Page 51 of Take My Hand

“I’ll tell you,” he starts. “But I’m going to need something from you first.”

“What do you want?”

“Safety.” He shrugs, trying to seem nonchalant. I see it, though, the slight twitch in his eye, the fear he’s holding back. It’s brief, but I see it. “I want passports for me to return to Russia without interruption. I want a guarantee that I don’t go to prison.”

I scoff. “There’s no way that’s happening.” Even if I can get the FBI to agree, I can’t let him get away now, not after everything I’ve done to stop him.

“Show him.” He snaps his fingers at someone and they come forward. They hand me a phone and I keep my eyes on Anton before looking at the screen. It’s brief, but I see it, and it’s enough to haunt me for the rest of my life.

Margaret hangs from chains. It’s dark, but I can tell it’s her, her new hair is hung forward shielding her face. She looks dead, but why would he show me this if that were the case? I ask him just that.

“She’s not dead. In need of medical attention, surely, but not dead…yet.”

I look him in the eyes and glare. I’ve never felt an urge to beat a man to death like I do right now.

“Fine,” I snap, unable to handle thinking of her in such a state. “I’ll get you your freedom. Now where is she?” I growl at him.

“No, no. That’s not how this works. You get me my passports first, then I give you the girl. That’s the deal.”

I hesitate, because there’s no way I trust him. I don’t have much of a choice right now, though. There’s nothing I can do; I’m backed into a corner.

“Fine,” I repeat. We make plans to meet and I leave, being followed until I’m out the door. I head back to HQ, where James is no doubt pacing and wondering where I disappeared to.

I have to convince them to honor this deal. Margaret’s life depends on it, and so does mine.