Page 95 of Lethal Alliance

“When what, Rosa?” I cut her off, my rage rising faster than I think I’m going to be able to control. “When you call her brother, so he can betray her again? Or her father, so Sergei can lie to her again? No.” I shake my head, my fists balling tightly as I stare her down. “I won’t allow anything to put my family at risk, Rosa. Not even you.”

Her face pales. “Iamyour family, Roman. I would never do anything to put you at risk.”

“Really.” I almost spit the word. “You’ll have to forgive me if I find that rather difficult to believe.” Leaving Darya inside the limo, I open the door without waiting for an answer, pulling Rosa out with me. Dimitry and Bryce step out of the limo, eyeing me warily.

“Pat her down. I want her phone and any other device.” Holding her elbow tightly, I take the bag from her shoulder.

“This isn’t necessary, Roman.” Her voice is quiet, almost defeated, as Dimitry starts patting her down. “You have this wrong. My phone is in my bag,” she adds. I find it, a basic model Nokia, and hand it to her.

“Unlock it.”

“The code is 0627.”

The twenty-seventh of June.

The date she left Papa and me.

I don’t react, just unlock it. The messages are empty, as is the call log.

“Is anyone expecting your call?” I snap.

“No.”

“Will anyone call, expecting you to answer?”

“I don’t know. I don’t make calls, I only answer them.” She stands unmoving as Dimitry searches her thoroughly.

“Tell me what they know,” I say as he pats her down.

She frowns, shaking her head. “What who knows?”

I click my tongue impatiently. “Are the Orlovs expecting an attack? What has Alexei told you?”

“Nothing.” Rosa looks genuinely bewildered. “He never said anything about an attack. I only know that he was expecting Darya in Zurich days ago.”

“Yes, well, Darya isn’t following her brother’s orders anymore. Wait.” It’s my turn to frown. “If it was Darya who he was expecting, why were you waiting near the bank?”

“Hoping.” For the first time since I pulled her out of the limo, Rosa’s eyes cloud over with unshed tears, her voice trembling. “I hoped that when Darya came, you might come after her. Alexei said you... might.”

I ignore that. “Why would you know if Darya had arrived in Zurich?”

“I only knew I would be contacted as soon as she reached Alexei’s safe house in Zurich.”

Khuy.Cold horror washes through my body in a sickening wave.That’s how close we came. To Darya, pregnant and alone, being back in the hands of Vilnus Orlov.

I can’t look at my mother anymore. I can barely see for my fury.

“She rides in the front seat with you.” I push Rosa toward Dimitry, waiting until he has hold of her arm before I let go. “Get us to the fucking airport. If she so much as moves between now and then, do whatever you have to.” I slam the door behind her. “Bryce—in the back.”

I take a series of deep breaths before I open the door and climb back in next to Darya. She grips my hand wordlessly, and my fingers close over hers like they’re a goddamn lifeline.

“Change of plan.” My voice is still hard with tension. “My mother—Rosa—will travel with Darya. But to London, not to Malaga.”

Bryce frowns. “Our security team is waiting in Spain.”

“Rosa has been talking to Alexei. We need to assume the Orlovs know we’re in Zurich and are expecting Darya to fly back to Malaga.”

Bryce blanches.

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