After that night, I’d hoped that whatever was bothering Alexander had receded, but as our trip to Hanoi drew closer, it seemed that a distance grew between us. No more sessions in the playroom. We still slept in the same bed, but when I reached to him and we made love, he looked torn. Almost tortured.
We’d always kept secrets from each other. In a few minutes, all of mine were going to be revealed. But Alexander’s secrets remained his own. What happened to Sylvia? I didn’t know. I didn’t dare go to the prearranged café in Paris for the burner phone to call Lucien. It was too close to the end-point and I couldn’t risk Alexander finding out, not when my revenge was almost at hand.
***
The man who let us in was Daniel Schneider. He gave Alexander a meaningful look as we entered. His eyes ran over me briefly, but there was no recognition in his gaze. I wasn’t surprised. I was not the same girl I’d been in Abeokuta.
Dylan was about to discover that, to his detriment.
“He’s in the living room,” Daniel informed Alexander. “He told you to go on in.”
Alexander nodded. “Where’s everyone else?” he asked casually.
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Dylan had a tiff with Scott yesterday and fired him. Scott, furious at that, walked off with half his guys. A few of the others are in town recruiting.”
“Typical,” Alexander muttered. “Is it just you then?”
“Me and two others,” Daniel Schneider replied.
I stood off to one side, listening to this exchange intently, while trying to look bored. Dylan had only three guards at the estate at the moment? I wished there was some way to get this information to Lucien. He was out there somewhere. Three guards we could manage. All I needed was a gun and I could get out of here alive.
Daniel didn’t search either of us. Either it was because he was short-handed or perhaps Alexander was never searched. I was surprised at this. Alexander was carrying a gun. My eyes had registered it when I’d come out of the shower this morning. If I could see it, Daniel should have been able to as well, but he didn’t seem to object. Strange.
But then again, if Alexander was trusted with the intimate details of Dylan’s finances, perhaps he was also trusted enough to be allowed in with a weapon.
Standing to the side, I wondered if I could overpower Alexander and reach the gun. Would it even be loaded, or would I lose a moment of crucial surprise? Should I first go for Dylan, eschewing the gun for my bare hands? My trained brain ran probability calculations until Alexander turned to me. “Can you leave us now, Daniel?” he said politely.
Daniel nodded and left. Alexander’s eyes searched my face and he must have seen something there, because his expression became bleak. “Cherie…” he started, then he stopped. His eyes clenched shut for many seconds before he opened them. There was a look of hopelessness that I’d never seen before from him. He laced my fingers in his. “I wish things could have been different.”
What was he talking about? Instinctive fear gripped me. Had my cover been exposed? What lay ahead for me in that room? “What do you mean, Alexander?” I whispered. “Are you going to hurt me?” Somewhere since Bangkok, I’d come to trust him. I didn’t think I was strong enough to survive his betrayal.
He shook his head. “I will never hurt you intentionally, cherie.” He gestured towards that door. “Let’s go in.” His voice was devoid of emotion.
I straightened my shoulders. There was a man with a gun next to me. I had no idea what lay ahead for me, but I was an assassin. I had trained for this moment and ready or not, I was going to face what awaited me with bravery and courage. This time, there would be no tears.
***
The first thing I noticed was that Dylan was older. Noticeably so. It had been six years, but I was still unprepared for the grey hair and the lined face. The years had not been kind to Dylan McAllister.
The second thing I realized was that despite my surface bravery, I had been terrified inside. When I saw this old man in front of me, my fear faded.
My cold anger remained. My desire for revenge did not leave me.
But the third thing that happened was the most shocking of all. “Who’s your friend?” Dylan said to Alexander. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
I realized with a start that Alexander hadn’t spoken yet. He hadn’t greeted Dylan, he hadn’t walked forward to shake Dylan’s hand. He’d just stayed where he was, his back pressed to the door.
Dylan’s words seemed to release something in him and a careful mask slid over his face. I was looking into his eyes at that moment and the sudden ruthlessness and resolution in his gaze hit me like a blow to the head.
“Hello father,” Alexander said and my world froze to a halt.
***