Page 58 of No More Lies

“What about the Ford? The sketch I did?” Steve asked.

“Ford was found burnt out and, of course, Volkov reported it stolen. No match on facial recognition for your sketch. The silver sedan that was outside your house wasn’t watching you either. Guy was creeping on an ex-girlfriend,” Dale added.

“OK. This makes no sense. Volkov has been insistent that Diane continue on his case, be ready for the hearing. If he was planning to snatch Natasha and Anya all this time, why does he need Diane?” Steve said, looking around the room at his teammates.

“Diane said his case wasn’t strong,” Ryan said. “He could be planning on just forcing them to go with him.”

“So he might not need Diane, may not make a call,” Steve said in hope. “No one appeared to be watching the school or my house today. Liam, anything happening there?” He asked, knowing Liam was listening from his position outside Diane’s office.

“Nothing yet.” Liam's voice came through the speaker phone.

“Too many unknowns right now,” Sam said. “Dale, let us know what you find as soon as you search the house. Until then, we keep eyes on Megan and Diane.”

Steve grunted, not liking it, but understanding. Volkov was a ruthless fucking killer, and this situation was escalating by the second.

“I need some air.”

As he stood in the parking lot, eyes closed, trying to ease some of the tension in his body, he contemplated texting Diane. This strain between them was killing him, but he didn’t know what to say.

“Hey man, how are you holding up?” Dex stood beside him a few minutes later.

Steve opened his eyes. “I don't do waiting around.”

“None of us do.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry about before. It wasn’t anything personal toward Kelly. It just feels like we are missing shit. We have a great intel team, but we have nothing.”

“I get it. Kelly’s team are following every lead. And there is a whole task force of people pouring over all the intel that’s been discovered about Reborn.”

“Yeah. I know.” He felt like an ass for snapping at Kelly.

“How are things with Diane?”

“Not great.” He settled on the low stone wall.

“That’s understandable. You’re both under a lot of pressure.”

“It’s not just that.”

Dex sat beside him. “You’re angry she didn’t tell you.”

“Yes, I am. Fuck, Dex, our daughter was in danger, and she didn’t come to me. I can’t get past it. I thought she would talk to me about anything, but she didn’t. What does that say about me? And what kind of special operator am I that I didn’t see what was happening?”

It ate away at him. Not realizing something more was going on sooner. Waiting too long to insist they talk. Not seeing someone taking pictures of him and his daughter.

“You couldn’t have seen this coming. You did ask Diane what was wrong, and she gave you an answer. A somewhat truthful answer. You can’t beat yourself up over not seeing this.”

“We had a fight, and you know what she said? She said her and Megan had come second to my job for years.” Steve shook his head. The words still cut like a knife. “She’s right.”

“That doesn’t sound like Diane. She’s scared, and I’m sure she regrets not coming to you sooner. Diane’s always known the demands of what you do and never had a problem with it. If it really is an issue, do you not think she would have said something years ago?”

There was logic in what Dex was saying but hell, those words had cut straight to his heart. Then again, he had said some pretty hurtful things, too. What kind of mother are you? Great thing to say to your wife, dickhead.

“Fuck, I don't know what to do. I don’t know if we can get past this, Dex.” Steve stared straight ahead, his eyes stinging.

They sat there quietly for a couple of minutes before Dex spoke.

“When we rescued Kelly, after she was captured by Reborn, tortured and raped by that fucker Lazir, she pushed me away. Told me we were done. I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t turn to me, talk to me, and let me help her. I was angry and hurt just like you. When I finally got over myself and listened, I began to understand. She thought she was protecting me. She pushed me away because she truly believed it was the right thing to do. She didn’t want me to have to deal with ‘damaged goods’ as she put it.”