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“I haven’t told him anything. I swear.” Diane stood, gripping the edge of her desk for support. Volkov and two of his men had turned up unannounced. He had taken her off guard. She had been studying her phone, having received a picture of Steve and Megan she didn’t quite understand.
“Your husband attempted to talk with one of my men this morning outside your daughter’s school. Why would he do that unless you told him about me?” Volkov's voice was icy. The man was over six feet and broad, his short blonde hair swept to one side. He dressed impeccably in designer suits. Diane could see when he put on the charm how women would be attracted to him. He had brought two men with him this time. They wore less expensive black suits that didn’t quite conceal the guns they were carrying. How had she not noticed before that his bodyguards carried guns? And why were they allowed in the office armed?
“Anyone who saw a man sitting alone in a car, outside a school would be concerned, and would probably go and ask what they were doing.” Especially Steve. He was trained to spot threats.
Diane’s brain was still trying to register the fact that Volkov had stationed someone outside Megan’s school. This whole thing was getting out of control. Oh, God, the photo. She glanced at her phone.
“Ah, I see you got my picture.”
The blood drained from her face.
“Your husband is a petty officer, correct?”
If that’s what Volkov thought, that’s what she would go along with. Better than him knowing about Onyx.
“Yes.”
“No current deployment?”
“He’s between deployments right now.” She wanted Volkov to know Steve was home. That she and Megan were not alone.
Volkov held out a hand to one of his bodyguards who passed him a small white envelope.
“I have little gift for you. So you understand how important it is for you to present the case, and not share anything about me, this case, or my business with anyone.”
He handed her the envelope and waited while she opened it. She gasped out loud. Two photos. One of Megan at her softball game four weeks ago. A game she hadn’t gone to. The second from Jerry’s bar. Megan standing at the jukebox. Volkov had been watching her family for weeks.
Mustering every bit of courage she could, she raised her eyes to his. “Are you threatening my family?”
Volkov smiled. The bastard smiled. She might be scared, but she wanted to slap that smile right off his face.
“Threaten is such a nasty word. I told you before. Everyone has a price. Natasha, this firm, even you.”
“My family are not currency.”
“Ahh, but they are your weakness, which in turn makes them your price. Everything is a business transaction. I never lose at business.”
She held his gaze, trying to stay brave, but couldn’t speak. Her mouth had gone dry.
“Here is what you are going to do. You are going to go home, and if your husband mentions my man outside the school, you will do whatever you need to persuade him it is nothing to worry about.”
“How will I do that?”
“You’re a smart woman. I’m sure you can think of something. Tell him you know the car. It’s somebody’s brother, uncle. I don’t care. Make him forget it.”
She nodded. What could she say?
“You tell your husband anything. You call the police. You talk to the partners. You do anything that stops this hearing going ahead, and I will.... well... I’m sure I don’t need to spell it out. Nothing changes. You come to work, your daughter goes to school, your husband to the base. I see any deviation from your routine, and you will be responsible for what happens.”
He didn’t wait for her to respond. When he had left, she sank into her chair, her knees threatening to give out.
Volkov had a car outside Megan’s school, for Christ’s sake! He had taken photos of her. What if he snatched her? The thought brought tears to her eyes. Not her baby, her beautiful little girl.
She briefly thought about going to the partners anyway, but her concern that they might be helping Volkov cover up any shady business he was involved in stopped her. Whatever the consequences, it was time to tell Steve. Volkov had lost his damn mind. He had threatened her family.
Three-thirty. Steve would be getting Megan from school. She would do exactly what Volkov had asked and go home. Picking up her purse, she stuffed the white envelope inside, then she walked out of her office, stopping briefly at reception.
“Michelle, if anyone asks, I’ve gone home. I have a bad headache.”
“No problem, Diane. Hope you feel better.”
Diane got in the elevator somewhat relieved to have made the decision to tell her husband. He was part of one of the best special operations teams in the world. If anyone could protect her family, he could. He would know what to do. Things might not be good between them, but Steve would never let anything happen to Megan, or her. She trusted him to keep them safe.
She ran to her car, not caring if anyone was watching her or not. Her only thought was getting to the safety of her home, and waiting for the man she loved, the man who had vowed always to love and protect her. Hopefully, their recent problems hadn't changed that vow.
***
STEVE LEANED AGAINST his truck in the school parking lot waiting for Megan. No sign of the black Ford. He had already decided he wasn't waiting for tonight. He was getting his daughter and going to Diane’s office. Whatever was going on stopped now. If Diane wouldn't listen, he would go to the named partners himself and call the police. Enough was enough. Diane and Megan’s safety were his priority.
