“Your way. I don’t want him disappearing and not be sure what had happened. I need to know my family is safe. I don’t trust you or anyone else. Do you think we’re going to stop going after Norwalk because I’ve brought you into it? I want you to contribute, not dominate. You find the information, you call me, Kaskov. Understand?”
“I understand you may be every bit as difficult as Cara,” he said dryly. “I’m not at all sure that your influence on her should continue to be tolerated. I’ll have to think about it.”
“You do that,” Eve said. “In the meantime, you get your ass busy gathering the information that might keep her alive. We’ll expect that call from you in twenty-four hours.”
Silence. “And what would you do if you didn’t get it?” he asked silkily.
She could hear the edge, and she should back down. She knew he was one of the most dangerous men on the planet. But she was tired and scared, and he had to know that she would go to any lengths to stop Norwalk. “I’d go after you. I’d find a way to make you do it,” she said wearily. “It’s the only thing I could do. I need you, Kaskov.”
He didn’t answer for a moment. “Yes, you do.” Then he added crisply, “So speak with more courtesy to me the next time we talk. You mustn’t hurt my feelings. Most people find that an exceptionally foolish thing to do.”
“I can see how they might. Do you want me to apologize? You probably deserve it.”
“No, I believe we’ll chalk it up to stress. I’d judge you’re much more diplomatic in the usual way. I recall even when your life and that of the child were on the line all those years ago, you behaved well. We seem to come together at periods that aren’t in the least usual.”
“Don’t count on my behaving in a civilized manner right now. And there’s no way you’ll see diplomacy when we find Norwalk. He said he was going to kill my son.” She had to get off the phone. Stressed wasn’t the word for what she was feeling right now. “Good-bye, Kaskov. I’ll expect your call.”
“And you’ll probably get it.” He paused. “But I’m not certain what else you might get, Eve. I don’t take orders, and I don’t remember the last time I wasn’t in control. You should keep that in mind.”
A warning? Who could be sure? Kaskov was always an enigma. “I’ll remember.” She pressed the disconnect.
She looked at Joe and made a face. “I didn’t handle that well. Do you think I’m on a hit list?”
“I think you were skating on extremely thin ice,” he said quietly. “But I don’t believe I’ll have to go take him down to keep him from turning loose the big dogs on you. There were a few moments where it came close.”
“But you believe he’ll do what I asked?”
“Yes.” He got to his feet and came across the room. “But if something changes, I don’t know which way he’ll jump. No one knows with Kaskov.” He reached down and pulled her to her feet. “But what I do know is that there wouldn’t have been those few harsh words if you hadn’t been stretched to the limit.” He took her in his arms and rocked her back and forth. “And I believe that’s why Kaskov didn’t blow. No one speaks to Kaskov that way, particularly if they’re asking favors.”
“It was to his advantage to do—” She nestled her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “Advantage. There’s that word again. If he really cares anything about Cara, he would have wanted to do it anyway. But who the hell knows what he’s feeling?” She lifted her head. “What do we do now, Joe?”
“Oh, I finally get asked my opinion?” He smiled down at her. “You’ve been exploding on all cylinders and making outlandish decisions since I walked in that door. Now I get to join in?”
“Not so outlandish. And it was Michael … and Cara.”
“And your maternal instincts were turning you into a female terminator. I could see it happening before my eyes. Maybe Kaskov could sense it, too.” He kissed her gently. “It’s okay, Eve. I believe it’s dangerous dealing with Kaskov on any level, but it could be a smart move. I just wasn’t prepared to roll the dice anytime soon.”
“He’s a target. Even if Cara wasn’t involved, he’d have reason to go after Norwalk.”
“But he’s had decades of making deals and looking the other way if it was to his ultimate advantage. He’s a brilliant man and not driven by revenge or violence unless it suits him.”
“Well, I did roll the dice,” she said grimly. “And I just have to hope we don’t end up with snake eyes.”
“We’ll hedge our bets.” He checked his watch. “Jock should be arriving at the airport any time now. We’ll see what he has in mind.” He turned her toward the door. “In the meantime, let’s go down and sample Michael’s homemade ice cream. Or rather, I’ll sample it. I’ll keep Michael occupied and you can have some later. I think it’s time you played that recording for Cara and Darcy.”
CHAPTER
8
BELLE GRACE MORGANA, LOUISIANA
“The woman was not respectful,” Nikolai said quietly. “Do you wish me to do something about it?”
“No.” Kaskov smiled as he gazed down at his phone. Nikolai had been with him for many years, and he was sometimes even more conscious than Kaskov of the dangers of his being thought weak by the people around him. There were rules that must be followed, or the organization could disintegrate into chaos. And since he was the organization, that meant he would disappear when that chaos occurred. “It will not happen again. Eve Duncan was disturbed. She didn’t realize there would be consequences. Nothing must happen to her.” He met Nikolai’s eyes. “Nothing.”
“I only asked,” Nikolai said. “Brazoff was also in the room and recording that phone message. He’s not been with you long enough to realize that sometimes you have agendas that supersede the rules.”
“Then make certain he does realize it.” He smiled. “Which I’m sure you were going to do anyway, my friend.” He moved toward the window and gazed out at the gardens, which gave way to the lush shrubbery of the bayous a short distance away. “You heard Sakov is dead. Find out if he has family and send him home to them.”
“Yes, sir,” Nikolai said. “Do I have your permission to increase the guards around this property? There seems to be a threat to you.”
“When isn’t there a threat?” He added mockingly, “Yes, by all means make it even more of an armed camp than it is already. I can’t have that madman take me down. It would be a terrible end to my illustrious career.”
“My thought exactly, sir.” Nikolai was smiling faintly. “And we should find this Norwalk and not wait for him to pounce? It would be more efficient to set a trap.”
“Yes, it would.” He turned and pressed the remote button on his stereo. “But that would mean I could lose more than I gained.” The strains of the Tchaikovsky concerto Cara had played at the concert in Connecticut swept through the room. “We’ll do both. Find him, then I’ll make up my mind whether to do it the safe, efficient way or keep my word to Eve Duncan.”
ATLANTA AIRPORT
Jock’s phone rang as he was coming down the jetway.
Joe Quinn.
He waited until he’d reached the gate area before he answered the call. “I just arrived. I should be at the lake cottage in thirty minutes. Is Cara okay?”
“Probably not as well as before Eve told her about the call she received from Norwalk,” Joe said. “We were trying to spare her until we had a handle on what to do, but that usually doesn’t work with Cara.”
“What call?” Jock asked harshly. “And why the hell didn’t you phone me?”