Page 72 of Lethal Alliance

“There’s no news,” she says by way of greeting.

I nod silently and try to sip the peppermint tea she’s made me, fighting the ever-present morning nausea. For once I seem to be winning, but that might just be because there’s not much left to throw up.

“Did they tell you anything?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

Abby lifts a shoulder. “Nikolai is dead.”

I nod slowly. It should mean more to me, but somehow I’m not surprised. Maybe I knew already, by the stench on Roman’s clothing when he came in, the way he held me close when he came to bed.

I can’t feel sad. I didn’t like Nikolai, and he helped kidnap the girls. I can’t forgive that, and I know Roman couldn’t either.

But it’s also a reminder that war is here again, that there will likely be more scars on Roman’s body soon.

And what if this time he doesn’t walk away?

My hand covers my belly.What happens to you then, little Borovsky? What happens to all of us if Roman loses this battle?

“Don’t think about it.” I look up to find Abby watching me. She shakes her head slowly. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t. It hasn’t happened yet, and it probably won’t. You and your baby are going to be fine, even if I have to drive away with you myself.” She looks so fierce I almost smile.

“Did they tell you where they were going?” I ask.

“Roman has a meeting with some guy up at the lab, that’s all I know. Dimitry said it’s someone who can help, so that’s good, isn’t it?”

“I guess.” I stir my tea without seeing it.

What kind of help? What’s he planning?God, I hate this. I know he’s left me to sleep, and I trust him to tell me what I need to know, but knowing nothing at all is killing me.

“Fuck it,” I say aloud and pull out my phone.

Abby grins. “You go, girl.”

I hit Roman’s number, and he answers on the first ring.

“Are you alright? Is everything okay?” His voice is taut with an undercurrent of fear.

This is horrible for him, too.

“I’m fine. I just woke up. Are you okay? Abby said you’re meeting someone today.”

“I’m with him now. I’ll tell you about it as soon as we’re done, I promise.”

“Okay.” I clutch the phone, unwilling to hang up.

“But actually, since you’ve called, there is something I wanted to ask you.” His voice is studiedly casual, which makes me nervous. “When you were in Miami, did you know anyone who lived out on the edge of the Everglades? A friend of your father, or of Vilnus Orlov? It would have been a big house, with a long driveway.”

I frown, trying to remember. “I think the only time I went to the Everglades was with Papa, and then it was only to go on a boat. I don’t remember any house that fits that description. Why?”

There’s a slight pause, and I can tell Roman is trying to work out how much to tell me. “Just say it, Roman.” I hear the tension in my tone, but I’m not going to hide it either.

“Nikolai told me he and Inger were held in a house out there. That’s why we didn’t see them on the cameras. We’ve got satellite pictures of all the houses in the area, but it would help if we could narrow it down.”

“Inger?” I can’t keep the anger out of my voice. “Do we actually care what happens to Inger?”

Roman chuckles, a warm sound that travels all through my body. “You really are a savage at heart,milaia, aren’t you?” He doesn’t sound too sad about that, if I’m being honest. He lowers his tone. “From what we can put together, Inger might not be entirely guilty. Either way, I’ll deal with her myself. I don’t want the children wondering where she is or what happened to her.”

I guess I can understand that. I don’t like it, though. And I’m not sure how long I would be able to hold myself back if someone put me in a room with Inger and left a gun on the table.

Scrap that.I don’t think I’d even need a gun.

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