I was aware of his tactics, the gun he’d positioned beside him on the cheap vinyl seat pointed at my abdomen. I didn’t give a shit. I was a far better shot. Then again, the Beretta was only my backup.

  “Well, well. The prodigal son returns,” he said with a mouthful of food.

  “I wouldn’t call me either one, but you can do what you want.”

  “Do you have the woman’s body in the back of your trunk?”

  “If I did, would you call off your assassins?” At least my statement caused more of a reaction.

  He lifted his head, finally reaching for his napkin. Then he pulled his margarita closer, licking the salt before taking a gulp. I found it fascinating he enjoyed the frothy mixture, but to each their own. “You are one extremely capable and intelligent man, Dominik. I truly wish you would have taken me up on my offer to come and work with me. We would have made an excellent team.”

  I took a deep breath as I scanned the dining room. The darkened space was oppressive, the decorations gaudy. I honestly had no idea why he liked the joint. “And what would I have done, Viktor? Would I have been assigned to kill various women and children, freeing your time for another game of golf or yet another round of blackjack?”

  Now he seemed annoyed, his mouth twisting. “You enjoy antagonizing me, which isn’t in your best interest.”

  “If you are expecting your Capos to come to your rescue, you would be wrong.”

  “What do you want, Dominik? You fucking betrayed me, which was something I didn’t expect from you. You know I can’t allow that to go unpunished.”

  I laughed and sat back in my seat. “No, of course not. It surprised me that you would send me on an assignment that you knew would piss me off.”

  He grinned before starting to eat again, piling more guacamole on his plate from one of the half dozen bowls. “I was testing your loyalty. Sadly, you failed.”

  “I have one question for you. Did you know about her child?”

  Laughing under his breath, he took his time chewing his bite before answering, “Of course I knew. I learn everything about the people who I allow to work for me. She was no exception. I planned on selling the kid to his father.”

  “Let me guess. In exchange for the man’s help and loyalty.”

  “As I said before. You are one highly intelligent individual, although I can see you have a weakness. That doesn’t bode well for the kind of work you do. Then again, I guess you would know that. Wouldn’t you?” He lifted his head, an evil grin sliding across his mouth as he stared into my eyes.

  For a few seconds, I could see straight into the man’s blackened soul, able to read his thoughts. Then all time seemed to stand still, memories of the past rushing in. The man had found my weakness years before, doing everything he could to destroy my life.

  “What was his name? You know, the kid you tried to protect years before. Jack?” he asked, the smile remaining on his face. “No, it was Jake. Wasn’t it? Too bad about what happened to the kid. He seemed like a nice little boy.”

  Rage swept through my system to the point spots rushed in front of my eyes. At least my reflexes remained on point, the blade of my knife sticking into his throat by one hand, the gun firmly planted in my other positioned against his temple. “I suggest you place your weapon on the table, Viktor.”

  He didn’t react at first, although his glare shifted into anger. Then he removed his hand from underneath, placing his Glock on the surface. “You are such a fool, Dominik. I was doing you a favor.”

  I cocked my head, doing everything I could to control my actions. I wanted this man to suffer just like I knew Jake had, the little boy’s broken and beaten body the most horrific find of my life. If there had only been a single indication that this fucker was behind the murder, then so many things would be different. I did what I could to curtail my heavy breathing.

  “You are a pig, Viktor, but I’m glad to say that where you’re going you will face the kind of horrible torment day after day that you inflicted on that poor child. And I will relish every second of knowing I sent you there.” When I shifted my arm, preparing to slice his throat, he snorted.

  “As I said, Dominik. I get to know all my employees and I assure you that I’ve considered you one for years. I know all about your sister, including where she lives.”

  I’d suffered many times in my past, not only during the awful years of living in Russia, but because of the loneliness that my profession had required. What few joys I’d been allowed were precious to me. He’d taken almost everything from me. I refused to allow him to take anything else.

  I shifted my arm, the sharpness of the blade doing its job within seconds. When I pulled away, I realized there was little satisfaction in performing the deed. As I raced through the back of the restaurant, I immediately yanked my phone into my hand, barely making it to the end of the block before dialing Lola’s phone number.

  After that, everything became a solid blur.

  Hope

  Loneliness.

  I’d felt it the majority of my life, although some of those feelings had been caused by my actions directly. I’d always been a loner, even as a child, preferring to have my nose in a book versus playing with any of the other kids.

  The kind of loneliness I felt at this moment was entirely different. It left me with a deep and continuous ache that I wasn’t certain would ever change. I was also burdened by a haunting sadness, unable to sleep or eat since Dominik had left. I’d wanted to beg him to stay, but I’d seen the look in his eyes, the hunger for some crazy kind of retaliation.

  He wouldn’t have been able to keep from going no matter if I’d begged him not to. I could barely stand being in the quiet house, even though Jerry had kept a close eye, checking on me at least three times. I knew the man had been ordered to keep me out of trouble. I wasn’t certain how much of a problem I could be given I had no phone or other method of contacting the outside world.

