

I’ve attached a photo of me, wide-eyed and clutching my face.

Hey it’s definitely today you turn up, right?

Ofelia:OMG you need adult supervision

Mary Poppins:Obviously (said in a Snape voice). See you soon.

Mickey:GIF of Severus Snape from Harry Potter saying “Obviously”

Mary Poppins: ?????

Ofelia: ??

Dimitry hands the phone back with raised eyebrows. “You don’t exactly sound like the voice of authority.”

I shrug. “I doubt they need any more voices of authority in their lives.”

He gives a rather surprised laugh. “True enough. Well, I can respect that. I’ll stay out of the way.” He almost grins. “Unless you’re going to get lost between here and the gate?”

I return his smile. “I’ll do my best.” I start to walk away, then halt and turn to him. “But you’ll still be watching?”

He nods, but this time there’s nothing curt about it. “Of course. I’ll stay close.”

I walk over to stand at the very end of the banner railings, a few steps behind the first line of waiting people.

The kids are among the first to emerge, which makes sense, given that they’ve traveled first-class. They come out of the doors, trailed at a discreet distance by their security detail, holding hands in the same formation as their photos: Ofelia and Mickey walking on either side of Masha, her little hands clutching theirs for dear life. A sparkly pink wand dangles between the fingers holding Ofelia’s.

Mickey, his hair almost covering the top of his glasses, is taller than I expected. He’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt that readsTry turning it on and off again. Both are too big for his thin frame. He walks with his head down, carrying both his own day pack and a pink rainbow one I assume belongs to Masha.

Ofelia has designer sunglasses perched atop her white-blonde ponytail and a Prada backpack slung over one shoulder. She stares straight ahead, icily ignoring the interested glances of every man in the airport. Even in studiedly casual crushed linen trousers, low mules, and a tight-fitting spaghetti-strap top, she’s difficult to look away from. Standing nearly as tall as my own five feet ten inches, slender, and with endlessly long legs, she appears much older than her fifteen years.

Masha’s wearing pink leggings and a unicorn T-shirt that has clearly had something spilled on it. Her little face lights up under the mop of dark curls, and she points her wand at me.Poppins, she mouths with a gap-toothed smile.

Ofelia turns her arctic gaze my way, raking me up and down as she approaches with a critical eye so like Roman’s it’s slightly unnerving. Clearly she’s picked up some habits from her godfather. Mikhail glances at me, then quickly back down again, stuffing his spare hand into his jeans pocket.

“Umbrella?” Masha says hopefully as they reach me.

I make a face. “I lost it.”

“She made us download the movie before we got on the flight,” Ofelia says in a bored voice. “She thinks you can fly now.”

“I wish.” I fall into step with them so they don’t have to pause amid the crowd, and nod toward the door. “Luis is going to meet us outside with the car.”

“Sure that’s the right exit?” Mickey shoots me a shy glance from under his floppy fringe.

“Nope.” I smile back at him. “Guess we’re about to find out.”

“Oh my God.” Ofelia rolls her eyes theatrically. “You really are shit at directions.” The other two kids immediately look sharply at me, clearly waiting to see what my response will be to her language choice.

“Well, you’re the frequent fliers.” I shrug. “I figured I was in safe hands.”

Ofelia shakes her head. “Yes, it’s the right exit. See if you can manage not to get lost between here and the car.”

“I’ll do my best.”

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