Page 42 of Run

“Yeah. But she won’t say anything,” I said.

“You sound sure,” Sergei replied easily.

“I am. Giovanna and I have had our problems, but she’d never talk. And she’d never do anything to betray her family, implicate her sister.”

“I agree, but Maxim needs to know about it anyway,” he said.

“And what is he going to do about it?” I responded.

My voice held an edge, but it was warranted. Maxim was not sentimental, and he’d think nothing of ending Giovanna’s life. I’d die before I let that happen, hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

“You think I’d let something happen to my wife’s sister?” Sergei asked.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

Sergei didn’t seem offended. “Well if it means anything to you, I won’t.”

“Good,” I said.

I looked away, silent, but turned back to Sergei and asked the question that had been on my mind for nearly a week now.

“Why did you want to find her?” I asked.

“I would’ve thought you would ask this before I sent you, not after,” he said.

“I thought you didn’t appreciate my questions,” I said, giving a quick humorless smile.

“It is one of your more unfortunate habits, but with this, I didn’t expect you to be able to resist.”

“I didn’t either, so I guess we’re both surprised,” I said. “So why?”

Sergei shrugged. “Daniela would never admit it, but she wanted to see her sister. I could make that happen, so I did.”

“That’s it?” I said.

“That’s it,” he replied.

“Why send me?”

That was another question I’d pondered. I had no doubt that Daniela had told him of what happened between me and Giovanna, so I had been surprised when he’d told me my next job.

“Would you have preferred it if I sent someone else?” he said.

I glared at him then, my visceral reaction to the thought proof enough of the answer.

“No,” I said.

“I’d suspected as much, and besides I thought you might have some unfinished business.”

“I did.”

“And now?” he asked.

I looked toward the house, and though I couldn’t see her, I could imagine her inside, and just as vividly picture the expression on her face as Marcos had patted her down.

“I think our business is closed,” I said.