  I’d even dared to check on Dominik’s computer in hopes of getting to the internet. He’d locked it down tight before leaving, his inability to trust me justified. The yin and yang of our strange relationship continued to weigh heavily on my mind. What had I been doing hour after hour? Pacing the damn floor.

  I realized I couldn’t stand just being alone in the house. My mind was filled with worry, the anxiety keeping my stomach in knots. At least I could take a walk. Hopefully, the fresh air would do me some good. After grabbing a bottle of water, I headed out the front door. The afternoon sun was hot as Hades, but the picturesque views were so incredible that almost immediately I felt somewhat better.

  As I started walking, I couldn’t stand the fact my heart remained so heavy. The mixture of thinking about Grady then shifting to Dominik was almost overwhelming. The night before had been so passionate, the man’s actions completely unlike the way he’d been before. I was left with confusion and trepidation, uncertain even how I was supposed to feel.

  Instead of walking toward the corral, I headed in the opposite direction, curious as to where Dominik had gone before. When I found what appeared to be a dirt path leading into the middle of nowhere, my curiosity was piqued. I glanced around me to make certain Jerry wasn’t following me before continuing, weaving my way through taller weeds. After a few minutes, I could swear there was a building in the distance.

  The closer I came, the more I realized I’d been right. When I was within fifty yards or so, I noticed Jerry’s truck. I crept closer, determined to find out what was hiding behind the open barn-like doors. At least the tall grass hid my approach. I was forced to shield my eyes from the glare of the sun, straining to see what he was doing.

  What little I was able to see didn’t necessarily surprise me. There was some kind of a large vehicle housed within the structure. I also found it interesting was that the structure was mostly hidden. It was pure choice that I’d come from the right direction to find it. I dared to creep a few additional feet before Jerry moved outside the barn, shifting his gaze from one side to the other.

  Then he stared in my direction. Shit. I crowded down, hating the way the stringy grass scratched my exposed arms. I took several deep breaths before popping me head to the surface again. He’d already closed the doors and it looked like he was latching some kind of lock. When he moved toward his truck, I shifted further away from the path, fearful he would find me. I cringed as he started the engine, the sound of the truck coming in my direction creating a hint of fear.

  When he simply rolled down the pathway, I breathed a sigh of relief. Why did I have the feeling there was more than just a hidden vehicle located inside?

  I waited a full minute before racing toward the structure, immediately moving toward the doors. The oversized padlock appeared industrial, the likelihood it could even be cut by bolt cutters slim to nil. I moved around to the back, searching for another method to enter. There were no windows and no other doors. What I did notice was that the building had been fortified, the material not something I was familiar with, although great pains had been taken to make it look like a simple barn.

  Dominik definitely didn’t want his private space bothered in any manner.

  Frustrated, I knew better than to be found there. I had no idea what Jerry had been authorized to do to me if caught disobeying the rules. I hurried along the path, hissing when I noticed Jerry’s truck close to the house. Damn it. It would be difficult getting around him, but I was going to try. I shifted closer and closer then altered my plan, moving in the opposite direction and taking a deep breath.

  As I walked casually toward the house, I finally noticed him watching me out of the corner of his eye. I gave him a short wave before jogging up the porch steps, retreating into the safety of the entrance foyer. This was ridiculous. I knew almost nothing about Dominik while he knew almost everything about me.

  Although what I did know continued to make me hot and bothered. I bit my lip and closed my eyes as I leaned my head against the door. A part of me continued to tingle all over, his scent remaining on my skin. Every touch had left me hungering for more, his kisses so powerful. I was breathless as I thought about him even now, my skin tingling and my heart racing.

  This was silly. He was off to kill someone else and I was lamenting over the hotness of the man. I must have more than one screw loose.

  As I walked into the kitchen, taking another swig of water before returning it to the refrigerator, I half expected Jerry would burst inside, demanding what the hell I was doing. After a couple of minutes, I returned to the corner of the house, peering out past one of the blinds. The truck was gone. Thank God.

  I’d walked every inch of the house, finding the closet in his room surprisingly full of clothes, but there was absolutely nothing personal in any room that I could find.

  With one exception.

  Should I risk Jerry coming into the house? Well, at least I would hear his truck outside. That had been confirmed the first three times he’d dropped by, pounding on the door as if every visit was urgent.

  I moved toward Dominik’s office, standing in the doorway and staring at his limited things all over again. He was such a man of mystery. Sighing, I tapped my shoe on the floor then stared at the bookshelves. Something continued to nag my mind, an odd feeling that Dominik was hiding a terrible secret. The drawings I’d found earlier were definitely a clue. After glancing over my shoulder, I walked inside, heading directly to the bookshelf.

  There were so many different genres that I was surprised. From nonfiction to history, thrillers from authors I’d heard of to books in Russian, the collection was as complex as the man himself. However, the single book that had drawn my attention before was the one I needed to see. I rubbed my finger along the spine of several before I found it, my hand shaking when I pulled it from the shelf.

  A children’s book.

  I bit my lip before opening it. The beautiful illustrations were vibrant in color, the book obviously fairly new. I couldn’t help myself, flipping through the pages of the delightful little story. I finally closed it, uncertain of what to think. When I started to put it back, something fell from between one of the pages, the piece floating to the floor.

