Page 33 of No More Lies

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.