Chapter Forty-Seven

Dane cringed at the instant look of guilt and terror on Lena’s face at his unexpected attack. It brought back memories he’d just as soon forget. Like the way she’d looked for those first few days when he’d treated her so badly.

Hell, he’d just been trying to make it sound realistic. Maybe he’d gone a little overboard.

“Sorry,” he mouthed, then picked up the phone she’d dropped in shock, and handed it back to her with a smile. He pointed to the script and tapped a finger to her line, hoping she would realize it was all part of the act.

“Hello? Hello?” Viktor’s voice echoed into the room.

“I’m here,” she said, cringing as Dane lit into her again.

“You realize he doesn’t need us now?” he snapped. “You’ve just given him the name and place to pick up the guy. I’m expendable, which means my son is expendable, too.”

“Give Mr. Ryan the phone,” Viktor ordered so loudly they all heard the command.

“Uh, okay.” Lena held out the phone and Dane winked at her as he took it.

“What?” he demanded. It wasn’t difficult to act belligerent when speaking to Kulakov. Dane really did hate this man, he didn’t need to pretend.

“We had an agreement, did we not? You were to bring…Evan Masters to me. I will release Tobey to you when you do. There has been no change in plan.”

“Bullshit,” Dane said angrily. “I bet you have your two giants heading out the door for San Antonio right now. If they get to him first, I’ll have nothing to leverage to get my son back.”

“I assure you, my men are still standing next to me as I speak. Retrieve Mr. Masters and bring him to Savannah. I’ll give you the details when you’re en route. Put Lena back on the phone. And Mr. Ryan?”

“What?”

“Let’s not forget our manners. Ms. Scott is a valued employee and I’ll not have her mistreated.”

“Fuck that, and fuck you, too,” Dane mumbled under his breath as a final parting shot, to up the realism factor.

Lena gave him a smile of agreement, then flipped the phone the finger before she got back on, her face falling. “I’m here.”

“Call me at eleven tomorrow.”

“That long?”

“You’ll have nothing new to report while you wait for Mr. Masters. Get some rest. I’ll want to make sure you’re in position for the next day.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you then.” The call was disconnected on his end before she finished the sentence.

As soon as she looked up, Dane had his arms around her.

“Sorry I startled you,” he said against her hair.

“I wish I’d had a moment to prepare for that,” she said with a laugh.

Angel shook her head. “He did good. It was better that you were surprised.”

“You’re both up for Oscars,” Samantha offered with a smile, and yawned. “If it’s okay, I’m going to go to bed. I don’t have much to bring to the table and I’m exhausted.”

“Let’s all break for the evening,” Thorne said before turning to Lena and Dane. The frown of pity was back. “There’s one part of this plan you’re not going to like.”

Thorne let out a breath as everyone started moving for the door, looking anywhere but at Dane.

It didn’t take a genius to know what was coming.

“No.” Dane shook his head. “No fucking way.”