  After crouching down, I was shocked to see a small color photograph of a little boy. A lump immediately formed in my throat. The child appeared to be the same age as Grady and he had the same happy expression on his face, his eyes so penetrating. Why had the picture been hidden here? There were no markings or notes of any kind on the back. But I could tell the picture was special just because of where it had been placed. Was he the little artist who’d drawn the pictures?

  Dominik had been fearful someone would find it. But why? I studied the boy’s face, another moment of despair creeping into me. Tears formed in my eyes, but I refused to succumb to them. At this point there was nothing I could do but wait.

  And pray.

  I hadn’t prayed in a long time, certain that I’d been forsaken given the bad choices I’d made. This moment seemed like the right time to do so again. Somehow, the little picture made me feel closer to my boy. I could also hear the sound of Grady’s laughter, the kind of joyous giggle that had penetrated my soul.

  I missed him so much. As I pulled the photograph against my chest, a few seconds of peace entered my system. Everything was going to be all right. It just had to be.

  The thump as the front door was slammed was quickly followed by heavy footsteps.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  What the hell? I hadn’t heard an approaching vehicle.

  I jerked to a standing position, shoving the picture back into the book and trying my best to jam it back into the exact location where I’d found it. Jesus Christ. The bookshelf was so full that I had to push one side in order to get it to slide back in. Then I scrambled toward the doorway, trying to slide into the hallway without being seen.

  I failed.

  Jerry stopped in his tracks, giving me a stern look as he glanced up and down the length of me then into the room. His breathing was heavier than normal, his cold eyes holding almost no emotion. But there was no doubt by the heat he resonated just how angry he was. When he turned on his heel, storming toward the kitchen, I took a deep breath.

  Then I followed him. Why the hell was he coming inside without knocking?

  Because he works here. You’re just an unwanted guest.

  My inner voice wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. I hesitated before walking inside, jumping when he slammed his massive set of keys on the kitchen counter before slapping his hands on his hips. He was even grumbling under his breath.

  “Did you need something, Jerry?” I asked, determined to force the man to talk. Maybe I could find out additional information if I was very careful how I did so.

  “I came to check on you.”

  “You mean you came to find out where the hell I’d been. Right?”

  He laughed then finally turned to face me. “We can start there, Hope. Where were you?”

  “I was told I could walk the grounds. I was stir crazy. Is that all right with you?”

  “You’re lying, Hope. You found a secure building and do you want to know how I’m certain of that?”

  I held my ground, continuing to glare at him.

  “Because there is a security system that goes off if anyone is in close proximity.”

  Oh, God. “Fine. I was just taking a walk and curious as to what was inside. That’s it.”

  Jerry took a few seconds before walking closer. The man appeared huge today, his forearms bigger than my thighs. “Yeah, that’s fine, but you need to stay on the main road.”

  “I wasn’t off the main road, at least not for long. Is there something I shouldn’t see buried somewhere on this farm? Do you have dead bodies in that building?” I heard the defiance in my voice. I’d been nice before. Maybe he needed to see another emotion.

  He inched closer and I found myself wanting to back away. There was no reason to be afraid of him, but my instinct continued to tell me that the man was as much of a killer as Dominik.

  “It holds extra equipment, Hope. That’s it. You were in Dominik’s office,” he stated more gruffly.

  “Yeah, I was.”

  “Weren’t you told not to invade his privacy?”

  “There’s nothing in that office that holds my interest. I was just looking at his collection of books. Nothing more.”

  After lifting his eyebrow, he studied me with just as much intensity as before. “I’ll give you another piece of advice, Hope. Don’t go looking for something you’re not prepared to find.”

  “I’m not even certain what that means.”

  “I know you understand completely, Hope. It’s become obvious to me that you’re in tune with the man. He doesn’t let anyone get close to him. That should mean something to you. Dominik has lived a difficult life. I don’t know why he chose to keep you alive and in truth, it’s none of my business. However, you need to respect the man at least on some level. He might be the only way you can stay alive.”

  I had no idea what to say to him. Before I had a chance, I heard the sound of his cellphone ringing. I shrank back, rubbing my eyes. However, I was listening.

  “I’m here,” Jerry said.

  Even though I wasn’t looking at the man, I could tell he was watching me like a hawk.

  “Yeah. Let me go into the other room.” He lowered his phone, moving closer. “We’re not finished with our discussion. Stay right here.”

  “Why, yes, sir.” I didn’t need to be able to read his screen to know that it must be Dominik on the other end of the phone.

  Jerry laughed as he walked out of the room, heading down the hallway. I took quiet steps toward the doorway, peeking out. Damn it. The man was going into Dominik’s office. Exhaling, I hung back. I should leave it alone. After a few seconds, I couldn’t take it any longer. Maybe I’d be able to find out some decent information, or at least where Dominik had gone.

  I shifted to just outside the partially closed door, struggling to hear the conversation.

  “What the hell?” Jerry huffed, waiting in order to get a response. “Oh, shit, man. What are you going to do?”