Page 141 of Immaculate Deception (Romanoff Bratva)

“Can I help you, ma’am?”

“Yes, I’m looking for a woman who would have checked in with a ten-year-old girl and an infant.”

The gray-haired man’s mustache twitches. “I’m sorry, but are you expected? I can’t give out personal information about guests.”

“Yes, we’re family,” she says, looping her arm through mine and pulling me close. “The name would be Ernestine…” Arya hesitates.

The employee and I both look at her expectantly.

“Shit,” Arya mutters, looking up at me. “I don’t know her last name.”

The man behind the desk folds his hand on the desk top. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I can’t tell you anything. It’s against company policy.”

“Please,” Arya begs, gripping the edge of the desk, her fingers turning white. “I don’t need to know their room number. Just call their room and tell them I’m here. She’ll come down, I know she will.”

“I’m sorry, Miss, but—”

“Don’t say sorry if you aren’t even going to try!” Arya snaps, her voice loud enough that it draws the attention of the breakfasters in the other room.

I lay a hand on her shoulder. “Arya, I don’t think they’re here anyway.”

She shakes me off. “They have to be here. Where else would they be?”

“Miss, no one fitting your description has been here, but even if they had been, I wouldn’t be able to call them down for you. It’s against policy. Please leave.”

“Why did you have to add that bit?” Arya sighs. “The ‘even if they had been’ part? Because now I’m not sure I believe you when you say they aren’t staying here. How can I know you’re telling the truth?”

Under normal circumstances, I’d open my jacket and show the concierge my gun, impressing upon him the importance of helping Arya.

But right now, I don’t think it will do any good. I don’t believe Ernestine and the kids are here at this bed and breakfast.

The floors are a polished gray marble and there are glossy wood pillars holding up ornate ceilings. I can’t imagine Ernestine would have the money for it, based on the looks of her trailer.

Plus, I don’t want to cause a scene. Arya and I need to keep a low profile. Zotov is no doubt still looking for the both of us.

“Miss…” the man starts again, growing angrier.

I wave him off and turn Arya towards me. She blinks and her eyes seem to clear. “Arya, I don’t think they’re here.”

“But we should check,” she says, her determination growing weaker. “Right?”

I shake my head. “We can’t attract unnecessary attention. Not now.”

She seems to understand my meaning and nods in agreement. “Yeah, okay.”

“Thank you and please do not come back,” the man behind the desk says as we walk away.

I wrap an arm around Arya’s shoulders and pull her close as we walk off through the front door. She feels stiff against me. “We’re going to find them,” I tell her. “This was the first place we looked.”

“It’s the only place I can think of.” Her voice breaks, and I squeeze her tighter.

“No, you said there was a bed and breakfast and a diner and a lake. We haven’t look everywhere yet. They could still be in this area. We haven’t even started looking yet. Let’s get in the car and drive around. They couldn’t afford the bed and breakfast, so maybe they’re at the lake. Or maybe they’re eating.”

Arya spins in a circle, scanning the road. “I don’t see a French café.”

“We’ll find one.”

We both climb in the car and I take off. Arya rolls down her window. Her hair blows back in the wind, brushing against my arm and seat.

---