The school bell rang, and Megan came running down the path minutes later.
“Hi, Daddy!”
“Hi, Pumpkin. How was school?” He rarely picked Megan up. Couldn't remember the last time. Since he was on leave, he was taking full advantage of the opportunity to spend more time with his daughter. Now he was glad he had.
“It was good. We played softball.”
“Yeah? Did you score a run?”
“Not today, but that’s OK.” She shrugged.
Steve smiled as he helped Megan into the back of the truck and fastened her seatbelt. Before he slid into the driver’s seat, he glanced around, but saw no sign of the black Ford, or any other strange cars.
Starting the engine, he pulled into the line of cars waiting to exit the parking lot. This was the worst part of doing the school pick up. Diane’s parents did it most of the time since they lived close by. They would take her back to their house where Diane collected her on the way home from work. Depending on his schedule, he could occasionally get her, or, at worst, Megan would sleep over.
“So, what else did you do today?” He looked at Megan through the rearview mirror.
“Normal school stuff. Math, ugh, I don’t like math. Oh, and I met a friend of Mommy’s.”
“You did? Which friend?” Steve inched slowly forward.
“Er, I don’t think he said his name. But he gave me an envelope to give to Mommy, said she needed it, and he didn’t have time to go to her office.”
Steve just missed the car in front, his heart literally stopping. Pulling out of the line of waiting cars, he parked the truck before turning to face his daughter.
“Where did you meet Mommy’s friend, Pumpkin?” He tried his best to keep his voice light so as not to scare her, but he was fucking scared shitless.
“At recess. I was playing when the ball went over the school fence. He came and handed it back.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
“Darling, do you have what he gave you?”
Megan reached into her backpack and handed him a small white envelope. “Is everything OK, Daddy?”
“Yes, Pumpkin. I’m just concerned that a stranger talked to you at school. Did the teacher see?”
“I don’t think so. I didn’t talk to him for long. You always say don’t talk to people you don’t know, but he knew Mommy, knew her name, where she worked. He knew my name and yours. He seemed nice, but I wanted to get back to my game.”
Steve struggled to contain his fear. He opened the envelope, and the contents did nothing to help his anxiety. Inside were photographs of Megan at school, at softball, of them at Jerry’s. A slip of paper was stuck to one of the photos.
I wanted to be sure I made myself clear. Keep your mouth shut.
Steve struggled to breathe. Someone was threatening his family. Volkov? Hell, he wanted to go into the school and scream at them for not watching his daughter more carefully. He also wanted to sit Megan down and have another conversation about stranger danger, but both would have to wait. Right now, he had to get to his wife and find out just what the hell was going on. Their daughter was being followed, in danger. What the fuck was she keeping from him?
He slammed the truck in gear and hit the gas. Thankfully, the bottleneck had gone, and he swerved onto the road, heading for Diane’s office.
“Daddy, did I do something wrong?”
Steve heard the tremble in his daughter’s voice and silently cursed. He smiled, looking in the rearview mirror.
“No, Pumpkin, you did nothing wrong. I just need to give the envelope to Mommy, so we’re going to go and see her at her office. OK?”
“OK. Should I not have taken it?” Her eyes were moist, and his heart clenched. At some point, he would have to get her to tell him exactly what happened and hopefully get a description of the man.
“The man shouldn’t have spoken to you, Pumpkin. It was wrong of him. It’s not your fault, and I’ll talk to the school tomorrow. But, Megan, if a stranger ever tries to talk to you again, even if they say they know me or Mommy, walk away and go tell a teacher. OK?”
Megan nodded, but tears rolled down her cheeks. Fuck! Steve pulled the truck over, got out and opened the rear door. Undoing the seatbelt, he lifted her into his arms, and her small arms went quickly around his neck. Hugging him tightly, she cried softly.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“Ssshhh. It’s not your fault, and I’m sorry if I sound upset. I’m upset with Mommy’s friend, not you. Everything’s OK. Come on, stop crying.”
He stroked her hair soothingly, trying to reassure her. Her small body trembled. His own wasn’t much better. Just the thought of someone even looking at his baby girl brought his primal instincts front and center. Fear and rage surged through his veins. He was ready to kill any bastard who looked at her.
Megan sniffed and pulled back a little. Steve looked at her tear-stained face. He kissed the tip of her nose. “Everything is OK. I’m not cross or upset with you. I promise.”
