Page 86 of Idaho

"And what would 'taking care of it' entail?" he asked.

I could see why Eva toed the line with him. He used his stature, he was six feet tall and well defined for a man in his late fifties, and his power to intimidate others. It wasn't working on us, but clearly did on his daughter.

"It would be better if you didn't know the details," I told him. "But understand, with absolute certainty, that no harm will come to your daughter. And no…individual…will get a second chance at harming her."

"Plus if you don't know about it you have plausible deniability," Static added.

Louis seemed to consider what I was telling him, but eventually shook his head. "This is a family matter. If anyone is going to 'take care of it', it will be me. And Eva, you'll be coming home with your mother and I tomorrow."

"Mama's here?" she asked.

"She's back in the bedroom," he told her, pointing toward the closed door off to the left. "Why don't you go say hello?"

Eva hesitated, looking up at me. Indecision played over her face, but I smiled at her. "Go. Say hi to your mom. We'll work things out here."

"I don't know," she said in a low voice. "Maybe I should stay."

"Go," I urged, pushing her gently toward the door. "We're fine."

She gave me one last look before she opened the door and slipped inside.

Once it was closed, Louis looked over at me again, his expression hardening further. "I appreciate you helping my daughter, but she is coming home with me."

"That doesn't seem to be what your daughter wants," Lock pointed out.

Louis' eyes narrowed on my brother. "No offense, but you are a stranger to my family." He looked over at Static. "And you're a criminal defense lawyer who is far too familiar with Richard's type of people. In fact, it was difficult to gather much about those involved in your...club."

Static's mouth dropped open. "Just because I defend those who've been charged with a crime doesn't mean I'm like them," he argued.

Louis didn't look convinced.

"If you weren't able to find much on us," I said, my tone cold as ice, "that means we're law abiding citizens."

"Or you know how to hide your crimes well," he countered. He made a dismissive motion with his hand. "It doesn't matter. Tatiana will not be staying in the United States. She's coming home with us. Where she belongs."

"She belongs here," I told him. "With us."

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You think I'm going to allow my daughter to stay in a place with a bunch of men?"

"Our families live there, too," Lockout told him.

"She's my daughter. She will do as I say," he warned. "Again, thank you for watching out for her, but we're finished here."

"No," I said, my voice low and threatening as I stepped closer. "We're not finished."

He looked at me like I was nothing more than a roach crawling across his floor. "You can leave, or I'll have my guards escort you out."

I snorted in amusement. "They can try."

Louis scowled at me. "Then I will call your police."

Lock grabbed my arm as I started forward. "I don't give a shit who you are," I told him. "You're not taking Eva away-"

"Excuse me."

All our heads turned and we watched as a beautiful woman--who other than being slightly older and a different eye color, was a carbon copy of Eva. She shut the door behind her, not allowing me to get a glimpse of my girl.

She stopped next to her husband's side. "I've spoken with my daughter," the woman said. "She's decided it's best at this time to return home with us."