Page 97 of One Last Stand

Laney Steele.

Igor pushed her ahead of himself, and she walked down the hallway, the stone on one side, a worn brick floor beneath her feet, to a stairwell that curled down around the edge, the expanse in the middle falling down five stories. At the next story down, he pointed along a hallway, and she headed toward a large room with a massive stone hearth. Windows overlooked the valley below.

She didn’t know why she expected to see Drago Petrov waiting for her. The very name had evoked in her the image of Ivan Drago, the Russian who’d fought Rocky in the fourth installment of the movie—thick, tall, spiky blond hair, indestructible. She’d never met Drago Petrov, but his reputation had built in her head enough to make her exhale when she spotted Tomas standing alone in the room, his hands in his pockets.

This room was attired like a ski lodge—a thick wool rug, a couple leather sofas, a worn coffee table, and a fire in the hearth—minus, of course, the ambience.

So, maybe the lair of a possessed king, like inLord of the Rings,andthank you very much, Shep,for puttingThe Hobbitin her head. There, and maybe not back again.

Outside, it seemed winter had found this higher elevation, snow on the mountains as far as she could see.

“Where’s Shep?” she said as she came into the room.

Tomas wore a pair of black jeans, a white woolen sweater, had shaved and cleaned up from his short-term captivity. Now he just frowned at her. “Shep? Why would we bring him?”

Oh.But she didn’t exhale.

“Although, he and I do have unfinished business. Goodbyes we didn’t say, so . . . perhaps you’re right. That was a mistake. Next time, we’ll make sure he joins us.” He winked then and gestured to the sofa, as if they were on holiday.

“What’s going on?” She sank onto the sofa. Igor came over to stand beside her. Probably held the taser on her, but she didn’t look. “I thought we were working together.”

“Until your people decided not to trust me.”

She raised an eyebrow.

He held up a hand. “I know, I know, but it was a perfect plan. And then you had to go and create your own virus.” He put a hand to his chest. “I’m hurt.”

“You lied to us. Your virus was a heist.”

“And it would have worked.” He sighed. “It’s okay. At least you have a fresh bio card.” He pulled it out of his pocket. “Or I should say—I do.”

Her mouth tightened around the edge, but she raised a shoulder.

“You won’t get the seed code from me.”

“Really.” He tapped the card against his hand.

“Tomas, what do you want?”

“Besides the seed code? How about . . . justice? Or would it be called retribution?”

“For what?”

“Leaving me to die in Zermatt.”

She leaned back. “So now what? Take the money and run? The Bratva will follow you.”

“Oh, I know they will. Day and night, like a bad odor.” He perched on the arm of the opposite sofa. “Almost like they’re in my head.”

She stared at him as he smiled. Slow and . . .

Wait. “Where’s Drago Petrov?”

“It’s hard to be the leader without any clout. And when all your money goes missing . . .” He raised a shoulder. “And when you have the money, you have the power.”

She frowned.

“It’s more of a position than a person.”