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Krakow, Poland
Friday, 29 January, 2:49 p.m.
––––––––
White filled the screen; inside the suite we remained warm. Poor Liam. "In position." His voice filled the room even though he stood almost 3000 kilometres away.
"See, I told you this would be boring." I leaned my head against Aidan's shoulder as we sat staring at the laptop's screen.
For a change, Ivana paced, Rowan sat on the armrest of the couch. Even though my eyes were on the laptop, my focus remained on Ivana. I wondered about her motives and what she hoped the outcome would be. Piotr had returned to Toro, and whether he warned the killer that we were closing in, remained to be seen. I didn't want to kill a man who infiltrated the family – because they had destroyed his own. What is his objective and how big a hand does Ivana have in this? In my gut, I knew they were trying to steer our operation. I've never liked playing by others' rules. I had reminded Aidan of this before Ivana joined us. He told me to trust his father, and that I did.
Aidan and I glanced at each other at the same time. "I love you," I mouthed. We didn't need to say it every hour of every day or when ending every phone call. Our love was born in our darkest times and here we sat, side by side, hunting the depraved and righting wrongs. Soon we would be responsible for the entire organisation. The strength of our shared vision, and what we as a couple brought to the table would be instrumental in future operations and the overall success. More people depended on us than Ainsley, but none of them more important than our daughter.
My husband pressed his mouth to my ear and kept his voice low. "I told my dad we're taking a family vacation in March. Nothing will change that. I promise."
I lifted my mouth to his. We clung to these moments, if we didn't the darkness festering inside both of us would win. The biggest wars Aidan and I wage are with ourselves. "No matter what happens, let's try not to get killed. I have a feeling things won't end well with this one, not when we're up against an enemy with an army behind him."
Ivana excused herself and headed to the bathroom.
Aidan touched the back of his fingers to my cheek. "So do we. Eighty-five percent of the people employed by my parents' companies are ex-military. I don't want to pull them back in, but they'll do whatever it takes when the lives of innocent children are at stake."
"I don't trust her."
Rowan reached over Aidan's head and patted the top of mine. "Good, neither do I."
"We have a common enemy. The saying 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' holds truth. Her precious son is on the inside, and as long as Liam has Ivar, we have leverage over her."
I stared at my husband; my mouth fell open. "Commander Walker, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Aidan nodded. Always a hundred steps ahead. My husband, even more intelligent than he's handsome, sexy, and the best sniper in the world. Off the record, of course. A single phone call to Szymon and Piotr's true identity could be revealed. In Russia, anything could go wrong. Aidan's sleeves filled with muscular arms – and aces.
I grabbed my mobile phone and scanned through the photos Princess Ylva had posted to her social media profiles. Piotr's hand covered by a black glove in each where his right was visible. None of the photos suggested they were in a relationship, other than damsel and protector. I wondered how and when things changed between them. Did she know about the tattoo on his hand? Did she even realise it's the dragon of the BSS?
Ivana returned as I dropped my mobile phone screen down on the couch. "This is boring. My apologies, Ivana, this must be a very stressful, and emotional day for you."
She laughed. It sounded forced. Did it? This woman had been in the game her entire life.
"May I ask how you came to join the BSS?" Aidan brushed his elbow against my ribs. I ignored his subtle warning to back off. "Mikolaj had been in power for a few years before you joined. By then most citizens already feared him and grew tired of his constant wars on the neighbouring countries. Why then, did you join?"
Ivana pulled the desk chair closer and lowered herself onto it. "I didn't sign-up, we weren't given any other option. Orphans don't have the luxury of choice. From the moment we arrived at the orphanage, no matter how young, they turned us into super soldiers. Everything they did, said – even the food they fed us. Katja was the first person to show me any kindness. Ironic – the queen became the orphan's best friend."
"Not Ivar?"
"There's a difference between a lover and a friend." She crossed her arms over her chest.
Aidan tapped his middle finger against my thigh; for the time being, I followed his order and backed down. Something isn't right.