Chapter Thirty-Eight

Dane offered to drive, and Lena handed over the keys easily. Whether it was right to trust him or not, she was tired of going through this nightmare alone. She didn’t have the strength to keep going the way she was. And she didn’t have the resources to plan a counter attack.

Not that he’d said that was what they were doing…but she hoped so.

She wanted nothing more than to walk into Viktor’s home with a dozen soldiers and walk out with her daughter. Maybe she watched too much television.

Whatever Dane’s team planned to do, at least it was something. She was sick of doing nothing, afraid to make a move and be caught. Her daughter would pay the price if she messed up. But now there was a team of professionals gathering to help them take out Viktor Kulakov.

She glanced over at Dane and smiled. She was so energized and excited, she leaned across the seat and kissed his cheek.

“What was that for?”

“For helping me get my daughter back.”

“We’re going to do our best, but it won’t be easy,” he warned. “There are no guarantees.”

She was aware. She knew he didn’t have special powers. She’d seen the scar on his leg, proof he was a mere mortal. But he was her hero.

“I understand. But if it doesn’t work, at least you’ve given me hope.”

He smiled over at her, took her hand, and gave it a squeeze. “We can’t do anything without hope.”

What a difference it was to travel with him now, compared to a few days ago when he’d hated her. Her lips pulled up wryly at the memories from their earlier encounter.

“You’re smiling,” he said.

“Am I? I must be thinking about the chocolate shake I’m planning to get for lunch.”

“Right.” He laughed, the sound warm and comforting.

She liked this man. The fun, happy guy-next-door she knew could morph into a fierce deputy marshal in a flash…or a kind, giving lover. He was the hard outer shell with the soft, gooey center.

A few hours later they needed to stop for fuel. She froze in the midst of running the card and looked up at him.

“We forgot about the gas,” she said.

“What?” He reached out for her arm.

“You reserved our hotel room in another state, but we’ve been paying for gas with this card. Viktor will know we’re not heading south any longer.”

“You think I’d miss something like that?” He shook his head and smiled easily. “I’m a professional. And you, my lady, insult me.”

His joke allowed her to relax. He wouldn’t be teasing her if there was danger. “But how…?”

“I text Angel with the information, and she goes in and changes it. The charge will show up on Viktor’s card from a different location.”

She made a face. “I’m impressed, but also a little freaked out by your capabilities.”

He shrugged. “Not mine. Angel is scary good at this computer stuff.”

“Angel?” She smiled. “Is she a real angel? Is that how she’s able to see all and know all?”

He laughed at her joke. “No. She’s a spunky little thing who has been through hell. I hope you’ll get to meet her someday. You’ll like her.”

“She won’t be at the meeting?” Lena was nervous about walking into a room full of marshals. She wasn’t exactly on the right side of the law at the moment, with the kidnapping and all. Granted, she wasn’t a criminal by choice, but would they care?

“No. Angel and her husband have a new baby. She’s not active anymore. Except when I need her.” He smirked.

“I’m glad you’re both on the good side.”

“Sometimes it’s difficult to tell which side is good, and which is bad.”

She couldn’t agree more. She was technically on the bad side, but she sure didn’t belong there. “There’s no good in Viktor Kulakov,” she said.

Even though her daughter was being well cared for, and even had a nanny, Lena knew it wasn’t out of the kindness of Viktor’s heart. She wasn’t deceived into thinking her daughter was safe just because she had a few new dresses and craft time.

“No. There’s no confusion on that one,” Dane agreed. “He’s pure evil. He needs to be stopped.”

“Why hasn’t he been arrested? He’s done so many illegal things. Isn’t there anyone who can put him away?” Even just what she’d seen would be enough for an arrest, she’d think.

“The man Viktor sent us to bring back. He can put Viktor away. The D.A. is just waiting for the right time and more hard evidence.”

“The right time would have been years ago,” she said fiercely. “Before he was able to harm so many people.”

“We’ll find out more about the case against him at the meeting tonight.”

She took her eyes off the road long enough to look over at him. “I’ll be welcome at this meeting?”

He nodded. “Of course. You have information that could be helpful. And you have a big stake in the game. Why wouldn’t you be welcome?”

“Because I technically work for Viktor.”

“You never worked for Viktor. You don’t have a choice. And as I said, sometimes it’s difficult to tell which side is good and which is bad.”