Page 3 of Lethal Alliance

“Roman wants me to take you to stay with my family in Miami, until we know it’s safe.”

Yeah—that makes no sense at all.

“Deda and Baba Melnyck’s house?” I try to act like that isn’t the weirdest damn idea ever. “I thought Roman said it wasn’t very secure there?”

Masha makes a face. “I don’ like Deda and Baba’s house—”

I squeeze her hand warningly, and she subsides.

Inger’s voice rises slightly, like she’s arguing. “Roman has men who will meet you there, Ofelia.”

“What about Mickey? And Lucia? Where are they? Are they okay?” I hold Masha’s hand tightly, staring around at the barren airfield, shivering despite the mild night.

Something is very wrong.

“They’re fine.” Inger’s voice is shrill and hurried. “They’re just with the police now, giving a report.”

I don’t like this.

“Can I talk to Roman, please?”

Inger covers the phone, but I can still hear her muffled voice. “She wants to talk to Roman.”

I need to work out a plan.

A moment later Nikolai’s voice comes down the line. “Roman has gone after the men who set off the bomb. I know you want to talk to him, but you need to listen to your mother. Spain isn’t safe for us anymore. We’re taking you to stay with Deda and Baba Melnyk in Miami until Roman gives us the all clear.”

How do we get out of here?

I shake my head slowly, eyeing the men with the guns. I don’t like the way they’re looking at me. “I want to talk to Lucia.”

Nikolai makes an impatient noise. “Her phone was lost in the blast. She’ll call you as soon as she can. Can you give the phone back to the security guard, please, Ofelia?” His voice sounds strained. The guard with the gun takes the phone from my hand before I can answer.

“Da,”he says curtly. He listens for a moment, then his mouth curls unpleasantly. “I don’t take orders from you.” He hangs the phone up without speaking again and nods toward the stairs. “Bystro,”he snaps.Quickly.

“’Felia?” Masha is staring at him, her mouth set in an obstinate line. “Don’ like him.”

I don’t either.

Roman’s men never make us feel unsafe. Even Nikolai’s men always treat us with respect.

The man said he doesn’t take orders from Nikolai.But if he’s Roman’s man, he should be treating us a lot differently.

“No.” I try to make my voice sound certain, like Lucia does when she gives orders. “I want to speak to Roman before we go anywhere.”

The man smiles unpleasantly. “Not going to happen.” He steps closer, and I move away, pulling Masha with me. He laughs, then nods at the other man. “Get them on the plane.”

“Wait.” I pull Masha against me, but they’re herding us toward the stairs, the muzzles of their automatic weapons pointing directly at us.

There’s no way this man works for Roman.

We have to get out of here.

Surely they won’t shoot us, if they’re talking to Inger and Nikolai?

I squeeze Masha’s hand. She looks up at me, and I flick my eyes toward the edge of the airfield. Masha nods solemnly.

We break and run at the same time, Masha holding my hand.

---