Chapter Seventy-Seven

Seeing Viktor’s name pop up on the display produced an exponentially higher level of terror than normal. Glancing at the police officer, she excused herself and ducked out of the room so she could answer without alerting the others to her own horror.

“Hello?” she said, trying her best to sound normal.

“My, my. Haven’t we been busy?” Viktor sounded almost amused. As if this were simply entertainment to him. It was clear he knew what she’d done.

Time for some damage control.

“It’s not what you think,” she rushed to say. “Ryan got away from me right after I called you last time. I had no idea what he was planning.”

“Spare me the poor acting,” Viktor drawled. “I sent Butch to meet up with you in San Antonio at the hotel where you said you were staying. You weren’t there.”

“No, I was.” She wasn’t about to give up.

“You were in San Antonio this morning, but somehow you drove to Savannah in eleven hours?”

That would be impossible. She should have made sure she had a backup plan.

“Viktor, please don’t hurt Kenzie. This isn’t her fault. He threatened me. Told me to do what he said or he’d have me arrested.”

“So you chose to deal with me rather than the police? Certainly, you misjudged the greater threat with that decision.”

“Viktor, please. I’ll do anything you want.”

“You seem to like hanging out with the police. I wonder how they’d feel if some evidence turned up proving you’d murdered your ex-husband?”

Lena choked. She’d long assumed Brandon was dead, but she hadn’t had anything to do with it.

“They always suspect the spouse,” Viktor said with a chuckle.

“Please, Viktor,” she pleaded knowing her begging only amused someone as callous as Viktor.

“You’ve proven to be unreliable. I’ll get Vanderhook myself and make a nice profit on your daughter.”

Before Lena could say anything else, the phone went dead. Only a few minutes later, the phone was deactivated.

Oh God. She had messed up. She’d trusted Dane to help her get Mackenzie back. But now her daughter was in more danger than ever. And Lena had no leverage to work out a deal with Viktor.

Dane had caused her to lose her daughter, probably to a horrific fate.

It didn’t matter if he came back. It was too late for Kenzie.

Lena wondered if Dane had ever hated her even a fraction as much as she hated him at this moment.

She didn’t think it was possible.