She wiped her face with her sleeve, still looking at him with huge, frightened eyes that tore at him. He kissed her cheek and squeezed her tight.
“You don’t need to be scared, baby. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
Steve’s own eyes filled. God, if anything happened to his baby, he would never get past it. Ever. She was his world.
“I love you too, Pumpkin. To the moon and back.” He kissed her hair, releasing her. “How about we hit the drive thru on the way to Mommy’s office and get a milkshake?”
She nodded, calmer. Steve secured her in and closed the door. Glancing around, his senses were on high alert, and he was in full protective mode. No one was getting close to his baby girl, No fucking way.
Even with a quick stop at the drive-thru, he made it to Diane’s office in under thirty minutes. Megan was happier now, sipping her milkshake. Taking the envelope with him, they made their way to the fifteenth floor.
He smiled at Michelle sitting at reception.
“Is she with anyone?”
Michelle frowned. “Diane’s not here.”
A rush of fear flooded him. “Where is she?”
“She went home about an hour ago.”
“Was she alone?”
Michelle looked confused as she answered him. “Yes. She said she had a headache. Left right after her client did. Is everything alright?”
“What client?” He ignored the question.
“Mr. Williams, I can’t say.” She looked at him apologetically.
“I understand.” He lowered his voice. “Can you just tell me if it’s the big case she’s working on now?”
Michelle hesitated, then nodded.
“Thank you. Would you mind watching Megan for a minute? I just want to make a quick call, then we’ll get out of your hair.”
“Of course, come on Megan. Come and take a seat with me.”
Megan looked up at him. “It’s OK, Pumpkin, I’ll be standing right over there. I’m just going to make a call, then we’ll go home.”
Megan went and sat with Michelle. Steve walked a few feet away, calling Diane. She answered on the first ring.
“Steve? Where are you? I was expecting you home.” He didn’t miss the nervousness in her voice.
“I’m at your office. We came here from school to see you.”
“Oh, shit. Sorry. I wanted to surprise you. Are you coming home?”
“Yes, Michelle said you had a headache. I wanted to make sure you were alright.” That you hadn't been snatched, or worse. He kept those thoughts to himself.
“I’m fine. But you were right, we need to talk.”
Now she wanted to talk. Well, that made two of them. She had better be ready to give him answers.
“I’m on my way.”
***
DIANE PACED THE FAMILY room. Steve hadn’t sounded like Steve. His voice had been so cold, so unlike him. Her gut twisted. Something had happened. Why had he gone to her office? With Megan?
She heard Steve’s truck pull onto the driveway. Megan came running through the door, Steve close behind. He stopped at the kitchen island, placing something on it. Diane knelt and hugged her daughter tight. Looking up, she met Steve’s gaze and stilled.
His handsome face was tight, his jaw locked, and his mouth a grim line. Tension emanated from every pore. Diane swallowed. She’d never seen that look on him before. Her palms sweat and a huge knot formed in her stomach. She let go of her daughter, smiling at her gorgeous face.
“How was school?”
“It was good.” Megan looked at her father with uncertainty.
“It’s OK, Pumpkin. I’ll tell Mommy what happened.”
His voice was gentle for their daughter, his mouth smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Diane looked at him, waiting for him to explain, but he turned his back on her, instead walking to the kitchen. He grabbed a box of cookies out of the cupboard.
“Megan, I need to talk to Mommy. Can you go downstairs to the den, please? You have your milkshake, and you can have a couple of cookies. I’ll come and get you when we’re done.”
“Can I watch TV?” Her eyes lit up as she took the cookie box.
“You bet.”
Megan took off downstairs. Diane stood up facing him. He was scaring her, which was ridiculous. This was Steve. Her husband. Plucking up courage, she found her voice.
“Steve? What happened?”
He reached for the envelope on the island, and she almost cried out when she realized it matched the small white envelope Volkov had given her.
He held it out saying nothing. With shaking hands, she took it, already knowing what was inside. She pulled out the pictures, sinking to the chair with a gasp. Then she saw the note.
I wanted to be sure I made myself clear. Keep your mouth shut.
“A friend of yours gave this to Megan at school. I guess they weren’t expecting me to pick her up and thought she would give it to you.”
Diane covered her mouth with her hand, not sure if she was stifling a sob or stopping herself from being sick.
“Oh, my god. Is Megan OK?”
“She’s fine. Although we need to have another conversation about talking to strangers.”
He still hadn’t moved, and his face remained tense. She swallowed, pushing down the lump in her throat.
“I can explain,” she whispered.
“No more lies Diane. Tell me the truth, all of it.”